Chapter Seven

Founded Truth

I hear you talking, but your words don't mean a thing
I doubt you ever put your heart into anything
It's not much to ask for, to get back what I put in
But I chose the waters that I'm in

And it makes no difference who is right or wrong
I deserve much more than this
'Cause there's only one thing I want

If it's not what you're made of
You're not what I'm looking for
You were willing but unable to give me anymore
There's no way,
You're changing,
Cause some things will just never be mine
You're not in love this time...but it's alright.

-Lucie Silvas, What you're made of

The darkness was closing in around them and the moon was glowing in a soft crescent shape.

"Did you really hex Malfoy's arm off when you were eight?"

"How do you know Remus?"

"Who are you related to?"

"Why'd you call Pansy 'blood scum'? Not that I'm saying she isn't of course," said Neville as the train neared Hogwarts.

"Firstly, yes I did hex his arm off when we were eight, I don't regret it or anything, he had it coming to him but, yeah, it was quite a nasty thing to do," said Danielle, finally giving in to the bombardment of questions that were being thrown her way. "Secondly, I know Remus through my dad, thirdly, I can't tell you who I'm related to, Albus would kill me if I did and lastly, I called Pansy that because she is. She went to Flaxes for a while and she was such a whore. She kept trying to be a part of my group of friends, we were quite renowned for our magical abilities and everything, and she went to any means to get in with us and well, it ended in quite a big argument that actually ended in Draco loosing his arm, so there."

"Well, you can't really say that you didn't have an interesting upbringing!" stated Ron. "You know, can you teach me that spell that makes the person loose their arm? I'd like to use it on Malfoy myself one day!"

Danielle raised an eyebrow in Ron's direction and smiled, he beamed back. "So you'll do it?"

"Ron, you are a prefect! That must be highly illegal and probably Dark magic at that!" scalded Hermione.

"So now you're saying I do Dark magic for fun?" the same hint of anger and annoyance was clinging to her every word like it had done with Pansy.

"No, I'm not, I'm just saying that Ron is a prefect and if he gets himself involved in that kind of magic then he will lose his badge!" Hermione was definitely not in the mood to have an argument like the one Danielle had just had with Pansy, but was clearly standing her ground.

"Maybe, Hermione I don't want to keep my badge, maybe I'm sick and tired of the way Malfoy treats you – I mean us – I mean everyone –" Ron had grown very pink around the ears.

Hermione sat down, a scowl playing on her features, obviously annoyed that she had not won the argument. "We need to change into our robes," she said after ten minutes of uncomfortable silence.

They all nodded and again, in silence, they pulled on their long black robes, everyone that was except Danielle, who pulled on robes that looked as though fire was crawling up the fabric, black flames mixing with the golden ones.

"Erm, Danielle, don't you think that, erm, your robes stand out a little?" Hermione said after failing to restrain herself.

"No," Danielle said as she shook her brown curls out of her face. "Albus said that I could wear what robes I wanted for tonight and that my new House robes would be sent to me tomorrow morning for my lessons."

"It must be cool having Professor Dumbledore as a godfather," said Harry as he set about doing his tie. He failed miserably; causing a large untidy and tight knot to appear where the neat one had materialised on everyone else's.

"Yes, it is," she replied giving him a smile as she pointed her right hand to his throat, a small birds mouth pointing out of the sleeve, where the tie automatically tied itself.

"Firs' years o'er here," Hagrid's voice boomed, echoing across Hogsmead station as everyone clambered off.

"Do you think I need to go with Hagrid?" Danielle asked Luna as they jumped off of the train.

"I don't know why don't you go and ask him?" Luna replied absentmindedly stroking her Crumple-Horned Snorlack.

She wandered over to where Hagrid stood, holding a lantern and with a small huddle of first years at his feet. "Hi Hagrid, I was wondering if I had to cross with the first years?" she asked, he smiled.

"Nope, but ya 'ave ter take this lovely creature ter Dumbledore's office where you'll be Sor'ed. He said he thought it best as yer might stand out a little if you were with the firs' years," he said, pointing to Fawkes the Phoenix.

"Thanks Hagrid, it's good to see you again," she said, hugging him briefly before grasping hold of Fawkes' tail feathers and she disappeared in a flash of bright white light.

Harry watched as Hermione and Ron's mouths dropped open as they neared the Thestral drawn carriages. "So, you can see them?" he asked. Hermione nodded and Ron gulped.

"So that was what we were flying last year?" asked Ron, pointing to the skeletal creature before him.

Harry nodded, "But I don't get it, Professor Dumbledore said Sirius wasn't dead."

"No, but we saw the veil. I was doing some reading over the summer…"

"Move out of my way Mudblood!" shouted Draco, pushing Harry aside, but giving him a tiny smile. Pansy shoved into Hermione.

"Oooops, sorry Mudblood, oh and would you look at that, your little bitch of a friend isn't here to save you know," she hissed, giggling at Hermione who had gone flying into Ron. "I thought you were supposed to be a Pure-Blood Weasley, why hang around with such filth?"

"Blood Scum," muttered Ron, shooting a dirty look at Pansy as they climbed into the carriage.

"Trying out what your friend called me now are you?" she shrieked with laughter as the door slammed shut and it moved on until the next empty carriage was situated before them.

"I don't care if Malfoy's a part of the Order, the company he keeps leaves much to be desired!" said Hermione, glowering at the carriage that was now pulling nearer the school.

The light began to subside and Albus Dumbledore's office came into view. Silver instruments sat on their shelves whirling and swirling and creating white puffs here, there and everywhere. "So, I suppose that this is a welcome back?" Albus Dumbledore's voice asked.

"Hi," she said a happy grin on her face as she threw her arms around Dumbledore and gave him a hug. "I haven't seen you in ages!"

"I know, I know," he whispered placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Now, down to a more seri… maybe more important things, would be better apt?" he asked, raising an eyebrow in her direction as they broke apart.

She nodded in what looked like a grateful manner and replied, "So I'm here to be Sorted?"

"Why of course," he said and he walked over to his desk where an old and battered hat sat, looking as though it was glancing around the room with deepest intrigue. "Now all you shall need to do is sit down and place the hat on your head," he gave her a smile as she walked briskly over to his seat, sat down and picked up the hat.

"Do be careful young lady, I am not a toy to be playing with!" the hat exclaimed as she picked it up roughly.

"I never thought you minded when I was a young lady," she murmured.

"Ah yes, now I remember you," whispered the hat in her ear as she placed it on her head, "a great mind, just like your mother and a deep thirst to prove yourself as the truest of your family before you but I sense a reservation and trepidation. I also sense someone who has a disregard for other people's belief's and a certain mischievousness that I have ever only seen in four people before, two of which I believe to be your family.

"So, where do I put you? You are trustworthy and loyal, generous and talented, emotional and yet brave, there is only one place for you – Gryffindor!" the hat bellowed and Dumbledore smiled brazenly.

"With a father like yours Danielle, how could you not be?" he asked as he grabbed up the hat and held open the door to his study. "Oh and Danielle, if you ever need me, the password is Treacle Tart."

The doors to the castle were swung open in invite, the soft glow of the candles shimmering out onto the grounds. Harry jumped out of their carriage behind Neville and Luna and waited for Hermione and Ron to follow.

"So what did you read about the veil then Hermione?" Harry asked in a hushed voice as the passed a huddled group of disgruntled looking Ravenclaw third years.

"I don't think it's really a topic we can discuss in the open, we'll get some chairs by the fire and I'll tell you two later okay?" she asked and they nodded in reply as they entered the Great Hall.

The four House tables were stretched out before them and the ceiling was bewitched to mirror the nights, dusky purple sky. Thousands of candles floated above their heads as they made their way to the Gryffindor table, where Neville sat talking to Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan.

"So you snogged her?" Neville asked a hint of jealousy clinging to his words.

"Yeah," said Seamus, "she said she likes Irishmen! Dude I'm in there!" He spotted Harry, Ron and Hermione and beckoned them towards the empty gaps by them. "Have you met that new girl yet? Mate I hope she's in Gryffindor!"

"So you kissed her then?" Hermione asked a look of distaste on her face. Seamus nodded blissfully. "Well, she didn't tell us she'd met you. She did seem pretty close to Draco though," she told him absentmindedly.

"Filthy scum!" shouted Seamus. "I bet you he's warped her mind to the Dark Side!"

Dean burst out laughing, "Oh my God! You sound like you're part of Star Wars!"

Harry grinned but Ron looked confused and Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Boys!" she murmured as Albus Dumbledore came sweeping into the Great Hall, Danielle following him. He turned to her and whispered something and pointed towards Harry. She nodded as she started towards the Gryffindor table, waving energetically towards Draco as she went past.

"Hiya!" she stated as she bounded towards them. "Haven't forgotten me have you?"

"How could we! You hexed Malfoy!" said Ron, grinning at her. Hermione looked annoyed but said nothing as the Great Halls doors flew open and Professor McGonagall came striding in, a group of First-Years behind her. Harry pulled Danielle down next to him.

"You don't want to piss McGonagall off on your first night," he said in her ear.

"Thanks for the warning Harry, but Minerva won't mind too much, she'll just be glad I'm in her House, although she might be annoyed that I've already lost ten points from Remus…" Harry looked shocked at her words and muttered 'Dumbledore'.

"Yeah, oh I thought I'd let you know that I want to try out for Quidditch, okay?" she asked intently.

"Yeah, course, I'll let you know about tryouts okay?"

She nodded, and they looked up to the High table where all the teachers sat, surveying the students and the new First-Years.

"And now," called Professor McGonagall as the hall fell silent, "the Sorting will begin!"

She placed the Sorting Hat down on its three-legged stool and stood back as it burst into song;

'One millennia or more ago

Gave to use the future of the wizarding fate,

For came together did the founders four

To make the next magic's great.

Though Gryffindor was the bravest

And heroic beyond the rest,

Slytherin however

Believed that purity was the best;

Clever though Ravenclaw was,

She could not quell the fight,

Then Hufflepuff, surprised them all

And bathed them all with light.

Gryffindor set to stop him

His Lions by his side,

But Slytherin's departure

Set Gryffindor aside;

He created his Secret Chamber

With his monster deep within,

Murdering his love of Ravenclaw

They would not forgive his sin;

Hufflepuff stepped in though

And without her all would have failed,

She set about sealing the Chamber

And thus Hogwarts School prevailed.

The pure loyalty of Hufflepuff

With the power so unique

Will stand guard over the school

If friendship's what you seek.

The smartest ones dwell in Ravenclaw

Where the keen mind are laid to rest

Their daring to believe in knowledge

Makes their sound mind the best.

In Slytherin resides

The grudges of the past

Their cunning and self-righteousness

Only purity will surpass.

And to Gryffindor the bravest

Most courageous from the start

Where their loyalty and their trust

Set's Godric's faithful's apart.

So now you must unite

To save our gracious school

Place me on your head my friends

For the Sorting of you all!' A silence echoed around the Hall and then suddenly everyone burst into applause.

"Hey, it didn't sing that to me!" said Danielle indignantly glowering at the hat.

"I never knew that snake kill Rowena Ravenclaw!" stated Hermione, a look of pure surprise creeping to her features.

"Well, what do you know, Salazar Slytherin had a girlfriend!" said Dean, a tiny grin on his face. "That must be why Snape's not to bothered about getting none!"

Harry, who had just taken a sip of water that he had charmed into his goblet, began to choke violently. "Why would you even want to think about that?" he stated, his eyes widening in horror.

McGonagall waited for the hall to fall silent again and then, pulling the scroll of parchment open the Sorting began. "Anderson, Joseph," she called. A small boy with scruffy brown hair and blazing blue eyes hobbled forwards and placed the hat on his head and it slipped down to his nose. "HUFFLEPUFF!" roared the hat and Professor McGonagall took the hat off of his head as he ran towards the Hufflepuff table and she took another glance at the piece of paper.

"Brown, Rose," a girl with a very familiar face and long blonde hair sauntered towards the hat, and, tossing her hair backwards, allowed the hat to be placed on her waving locks. "GRYFFINDOR!" yelled the hat and the girl, who could only be the younger sister of Lavender came walking towards the table and flung her arms around her sister's neck.

The Sorting continued until Weaver, Lucie, became a Ravenclaw and the hat was carried out of the room by McGonagall. At this Dumbledore got to his feet. "Welcome to another year of Schooling. Let the feast begin!" The plates before them suddenly appeared with food, the tables groaning under the weight.

"Wow," Danielle breathed, leaning forwards to scoop some chips onto her plate.

"So, you like it here then?" Harry asked, putting a big dollop of mashed potato on his own plate.

"Well, so far, yes and everyone's being so nice to me," she added, putting a large piece of steak onto the plate. "I can't wait for lessons though; I have a feeling that they'll be totally different to Flaxes."

"How's that?" asked Hermione, cutting into her chicken.

"Well, at Flaxes you stay in the same classes. It's sort of like the Housing system here, basically, each teacher comes to us, unless it was something like Herbology or Care of Magical Creatures where we went to the grounds."

"That sounds so much better than what's going on here. Make the teachers move instead of us, I'd like to see Snape deal with that!" Ron stated, a laugh escaping his lips.

"So, you don't like Snape then?" Danielle asked looking up to the teaches table.

"No one does, well, except maybe Filch, but everyone reckons that's because Filch as a thing for Snape," Harry told Danielle, who raised an eyebrow. "Well, that's what everyone was saying last year at least, and you know, there is sort of evidence, even if some people," he looked pointedly at Hermione, "doesn't think it counts a good hard proof!"

At his last words Danielle burst into uncontrollable laughter, her goblet of Pumpkin Juice spilling over the table cloth and her large inky blue eyes leaking tears down her cheeks. "Sorry," she managed through her ragged breath, "but that was funny shit!" Harry blinked at her but thought better of asking why.

"So then," Harry said leaning towards Danielle, who had pulled a chair over near the fire, "what lessons did you take for NEWT?"

She smiled at him and, pushing a loose strand of her hair out of her face in an annoyed kind of way she too leaned in and said, "Well I'm taking DADA, Transfiguration, Potions, Charms, Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures."

"I might do the same, I'm not too sure about Care of Magical Creatures but –"

"Apparently we've got someone coming from Romania with Dragons," Danielle said over Harry. "Albus told me not to tell anyone but I don't want to be the only one studying it."

"Dragons?" asked Harry. He turned to Ron whose mouth had fallen open. "You would've thought Dumbledore wouldn't have allowed it after Norbert!"

A confused look spread across Danielle's face. "Norbert was Hagrid's pet baby Dragon, he hatched it himself, but it bit my hand and Harry and Hermione got put in detention for sending him to my brother!" said Ron, thrusting his hand in front of Danielle showing a very small, pale scar on his right hand by his thumb.

"Your brother?" she asked slowly. "His name wouldn't happen to be Charlie now, would it?"

"Yeah," said Ron. "How did you know?"

"So, he's the one coming with the Dragon's then. How comes you didn't know?" But Ron was unable to answer as Lavender launched herself at Ron and began to giggle uncontrollably. "That is just desperately sick," she told Harry, laughing at the way Lavender kept trying to kiss Ron, who was attempting to fight her off.

Harry looked up at the stair case as footfalls were heard, sure enough Hermione was standing, thick, battered and leather bound book in hand. But Lavender had finally succeeded in cornering Ron and as Hermione looked up at the four of them, the book slid heavily out of her hands, falling with a loud thud on the floor.

Ron pushed Lavender away, looking up at Hermione anxiously, pink eared and frantically trying to push Lavender off of him. "M-Mione?" he stammered.

Even from by the fire, Harry could tell that tears were falling down Hermione's face.

-- If you figure out who Danielle Parker's father is please kindly DO NOT, I can not stress that enough, say this in reviews as this is a basis to the rest of the stories and while it is quite obvious I don't want the surprise to be ruined. --