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Chapter 2

Sophia was trembling by the time they exited the ministry, into Muggle London. Arthur found them a bench and sat them both down. Hand trembling, Sophia reached up and pushed down the shoulder of her shirt, revealing the gold Norse rune, Kaen. "Typical. It stayed."

"Runes like that can appear on anyone, irrespective of their magical talent. We do not know for sure what it means. Just that you are linked to him, somehow."

"Yeah well, I hope to live my life without finding out. Thank you, Mr Weasley," she said looking up at the balding man while setting her shirt right again, covering up her shoulder.

"Please, call me Arthur. And I am so sorry that this happened Sophia." His eyes were filled with sadness.

"Me too, Arthur. It couldn't be helped. I wouldn't be forced into a marriage," she said, sighing. "If I do marry, it will be my choice. I wasn't going to stay anyway."

"What will you do now?"

"I have plans."

"Will you be able to go through with them?"

"Don't you worry about me Arthur. Like I said, I can take care of myself, and I plan to."

"I'm more than willing to help, if you need it."

"I know. But you have done more for me than just about anyone else. Tell Hermione I'll be in touch through muggle means though, yes?"

He smiled. Both girls really got on. And both had a rune. "Of course. She'll probably hit you the next time she sees you, for this little stunt."

"Probably," Sophia laughed. "But she'll understand I think."

"Yes, I think she will."

They sat together until she had stopped shaking and Arthur sighed. "Is there anything you need at all?"

"Nothing. But thank you."

"I'm afraid I'm going to have to go. If you do need me. Contact me through Hermione."

"Of course. Good luck Arthur."

"You too, Sophia," he replied, drawing her into a hug. Both of them were fighting back the tears, being honestly very fond of one another. He stood, shot her one last, apologetic smile, and then checked to see that no one was watching and apparated away. Then, Sophia stood up and headed towards busier streets, with the intention of hailing a taxi.

"I want to be taken to the Potter Vaults," Ron said, proudly displaying the Potter Signet ring.

The goblin looked at it for a long moment, and then smiled, baring his teeth. "Of course, Lord Potter. Follow me." This one was just like the majority of witches and wizards. He was going to miss the last Lady Potter, but she had all of the goblins respect. She had staged quite the coup, and he was going to be there to witness the reactions of the first wizard and witch to realise it.

Molly had accompanied her son from the Ministry to Gringotts to see her sons' new vaults and ensure he set up a Vault for Albus, to compensate him for everything he had done for them. The cart they were taken to whizzed down the tracks to the nearest, and smallest, of the Potter Vaults. He used a key to open it. They watched in eager anticipation, and then gasped.

"EMPTY?!" Ron roared. "How can it be empty?!"

"Did you not know about your new finances, My Lord? The last Lady Potter lost the entire fortune somehow, just over a week ago. All that is left is two knuts in each vault and the houses."

"How could she lose that much in such a short space of time?" Molly gasped in horror. They were sure they were about to become the wealthiest wizarding family in Britain.

Two days later, she was in Wales, and in the non-magical manor. She had a small staff, each of them aware of the magical world, and each of them having signed confidentiality agreements. They were all very loyal, and being paid well enough to ensure they stayed that way. They were more than willing to ignore the magical portraits.

She had been coughing non-stop all day and had a massive headache so Sophia had just left the grounds to take a walk around the area, hoping the fresh air would do her some good when she saw him. The Vampyre with the crescent moon tattoo and filigree design on his face. She froze, watching him as he watched her. He raised his hand and pointed at her, the palm of his hand glowing as he did so.

"Sophia Potter, Night has Chosen Thee. Harken to her sweet voice and seek thy destiny at the House of Night."

She felt as if a bludger had hit her in the head and collapsed, blacking out. When she came too, Adam, her head groundskeeper, was leaning over her. "Are you alright miss?" he asked, worriedly, glancing up at her forehead.

"Yeah, I think so. My headache is awful though. What do you keep looking at?" For wizards, his behaviour was annoyingly normal, but for muggles, it wasn't. They tended not to notice her scar at all, and if they did, brushed it off.

"You've been marked, Miss. And it's a weird one too."

It was then she remembered. She looked up at the fifty year old man, meeting his concerned brown eyes. "I need to find a House of Night."

"Aye Miss, you do. I'm sure Jeremy will drive you though. It is one of his duties. Come on. Up you get. We need to get you sorted out before you go. Get you some things packed and ready. You have a long four years ahead of you." If he noticed she was tense as he helped her up and led her back onto the grounds, he didn't mention it.

"I'm going to have to contact the bank, make sure you all still get paid. I need to make sure this place is looked after."

"Of course Miss. But that can wait a little while, yes?"

She nodded. Her staff were all very kind tempered and knew just what to say when she talked to them.

When she got to her room, she looked into the mirror attached to the vanity table. Sophia's eyes widened and she let out a small gasp. The outline of the half moon was not sapphire blue as she was sure all Vampyre marks were, but gold. There was a light knock on the door. "Come in," she croaked, feeling her stomach roil.

Adele entered and smiled softly. "Adam told me what happened. Said you might need help packing some things."

Sophia nodded. "Thank you Adele. That would be great. I don't really feel well."

"Understandable. You help me choose, and I'll do the heavy work. You need to rest as much as possible. And then you need to go inform your parents. Jeremy is getting the car ready. There's a House of Night just outside of Cardigan town."

Sophia stood and walked over to her. They opened her wardrobe, and eyed the new clothes inside, clothes Sophia had bought in Muggle London two days before she received the summons to the Ministry.

They selected several dresses, trousers, skirts and shirts as well as jeans and t-shirts and jumpers and coats. Adele chose the shoes, picking a pair of knee high, heeled, boots, a pair of trainers, smart heels and pumps, while Sophia grabbed her underwear. Then, Adele grabbed the two suitcases from under the bed. "You go and tell your parents, and I'll pack these and your toiletries," she said to Sophia. Adele was only a couple of years older than Sophia, but let off an air of authority. She also seemed to be the kind of person you could trust with anything.

"Thanks Adele," Sophia said, before turning and heading out of her large bedroom and to the study, all of which was on the first floor.

"Prongslet!" her father cried when she entered. She smiled up at their portrait and closed the door. Both her parents gasped when they saw her.

"Sophia, you've been marked!" her mother said, standing from the armchair she had been painted in. Then, she smiled widely, green eyes shining. "This is wonderful! Now, no matter what, you will have a chance at a future, even if those bastards find a way of getting at your money!" Lily had been constantly fretting that Dumbledore would find her money and property and take it from her, leaving her on the streets, alone.

"You don't mind?"

"Why should we?" James asked, also grinning. "Have you forgotten one of my best friends was a werewolf?"

Sophia blushed. "No."

"Good. Now, you need to get to the House of Night, but you will be able to visit us. Do us proud, Prongslet," her father grinned.

"Come home as often as possible. We've had so little time to chat," Lily said.

"I will."

The House of Night was a castle, built near the cliffs, a few miles away from Cardigan town. It was getting dark when they reached it, Jeremy pulling up to the gates. A burly Vampyre with long black hair and a broadsword stepped up to the car window, on the driver's side.

"Can I have your name and nature of business please sir?" he asked, looking at Jeremy.

Jeremy smiled, the laugh lines around his grey eyes crinkling. "My employer, Miss Potter, was marked earlier. As her driver, I am here to drop her off, see that she gets here safely."

The Vampyre's dark eyes snapped to look at her, and he started upon seeing her strange mark. Then, he smiled. "Of course. I'll tell them to open the gates. Follow the drive to the main car park." He walked away, signalling to another warrior, who called out. A moment later, the ornate gates began to swing open, seemingly alone. They must have been electronic. Sophia stared at the scenery as they drove up the drive. The gardens were beautiful and in full bloom. And the castle, while smaller than Hogwarts, was equally as beautiful, and obviously younger. Lights shone out of a few windows, and as they pulled into the gravel car park, she saw that a woman stood in the large, open, doorway. She looked to be about thirty with thick, long, curly light brown hair and brown eyes. Her blue mark shone against pale skin, the intricate tattooing taking the form of waves. She and Jeremy got out of the car and headed for the boot. Jeremy insisted on grabbing both cases and carried them, easily keeping pace with Sophia, as they headed towards the smiling woman.

"Merry meet, Sophia Potter. I have been expecting you."

"Hello," she said nervously.

"I am Morgana, High Priestess of this House of Night. I am honoured to welcome you into our home. I am glad you arrived swiftly, seeing how differently our Goddess has marked you. Are you ready for your new life? A fresh start, as it were."

She felt her breath still. A fresh start? She nodded. "Yes," Sophia answered quietly.

"Then it is my duty to inform you that it is allowed for fledglings to take a new name, if they wish," she smiled gently.

A new name. Sophia felt happiness rush through her. She had felt wrong, keeping the Potter name. In the wizarding world, that was taken from her, leaving her Sophia No-Name. But for legal purposes, she had kept the name in the muggle world, but had not been comfortable with it. She thought for a minute, and then nodded. "Asta Emrys."

Morgana smiled. "Of course. If you would both follow me, I will lead you to where you will be staying."

The dorm was in a wing of the castle that overlooked a courtyard on one side, and the sea on the other. The surprisingly large room Morgana led her to was bare except for furniture, which consisted of two double beds, two wardrobes, two dressers and two desks and chairs, each set placed exactly opposite each other. The window was a bay window, with a place to sit, and there were a couple of bookshelves. A door stood on the left side of the room.

"This room will be yours for the next four years, during which time you could possibly gain a roommate. Through there is the bathroom," Morgana said, pointing to the door. "We pride ourselves with providing our fledglings with only the very best."

"Good thing Adele said she slipped in some bed covers, Miss," Jeremy said. "Do you need help unpacking?"

"No thank you Jeremy. You've been plenty of help."

"You will call if you need anything or if you want to come home?"

"Of course I will," Asta nodded.

"Good," he said, smiling at her softly. The young girl in front of him had been through a lot, and been incredibly lonely, he knew. He just hoped his young employer found what she needed here.

"Do you need help finding your way out, Sir?"

"Oh, I'm sure I can find my own way, thank you," Jeremy replied to Morgana, smiling at her. "Miss Emrys needs the help more than I do, I'm sure. I'll get out of your way. Miss Emrys, you have your phone?" Asta pulled out the phone she'd bought when she'd bought her new wardrobe. "Very good Miss. I will leave you to get settled."

He left the room, leaving Vampyre priestess and nervous fledgling alone. "I understand your nerves, Asta. Perhaps we should go over a few things so you know where you stand? School rules, schedule, that sort of thing?"

Asta gave the older Vampyre a small smile. "That sounds great."

"We should sit by the window, then," she said. "It is a wonderful view."

They walked over to it and Asta saw the land stretch out and then, it ended, leaving only the blue sea, shimmering in the fading light. "Wow."

"I thought you might like this view," Morgana smiled at her kindly. "Now, down the hall, on this side, you'll find the rec. room for the girls. It is the fifth door down. There is a kitchen past the door opposite, where you will be able to get food and drinks. Mostly they are breakfast foods and things for sandwiches and other snacks as lunch and dinner are all eaten in the dining room. I have a map for you, pointing to everything," she said, pulling out a couple of pieces of paper. "Each floor has its own map so each room can be accurately labelled. The only bedrooms which name the occupants are yours and mine, as I am going to be your mentor. Each fledgling has a full Vampyre to mentor them, someone they can approach for extra help, or if they just need to talk. All fledglings maps are the same, with their room and their mentors marked out. My office and classroom are also highlighted. Any questions so far?"

Asta shook her head. She was following, and so far, she had been given more information about this school than she ever had about Hogwarts. "Not yet. Hogwarts never gave me a map. Had to find my way around that one while guessing."

Morgana let out a sigh. "Hogwarts, of course. I take it that you have not had much experience in non-magical education?"

"Not since I was eleven," Asta answered, chewing on her lip nervously.

"Not to worry, this has happened in the past. We have had several witches and wizards. I'm sure we can have someone brought in to continue teaching you more advanced wizarding magic, if you wish?"

"That won't be a problem. I'm not a witch any longer," Asta said, her tone dark.

"What did they do?"

Asta looked up at her sharply. "How do you know it was them?"

"Vampyres have a very sharp intuition," she smiled grimly.

"Most people just always assume it's all on me," Asta told her, ducking her head.

She felt a gentle hand on her back and tensed slightly. "Not here, Asta. Here everyone comes in with a fresh start. Even you. Now, what happened?"

"They wanted to force me into a marriage contract. It was that, or lose my magic, titles and family fortune."

"You do not seem to have lost that last one," Morgana said.

Asta allowed herself a wry smile. "That's because I knew Dumbledore, the headmaster and 'leader of the light' was planning something. I moved everything I could to the non-magical world, and my non-magical properties. All Ron Weasley, my 'betrothed' got was a couple of nice, empty houses, my titles and a few vaults, each with only two bronze Knuts in."

Morgana began laughing. "Oh that is splendid! Absolutely wonderful!" she sobered then, and looked at Asta. "What you did was right. No one deserves to be forced into anything. You will find that everything here is up to you. Your future, your choice. If you choose to love someone, be they male or female, or varying in race, religion or creed, it is up to you entirely. Someone who is beloved of our Goddess is only touched when she wishes to be."

Asta wrapped her arms round her stomach, thinking back over her past. "I don't think I'm loved by anyone. Let alone a Goddess."

"That is where you are wrong, Asta," Morgana told her gently, hand coming under Asta's chin and tilting her face upwards, so she was looking at the High Priestess. "Our Goddess chose you, as she has all of us. You are just as special to her for that. More, even, if your mark is anything to go by. I have never seen anything quite like it. When did you lose your magic?"

"Two days ago, why?"

"Then this is fate. You have lost the magic of a common witch, but I believe that our Goddess has plans to gift you with even greater powers. Powers which, had you been given the choice, you would have chosen over your witches magic any day. Have patience, and it will come to you."

"You really believe that?"

"I do. Why else would Nyx have marked you so differently? And so soon after your loss of magic? You were meant to be here today, ready to discover your true powers. Hogwarts and your life as a witch was just an introduction to true magic. How about we move on to your schedule?" Morgana suddenly switched, holding up another piece of paper.

Smiling slightly, Asta took it, looking at the paper. Her first lesson would be Vampyre History, followed by art, then there was a choice of music classes followed by a Business class, then Lunch, Botany and a choice of physical exercise classes.

"So, for the options, what would you like to do? In coming terms, you will be taking different classes, so that students cover all bases of course, but what would you like to start your options with?"

"Can I try piano and horseback riding? I suck at singing, but I have always wanted to be able to play. And to ride."

"Alright then. Apart from your options, such as music and exercise, and Vampyre History, I will draw in tutors for you to catch you up to your fellows. After that, you will be able to join in regular classes. Vampyre History, like Vampyre sociology which you will begin next term, needs no tuition, as all new fledglings who come in start in exactly the same place. Of course, there are other exercise classes available in after class hours and various clubs where you can have more of a chance to interact with your fellow fledglings. I urge you to find something you enjoy doing, so you can interact and make friends and develop yourself further. These next four years are going to be about your development." She stood up and walked over to the wardrobe that was closest to the window and opened it. She pulled out a dark green shirt with silver thread running through it. Stitched on the chest, above where her heart would be was a delicate looking silver spiral path. "During class hours you must wear something with your class emblem. As a third former, yours is Nyx's Labyrinth, which symbolises the circular nature of life and the beginning of your journey. There are several different tops in here with it. It is the only type of uniform fledglings have. Our school colours are green and black. However, should you wish to leave the school and visit your home or the town, the rules state that you should cover your mark, a decent concealer should do it, and not wear any part of the uniform. So far so good?"

Asta nodded, smiling. "Yes, Morgana, definitely."

"Today, you need not go to any classes, but I suggest you take the night to settle in and familiarize yourself with the layout of the castle, and visit the rec room. I also suggest you see the library and media centre, and the gym, all of which are open until dawn, the time of which will be posted regularly along the school. Once you complete the change, knowing the time will become instinct to you."

"If I did want to go home, how long would I be allowed to be gone for?" Asta asked her.

"We say two days, no longer. You cannot afford to be far from full Vampyres for long, or you will begin to reject the change."

Asta nodded. "I think I've got it," she said.

"Good. I will leave you to get settled. And, just so you know, as this room will be yours for the next four years, you can decorate it in any way you wish. Should you gain a roommate, it will be up to the both of you to come to an agreement as to how it is decorated. Traditionally, each fledgling decorates their half of the room. As you are the only one here now, you can decorate it all as you wish. If you wish, you can even call in decorators. Even the furniture and bathroom can be changed."

"Thank you," Asta said to her. She'd been unable to decorate her room in Privet Drive, or her space in Gryffindor. And she had not had the chance to decorate her own places either. But she'd be spending four years here. Morgana left her to it then, closing the door behind her. Before she did anything, Asta once again pulled out her mobile, and opened her contacts list, going straight for 'H' and the only truly personal number there. She hit dial.

After a few rings, Hermione picked up, and she heard sniffling. "H-hello?"

"Hermione, is everything alright?"

"Sophia? Oh, hey! What's up?" The cheer that entered her voice was obviously forced. Something was really wrong with her friend.

"Hermione, what's wrong? I can tell you've been crying."

"Just a bad day at work. We fought this war for nothing, it seems. I'm still nothing more than a mudblood to them."

"Oh Hermione…" Asta said gently, knowing her friend was leaving something out, but also knowing she would talk when she was ready. There was a broken quality to her friend's voice that was somehow familiar.

"Enough about bigoted purebloods, what about you? How's muggle life treating you?"

"I'm not so muggle anymore. I was Marked by a Vampyre earlier. I'm in Cardigan House of Night. I even changed my name. A whole new fresh start."

"Oh Sophia that's wonderful! What's your new name?"

"Asta Emrys. Thought the surname would piss off the wizards if they ever found out."

Hermione laughed. "You're right. It would. I wish I could join you."

"You don't have to stay there you know. I have a place nearby. You can stay there, figure out where you want to go in life, we could visit each other regularly."

"That sounds wonderful. I'll have to think about it. Soph-Asta, that's going to take some getting used to."

"Yeah, I guess it will."

"Ron visited me yesterday. He was in an awful mood. Said you cheated him out of what was his. Demanded to know where you hid his money."

"I kind of did. Hid the Potter fortune and items in various places in the muggle world. They only got what I let them get. And the magical houses- which I emptied entirely down to the very last curtains. That'll teach them to try and force me to marry someone."

"S-Asta that was wonder-" She cut off and Asta heard a gasp.

"Hermione?" Asta asked, straightening.

"Asta, there's a Vampyre outside. She's looking right at me. She's pointing at me."

"She's going to mark you Hermione."

"She's saying something and-" Asta heard a thump.

"Hermione? Mya?" There was silence for a few minutes. Then she heard a groan. "Hermione!"

"Sophia?"

"Asta Hermione," she told her gently. "Are you alright?"

"I think so. I have a splitting headache," she said.

"Do me a favour, look in the mirror."

"Ok," Hermione answered shakily. She then gasped. "It's silver!"

"Mine's gold. Look, you need to get to the nearest House of Night, Hermione. Ask them if it would be possible to come here. Both of us have a lot of catching up to do academically."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means Hogwarts has been sorely lacking on non-magical subjects. Now pack your stuff and get going. I don't want you rejecting the change ok?"

"Ok. I'll get going. Talk to you soon, yeah?"

"Yeah, talk to you soon."

Asta sighed as the phone call came to an end and looked out at the suitcases. It was time to unpack.

A/N: Please review!