A/N: finally I was bored enough to sit down and right my next chapter! I know I'm probably gonna get a lot of abuse from you guys after you read this. Sorry, Cliff-hangers are my new hobby. Not sure how many in a row this is now… Thanks again to Airri Phyler, my beta, and everyone who reviewed!

Disclaimer: I don't own HP

Reviews: Blah! There are so many to answer now…

Lizanne89892: Narcissa means 'To have a great self love.'

Reader4ever: Here's your update!

Matuskey: Thanks for taking the time to read it! Here's your update!

Rohan Bernett: Watch out for your character's mention in this chap!

Mouse10: Thanks!

Airri Phyler: My wonderful wonderful beta! It's always fun to read your reviews! Hopefully I edited this okay.

Kyl: You find out this chap, but not all is revealed. Hehe… I have lately become addicted to cliff hangers…

SiriusSpikeLover: yes, no, of course it is, of course he did, you'll find out later, you'll find out later and Thanks! Haha… you'll have to look back at your review so you know what I'm talking about!

Scared-of-mimes: Attack of the inanimate stone gargoyles! Lol, This chapter will either confuse you more, or explain a few things, I dunno…

Don'tLetMeGetMe: Maybe…. I think it's pretty obvious though. If you still don't know, read Airri Phyler's review from chap 15.

PruePotter: Yes, sorry. I've recently become addicted to cliffies. I'm trying to get over it!

Gatermage: therapeutic, yes, but nothing beats screaming your head off at unsuspecting strangers! I read your story, its good! Can't remember if I reviewed or not. If not, sorry, I'll review next chap!

Chapter 16 – Even more complications

Harry panicked. He didn't know what happened and he sure as hell didn't know what he was supposed to do. One minute she'd been sending a snappy, sarcastic comment his way and the next minute she was lying, crumpled on the floor. He yelled out.

'HELP! HELP! SOMEBODY! COME QUICKLY!'

Almost instantly, the stone gargoyles moved and Dumbledore and Kerrigan came running out. Dumbledore had his wand drawn, but Kerrigan, to his surprise, was holding a small, silver dagger.

'What happened?' Kerrigan's eyes were moving a mile a minute, surveying every inch of the corridor, and eerily reminding Harry of Mad-Eye Moody's magical eye.

She caught sight of Arianna's lifeless body and instantly ducked down and grabbed her wrist and felt for a pulse.

'She's alive, but barely. We need to get her to the hospital wing.'

Dumbledore flicked his wand and instantly Arianna rose off the ground and floated in front of him. 'Come,' he said, 'You too, Harry.'

It was a strange procession. The headmaster, a floating, unconscious girl, a confused and worried teenage boy and a strange woman, still clutching a dagger. They attracted many curious glances, but Dumbledore and Kerrigan ignored them and Harry followed their lead.

When they finally reached the hospital wing, Madam Pomfrey nearly had a fit.

'Quick! Get her into a bed!' she snapped. 'How on earth did this happen?'

Dumbledore turned to Harry. 'What happened to her?'

'I don't know! She just sort of… fell.'

'Did she hit her head on anything on the way down?' asked Pomfrey.

'No, well, I don't think so.' he frowned, 'She was just near that stone gargoyle when it happened.'

A look of comprehension dawned in Dumbledore's eyes.

'Roll her over,' he told Pomfrey, 'Onto her stomach.'

Madam Pomfrey hastened to do as he asked and rolled Arianna over onto her stomach. Dumbledore marched over to her bed swept the girls hair to the side to reveal the bare skin underneath. Except the skin was no longer bare. On the back of Arianna's neck was a scar, a perfectly symmetrical circle. The skin around it was now red and inflamed.

Harry gasped. What is that?' he asked.

'It is a curse scar,' said Dumbledore grimly, 'Very similar to your own, Harry, but slightly more common.'

Kerrigan moved closer to Arianna to examine the cut on the back of her neck.

'The Aedaficio curse?' she asked him. Dumbledore nodded gravely.

'Yes.'

'The gargoyle's outside your office – what are they made of, Dumbledore?'

'Limestone.'

'Ah.'

Harry was thoroughly confused, and it appeared that Madam Pomfrey was as well.

'What's the Aedaficio Curse?' she asked Dumbledore.

'The Life Draining curse. It is similar to Avada Kedavra but has a more delayed reaction. It will slowly drain the life from her body.'

Kerrigan frowned. 'Is there a cure?'

'Yes, but it is complicated. I will need to research it in more depth.'

'Will she be okay, Professor?' asked Harry.

Dumbledore nodded. 'If we can get an antidote ready in time, yes.'

Harry sighed in relief. 'Good 'cos Si- I mean uh... Snuffles would have killed me.' He stuttered, glancing nervously at Kerrigan and Pomfrey. Kerrigan gave Harry a knowing smile, but Madam Pomfrey remained oblivious.

'Are you sure about this, Headmaster? A mark on the back of the girl's neck is hardly enough to make a correct diagnosis.'

'Poppy, I am rarely sure about anything, but I am also rarely wrong. Keep her in bed and give her a Dissolutus potion every three hours. When she wakes up, alert me immediately.'

Pomfrey nodded and hurried into her office to collect the potion. Dumbledore turned to Kerrigan and gave her a small smile.

I do believe you can put that away now, Annabel,' he said, gesturing to the dagger in her hand. She blushed and slid it into her boot. Harry couldn't help but wonder how many other weapons she had concealed on her figure.

'Annabel, Can I ask you to visit headquarters and inform Sirius and Anna that I will be there to speak with them shortly? I believe it would do them good to see an old friend.'

Kerrigan nodded and Apparated away. Harry stared at the spot where she had been standing merely seconds before, and then turned to Dumbledore.

'How did she do that? I mean… aren't there wards on Hogwarts to stop people Apparating?'

Dumbledore waved off his question. 'Another time, Harry. Right now, we must attend to Miss Black's needs. I trust you will not tell anyone about what you have witnessed here today?'

Harry nodded.

'Good. And about your lessons; be very selective about who you tell. They are not strictly inside the law.' Harry grinned and nodded again. He left the hospital wing thinking that of all the illegal things he had known Dumbledore to have taken part in; a few advanced DADA courses would be near the bottom of the list.

He entered the common room to find Hermione and Ron playing chess. Hermione was losing.

'Checkmate,' said Ron smugly and Hermione groaned.

'That's the third time! Oh, hey Harry. What did Dumbledore want?'

A smile spread over Harry's face as he sat down beside her. 'No more Snape!' he whispered excitedly. Hermione and Ron's eyes widened.

'Did Black really scare him that badly?' asked Ron, 'Finally! We escape from the greasy git!'

Harry gave him a apologetic look. 'Sorry. I escape from the greasy git. You two still have to put up with him.'

'What- but… but- how is that fair?' spluttered Ron.

'You're only confusing him, Harry. Just tell us.' Hermione interrupted before Ron could make an even bigger fool of himself.

'Well,' Harry explained, 'After Black gave Snape what he deserved-' Ron sniggered and Hermione gave him a disapproving glare, '-Snape kicked her out of his class, so Dumbledore got her a private tutor. He decided that it wouldn't be a bad idea to separate Snape and me either, so we're getting taught together.'

Hermione nodded. 'I expected something like this. Dumbledore knows that Snape wouldn't teach you properly, and now more than ever, it's very important that you get all the Defence training you can. Do you know who's teaching you?'

'Yeah, someone named… Kerrigan?'

Hermione's eyes widened. 'Are you sure? That wouldn't happen to be Annabel Kerrigan, would it?'

Harry nodded. 'Yeah. Why?'

'I think I recognise the name…' started Ron hesitantly. 'What did she do, Hermione?'

'She's a training master!'

Ron fell off his chair. 'A training master? You're getting taught by a training master?'

Harry glanced between the two of them, bewildered. 'Yeah, but I already knew that. What about it?'

'Training masters are the elite! The only people that can overrule them are the Ministers for Magic themselves, and in certain situations the training masters are given absolute control. In battle, for example. I didn't think there were any left!'

'Oh Ron, don't be silly!' snapped Hermione testily. 'There are about three left, but Annabel Kerrigan's the only one in England.'

Harry let out a low whistle. 'Well that explains a few things.'

'Like what?' asked Ron.

'Like why she carries around daggers in her shoes. And…'

'Yeah? What else, Harry?' asked Hermione excitedly.

Harry leaned in closer and the other two did the same.

'Well,' he whispered, 'She's not only teaching us DADA. She's also teaching us other things.'

'Like?' prompted Ron.

'Martial arts, weapons and logic.'

Hermione let out an excited squeal.

'Oh wow, Harry, you are so lucky! That's the stuff training masters teach to their clients who pay about 500 Galleons a lesson! This is such a great opportunity.'

Harry gave her a confused look. 'But you can get weapons and martial arts training in the muggle world really cheaply! Why is it so exclusive here?'

Hermione sighed. 'Don't you get it, Harry? In the non-magical world, weapons and martial arts are just that: non-magical! But in the wizarding world…'

'They're magical,' said Harry, 'I get it.'

Hermione nodded.

'You'll have to pay attention and try really hard,' she warned, 'not like your Occlumency lessons last year.'

Harry's stomach gave a guilty squirm. Slacking off with his Occlumency had nearly gotten all his friends, not to mention Sirius and the Order members, killed.

'Well, I –'

He was cut off when Ginny burst into the common room, gasping for breath.

'I just heard,' she announced to the whole common room, 'You-know-who's kidnapped a student!'

'Who?' asked someone in the crowd, 'It wasn't a Gryffindor was it?'

Ginny shook her head.

'No, it was a Ravenclaw. Rohan Bernett.'

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Anna and Sirius were sitting in the lounge room of number twelve Grimmauld place, just enjoying each others company, when the door bell rang. Sirius stood up and motioned for Anna to stay seated.

'Don't worry,' he said, 'I'll get it.'

Sirius gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and hurried out to the front hall. He opened the door to reveal the very last person he had been expecting to see.

'Bel?' he whispered in awe, 'What are you doing here?'

She gave him a small grin. 'Hello Sirius. Long time no see.'

He stared at her dumbly. 'But… What? How?'

She took a step inside the house. 'How about I come in and I can explain everything to you and Anna at once?'

Sirius's face hardened. 'How do I know you're not a Death Eater in disguise?'

Bel laughed. 'Okay Sirius. Ask me something only the real Annabel Kerrigan would know.'

He thought for a minute before answering. 'On our first day at Hogwarts; why did you decide to come and sit with me?'

'Because my parents told me not to,' Bel answered promptly.

Sirius her sceptical look. 'Wormtail could have told you that.'

Bel gave an exasperated sigh. 'Come on Sirius! I found the house, didn't I?'

'Dumbledore gave you the address?'

'Yes.'

'You're in the Order?'

'Yes.'

'How come you never come to Headquarters?'

'I'm here now.'

Sirius gave her one last sceptical look before sighing and standing aside.

'Fine. Come in, and you have to tell us everything.'

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Bel had expected Sirius to be wary of her. After all these years, who wouldn't be? She followed him into the lounge room, where Anna was sitting on the couch. To tell the truth, Bel had been a bit worried about Anna's reaction to her being here. The last time they had seen each other, at the Potter's funeral, they hadn't exactly parted on the best terms. Anna looked up as Bel and Sirius entered the room. When she saw Bel, her face paled considerably and she gulped.

'Bel? W-what are you doing here?' she choked out.

Bel opened her mouth to answer but before she could get the words out, Anna let out a loud sob, leapt off the couch, ran up to them and threw her arms around Bel, hugging her tightly.

When she pulled away, Bel smiled at her. 'Well that was a warmer welcome then I expected.'

Anna blushed. 'It's good to see you. Come, sit down,' she directed Bel over to one couch and she and Sirius sat on the couch opposite it.

'So, you've done quite well for yourself,' said Anna, 'Training Master? I couldn't believe it when I heard your name on the WWN.'

Bel shrugged. 'It pays the bills.'

Anna and Sirius gaped at her.

'It- It pays the bills?' stuttered Sirius, a look of obvious exasperation on his face, 'Bel, you must be a bloody gazillionaire!'

Bel waved it off. 'Later,' she told them, 'Right now I need to talk to you about Arianna.'

Sirius stood up off the couch. 'Has she attacked another teacher? Because if she has…' he cracked his knuckles threateningly.

'She attacked a teacher?' asked Bel and Anna in unison, although Bel definitely sounded more amused, 'Who?'

Sirius paled. 'Uhh… nothing…not important… Snape...'

Bel laughed and Anna clenched her fists.

'Did he try and hurt her? It must have been self-defense! She wouldn't have done it unless she really had to… oh damn,' finished Anna with a sigh.

'What?' asked Sirius.

'I just realised. She's your daughter. She really did attack Snape without good reason, didn't she?'

Bel quickly turned her laugh into a hacking cough and Sirius tried his best to look innocent.

'It's okay, though! She's not in trouble or anything! Dumbledore got her out of it!'

'That's not the point! She has got to learn that violence is not the answer!'

'But he provoked her!'

'She shouldn't have let him!'

'He's a greasy git!'

Bel could see that the conversation was quickly turning dangerous and decided to intervene before Sirius lost his ability to have more children.

'Uh, guys? If we're all over Snape getting beat up by a fifteen year old girl-' Sirius sniggered and Anna forced back a smile, 'then I need to inform you that there's been an… accident. An accident involving Arianna. Don't worry though,' she said quickly, upon seeing their faces, 'Dumbledore's sorting it out. She should be okay. In fact, he should be here by now-'

She was cut off as there was a burst of flames in front of them, and Fawkes the phoenix appeared, a roll of parchment tied to his leg. He held it out to Bel, and she quickly untied it and unrolled the parchment.

Annabel,

Voldemort has taken a student. We need your assistance as soon as possible. Meet me in my office now.

Albus Dumbledore

Bel's face hardened as she read the note, and she felt a sickening jolt in the pit of her stomach. Voldemort had never breached Hogwarts walls before. The old bastard had to be stopped. Bel felt anger bubble up inside her, but she forced it down and put on an expressionless face.

'I need to go,' she muttered to Sirius and Anna. 'Emergency at Hogwarts,' and without another thought, Annabel Kerrigan Disapparted.