Harry, Ron, Hermione, Luna, and Neville made their way to the great hall. As the thestral drawn carriages drew up he noticed that their eyes seemed to flame with an even fiercer and threatening red than the year before. A shiver ran down his spine as one looked him in the eye. Still curious about how the Slytherins were acting he watched as a huge clump of them moved to the back of the line of carriages. The night was dark and the moon wasn't casting much light but he swore they were trying to keep something out of view from the other students.

Luna who was just getting into the carriage was also watching the Slytherin's strange behavior, she and Harry exchanged a strange look. Just as they were all getting inside their own carriages a figure who was unmistakably Dumbledore approached them. Harry watched as the headmaster went up to Malfoy and started talking to him, it was the first time he had ever seen Malfoy talk to a teacher other than Snape without a smirk on his face. He vaguely made out Malfoy nodding, but what happened after that was anyone's guess. One minute Dumbledore stood by Malfoy's carriage door the next he made one sweeping gesture and disappeared. Harry thought he saw some sort of shape going with him but couldn't be sure.

The Slytherins now seemed to be acting with relative normality and entered their carriages. Harry withdrew his head from the window and sat back down in his seat, Luna climbed up and sat by him.

"Something's going on." She told him under her breath while the rest of the cabin were engaged in a conversation about quidditch.

"Never would have guessed," he replied sarcastically giving her a sidelong look. Luna rolled her eyes.

"Don't be stupid Harry it doesn't suit you. Neither does self pity, I'm just saying watch out." She quickly moved over to the other side of the carriage by Neville and joined in the conversation with the others. Harry started to feel guilty over his treatment of Luna, he had a strange affinity towards her and of all the others she seemed to understand best about his feelings over Sirius' death. He wanted to say sorry but something stopped him. He had the sudden urge to bang his head against the carriage. I've really got to get my act together otherwise I'm going to lose everyone.

After Dumbledore had literally whisked her away from the Slytherins Raveyn took a few seconds to get her bearings. When she did she was met with smiling blue eyes and the first friendly face she'd seen all day.

"Sit down my dear, you still must be quite weak." Raveyn sat down in the chair he gestured to, for a few seconds there was a strange silence as Dumbledore examined the girl in front of him. "I wasn't quite ready for how much you would like your mother," he explained quietly. Raveyn smiled gently, not quite knowing how to respond. She didn't know this man; hell, she barely knew her mother, what was she supposed to talk about with him?

"People say I'm the spitting image of my father actually."

Well done Rave, you almost sound normal, after three months in Malfoy Manor I'm surprised you still have it in you. Now if you would just stop have silent conversations with yourself we might be onto something….

Dumbledore smiled and laughed quietly. Raveyn looked up at him, was he laughing at what she had just said aloud or the verbal battle inside her head?

"I suppose you are my dear, it seems it's possible to be the image of both mother and father at the same time." Maybe the Malfoy's were wrong when they assumed he could read minds. She pondered this for a moment.

Her eyes grew sharp whilst lost in thought, like a hunter judging prey. Dumbledore's face-hardened; all thoughts of her mother and father were forgotten.

"Raveyn I need to talk to you about what has happened. My doors are always open for you of course, but the safety of--"

"You don't have to explain," she smiled, but inside she was dying. Where was a convenient big, black hole when you needed one? Honestly? They really should be more accessible, especially to girls whose very existence seems to be considered a health risk. She looked up at Dumbledore, feeling strangely stupider for feeling embarrassed.

She was sure that behind those neutral crystalline eyes he had to be reading her like a book, her every insecurity in plain sight. A person with that kind of insight was dangerous. Behind her vision flashed a dirt floor and cruel eyes. She blinked the flashback away before those eyes could smile.

Dumbledore was watching her again; she guessed that he expected her to continue after she had interrupted him. She wanted to, but somehow her voice was lost as she stared into his sparkling eyes.

Something in those playful yet indifferent depths caused her to decide in that moment that she liked him, she didn't care if he saw through her—she had nothing to hide from him. She always assumed she would find him to be an ally when she arrived at Hogwarts just because he was her enemy's enemy; but, she realized, there was more to it than that… something deep within her nature told her to trust him.

The corners of his mouth seemed to smile a little; though his expression was still grave. She finally opened her mouth to speak.

"Where to start?" Seriously, where to start? "I suppose I should tell you it didn't work." Yes that is a bit of essential info Raveyn.

Unconsciously her hand rose to the now familiar necklace about her neck, Dumbledore's eyes rested on it, she noticed his muscles tense slightly. She continued, but with a little less confidence. "What I mean is it didn't work completely, when he bound me to him, I didn't…" she couldn't think of the right word, "take?" she ended pathetically.

Dumbledore raised his eyebrow; she really felt as if her soul was on show then, as if he was scouring it for something. After several moments he sighed and leaned back.

"You understand why I hesitate Raveyn, this kind of magic has never failed to my knowledge." Raveyn looked down, she couldn't deny that even though she was happy she wasn't some kind of shell that she wasn't worried about why the spell hadn't worked. She had spent many hours staring at her bed sheets, wondering what this could possibly mean for her while she had been recovering in her room at the manor.

The whole situation was so frustrating. She started fiddling with her hands in her laps, watching her thumbs fight out her inner turmoil. Finally, she raised her eyes to Dumbledore's. her expression defiant, resolute.

"I'm not lying Dumbledore, I may be somewhat tied to him but I'm still myself. Malfoy can attest to that, if you'll believe him that is. I know the word of Lucius Malfoy's son isn't much but..." she trailed off for a second before coming back to earth. "I can resist Dumbledore, I haven't had to yet but I know I can. I know what they want me to do and I am determined not to go along with it. I've never bowed down to anyone and I'm not about to start." The fire in her eyes made Dumbledore smile. He could see clearly that although Voldemort lurked in the depths of her mind she was no more dangerous than Harry, at least for now.

"Well my dear, with the circumstances as they are let me explain some...guidelines to follow. And what you should do when Voldemort decides to drop in.

Harry was starving. He couldn't believe how many first years there had been! If the list had gone on much longer he would have been tempted to start chewing on the tap dancing fungus Luna occasionally had brought out of her pocket during the sorting. Finally Dumbledore stood up to make his traditional pre dinner speech, he hoped that it would be a short one.

"Settle down now settle down" Dumbledore raised his arms and immediately the great hall descended into silence. "I have an announcement before we eat tonight." The giant oak doors of the great hall swung open and in came a figure. It was a girl, around Harry's age, she was maybe an inch shorter than Hermione yet the way she carried herself made her seem significantly taller than she was. Ripples of raven black hair flowed across her shoulders shrouding her face. She walked with a gentle elegance and power about her, which seemed almost majestic. Immediately his hunger vanished, swallowed up by curiosity.

Ron, Harry and Hermione exchanged a look of confusion. Harry watched her every move. This girl hadn't come in with the other new students and her figure told him there was no way she could be a first year. And there was something else about her that bothered him. She seemed so incredibly familiar, but he couldn't place where he had seen her before. The effort of remembering was too much for him and his head was enveloped in pain. He still hadn't fully recovered from his head injury and he found remembering things tried his brain a lot more than thinking normally.

The hum of dozens of voices whispering in wonderment broke the hall's silence. Harry let his eyes leave the mysterious new figure for a moment to wander the other occupants' reactions. Maybe he wasn't the only one that recognized her, but each face he examined was as confused as the next. Finally his eyes rested on the Slytherin table.

Almost all of the faces were indifferent. Harry didn't expect the Slytherins to react the same way as the rest of the school (that would be too common for them), but the Slytherins weren't that skilled at hiding their true emotions, and when Harry saw that a vast majority of the Slytherins had no surprise at all in their eyes he became more confused.

Where had he seen her before? And where had the Slytherins seen her before—it was the only possible reason they were so subdued while the rest of the school was buzzing.

Finally his eyes rested upon Malfoy. There was an emotion in Malfoy's face he had never seen before, but before he could put a name to it Dumbledore asked for silence.

The girl walked up to the headmaster and waited by his side. "We have a new student at Hogwarts. "At this confirmation the entire Hall quickly erupted in a mass of murmurings. But looking at Dumbledore's face they all abruptly stopped. "As you may have guessed, Raveyn," He took a pause for her name to sink in with the students, "Is not a first year." He continued. "She has been transferred here after going through several different wizarding schools. She will be joining the ranks of the sixth years. Now if I can hold your attention for a little bit longer, she must be sorted." He gestured for Raveyn to sit on the stool. She walked to it without hesitation or signs of nervousness.

Ron turned to Harry and Hermione and whispered "Bloody 'ell. She's calm I almost cried going up there and that was with the rest of the first years. Imagine doing it alone." Harry smiled at this and silently he agreed with Ron. He'd face the dark lord any day but being sorted alone in front of the entire school… not his cup of tea. Hermione retorted in hushed tones.

"Not everyone's as in touch with their feelings as you are Ron." Hermione turned away to watch smirking. Ron's ears turned pink, he opened his mouth as if to say something but then thought better of it and shut it again.

Harry's attention turned back to the girl, Raveyn, awaiting the hat to be placed upon her head. Apparently the hat had a song just for her. Just as it was about to sing Raveyn looked up through her eyelashes. Harry's sparkling green eyes met her intense black orbs. They were so dark they would have been an abyss if not for the reflection of the candlelight in them.

An attention-seeking cough escaped from the hat breaking their brief connection.

You've heard my song before this night

But never quite like this

A pretty girl has entered our sight

Without warning, is something amiss?

She isn't the age she should be

She isn't what she's not

Don't trust what you see

Hidden inside of her is something time forgot

Here she will find love

Here she will endure pain

For you see this white dove

Knows something she won't name

Will her time here be spent in Slytherin, with smoke and jeweled mirrors as her lot?

Or will she live in Ravenclaw, which suits her does it not?

Perhaps in Hufflepuff she should earn her fame?

Or is it the lion's den that her dice hath lain?

In Griffindor? Such fate might not please.

But I had better find out, so that empty bellies can eat some cheese.

The hat's serenade ended and nobody knew quite what to make of the song it had sung. Malfoy thought over what it had said for a moment and frowned. He hadn't liked how the song had sounded. Throughout his eyes had never left Raveyn's and he'd seen the worry and surprise in her eyes when the hat seemed to touch on subjects that were not meant to be heard. He was proud though that she never let her mask slip, she was still the picture of calm confidence.

He watched as the hat was placed upon her head, he knew that she would be placed in Slytherin. It was part of the plan and everyone knew it, with Voldemort's influence upon her how could the hat not sort her with him? He tried to ignore his clenching stomach. There was always a slim possibility….He shook his head dismissing the thought.

He watched her sitting there, her eyes staring into nothingness, lost inside of herself. He hadn't expected it to take this long...

So my dear you're at Hogwarts finally. I knew you had to come sometime, despite everything. Raveyn didn't know what to think. Oh yes I know all about you Raveyn. After a beat it corrected itself. Rave.

There was a short pause before it continued.

I knew your mother and father and brothers. I even knew your stepmother.

Hmm... so it's happened I see...such a shame. Of course there have been whispers….

So the plan is for you to go into Slytherin then? Well I suppose that could be the choice I make.

Raveyn tensed.

Ahh you don't want to go along with the plans? Good.

You've fought your way here I see.

You would make an amazing Slytherin though...its all here in your mind, I see it all. But your heart Rave and your spirit I see those too. They both still shine true. Hmmm… so much lies in the choice of a talking hat. It really is quite ridiculous. Though technically it is not I who make this decision but what lies between your ears- an idea just as ridiculous if you ask me.

What webs! What paths! But that is the nature of mortals.

You're very strong, intelligent perhaps a little too stubborn... ahh choices, choices.

You are sure you don't want to follow the plan Raveyn?

I don't want to be evil she wished.

The hat twitched lightly.

I know you don't Raveyn. Fight on my dear, remember, nothing can control you without your permission. You have your own light that guides you through the darkest places. You just have to have faith.

What do you mea--

"GRIFFINDOR!"

Cheers rang out on the Griffindor table and the whole hall clapped. All except for the Slytherins. The sons and daughters of death eaters looked at each other in dismay.

Goyle murmured to Malfoy "this is bad." Malfoy nodded in agreement. This was bad and even though the decision had been completely out of his hands he knew he would be punished for it. Someone had to be.

But that wasn't what troubled him the most. He had wanted Rave to be with him at Hogwarts, but even more so he had wanted Raveyn far away from Harry Potter.

"Damn" he swore under his breath.

Raveyn stepped down from the stage. She turned to Dumbledore and saw that his eyes were filled with pride and perhaps a little relief. She smiled a secret smile to herself, Raveyn two Voldemort one.

She looked up and down the Griffindor table at the friendly and yet apprehensive faces. She didn't know where to go, immediately she wished there had been a spell to make it seem she wasn't new. A voice from behind her interrupted her thoughts.

"Raveyn you can sit here if you want."

She turned to the voice and there was the pretty brunette who had been dutifully described in detail to her by Draco. She was just as she had pictured. Well, wasn't that the point of those hours of descriptions Rave?

Ignoring herself, she smiled at the girl she had longed to meet for so long despite all Draco had told her, and slid in beside her. Finally dinner was served, and no matter how prepared she was for the sudden appearance of the meal she couldn't stop her surprised reaction and a slight jump. She looked up to find Harry's eyes on her.

Harry knew he had seen her somewhere before but couldn't place her. Her reaction to the food bothered him even more; it was as if she'd never experienced the magical world before. She raised her eyebrow slightly; prompting him to ask her what was on his mind. Their view of each other was partially blocked by Ron reaching over to grab some of the cheese promised to him by the sorting hat.

"Your other schools didn't use magic at meals then?" Raveyn paused and swallowed her mouthful of potato.

"Well, not exactly. Not every school is like Hogwarts; actually, I haven't been to one like this before." Points for not lying. This won't be too hard…

"Your parents never served dinner like this?" Ron said with a mouthful of chips. Raveyn remembered her father's Macaroni Cheese; it had always tasted pretty magical. A smile spread across her lips.

"No we never used magic at home."

"You're muggleborn?" asked Hermione. Hmm, trust Hermione. Well here goes. If you pull off this backstory Rave, you will have earned yourself some of that chocolate cake.

"No my parents hid the fact that they were wizards and witches until just before I attended my first school, I was brought up as a muggle. When they told me I was a witch... well I choked on my breakfast and had to be given the Heimlich."

They all smiled a little at her story, seemingly having heard stranger things.

Make way for the chocolate massacre!

Harry watched her as Raveyn and Hermione started to get to know each other.

She seemed to be intelligent, maybe even more than Hermione. But her attitude towards school seemed to be more relaxed; her academic achievement, it seemed, came naturally and she wasn't driven to obsess over it. If she had, Hermione might have had her work cut for her out to remain number one student at Hogwarts.

Her eyes sparkled and her mouth always seemed to be smiling, not in an obnoxious peppy way; it was an easy friendly smile that played across her lips. He couldn't help but smile with her.

Raveyn watched as Ron and Hermione squabbled over the amount he was pouring on his plate. It was so nice to have dinner without the awful tension or fear she had been used to at Malfoy Manor. Hogwarts was warm and magical. A haven from the rest of the world, immediately she was home and the need for her family left her. She was safe and happy, surrounded by people she could relate to (even if Ron seemed to be a bit reluctant to include her and Harry barely said a word).

Raveyn wished she could entice Harry to say more about himself, she felt strangely drawn to him, attached in someway. This wasn't really a surprise; after all, if part of Voldemort now lived in her, so did a part of Harry.

She shivered at this sudden realization.

Her ebony eyes leaving Hermione's pleasant smile for a moment, she looked over at the boy with messy black hair and green eyes. He was content, murmuring to Ron and eating.

How carefree he must be to have no real hold of the big picture, to have the kind of resistance against Voldemort as he had. I wish… But she left the thought at that, and turned back to Hermione.

She could not resist interaction with him for long though. Being so close to him, it was almost as if she could hear his memories, his experiences. Every reference to the past that Hermione made, Raveyn had an immediate visual of. The slideshow of his experiences was entrancing.

At one point he reached over and grabbed a pastry filled with ginger. He tasted it, and Raveyn could almost feel it on her tongue at the same time. And with the strange exotic taste causing her taste buds to dance she was entreated with an image of deep crimson hair being whipped around; the facets of red in each strand dazzling in the sunlight.

Something strange happened then, her train of thought seemed to divert away from his and yet she was seeing the same crimson hair, smelling the same ginger, just from a different angle. The thought progression halted suddenly, she realized her mouth was hanging open; she closed it abruptly and looked over at Harry.

He seemed just as dazzled by the vision as she, a sadness crept into his eyes. Despite her confusion, she could feel nothing but sympathy for him then and wanted more than anything to tell him that she understood. Understood? Understood what exactly?

This was all becoming too confusing.

After discussing the finer points of astronomy with Hermione, Raveyn turned to Harry, wanting to have a bit more normal interaction with him.

"So Harry, from what I've heard you had a childhood similar to mine."

He looked up at her and smiled a bit mischievously. She couldn't help but do the same.

"In a way, I was brought up the same way except with my Aunt and Uncle...it wasn't a pleasant experience"

Raveyn nodded recalling images of Harry's childhood. Harry brought her back to earth by asking her a question that she heard vaguely in the back of her mind.

"I really loved my childhood, I had a wonderful time it was filled with magic and warmth" She told him with a passionate nostalgia she had not anticipated. She was more homesick than she let herself realize.

"I don't understand muggles," he paused and looked up, his mouth twisted in a shocked expression despite being full of food. "Not that you're a muggle, but y'know you said…"

Raveyn just nodded. He looked relieved and the flush that was slowly climbing up his ears seemed to fall back down.

"I mean I know they have a great time. And magic isn't everything but bloody hell it seems so dull." Ron remarked, his mouth still stuffed with some kind of unrecognizable food. Raveyn grinned at this and Harry shook his head fondly.

"At least muggles know not to talk with their mouthful Ron." Hermione said sharply but with a friend's teasing tone underneath. Ron tried to reply to this but his mouth was so full of food he just started choking. His face turning to shade of pink his ears had yet again turned.

"Heimlich time?" Harry asked, giving Raveyn a sidelong glance "you know how to do it right Raveyn you must have practice at it?" She looked at him, her eyes deadly and laughing at the same time.

"Well I wasn't really conscious when they did it to me but I've watched enough of Casualty to get the drift of it. Anyway he's ok, you should only worry when they stop making noises."

She told all three of them, a chip in her hand accentuating her point. "Right Ron?"

A strangled squeak came out of Ron's mouth.

"Right," Raveyn finished for him. They all laughed and finally Ron unblocked his windpipe. After several wild gestures and strange noises. He gasped for air and hurriedly drank down his water. Hermione let out a quiet "tut".

"That is why you shouldn't eat with your mouth full Ronald." She told him snippily.

Raveyn laughed, she thought she'd forgotten how to laugh so freely.

It was such a change from what had been her life over the past months. To be able to just laugh and talk without a cloud hanging over you all the time. To be around people who would tease and enjoy each other's company, it was if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She could have easily been content watching them interact with each other all night.

Dinner was drawing to a close. Many had either finished or in the process of finishing their meal and the level of conversation grew. The Hall was alive with laughter and warm hum of friends reacquainting with each other. Ron stuffed his pockets with food and the lively conversation continued between the four of them.

Draco walked up to the Griffindor table, a place he rarely ventured to. Much to his dismay he saw Rave acting very friendly towards Granger, Weasley and worst of all Potter. He walked up behind Rave.

Both Ron and Harry saw him and immediately got ready for a confrontation.

Rave felt someone behind her and when she saw Harry and Ron's faces she knew who it was. Despite her best efforts she couldn't suppress the wish that Draco hadn't approached.

"Don't worry Potter I'm not here for you." He said viciously, his manner dismissive. Harry's face contorted from being ready to pounce to being consumed with hatred for Malfoy. Ron's face mirrored Harry's, Malfoy's eyes drifted to the slightly worn shoulders on Ron's robes. He didn't need to say a word to make Ron react the red head's ears turned pink and he swiftly looked down at the table, muttering something inaudible.

A sigh brought Malfoy back to his task. He looked down at Rave who locked her beautiful dark eyes with his, they shone with disappointment. Immediately he regretted falling back into his old routine with Harry and Ron.

He wanted to touch her cheek and tell her sorry but he couldn't. He wasn't in Rave's room anymore talking the day away. He was Malfoy, the Malfoy she had only seen in the beginning and occasionally saw around his father. He couldn't show the side he'd saved for her here, he'd be eaten alive, lose his reputation, or worse be prey for Potter and Weasley.

"Rave, you in Griffindor, father won't be pleased." He said with the same voice he'd used with Harry.

Raveyn couldn't believe what she was seeing! Malfoy was being the idiot he had been when they had first met.

She was angry, angry at him for being such an idiot, and angry at herself for letting him get to her. The adrenaline started to rush through her and she was glad of it.

"I don't do what Lucius says wants Draco, you know that of all people."

It pained him to she her face so indifferent, it was the face she used for his father seeing her look at him like that cut him to the bone. He took her hand and helped her stand up from the bench; quickly he led her a little away from everyone else. Not very far mind you, but far enough to show that his attention was on Raveyn and Raveyn alone.

Hermione raised an eyebrow. Harry just watched stunned.

Ron was ready to tie her to a stake and burn her.

Draco leaned into her no longer holding her hand.

"Sorry, it just comes out naturally here" Rave examined him for a second and then sighed and nodded, not looking at him.

"I know Draco, look I'm not asking you to be friends with them or even to be nice. Just if you could just not do it so much especially not when I'm around. I know you hate them all but I'm not in Slytherin and they're," she winced slightly knowing that the next word out of her mouth would annoy him no end, "nice." She wasn't pleading with him, far from it, but she knew that without this type of persuasion he would hold it against her. She didn't want that; she loved him after all, "please?"

"Fine" he said resignedly, "I'll do better" Smiling again he gave her a wink. "Night Rave."

"Night Draco." He leant in to kiss her, she wasn't big on public displays- Malfoy manor had knocked that straight out of her, but if she didn't let him he'd never let her forget it or trust her with Hermione, Ron, and Harry. So, she let him kiss her on the lips gently, painfully aware of the many eyes watching their every move.

When he saw her discomfort he felt his heart twinge slightly. He looked over her head to the Griffindor table and saw Harry watching him with growing anger and watching Raveyn with...as she began to walk away he grabbed her wrist.

"Promise me one thing." Raveyn studied him having never seen him act so strangely. He looked deep into her eyes "Never fall for Potter." He enunciated the word never with a calm aggression that caused Raveyn to shiver.

"I promise," She told him, her voice a little dazed. Her eyes scrutinizing his own as if looking for something, shaking her head she walked away from him. She hesitated for a second and turned back and flashed him a smile, before turning towards the Gryffindors again. For a few seconds he watched her walk back to her table before walking out of the dining hall, not quite sure what to think about the events of that night.

Raveyn returned to her seat with an awkward look on her face, aware of what everyone on the table was thinking she cringed slightly.

She usually didn't care what others thought of her but she had been so set on becoming friends with these people that she seemed to have gained a level of insecurity she thought she had put behind her long ago.

"He's really not that bad." She told them trying desperately to break the awkward silence that had descended on the four of them

All three of them raised their eyebrows. Raveyn looked down at the table, just when I was having fun.