Jeez... it took me eleven chapters to get here, so much for making it short. Hope the Points of view are entertaining though. _


It started with a squeeze of his lungs, his breath sped up in an attempt to catch the air his lungs needed. It took him less than a second to leave his servants and apparate straight to his chambers. The pain was not unbearable, he had known what true pain was at his own hands, something he's always been proud of. This was..., uncomfortable, strange and most of all not originated from his own senses.

The deep feeling of fear and helplessness was not coming from him. He did not remember a time where he succumbed to such weaknesses. Not even as a child did these emotions bring him under, he plunged into the weak link with no regard for the other mind's wellbeing.

Cold is what he experienced first. Then came the tingling of something along his spine and his forearms, trying and failing to warm the rest of his body.

The fear of being unable to breathe again was the only thing taking over the frail mind, he recognized the little serpent's mind immediately. But what was happening to him was another story.

Some minutes later the pain stopped, and the fear increased, he felt the mind fade from his mental grasp and the sense of emptiness took its place. It made him too uncomfortable to dwell on. He closed the mental connection immediately, his ire growing by the second.

Apparating back to his servants he sent one of them to the Ministry for news.

Twenty minutes later the man came in with news that Harry Potter had used magic in front of a muggle, and was now expelled from Hogwarts.

Now, that wouldn't do.

Harry Potter would always be under the old fool's grasp. But out of Hogwarts he'd be harder to find, harder to predict. He understood the slippery little serpent was close enough to the boy to follow him. He'd be losing them both in one go.

He needed to know where he was, and the only way he could ensure the boy wouldn't disappear to an undisclosed location under the Order's protection, was for him to go back to school every year, soon enough, he could bait them both.

He sent Lucius to unsure that the boy wasn't condemned for a stupid offence, only when he was sure that Dumbledore's stance was in their favor. He wouldn't put it past the old man to take advantage of the boy's predicament, just so he could keep him out of sights.


He felt so soothed, so comforted, he couldn't tell if it was a sensation, if he was dreaming, if he was awake. He honestly didn't care, he hadn't felt this since he left Hogwarts, and even then some of his days were haunted by the possibility of death by fucking trials he didn't even ask for.

He was lulled by a beat, soft and warm, he felt his own heart follow it, his breathing calmed and all his fears and worries left him. He could have kept himself in that state forever, if it wasn't for the insisting knocks.

The voice behind it was aggravated, as always, "Don't you dare get out boy, we're going to see Dudley and you're staying there."

He plopped the back of his head against the wall two times in sheer frustration. He couldn't believe that this was it for him. All his hopes and dreams and possibilities, even with the threat of Voldemort looming over him, they made everything bearable.

Now there was only Voldemort.

He was supposed to wait, but wait for what, another letter, another howler, a bunch of Aurors to take him in like a criminal. What was he supposed to wait for.

The answer came as something hit the hallway cabinet, steps and whispers were heard and the door handle turned.

His wand was ready, the voice that came from the shadows stopped him though.

"Harry, it's okay"

"Lupin? What are you doing here?"

"Getting you out of course" said the girl with pink hair.

"And we need to hurry"

"Profesor Moody?"

"Not your Professor boy, never got to that, did I."

He was hugged by Remus quickly and after Tonks packed his things, they ushered him to the back door with his broom. It didn't take them more than two minutes.

They were flying to headquarters.

He would have never guessed this could be The Order's Headquarters, it looked like a spooky abandoned house.

Mrs Weasley hugged him and after a fleeting look to the room full of people, including his Godfather, he was ushered upstairs where he was supposed to wait again. He was pissed.

A body collided with him and gripped him in a fierce hug, curly hair going up his nose. He knew it was Hermione.

She apologized so hurriedly he could barely get what she said. Ron came after, he hugged him as well and calmly apologized himself.

His best friends were full of apology but he couldn't get his mind away from the fact they were here all this time, together. While he was left clueless and alone back in Surrey.

"So when did you two get here" he said with visible bitterness.

"Not long before you, just two days ago..."

"Oh yeah?.. still no one thought of telling me, were they even going to get me out of there if it wasn't for the dementors?"

At the look of guilt on their faces he lost it

"Unbelievable... I'm the one he's after, the one that faced him several times.. How can you be here, when I'm left clueless not even a message..." He said screaming at his friends.

"Well... Keep screaming like that and they definitely won't hear what you have to say… " said the slightly accented voice of Nina Morgenstern.

If he wasn't so angry he would have turned beet red.

She smiled at him with that upturn corner of her mouth, as if trying not to seem too serious.

It felt like every time he stopped looking at her, she became more beautiful. He already had trouble speaking to her without fumbling like an idiot. Last year he had berated himself on even thinking of her as a date for the ball. Just for her to come say hi when she saw he looked miserable.

She ended up taking them both him and Ron to an area of the ballroom where everyone was dancing with everyone. Ron stewed in silence, as for him, he couldn't say he danced but he did watch her. She seemed so free and at ease he couldn't take her smile off his mind, if he thought her brown doe like eyes were beautiful and entrancing, he was bewitched when he saw her smile.

She came closer and offered him a thick hot cocoa that smelled like heaven. He looked at his female friend for rescue as he put his mouth to the hot beverage and gulped several mouthfuls.

"Actually Nina was here before us, right Nina?"

"Mm.. a week before the Weasley's came" she said as she sat on the windowsill not taking her eyes off him.

He kept drinking until there was none of it left.

"So you're okay? We...um heard about the dementors"

"I'm perfect, great ... Just fine" he looked at the chocolate in his hands and this time he did go red in the face.

"So what are they doing downstairs?" He asked, trying to focus on another subject.

"It's an Order meeting" Ron said

"Just debriefing though, strategy meetings are for when Professor Dumbledore, Kingsley Shackelbolt, and Professor Snape are here." Said the brunette.

"How do you know that" asked Ron scandalized.

"It makes sense, doesn't it, Professor Dumbledore is the leader of the Order, they'd need someone high up from the Ministry and... Well someone on the other side."

"Snape spying for the Order, you can't believe that" said Harry.

Hermione shrugged.

Just then, a crack was heard as the twins apparated in the room making Nina jump and scoff as they laughed at her.

"Hey Harry, can you believe these two, they'd been at it since they got their trace lifted."

"When did they learn how to apparate"

He said watching the twins as they harassed the short girl, her face utterly annoyed.

Ginny shook her head "Remus asked if you could go down for a second".

"Sure, thanks Ginny" she got up and just when she turned her back on them the twins got their faces full of pillows.

They heard the girl laugh in the corridor.

"You guys need to take it easy on her, she's just gotten out of bed" Hermione's voice rang with worry.

"Wait what happened?" Harry asked

"She had a fit yesterday, Sirius and Remus were very hush hush about it." Answered Ginny

"Stop worrying Hermione" said Fred

"she looks okay besides, I doubt she'd want to be treated any differently, right Fred?"

"Right you are George, let's go show her we won't treat her any differently" Fred answered.

"So mate... Way to drink hot chocolate huh" Ron snickered.

Ginny asked confused "what's that about?"

Hermione tried to signal Ron to shut his mouth but as always he didn't get it.

"Harry has a crush on Nina, because of her exotic eyes" mocked Ron.

"It's not ... Okay, thanks a lot Ron, just shut up" Harry said annoyed and embarrassed.


When dinner time came Harry went down to the kitchen where some of the Order members were still talking. He spotted Nina talking to Sirius, she saw him first and poked the man with her elbow smiling up at him.

He left her side and went straight for him, he hugged him tightly and it felt like everything was right in the world again. They shared smiles as he repeatedly told him he was okay.

Conversation was fluid as they ate, to his surprise Nina sat in front of him, at Sirius's left, Remus on her other side. They seemed at ease with each other, he even caught Sirius poking fun at her disgusted face when he suggested she try blood pudding at breakfast tomorrow.

The mood turned when Arthur, Remus and Sirius started talking about the Minister.

"At this point every move he'll make is expected to be against us" said Arthur

"But why?" Asked Harry confused

"He believes Dumbledore is trying to take the Ministry from him"

"Why would he think that, that's completely mad"

"Exactly, he's not thinking clearly Harry ; he's driven by fear... Fear at the possibility of you know who being back once more", explained Remus.

"What about Voldemort?" Asked Harry.

He noticed Sirius giving a fleeting look at Nina, who looked entranced by her glass for some reason.

"He has been busy... His attacks have been increasing in number ... And intensity. We don't know why, but for him to cling to anonymity and then expose himself like this, is strange... Some of us... believe he is baiting someone.."

Moody cleared his throat in discomfort.

"Who? The one who went into the maze in my stead?"

Nina kept her eyes on the glass lest she mess up.

She had spoken with Sirius and gotten him to disclose as much as he could, the man didn't believe in secrecy when it came to people he trusted.

"Yes, fortunately Voldemort has no other clues to follow, the only thing he knows is that this stranger is a parseltongue."

"A slytherin?" Asked Harry astonished.

"Well, you're not a slytherin mate, and you're parseltongue. Just saying could be anyone really?" Said Ron looking sick.

"... for now it seems whoever it is remains hidden ... He has also been recruiting... Heavily... Not only wizards and witches but all sorts of dark creatures..and we have been doing the same...But that's not the only thing he is after... There is something..."

"Sirius" Moody's voice rang in warning.

"Something he didn't have last time.."

"Like a weapon.." asked Harry

"No.. it's not a weapon" said Nina stunning the adult's protests to silence enough to find the time to continue.

"We're speaking about Voldemort here, he doesn't believe he needs a weapon, he is arrogant, he calls himself the most powerful wizard that ever lived. He wouldn't look for an external source of power to do anything... So what is it ?"

She asked, looking at the adults in turn.

Molly Weasley looked terrified, some of them looked green others just pensive. It looked like everyone but Nina had noticed her say you know who's name without second thought.

Sirius looked at her closely, and when he appeared to be ready to speak.

Molly snapped. "That's enough, they're children, you've already said too much. You might as well be inviting them to join the Order."

"Great, if your fighting Voldemort sign me in"

"Does it have to either become a soldier or be a helpless clueless child?..."

"You wouldn't want to join?" Asked Harry confused.

"Harry you have to be realistic here. This is a war where the enemy has practiced all sorts of magic for more than a decade, you want us to join and help how?... screaming expelliarmus at their faces?"

"What's wrong with expelliarmus?" Said Ron and Harry at these times.

"Well for starters it defeats the purpose of winning a fight to the death, you're just taking someone's wand they could simply have another one." Nina explained. He wanted to argue but her palor belayed her seriousness and convictions. He wouldn't dare dismiss her pain and trauma but he wanted to prove himself.

"And let's not mention the screaming won't be helping ya much. There's a reason Aurors are expected to use non verbal spells." Interjected Moody looking pointedly at the two boys.

"Well Nina...maybe it hasn't occurred to you, maybe Harry is just a good wizard" said Ginny in a biting tone, ignoring Moody completely.

"Being a good wizard won't help him much when he's looking at people dropping lifeless and bloody in front of him, screams and blood everywhere he looks."

"You got out of there Nina, you fought bravely and got out" said Sirius frowning.

"I wanted to run not fight, I fought because I was cornered, because there wasn't another choice. Doesn't it feel like the whole magical community is cornered?"

"Those muggles dying are not on you, little girl", Said Moody softly.

"I was the only one with a wand... a child as you say, and I would have been tortured and killed just like any other adult... Why shouldn't I be taught like one?"

"You could teach us some defensive spells, it would only help us in the long run" said Hermione trying to sound as convincing as possible.

"Your children... The last thing you should be worried about is death eaters at every ... It's not a life for a child.. it's not right" the older woman looked defeated as she excused herself.

"I'm sorry" Nina's voice came muffled by her hands as she hid her face for a second and apologized to Mr Weasley. With a regretful smile he told her she was not at fault to speak her mind, that these had been trying times for all of them.

He saw Sirius take the girl's hand and squeeze it so she wouldn't rub at her face and hide it again, nor run away.


Nina had little time to get her shit together after she woke up. Madame Pomfrey had found nothing out of the norm, not in her runes nor her physical health. She had repeatedly assured everyone of her well being, that her body sometimes just shut down from stress.

Madame Pomfrey believed her. Sirius and Remus were another story, they didn't say much about it any longer but their eyes didn't stray for long when she was near. She even caught Remus checking on her while she pretended to sleep. It made her insides feel warm and twist realizing it was the first time she had experienced care like this.

Her mother was too scared to be anywhere near her when she had one of her fits.

Their protocol was, when Nina felt a fit coming she was to get herself calm enough to get to the basement, lock the door and stay there until several hours had passed. Meanwhile, her mother usually took refuge in the little outside Garage. The woman had spent countless nights there, the place became an outside emergency room, It had everything her mother would need.

The fit had lasted for a few minutes only, she had rested for a total of four hours and woke up hungry enough to eat breakfast lunch and dinner in one sitting.

What no one understood, thank God and Merlin and everything good in this world, was that this fit had nothing to do with her usual unstable magical core fits. She had realized that, the second the cold set in, her scar burned, from there it spread until it encompassed her entire body. She refrained from describing what it felt like in fear of anyone putting two and two together.

Because It felt like a Dementor sucking her soul out.

She had thought long and hard about it even before The Massacre.

Her blood made Voldemort's new body.

Would that link him to her. Did Harry feel anything that night when the ritual was happening. How did it affect the bond he had with Voldemort through his scar. Would her scar act the same way as Harry's.

After Harry's attack there was only one theory she could think of.

Harry was linked to Voldemort by magic, when his curse rebounded, an imprint or a small part of his magic had latched onto him and survived. Intertwined with him so deeply that now he could tell when the man was near, or speak parseltongue.

She was linked to him by blood. Her blood was running through his body being fed by his magic, and feeding it in return, intertwined. She was aware this could very well mean a three way symbiosis. But what that meant was beyond her understanding...

Did it mean he could know where she was. Did it mean the Massacre could have been avoided if she wasn't there. Did it mean a small infinitesimal part of her was reaching to Harry as well through Voldemort's magic. Did that mean Voldemort could feel them both, or just her, or just Harry or none of them. Did it mean he was dependent on both of them or just one. Did it mean they were dependent on him?

What the fuck did any of it mean.

Merlin help her she didn't even include her weirdness in the equation, fuck if that wouldn't turn everything upside down and create a thousand possible outcomes.

She had watched him closely trying to gauge if he could tell where she was without looking, if he felt any sort of unease at her presence the way he felt it at Voldemort's, if he could tell there was a link, if she could feel any sort of link.

Nothing. Aside from angering his girlfriend, looking like an absolute creeper watching him closely and probably disturbing most adults into never ever speaking about Order stuff with her.

She really accomplished nothing. This is why she hated being surrounded by people, she couldn't possibly plan every single interaction to fit her plans and not mess things up. It was bound to go to shit sooner or later and that was just the pinnacle of stress.

She had found and killed the locket by sheer dumb luck or plain fate or both, now that that was done the last thing she wanted is to stay and risk being caught in any way. But again she figured running away would be as catastrophic as them finding out she was the mysterious trial crasher.


Next morning he felt utterly well rested, to the point he woke up smiling for some reason. He couldn't tell if it was due to a dream he forgot about or just waking up rested for the first time in what felt like forever.

He had woken up early, his body clock still tuned to his Dursley days. He went down the stairs quietly to the kitchen and passed a muttering Kreacher, he was exactly as Ron had described.

The kitchen was lit and soft spoken words accompanied by the clank sound of pans were heard.

"Good morning, Harry", Nina greeted him as Sirius gave him a one armed hug and signaled the chair at his side.

The smell of bacon and coffee hit him so right, his mouth watered.

"How have you slept?" Asked Sirius as they started to eat.

"Great" he responded with a smile.

He was dying with curiosity, he had been wondering for hours about their closeness, a part of him was envious.

He understood the circumstances may have helped the care he showed the girl, but he couldn't help but think he was his Godson, who had survived more dire circumstances than her.

It was selfish, even though he had spent his childhood without any sort of paternal figure.

At some point along their breakfast he noticed Nina calling Sirius, big ol' Snuffles. And this time he couldn't mask his surprise.

"You told her about ...I mean"

"The marauders...?" Sirius chuckled "well we met at Hogwarts you see...rather she met big ol' Snuffles and decided to take care of him..."

"You should have seen his face when he had to explain that the innocent doggy I took care of was actually a grown man..."

Harry laughed.

He could picture his next however many breakfasts with Sirius and for the life of him not even Hogwarts breakfast could be compared. He had thought about it long and hard, with the trial hanging above him like a guillotine. He caught himself thinking several times a day what would be of his future.

What about his plans of becoming an Auror, would he have to go back to the Dursley's until he was seventeen, put to work at the house, his school material locked away from him not allowed to use magic until he was of age.

He wouldn't. He'd run away and come here. He'd buy a house where Sirius wouldn't have to be tormented by the memory of his family's misdeeds.

His face must have shown too much.

"Harry, you're going back to Hogwarts...you know this don't you?"

His look of doubt couldn't be helped.

"It was self defense Harry, they'll never condemn you for it".

He smiled and nodded, his mind still adjusting to what ifs. Remus called Sirius from the living room and the man got up winking at Harry and smirking. His heart sped up to unhealthy levels, his hands sweating. He didn't dare look up from his mug of delicious cinnamon and nutmeg coffee she had made him.

He wasn't particularly fond of the bitter beverage but the blend of milk cinnamon and sugar made it sweet enough for him.

"You know the Ministry has nothing against you", she said.

He looked at her in disbelief "what?"

She smiled, "Think about it, they're not attacking your image because you're a threat. You're a minor, you have no political power, even if you are rich and famous, it means little to them. Do you see what I mean?"

"Professor Dumbledore has political power... he's famous and magically powerful, probably rich too, but why would they attack me if they don't think I'm a threat?" He asked not understanding her point, his stomach sinking at the possibility of her only seeing him as that. The rich and famous boy.

"Now don't take this at face value, it's just my opinion. But it feels like they're trying to piss off professor Dumbledore by poking at his protégé. In other words they want to make sure no one ever sides with him, and you being famous well... it makes you easier to ostracize. Professor Dumbledore had decades upon decades to build his fame, know people. Your case is different people love you, but they don't know you."

"It's easier to believe I'm a liar and attention seeker, having Professor Dumbledore side with me makes it all the easier for him to be black listed." He continued her thoughts.

"It's a circle really, you both are loyal to each other. What you have to keep in mind is, whatever they say about you their purpose is to make you feel alone and isolated... Your not."

"It feels like I can't catch a break... every year I swear." He sighed in defeat.

She chuckled, "I like to believe there's always some good with the bad, otherwise I really don't see why we'd get out of bed every day."

He smiled and felt his stomach flutter. His interest in her had sparked to life when she spoke to him for the first time. She was so small her eyes big brown and bright, she hid him from Filtch in one of his late night escapades.

He only remembered her because she was the only other one with a longer sorting than his. The Hufflepuff that looked so relieved at her results, he heard her whisper a quick thank God as she moved to her table.

He realized he never even asked her what is it was she was doing that night and he doubted anyone would know.

"Did you recognize any of them...at the attack?" He wanted to ask her since he knew she was present, it seemed no one was putting any particular attention to it.

"No... They looked dirty and nervous though... careless too." She answered him, mind somewhere only she could be.

"So none of the escapees?" He asked

"No... I doubt they even had the mark. They looked too green." Silence prevailed until Nina managed to get the courage to ask.

"Do you think he sent them there to mess up on purpose?" She asked

He looked at her to gauge the direction the conversation was taking. "It feels like that, doesn't it, what I don't get is why the mark. Did he order them to or what exactly?" He said frustration clear in his voice.

"Oh..." He noticed Nina looked flushed as she twisted her hands nervously.

"Yeah... That was me... I thought you knew."

"You... You conjured the dark mark? Why would you... How... But you...?"

He couldn't form a sentence. How the hell did she draw the dark fucking mark in the heart of Muggle London and no Azkaban or expulsion hanging over her.

"I used another wand...I took it from one of the Death eaters... I figured they would try to discredit me if I dared say the attackers were death eaters and seeing the current ...emm... Political climate... Well….. better safe than sorry….Also Aurors would come faster if there was a Mark. I was just lucky the Order showed up faster. I could very well be on a trial myself." she chuckled nervously.

He was speechless. No wonder everyone praised her for surviving, she didn't just throw stunners or hide. She didn't just throw herself at danger. She assessed the situation and did what was needed to survive today and tomorrow.

"That was clever." He smiled as she flushed, she didn't look like she wanted to say much about it and he understood. She had seen people die that day, felt like it was her last. It wasn't something to brag about, he understood now why his friends didn't know the details. No one had shared them, it was what they overheard and he felt his stomach all the more fluttery for it.

She had told him, only him.


The feeling of warmth and comfort came to him again and this time he recognized it and embraced it. Soon the echo of three heart beats made it impossible to tell which one was his. He understood he should have been disturbed at the intrusive nature of hearing another's heart beat apart from his own, but for the life of him he couldn't but take comfort in it.He wasn't dreaming this time but he didn't know if he was awake either.A ripple soft and lulling moved him from his spot and slowly he realised he could move his arms and legs. Light came through from above, he was underwater, he'd recognize the place no matter what, he had spent an hour looking for his friends stressed and frantic.He swam in a smooth motion, his body remembering what the movement was like when he had ingested the Gillyweed, or perhaps his mind did. He moved deeper looking for something, he didn't know what. He swam calmly there was no hurry this time no fear of losing his friends, he caught a golden light below him.A moving form glowing and illuminating the deepest darkened parts of the lake. It was a girl. She swam like she was born to live below dark waters. Her long hair flowing behind her, her limbs in sync. He'd stay and watch longer if the girl didn't turn abruptly towards him. Her movements were hasty but there was a grace only ever reserved for those born in the deep, it felt particularly strange that she could move like that looking as human as she did.Her movements became faster and the slow flowing motion that looked so calming became frantic and hurried. It was like watching a beautiful doe in its element, and scaring it into hiding.His limbs followed, disappointment settling at the top of his stomach. He wanted to be closer, he wanted to see her eyes, he wanted to swim with her, touch her glowing skin as she swam around him unafraid and trusting.He felt his emotions intensify for some reason, the calm echo of heart beats becoming a furious rythme.He wanted her close and he'd find a way.Swimming between the water plants of the deep, he looked for her, anger taking over him.Why would she run from him, she wasn't supposed to run. They were the same, their hearts beat at the same time, couldn't she hear it, couldn't she feel him searching. He'd find her.Spotting the golden tendrils of energy, he swam slowly trying not to disturb the water. He crept closer, and pounced.The girl twisted and finally he could see. Her eyes were gold that's why he wanted to look at them so desperately, they were glowing just like the tendrils of energy coming from her skin. She turned abruptly in his arms and he felt an invisible force push him to the other side, far away from her. He balanced himself enough and turned his head to look for her, only to find the waters dark and empty.No. She couldn't be gone. Why did she run. He only wanted to have her close.His anger grew and grew until it became hate. The synchrony of hearts was gone, the calm was gone, the golden light illuminating the place was gone. He wanted to scream and rage, he was abandoned in this dark empty realm, why would she do that to him. What kind of hateful person would do this to him.He felt his heart beat in fright at the uneasy surroundings and as he turned right to look for a way out of the dark a femenine non-human face showed its teeth and screeched at him.

He woke up drenched in sweat, no understanding of what he just saw. His head was killing him, the pain encompassing his whole head. He got out of bed and making sure his friend was fast asleep he changed clumsily.

He went down to the kitchens for a drink, wishing it was just a sign of dehydration instead of some crazy Voldemort bullshit. He had hope, his scar wasn't the one hurting this time.

The house was utterly quiet, and he moved accordingly. He went to sit in the living room for a few minutes and as he entered he saw a form curled up cocooned in blankets.

Nina was fast asleep the book she must have been reading, on the floor forgotten, her left arm out of the blankets as if to reach for it, her sleeve slightly up.

He saw something move on her skin, and he took his glasses off to clean them. It must have been a trick of the light, it couldn't be.

He put his glasses back and moved closer, he made sure she was still deep asleep and uncovered her sleeve carefully.

He gingerly touched the spot he thought he saw the little squiggle and before his skin made contact an array of symbols lit up in a straight line following her forearm. He took his hand back abruptly and stood still trying to reconcile what he saw.

He wouldn't have noticed the large scar there if it wasn't for the slight glow of the strange symbols. They were both aligned perfectly, and the first thought that came over him was the memory of a terrified Barty gripping his left arm and asking him why it wasn't there.

He thought the man was mad, he expected him to have a dark mark. No.

He was expecting an open wound.


Author's Note: I have to admit, I'm not very satisfied with this chapter, I really don't know at which point did it go sideways, I did feel like the dialogues were a bit forced though. If you guys have any advice on how to deal with that, I'd be grateful.