disclaimer: you recognize it, it is not mine! Thank JK for that.

a/n bit of a longer chapter this time, but not too much not related the Chamber plot. There will be a lot next chapter that is all Ascella's though! Anyway hope everyone enjoys!


December 1992

The news of the latest attack spread like wildfire through the school, effectively terrifying everyone, the first years especially, Ginny Weasley included. Fred and George had taken it upon themselves to try and cheer her up by covering themselves with grotesque fur or boils and jumping out at her from behind statues. While Ascella found it hilarious she also had to agree with Harry that it probably wasn't the most effective way of cheering up the poor first year Gryffindor.

With the growing fear a new trade in talismans, amulets and other supposed protective devices had sprung up among the students of Hogwarts. Ascella thought it was ridiculous what people would believe would actually protect them; like a rotting newt tail was really going to be effective against a monster that could petrify people.

During the second week of December, Ascella breathlessly told the others that Malfoy would be staying at the school over Christmas break, after she'd overheard him mention it in Herbology. "Something about his parents spending the holidays in the far North on Ministry business and him being just 'too bored to be bothered'," she said. "It's obvious though that's just a cover. He wants to stay here and attack more people." And so the four of them eagerly signed up to stay the holidays knowing it would be the perfect time to use the potion and question Malfoy.

Which meant they needed to steal the bicorn horn and boomslang skin, the last two ingredients they needed, from Snape's private stores. Ascella and Hermione decided the best way would be for Harry and Ron to create a diversion during one of the Gryffindor/Slytherin double Potions lessons so that Hermione, who would be the least suspicious of any of them, could duck in and steal the ingredients they needed.

The plan went off without anyone getting in trouble, despite Harry feeling sure Snape knew it was him who'd thrown the firework into Goyle's Swelling Solution. Ascella had been rather put out she'd missed Malfoy's nose swelling up when he'd been hit in the face by the potion but was still glad they hadn't gotten caught.

She was decidedly less glad the next day when she was in her own Potions lesson, brewing her own Swelling Solution with Padma. Snape was in a right foul mood as he stalked around the dungeon classroom. He'd already taken off fifteen points from Ravenclaw because Ascella wasn't following instructions, even though she was.

"You've got to be joking," Ascella finally snapped at him, after he took five more, not caring as Snape's lip curled dangerously. "Not following instructions my arse!" she all but shouted at the greasy git, despite Padma pulling on her robe to get her to stop. Ascella shook her off. "No, I've been following your directions perfectly. Sure, I know a way that could make it faster and allow you to leave out the third puffer fish eye, but I've decided to follow your instructions instead!" Ascella finished her face flushed, wisps of her blond hair floating around her face in the steam rising from her cauldron and perfectly brewed Swelling Solution.

Snape, meanwhile, looked like Christmas had come early. Ascella swallowed, suddenly a bit nervous.

"I think a further ten points from Ravenclaw," Snape began. Ascella drew in a sharp breath, why couldn't she have kept her mouth shut? "And," Snape continued his eyes shiny with anticipation, "I believe a month's worth of Saturday detentions should teach you to not disrespect me in my classroom." Ascella opened and closed her mouth in shock.

"But, sir," she finally spit out, her mouth protesting against the term of respect but knowing enough to not push her luck at this point, "there isn't a month worth of Saturday's before break."

Snape merely grinned evilly at her. "Then you'll just have to complete them next term," he said before sweeping away to terrorize some Hufflepuff students. Ascella didn't speak for the rest of class, stewing in her misfortune.

"Eck!" she said throwing herself down into an armchair next to Harry in the Gryffindor common room after her first Saturday detention later that week. Harry wrinkled his nose at her.

"What's that smell?" he asked. Ascella glared.

"I had to sort out rotten Flobberworms from good ones. Without gloves," Ascella said shuddering at the memory.

"Ugh," Harry said scooting his chair away from her.

"Thanks, mate," she said dryly, pulling out her wand to perform a simple scouring charm to her hands for the umpteenth time.

"I don't know what'll be worse, more detentions with Snape or the fact that he's given me over to Filch for the first two of next term," Ascella complained, scrubbing at her hands.

"Honestly, probably Snape," Harry said. "Filch's are bad but at least he hates all students equally, unlike Snape."

"True," Ascella said. "So, looking forward to the dueling club meeting?" she asked changing the subject. They'd all seen the notices that had been put up about the new dueling club that was starting, the first meeting being held the middle of the next week.

"Yeah," Harry said a gleam of excitement entering his green eyes. "I don't know what good it would do against whatever's been attacking the students but it should be fun nonetheless." Ascella nodded in agreement.

Then Harry asked her suddenly if she'd come up with someone to "get a bit of" for her to change into with the Polyjuice Potion. She grinned evilly at him.

"Oh yeah," she said. "Zabini. I have a plan for getting a hair from him in Herbology this week." Harry started at that.

"That dark, haughty one?" he asked.

Ascella nodded.

"Isn't he going home for break?"

Ascella shrugged.

"Yeah, but I figure if anyone asks I'll just say 'I' decided to come back early. By the time any of them figure out I wasn't really Zabini it won't matter as we will have the information we need, should everything go to plan of course."

Harry didn't have an argument against that and they spent the next few hours talking and goofing off before joining Ron, the twins (Sue Li would be dying if she was there, Ascella couldn't help but think, sniggering), and their friend Lee Jordan in a rousing game of Exploding Snap.

A few days later Ascella sat at the Ravenclaw table feeling more nervous for Herbology than usual. Today was her last day of Herbology before the term ended and the day she planned on getting a bit of Zabini's hair.

"What's with you?" Aaron Morag asked her when she'd once again had to ask him to repeat what he'd just said, so distracted was she watching Zabini walking in front of them with the other students, all on their way to greenhouse three.

"Huh?" Ascella oh so eloquently said looking at the tall blond. "Oh, nothing," she replied realizing what he'd asked. She turned back to staring a hole in the back of Zabini's head, not noticing Aaron and Kevin exchange looks over her head, shaking their heads at her.

Ascella continued to watch Zabini for the ideal moment during the lesson when she could pounce and steal some hair. And the moment finally came when he was busy wrestling a rather rotund Mandrake into a new pot with the help of Aaron and Kevin. The Mandrake's had been growing larger and maturing and to Ascella's immense displeasure it was time to re-pot them; again.

"Oh no - don't bother even- pretending- to help," Aaron grunted at her as he and the other two lifted the little bugger, speaking loud enough for even Ascella to hear him through her earmuffs. Ascella smiled at him and discreetly pulled out her wand and aimed a silent cutting spell at the back of Zabini's hair. With pleasure she saw a chunk of hair fall onto his shoulder. Ascella put her wand away quickly. Now just to get it.

After the boys had gotten the Mandrake into the pot, all panting, Kevin and Aaron bent double, Ascella decided to act. Zabini stood and wiped a trail of sweat off his forehead while Ascella leaned in with an innocent smile and brushed off the shoulders of Zabini's robes. He froze, looking at her like she was crazy.

She beamed up at him and even giggled a little. "Just helping. You had some dirt on your robes," she said. Zabini continued to stare at her a strange look in his gold eyes but Ascella didn't care as she secretly tucked his hair into a vial in the pocket of her robes. Success, she thought giddy.

Later that week, Ascella found herself with her fellow Ravenclaw second years making their way down to the Great Hall to the first meeting of the dueling club. She'd told Harry and the others she'd see them down there deciding to accompany Aaron and Kevin down instead.

They joined what felt like the entirety of the rest of the school in the Great Hall, all with their wands out and chattering with excitement. Moving through the crowd they found and joined Padma, Terry, and his friends Michael and Anthony. Ascella spotted Harry, Ron and Hermione across the stage that had been set up and waved cheerily at them.

She was more than a little disappointed, not moments later, to learn that Lockhart was the teacher in charge of this meeting.

"Oh, this'll be a disaster," she muttered to Aaron and Kevin, who sniggered in agreement. Padma meanwhile looked like she was in heaven. Ascella had yet to have any luck killing her friends Lockhart obsession, but she still held out hope.

Then Lockhart announced that Snape was to be his assistant and that he would be helping him with a demonstration before the rest would begin. Ascella exchanged a look with Harry across the stage, but both had to look away for fear of laughing outright. Ascella had no doubt that Snape could more than easily finish off Lockhart, incompetent teacher that he was.

After Lockhart explained the basics of dueling, they began. Before Lockhart even had so much as an opportunity to open his mouth, Snape shouted "Expelliarmus!" The resulting flash of red light sent Lockhart flying off his feet, off the stage and into the wall. Malfoy led a cheer by the Slytherins; Ascella almost wanted to join them, instead she settled for a big grin.

After that, Lockhart instructed them to pair off. Luckily she got paired up with Aaron, but she did see that Snape paired Harry with Malfoy. That won't end well, she thought before Lockhart counted them down.

ON Lockhart's three Ascella easily disarmed Aaron, much to his chagrin and while he went in search of his wand, Ascella took a look around at the ensuing chaos. There were those pairs who had managed weak versions of the disarming spell like Ascella had, leaving their partners to go in search of where their wands had flown off to, but then there were those pairs like Harry and Malfoy that hadn't even bothered with trying to disarm, jumping into other curses and jinxes, and even some like Hermione and Millicent Bulstrode who had forgotten their wands entirely and had ended up wrestling. Ascella grimaced as she saw Bulstrode put Hermione in a headlock. Luckily, Lockhart has called time and Harry was able to wrestle the bigger girl off of their friend before any lasting damage occurred.

Lockhart seemed to realize that perhaps a little more structure might be in order and so he suggested they have a pair come up to demonstrate both disarming and blocking. Ascella felt her heart rate spike when she realized Snape had suggested Harry and Malfoy, a twisted smile on his face.

"This aught to be entertaining," Aaron said at her side, having returned from finding his wand. Ascella was mildly impressed he was back already; last she'd seen him he was more than halfway across the hall looking for it. As she said weak, uncontrolled versions of the disarming spell.

"Yeah, entertaining or bloody," Ascella replied. "One of the two."

Turned out it was a bit of both. The whole hall had a bit of a shock when Harry started hissing and spitting at the snake Malfoy had conjured after Lockhart had flung the snake into the air instead of vanishing it, causing it to land in front of Justin Finch-Fletchley. From what Ascella could see the snake backed off after Harry's hissing and spitting act, but Finch-Fletchley didn't seem to agree before yelling at Harry and angrily darting from the hall.

Then Ascella became aware of the muttered buzzing that was beginning in the hall and she knew it was time to get Harry out of there. She was glad to see Ron already tugging on Harry's robes and dragging him away.

"Oh get over yourselves," Ascella said disdainfully, defending Harry against the whispers she heard as she pushed her way through the crowd following Harry and the others. She met up with them in the Entrance Hall and walked briskly along with them to the empty Gryffindor common room, where Ron finally broke the news to a confused looking Harry about him being a Parselmouth.

Harry didn't understand what was so bad about that, figuring loads of people must be able to do it.

Ascella made a pained face and shook her head.

"No, Harry," she said gentler than she normally spoke. "Not many people can."

"Yeah," Ron added. "It's not a very common gift. Harry, this is bad."

"Why?" Harry angrily retorted. "Justin would be missing half his face right now if I hadn't told the snake off."

"I knew you were calling it off," Ascella said triumphantly. Ron explained though that to the rest of the school it had sounded and looked more like he was egging the snake on than calling it off. Harry slumped miserably even if he still didn't understand what was so bad about being a Parselmouth. So Ascella explained.

"It's bad Harry, because Salazar Slytherin was famous for being able to talk to snakes," she said bracingly.

Hermione nodded with her and added, "It's why the symbol of Slytherin House is a serpent, Harry." Harry's mouth dropped open finally understanding.

Ron nodded grimly. "Yeah, everyone's going to think you're related to him now."

Harry protested he wasn't, that he couldn't be but even he had to stop once Hermione had explained he very well could be. Ascella put her head on his shoulder in comfort. She felt bad for him; she knew what it was like being judged for one's ancestors, her case specifically applying to her father.

The next morning Harry was in no better of a mood, and was determined to talk to Justin for Merlin only new what reason. If Ascella had been in his place she wouldn't have cared overmuch but as it was Harry wouldn't get his chance as a blizzard had blown through and canceled his last Herbology class of the term, where he'd planned to speak with Justin.

Ascella was livid with this at breakfast. "Honestly! How lucky can you get?" she asked poking a sausage with her fork and waving it about. "Why couldn't the storm have blown in a few days ago? I could have done with getting out of Herbology!"

"But then you wouldn't have gotten Zabini's hair," Harry pointed out, looking far too saddened by the news of his Herbology lesson being canceled, just because it meant he wouldn't get to speak with Justin.

"True," Ascella acquiesced. She'd been delighted to notice that Zabini must have found the missing bit of his hair and had it regrown because she could no longer notice it missing. She'd wanted to laugh when she'd noticed; only a boy as vain as Zabini would notice such a thing. "But still," Ascella continued to Harry, "you should be enjoying the cancellation at the very least."

Ascella left Harry a few minutes later for her History of Magic lesson, after he promised her to at least try and enjoy his newly acquired free period. Ascella had honestly thought about skiving off History of Magic but she figured it wouldn't hurt to get some more money out of Morag as Christmas shopping was coming up and she had a lot of friends she wanted to get gifts for. She was even considering getting Zabini a gift card for a free haircut, should their plan with the Polyjuice Potion go over well; somehow she didn't think he'd see the joke.

Next in Transfiguration, Ascella was surprised to find all the students in the room on the fifth floor, but no Harry or Professor McGonagall. Ascella looked at Hermione for an explanation. Her friend had only shrugged and told her that the last she'd seen Harry he'd been headed out to try and find Justin so he could explain what happened. They found out later that he had indeed found Justin, but he hadn't been able to explain as Justin and Nearly Headless Nick had both been petrified.

"I told you to enjoy your free period, not get caught at another scene of the crime and get dragged off to Dumbledore's office," Ascella told Harry later at dinner that night. His only response had been to glare at her and tell her it hadn't exactly been his plan either. Ascella chose to let it go instead of continuing the discussion.

There was one thing they could all agree on though and that was that the holidays would be rather quiet as everyone and their mother scrambled to get seats booked on the Hogwarts Express so people could leave the castle over the holidays. Ron had put it the best when he'd commented that it would be only them, Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle left over the break, sarcastically commenting on what a "jolly holiday" that would be. At least Percy, Fred, George and Ginny would also being staying as Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were going to be visiting Ron's older brother Bill in Egypt and none of others wanted to be bothered with it.

The last few days of term were spent with the entire school treating Harry like he was some sort of leper who was about to sprout fangs or spit poison. Ascella had received a detention from McGonagall when she'd caught her being a little too forceful with a third year who'd spoken a little too loudly about how Harry was surely the Heir of Slytherin.

At least Fred and George found the whole thing ludicrous, going out of their way to walk ahead of Harry in the corridors shouting out things like "Make way for the Heir of Slytherin, seriously evil wizard coming through..."

Ascella couldn't help but giggle every time George pretended to ward Harry off with a large clove of garlic whenever they met in the corridors or when Fred loudly announced who Harry was planning on attacking next. She was glad that it seemed to cheer Harry up as well.

And then finally the end of term arrived and silence descended on the castle. Well silence everywhere but in Gryffindor Tower, which the Weasleys and Ascella, Harry, and Ron had the run of to play Exploding snap as loudly as they wanted and to have epic (well epic in their minds) duel fights. George's girlfriend had gone home for the holidays as well, which made Fred happy though as he put it "I love Andy to death but it is good to have you all to myself! None of that annoying snogging to get in the way! Besides Christmas is for family."

Ascella for her part set up a permanent residence on her mattrice in Hermione's dorm for the holidays as the only way she could get into her tower over the holidays was with Hermione because, "I am literally the only Ravenclaw left," and there wasn't a chance in hell she could get in on her own. She was still terrible at riddles. Luckily, Hermione was excellent at the riddles and so whenever Ascella was in need of more clean clothing she made a trip to Ravenclaw Tower with Hermione.

Christmas morning Ascella woke early with Hermione. She and Hermione both received the customary Weasley sweater which Ascella promptly put on, hers a pretty royal blue with a gold eagle on the front; it set off her golden blond hair beautifully. In addition to the Weasley sweater Ascella received a series of books on defense from Dora ("Oh it's great having a cousin in the Auror department when the school's being attacked by a blood-purist Heir of Slytherin, isn't it?" Ascella had said fondly on opening the present), Ted and Meda had given her the homemade Christmas Monkey bread, a Christmas morning tradition in the Tonks household, charmed to still be warm, that she had wanted as well as a heartwarming card detailing how much they were missing her. Ron had gotten her a book on the Chuddley Cannons (he seemed to still be convinced he could sway her over to his way of thinking about them; he couldn't, she was still a die-hard Tornadoes fan), Hermione an autographed book by one one of Ascella's favorite muggle authors (Ted had never shied from bringing home books for Ascella written by muggles as well as witches and wizards growing up), and Harry had gotten her a scrapbook partially filled with photos from their previous year together and the first term of second year. Ascella had even found a hilarious shot of Ron as he was about to be hit by an apple that they'd used as a Bludger over the summer in the Weasley's back yard. Ascella loved it all of it, and loved especially how their was room to add more photos for future adventures.

After opening presents Ascella joined Hermione in adding more lacewings to the Polyjuice Potion in Myrtle's toilet. Somehow they managed to be lucky enough to avoid Myrtle, who seemed to be on one of her hid-in-the-sewers benders.

"Looks like it's ready," Ascella said to Hermione as Hermione stirred in the last of the lacewing flies. Hermione nodded.

"Let's go see if the boys are up," she said when she'd finished. Ascella agreed readily.

The two of them walked in fully dressed, each carrying in their presents for the boys, only to see both boys still sound asleep the curtains of their four posters hanging open as though they'd fallen asleep talking.

Hermione was about to open her mouth and loudly tell them to wake up when Ascella looked at her and shook her head. She then proceeded to creep towards Harry and placed her face right next to his head before shouting, "WAKE UP!" in his ear. He shot up, alarmed, while Ascella leaned back and cackled at him. Harry glared at her once he realized what was going on.

She'd effectively woken Ron up as well who'd become embarrassed at Hermione being in the dorm, while Hermione shrugged him off and proceeded to open the curtains at the window between Harry and Ron's bunks. She wished Ron a Happy Christmas tossing him his present and told both boys about how she and Ascella had been up for over an hour already and that the Polyjuice Potion was ready.

Harry sat up at the news as Hermione sat down on Ron's bed shoving Scabbers out of the way, while Ascella sat comfortably on Harry's bed pulling her legs up under herself, as comfortable as if it was her own bed, which in many ways it was, seeing as she spent more nights there than she did in her own bed in Ravenclaw Tower.

She told Harry she adored his present, making him blush but she still made him take a photo with her and the present she got him so she could add it to her photo album. He loved her present (a Tornadoes jersey; Ron hadn't been pleased about it as he'd gotten Harry the same present he'd gotten Ascella; Ascella had only about fallen off Harry's bed laughing at Ron's sputtering, while Harry tried on the jersey amid Ron's protests).

The feast was uneventful if enjoyable, filled with all of Ascella's Christmas favorites; eggnog (the unalcoholic version for the students not the one Hagrid was consuming), roasted and spiced meats, and delicious pudding. The Great Hall looked beautiful and Dumbledore even led them all in a few of his favorite carols, while Hagrid became more and more tipsy to Ascella's great amusement. More amusing though was Percy's continued obliviousness to the fact that Fred had charmed his prefect badge so it read "Pinhead".

Afterwards, full and happy, Ascella and Hermione left Harry and Ron to apprehend their bits of Crabbe and Goyle and to hide away the real Crabbe and Goyle. The idea of knocking out and lugging Zabini into a closet didn't sound appealing to Ascella and she was glad he had decided to go home for the holidays.

Up in Myrtle's toilet, after Ascella had changed into some Slytherin robes that would fit Zabini and once the boys had arrived, faces flushed from what Ascella could only guess was from the effect it would require to move a knocked out Crabbe and Goyle, Hermione divided the potion into four equal parts. Ascella wrinkled her nose at hers; it did not look appetizing. Harry seemed to share her sentiment as they shared grossed out faces.

Next they added their respective hairs, the potion with Zabini's hair turning a iridescent gold, it was almost pretty, Ascella thought, and followed Harry's advice to go into separate stalls to drink it down, as he'd anticipated the increase in size that would occur when he and Ron changed into Crabbe and Goyle, causing them to not all be able to fit in the same stall.

"Cheers, mate," Ascella called to Harry, who returned the sentiment, before she downed the drink in one large gulp, her eyes watering at the pain of swallowing that much in one swallow.

The next few minutes were some of the strangest and most fascinating ones of Ascella's life to date, as her skin bubbled and darkened, her limbs lengthening and thickening slightly, her long blond hair seeming to shoot backwards into her head, Ascella glad she'd changed robes already as her body expanded into the Slytherin robes. When it was over, Ascella was standing a few inches taller, her head feeling eerily light, without the weight of her hair.

Then Goyle's voice - Harry's now - called out asking if they were okay.

"Yeah," came Ron's reply in Crabbe's voice.

"You mean other than the fact that I'm creeped out about looking, and sounding, like a pompous Slytherin prat?" Ascella said in Zabini's smooth voice. Harry laughed with Goyle's deep and stupid sounding guffaw.

Ascella then opened the door and stepping out, looked at herself in the mirror. It was rather frightening to see Zabini's gold eyes looking back at her, but she did have to concede that if this was the face she saw every day in the mirror she might be obsessed with how she looked too. But then again maybe she only appreciated his face because she wasn't him; Rowena knew she didn't care about the way she looked, though more than once people had told her how pretty she was.

Ascella turned to survey Harry and Ron. Crabbe and Goyle looked back at her.

"Weird," Ascella said.

"I know," Harry/Goyle said back. "At any rate, we should get going. Hermione?" he called to the still shut tight stall Hermione had gone into. Hermione told them to go on ahead with out them though. Shrugging to one another, they listened to her and headed out, giving each other advice on the way of how to move and behave.

In the dungeons, Ascella took the lead as she had a better sense of where the Slytherin common room entrance was but even she couldn't get them there exactly, so they all kept their eyes peeled for any other Slytherin students.

Unfortunately, they only found Percy. Then Ron, forgetting who he was, proceeded to question Percy as to why he was there.

Ascella was about to hit Ron to get him to stop acting like, well, like himself, when she caught sight of Malfoy strolling along down the corridor in front of them. His eyes fell on Ascella and they widened.

"Blaise!" Malfoy cried, a suspicious look on his face. "What are you doing here?"

Ascella shrugged, trying to capture Zabini's usual air of indifference. "Decided to come back early," she said in Zabini's deep voice, speaking as if if were obvious. Malfoy still looked suspicious so she motioned behind her to where Harry and Ron were standing trying to look stupid like Crabbe and Goyle. They were surprisingly good at it. "Found these two pigging out in the Great Hall," she said, as Malfoy's eyes alighted on them.

"Ah, there you are," Malfoy drawled. "Have you really been in the Great Hall this whole time? I've been looking for you two; I have something really funny to show you." He sent a casual, less superior look than the one he'd used on Crabbe and Goyle, at Ascella. "You're welcome to join as well Blaise." Ascella shrugged in genuine indifference; she'd only agreed to this adventure because she'd wanted to see the inside of the Slytherin common room figuring Harry and Ron would have better luck with the questioning as they were Crabbe and Goyle, the two who were closest with Malfoy, than she would as Zabini.

It was interesting though, Ascella couldn't help but think, the way Malfoy spoke and addressed Zabini. It made Ascella think that maybe there were actually some people that Malfoy didn't believe himself to be superior to.

Then, after a withering comment by Malfoy to Percy, the three of them following along behind Malfoy, Ascella trying at least to pretend she knew the way. They all had mild panic attacks when Malfoy questioned them about the password but luckily he remembered it and they all entered the Slytherin common room.

Ascella found herself unable to control her face as she looked around curious. The Slytherin common room was about as opposite of the Gryffindor or Ravenclaw ones as possible, with relatively low ceilings in comparison and darker furniture and windows that let in an eerily almost green glow. Wait, was that a fish that just went by, Ascella thought walking closer to the windows, away from the group and the ornate black mantle and fireplace.

"Where are you going?" Harry abruptly asked her. Ascella turned, a withering look on her face.

"What's it to you, Goyle," she said emphasizing the name to remind Harry that they weren't really close friends. The reminder served its purpose and even earned Ascella a snorted laugh out of Malfoy. Now that was weird; she'd never thought she'd see the day where she would be the cause of Malfoy's laughter. Malfoy quickly told Harry and Ron that he'd be right back and Ascella took the opportunity to tell them that she wanted a look around.

She discovered that all the windows in the Slytherin common room (and dormitories, she'd had to see where they slept too; she'd been unsurprised to see that they had emerald green fourposters with silver trim) all looked out into the Great Lake.

"How cool is that?" she raved to Harry later as they were leaving. She'd noticed the changing back to themselves sooner than they had and had waited for them around the corner from the entrance to the Slytherin common room. "Also, their bathrooms, and toilets, yeah, way nicer than the Ravenclaw and Gryffindor ones." And they were, filled with black marble and green tiles, with silver faucets and handles; all in all absolutely exquisite. Ascella had always had a thing about bath and toilet rooms; she couldn't explain it but she liked a classy well decorated bathroom. Harry had merely shaken his head at her and proceeded to tell her what, or rather what they hadn't, found out.

"Damn," Ascella swore when he'd finished. Then she remembered something. "What did Malfoy want to show you two anyway?" she asked changing the subject slightly. And they explained about the 50 galleon fine Mr. Weasley was being faced with for the flying car. "That's bollocks!" Ascella exclaimed. Harry nodded grimly with her but Ron still looked excited at the prospect of being able to write to his father about where the Malfoy's had hidden all of their really dangerous magical artifacts. Apparently Malfoy had let slip about how his father was hiding the items he didn't want found by the Ministry under their drawing room.

"Too bad we didn't find anything out about the Heir of Slytherin, though," Ascella said. The others nodded as they entered into the toilet on the third floor, their minds turning back to Hermione, assuming she must have changed back from being Millicent Bulstrode. Oh, how Ascella wished that had been the case; anything would have been better than what they found. Hermione was still changed and she didn't look anything like Bulstrode; she looked like she was part cat.


a/n Just wanted to thank all my reviewers! You are awesome.

And to answer Sammy's thirdly: All I want to say here is don't worry. She won't be. :) And I think you will be happy with who she will be. :) It just won't be right away of course!