I own nothing but the plot, and not even all of that.

The entire castle was on lockdown as Headmaster Dumbledore and the professors searched for whatever Professor Snape and Draco had encountered. Dumbledore knew quite well the dangers Professor Snape faced and how hard it was to fluster him, so he was understandably concerned that something had shaken him so badly.

All of the students were locked in their dormitories with strict instructions to remain there. To be certain this was obeyed, Dumbledore tasked some house elves with ensuring that any students attempting to slip out for nighttime adventures were immediately caught and returned. He even found the two most stubborn and tenacious elves that Hogwarts employed and assigned one each to a Weasley twin as their dedicated watcher.

Fortunately, the incident occurred at curfew time, and the vast majority of the students were already in their common rooms when the alarm was sounded. Very few of them got any sleep, though. Three of the houses had no idea what was going on. They were only aware that there was a problem in the castle somewhere that required a security lockdown. The prefects in those houses didn't have too much trouble getting the students to wait out the lockdown in their beds, though most of the children stayed awake and speculated late into the night in their rooms.

In Slytherin, however, most of the students had seen their head of house and Draco Malfoy run into the dormitory like the hounds of Hell were hot on their trail. The rumors going through the Slytherin common room were running rampant, and the prefects were as spooked as their charges. No one wanted to go off alone to their rooms, and felt there was more safety in the larger numbers remaining in the common room.

On a loveseat by the fireplace, Tracy Davis sat with her best friend, Daphne Greengrass.

"So, how has it been?" Tracy asked, being as quiet as she could be to prevent Pansy Parkinson from eavesdropping.

"How has what been?" Daphne asked in return.

"You know," Tracy smiled. "Being betrothed to Neville. I've noticed that you two seem to be keeping a pretty low profile. If I didn't already know about it, I might not even know you two were together."

Tracy was attempting to alleviate some of her anxiety by gently teasing Daphne, but she was genuinely concerned about the lack of any visible signs that Daphne and Neville were even a couple.

"You do know we're both still only twelve," responded Daphne, "don't you?"

"You'll be thirteen pretty soon," retorted Tracy. "No harm in having a little bit of fun. Not too much fun, of course, but you are allowed to be a bit romantic with your betrothed, aren't you?"

"If Neville were in Slytherin, yes," Daphne answered, sadly. "Or if I were in Gryffindor, that would be ok too. It's the mixing of the houses that has everyone up in arms about it. We've decided to try and be as discreet as we possibly can be."

Tracy understood that. The last month of school last year had been miserable for the pureblood Slytherin who had maneuvered herself into becoming betrothed to a Gryffindor. That wasn't even including being kidnapped to be used as cannon fodder for Filch. Daphne had been completely ostracized by Slytherin House for her perceived betrayal. This year hadn't been bad for her yet, but she could understand why Daphne wouldn't want to advertise her betrothal to Neville.

"All the same," she told her best friend, "you're supposed to be starting a relationship with Neville. You're going to spend the rest of your life with him. You need to spend some time together, and get to know each other."

"We did a lot of that over the summer," Daphne said, "and we send each other a lot of letters by owl here. We'll be spending a lot of the holidays either at my fathers estate or at Neville's." She saw the smirk on Tracy's face. "Chaperoned, you filthy minded lecher!" Tracy giggled.

"Well," she said, "I should hope so! After all, you are still only twelve."

Headmaster Dumbledore was meeting the majority of the professors who had searched the castle in the conference room attached to his office. Toma Kendet, who had assisted in the search at Dumbledore's request, was also present. The only personnel not yet present were Hagrid and Professor Lockhart. The defense professor, after thoroughly annoying Snape, had volunteered to check the perimeter of the grounds with the large gamekeeper.

"Everyone, please have a seat," Dumbledore said, ushering the assembled professors to the conference table. The shuffling of feet and the scraping of chairs was punctuated by the thunk, thunk of Professor Kettleburn's wooden leg.

"Let us compare notes," Dumbledore began. "What have we found that is out of the ordinary?"

"Several things," said Professor Flitwick. "First, there was a general feeling of uneasiness that several Professors commented on while in the area of that corridor. It felt like something hostile was watching us, but no one was there. The sensation faded as time passed. I believe that whatever the creature in the hallway was, it was able to create a telepathic wave of fear, likely as a defensive mechanism."

"Fascinating," said Dumbledore. "As a defense, it is certainly effective. However, I know of no creatures capable of this." He turned to Professor Kettleburn, the Care of Magical Creatures Professor. "Do you have any knowledge of such an ability in any creatures?"

"No, Headmaster," Kettleburn answered. "That doesn't mean it doesn't exist, though," he warned. "There are plenty of creatures that can do unexpected things." Dumbledore turned back to Professor Flitwick.

"Please, continue," he said.

"Actually," Flitwick deferred, "I think Severus should report on this next part, it's more up his alley." They all turned to Professor Snape, who delivered his report.

"An unusual substance was found coating part of the floor in the corridor where we encountered the creature," Professor Snape reported.

"Do we know for a fact that it is a creature?" asked Professor McGonagall.

"Yes," answered Professor Snape. "The substance that was found, in fact, is the key to making that determination. I have analyzed a sample of it, and found it to be an extremely lethal and corrosive venom."

"How lethal?" asked Professor McGonagall.

"I doubt," speculated Professor Snape, "that anyone who partook of it would be able to reach help fast enough to receive it. It is lethal in the smallest of doses."

"Partook of it?" asked Professor McGonagall. Kettleburn's face reddened under his beard.

"I may have tried to lick it," he said. Every eye but the one he had left rolled at his confession. Professor Kettleburn was well known for being reckless. It had led to him having only one and a half limbs remaining.

"You say part of the floor was coated in this venom?" Dumbledore asked, disturbed that such a substance had been brought into his school.

"Yes," confirmed Snape, "but not evenly. It appeared as if it were spilled on the floor and then something was dragged through it." Hagrid and Professor Lockhart came in at this point in Snape's report.

"Did you follow the trail?" Dumbledore asked.

"We did," Professor Flitwick answered. "Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on how you look at it, the poison deteriorated extremely rapidly. It had completely evaporated long before we could trace it to its source."

"Very well," said Dumbledore. "Do you have anything to report, Professor Lockhart? Hagrid?"

"No, sir" answered Hagrid. "We checked the entire grounds, the lake, and the borders to the forest. No sign of nothin' unusual."

"The same as everyone else, I'm afraid," added Professor Lockhart. "I, of course, did lend a hand to Professor Snape in investigating his mystery substance. I cannot help but think that this is a critical clue!"

"It is the only clue," grumbled Professor Snape, clearly resenting Lockhart taking credit for butting his nose in where it was neither wanted, nor needed.

"Come now, Professor Snape," said Lockhart with a smile. "You mustn't blame yourself for running away. We are not all of us built for adventure, after all. Besides, who would have protected the young Malfoy boy when you fell to the beast? It was actually quite sensible of you. It is such a pity I wasn't there, though," he said. "I know the exact charm that would have revealed if anyone were hiding."

Professor Snape's only response was a cold glare that would have frozen molten steel. Professor McGonagall, who was listening to the exchange, seemed to recognize the rising danger that Professor Snape would feed Lockhart his own entrails and intervened.

"And what charm would that be, Professor Lockhart?" she asked, her tone of voice disapproving. This man may have enchanted her lions into accepting him, but he was still a long way off from being a real staff member in the mind of the Deputy Headmistress.

"Why, 'Homenum Revelio,' for starters," answered Professor Lockhart. Snape was suddenly embarrassed that he hadn't thought to check for intruders using more magic than a magelight ball. He came to the realization that the overwhelming feeling of terror had, in fact, affected him far more than he had credited. The Potions Master would have patiently sat through having every one of his teeth pulled without pain killers rather than admit that he hadn't even thought of it due to fear, though. Especially in front of Lockhart. He made a mental note to inform Dumbledore in private. There was at least one benefit to having an employer who knew all of your most embarrassing secrets. You could tell the man absolutely anything.

After all of the reports had been given, Dumbledore came to the unfortunate conclusion that whatever had been down in the corridor, it wasn't there now. With no clues other than a mysterious venom that had already evaporated, Dumbledore dismissed everyone but Toma Kendet. It was now well past midnight, but the headmaster knew there would be no sleep for him that night.

"Master Kendet," Dumbledore began," Thank you for staying."

"Of course,"said Toma.

"I wonder if you would indulge me in a walk through the castle?" Dumbledore asked. Toma agreed, and the two men left to wander through empty hallways.

"So," Dumbledore said, "it seems the warning you were given has some validity."

"Indeed," Toma agreed.

"Has Dobby made any additional contact with you?" the headmaster asked.

"No," Toma answered. "I have been on the watch for him, but he hasn't shown himself as of yet."

"I am quite disturbed by this chain of events," admitted Dumbledore. "Warnings of imminent danger, and now a creature roams these halls armed with a dreadfully potent venom. I fear for the safety of the children."

"Have you considered posting guards?" Toma suggested.

"Unfortunately," Dumbledore admitted, "Hogwarts does not have the staff to sustain a guard force for any length of time."

"Surely your ministry would be able to send someone," Toma said.

"That is precisely why I am not asking them for help," Dumbledore explained. "The 'someone' they would send would likely be worse monsters than the creature we would ask them to guard against." The headmaster went on to explain about dementors and Azkaban prison. Toma was shocked and dismayed to learn of the conditions at Wizarding Britain's one and only penal facility.

"In our last meeting," he said, sternly, "you correctly guessed that some on the Jedi Council think of you as primitive barbarians. This is an excellent example of why they feel justified in that assessment."

"I am well aware of the uncivilized nature of the dementors," defended Dumbledore, "and I am working on ways to legislatively solve that problem. That solution is still years away, though. We need a more short term solution for the problems we face today."

"What, exactly, are you asking for?" asked Toma.

"I would like for you to join the rotation of professors who will be patrolling the school at night," said Dumbledore. "I know I have no authority over you, but if you wish to help, this is one way you may contribute."

"Certainly," agreed Toma. "If this creature appears again, however," he told the Headmaster, "I have a suggestion for an alternative to dementors." Dumbledore and the Jedi Master continued to walk for several hours, debating and planning contingencies. It wasn't until the early hours of the morning before they headed to their own quarters to get what sleep they could before dawn.

"So, what was it, then?" asked Blaise Zabini. Blaise and Theodore Nott had cornered Draco Malfoy as soon as they were alone in the room they shared. The prefects had finally put their collective foot down and ordered everyone to bed. Draco's roommates had immediately started questioning him about what he had been running away from with Professor Snape.

Draco, who would normally having been living his close call up for attention, was being surprisingly closed mouthed about it. There were two reasons for this. First, he was not anxious for tales of how afraid he had been to start spreading, and second, Professor Snape had taken him aside and forbidden him from mentioning anything.

"I don't know, alright?" he finally burst out. They had been badgering him for an hour, and his patience was at an end. "I just don't know! I felt like the worst thing in the world had noticed me, and was right behind me."

"But there was nothing there?" asked Blaise. "You ran like a coward from nothing?" He believed that Draco had lost his nerve. Political manoeuvres in the Slytherin Common room were fairly common, and due to his father's influence, Draco had been at the top of the pile. With the low profile Draco was forced to maintain, though, his standing in the common room had subsequently dropped. This incident wouldn't do him any favors, and there was a flurry of favors being given, called in, and moved on as everyone tried to adjust their position in the pecking order.

"No, there was something there, alright," Draco said. "I just don't know what it was. Neither did Professor Snape. If you think you're braver than he is, then you can go tell him you think he's a coward. Just let me know where you want the flowers to be sent for your funeral before you do. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to try to get some sleep while I can." He turned over in his bed, pulled the covers up to his eyes, and ignored any further questions. He didn't really think he'd get any sleep, though. Not with the way the shadows on the walls kept moving.

The next morning, the lockdown was lifted. The students had gathered in the Great Hall for breakfast, and waited impatiently for someone to give them an explanation for what had happened. Dumbledore stepped up to the podium at the head table, and addressed the students.

"Good morning," he started. "As I'm sure you are aware, there was an incident late last night which necessitated a lockdown. Someone left a highly dangerous liquid in the second floor hallway, and it was spilled." He paused long enough to fix as many students as he could with a solemn look of disappointment. "No one was injured, but due to the extremely dangerous nature of the liquid, the second floor hallway will be off limits until it has been thoroughly cleaned." He looked over the assembled students with a grave expression.

"I must ask that if you were involved in this accident," the headmaster said, "that you approach a member of the staff. You will not be punished if you come to us willingly and allow us to establish some safety protocols for your project." Dumbledore paused for a moment, then allowed everyone to continue their breakfast.

For the next week, the corridor was roped off. The new caretaker, Alfred Mundy could be seen mopping it over and over again. The students were quite puzzled as to what could possibly have been spilled that was so potent it needed that much cleaning before it was safe.

Before anyone could believe it, it was October. Giant pumpkins that Hagrid had grown had been harvested and turned into pumpkin pies, pumpkin bread, pumpkin juice, and any manner of other pumpkin products.

Ron Weasley was acting a lot more like his old self. He was playing chess again, and the quidditch season being on had seen him talking enthusiastically with Seamus and Dean about the different point spreads. He still withdrew into himself, but the episodes were becoming less frequent. To everyone's surprise, he was doing far better in his studies than he had the previous year. The changes Hermione had championed for remained in place, and Ron was making use of them to great effect.

He practiced writing with a pen nightly, and his handwriting improved dramatically as a result. Having a detailed written copy of the class lecture was benefiting everyone. While he doubted he would ever be in the running for top of the year, he at least took solace in the fact that he was no longer fighting Crabbe and Goyle for the bottom spot.

Ginny Weasley, on the other hand, was becoming more and more withdrawn as time went on. Harry was well aware of her interest in him, as she could hardly be in the same room as him without stealing glances his way when she thought he wasn't looking. She spoke less and less as time went on, though, and seemed to be spending more time writing in her diary than interacting with her classmates.

Hermione had tried to break her out of her shell by asking her to join them at meals, but Ginny would just shake her head and dart away. She would talk occasionally with Luna Lovegood, whom she knew from home. They had played together as children, and Ginny knew that Luna would never judge her no matter how silly her problem.

She had been dismayed when Luna was sorted into Ravenclaw. She even contemplated pleading with the sorting hat to put her in Ravenclaw, too. She decided, though, that there would be more trouble with her family than she was prepared to start if she was the first Weasley in who knew how many generations to not be sorted into Gryffindor. Just before her name was called to be sorted she decided not to ask the hat to put her in Ravenclaw.

As it turned out she didn't need to. The hat, having read her mind, informed her that there had been, in fact, eight generations since a Weasley was sorted anywhere but in Gryffindor. It also told her that it wasn't about to break the trend with her. It advised her to be patient. She would find friends in time.

She did miss Luna, however. If she had known at the time how little interaction there was between houses, she would have argued with that hat for longer. All other things being equal, as a pureblood she should have had a head start to her magical education. She should have had a network of friends forged prior to starting school. Ginny was extremely sheltered, though. She really didn't know anyone else at Hogwarts except her brothers, and they all pretty much ignored her. She honestly thought she'd have gone out of her mind if she didn't have her diary to talk to.

On a Sunday afternoon in mid October, Harry and Hermione made their way up the winding path to the owlery to visit with Hedwig. Harry had the ulterior motive of escaping from the attention and camera of Colin Creevey. The young boy had latched onto Harry Potter as his hero, and was constantly trying to take his picture, or to join in on whatever Harry was doing at that moment.

As they entered the small building at the very top of the castle, they realized they were not alone. Luna Lovegood was petting a dozen owls that had lined up to either side of her. The owls had a rotation system going on, where two of them would be petted for a few minutes, then would move to allow the next two owls in for their turn while they went to the end of the line and queued up. The girl was keeping up a constant stream of conversation with the birds.

"Daddy told me we'd be going to Switzerland to search again this summer, and you know how nice Switzerland is. You've never been to Switzerland? Perhaps I'll send you with a letter to somebody there. I don't personally know anyone in Switzerland, but that won't matter. I'll just address it to 'Hans,' and you can drop it off with whichever Hans in Switzerland you like the best. Oh, hello!"

Luna noticed Harry and Hermione staring at her. Unperturbed, she stood up and approached the two Gryffindors.

"I'm Luna Lovegood," she introduced, holding her hand out.

"Hi, Luna," Harry said. "I'm Harry Potter." They shook hands for a moment, and Luna stood looking around her like she was waiting for something.

"Hermione Granger," Hermione added. Luna smiled and shook Hermione's hand as well.

"Don't worry," Luna said to Hermione, "I won't ask him to touch me. Now that I've shaken his hand I think my wrackspurts will be greatly diminished."

"I'm sorry?" Hermione asked, puzzled.

"I was just talking with my friends," Luna continued, as if she hadn't said anything unusual at all. "I don't know their actual names, and since I don't speak owl, and they don't speak English, I've had to give them names just for me."

She began pointing at different owls and naming them.

"That one is Hooty, he talks a lot, and this is Dewdrop, and Stormy…" Luna said, rattling off names and pointing at owls. "... and this beautiful girl is Snowy," she finished.

"Actually," Harry said, "her name is Hedwig." Luna looked disappointed.

"Are you sure?" she asked.

"Pretty sure," Harry confirmed. "I belong to her, after all."

"Well, I suppose I could call her that," Luna said, "but do you think she would mind if I continued calling her Snowy when I'm here by myself?"

Hedwig gave Harry a look that clearly communicated that this girl could call her whatever she wanted. She gave good pets, and please don't mess this up.

"I think that would be fine," said Harry.

"My friend Lisa would tell me I'm babbling now, and it was your turn to talk," Luna said.

"Which one of these is Lisa?" asked Harry.

"Lisa is not an owl," Luna said to Harry, speaking a touch slower, like you might to a person who who was slightly crazy enough to mistake an owl for a person. "She's a Ravenclaw."

"Oh," said Harry. "I'm sorry."

"It's perfectly understandable," Luna told him. "After all, Ravenclaws are also called eagles, so maybe you were just confused."

"I certainly am that," Harry said.

Harry and Hermione spent a few more minutes petting Hedwig and chatting with Luna. Fortunately, the strange girl relaxed some during the visit, and they found they quite liked her.

Harry got the distinct impression that she wore this crazy persona like a garment, hiding who she truly was. He caught a few glimpses of her true self a couple of times during their conversation. He got the impression of a vulnerable girl who had been hurt in the past.

In anyone else, her deception would have sent off alarm bells in his head, but he could sense no malice at all in this girl. He really hoped this Lisa friend of hers was a true friend. While Luna was very strong in one way, she seemed incredibly fragile in another. Eventually, Luna said goodbye and skipped her way out to go to dinner.

"That was…" Harry began.

"Odd," Hermione finished. "Do you think she's ok?" Hermione asked.

"I think so," Harry said, thoughtfully. "Hedwig certainly does," he added. "I think we should be her friend. Even if I don't always understand what she's saying, I have the feeling that it's important."

Hermione smiled, and taking Harry's hand, they walked together to dinner.