The three women entered the Great Hall and took their seats at the head table. Pomfrey and Burbage had the delight of sitting next to Professor Lockhart. Isabelle's seat was between Flitwick and Snape.

Isabelle delighted in her striking dress – the velvet shimmering in the candlelight that filled the Great Hall.

"My, Isabelle, you look absolutely splendid!" Filius said as she sat down by his side.

"You're too kind, Filius, thank you" she replied sweetly.

The feast began however Isabelle had a hard time concentrating on the delicious meal before her. Gilderoy Lockhart was eyeing her like a falcon stalking its prey. His eyes remained glued to her as he continued eating his meal and talking to Madame Pomfrey. Luckily for her, Hagrid had joined the feast and blocked Lockhart's view as he sat down towards the middle.

Isabelle sighed in relief. It felt as if she would never rid herself of his presence. She continued with her meal in peace when suddenly Severus spoke up to her left.

"Ms., Gardinier, if you did not wish to be seen perhaps you should have worn something less…noticeable" he said coolly.

Isabelle swallowed her food and quickly snapped back to him in a hushed tone.

"Well then perhaps I should have worn nothing at all. I'd thank you to leave my dressing choices to me"

Filius Flitwick had heard her remark while taking a spoonful of pumpkin soup and quickly chocked on it for a few seconds in astonishment to her words.

Severus said nothing and looked away in indifference.

Isabelle, proud in his defeat, took a sip of wine and smiled to herself.

"At least Lockhart knows a good looking woman when he see's one…" she thought to herself.

A round of chatter was heard from the far end of the head table. The headmaster called out to her.

"My dear Ms. Gardinier, there is talk of your styling abilities. Professor Burbage insists that you are an expert hair stylist – is that true?"

Isabelle cheerfully replied.

"Professor Burbage is too kind. But yes, I can style hair"

"Well then, perhaps you can teach this old wizard a trick or two about styling grey hair" the headmaster replied.

The whole table up roared in laughter, much to the surprise of the equally chatty students. The night's event's however would soon rock the school to the core.

The joyous and festive atmosphere of the feast had quickly ended the next day as news spread of a horrific incident surrounding Ms. Norris, Filtch's beloved cat.

Potter, Granger, and Weasley found her hanging from her tail on the torch post. Poor Ms. Norris had been petrified – a remarkable feat that was rumored to be performed by a student. Written in red paint on the wall behind her were some chilling words.

The Chamber of Secrets Has Been Opened – Enemies of the Heir Beware

Isabelle folded fresh sheets on the hospital bed and listened intently to the Malfoy boy explain what he saw.

"And I'm sure it's Potter. He's the one who did it. He likes the attention" said Draco.

"Well now, Draco. Accusations cannot be made without evidence. Surely a smart boy like yourself would know that" Isabelle replied, wondering if there was any truth to his statement.

Isabelle looked at the boy, proud and selfish. She could tell her was jealous of the Potter boy. Draco had a look on his face that could only be described as resentful but pleased with his accusations against Harry Potter.

"I'll find evidence" Draco muttered under his breath.

"Draco, That's not a very good way to spend your time. I'd rather you focus on your studies….I'm sure your father would want that too" replied Isabelle.

Draco looked defeated. He sighed and twirled his wand around as Isabelle continued folding.

"Yes, Ms. Gardinier. You're right"

Isabelle reached out to the boy and patted his shoulder.

"Mr. Potter may be the center of attention at this school, Draco. But you are just as important to the whole school – and to me. You are a sweet boy, and I do not want to see your grades suffer because of this. Plus, I hear you are seeker now! The try outs went well, did they?" Isabelle asked followed with a smile.

The whole of Syltherin house would not stop talking about Draco making the team. She had heard bouts of chatter that morning as she walked to the head table for breakfast.

The boy smiled, happy that she had mentioned he was Slytherin's new seeker.

"It was easy. The team is lucky to have me. And father gifted the whole team new broomsticks!" Draco said ecstatically.

Isabelle raised her eyebrows in surprise. That was quite generous.

"My my….how generous of your father" she replied back to Draco sweetly.

"He takes a lot of interest in my time here" said Draco.

"Well, you are very lucky to have a father that does so…..not many do" she replied.

"What about your parents, Ms. Gardinier. Were they like my father?" the boy asked her, curious about her past.

Isabelle stopped folding the sheets and looked down.

"….Yeah, I guess you could say that" she replied quietly.

Isabelle remembered her father, Jacques – a proud but soft Frenchmen. A flashback from her time at Beaubaxtons replayed in her head.

-flashback-

"Isabelle?" her father said in a thick french accent.

Isabelle came through the doorway of her English home, luggage in hand. It was winter break and her final year at school. The warmth of the fireplace greeted her cheeks – turning them a bright pink.

"How were your recent exams? It's good to have you home" her father asked, not getting up from his armchair.

Isabelle's luggage made a thud as it stopped in anger.

"I haven't been home five minutes and you're already asking me about exams? What about "how's your trip, darling" or something pleasant?" she replied in English.

He threw the newspaper he was reading on the side table and got up from his chair.

"Isabelle…" he started.

"Your education is the most important thing in your life. Make us proud, ah?" he said as he approached her with a soft smile.

"Yes, papa" she replied reluctantly.

-end flashback-

Isabelle shook herself out of her flashback and back to her conversation with the Malfoy boy.

"How's your father, by the way? Do you miss him?" she asked, perking back up with her question.

Draco sensed that Isabelle did not want to talk about her family. He indulged her in discussing his instead.

"He's only at the ministry every other week, but he does keep busy. There are many events he must be present at. I do miss him….but I'll see him soon. He's coming to the first match!" Draco said.

"Oh….how wonderful. I'm sure he'll enjoy seeing you, Draco" she said, a hint of curiosity in her voice.

"Does he, umm….is he bringing anyone with. Other family perhaps?" Isabelle asked as she turned around and put sheets away.

Draco smiled to himself at her question. He had suspected that she liked his father and was amused that his father would also ask questions about her everytime they spoke. He got up and helped her pile the sheets away.

"No….he's coming alone. Although they're separated, my mother hates these things" the boy replied.

Isabelle blushed a bit and thanked him for his help.

"Right, young lad, you'd better be off to class. Wouldn't want Professor Snape taking points away for tardiness…again." She gave him a stern look.

"Off you go" she cheerfully waved him away from the hospital.

Draco laughed as he picked up his bag and books off the stone floor.

"Goodbye Ms. Gardinier, see you at the game?" Draco asked.

Isabelle nodded and waved goodbye.

Tucked away in a manor house in Wiltshire, Lucius Malfoy wrote a letter on his desk. He dipped his quill in ink and proceeded to write.

"Draco,

I shall be in attendance next week at your first game. I have no doubt you will defeat Potter and the rest of the team. Keep practicing and study hard. Do not let the events surrounding the opening of the Chambers of Secrets deter you from your studies. I shall expect to hear nothing but good reports about your coursework.

Try to keep busy as events progress my son. Suspicion naturally falls on pureblood families such as ours. I've told you all that I know and wont speak of it again. Refrain from asking questions about the chamber again.

As for your match, I shall be arriving at its start and not before, as planned. Write back to me letting me know if your Nurse Gardinier will be attendance. She is a person whom this family should get to know better. Ms. Gardinier is one of the only pureblood staff left at Hogwarts. We should extend her every courtesy and do everything in our position to elevate her own.

Awaiting your letter,

Your father"

Lucius Malfoy put his quill down and looked at the letter for a moment before sealing it with the green serpent crest made of wax. He addressed it to his son and laid it down to the side. Lucius tapped his fingers on his wooden desk and sank his back to his chair.

That mystery woman, whom he now knew as Isabelle Gardinier, had been on his mind for days, no, weeks. Meeting her was an unexpected surprise – and a gladly welcomed one too. His divorce with Narcissa a year or two back had left him devoid of any sort of romantic inclining's towards anyone at all. He spent his days at the ministry, with his son, or sitting alone in his manor. There was something mystical about her, he needed to know her, who she was, who her family was.

He had asked a favor in the ministry and gotten her records in a feverish attempt to find out more about this Isabelle woman. Lucius opened the drawer of his desk now and taken out a file. He turned the pages until he stopped at a picture of the young witch. He glanced at her smiling photograph and smiled to himself. Lucius looked under the picture.

"Isabelle Winifred Gardinier

Age: 28

Current Occupation: Nurse at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Parents

Jacques Henri Gardinier – father, deceased

Rose Julia Gardinier (nee Diggory) – mother, deceased"

Lucius Malfoy looked back at her photograph and smiled, delighting in the fact that he was unexplainably intrigued by her – and that she too, was a pureblood. It made him proud in a way – being attracted to the right kind of person. In Isabelle he saw a jewel of a women. Although they spoke for only a minute or two, he knew she was charming and pleasant company. Someday she would make an amiable companion to someone lucky. He quickly imagined her on the crook of his arm at a dinner party hosted by the minister.

He closed her files and leaned back in his chair. The fireplace crackled in the middle of the day. The manor was chilly, empty, and quiet. Lucius rubbed his temple with his fingers and took a deep breath in. His dull headaches had started again. These thoughts of the women needed to stop.

I don't even know her for Merlin's sake. There are other things that I should be thinking of…..the chamber, Draco, the ministry.

He quickly took the file he had in his hand and shoved it back into the drawer, hoping it would stop his thoughts.