Chapter Four:

So It Begins, So it comes

Again it begins

The Order of the phoenix was abuzz with rumors and speculations. After the brief performance during the start of the meeting, how could they not be?

So it went without much conviction that Albus Dumbledore continued the meeting even after Severus and Aleasia's absence. He explained to one and all that which Severus did not stay to discuss but which held magnificent proportions all the same.

"I'm afraid I am not at liberty to describe the past between Severus and Aleasia. They have both confided in me over the years and I shall not betray their trust. However, I do feel obliged to impart the information that Severus left off, which takes us back to Voldemort's desire to wed Professor Karly.

All of Voldemort's death eaters, though in particular, Lucius Malfoy, have been propositioned to bring Aleasia to their master without harm done to her. It is his hope that in time, Aleasia will come to love him and if she does not, he is prepared to go to any lengths magical or otherwise to disillusion her emotions.

Though this is a significant concern of the order it only comes second place to that of Harry Potter. Aleasia, as Alastor Moody kindly pointed out earlier, is probably the most powerful witch of our age if not of all time. But she has her flaws, she is young and hosts an untamed spirit, which means she will be in danger of being manipulated into Voldemort's hands. We shall discuss this more at another time.

Now, to bring matters back to Harry who shall be arriving here with the other students tomorrow, I think it is most prudent to state that Aleasia shall be working one on one with him to train his powers into their full potential…"

The next day dawned having mocked both Aleasia and Severus in the night by denying either of them any sleep. Severus awake and speculating just what had caused Aleasia's departure, if indeed it was another man, drowned a bottle of fire whiskey and cursed himself once again for his lack of control. Meanwhile, only one small flight of stairs above her once lover's own quarters, Aleasia mourned the love that she had risked when she fled so many years ago to protect not only her unborn child but Severus as well. She wondered how he could possibly taint the passion she had held for him by accusing her of leaving for another man. Was he so blind as that?

Regardless, though, of their aching hearts and anguished souls, this was the day that Hogwarts would open its doors to welcome back the students who would so eagerly flood the castles halls. So they each finished their tears in their separate showers, dressed with care, and headed to the Great Hall where the headmaster himself would hand out last minute preparations to them.

The day passed in a flurry of activity. Every classroom in the castle was to be cleaned and cleared of all unwanted items. Final preparations for lesson plans and students extra curricular activities were made amid a long oak table in the great hall, layered so thick in books, parchment, quills and ink pots that you could scarcely find the table beneath it all. Teachers and staff came and went as they desired, leaving both Severus and Aleasia free of each other until the evening crept beside them.

Malyia had stayed in her mother's chambers that day, hoping that being amid her mother's possessions and the scent of her that lingered in the air would calm her mounting nerves. This was to be her first night as a student of Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry. She would sit at the Gryffindor table, surrounded on all sides by eager students who would joke and talk with the friends they had made years ago when they began their first year at Hogwarts. It all made her feel so very alone.

She set aside the book that had been lying open in her lap as she heard her mother enter the apartment. A simple glance out the grand windows informed her that it was well past dusk. Soon the students would arrive.

"Oh, Malyia, sweet girl, I thought you'd have been dressed and ready by now. I sometimes forget how even the bravest of souls may tend to cower when faced with great adversary." Said Aleasia as soon as she spotted the desolate form of her daughter sitting in her favorite armchair. Walking towards her, she placed a comforting hand on Malyia's knee, her other stroking the curls of her dark hair.

"Come. Let us do something magnificent with your hair!" Aleasia pulled her daughter from her seat and led her into the adjoining bedroom. Determined, to see a smile on her face before they walked together to the great hall to join the welcoming feast.

A young man with raven black hair and emerald eyes for a moment forgot about his two best friends standing beside him. He forgot that he was standing in the middle of the doorway and that the students behind him would be eager to go through the threshold. For a moment, all he knew was what he saw and this achingly familiar feeling of being homebound.

He stood in a majestic archway that led into the great hall. As it was the first day of term beginning his sixth year at Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry there would be a feast to welcome the students back.

"Harry, come on! You're holding up the line!" Ron said, shoving an elbow into his friends rib as to get his attention. He and Hermione were battling the younger students who were trying to push there way past to make entrance into the hall.

Startled from his reverie, Harry simply grinned and led the trio to the seats they had claimed as their own nearly six years ago at the Gryffindor house table. He sat between Hermione and Ron, greeting his fellow housemates as they appeared and inquiring of every one's summer vacation.

In a pause between conversations his eyes drifted up to the head table where he sought and found the familiar twinkling blue eyes he always looked for when in need of comfort or advise. Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts, caught Harry's eyes and offered him a subtle wink. Tilting his head just slightly to his left he gestured for Harry to see whom it was who would be filling the defense against the dark arts professor this year.

Looking he saw an incredibly beautiful witch seated with a hand resting on Professor Dumbledore's arm while chatting animatedly with him. Her dark brown eyes glittered with excitement and her blonde hair that went to the middle of her back in thick spirals caught the light from the candles making it shine.

Ron let out a soft whistle. "Can't wait to have class with her!" He said, having followed Harry's eyes with his own. Harry could not but respond with a nod of his head.

Hermione, having caught the exchange rolled her eyes. "Honestly, she could turn out to be worse then Snape and you two wouldn't notice."

"Ah, Hermione, that's where you're wrong."

"Yeah," Harry said. "No one who looks like that could be such a git as Snape."

"Well, she does have her moods, I'll tell you that much!" Came a new voice, an unfamiliar voice from behind the trio of friends.

"Who are you?" Demanded Ron rather rudely as he found his eyes sweeping the figure of another pretty new face.

"My name is Malyia. I'm the new transfer student from America."

To this, Hermione jumped from her seat. "My name is Hermione. Ron and I heard all about you, of course, on the train. We're prefects. So you're in Gryffindor?"

It was with relieved eyes as Aleasia watched from the raised platform that situated the high table, as a small group of friends opened their arms to her daughter. Allowing her a place to sit beside them and engaging her in conversation. Before even the headmaster stood to give his welcoming speech, she watched as her daughter threw back her curls and laughed.