I can't believe they let me go… that sentence had been running through my head for days, ever since I had fallen asleep with Malfoy and woken up in my room. The weirdest part was that nobody had noticed I was gone, not even Jenny. She hadn't raised an eyebrow when I plopped myself down at the breakfast table with her, just smiled and passed me the bacon.

I had only once risked a glance over at Malfoy and Riddle, they had both been watching me and I wasn't surprised. I knew they were just waiting for me to run and tell a professor about what they did, or tell Jenny that I now knew her brother was evil as well. But I didn't. Riddle was too smart to have not planned ahead and secured some sort of alibi; he had as much as told me so. And as for Jenny, the threat of her secret coming out was too great to involve her. I knew my best friend, if she found out that Jeremy followed 'Lord Voldemort', and then she would lose her mind in rage and probably end up blurting out her secret in defiance of Riddle. I couldn't ruin her life like that.

So I kept quiet, but I wasn't about to keep oblivious to myself now that I knew I had Nymph blood in me. I had at first considered asking Professor Potts – Herbology – or Professor Catti about Nymphs, but then decided against it. Riddle had too many of the teachers under his 'charming' powers, I couldn't risk them mentioning it around him, I had been hurt enough.

"Miss Zima!" startled I looked up, everybody in the greenhouse was staring at me, including a rather frustrated Professor Potts. "Miss Zima, if you are going to day dream in my class I would rather you choose a less important moment then when I am explaining how not to aggravate the bubotuber."

The class snickered, enjoying my putting down in one of the only classes I was good at. Ears turning red, I mumbled a quick "I'm sorry" before finally paying attention to what was in front of me. It was really quite hideous, at first one might think it was a slug but then you noticed the way it sat in the soil, vertical, and the lumps over its body. Lumps that were currently weeping thick yellow gunk, some slid down the side of the pot and onto the table in front of me.

"Now," Professor Potts drew my attention away from the tempting-to-touch slime, "the excretion coming from the sides of the bubotuber is extremely painful to touch, hence your dragon skin gloves." She slipped on her gloves, expecting us to do the same. "And what I want you to do is to carefully strip away the yellow substance using the correct equipment, this does not mean your hands, even when covered it can be quite uncomfortable to touch." It was rather interesting watching Professor Potts scoop up the liquid and correctly put it into a potion bottle before sealing it up. Several of the girls around me made typical 'icky' noises and clung to whatever unfortunate boy was next to them. "Do calm down ladies, it is a simple task and one necessary for the less… fortunate of your school mates." She smiled, "can anybody tell me what this ingredient is used for?"

I wanted to put my hand up and answer, but even in my better classes the teachers never really picked me. Having heard from other facility how 'stupid' I was, they thought it better to save me the embarrassment of an incorrect answer.

"The undiluted pus from the bubotuber isn't good for anything other than creating rather painful boils." Even Riddle answering a question in class brought back memories of him hurting me, my entire body went ridged. Apparently the idea of hurting me was quite appealing at the moment. As Riddle spoke the Slytherin witch Parkinson next to me 'subtly' slipped some of the substance directly where my wrist would probably sit when I started collecting pus. "But diluted the pus is used for those who suffer from acne; it was discovered by Sacharissa Tugwood in 1930."

"Excellent Mr Riddle, ten points to Slytherin." Professor Potts beamed at him; Riddle inclined his head and smiled. I could see the smug tilt of his lips from across the room. "Now, because this is not a partnered activity, there will be no reason to move from your assigned seats."

Almost every Hufflepuff in the room sagged in relief-myself included-this meant I kept far away from Malfoy and Riddle. I could feel their eyes on me as I carefully wiped away the little 'present' that had been left for me on the table, the girl who put it there was now also glaring at me.

Glare away you bully, I'm not getting hurt again this week.

Like always when I worked with plants, my body stared to calm and I could almost instantly feel the land where this plant had come from. It was dank and swampy, and the bubotuber (even though it wasn't sentient) felt lost and alone. I could relate.

"It's ok; I'm all alone as well." I said, smiling down at the plant and scooping more of its yellow goodness into the bottle.

"God you're such a freak. And I should know," snorted the shrew next to me. For a second I was confused. "You know they made me pretend to be you? A pureblood witch made to pretend to be a filthy Mudblood for two days, how degrading."

"What?" then it hit me, how Riddle and Malfoy were able to kidnap me and keep anybody from noticing. Parkinson had been transformed to look like me. She must have seen my mind ticking over it because she shifted closer.

"I only wish I had been there to see you be tortured, why else would Tom have me pretend to be you if he wasn't teaching…you…a…lesson." Her voice lowered in volume with each word. I moved a little closer to hear the last words. "You really are a clumsy freak."

Pain! Sucking in a breath I pulled back my arm, in my eagerness to hear more of her words Parkinson had dripped some of the pus onto my skin between the glove and my top. I wanted for the bubbling skin to start, or maybe the sickening noise of my flesh melting, but nothing more happened, just a sharp jolt of pain, and then nothing. I gingerly lifted my hand off the wound, Parkinson gleefully watching. And all there was to see was my normal skin with a little slither of yellow liquid on it.

"What!?" my arm was grabbed and roughly pulled closer, glaring at me Parkinson yanked off her glove and swiped a finger through the liquid before I could stop her. Instantly she shrieked, and kept on screaming. The class went into instant panic mode, some dropping whatever they were holding in surprise as the Slytherin girl sobbed and held her hand close to her chest.

Despite myself I tried to help, "No you have t—" I reached forward to pull her hand back, before the pus fizzed through her top too, but she reeled backwards.

"Get away from me, you filthy Mudblood! You tricked me, made me hurt myself," accused the crying girl.

Over the theatrics, Professor Potts finally stormed forward, he girth knocking over a few empty pots as she went. "That is enough Miss Parkinson; Miss Zima tricked you into nothing. You must have slipped your hand in some." Furiously she grabbed Parkinson's free hand and pulled the girl along behind her, "This is what happens when you take your gloves off. Foolish girl. The rest of you finish harvesting the pus, I will take Miss Parkinson to the Hospital Wing." Still mumbling angrily about 'students who don't listen', Professor Potts left the greenhouse, the Slytherin girl trailing behind.

We all looked at the door for a moment, most perhaps hoping something else exciting would happen, but it didn't move. Shrugging it off the rest of the class went back to work; I couldn't stop staring at the faint yellow outline where the pus had landed on me. Carefully I rubbed it off beneath the table, hoping nobody noticed. A quick glance around confirmed that most were finishing up the assignment, except for two. Riddle and Malfoy were both watching me, their perfectly full bottles of yellow gunk on the table in front of them. The blond was looking between the yellow pus on my table and my arm where it had been smeared on; Riddle was looking at my face, he seemed almost gleeful about something. It was never good when either of them were happy.

Quicker than I probably should have, I deposited the rest of the goo into its bottle and capped it. Then saying a quick – and quiet – goodbye to my bubotuber, left the greenhouse with most of the other finished students, my kidnappers curiously staying behind.

"Ok you've been quite and weird for a week now. What is up with you?" Jenny had managed to sit next to me silent for a whole minute, before almost tossing her fork away in passion. When I didn't answer, she growled a little and snatched a bread bun from the table in front of us.

I wanted to run and hide from her questions, "nothing is wrong."

"Bullshit." Uncouth as always, Jenny poked her tongue out at a younger classmate who gasped at her language. Smiling I grabbed a bun myself and took a bite. Triumphantly a finger was pointed at me, "I knew it! You're back to being you, well sort of, you're still being weird as hell."

I chuckled, finishing off the bun. "I am not being weird; I'm just trying to understand what is going on at the moment. The second I do and it's safe to tell you, I promise I will."

"Phfft." She glared over at the Slytherin table for a moment, "the only way it will be safe is with Riddle and his blond pet in the ground."

I winced, the idea of me being the reason anybody died was deplorable. Yes Riddle and Malfoy deserved to have something done to them; being locked up in Azkaban for the rest of their natural lives would suit well.

Jenny caught my wince, "don't tell me you would actually let them live if you had the choice?!" She looked pointedly at my wrists, slight bruises still covered them. "I'm not as dumb as you think, I know something is up, something more than what I already know."

I repeated myself, "the second I can tell you, I will."

She gave me a harsh glare, then relaxed and grabbed my hand. "I believe you."

Thursday afternoons I could usually be found in the library, buried in some out of sight corner reading about mythical creatures, which was why I knew that when I snuck out of the Castle that Riddle and Malfoy wouldn't know where I had gone; I was a creature of habit after all.

But today trees soared high above me, their countless leaves almost blocking out the sun; but then I didn't exactly need the light to see where I was going. The Forbidden Forest would always be like another home to me.

Research about Nymphs had led me to explore the forest further than I ever had before; already I had passed the point I usually used as advice to go back. Walking over to a giant oak, I toed off my shoes and socks, placing them beneath the tree. The ground was damp and cold; clenching my toes I closed my eyes and focused. After reading a book on Forest Nymphs and how they could tap into their inner powers to sense what is around them, I was eager to try it. But all I could feel was the mud as it stuck between my toes. Disappointed I glared down at my feet, willing them to be magical.

"You're doing it wrong."

Yelping I stumbled back into the oak expecting to see either a blond or black haired boy, instead a man stood in front of me, or to be more accurate a Centaur stood in front of me. He was magnificent with four powerful looking legs and quite possibly the most muscular looking torso I had ever seen. Dragging my eyes away from his more eye-catching attributes I met his gaze, he was amused and this confused me.

"A—aren't you going to kill me?" Gulping in a breath, I remembered reading a story of what a Centaur herd did to a group of wizards trespassing on their land.

The Centaur snorted out a laugh, his hoofs stamping in the ground. "Why would I kill a Nymph? It has been many hundreds of years since one of your kind has graced this forest, already the trees are singing with pleasure at your presence." He frowned and looked over my outfit, "But why do you wear the clothes of a Wizard?"

Still wary of his hoofs squashing me, I tentatively replied "because I—I'm a Witch…"

He took a step forward and sniffed the air, every each of him tensing when he did, he glared at me. "You are a half-breed!" Snorting he stomped closer.

"No! Wait, don't kill me." Whimpering I looked around the clearing, but instead of help I only saw more Centaurs appearing. "I only just discovered what I am. Please, I just want to understand myself."

The Centaur in front of me stopped his advance, "It is not my aim to kill you. To kill any Nymph, even a half-breed, would be an unforgivable act."

More of the Centaurs were venturing into the clearing around us. Mostly they were male, and all were staring at me as if fascinated. "Why are they looking at me like that?" I questioned.

"As I had said, you are the first Nymph any of us have seen, they are as curious as I to your intent with our home." He straightened suddenly, "ah forgive me half-breed, I forget human customs, my name is Ice. Perhaps now you will be more at ease with our presence, and allow us to continue living here."

I blinked dumbly, having to process a lot of information. "I don't have any intent with your home, why would I?"

Ice motioned at my feet, "You remove your bindings and plant your feet, do you not mean to claim this forest as your home? And command all those you dislike to leave?"

Realizing I had made some social blunder, I slipped my shoes back on without socks. "I didn't mean to make it seem like I was claiming your home. I read that Nymphs can sense things around them with their feet planted, I just wanted to try."

Ice laughed, as did many of the Centaurs around the clearing. "I did wonder why you had done the ritual incorrectly. Would you perhaps be interested in learning the correct way?"

Somebody actually offering to help me?

I tried not to sound too eager, "Yes please."

Smiling Ice backed up until he was in a more open area, shooing away any Centaurs in his way, apparently he held some position of power within the herd. "Come half-breed."

"Actually my name is Antoinette," I followed him away from the tree.

"Antoinette," he tested it on his tongue and nodded as if the name was 'fitting' of me. "Are you truly ignorant of your powers?"

I blushed, "I know I'm good at Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures." He looked confused. "Ah, caring for plants and animals."

"But you cannot perform magic as those wizards do?" he spat the word 'wizard' out, made me wonder how he even tolerated a half-breed witch.

I thought to all my failed attempts at magic, "not really, no."

Ice hummed under his breath, "this is because you are not truly a witch." I opened my mouth to argue, but he beat me to it. "Do not be offended Antoinette, this is not a curse, rather a blessing. Wizards are trapped within what they understand through learning and knowledge. As a Nymph you learn through experience and connection to the earth, a great blessing and one that will continue to evolve and grow as you do."

"So I'll never be able to do magic properly?" A large part of me was sad that I would never get to send a stinging hex Riddle's way, but then that would probably be tantamount to suicide.

Snorting the Centaur stamped his hoofs making me jump in fright, "so long as you are connected to the earth, you will have no need of their knowledge-magic."

Fat lot of good that does me with Riddle and Malfoy keeping me locked in stone room, or under their watchful eyes all the time.

"But you wish to learn to sense the world around you, am I correct?" asked Ice, I nodded. "Very well then, remove your feet bindings." Doing as I was told, I relished that removing my shoes felt as good as it did the first time, the earth beneath my feet cold but welcoming. "Rather than close your eyes, you must look beyond what you might normally see. Un-focus your eyes to the world others would see, and instead sense what you wish to."

I tried doing what he said, un-focusing my eyes until they blurred with un-blinked tears. The Centaurs stood patiently around me, silent and still as the trees surrounding us. But I could only see them, I couldn't actual sense them. Frustrated, true tears leaked down my cheeks. I had so wanted to be able to sense what was around me, desperate for any advantage I might have over Riddle and his obsession with me.

"I'm sorry Ice; I just don't think I am a very good Nymph."

Smiling the Centaur placed his hand on my shoulder. "It takes many moons for the young ones to learn this skill, even one as powerful as you will take some time to learn themselves and their skills."

He moved back towards his slowly departing herd, "should you wish for more help, you have only to come to this clearing and I will sense you."

I nodded eagerly at his words, "of course, thank you Ice."

He bowed his head, "You are welcome Nymph," then departed with the rest of his people.

The clearing was silent, almost too silent. For a moment I stood where I was, shifting my toes in the soil again, before noticing how cold it was. A breeze swept up my legs, instantly chilling me.

Guess my Nymph abilities don't extend to personal heating…

Even though I was cold, wet and shivering, I smiled. Today I had, totally by accident, managed to find somebody to teach me what it meant to be a Nymph without Riddle finding out. Still smiling, I tossed on my shoes and rushed from the clearing, knowing I needed to get back to the Castle before lights-out.