Guyyyysss writing is harddddd. Ugh, my self imposed deadline totally snuck up on me. I'm glad I remembered though! I'm in a tiny bit of a slump, so hopefully putting out today's chapter will give me some renewed vigor. Yosh!

"Miss Campbell is here to see you, sir," Professor McGonagall greets curtly, ushering me into the office. It's as beautiful as I remember, with many wonderful moving contraptions surrounding me. Fawkes is a hatchling now, barely holding on to his perch with his tiny claws. I watch him for a moment and take another deep breath.

"Thank you, Minerva." The two professors nod to each other and I'm suddenly left alone with the headmaster. Before he can make eye contact with me, I put a hand to my head and pretend to wince. With no time to come up with a better one, my plan is to try to throw him off. It probably won't work, but at least I'm trying.

"Are you alright, my dear?" Dumbledore stands up from his chair, but I wave him off.

"Oh, I'm alright, sir. Sorry for worrying you. I have chronic migraines. They get worse when I'm nervous." Am I babbling? I feel like I'm babbling. At least I sound nervous.

"Is that what happened in Professor Quirrell's class today?" he asks, gesturing for me to sit down. I oblige him.

"Yes, sir. I didn't mean to curse. I'm really sorry about that. My head just hurt a lot and I lost track of where I was."

"Is this normal?"

"Yes, sir. It was getting better at home. I was homeschooled so I wouldn't be stressed too often." I press a hand to my head. "Please don't tell my parents. They think I can't handle going to school, and I don't want to leave." I certainly don't have to fake the anxiety in my voice.

"Am I causing you great stress, Charlotte?" I almost want to laugh at the irony of his question. Hopefully he will never know the amount of stress he causes me.

"I've never been called to the headmaster's office before. I don't want to cause any trouble at school." If that's not the truth I don't know what is.

The famous twinkle in the headmaster's eye has disappeared as he seems to stare directly into my soul. I wait for him to use legilimency on me, my mental barriers as strong as I can make them right now...but he doesn't. What is he waiting for? Doesn't he want to know the truth?

"I appreciate your noble intentions, Miss Campbell, but unfortunately you will still be serving detention with Professor Quirrell. He was very upset by your outburst and it wouldn't do to condone that sort of behaviour in front of your classmates, despite the circumstances."

I stare at the headmaster, trying not to let the horror of this information show on my face. Alone, with Tom, for hours? I can't let this happen. I felt what he was capable of today in a room filled with other students. Alone? I would never make it. But what do I say to get out of this?

"You're right. I'll make sure it doesn't happen again." I get up from my seat and turn away, waiting for Dumbledore to change his mind. Certainly he wouldn't leave me alone with that monster? But then, I realize, I'm talking to a different type of monster right now. He would set up a trap like this. If I know who Tom is, I won't let myself be alone with him, and if I don't know who Tom is, the headmaster can cancel the detention at the last minute in order to protect me. Or he can assume that Tom isn't actually a threat to some random girl. That would be the most logical thing for him to think.

I take another step towards the door, but end up turning back around. "Can't I do detention with you, Professor?" Well played, I admit defeat, the underlying conversation began.

Dumbledore raises an eyebrow at me. "Why not with Professor Quirrell?" Tell me what's going on, he answers in kind.

"He kind of scares me. I don't like him very much." You know why.

"You've only had class with him one day. Why not give him a chance?" That's not good enough. Tell me the truth.

"Please?" Don't make me do this.

"I only want to help you, Charlotte."

I steel my resolve. It seems that Dumbledore isn't going to let me get away without telling him something. I didn't want to have to do this so soon, but I already put myself in this corner.

"Oh, like you helped your sister?" The sentence comes angry and fast, like it slipped out. Except, it didn't.

The headmaster gives me a look of perfect confusion. He's quite the actor. "I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh I'm sure you do, Professor. I'm a seer, but I don't see into the future- I only see the past. Your past, to be exact." I watch closely for a reaction to my lies, except there really isn't much of one.

"Oh? Could you tell me where I put my lunch? I can't seem to find it anywhere." I close my eyes and sigh. I should have expected this kind of reaction from the old man. He never lets his hand be seen by anyone, even when it would be more prudent to show it.

A long pause stretches between us as we each wait for the other to speak. After a while, Dumbledore seems to finally get the hint that I'm not going to play along with his old man routine and he drops the act- I'm suddenly faced with the general who has taken on armies. "When were you planning on telling me this?"

"I wasn't." I cross my arms. I'm the one with all the information here! How did I get put on the defensive so easily?

"Then why tell me now?" The twinkle in his eye is back, and I know I've been played.

"You know, don't you?"

"Know about what?" Dumbledore continues to play coy with me and it's infuriating.

"Forget it! I'll just go to the stupid detention! What do I care who knows your stupid secrets? Clearly you don't!"

I'm about to stomp away when he begins, "Now Charlotte-"

"What? What is it now?" At this point I'm seething. With all this greater good bullshit he espouses, you would think he would know when to leave well enough alone, for the "greater good".

"You're clearly upset, but I'm not sure I understand why."

"Because I'm trying to keep your secrets away from your enemy and you're the one trying to leave me alone with him!" Dumbledore's expression hardens for just a moment at this, but he says nothing. "Forget it! If you want Tom to know about your stupid plan for the end of the year then fine!" I don't slow down as I throw open the office door and storm out, even though the headmaster is calling after me. He is so aggravating!

At this point I'm angry and scared and not ready to go back to pretending like I'm a normal student. Before I realize what I'm doing I'm running down the halls at full speed. It's dinner time now, so things are rather slow going throughout the castle, but I don't want to run the risk of running into anyone right now. I take a moment to cast the disillusionment charm on myself, happy that I know it, and I climb higher and higher to escape the trapped feeling that seems to be chasing me. Finally reaching the seventh floor, I remember the perfect place to go to get away- the Room of Requirement. No one I know uses it until fifth year, so it should be a safe haven for me now. It takes a little bit of wandering for me to remember where it is, but I'm rewarded when I imagine a nice, calm bedroom for myself to stay in and a door appears between two familiar looking paintings that I've now walked between far more than three times. I take one more look around to make sure no one is watching and slip inside.

I find myself in a small, but cozy, room. There's a four poster bed on the left wall with a fireplace already lit across from it. In front of the fireplace is a rug and comfy looking couch. Next to myself and the door is a large bookcase filled with promising reads, and the far wall reveals a perfect view of the surrounding mountain range. I release a long breath I didn't know I was holding, throw myself on the bed, and burst into tears.

…

I wake up and look around blearily, wondering where in the hell I am. This place doesn't look familiar at all...oh shit. I throw myself out of the wonderful bed and look out the window in a panic, but fortunately the sun is only just starting to rise. I'll have to come up with an excuse as to why I didn't come back last night, but at least I haven't missed any classes. I make my way back to my dorm begrudgingly, not wanting to leave the haven I created for myself behind, but real life is going to continue whether I want it to or not.

Slipping into our dorm bathroom, I hop in the shower and start getting ready for the day. I'm headed downstairs for an early breakfast when Mandy spots me.

"Where were you last night?" I can't tell if she's angry, confused, or just curious.

"My headache ended up coming back way worse, so Professor McGonagall walked me to the hospital wing and I stayed there for the night," I lie smoothly.

"Oh." Does she sound disappointed? "Ok then."

"I'll see you later?"

"Yeah." I continue heading to breakfast, feeling a bit confused by that encounter.

Today is double Potions. I'm not looking forward to the professor or the class itself, but I've got to suffer through it. I'll have to keep my occlumency shields up, as usual, but I have no reason to suspect that Snape will try to knock them down. I'm just not a fan of him or Potions. I end up heading to class early anyway, partially to just get it over with and partially to work on the homework I've been neglecting since yesterday went completely awry.

"Class begins now." I'm snapped out of my huge pile of assignments by the start of the lecture. I completely lost track of time! Snape goes into the exact same spiel he gave the Gryffindor class, and I immediately zone out. I knew we would be having this class with the Hufflepuffs, which I'm happy about. I notice belatedly that my bunkmates aren't sitting with me, and when I make eye contact with Mandy across the room she just shrugs at me.

"Today we will be brewing a potion that even first timers like yourselves shouldn't have trouble with. Now get yourselves a partner and get to work. If I hear any side conversations I will dock house points."

There's a sudden mad scramble as everyone tries to find a partner. Mandy and Lisa pair up together instantly because they're sitting together, so I end up with the Hufflepuff girl next to me. She seems friendly enough.

"I'm Sally," she says, extending her hand to me. I shake it nervously.

"Charlotte."

"Nice to meet you!" Sally and I get down to business with our potion, and as we work on it we start to realize a harrowing truth: I'm terrible at Potions. I didn't know myself to be so clumsy or awkward, and I wonder if Snape breathing down my neck is just bringing out the worst sides of me. Within minutes I've cut my fingers twice, have cut the ingredients incorrectly, and I can't seem to grab the right things off the shelves. Without Sally helping to correct my mistakes, I think I would blow something up.

"Miss Campbell, have you never spent any time in a kitchen?" Snape sounds more exasperated than usual.

"No?" I answer, my cheeks a terrible shade of red, I'm sure.

"Maybe you should start."

I didn't realize it when I was reading through the textbook. It all seemed so simple then, but now I know...I have no idea how to use a knife properly! Shouldn't there be step by step instructions for that at the start of the course? Why would they assume that I have an advanced degree in standard cooking procedures?

"Ouch!" Due to my inattention, I've managed to cut myself yet again. Sally swipes the knife from my hand quickly.

"How about you just stir?" She is trying so hard to save us from a failing grade, and I feel so so guilty. I nod meekly and take her place at the cauldron. "Counterclockwise!" I sigh and stir in the opposite direction from where I had started. This is going to be a long, long, year.

…..

"This potion is acceptable," Snape says, causing our faces to fall. Sally and I had waited patiently for our potion to be inspected, but an A isn't what Sally deserved. For all the work she put in, she should have received an O.

"But sir-" I start.

"Potions are graded based on the outcome, not on the pair that produced it, fortunately for you." He turned to Sally. "You should probably find someone else to partner with if you want a better grade next time." Without another word, he turned with a flourish of his cloak and stalked over to the next nervous pair.

"I'm sorry, Sally. Thanks for your help today."

"No worries!" An A is better than a D, right?" Sally has been surprisingly kind throughout my stupid mistakes.

"So I'll see you next week?" I ask sheepishly.

"Yeah sure!" I try to leave class with Sally, but she decides to wait for her friends and tells me not to wait up. I look around to see that Lisa and Mandy have already had their potion graded so they went on ahead. I guess I'll go meet up with them for lunch.

…..

"What the heck happened to you in class today?" Mandy asks as I sit beside her at lunch. I blush furiously at the question. I tried not to make a scene in class today, but with the amount of blood spilled it was hard not to get noticed.

"Guess I'm not that good at Potions?" I mutter, laughing awkwardly as I feel my appetite slipping away.

"Clearly not," Lisa agrees. "Maybe you need some tutoring?"

"Are you offering?" I ask hopefully.

"I've only been in Potions class for one day! Why would I be able to help you?"

"I suppose you're right, but I can't ask Professor Snape. He hates me already."

"Maybe he would hate you less if you sought to better yourself?"

"Maybe," I acquiesce. That would be awkward as hell for me though, and I would rather not have to go through that.

I end up picking at my lunch while everyone talks about how Potions went, feeling pretty bummed out over all. It really hasn't been a good week for me. I'm looking forward to the end of it so I can hide away somewhere and recharge. I wish I could go flying, but first years aren't allowed; I can feel myself going stir-crazy already.

Fortunately for me, we have astrology tonight so I can at least enjoy the night air and hopefully relax a bit. Astrology and star gazing in general are calming pass times for me. I doubt I'll even really consider it a class except for the homework.

In the meantime, I'm going to find a nice tree to sit under while the weather is still somewhat decent and finish the rest of this homework. After lunch the other first years head their separate ways, presumably to do the same thing I am, and my afternoon passes blissfully.

Astrology is with Slytherin house, but laughing at Draco's ridiculous antics only makes my time in class more enjoyable. By the time I head to bed my sour mood has improved significantly.

….

Day four begins, I think as I roll out of bed. In three days I've been trounced by the dark lord, yelled at the headmaster, and nearly cut off my fingers in potions. But I've also made it to all my classes, made some friends, and haven't been caught in my lies. Gotta stay positive!

I'm continually impressed by breakfast at Hogwarts- I had no idea there were so many different breakfast foods and even more ways to prepare them! I really need to go see the house elves sometime and tell them how awesome they are.

Tally stops by to bring me my letters, but I'm surprised to see a third one addressed to me. I pet her absently as I stare at the familiar tilt of my name on the plain manilla envelope. Who could it be from? I take a moment to look around, making sure that my classmates aren't trying to read over my shoulder before I rip open the letter. I don't have History until tomorrow, so I'm not going to wait until then to answer my letters- I'll just do it now.

Dear Miss Campbell,

Your detention with Professor Quirrell has been cancelled; instead you shall be serving detention with me tonight. I will see you at 7pm.

Until then,

Albus Dumbledore

Ah shit. At least he took me seriously? I look up at the headmaster, having no idea how to feel about this situation. I guess I'll know more at seven. In the meantime, I am more worried about dealing with Tom's class again. Twice a week is too often to see a mass murderer.

I know I have to go to DADA. I know I have to go. But I've still got some time until class starts, so there's no point in panicking just yet. I'll just distract myself with my other letters.

My Dearest Charlotte,

I am sorry my letter was so short the other day. I've been terribly busy trying to keep your parents from losing their minds. They have been at a loss what to do all day without you, so I've been over almost daily to distract them. Taking care of my daughter is what I do best, after all!

May I add an "I told you so" in reference to the sorting? I know worrying is your strong suit, but I really wish you didn't worry quite so much. I'm sure your first class of Defense Against the Dark Arts wasn't that bad either. I know you were nervous about it. How have your other classes been going? Have you made any new friends? How have your bunkmates been? I can't wait to hear all about it!

Much love,

Grandma

Grandma was going to have to take back that, "I told you so" when she gets my letter. I mean, the sorting did turn out okay, but not much has turned out fine since then. I decide I don't really have enough time to write Grandma back (I'll do it tonight) so I'll just read and then head off to class.

Mum and Dad's letter is more of the same, not saying that I don't enjoy reading it- it's nice to know there are people cheering in my corner. Having some loving words to read every few days is definitely good for my psyche.

With that flush of happiness through my system, I force myself to head to class. I can feel myself shaking, but I know I can't skip it. I can't let Tom think something is amiss, despite the fact that he clearly knows something. If I didn't show, it would just further affirm that he should keep an eye on me.

Holding my bag with a white knuckle grip, I step into the classroom, shields completely up. Quirrell's gaze doesn't stay on me particularly long, though he's watching us all as we file in with a nervous expression on his face.

I have no idea how quickly or intensely he will attack my mental shields, so all I can do is play it cool and wait. So I do.

I wait.

And wait.

I watch the minutes as the clock ticks by, not giving a rat's ass what Quirrell is stammering on about. Five minutes pass into ten, then twenty. I don't even feel a twinge against my shields. What is going on?

Before I know it, class is over. I blink in surprise. Did I just manage to get through that whole class pain free? I mean, I was terrified, but I got through it!

As the class gets up to leave, Quirrell calls my name and asks for me to stay behind...so much for celebrating. I slow down packing my things, and I hear Draco sniggering before he makes his way past me with his posse.

"Gonna curse at your professors some more, Campbell? Or are you going to pretend to faint again?" The group of Slytherins behind Draco laugh, and I notice even some of the Ravenclaws that heard him smirk at his comment. I shouldn't be surprised that the first time he ever deigns to speak to me is to make fun of me. Quirrell is preoccupied with someone asking a question so I can't avoid this conversation that way.

"Do I know you?" Draco stops in his tracks and glares at me, immediately offended. "It's polite to at least introduce yourself before you start harassing someone."

"How do you not know who this is?" Pansy looks outraged and I try my hardest not to laugh at how much her anger distorts her face to look even more like a pug. Draco puts a hand out, as if holding her back from jumping me, and answers my question.

"Malfoy," he says smugly, like he's already won somehow, "Draco Malfoy."

"Charlotte Campbell." I hold out a hand and he stares at it before shaking it. "Alright, you can go back to making fun of me now. I just wanted to have a proper introduction." I notice that Theodore Nott looks mildly impressed with me for a moment, but it was so quick I might have imagined it.

"Don't you understand who you're talking to? You need to be more polite when speaking to a Malfoy!" Pansy starts, but Draco stops her once again. The classroom has basically emptied out by now, leaving Draco and his cronies alone with me. He seems to notice this at the same time that I do, and he doesn't look pleased. I know he only bothered with me because he thought I was an easy target, but now that I've proven that isn't the case and his audience has left, he has no real reason to stay.

"Charlotte?" Quirrell calls for me hesitantly, giving us all the out we had been hoping for. Draco immediately uses it, leaving me behind as quickly as possible. I can't help but think I've made a good impression on him.

I turn to find myself alone in the room with Tom and Quirrell. I take a deep breath and a few steps forward, making sure that I'm relatively close to the door if I need to bolt.

"I'm sorry about last class," I start the conversation. "I promise it won't happen again. Thank you for not giving me detention." I wait, terrified for the attack I'm sure is coming.

"Of course. You were in pain. I c-can understand that." We both pause again. Nothing changes with my shields.

"Can I go now?" I ask, totally lost as to what the purpose of this conversation was.

"Yes, yes. Of course. I am glad you are well."

"Thanks." I try to act as casually as possible as I leave the room. What the heck was that about? He had the opportunity to go after me and he didn't. What is his angle?

Hunger pushes out the other thoughts in my overcrowded brain, and I make my way to dinner. The other first years are nearly done eating by the time I arrive, but Lisa and Mandy are still around so I take my usual seat across from them.

"What did Quirrell want? Giving you detention?" Mandy questions as I heap a pile of mashed potatoes happily on to my plate. I notice Draco walk into the Great Hall. He immediately looks over at Ravenclaw table and when he sights me I smile brightly. His quest to rile me has only made me want to rile him more.

"Charlotte?" Lisa taps my hand, which has been frozen over the potatoes in my distraction. "What are you looking at?" She turns around and follows my gaze. When she looks back at me she is clearly surprised. "Draco Malfoy? You're friends with him?"

"Oh, not at all," I laugh. "To answer your question, Mandy, Professor Quirrell was just checking up on me." Lisa frowns but doesn't push me on the Draco subject.

"Well I need to go study," she announces, pushing away her empty plate, which disappears seconds later. "Coming, Mandy?"

"Yeah, sounds great!"

"I'll catch you two later?" I smile.

"I'm sure." Lisa and Mandy leave me to my dinner, which I haven't gotten around to taking a bite of yet. I kind of wish they had waited for me…

When I finish eating I realize that I don't know where my bunkmates are studying, so I can't really go join them. I'm not really in the mood to search the castle for them, so I head back to my bed to get some letter writing done before detention.

Seven o'clock rolls around sooner than I would like, but I make sure I'm on time. I have no idea what Dumbledore is going to have me doing, and I'm certainly not looking forward to it.

I knock on the inside door of the headmaster's office, not waiting for a response before letting myself in. I'm surprised to find that he isn't sitting at his desk, and a cursory look around shows that he isn't anywhere in the office that I can see. Taking the opportunity that's been presented, I immediately go over to Fawkes and give him some attention. His presence is soothing to my frayed nerves, and a few blissful minutes pass where I simply enjoy his company. He seems to like me well enough, letting me scratch the back of his head with a small coo.

"I hope you haven't been waiting long." Dumbledore's voice behind me makes me jump. I turn around to look at him, torn between feeling sheepish and being annoyed that he scared me.

"Not very," I say in what I hope is a casual tone, going back to petting the phoenix before me.

"I see Fawkes has taken a liking to you. He's normally not very social."

"Really?" I didn't know that.

"Why don't we take a seat?" I acquiesce, reluctant to leave Fawkes' side. He seems put out that he is no longer being pet. "For your detention tonight, I thought we could talk some more, since you seemed so reluctant the last time we met." I narrow my eyes at this.

"What about?" We both know I said too much when we spoke before. I was scared. Now I don't have the potential threat of detention with Tom looming over me. Nor have I been attacked by Tom today. Last time I was reacting like an injured and cornered kitten- I'll admit. This time I don't have to say anything, so I won't.

"Is there anything else you would like to tell me about yourself?"

"No." A long pause.

"Maybe you would like to tell me more about me?"

"No." A longer pause.

"Maybe we should talk about Tom? You mentioned him last time you were here."

I'm careful not to change my expression. He wants to know how much I know, and I'm still not sure whether he knows that Tom is in the school or if I was the one who told him.

"No."

The rest of my detention passes in awkward silence. I know how much of a petulant child I must look like with my arms crossed and an annoyed glare on my face, but I would rather sit here and not say a word than risk exposing myself any more than I already have.

Two hours pass slowly and painfully as Dumbledore watches me. His patience astounds me, and I'm equally impressed that he hasn't just tried to pry me open with legilimency.

"Why?" I ask at the last moment before I'm free. Dumbledore twitches mildly in surprise.

"Why what?"

"Why aren't you forcing me to talk?"

"I don't have the power to do that."

"That's bullshit and we both know it."

"Please, Charlotte, there's no need for that sort of language." I roll my eyes.

"I don't know why I even bother with you. You'll never answer any of my questions." I move to get up- my two hours of detention are over, but the headmaster's next statement stops me in my tracks.

"You have yet to answer any of mine."

I look at the headmaster, a storm of emotions overtaking me. Why do I feel so guilty? I quickly turn away, not wanting to let anything slip.

"I'm going to miss curfew." A tense silence fills the office as I leave the office behind.

I'm surprised by how exhausted I feel after detention, and wander back to my dorm on autopilot. When I get there I'm mildly impressed that I managed it without getting lost. Maybe I'm finally getting a handle on my daily routes, not that I have much of a handle on anything else.