So, here's the next chapter.

Though this will be the last update for the next two weeks. I'm going to a sports event, on a class trip and to a star trek convention…you see, my timetable's quite full.

So next chapter will be up in about three weeks.

Review answers:

Taela: Thanks. ;-)

Gboyary: too bad, you don't like my story anymore. But Elisha being the Heiress of Voldemort is an important part of my stoy. You know, I didn't want it to be like: 'harry finds his twin, together they defeat Voldie and live happily ever after.' Elisha is a complicated character and I intend her to stay that way.

Star and Lightning

23rd Chapter – In the Library and In the Staff Room

Hermione was sitting in the library, doing her History of Magic assignment. As it was Sunday afternoon, the library was empty except for Hermione and Elisha, who seemed to be getting increasingly frustrated. Books, parchement and quills were scattered all over the table they shared.

Suddenly, Elisha startled Hermione by slamming her book shut and complaining: "When am I supposed to do all this work?"

"What do you have to do?" Hermione asked laying her quill aside.

"Potions, Transfiguration and Herbology. All due to tomorrow." Desparation was clearly audible in her voice. "I've already worked for hours and I'm not even half done."

"I'll help you." Hermione told her sympatheticly. "The homework, I am currently doing, can wait."

"Oh really?" Elisha's face lit up. "Thanks, Hermione!"

Hermione placed herself next to Elisha and began looking at her work. Her first words of advice were: "You must learn to organize your work. For example, don't use loose papers, use folders instead. I can borrow you some, if you need. And don't take notes in such a confused way. Use diagrams, tables and so on. And most importantly, try not to leave your assignments for the last possible day. I know, it's hard for you because you've never gone to school before."

"But I never thought that these homeworks would take that long. And I've just never felt like doing them before."

"Then learn to force yourself to do some work. You'll have to." Elisha groaned and Hermione decided that they had had enough of this talk and should begin the actual work. Together, they researched the Potion, Elisha should write an essay about, and when they had found the needed book, Elisha copied the information down. At first, Hermione looked over her shoulder and gaver her several tips on how to do things more efficiently. Then she leaned back and watched.

Elisha was holding the quill with unease and streaks of her long hair were continuously falling over her shoulder and disturbing her. She seemed to be fighting hard to concentrate on what she was doing. Hermione felt pity with her. Elisha was neither used to concentrating for a long time nor to organising assignments. She had never learned how to. But Hermione had noticed, that she was a smart and clever girl and she was sure, that she would learn it. The Sorting Hat had been right to put her into Ravenclaw. But there was something about her… She reacted so weird sometimes. Harry and Ron failed to notice and when Hermioen had tried to tell them, they had only laughed. But she had watched her closely and found more hints that there was more about Elisha than she let on. This girl was a mystery and Hermione was known to solve all mysteries she stumbled over.

"Now, about our other new student." Albus Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling merrily.

He and his staff were gathered in Hogwarts' Staff Room, discussing the first week of school. So far, they had talked about how the first-years had settled into school. Minerva McGonnagal, the Deputy Headmistress, sat next to Albus, taking notes and looking fully awake and concentrated. Next to her, Filius Flitwick sat on a table, dangling his legs. Severus Snape was leaning back in his armchair with the typical growl on his face. Right next to him, Rosmerta Sprout was smiling broadly and a bit sleepily. Kingsley Shaklebolt, Auror and current Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, sat in a corner of the room, calmly watching. The other staff members were gathered around them, in different states of liveliness and concentration.

"How is Miss Potter doing in class?"

Filius spoke up first, his voice trembling with excitement: "In charms, she is doing great. She's a natural. It's unbelieveable how fast she learns how to do the spells. It's only a matter of learning the incarnations and trying several times. She learns up to ten spells a lesson. In a few weeks, she will have caught up on the others. And you should have seen her wandlessly conjuring a bunch of lilies! Once, she has learned how to do a spell with her wand, she hardly has any trouble doing it without. It's really incredible. I haven't seen such a talented student for a long time. In fact, not since Lily Evans left."

"How is she dealing with her fellow House Mates?" Albus asked.

"Jolly good, I think. She is friends with Miss Partil and Miss Ginnett. And of course, she is with her brother and his friends very often."

"Well, what about the other classes?" Now, he looked at Minerva.

She sighed and responded: "Unfortunatley, she is having trouble with Transfiguration. Even simple transformation take her a lot of concentration and power.She doesn't seem to be able to channel her magic to transform things. And when she looses patience and gets upset… well, then everything can happen. I have given her some books on the theory of Transfiguration. I hope, that she will be able to do it better once she's understood the theory."

Albus nodded gravely and shifted his gaze on Kingsley. Kingsley shifted his position in his seat and looked thoughtfully.

"She definitely knows how to defend herself." He finally said. "You felt her power yourself, Albus. She reacts instinctively most of the time and then she does it without her wand, with her natural magic. Using her wand, she is even more powerful. I've tried some simple spells with her and she did them quite well. Though, she tends to mix the names and the incarnations up. But she only needs to be diligent now and learn the incarnations by heart, the potential is there." He paused for a second and locked his eyes with Albus. "But, there is something worrying me: Her powers are developing rapidly.She wants knowledge about magic, all kind of magic, light or dark alike. Yesterday, she asked me about the Unforegiveables, very precise questions. How did she get that accurate knowledge on them in a few weeks?"

Albus looked around pensively. He didn't want Harry's twin sister to be torn on the Dark Side. Under no circumstances should she be able to learn the Dark Arts. He would watch her closely for the next weeks.

Severus disrupted the uncomfortable silence: "Can't you do something about that snake of hers? It's frightening the students."

"Or is it frightening you?" Minerva asked with a patch of irony in her voice. Everyone knew what had happened in Elisha's very first Potions lesson.

Severus glared at her in response and Albus tried to ease the tensed situation: "Maybe, I should ask her not to bring the snake to Potions? Would that be a possible solution?"

"I suppose so." Severus answered through gritted teeth.

"Now that this matter is cleared," Albus adressed the staff again." Is there anything else?"

"What do you know about You-know-who's plans, now that Potter's twin is discovered?"

"Well, not very much, I'm afraid." He answered sincerely. "Lord Voldemort…" people flinched at the mentioning of his name. "is staying calm at the moment. I'm not sure what his next steps will be. But we're figuring it out." With 'we' he meant the Order of Phoenix. As there were some teachers who were no members of it, he couldn't speak that openly. Although he really didn't know much more.

When he saw that there were no more topics to discuss, he dismissed his staff. Only Minerva stayed behind and accompanied him to his office where they had their weekly match of chess. Being absorbed in their chess board, they didn't notice Fawkes nervously turning his head and didn't see the great black crow flying pass the office's window towards the open window of the Ravenclaw sixth-years girls' dormitory.