Chapter One:

Gone, My world

Malyia was not one sit on the sidelines waiting for others to dictate her life or miss out on wonderful opportunities simply because she was afraid. Quite the contrary, Malyia was considered by many to be outspoken, strong willed, and sarcastic. But there was one person in this world that could bend her to her will and make her see reason, her mother.

Over the years, Malyia had overcome obstacles most never see in their life. Due to her mother's renowned name as a respected auror, she had attracted the attention of many dark wizards and watched as her mother curbed their intentions with an ease born of those with wings who fly. She had admired her mother's strength and held her pride in a corner of her heart that was deeply and often cherished.

Growing up without a father had not been easy for Malyia. Many times she had asked her mother about her father. Many times she would receive no answer. She forgave her mother this flaw for with it came a million right chords.

How extraordinary a woman she is, Malyia thought almost daily. She had swaddled Malyia with love and affection, taught her right from wrong, protected her from harm when she could not defend herself and stood to the side encouraging when she would attempt to face down her own demons.

Ever since she was a little girl, her mother had told tales of exotic scenery, with heroines and heroes alike, who strove together to conquer defeat. She told of passionate love between a man and a woman and of the heartbreak that may sometimes ensue. It was her stories that Malyia figured some years ago that held the truth of her mother's mysterious past.

Above all she respected her mother, and loved her with an appreciation few children reward their parents. So when her mother came to her one evening after having been gone most of the day and told her they were to move to England, what else could Malyia say but that she would make the best of such a difficult situation?

As the week wore on, Aleasia became increasingly aware of Malyia's unusual submissive behavior. Her wisdom and perception far out weighed her age, however, and she knew just what it was that her daughter mourned inside her.

They had sat down to dinner at the breakfast nook in the kitchen, most of their home being in a cluster of boxes full of cherished possessions. She reached out and placed a hand over her daughter's.

"You will miss your friends?"

Malyia's eyes watered at the obvious reminder that she should have to leave them behind very soon. She nodded.

"You shall make new ones." Aleasia attempted to fill her voice with optimism.

"Oh, Mama!" Malyia exclaimed, setting her fork down and turning to face her mother. "You don't understand! We've traveled most of my life. First with the gypsies, then later for means of safety! When we finally settled here in America I was able to make a full life for myself. I had friends, I attended school…now we are leaving again?"

She threw herself into her mother's arms, burying her tears in her mother's bosom. "I will go, I will make new friends, I will do this all with a smile on my face…but tell me why, Mama, tell me why we have to leave?"

Aleasia sighed. "Oh, my sweet little girl, how I hate to see you hurt so bad!"

"Why, Mama?"

"Your godfather has asked for my help."

"Albus?" Malyia's head popped up at the mention of his name.

"Yes… you see, there is a fierce war in the making over in England. You remember I told you about Lord Voldemort?" Malyia nodded. "Well, he has returned and is steadily gaining power. I once pledged my allegiance to the light in this war, and I shall uphold my obligations as such. Do you understand?"

"Yes Mama. I would want you to fight this war as well, even if it does mean moving to England."

Aleasia ran her left hand down the side of her daughter's right cheek, admiring not for the first time how blessed she was to have borne such an understanding and strong child. Returning to their neglected meal they ate in silence once more, until Aleasia gathered that there was still more Malyia was worried about.

"Malyia, what is it?"

She watched as her daughter continued to push the food around her plate, not meeting her eyes and debating the wisdom of revealing her thoughts to her mother.

"It's just, well, you once told me my dad was from England. Do you think, well, I mean do you think he would he want to see me?"

Aleasia inhaled a great gust of air, filling her lungs to capacity, then letting it out with a slouch of her shoulders. To buy time, she lifted the dishes from the counter and brought them to the sink for washing later. Clearing the food from the stove and counter with casual flicks of her wand, she thought of how she might answer her daughter's question. There was no doubt in her mind that Malyia would get to know her father quite well, after all, he was a professor at the school she would attend. Only, her father did not know of her existence and she was not sure yet if she would reveal that secret to him or not.

"I don't know Malyia. We shall see."

It was the night before they were to leave for Hogwarts that found Aleasia lying with her daughter in her bed. Wishing away the hurt that filled her and her daughter at the sudden changing of their fate. She stroked her daughter's back through her flannel nightgown as she had often done when she was a little girl.

"I find it so hard to believe you are already fifteen!" She said to her daughter by the light of a single candle that sat on the bed stand.

"Mama, don't start your crying again!"

Aleasia chuckled. "I can't help it, it was just yesterday when…"

"Yes I know, it was just yesterday when you could hold me in your arms."

Aleasia fell silent then, the sarcasm radiating from her daughter's voice bringing the unwanted image of a dark man to her mind. She studied her daughter. Her hair was as black as the midnight sky, thick with curls, her skin pale and her eyes like the color of melted chocolate. She had long since begun her menstrual cycles but only just began developing the curves of a woman. She smiled, remembering all those days of late that her daughter had come home in a temper cursing the God's and demanding to know why she did not have boobs! After all, all her friends had them!

"Mama, you mentioned that I would not be able to tell anyone who I am?"

"For your protection, Malyia, I don't want anyone to know that I am your mother. You shall use the sir name Sage after my mother."

Malyia said nothing but nodded against her.

"Darling, I've explained to you before the four houses of Hogwarts, right?"

Again, she received a nod.

"Albus has left the decision to me as to whether you shall stay in your house dormitory with the rest of your house or in separate quarter's with me."

"Oh, Mama, please let me stay in the dorms!" Malyia had sat up, abruptly, staring her mother in her obsidian eyes. "I have to stay with the other students, what will they think if I don't? Especially since I can't tell them you're my mother! Not to mention, how am I ever going to make any friends if I am not allowed to share their dorms?"

Aleasia remained silent, taking in her daughter's words but debating the wisdom in allowing her this concession.

"Mama!" Her daughter yelled, taking her lack of response in disagreement.

"Alright, alright." She sighed. "If that is your wish, then I shall grant it! After all, you have agreed to move half way around the world for me, it's the least I can do."