I've seen a few reviews on the last chapter and added an author's note, but I will mention it here as well. I made a mistake with Luna by putting her in the wrong house and in the wrong year. I changed her house back to Ravenclaw, but I will not change her year as it doesn't affect the plot at all and works well for what's going on with her and Sven.

I also forgot to put page breaks in the chapters and have fixed that as well.

Other than that, thank you for all the reviews (except those who put "nyahaha" as I know who you are and you know it frustrates me)! Hope you all enjoy this one too!

I flexed my hands into fists and back again, focusing on breathing evenly through my mouth in a vain attempt to avoid smelling the blood still on my fingers. Having moved into Lockhart's office, the situation concerning my… problem had lessened with less people around. Still, there were quite a few people remaining. Harry, Ron and Hermione were awkwardly huddled together waiting. Dumbledore and McGonagall were examining Mrs. Norris, while Filch sobbed in a chair near the desk and Lockhart rambled on and on about what could have happened. Lockhart was thankfully ignored as Dumbledore finally announced what had happened to the cat.

"She has been petrified, but how, I cannot say."

"Ask him!" Filch demanded, whipping to me and glaring.

"No first year could have done this," Dumbledore argued for me. "It would take Dark Magic of the most advanced—"

"He did it! He did it!" Filch pressed, face getting redder and heart pumping ever faster with his rage. "You saw what he wrote on the wall! The blood is all over his fingers! And don't you dare think I don't know about your nightly wandering! You probably planned this all out and dragged them with ya ta blame them like all the other snakes!"

I was getting frustrated and the echoing of his heart and his blood in my ears was only adding to my aggravation. "I didn't touch her."

"Lies! You're lying!"

My hand slammed on the desk as I finally lost it for a moment—sharp canines bared in a snarl. "I said I didn't touch her!"

A heavy hand landed on my shoulder and I stiffened, sharp eyes snapping to Dumbledore who smiled at me softly, though I could feel the silent order to calm down. I jerked free of his grip and stepped away from the desk, further away from the others to try and grab hold of those fraying emotions. Emotions that had been lurking in the back of my mind ever since I'd been offered a place at Hogwarts. I dragged a hand through my hair, pulling lightly at the strands before someone cleared their throat.

I glanced up to find Snape's cold eyes boring down on me and a goblet in his hand. I hesitantly took the offered blood and drank it. The relief was immediate, and while I could still hear their hearts pounding away, the urge to actually take a bite had faded to a dull ache.

"If I might speak, Headmaster," Snape said then, voice as smooth and thick as ever. "Potter and his friends may have simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time. The same goes for Mr. Rydell. But we do have a set of suspicious circumstances here. Why were any of them in the corridor at all? Why weren't they at the Halloween feast?"

"Sir Nicholas invited us to a Death Day Party in the dungeons," I answered simply.

Snape's eyes narrowed. "But why not join the feast afterward? Why go up to that corridor?"

Ron and Hermione turned to Harry, but I answered instead.

"Harry and I heard something."

Harry looked almost ready to argue, shocked. I didn't understand why. It was the truth, or most of it, anyway.

"We were on our way back to the feast, but heard something odd and went to see what it was," I reiterated.

"And the blood?" He pointed out, eyeing my stained fingers.

I glanced at them for only a moment. "I went to see how fresh the writing was. If it was paint or actual blood."

Snape's eyes narrowed, turning to the three Gryffindors. "And you three just followed? I do believe I know how the Slytherin and Gryffindor houses… get along. It's highly unlikely you just followed him."

I glanced back at the trio and Ron, thankfully, was willing to say the words.

"W-We thought he might have been up to something! He left before us, so… so we just followed to make sure."

"Yet, he just said you were together," Snape countered.

"I knew they were following me," I stepped in. "I didn't make it obvious though, so they didn't know."

Snape didn't believe us at all. "I suggest, Headmaster, that Potter and his friends are not being entirely truthful," he said. "It might be a good idea if he were deprived of certain privileges until he is ready to tell us the whole story. I personally feel he should be taken off the Gryffindor Quidditch team until he is ready to be honest."

"Really, Severus," McGonagall argued sharply. "I see no reason to stop the boy playing Quidditch. This cat wasn't hit over the head with a broomstick. There is no evidence at all that Potter has done anything wrong."

"Innocent until proven guilty," Dumbledore added, though there was one other who wasn't pleased.

"My cat has been petrified! I want to see some punishment!"

"We will be able to cure her, Argus," Dumbledore countered easily. "Professor Sprout recently managed to procure some Mandrakes. As soon as they have reached their full size, I will have a potion made that will revive Mrs. Norris." He gestured to the trio then. "You three may go. I have just a few more words for Mr. Rydell."

They were quick to leave with only Hermione giving me a small worried glance before the door closed behind them. I stood by and waited as Dumbledore calmed the bickering between Lockhart and Snape, ushering them out along with Filch and his cat. He and I were left alone together and he gestured for me to follow him up to his office. I did so silently, feeling a mild sense of unease given my recent outburst and the struggle he'd obviously been witness to when he came upon us in the corridor.

We passed a gargoyle that leaped out of the way to reveal a narrow set of stairs Dumbledore climbed easily. I trailed after him and stepped out into his office that was darkened and lit only by the moonlight shining through the windows. With a wave of his wand, the candles in the room were lit and grumbles of complaint came from nearby portraits.

"Have a seat, Sven."

I settled in the chair he'd waved to and waited as he moved behind his desk and sat down himself. A shuffle nearby drew my gaze to a large red bird perched nearby, adjusting its feathers before resting its beak back under its wing. It was old, but not like any bird I'd seen before and I watched it for a moment longer before Dumbledore cleared his throat, waving to a tea set that hadn't been on his desk a moment ago.

"Tea?"

I hesitantly accepted a cup and sipped lightly at it while keeping my eyes on him. This was too civil of a meeting for me to be getting expelled for my outburst earlier. I didn't know what he wanted.

"How has Hogwarts been for you, Sven?" He asked, making me frown into my cup before quickly hiding it.

"Fine," I muttered as he lifted his own cup.

"Is that so? I've heard from Professor McGonagall that you might have been having difficulties with the others in your house."

He knows? Then, why—

"Madam Pomfrey has also expressed some concern with how often you're visiting her," he continued, glancing at me from over his half-moon spectacles.

No. He's known for a while. So, why hasn't he done anything? As the Headmaster, he should easily be able to… It clicked then, understanding dawning on me. Oh. It's because of what I am, isn't it? It's like a test. If I can't tolerate this amount of bullying I won't be allowed back. None of my kind will be allowed. How incredibly—

"...stupid," I murmured under my breath, speaking up to answer Dumbledore. "I'm fine."

I'm really not.

"Is that so?" He smiled. "And your classes are going well?"

"Yes," I replied, still feeling that bitterness sitting in the bottom of my stomach.

Why am I even here?

"Good. Very good. There's been no issues regarding your…" He cleared his throat.

"No."

Not until today and that wasn't my fault… This place is worse than the coven.

"Well, if there is anything you might need in that regard, feel free to let your professors know. The House Elves in the kitchen might be able to assist as well. Though, I do suggest no more night-time wandering."

Bastard.

"I can suggest Madam Pomfrey come up with something if you're having trouble sleeping."

You don't know anything about my kind, and if you do, you're just not bothering to try. How much of this is you actually willing to help my kind, and how much of this is just you seeing what you can do? I bit my tongue to keep from saying anything I shouldn't before he lifted his tea cup once more.

"You're free to go then, Sven. I just wanted to quickly catch up with you."

I nodded and stepped out, making it all the way back down to the dungeons before my fist snapped out and cracked solidly against the stone wall. A tingle of pain ran up my arm as pieces of the wall crumbled lightly to the ground—a small crack and divot now in the center of the stone. I'll show you. I've lived far too long dealing with worse than this, and if you're not going to help…

"Then, I've just got to do it myself."

For the next few days, all that was talked about was what had happened in that corridor. Rumors spread, growing more elaborate with every retelling. The other houses were of the opinion that I had lured Harry and the others there to cause trouble. That I had been the one to brutally murder Mrs. Norris despite the fact that the cat was petrified, and therefore, very much alive. The Slytherin house wasn't much better. One would think they'd be thrilled by this rumor: a Slytherin fooling a group of Gryffindors and murdering the caretaker's cat. Yet, somehow, Malfoy was more suspicious than that.

The Slytherin house had a different rumor. One far more accurate. Malfoy was under the opinion that I was with the trio as a friend, since we were all missing during the feast. Worse yet, that I'd covered for them when we'd all been caught. It was just like him to twist a rumor around to pin the blame on me. With Dumbledore having banned me from wandering at night as well, I was forced to sit in the common room surrounded by my tormentors until they slept, only to slip out as early as I could to avoid them in the mornings.

I'd abandoned the thought of going to Madam Pomfrey as well, since she had given Dumbledore information on me. If I could handle the injuries or deal with the side-effects of temporary curses, then I slipped away to the Forbidden Forest to do so. The abandoned bathroom was in the same corridor as the writing, after all, and Filch was pacing up and down the hall every hour he could to keep an eye out for whoever attacked his cat. I couldn't hide there.

I dove into my studies more too. I wouldn't attack the others back. I felt there was no point. Attacking back would only cause myself more trouble and could actually get me expelled. That didn't mean magic couldn't help though, and I had to step up my game if I was going to do more than just survive here at Hogwarts.

So, I got to work. I spent my extra time and breaks either in the library or in the Forbidden Forest doing what I could to strengthen myself and add to my repertoire of magic abilities and sleep. Herbology was getting easier, since my knowledge of plants was already decent but only improved the more I tested and tried things from the Forest. I found herbs for healing, for rashes, for poison (I spent that morning in the forest vomiting violently), and for eating. Most of these I used for myself, though the rest I carefully ground and bottled during potions lessons for later use. The Gryffindor I always ended up partnered with wanted me not handling anything anyway.

Transfiguration could have gone better. If I had the ability to just transform myself into a cat or some other creature like McGonagall, life would've been much easier. Instead, we were transforming goblets into rats or birds and back. There wasn't much I could practice outside of lessons that would be helpful in other situations, though I was soon able to turn marbles into mice and back and kept a small pouch on me for later. Potions class was mildly unhelpful, given I had no cauldron to use outside of class to make anything. I'd asked the House Elves if they might have had an enchanted bowl I could use, but they didn't so I was left without the use of potions unless I wanted to risk sneaking something out of the lesson itself or ask Snape.

That left me with the dark arts which were the most useless of my classes given that we learned nothing but more tales of Lockhart's adventures and various spells I'd never heard of except in his books. I did my best with other books in the library, but without a room to practice them safely, I couldn't do anything about it. That, and they're all offensive techniques other than a shielding spell. Said spell I'd attempted, but when there wasn't anyone to explain if I was doing it properly nor someone to test the strength of it, I was literally trying and practicing a spell that was basically useless. But potentially useful if I happen to be doing it correctly.

"Um, Sven?"

I glanced up from the book I'd been reading in the back of the library, exhausted but doing my best. Hermione stood nearby with books in her arms, looking mildly upset as I glanced behind her where people had started murmuring already at seeing her close to me.

"You should go," I said calmly, looking back at the book. "People will talk if they see you near me."

And worse than that to me if you stick around. There was a clattering of books and I frowned lightly as she settled herself down across from me. Is she deaf? Does she not realize how troublesome this is? She saw the discomfort on my face and misunderstood.

"Look. I just… I wanted to apologize. Because of what happened… I-I know people are saying bad things about you."

"It's fine," I muttered, upsetting her further.

"No, it's not!" She quickly lowered her voice, looking around warily. "I… I'm worried, is all. None of that was your fault, but you helped us a-and took the blame. I know you're getting picked on because of it. It's just… It was very kind of you so I just wanted to thank you."

Again, I wondered why she was trying to be kind. No one here was truly kind without a reason. Dumbledore had proved that much. Although… Luna is kind… I sighed softly, leaning back in my chair and running a hand over my face.

"Are… um, are you studying for something?"

I lowered my hand and shook my head, reaching over and closing the book I'd been looking at. "No. Just reading what I can since Lockhart fails at teaching properly."

Hermione nodded with a wrinkle of her nose, opening her own book. "Yes. I completely agree. Is there… anything I can help with?"

I hesitated but soon we settled down into a sort of question and answer session. Much like with Luna, Hermione helped with anything I didn't understand regarding my studies since she was also a second-year student. We soon grew oblivious to the muttering students nearby as she explained what she'd been in the library for. She was suspicious about what had happened to Mrs. Norris. No one would explain what the Chamber of Secrets was and despite her searching, there wasn't much information as to where it could be and what could petrify the cat. That, and the books she'd been looking for had all been checked out. She wasn't the only one looking for more information.

She informed me later of what she could regarding the chamber once she'd gotten her answers from the ghost teacher of the History of Magic class. It wasn't surprising to find out that the head of Slytherin had been the one to put the chamber in place with a creature within who would help wipe out Muggle-borns. It only made things worse for me too. Once this information spread I'd be in for more hell from the rest of the Slytherins. The problem was, Hermione was getting suspicious too.

"Harry said he heard a voice, but you heard something too, right?"

"Just… shuffling. In the walls," I admitted. "I have good hearing."

"Couldn't it have been water in the pipes?"

I shook my head. "Sounds different. It's… hard to explain."

She didn't push the issue, thankfully. "Ron thinks Malfoy had something to do with it."

I scoffed—the very idea being laughable. "Draco might hate them as much as the rest of the Slytherin house, but they're too prideful to not claim it. Him, especially."

Malfoy did indeed gloat about how someone was out to get the Mudbloods finally after all this time, but with none of the Slytherin's taking claim over the incident it either wasn't anyone from Slytherin or it was one of the quieter ones. Ones like me who kept their head down as much as they could and stayed out of trouble. There were only a few, but I hadn't heard anything from anyone about who had done those things to Mrs. Norris.

Even the ghosts and the portraits don't have a clue. Moaning Myrtle might have more of an idea since it was her bathroom that flooded, but she was down at the Death Day Party herself. I can't go anywhere near that corridor either, with Filch monitoring it. I ended up not seeing Hermione though for a while after that. The ghosts had whispered gossip about some Gryffindors being sneaky and Moaning Myrtle being more talkative than usual. This made me assume they were still looking into what had happened and I let it be. I had bigger things to deal with, after all.

A group of Gryffindors shouted and flung a few curses at me down the hall, pawing at their teary, red eyes as I swung my own wand and hoped the shield spell would deflect their haphazard attacks. The curse bounced off it as I cracked a small smile and ducked through a hallway and into the area with the moving staircases. I could hear them coming after me and ran up and over the railing of the first staircase, stomach sliding up into my throat as gravity took over and I started to fall. I grabbed the base of the stairs though, hanging onto the post of the railing as I dangled over the side and the Gryffindors rushed in.

"Where did he go!"

"He couldn't have gone far!"

"Let's split up. Find him!"

The staircase began moving and I waited until I was over one of the lower ones before letting go and landing in a crouch, slipping through the door into another hall. With my pursuers gone for the moment, I reached into my robes and checked my stock. I've got to pick and grind a few more of those chili plants I found. They've been the most helpful.

"Ah! I found him!"

I sighed and grabbed a handful of marbles from my pouch, throwing them down the hall at the girl who'd shouted and with a flick of my wand they turned into mice. She screamed and ran off in the other direction, terrified as I bolted out of the corridor and behind a statue of a knight as a few Gryffindors rushed past. Taking a steadying breath, I slipped out once they were gone and waved my wand over my head. My hair turned light blonde and I pulled on a pair of lens-less glasses. It was a weak disguise but it was better than nothing and I'd had people pass me by like this before. Adjusting my stance into something more confident, I stepped through the hall and right past a few red-eyed Gryffindors who sneered at me but went off looking elsewhere.

I'd definitely improved since before. It was far easier with other houses though, than with Slytherins who would come after me once it was after curfew and I had nowhere to go. Still, once I was further away from them I waved my wand again and relaxed a bit, only to stiffen when the Bloody Baron suddenly dropped from the ceiling. I relaxed upon seeing who it was and the ghost huffed in disappointment for not scaring me this time either.

"There are students looking for you on the upper floors," he grumbled.

"I know. I just got away from them. Anything else going on?"

"The usual," he huffed, folding his arms and making his chains rattle. "Gossip, noise. They're still searching for the chamber. The ghosts all think it's a laugh."

"Well, hard to be afraid of something when you're already dead."

He grunted in agreement, glancing at me out of the corner of his eye. "Watch yourself, Rydell."

I nodded at the warning and he drifted through the floor, leaving me to figure out whether I would attempt to nap in a nearby cubby-hole or go into the forest for some exercise. I ran a hand through my hair before someone called out to me.

"Sven!"

It was Hermione again—Harry and Ron trailing behind her in uncertainty. I ensured there was no one around before approaching them with a nod of my head in greeting.

"Hello."

She smiled a bit before pulling out a book and opening it. "I remember how you're good at Herbology and thought you might know where we could find these."

She opened to a page and pointed out a few things. It was a potion's book, I noticed, and they were looking for ingredients. Fluxweed, lacewings, powdered bicorn horn, knotgrass, shredded Boomslang skin, leeches. What are they planning?

"I can get the fluxweed and knotgrass from the forest," I said, gesturing to the pictures of the plants.

"The Forbidden Forest?" Harry questioned. "Students aren't supposed to go in there."

I gave him a glance but turned my attention back to the other ingredients. "Leeches and lacewing flies you can get from the lake. Some Hufflepuff girls were complaining about them being near the far west side where the area is more swampy."

"What about the rest?" Hermione asked eagerly.

"Not sure. Professor Snape might have some."

"Can't you ask him for them? He'll probably just hand them over since you're a Slytherin," Ron commented offhandedly.

"He doesn't care for me and he'll ask what they're for."

Ron scoffed. "He doesn't like you? You're a Slytherin. He defended you before while trying to throw us into the fire."

I shook my head. "He only defends me when faced with people from the other houses. Only if he dislikes them more."

"You're joking."

I gave him a bland look before turning back to Hermione. "I'll get the stuff from the lake and forest. We won't be able to meet like this though. I'll leave them behind the witch statue on the third floor. By the stairs to the dark arts classroom."

"Really? Oh, thanks so much, Sven!" Hermione grinned, making my chest fill with an odd twisting feeling as I rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly. "If there's anything you need, just let me know, okay?"

Ron grumbled something under his breath, getting elbowed by Harry in return, but I wasn't doing it for him. Hermione had helped with my studies and was kind even after my sorting. Ron had been rude ever since I'd met him and Harry, while not outright rude, still kept his distance. A noise came from our right, startling the group as I turned to the portrait of a heavy-set man at a buffet table just as someone rushed out of his frame.

"There are students heading this way, Sven," he alerted me, making me nod and look at the surprised Gryffindors.

"I need to go before we're seen. I should have what you need by the next full moon. Check the statue the day after and every day after that if it's not there. I'll leave a note there if I can."

"Thanks, Sven, Really," Hermione pressed, and I bobbed my head before hurrying off down the hall.

Not like I don't spend enough time outside anyway. That, and Dumbledore said no wandering at night. If I just slip out right after dinner, I can stay overnight in the forest without issue. I should be able to handle anything out there without too much trouble, and if need be, I'll tuck myself in the pumpkin patch if I feel too unsafe. Hagrid won't mind.

I'd forgotten about the Quidditch match. Not that it mattered much to me, but because it was my house versus Gryffindor, it was a very big deal to the others. Enough so that I was forced to the infirmary after a particularly nasty beating in the common room. Snape had been the unfortunate one who found me lying on the floor with blood on my lips and a badly sprained ankle.

He'd simply lifted his lip in disgust and with a flick of his wand, lifted me to the infirmary with the order of detention being barked at my back for missing the Quidditch game. Madam Pomfrey bustled about, checking me over and ensuring that every bruise and cut had been properly treated while muttering about cruel children and ignorant professors.

Things only grew worse though when I was awoken from my sleep to a commotion around the bed beside me. Madam Pomfrey was shouting about Lockhart and it was soon apparent why. Harry sat on the bed, still in his Quidditch gear, but his arm hanging limply in her hands. No, more than limp. It was as though he had no bones in his arm anymore and—as Madam Pomfrey soon confirmed—it appeared Lockhart was the cause.

While Ron went to help him into some pajamas, Hermione shuffled awkwardly outside the curtains until her roaming gaze spotted me.

"Ah, Sven! What are you doing here?"

"I… had some trouble before the match," I muttered, earning a sad look from her. "Who won?"

"Gryffindor, but only just barely. There was a bludger that had been tampered with and it went after Harry. He… He really hurt himself and then Professor Lockhart…"

"I heard," I replied, though the news of Slytherin's loss had me frowning. I'll have to sleep outside. Not unless I want to risk another beating.

"Ah, Mr. Rydell," Madam Pomfrey spoke up then, shuffling over as Hermione waved and returned to Harry's side. "Feeling better?"

"Yes," I responded, letting her look over me again before she gave a short nod of approval.

"Yes, well, you'll do well to not be back here again, understand? If you're having trouble with anyone, do speak to your head of house."

"Of course," I murmured, knowing I wouldn't attempt to do such a thing unless I wanted more trouble.

She seemed to know this as well and sighed before handing me a bottled potion. "Take that for any lingering aches or pains, and you're free to go."

I hummed, accepting the potion just as the Gryffindor Quidditch team filed in to talk to Harry and Madam Pomfrey had to usher them out. I somehow managed to slip out before they turned their sights on me, but ducked out the doors to the grounds to try and find the ingredients Hermione needed before sundown. After that, I would settle myself in the forest for the night. Not that one evening outside will save me from the torment I'm going to get by the Quidditch team.

It didn't. The second I finished planting the things Hermione would need on the third floor, I'd been jumped by a group of Slytherins, hit by a knockback jinx, and dragged back down into the dungeons. Once in the common room, each member of the Quidditch team tried to take their anger out on me but I'd managed to escape and make a run outside. I ducked into the Forbidden Forest and collapsed in the clearing Luna had shown me. Exhausted, I checked injuries and before sagging against a tree and choosing to drift into a light sleep—not knowing that another victim had been petrified in the night and the Slytherins were going to be the least of my worries.

As December dragged on, I'd been forced to hide more often and run from pursuers. The Gryffindors were in an uproar, firmly believing I had something to do with not only Mrs. Norris but now a first-year Gryffindor who'd also been petrified not long after the Quidditch match. I'd also been hoping that none of the Slytherins would be staying over Christmas break, but my luck wasn't as good as I thought. Malfoy would be staying with his troublesome lackeys, meaning I would be stuck dealing with them since it was too cold to stay outside anymore. Still, I'll get more done with only a few people here.

A crowd had piled up near the notice board one morning though and I used the distraction to slip out unnoticed. It was after I put some distance between myself and the dungeon that I moved over to a whispering portrait and rapped my knuckles on the wall beside it.

"What notice has been put up in the common rooms? I didn't get a chance to look."

"Rumors say they're starting up a dueling club. First meeting is tonight in the Great Hall."

"Thanks. I appreciate it."

"Will you attend?" The man asked, leaning on his desk and twirling his quill curiously. "It would be helpful given your escapades."

"I don't want to fight back," I grumbled.

"Well, a pacifist can only go so far before they get taken advantage of. Dueling skills aren't just offensive either. You might learn something."

I sighed but nodded at the man. "I'll think about it."

"That's a good lad. You have the portraits worried enough as it is. Defending yourself will be good every once in a while."

I begrudgingly ended up choosing to go to the dueling club, making sure that I'd had my blood for the night given that there would be a lot of other interested students. Sure enough, most of the school seemed to have shown up and I grimaced, debating as to whether it would truly be worth it given the fact that just walking through the crowd would undoubtedly end up giving me bruises. I slipped into the crowd, doing surprisingly good at reigning in my hunger even as people who spotted me jabbed at me with their elbows or attempted to trip me. I already had my wand out and yanked someone off their feet for trying to trip me, ducking into the crowd further to avoid them before they could retaliate. Then, salvation.

I'd found Luna in the crowd and she offered me a small smile when I approached, rubbing at a new bruise forming on my arm.

"Hi, Luna," I murmured.

"Hello, Sven. How are you?"

"Been better," I sighed. "The portraits convinced me to come check things out."

She cracked a small smile, giving my hand a squeeze and releasing it just as quick. "It might be interesting."

I tugged on my ear in embarrassment only to stiffen as someone else approached.

"Luna, there you are. I was looking for—"

Ginny looked over at me, hesitating at seeing the green robes and giving Luna a small glance before taking her hand and frowning at me.

"Is he bugging you?"

Luna blinked in confusion as I felt unease settle in my stomach. "No. Sven and I were just talking."

Ginny watched us in suspicion but let Luna go, sticking close to her. "All right. If you say so."

There was something odd though. I could smell something but it was being smothered by the smells of those around us and a rather potent soap as well. It's… odd. I can't quite place it but… old blood? From who? Voices rose then, drawing my attention away from the scent I could barely smell and towards the professors who would be teaching the dueling club. Lockhart called for quiet as Snape stood by with his typical stern expression.

"Gather round, gather round! Can everyone see me? Can you all hear me? Excellent! Now, Professor Dumbledore has granted me permission to start this little dueling club, to train you all in case you ever need to defend yourselves as I myself have done on countless occasions—for full details, see my published works."

I sighed softly, wondering now if I would get anything from this little meeting if Lockhart was in charge. Still, I knew I would at least get a good show as Snape and Lockhart moved to either end of the dueling stage to show proper form.

"As you see, we are holding our wands in the accepted combative position. On the count of three, we will cast our first spells. Neither of us will be aiming to kill, of course."

"My bets are on Snape," Ginny muttered, earning a hint of a smile from me as Lockhart counted.

"One, two, three!"

"Expelliarmus!" Snape bellowed, hitting Lockhart hard and sending him flying off his feet.

Numerous Slytherins cheered and even I offered a few claps with Luna as Lockhart stumbled back on his feet with a grimace of a smile.

"Well, there you have it! That was a Disarming Charm—as you see, I've lost my wand—ah, thank you, Miss Brown—yes, an excellent idea to show them that, Professor Snape, but if you don't mind my saying so, it was very obvious what you were about to do. If I had wanted to stop you it would have been only too easy—however, I felt it would be instructive to let them see."

Snape looks ready to murder him, I noted—silently wondering if he hated Lockhart more than me.

"Enough demonstrating! I'm going to come amongst you now and put you all into pairs. Professor Snape, if you'd like to help me."

The two slipped into the crowd and started pairing people up. I thankfully was paired with Luna and we were told to go ahead and attempt a duel. I was hesitant to actually attack Luna, but she held no such restraints and my eyes widened as I was suddenly hit hard in the stomach and landed solidly on my back, out of breath. Lockhart was calling for people to stop almost immediately and Snape actually had to separate some students as a hand appeared in front of me.

Luna smiled and I accepted her hand up, getting back on my feet. "You should try defending yourself."

"I didn't want to hit you," I muttered.

"I'll be okay, Sven. We won't stop being friends just because of a practice duel."

Red creeped up my ears at being caught and I awkwardly rubbed the back of my neck as Lockhart sighed.

"I think I'd better teach you how to block unfriendly spells. Let's have a volunteer pair. Longbottom and Finch-Fletchley, how about you—"

"A bad idea, Professor Lockhart," Snape interrupted him, eyeing the pair with a frown. "Longbottom causes devastation with the simplest spells. We'll be sending what's left of Finch-Fletchley up to the hospital wing in a matchbox. How about Malfoy and Potter?"

"Well, they went kind of hard at one another earlier…"

Snape rolled his eyes. "Fine. Rydell, get up there."

I stiffened at my name being called, hearing murmurs start up immediately as the students between me and Snape moved slightly out of the way.

Lockhart grinned at the change, waving Harry up on stage as I hesitated and Snape growled.

"Now, Rydell."

I begrudgingly moved up onto the stage, doing what I could to ignore the murmurs and snickering of those watching and flinching when Snape's hand landed on my shoulder.

"Don't embarrass me," he hissed in my ear.

It's not like I want to, I mentally grumbled, giving Harry a look and seeing him eye me in uncertainty as well. Neither of us was comfortable being on the other side of a wand. I was given a harsh nudge forward by Snape and, upon risking a glance at the students below, found many harsh stares aimed back. Slytherins looked ready to maim me if I didn't fight properly—Draco pounding a fist into a hand as a threat. Yet, the rest of the students were of the same opinion if I did fight back. Either way, this isn't going to be good.

Begrudgingly, we got into position and held our wands in front of us. Lockhart started the countdown and upon hitting "one" Harry launched a curse at me. Instinctually, I swung my wand down and blocked it with a shielding spell, taking a hesitant step back. Surprised, Harry launched another and another, and I continued to block while he advanced and I retreated. I hadn't figured out whether I was going to properly fight back or not. I was still weighing the pros and cons, and the students shouting for their respective sides only made things worse.

"Do something already!"

"Fight back!"

"Get him, Harry!"

"Knock him out!"

Then, in my uneasiness, a spell broke through my shield. I skid back a little, still on my feet but mildly annoyed at the ringing in my ears. My body swayed lightly—my equilibrium off—and my vision wavered. I felt a little sick, stomach churning but put a foot down solidly and finally swung my wand in retaliation. My aim was off, the tripping spell knocking a student in the crowd off his feet with a yelp, but I could finally feel my frustration building. I was tired of being on this end of the fight. Of being attacked without offering any repercussion. Maybe the portraits are right. Maybe it's about time I fight back.

I snapped out another spell and a third, finally landing a hit and making Harry falter. I should've paid more attention to the spells I was using though. I could taste iron in the air and as my vision finally started to settle, I understood why. I'd used a cutting charm and sliced Harry across the cheek. It wasn't deep but the scent slammed into my senses rather harshly. It'd been a long time since I'd smelled human blood. In my daze though, Harry had thrown a spell and I reacted just a second too late, getting knocked off my feet and into the wall beyond.

I sank to the ground with a shaky breath, covering my mouth and nose. Cheers had rung up from everyone but the Slytherins and I took the chance to rush from the room, needing air. Even having had my usual top-up at dinner, the scent of actual human blood had still had an effect. I hurried outside into the snow, barely registering the cold as I rushed into the Forbidden Forest. Once there, I doubled over, breathing hard and shaking lightly. My teeth ached and my head throbbed from both, Harry's attack and the smell that seemed to cling to the inside of my nose.

I needed blood. Now. I grit my teeth, curling my hand into a fist and digging my fingernails into the tree bark as I gripped my jaw with my hand. Then, someone touched me. My eyes went wide and I whipped around, grabbing them by the throat and pinning them to the tree with a fist pulled back to fight. They held up no resistance though and as my mind cleared enough to take notice of who exactly I was holding, I sucked in a sharp breath.

"L-Luna?"

"Hello, Sven," she said calmly and I released her as if my hand was burned, stepping away in shock.

I looked at my hands and back at her, seeing red marks already marring the skin around her neck from my fingers. I stumbled back, landing in the snow with the back of my hand over my mouth, stunned that I'd attacked the one friend I had all because I couldn't control myself after smelling the slightest amount of human blood. I couldn't control it. I-I was doing so well, b-but I couldn't… I just attacked… No… No, no, no, no, no. I can't… I-I can't do this. I should have never agreed to do this.

"L-Luna… Luna, I-I—"

She stepped over and collapsed into me, hugging me tightly around the neck and making me stiffen.

"No… N-No! No, Luna! Luna get—"

"You must be so scared," she breathed in my ear, making my hand quiver and my eyes burn before I reached around her and grabbed at her robes, crying into her shoulder.

Luna knew. She just shrugged it off and wasn't bothered by what I was, but the fact that she knew troubled me. She wouldn't tell anyone. I was sure of that. We were friends and… and I trusted her to that extent. Her knowing made me worried how obvious it was to others. Did Hermione know? What about Harry? Ron? Malfoy? Finding out that she knew had me on edge the next few days. Didn't help that one of Lockhart's lessons was about him clearing out a group of vampires in a village town.

I'd lost the fight with Harry as well, earning a well-placed black eye the moment I'd returned to the common room, among other curses and bruises. I wanted to apologize to Harry too, for hurting him, but I was afraid now. I'd lost that bit of confidence I'd had before the fight with my loss of control. I spent more time shutting myself away in unused classrooms trying to meditate or in the kitchens with a freshly butchered piece of meat to try and curb any thoughts of hunger. As it was, I was going longer without feeding. I'd gone from five days down to three, and from three meals a day down to one. What was mildly frustrating was that my own blood didn't offer the same intense hunger as someone else's. So, I had no way of restraining myself against human blood other than when I happened to be around it, which frightened me.

This meant that whenever I spotted Harry, I would panic and hastily go another direction. I wasn't sure if he'd noticed or not. Few Gryffindors ever noticed me unless they were trying to pick on me anyway, but even that had dwindled after my loss in the dueling match. It was the one thing I was thankful for. Losing meant not nearly as much bullying from other students, though Slytherins were especially brutal now. The blizzard outside not helping in my escape. Still, I could bear the cold for a little while, which was why I was tucked outside rubbing my hands together and curled up in my coat as much as I could. The Slytherins were very much like the snakes they were named after in how they hated going out in the cold, so I was safe from their attacks for now. Though I'm supposed to be in Defense Against the Dark Arts right now.

I sighed softly, breathing the warm air into my pink fingers only to catch the scent of blood in the air. I stiffened automatically, eyes seeking the source to find Hagrid scratching his head and walking across the grounds with a dead rooster. Curiosity grabbed a hold of me as he walked closer and then spotted me sitting on the steps.

"'Ello there, Sven. Aren't ya supposed ta be in class?"

"Lockhart's teaching," I explained simply. "I learn more from reading the books in the library."

He chuckled at that. "Right ya are. Ah…" He spotted me eyeing the dead rooster and hesitantly pulled it further away. "Sorry 'bout that. It bothers ya, don' it?"

"I…" I hesitated but shrugged. "I'm okay. I fed this morning so it doesn't bother me too much."

He hummed, still looking hesitant before seeming to consider saying something.

"I didn't do it," I blurted out, making his charcoal eyes snap to me.

"I wasn' gonna…"

"It's okay," I muttered. "Anyone would've asked me first. Just wanted you to know. I… I'd tell you if I was… If I took something like that from you."

He cracked a small smile and dropped a hand on my head, ruffling my hair messily. "You're a good kid, ya know."

The kind words didn't make me feel any better but he didn't seem to notice.

"Why are ya hanging around out here anyway?" He frowned. "Ya gettin' picked on again?"

I shrugged, not really wanting to answer that and he huffed.

"Blastin' kids. Pickin' on someone for no good reason. Come on. Ya look chilled. I'll let Dumbledore know and—"

"No," I blurted out, wincing at my harsh disagreement. "N-No, that's… that's okay."

"Are ya sure? He might be a bit scary and all, but Dumbledore will know what ta do."

He hasn't done anything yet. "It's fine, Hagrid. Really. I… I know some safe places to hide out."

He grumbled. "If you're sure. Come inside though. I'll take ya to my cabin if you'd like ta warm up. I don' want ya waitin' out here though."

I nodded, wanting somewhere warm to just stick around for a while, even if it meant dealing with Hagrid's cooking. I've had worse. So, I got up and stepped back into the castle with him, shivering at the temperature change.

"Ya should get warmer clothes, Sven," he lightly chided. "You'll freeze ta death sittin' out there in just your coat and robes."

I hummed, knowing that I should get warmer clothes but using the money the school had given me felt like a waste. That, and I was warm enough while inside the castle. I wouldn't be outside unless I absolutely had to. I sighed a little and Hagrid asked me how my classes were going, thankfully giving us both something to do as we walked. Then, someone came hurrying around the corner and ran right into Hagrid, knocking himself to the ground. Unfortunately for me, it was Harry who looked up at Hagrid before spotting me.

"Sven?"

I took a hesitant step back as Hagrid helped Harry up.

"All righ', Harry?" Hagrid asked him. "Why aren't yeh in class?"

Harry looked back to him, eyeing the dead rooster in his hand briefly. "Cancelled. What are you doing here?"

Hagrid waved the rooster. "Second one killed this term. It's either foxes or a Blood Suckin Bugbear, an' I need the Headmaster's permission ta put a charm around the hen coop. I ran into Sven outside though. Offered ta have him over for tea. Ya want some as well?"

Harry glanced at me and went back to him. "No. Thanks though. I've got to get going, Hagrid. It's Transfiguration next and I've got to pick up my books."

"Ah, well, I'll see ya later then."

"I-I should probably go too, Hagrid," I explained. "I didn't realize our next class was so soon. I've got Potions."

"All right. You're welcome ta drop by though. Anytime, Sven."

I nodded my gratitude and turned to hurry away only for Harry to call after me.

"Ah, Sven! Wait!"

Oh, come on. I don't want to do this. Not yet. Still, I stopped as he grabbed my arm and quickly released me. We stood awkwardly in the corridor for a moment before Harry finally spoke.

"Look, I… I just wanted to apologize."

I looked at him in shock. "What?"

"For what happened at the duel."

I turned to face him, waving my hands. "N-No. No! I should be the one apologizing. I actually… I hurt you."

He reached up and brushed his cheek where he'd been cut before. "Ah, well, it wasn't that bad and… I sort of attacked first. I was just worried that Snape might have… I don't know. It's silly really. You've actually been really nice and… I shouldn't have judged you based on what house you got sorted into. Sorry."

Rather surprised by this sudden apology, unsure what to say I simply nodded and we continued to walk.

"Are, um… Are you alright though?" He asked then. "You sort of ran out after the duel and the Slytherins didn't look too happy."

"They're usually unhappy," I muttered, "and if they weren't, then the rest of the houses would've been."

"Oh… It's kind of silly, isn't it?" He said, offering me a small smile. "I mean, you're not a bad guy for a Slytherin but everyone treats you like you are just because of that. Don't you ever… you know, want to fight back or something? You're only running away, aren't you?"

I rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly. "It's… different for me. I don't want to cause any trouble and what they're doing is… Well, it could be worse."

"That doesn't mean you have to just let them do it," Harry argued, brows furrowed in confusion.

"But fighting back would only make it worse," I grumbled. "It turns into 'who can do more damage than the other' and if I get in trouble then…"

"What? You get expelled?" Harry scoffed, not knowing how true that statement was.

"I'm different from you," I sighed. "I was only allowed in the school because the Headmaster said I could. If I caused trouble I actually could get expelled."

He frowned. "What? Hold on, I'm confused. What makes you any different from the rest of us?"

I shook my head with a wince, knowing I'd gotten a little too close to spilling my secret. "I can't. I'm not supposed to tell anyone. If others find out, then I'll really get in trouble."

"Does Hermione know?"

I shook my head. "No one knows and no one can know," I lied, omitting the fact that Luna knew for both our sakes.

"Well…" He sighed, scratching at the back of his head. "I suppose it's okay then. We're not… I mean, we're not exactly friends."

I deflated a bit, knowing it was true but somewhat wishing I had more people I could feel safe with other than Luna and perhaps Hermione. Harry was the one other person who actually spoke to me, so I'd thought—

"Unless you'd want to be?" He offered then, drawing my surprised eyes to his. "In secret, I mean. Just so we don't get into trouble. Like… Like you and Hermione. Maybe then, you might be able to tell us. Eventually, of course. Not right now."

"You… want to be friends with me?"

He shrugged. "Why not? You're already helping us, aren't you? You kept me out of trouble before with Mrs. Norris and then at the duel, you weren't trying to hurt me at all. You even went and got those things we needed just because we asked. You're… decent, for a Slytherin." He smiled a bit at that little joke, and even I relaxed a little before nodding.

"All right. I… I guess we're friends then."

"Guess so," he chirped back as we walked into another corridor. "Say, but do you really not know anything about me?"

I shook my head. "No, I—" I cut myself off suddenly, staring at the sight ahead of us that we'd just walked into.

A Hufflepuff was lying on the floor, petrified and staring blankly up at the ceiling. Hovering just beside him was Sir Nicholas with a similar expression on his face but hovering horizontally and looking more like inky, black smoke than his usual clear transparent self. Harry had frozen beside me and I could hear his heart pounding in shock before I quickly pushed him back.

"Run," I breathed, nudging at him again to get him moving. "Harry, go!"

Harry looked at me in surprise before the order finally sank in and he bolted down the hall in the other direction. It was just in time too. I'd turned to go open one of the nearby classrooms to alert a teacher to another attack when Peeves floated out of a room with a shout.

"Why, it's friendly ghost Sven," he sang mockingly. "What're you up to, lurking out of class when—"

"Peeves, I don't have time for—"

He ignored me upon spotting the petrified duo and immediately began wailing. "Attack! Attack! Another attack! No mortal or ghost is safe! Run for your lives! Attack!"

I cringed as classroom doors banged open, finding myself once again smashed in the hallways as students flooded out and started up a commotion. Professor McGonagall had also brought her class out at the chaos and let out a "bang" from her wand to silence those nearby. A Hufflepuff spotted me though and jabbed a finger my way at the sight of two more petrified people.

"Caught in the act!"

"That will do, Macmillan," McGonagall ordered, shooing Peeves away as well when he started attempting a rhyme about me killing students.

Rumors were going to spread twice as fast as the first time as people were shuffled away by professors and the Hufflepuff and Sir Nicholas were removed from the area, leaving me and McGonagall.

"This way, Rydell."

"Professor, I didn't—"

"This is out of my hands, Rydell," she answered back shortly, leading me down a familiar corridor and up to a gargoyle.

Seeing no point in further arguing, I kept my mouth shut and followed her up to Dumbledore's office for the second time that year. I'm getting expelled for sure.