A/N:Hello again everyone; Happy New Year to one and all. 165 favorites 277 follows 90 reviews and over 26000 views. It's been five months since I started this story, and I'm still humbled my the support you've all given this little idea of mine. Once more, thank you all. Yes I know I'm a day late, but between the parties and my relaxing, I'm actually surprised I managed to get it out so close to my deadline, but more about that at the end of this chapter. In regards to those cookies...I forgot. lol, I'll be sure to Pm those who deserve it sometime...soon...yeah.

As usual,I apologize for any grammatical errors that got pass me.

Please Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I own nothing of Harry Potter or anything dealing with its franchise; Only the OCs.

Chapter 15

Growing Pains: Part Two and A Dagworth's Theory of Magic

Daphne awoke gently from her sleep and got up to get ready for her day. She spent a small amount of time achieving this, and then stood before the enchanted mirror set up in the bathroom fixing her hair while it gave small tips and suggestions about her appearance, as she waited for Tracey to finished up her turn in the shower.

"Your hair looks lovely like that; Your tie is crooked; Vest needs to be fixed." came a monotonous voice from the mirror before her.

"You never told me how things went between you and Su Li yesterday" Tracey shouted from within the shower to her as she moved to correct the issues the mirror noticed.

"Simpler than I thought. She's completely insecure, of what, I was not entirely sure of at first, but it became more and more evident when I started to point out that she was weak and unsuited for William; I realized she has an inferiority complex. It certainly makes things easier." She replied as she fixed her tie and vest with her wand.

"Sure she blind-sided you with getting with William, but was it necessary to go that far with her? I mean, the girl looked utterly destroyed yesterday." Tracey said as she came out the shower with a towel wrapped around her body.

Daphne didn't answer as she stared into the reflection of her sapphire blue eyes…

~Flashback~

Daphne watched along with her family as William disappeared in their fireplace after his short stay at their abode. Through her peripheral, she noted her father moving to leave the room.

"Daphne, Come." He stated as he continued without breaking his stride or glancing back to ensure she was following.

She curled her toes at his commanding tone, but her face remained neutral as she followed in his wake, three steps back and a step to the left, as she was trained.

As he entered into his study, she closed the door behind her, and stood before his desk in silence, as she was trained...

"After meeting your choice…I approve." He stated, causing her to internally give out a sigh of relief. William had done marvelously under the barrage of questions and queries her father had thrown at him; not that she expected any less from her chosen. "However, I noted he had you and Ms. Davis working on a gift. Who was it for." He finished.

"Ms. Li." Daphne replied.

"Why." Her father stated. She already knew where this was heading, so she spoke up.

"I didn't think-" Daphne went on to say but was then interrupted by her father.

"That's right. You didn't think about the connection your choice had already formed and the lack thereof between you too." Her father said harshly before he continued in his neutral tone, "What is your duty as my heiress, Daphne?"

Daphne's toes curled sharply as she used her occlumency to keep her mask up, "I am to ensure the continuation of the Ancient and Noble House of Greengrass, My Lord." She finished, reciting the words as she was trained.

"Exactly. I have only allowing this plan of yours to continue due to your mother and the worthiness of your choice. That will no longer happen. You have until the next summer solstice to make a tangible connection with Mr. Cunningham or have an agreement made between you in regards to the future of my household."

Daphne waited until her father finished speaking before she asked, "Why until the solstice, My Lord?"

"The young Lord Malfoy will have reached his thirteenth birthday before then, and therefore is eligible to reactivate his seat in the Wizengamot. Depending on how well he does, I will approach him with a Consort-" he said, but Daphne interrupted him.

"Daddy, you can't be serious!" she said out loud; occlumency shields all but forgotten at the thought of her father actually going through with his original plan. "You said that I had until my third year! And Lord Malfoy only has his wealth; he is weak magical, manipulable to any who truly tries, and he's extremely naïve in the ways of politicking. William is a worthier candidate, as you said!" she finished.

"Enough." Her father said sternly, causing her to realize her slip and quickly corrected herself as he continued, "As I said, depending on the how Lord Malfoy carries himself during his first appearance in the Wizengamot, will I decide whether or not he will be suited for the contract. If not, and you have not made any progress with your choice, I will look elsewhere for a suitable match."

Daphne stood there thinking about all the other possible options that her father would choose when Malfoy failed to meet his expectations, and a firm determination to not let that happen took over. "Yes Father."

~Flashback end~

"Yes, it's necessary Trace; if I hope to accomplish all that I wish, breaking her was more than necessary." She answered as she continued to stare into her own eyes, she turned to her bestfriend and spoke once more, "Now hurry up and get ready, there are things I need to do while she's still moping."

After waiting for Trace to get ready, she made her way down the corridor of the girl's dorm, with a confident stride and her 'Ice Queen' mask on, as Tracey walking by her as they made their way towards the common room.

Her eyes took in the first year witches as she passed their dorms, and noted how they already parted in her presence; it always gave her a nice heady feeling knowing that this respect didn't come from her family name, but from the reputation she herself had created down here in the snake pit. While small in comparison to the pull that the likes of the new Slytherin Head Girl, Victoria Rosier, could garner within the House; Daphne knew that she had the second strongest powerbase, followed by 'Lord' Malfoy…and grudgingly William. It still sent shivers watching how the talented and powerful Muggleborn wizard worked and schemed his way into a seat of power within her year.

While he lacked a powerbase within the pit, it was known that his base extended well into the other Houses, with names like Bones, Abbott, Turpin, Li, and Boot being associated with him, and having the backing of the likes of Flint and other talented Muggleborns like Clearwater and Granger at his beck and call. It was just-

Daphne's thoughts were interrupted by her colliding into a smaller figure, and ended up landing bodily onto the floor. She glanced up and realized that both she and the perpetrator had ended up falling onto the common room floor, and the incident had been observed by Slytherins of all years. Her glance had made her realize that she was being observed by Rosier, children of those within her Father's political circle, and William; who was sitting in an armchair with Flint sitting in the other. She used her occlumency to stop the embarrassment from showing and gracefully got up, wand at the ready, her 'Ice Queen' persona on full, and looked down at the cause of her embarrassment.

"You seem determined to make even more enemies than you already have…Carrow." She looked down at the still down girl as she glanced around the room in search of something. She noted that a part of straight hair was covered by the rest, and there was murtlap essence rubbed in certain areas of her neck, and more than likely the rest her body that was covered by her uniform, seeing as it went down further.

"Forgive me, Heiress Greengrass. I-I wasn't looking where I was going." Came a small monotone voice from the girl as she sat there with her head down, not daring to look up at her. It was a pathetic sight to behold, and while she personally had nothing against the girl, her sister or their origins, this was a public slight which she could not let go unanswered. So she decided on something that wouldn't be too harsh, but still carry the message across to everyone else.

"Look at me, Ms. Carrow." She said in a sweet voice and a smile that caused many that were watching to become wary and more observant of what she was doing.

When the first year girl moved to look up at her, she waited until her light brown eyes met her icy blue,and then she casted aloud, "Ictus."

She watched as the spell landed in between the girl's eyes, causing her to scream out in pain. As she placed her wand back in the holster she had received from William, she spoke, "Now, you have been forgiven, Ms. Carrow. See to it that this doesn't happen again or I may not be as kind." With that said, she turned and walked towards the seated William; noting the mutters of approval going throughout the common room, the impressed eyeful glance of Rosier, and movement of the other Carrow ,who looked equally covered in murtlap, running towards her moaning sister.

"Merlin Greengrass, didn't think you had it in you." Marcus Flint addressed her with an impressed smirk as she sat down in an unoccupied couch facing both Flint and William, as Tracey sat down with her.

"There was no need or reason for me to react like that before now, Flint." She replied in her cold voice, as she turned towards the staring William, who was looking at her with his usual calm expression. "I hope I wasn't interrupting something?" she asked.

"I was actually trying to convince William here to try out for the open seeker position." He said as he reached over to slap William over the back, but his hand was caught by him as he answered the older wizard.

"And I already told you no,Heir Flint." She heard him answer as he released Flint's arm.

"You said no to being a Seeker!" Tracey said in a barely contained whisper.

"That's what I said, but the little mudblood still refused." Flint replied.

"Careful with your language, Heir Flint. I'd hate to think you'd use that language in the presence of a lady, specifically my friends." William replied in his calm voice, but Daphne felt the smallest of changes in air, and shivered. His magic was always carried a tangible feeling to it; the control and power her chosen possessed…

She shivered slightly again. The last one caused his eyes to focus sharply on her with a visible curious expression.

"Why though, that's practically the most coveted position on the team, Merlin knows how much that would help your standing." Tracey tried to reason, bring attention back on to what they were discussing.

"I don't have the time for the sport nor am I really interested in Quidditch, except for watching it. Let's not forget the fact that I'm a mediocre flyer at best, I prefer my feet planted firmly on the ground, and that Potter is a bloody brilliant seeker. I don't get into fights that I know I can't win or at best can only make it as pyrrhic as possible for my opponent." He replied.

"Bloody Slytherin." Flint muttered under his breath and then he continued, "I guess I'll have to take Malfoy then, with how I've seen him fly so far, it's a good thing he bought the team brooms" he finished in an amused voice as he got up and moved towards Rosier; something that caught Daphne's interest, until she heard William's voice addressing her.

"Ready to head for breakfast." He stated getting up.

She eyed him briefly, before she followed suit and began walking in step with him as they made their way out the common room, Tracey in their wake. "You wanted to speak with me." She said the walked through the entrance to the Common room, getting straight to point.

Not denying that it was his intention, he spoke, "I'd like you to get as much detailed information as possible on all the known or suspected Death Eaters; starting with Professor Snape" he said in a mutter as they detoured through one of the portrait-less corridors within the dungeons.

"Why the sudden interest?" she couldn't help but ask.

"The Carrows appearance made me aware of my lack in knowledge of those who served the Dark Lord." He replied.

"Professor Snape isn't a Death Eater though." She stated.

"An associate of mine informed me he had been exonerated by Dumbledore himself, due to 'his efforts during the war', whatever that's supposed to mean." He replied to her, causing her to file away the tidbit of knowledge that he had other sources to gain information from, whether he did so intentionally or not, she didn't know.

"If that's so, why Professor Snape? Why not the Notts, Flints, Rosiers, Lestranges or even the Carrows." Daphne said, naming the publicly aware 'victims' of or the incarcerated Death Eaters.

She watched as his eyes glance the portraits as they now walked the regular path towards the Great Hall, "I have my reasons. But who wouldn't want to know about a person who was once a part of a group that hunted down your kind for sport. Especially when said person knows where you sleep." He said jokingly, causing Tracey to stifle a giggle from behind them. She however, didn't laugh; there was more to it than just simple self-preservation…the question was…what?

"This seems hardly an equal transaction; you gain so much, while I gain nothing at all?" Daphne stated as they walked.

"And what would balance the scales, Heiress Greengrass." He replied formally to her; no longer a friend, but a business associates.

"Training twice a week. Just the two of us; the room that I converted in a lounge should be well out of Dumbledore's prying eyes." Daphne stated, her icy blue eyes on him. It would be the best way to isolate him from Li, while also gaining from his tutoring.

"Once a week." He countered.

"Once a week and you have to do our Transfiguration homework." Tracey piped up from behind them.

"Homework, seriously?" William asked while glancing between Trace and herself.

"Hey, that stuff is hard." Tracey whined while pouting.

He glanced at her, and she spoke, "You could always become my vassal; that would even things out quite nicely."

He chuckled, "Homework it is then."

They walked in companionable silence, with her occasionally speaking with Trace as her friend prattled on, until they made their way through the large double doors of the Great Hall. As she began to make her way to their house table, she noticed William was moving in the opposite direction, she gave Trace a meaningful look, causing the girl to speak out to the boy's back.

"William, what are you doing, you're heading the wrong way." She spoke.

"Networking." He replied plainly.

"Networking?" Daphne muttered under her breath as her eyes tracked him, "Tell Blaise that I'll see him in class, will you." She stated to her best friend, said girl nodding as she got the unspoken message, and Daphne soon found herself walking beside the powerful wizard; He did nothing to address her presence, but give her a brief glance and then continue on his path which led to the Hufflepuffs, however she did notice that he would make eye contact with certain Gryffindors as he did so.

"Susan, Hannah. Hope the mornings treating you two well; are these seats taking?" William asked from beside her as they stood facing the two Hufflepuff witches on the other side of the large table.

"William!" Heiress Bones exclaimed while smiling brightly at the boy beside her, "No, please take a seat."

"Fancy meeting you here." Abbott spoke, almost causing her to roll her eyes as she sat down along with William, "I thought you and Su Li would be attached by the hips; what with the both of you being together."

"Only the second day back, and word about my relationship with Su has already made it so far? I'm amazed by how fast Hogwart's gossip network is." He said with a charming smile that Daphne noticed didn't reach his eyes, but still caused Bones to blush. She was both impressed and amused with how easily he was playing with the heiress.

"So what brought you over here, after this summer, I thought you've forgotten all about us, especially when you didn't reply to any of our letters." Bones stated as she started to fill her plate.

"Yeah, I'm sorry about that. Summer was a lot more eventful than I thought; didn't get a chance to owl anyone for months. No hard feelings?" He replied as he brought his goblet to his lips.

"Just don't let it happen again mister." Abbott supplied while pointing her gold fork at him accusingly.

"Yeah, Auntie Amelia was looking forward to meeting you." Bones said, causing William to give out a choking sound from behind the goblet.

He had a short coughing fit before he managed to speak, "P-Pardon?"

"She was wanted to know about my sudden interest in her job, and I told her about you. Knowing my auntie, it was probably to brainwash you into joining the academy after Hogwarts; she's been complaining about how they haven't received any new applicants last year." She answered before taking a bite into her breakfast.

"Does she know why the usual number of Muggleborns didn't apply last year?" Daphne asked, unable to stop herself due to her own curiosity.

Bones shook she head as a reply.

"Well, it's possible they just found employment in Knockturn or one of the many other stores on Diagon." Daphne stated.

"Be that as it may, putting in a good word with your Aunt for me, Susan? Being an Auror does sound like an interesting profession." William said from beside her.

"Auntie Amelia isn't like that William. If you want to be an Auror, you'll have to work hard just like everyone else." Bones said while sticking her chin out jokingly.

"Yeah, Huffle power, through and through." Abbott shouted out slightly, causing others around them to give a cheer in agreement.

"I'll keep that in mind." She heard William chuckle as he got up, she followed suit. "Well, now that I know that we're alright about what happened over the summer, I hope you would do me the honor of partnering up with me again for Herbology? My grades would surely suffer without the help of such charming and brilliant witches." He finished with a smile.

"S-sure William. We'll see you later." Bones said while trying to keep down a faint blush.

As they began making their way back to their house table she spoke to the wizard beside her. "What was the real reason why you went over there? If you really just wanted to apologize you could've just waited until you were out by the greenhouses. Why here in the Great Hall?"

He stared at her for a few seconds, before he spoke, "I'm starting my quiet year of ambitious plot-making, Heiress Greengrass. What else could a Slytherin be doing?"

After breakfast Daphne along with her friends and ally found themselves seated in their first class of the day which was shared with the Ravens, Transfiguration. It being their first class of the new school year, they spent it revising the various spells and theories learnt last year. As class progressed with Professor McGonagall making her rounds offering advice to the few struggling students, Daphne spent her time observing the Asian girl that sat on the opposite side of the room with her fellow Ravens. She expected her to be in the same mood as yesterday, especially with her intentionally sitting so close to William in order to 'add a hex to the wound', but she instead found that the girl seemed more assured of herself than she did when they last spoke; she even had the gall to wink at her when she caught her eye.

She was more curious than perturbed by the sudden change in the girl, but as the professor passed them, she turned to William, deciding to start on a different front.

"William, I have a question for you." She stated.

"Yes Daphne?" he muttered back under his breath as he performed another successful transfiguration.

"Do you think about your future?"

"More than I like to admit to myself."

"I don't think you should be an Auror. While you do have the power for it, you would be wasting your time in that department."

"Oh? I thought that would be the most feasible avenue for a Muggleborn like me without spending years of arse kissing."

She turned to him with her occlumency barriers slightly lower, just enough to show the softness of her sapphire blue eyes as they stared into his calm hazel. "It doesn't have to be if you have the right name."

There was a pause as they continued to subtly stare at each other, letting her words soaking in. Daphne noticed out the corner of her eye that Li finally was becoming agitated with her proximity to the powerful wizard beside her.

"And what about you Daphne, what is it that you see when you think about your future." He asked as he broke eye contact to cast again as the professor made another circuit pass them.

Daphne used that time to think about her answer, debating whether or not to answer truthfully. She glanced around them; the only ones paying attention to them were Malfoy and Li, both of whom were well out of earshot. Remembering her mother's advice, she whispered, "I see a woman who isn't stuck in a manor only being seen and not heard; a woman who is more that what she'd been trained to be."

She felt completely exposed revealing something like that to him, but she needed to progress her relationship with him, and she knew from observing her choice that he would keep their conversation between them, especially when he still needed her.

"You never did strike me as the typical Lady." He replied.

"And what kind of Lady did I strike you as?" she asked curiosity showing due to her lowered barriers.

"The kind that will accomplish her goals, no matter the name she does possess" he answered with a smile that reached his eyes.

"That smile won't charm me like it did with Bones and Abbott." She said with a small smirk, before she focused her occlumency and placed her mask back on.

"Oh darn." He said with a hint of sarcasm as the bell chimed announcing the end of the class. They began to get ready to leave; she noticed that Li approached them.

"William, Professor Flitwick wanted to speak with us, he asked that we stopped by before our second period." She spoke in her annoying soft voice.

"Right." He replied, and then he turned towards her and spoke, "I'll catch up with you and the others in Herbology."

She gave him, no indication that she heard him, except for a brief nod. As he placed her bag on her shoulder, she looked at the short girl before her, "Miss Li." She said in her usual tone.

"Heiress Greengrass." She replied back with a similar tone. With that brief exchange done, she moved to join Tracey and Blaise at the door as they waited for her.

As they walked down the corridor heading towards the greenhouses for class, with Tracey and Blaise flanking behind her, Blaise spoke, "That was a big risk you took during class, Daphne."

"You heard anything?" she asked, knowing what he was referring too.

"No, but a troll could've figured out what you were talking about the way you were practically in his lap during class." He spoke sardonically.

"Careful Blaise, or you might sound as jealous as Li looked," Trace joked at their friend, causing him to scoff loudly, before she addressed her as she continued, "but, seriously Daffy, you should've seen her face; the girl looked like she ate a bad treacle tart or swallowed a flobberworm."

"It wasn't the best location for it to happen, but I saw an opportunity and took it." Daphne replied back at her friends.

"Well, let's hope it doesn't come back to bite you in the arse." Blaise stated.

"GREENGRASS!" Malfoy's voice echoed throughout the hall that they were walking through, scaring a couple first year Hufflepuffs that were walking towards the Slytherin.

"Spoke too soon Blaise." Tracey muttered as they walked until they were almost level with her.

"The two of you go on ahead. I can handle Malfoy." She replied as the caught up with her.

"You sure?" Blaise asked as both he and Trace continued their stride pass her. She didn't answer as she turned to face the alone 'Lord' Malfoy.

It was only when he stood before her did she address him, "I do not appreciate being yelled at from across a room, Lord Malfoy." She said coldly.

"That was impressive what you did to that disgusting bastard; she deserved every second of it." He said with a smirk, ignoring what she said.

"She was nothing more than a warning for the new bloods in the pit and a message to everyone else." She replied in the same tone.

"I put them in their place the night before, you should've seen their faces." He replied once more acting as if she hadn't spoken.

"That was you?" she asked with narrowed eyes as she recalled the essence that was visible on their uncovered skin.

"Yeah, cornered the little bastards in the dungeon, and showed them Slytherin's displeasure with them being a part of our house." He said smugly, puffing his chest out in front of her. As she felt the bile raise, she didn't know which thought was worse; the fact that Malfoy was bragging about attacking two students so openly or that he thought it would impress her because of what she did earlier to Carrow.

"What is it that you needed to speak with me about, Lord Malfoy." She spoke with glacial coldness, enough that Malfoy final took note of her words.

"You need to stop hanging with that mudblood, he'll destroy your image as a Pureblood, and your position in the right crowd." He said, sneering at the word as if just uttering it caused him a great offence.

"Your concern is duly noted, Lord Malfoy; but with whom I decide to associate with or bring into my powerbase are only the concern of My Lord and myself. If that is all." She replied, and turned to leave, but felt him grip her upper arm tightly.

"You don't get it Greengrass; this year, all these mudbloods and blood traitors are going to get what they deserve. Stay with that mudblood filth and you'll end up just like the rest of them. This is your last warning." He spoke in superior tone.

"Let. Go. Of. Me." She replied in a cold tone. When he released her, she turned to face him, with icy blue eyes glaring at him until she saw him flinch slightly. She then continued in the same cold, deadly tone "Two things, Lord Malfoy; One: Never touch me again, Two: NEVER touch me again...Now, I don't know what you're prattling on about, but I will have you know that I am quite satisfied with William as my ally, despite his lack of nobility. Because, even though he may lack our blood status, he is more powerful and cunning that many of the so called 'elites' that prance around in our house." She said, given him a once over when she mentioned 'elites', before she continued, "Now, Lord Malfoy, you're making me late for our next class."

As she turned her back and walked down the hall, she failed to notice that Malfoy had his wand pointed at her back, it glowing a vivid purple as he grounded his teeth while he sneered…until he dropped it; thinking better of attacking the pureblood heiress.

Hermione made her way to the meeting area that her brother left in the note that had somehow found its way into her book bag underneath one of her many new DADA books. She walked into the designated 'classroom', and noticed her brother sitting on the professor's desk while reading a book with his right leg bent on top of the desk and his right arm leaning on it, while his left rocked idly off of it as his left held the book open. "I'm sorry Liam', Ron needed help with the essay Professor McGonagall set, and I was helping Harry revise his; I didn't mean to make you wait." She said apologetically as she approached her brother and sat at the lone student desk and chair in front of the desk that he was sitting on, taking out a few parchments and a quill to write on.

"That was nice of you. And don't worry, what I had planned was mainly theoretical; so, shall we begin?" he asked rhetorically as he got off the desk and leaned against it instead. "What do you know about our House, about House Dagworth?" he finished in his calm voice.

Having been prepared as usual, she sat up straight in her chair and replied, "The Noble of Dagworth were known for their exemplar skills in potions and menageries, and were known for holding large fiefdoms after gaining Nobility after the battle of Hastings. It was said to become extinct after the death of Hektor Dagworth-Granger, founder of 'The Most Extraordinary Society of Potioneers'."

"Good, so you're aware of both the public story and the real story. But what wasn't really mentioned is that our House has a history of intellectuals and individuals who succeed in whatever field was their fancy; so much so, that you could probably consider cognitive thinking as part of our Family magic" he said with a small smile gracing his face before he continued, "Do you remember what I said about magic when I first began teaching you?" he finished.

It didn't take her long to find that specific piece of information from her memory and she rattled off, "Magic is a semi-sentient force, which relies on circumstance for it to become active."

"That's right; that was as far as our ancestors processed what magic is, however they went further in trying to understand how magic acted, and placed it into two subgroups: Active and Passive magic."

"Active being what we use…the magic we already possess and use when we cast spells…and Passive being the magic that occurs due to a stimuli" she answered, with her thoughts going back to what Liam' and said in the past about magic, and what she had learn so far about it. She noticed the proud smile and blushed slightly, but didn't turn away, her mind being too engrossed in what they were talking about to care.

"My thoughts exactly; but then came the question, why were some magicals better in certain areas of magic than others? Why families with a history of magic were able to possess magic which they specialized in; which wizards with their legendary creativity called, Family Magic? Why is magic divided into Light and Dark?

These were the questions I thought of after I read our family's theory of magic and I tried to create my own theory with my limited knowledge of magic and what I've experience since I first became aware. From a young age I liken my magic as a 'dam', and 'pipes' leading throughout my body; these 'pipes' being whatever muscle or method magic travelled through my body.

After the first attempt at actively using my magic, it completely exhausted my body. Which lead me to believe that in order to be better able to use my magic I had to make the 'pipes' bigger; my body had to be able to cope with…the 'flow' of channeling my magic."

"But that's impossible" Hermione interrupted her brother due to her disbelief, "Only the most powerful wizards who have control over their magic from years of experience can perform it. Only powerful wizards like the Headmaster or Voldemort were recorded as being able to do it" she stated, factually from the books she read in regards to the subject. She watched as he gave her a small smile before he drew his wand from the right sleeve of his robes and placed it on his desk, and then turned slightly to face her, and moved two of his fingers in a 'come-hither' motion. She watched awestruck as the desk rose at a steady pace and rotated in a controlled manner in the same direction Liam was moving his fingers. She knew her little brother was greatly skilled with magic, and as smart as she was with the theoretical aspect of it, but this…this was…

"Im-Impossible" She finally stuttered out, and he smiled as he turned and spoke to her as he continued to cause the table to spin gently behind him, "All the books are wrong, Mi'. My being able to do this isn't a product of me being prodigious in magic or exceeding powerful; but from the circumstance of an inquisitive child, curious about his ability to cause objects to move after his first case of 'accidental magic'. Wandless magic is actually something every magical who has performed 'accidental magic' is capable of; it is something that you, Hermione, are hopefully still capable of." He finished.

Hermione and her brother then went through several minutes of her grilling him about his wandless magic; how he first started, what he was capable of, what he tried, and what he hadn't tried, were some of the questions she asked him while she wrote furiously on the parchment before her.

"I-I get what you're saying, but how does this relate to what you were saying about magic?" Hermione asked, collecting her thoughts after the revelation while glancing down at the parchment filled with notes.

"Well, this was so that you'd have a practical and visual example of what I'll be talking about, and also to start debunking your undying faith in the validity of written information, the last we will speak about more in the future." He said with a small smile at her before he continued, "Now we know that 'active' magic is divided into different branches of magic; transfiguration, charms, divination, etc., but why is it that we are better than others at these branches while others aren't, especially if we all started at the same time?" he finished by asking her the question.

She thought for a few moments before she hestitantly spoke, "C-could it be that we differ in personality? I-I mean, some people are better at the Arts, while others are better at Arithmetic. Couldn't the same apply to our magic written us?"

She saw him smile and then he spoke, "That's an interesting thought Mi', and that fits into my assumption. What if as we grow up, and become shaped by our experiences, our magic also becomes more suited to certain branches of magic; if we used my 'wandless magic' as an example, due to my early development in that 'branch', it becomes easier for me to use than say an adult who never did magic without a wand. Well…its more than an assumption now that we have proof right in our hands." He finished, leaning back onto the desk behind him.

"What proof?"

"Our wands."

"Our wands? How?" she asked perplexed.

"Well, I got a different perspective on how we select our wands than what you probably heard from Ollivander. A family member of ours told me that the wand is just a foci for our magic, but the wood and core carry certain affinities for the different branches of magic; by interpreting that, we get an idea of which branch we'll be better at or easier for our magic to adapt to." He answered.

"Wait wait wait. Another family member? Who-are-they?-Can-I-meet-them?-Do-they-know-about-me?-What-are-they-" she rushed out at her brother until he interrupted her.

"Settle down Mi', I can't keep up." He state, chuckling as she blushed. "Yes we have another family member, unfortunately I'm bound by oath not to speak her name, so until you meet her during the Yule break, you'll have to know her by the name 'Crow'. Yes she does know about you, wouldn't be surprised if she knows that we're talking to each other at the moment." He finished, while muttering something that she couldn't distinguish.

"Wait, how does she know we're talking?" she asked curiously.

"My bet was on scrying, but she just patted my cheek and gave me an amused look. But we're getting side tracked" he said calmly while waving his wand as if to fan the subject itself away. "So do you understand how our 'active' magic works?"

"Our magic becomes shaped by our experiences and personalities…But what about 'Family Magic'? If we are shaped by our experiences, how would that apply?" she asked while biting her lower lip as she thought about the question itself.

"Well, wizards would say that they were gifted my magic with these talents. But I prefer the muggles' idea of Genetics."

"So…you're saying that if we have a magical parent, our magic would get predisposed to certain branches of magic…" she said leading off, to which her brother finished.

"..and then you have someone who then nurtures that predisposition, those branches come easier for you than any other; follow the cycle in the same trend, and then a couple generations you have a Family with a natural talent for those branches of magic. Plus the muggle theory of genetics also explains things like Squibs." She heard him reply as she furiously wrote on her parchment.

"And Light and Dark magic?" she asked, looking up from her notes.

Hermione watched as her little brother frown in thought, and then spoke slowly and carefully, "Magic…isn't inherently good or evil…it's just present; it dictates all on the spectrum, until it gets stimuli that causes it to shift or to shape into a form…that stimulus being our Intent. The more I learn about magic…and experience it…the more I am able to connect it to nature as so. We don't label nature as evil because it's capable of causing earthquakes or eruptions or other disasters, nor do we label it as solely good because it causes plants to grow, giving us food, provides us energy, etc. How can we call it evil for gifting us powers of all forms, because it is capable of it? Why should some of it be called good while the rest isn't? And if we do, how can we accurately differentiate which it is when our own morals and intent can change?" he finished, asking more to himself than her.

She continued to bite her lip as she spoke, "We could ask the professors."

He snapped his head up at her and spoke in a serious tone, "That is a bad idea Mi'. If you haven't noticed the trend, wizards and witches tend to just 'go with the flow'; they don't question, just do. To question their philosophy of magic would get us labeled 'Dark', faster than you could say quidditch. Until we find someone we can trust with this, we'll only keep it in the family."

"But we can trust Dumbledore can't we? I mean, he's the leader of the light and a professor. He certainly wouldn't think that we're dark just because we asked a few questions?" she reasoned with her brother.

She listened as he chuckled efore he spoke, "Mi'…the Headmaster thinks I'm dark just because I remind him of Voldemort while he was at school."

"WHAT!" she exclaimed loudly, "But-But that's preposterous! Are…how could you know that?" she finished, hardly believing the Headmaster would think that about her brother. Sure he was a Slytherin, and viewed the world differently, but that didn't mean he was Dark. Her brother was smart, sweet, powerful and protective; if anything it would mean he was the opposite!

"I have my means of getting knowledge about that happens here in the castle, but we'll talk about that at another time. So, you see the kind of dilemma I would be in if we went to someone like Dumbledore with this and told him I thought spells like the 'Killing curse' aren't inherently evil." He said, sounding amused. He then grabbed his wand, and muttered a spell under his breath; his wand showing the time, which he then spoke, "It's getting late, we'll continue this at another time."

While feeling slightly annoyed by the sudden dismissal, Hermione didn't argue the point about it being too late to continue. As she packed up her belongings, she noticed her little brother watching her, with his usual smile present. She told him good night, and moved towards the exit, but found herself turning and speaking to her brother, who had not moved an inch from his position against the desk.

"On the train ride here, you spoke about us having our own side. Sides mean that we have enemies out there after us…Who are our enemies William? Who are we fighting?" she asked, surprised to find that she felt afraid of hearing his answer, but wanting to hear all the same.

She watched as he leant off the desk and approached her, never breaking eye contact. When he stood before her, he gently pulled her into a tight hug, causing the tension she didn't know she felt to disappear and her to feel safe. He then pulled her gently back by the shoulders so that her honey brown eyes met his hazel ones as he spoke.

"We're Dagworths Hermione…anyone who isn't with us are the enemy."

A/N: And there you have it. This last scene and part of the chapter was a difficult one to write, and I'm not entirely happy with how it translated onto paper,but wanting to keep the deadline had me leaving it as it was.

Yes I'm not going to do a break down lol. I like to think I've gotten the hang of writing what I want written in the chapters,and I refuse to belittle your intelligence by spoon feeding you the answers.

Please review and let me know your thoughts on the chapter and where I can improve,

Till next time.