EIGHTEEN MONTHS LATER

The redhaired girl raced down the corridor, shoving people out of her way on the way to the Castle Center, as the once empty classroom had come to be called. Several students pushed back at the third year, but it did nothing to curb her enthusiasm as she nearly slid past the room. She raced inside, jumping and punching the air.

"I did it!"

The occupants of the room did not seem to share her enthusiasm. In fact, they did not seem to move at all.

The room had the distinct feel of something that only teenagers could have come up with. There were Weird Sister posters all over the walls, along with various cut outs from "Teen Witch Weekly". The old classroom chairs and tables had been shoved haphazardly into a corner to make room for fluffy rugs and bean bag chairs and even a hammock.

"Did you lot not hear me?" Ginny said. "I did it!"

A blonde girl flipped down from where she had been reading upside down on the top of a bookshelf.

"Sorry, Ginny, there was an interesting article in the Quibbler about the latest expedition to Antarctica to find the Weinmeier Wiggle. What did you do?" Luna said.

"I got a date to the Yule Ball! Second third year to be going!" she squealed.

"Will you two quiet down?" a girl with braided hair demanded from one of the oversized bean bags. "Ev's trying to sleep."

She gestured at the hammock where just a tuft of curly dark hair could be seen. Ginny frowned.

"Has she still been having nightmares?" she asked.

"How would I know? I'm not in Slytherin," Bridget said.

"I made her a dream catcher, but perhaps I needed to weave more-"

"None of you understand the concept of quiet, do you?"

Evanna pulled herself out of the hammock, thankful she had smuggled those muggle jeans into her trunk when her father wasn't looking. She was by far the shortest of her friends-probably the shortest in her year-but she had managed to grow an inch or two. Her hair, of course, had gotten plenty longer and curlier-it now hung to her waist and was constantly in the way.

"Well, since you're awake anyway, looks like I will be sneaking out with you because I need dress robes," Ginny said excitedly.

"Really? You're going too? Who asked you?" Evanna asked smiling.

"Neville Longbottom."

Bridget immediately burst into laughter and Evanna dramatically flopped back into the hammock, covering her eyes with an arm.

"Oi! Shut it! Neville's perfectly sweet."

"Let's hope that fancy arse store Malfoy's going to has shoes made out of goblin-forged steel!" Bridget joked.

"You're really telling me that you woke me up about Longbottom?" Evanna groaned, the hammock rocking gently. There was still some time to sleep a little more before she had detention with Professor Snape. One day she might quit pestering him for information about her mother, but that would be the day that she was finally given the information she desired.

The mood in the room turned suddenly. Evanna could feel the concern emanating from the other three girls and did her best not to roll her eyes. She knew that it was kindness, that her friends truly cared for her and her well-being, but at the same time she was not a porcelain doll. She had faced worse than a lack of sleep, and she never quite remembered her nightmares any way.

"Are you still not sleeping?"

"Have you gone to Snape for more Dreamless Sleep?"

"I could add some black tourmaline to your dream catcher."

"I was sleeping," Evanna said to Ginny before turning to Bridget, "I don't really want my Head of House to think me an addict, and I'm sorry?"

"Black tourmaline is known to to be protective and calming, not to mention have qualities to relax the mind and body," Luna said. "I have some in my dorm-"

"That's quite alright," Evanna said quickly. Some of Luna's remedies had Evanna's roommates rather on edge. Though Evanna knew that Luna often had an uncanny ability to know things, she was a little skeptical of how straw dolls placed at each of the compass points around her bed was meant to combat nightmares.

"Much as I dislike the man, he might be able to help. Maybe even figure out why you are having these nightmares-"

"I know why, Ginny," Evanna snapped. She forced away the feeling of being hot and cold all over. "It's fine. I get plenty of naps in my handy hammock here."

"Naps aren't a proper replacement for a full night's sleep," Bridget said knowledgably. "Most mediwizards agree-"

"Luna, next birthday, get Bridget a book about the Weird Sisters or something," Evanna said, rubbing her temples. The Hufflepuff threw a pillow at her. "Oi!"

"We're just trying to make you take care of yourself, idiot," Bridget said.

"I thought Hufflepuffs were supposed to be kind?"

"I thought Slytherins were supposed to be cunning?"

"Break it up, ladies," Ginny said with a laugh. "Don't you have a detention tonight?"

"Yes," Evanna groaned. "We'll meet here tomorrow to go find dresses, alright?"

"So long as you don't aggravate Professor Snape more!" Ginny said with a sly grin. Evanna stuck her nose in the air.

"I almost think he wants me to ask. Why else would he keep giving me the opportunity?"

"I think Professor Snape is rather torn on what he wants to do most days," Luna said. "That's why he's so grumpy all the time."

Evanna gave a small laugh before grabbing her school bag and hoisting it over her shoulder. The bag had grown heavier for her third year, as she had added both arithmancy and ancient runes to her studies. She never had quite gotten a handle on feather-light charms, or charms in general.

"Have fun!" Bridget said brightly.

"Bite me!" Evanna responded, causing both Ginny and Bridget to snicker and Luna to smile.

When Bridget had first informed them of the Castle Center, Evanna had been somewhat skeptical of the other girl. But it had soon become a safe haven for Evanna. Though other students from all the Houses filtered in and out of the room, when it was needed for any of the four of them, it was just them. As much as Evanna was a proud Slytherin and enjoyed time with her Housemates, the Castle Center was her place. Her people.

"You're late," Professor Snape said as she walked into the Potions lab.

"Sorry, sir," she said dryly. "What am I doing tonight for asking a question?"

"You are scrubbing cauldrons to learn how to respect boundaries, something you Malfoy children have an issue with," he said, gesturing to the sinkful of pots.

"Do you have to compare me to Draco?" Evanna said with just enough whine to her voice that she knew would drive Professor Snape crazy, but not enough that he could truly punish her for it.

"Do you have to be obstinate?"

Evanna smirked and walked over to the sinkful of cauldrons. She was rather used to scrubbing cauldrons by now. Sometimes she even purposely got detention just to speak to the professor about various worries, as well as get homework help. Sometimes it seemed he made up reasons to give her detention, especially around breaks, simply to make sure she was okay without embarassing her.

The rhythmic movements soothed her, lulling her into a sort of daze. The hot water began to creep up her arms, twisting and squeezing around her. It crept ever higher, seeming to reach for her neck and over her mouth and nose and it was squeezing and hot and she couldn't breath and…

"Ms. Malfoy," Professor Snape's clipped tone cut through her haze. Evanna opened her eyes and the water was inside the sink, just as it ought to be. She blinked at her Head of House in confusion.

"Sir?"

"Are you ill, Ms. Malfoy?" he pressed. "You managed to fall asleep standing up."

"No, I'm fi-"

"Do not lie to me, Ms. Malfoy," he snapped. "Are you going home for the winter break?"

Evanna's heart thumped. "No, sir. I-I have a date for the Yule Ball. Father has insisted that Draco and I come for the Eostre hols, though."

Professor Snape frowned. "You know I can go to the Headma-"

"I rather like you sir, I wouldn't like to see you sacked or worse," Evanna said dryly. Professor Snape pursed his lips.

"It has been two years since your father sat on the Board of Governors," Professor Snape said.

"And yet one of Hagrid's hippogryffs was still executed last year," Evanna replied. "I'm fine, sir, really. I just-" she forced tears to well up in her eyes, "-I just really miss my mother. If you've any idea-"

"I have seen you in earnest hysterics, Ms. Malfoy. Your dragon tears do nothing," her professor said, raising an eyebrow. Evanna cursed under her breath. "You are spending entirely too much time with Weasley."

Evanna smiled. "I suppose I'll finish these up then-"

Professor Snape flicked a wand and the scrub brush Evanna had been using set about on the cauldrons by itself.

"It is dangerous to have a student asleep on their feet dealing with even the dregs of potentially volatile potions," he intoned. He pulled out a little bottle that Evanna had become very familiar with during her time at Hogwarts. "Go and sleep. And if I find that you are mistreating yourself in such a way without informing me or Madam Pomfrey again, you shall be sleeping in the infirmary until you graduate."

Evanna smiled. "You do care, sir," she teased, placing a hand on her heart.

"Out."

Evanna laughed and did as she was told, not even pausing to say hi to anyone in the Common Room. Instead, she simply went to her bed and drew the curtains, downing the bottle. She was fast asleep before her head even hit the pillow.