A\N- To the Twilighters- "2cool4you" has made an amazing twilight fanfiction called "Daybreak" with it's sequel, "black moon," that is DEFINETELY worth checking out! She is an amazing author, and both of us would be grateful if you took the time to check it out! Thanks! -Cassia

Chapter 7 Nightmare

"Protego!" I called just before Pansy screamed, "Stupify!" her curse rebounded and hit her in the chest, the strength (or lack of) of the curse only making her stumble, but rendering her unconscious nonetheless. She slumped to the floor as I released my shield charm.

"We should bring her up to the hospital wing," I said, even though she wasn't really hurt. She would make up soon enough as good as new (Though if luck was on my side she may have had a bit of sense knocked into her. But than again, this was Parkinson we were talking about and it would take a lot of luck for that to happen.)

"What? She's fine. Won't even have a scratch on her," announced Draco, the flickering light from the torches casting shadows on his pale face.

"Are you proposing that we carry her to the Slytherin common room than?" I asked sarcastically.

"Fine, fine. We can levitate her to the hospital wing then," he said, pulling out his wand. Together we managed to raise her body into the air. Thankfully, we weren't that far away from the Madame Pomfrey.

After explaining what had happened we turned around, heading back without talking.

My hand brushed his, causing me to jump and snatch my hand away. Whoa there, no need to spaz out Astoria... I scolded myself, my cheeks flushing red. Draco chuckled calmly, keeping his eyes in front of him even though I knew that he knew exactly what had happened.

What's funny, Malfoy?" I said testily, trying to pass of the move for brushing a lock of hair out of my face.

"Nothing," he held his hands up in defeat.

We parted ways, which instilled a sinking feeling in my chest, kind of making me wish that something more had happened. My shoulders slumped, surprising me at how disappointed I was.

"Wait!" this one word caused my heart to skip a beat; I almost held my breath for fear that he would take it back as I turned around.

"Yes?" I almost whispered.

"Weren't we in the middle of something...before we were interrupted?" he asked, grinning devilishly. He had to same look he had worn the first two times that he had kissed me-

I started running toward him automatically, before I could even tell my legs to run, they were. I jumped into his arms as he wrapped them around me, lifting me up off the floor. We didn't kiss, but this was just as good. I wrapped my arms around his neck and smiled brilliantly. All of my senses were on fire as we stood together, still embracing, in the middle of the deserted hallway. It felt almost like an adrenaline rush when I was this close to Draco.

He finally pulled back a bit and grinned at me, kissing me on the cheek. My heart was pounding madly, practically screaming for more. I wondered if he could feel it. He pulled me into him again, saying quietly- "When did...this...start for you?"

"These...feelings?" I said carefully. "Hm...a month ago, probably. You?"

"This'll sound so cheesy," he moaned, releasing me but lacing his fingers through mine.

"Just tell me," I laughed.

"Ah...fine...well, before the sorting hat actually, 1st year." he admitted.

"That soon?" I asked, surprised.

"Ever since I first saw you."

We agreed to keep this between us for now, because we knew that no one would easily accept Draco Malfoy and Astoria Greengrass together. They all teased us that we would someday, but Draco was wary that they wouldn't actually be able to handle it if it really did happen.

I practically floated off to the Ravenclaw common room, practically skipping as soon as I was sure that Draco couldn't see me. I checked a large clock that read 7:00 P.M and I concluded that I had missed dinner.

Oh, well! I thought to myself. I wasn't hungry anyway!

I giddily answered the knocker's riddle and tried to tune down my gigantic grin as I walked up the stairs to my 6th year room.

I walked into what appeared to be an interrupted argument-

Lucy stood there steaming while Julie glared murderously at Sarah, who was acting falsely oblivious as she scrutinized her nails. Some of my happy mood evaporated as Julie's furious eyes snapped toward me with such intensity that I stepped back..Deer in the headlights, a muggle phrase came to mind. I contemplated what could have been making my friends look like opposing soldiers on opposite sides of a war-

"What's going on?" I asked cautiously, unconsciously crossing my arms over my body as if to protect myself.

"You should know!" Julie practically screamed. "It's your fault!"

"Uh..." I was at a total loss for words.

"You should have heard what Julie's been saying about you Tori, at first I thought she'd been Imperiused or maybe hit with the slug mouthed curse is more accurate," Sarah seethed.

"You bloody hypocrite, you would have said the same thing and more had you been in my place!" screamed Julie, her face slightly pink.

"What's going on?" I asked, louder this time, making sure that I was heard.

"Why don't you ask the girl you've been avoiding?" said Lucy, taking a step closer to Julie and glaring accusingly at me. I stared at her, shocked. Was this Lucy who was saying this? Gentle, shy, Lucy and my best friend Julie?

"Avoiding her?" I finally managed to get out, my heart beginning to pound madly.

"Do the words "meet me in the three broomsticks" have any meaning to you? Do I have any meaning to you?" Julie shouted.

"Maybe you hadn't heard the news. Hendrickson," I flared up immediately. "But I witnessed someone being cursed and we practically had to carry Leanna to the castle, and then testify to Mcgonagall, so sorry I couldn't meet you in the three broomsticks!" my temper was skyrocketing and blood was pounding through my veins, my brian on automatic defense mode.

"You can't pounce on someone before you even know the full story. Great going, Julie," Sarah added sassily. Lucy the Peaceful and Sarah the strong willed were now operating at the same level, giving each other identical glares. Hm...maybe there had been some underlying tension there. Well that certainly wasn't going to help the situation.

"You know what's 'great going?'" Julie said, stepping forward and getting in my face, looking down at me and I tried to stand taller than my height of 5"3.

"What, Julie? The fact that you see everything skin deep, that you always jump to the worst possible conclusion, that you never realize what other people are feeling, only yourself." my hands were shaking now, and I clenched them at my sides. What nerve to berate me when she was the one who needed friendship lessons?

"No Astoria, you don't know anything about selfishness. You never let me in, never trust me, when all I want is to be there for you. I have to prove my friendship time and time again, and I'm sick of you not trusting me. And I'm sick of always coming in second after you, and never being recognized for my own talents."

"Are you serious, Julie?" I screamed. She was infuriating me, being such a drama queen. She didn't know what I'd gone through in the past year. "You haven't been through half of what I've gone through!" I seethed. Suddenly all the terrible details of my horrendous summer same flooding back.

"You're just overreacting-"

"No, you listen!" I yelled, tears coming and hands shaking as I turned around, pulling the shirt over my back, revealing the scar made by Bellatrix Lestrange. She had passed it off as an accident but I knew without a doubt in my body that it was on purpose.

Three gasps as I revealed the half-healed scar from her three-pronged knife, thrown and "accidently" hitting me in her rage against muggle-borns...and blood traitors. She had obviously been trying to make a point. I knew she had only meant to graze me, which she did. Her deadly accuracy was right on target. I pulled the shirt down again and got right up in Julie's face. I wasn't about to let her tell me that her almost perfect life was terrible.

"Have you felt the knife of Bellatrix Lestrange?" I spat. Julie appeared to shrink away from me, but otherwise held her ground. Lucy stood with a hand over her mouth and I couldn't gauge Sarah's reaction because she was behind me.

"Have you been threatened by Fenrir Greyback? Have you hidden in your room for weeks because Death Eaters were in your house, knowing that your own parents were giving them information, knowing that if they didn't, they might be tortured and killed? So don't you dare say I'm selfish and that I should pity you!" I screamed, hot tears of anger trailing down my face as I remembered the two weeks where I had never set foot outside my room, my faithful house elf slipping me meals. I was thankful I had a bathroom connected to my room.

"Astoria?" she said.

"What."

"You're lying; that scar is not from Bellatrix and I do not believe you for a minute." I wound up and slapped her straight across the face.

"What the hell?" she screamed, hand flying to her cheek.

Sarah grabbed my arms and pulled me back, screaming "Protego!" with a flick of her wand.

"So this is how it is then," Sarah said, voice trembling and breathing hard as she held my shaking arms. We stood on our respective sides, Julie and Lucy on one side of the shield and Sarah and myself on the other.

Sarah moved forward and started muttering, "Terra firma Protego..protego maxima..." when she was done there was a solid wall splitting the room in half, which I thought was maybe just a tad overkill...I stepped outside to see two doors now leading out, one for each side of our split room. Walking back inside I sunk onto my bed and stared numbly at Sarah's back as she looked at the wall.

"Tori..." she started.

"Thanks for sticking by me, Sarah," I told her.

"I don't know what to say first. Nope, I do now- those two don't know what they're doing; you are not going to think on what they said for one minute, alright?"

"Sarah...can we please talk about this tomorrow?" I said in a dull voice. "This has seriously been one of the most emotional days of my file."

I was asleep before my head hit the pillow.

Dream flashback

"Astoria Renee!" bellowed my father's voice, coming from downstairs.

"Coming!" I replied, setting down the letter to Lucy I had been in the middle of writing.

I began to walk downstairs, catching up with Daphne as we both descended to the main floor.

"What did you do, Astoria?" Daphne rolled her eyes.

"Nothing! It may just be visitors again," I said,wincing already and hoping my notion was wrong.

The death eater's first appearance at out my house had been right after 5th year, and not they were still coming as 6th year loomed closer.

"Wait, Tori," Daphne said quietly, pulling my aside into the open library's door She straightened me hair and yanked on my robes to smooth the wrinkles as I looked at her oddly. She patted my front pocket, most likely checking to make sure it contained my wand-which it did.

"What was that?" I asked, surpriesed.

"Astoria, I've heard them talking, they know where your loyalties lie. You weren't in the department of mysteries but you were in and still are loyal the Dumbledore's Army, correct?" she whispered urgently,her eyes flickering to the large oak doors.

"What? I wasn't nearly the only-""

"I don't know, that's just the thing. If that was the only reason they would also be going after the Weasley's, the Lovegood's, the Patil's, and so many others. Maybe it''s because mum and dad already had a shaky alliance with them- see, this is how it is. They were friends with the death eaters, but the friendship was marred when they refused to be the followers of you-know-who. I think somehow they offended the Death Eaters and now it's kind of a "one more chance" deal. So mom and dad are cooperating to save you. No they, still aren't vehemently opposed to you-know-who, but they're playing along to protect you. Believe me, they must have done something serious to offend them or they wouldn't be chomping at the bit to get you. They're blackmailing our parents. We aren't the most touchy-feely family but we all do love each other, even if we don't say if often."

I narrowed my eyes. Daphne and I had never been close, so there was no way to tell to what degree she was stretching the truth, if at all.

"You're a blood traitor, Astoria, and friends with mudbloods-"

"Don't call them that!"

"-Than Dumbledore's Army-"

"Where are you getting this, anyway?"

"Just shut up for a minute! All I'm saying is that you need to watch your back, now get out there and throw the word mudblood around and don't act like you oppose you know who."

"But I do!"

"Astoria Renee Greengrass-"

"Girls!" our mother's voice called. We slipped out of the library and walked quickly until we came to the congregating group in our foyer. Mother's face looked pale but she covered it well with a welcoming smile; father was concealing his worry to the point of looking at ease, if he was worried at all.

Bellatrix and Rodolphus Lestrange along with Fenrir Greyback turned to face me: smirks visible on the Lestranges' unpleasant faces, one that seemed similar to a cat looking at a mouse hungrily was clearly pronounced on Fenrir's gruesome face. How many children had he bitten, forever marring their lives, if his reputation proceeded him? How many had he caused incorrigible terror and pain?

"Ah, hello again girls," Greyback said slowly, inhaling through his nose as if trying to get our scent. I practically had to force my face to stay flat and unemotional to keep the look of disgust from crossing my face. I shuddered involuntarily as his grin widened at me, not one of warmth but only to prolong my discomfort. I stifled a yelp as Daphne pinched me: as if I didn't already know my behavior was clunky and awkward compared to my parents who were conversing with the Lestranges.

Just than Bellatrix threw her outer robes at a trembling house elf who ran off, too petrified to stand in her presence a moment longer than necessary as if her black aura was eating at the atmosphere.

Than she skipped off, cackling to who knows where, leaving her husband to coolly excuse her absence.

"Now, about recent events..." stated someone I hadn't seen before. I turned around warily to see who the possessed the voice- Rabastian Lestrange, brother to Rodolphus.

"Not yet, Rabastian," my mother whispered.

"Ah...I see," he said with a tone of spite, looking down his nose at Daphne with no expression whatsoever and than to me with a clear expression of distaste.

The dream shifted and now I stood awkwardly, two months later, in our library with Daphne, Narcissa Malfoy, Bellatrix and Rodolphus Lestrange, Fenrir Greyback, Peter Pettigrew, and the father of Theodore Nott, who's first name was unknown to me, but his face reminded me eerily of his son, the only difference was the marks age had left on his facial features. We stood in a large area beyond the bookcases, maps plastering the blank walls with several tables sitting on top of the rugs against the walls. In a semi-circle of chairs most of the Death Eaters sat, sitting some type of drink while watching as Bellatrix flung her knifes against the wall. One other man sat on the table, erasing the holes made by Bellatrix's knife with a lazy flick of his wand after I had been sent to retrieve the knifes themselves.

"Stupid-filthy-little-mudbloods!" she shrieked, throwing the blades violently against the wall, piercing the maps. I cautiously walked forward and retrieved them for her, although summoning them magically would have been much faster. I was convinced that this was just a reminder of who was in control. The whole knife-throwing thing was rather unnecessary in my opinion: it was spurred by Bellatrix's anger over those, who, in her opinion, soiled the name of "good wizardry."

But I wouldn't feel the real consequences of the fit until slightly later.

After yanking them out, my face flushing at the barely concealed laughter of our visitors behind us, the large blonde Death Eater flicked his wand and the holes filled themselves in.

After being sent the fifth time as the retriever, I realized Bellatrix still held one knife left in her hands. The largest one, long and 3-pronged. I didn't know whether to move or not, my first instinct was that it was a mere mistake and that she wasn't actually going to throw it with me standing right here- but quickly following after a wall of terror crashed over me, practically screaming at me to get out of the way. I looked nervously at Daphne for a silent second opinion- she shook her head so slightly I thought I had imagined it, so I quickly twisted around to grab the last embedded knife out of the wall just as Bellatrix shrieked-

"And dirty blood-traitors, you'll be next!"She flung the last knife just as I moved my head ever so slightly to register the look of triumph in her wild black eyes as the knife scraped across my back, not stabbing me, but-

"Aaahh!" I screamed as a sharp pain exploded in my back, turning the edges of my vision fuzzy as I jumped with terror. Tears immediately welled up in my eyes, wetting my cheeks with the warm droplets, and I slapped my hands over my mouth.

My parents had not been in the library so Daphne was the one who rushed me quickly out of the room.

"Surprised you didn't invite Pansy to come over again to laugh at me," I sobbed, my breath hitching in my throat.

"I wouldn't do that," Daphne murmured gently.

I could feel my heart thudding through the knife mark's, who's pain was still radiating throughout my entire back, outward from where the knife had actually struck. It had more than just grazed me, taking skin off and turning the back of my robes crimson, at least from what I could tell when my hand came away scarlet. At least it hadn't sunken in: I now christened Bellatrix Lestrange my least favorite death eater.

My dream shifted once more to reveal another day that would stay burned in my mind forever. Even though Bellatrix's action had been physical and the one I was about to experience, psychological,but the latter had impacted me much more, for whatever reason why.

My whole family, Narcissa, Bellatrix, Fenrir, and a few other Death Eaters sat around our dining room table, cold faces and cold eyes their most prominent features as they held conversations with each other. The large chandelier overhead was casting the light on the table, which was the center of attention in the large room. The only other main focal points were the huge painted pictures occupying space on the walls, and the large, fancy double doors that stood in every room of the estate.

After dinner, the conversations took a turn for the worst.

"Who knows, Dumbledore may not be around long enough to protect the blood traitors and mudbloods at that school," Fenrir said, locking his greedy eyes to mine and flashing a cold, calculating smile, like a cat might have worn before devouring the mouse.

"Yes, they certainly have no place in the wizarding world," my mum said, a short burst of laughter falling unnaturally from her mouth. I swallowed and the sound seemed to reverberate loudly throughout the room. I wiped my clammy hands on the tablecloth and stared back at Greyback, who was sitting across from me, still not having broken eye contact, still grinning weirdly. At this point everyone had broken off into their own separate conversations, but I could catch snippets of things like "Dumbledore's army" and "the Malfoys."

"Astoria!" Bellatrix's shrill voice pierced through my thoughts as I turned to look at her; her wild black hair and cruel coal black eyes stood out in a complete contrast with her ghostly white skin.

"Yes?" I practically whispered, thankful for the ongoing conversations around me that kept me from speaking in dead silence.

"I heard a rumor that you were in Dumbledore's army last year. Is that true?"

She already knew the answer to that. It didn't really matter to her, anyway. The only point of this whole conversation was watching me squirm. And reminding me-again-who had the upper hand here.

"Ah...Dumbledore's army?" I asked innocently. The question wasn't real, so why did my answer have to be? All this was was a game. This was just a game. That's all it was. And Bellatrix was making all the rules.

Suddenly Greyback's gaze became brighter as his eyes flashed from across the table.

"Legimens," I clearly heard him mumble. Suddenly my eyesight went a bit fuzzy, and, inexplicably, out of nowhere, I found myself thinking of last year's meeting with Dumbledore's Army...I saw the first time I cast a corporeal patronus, a silver unicorn bursting from my wand with a feeling of immense satisfaction and joy... I had been one of the first five to master that spell, a fact I had been overly proud of...I gasped as I pulled my gaze away from Greyback's eyes, coming crashing back to the present out of my half-trance as the edges of my vision (which had gone fuzzy) realigned themselves again.I breathed in sharply-

"Astoria Greengrass, did you not hear my question?" Bellatrix widened her eyes even more and leaned slightly over the table toward me.

"He-he..." I said, still a bit out of it from my first experience with Legimency. But I stopped myself, reminding myself who's opinion weighed more in this house- an eagle in the pit of snakes, or Greyback. A little girl in a room full of adults, or Greyback.

"Never mind," I mumbled. "What was the question?"

"Were. You. In dumbledore's. Army?" She asked slowly, moving her head side to side with every question.

"Dumbledore's army? That club last year?"

"Yes, she has," said Fenrir in a voice that made me a bit afraid. This whole thing didn't actually matter...did it? They already knew I was in Dumbledore's army...didn't they? "Sure as hell she has!" Bellatrix snapped her head back to me gleefully, as if she had found the final piece of evidence to condemn me to Azkaban.

"I have to use the bathroom," I lied, abruptly standing up and pushing back my chair. Without waiting for a response I raced out of the room. Later that night as they were leaving Fenrir whispered his parting words in my ear-

"I've got my eye on you, Ravenclaw...remember this...I love to eat pretty little girls..." he inhaled and a shiver of fear went through my body, goosebumps errupting all over my skin. I stood rooted to the spot.

"The Dark Lord is very talented in making sure those who oppose him breathe their last. And blood traitors fall into that category..." the dream became gruesome and twisted now, this next part hadn't actually happened: everyone circled me, both my family and the Death Eaters; they started to groe larger- or maybe I was shrinking- in the middle of them as they loomed up over me, shadows falling over me, covering me. I tried to draw my wand but a laughing Bellatrix snapped it easily right in my hand. The larger versions of my family and the Death Eaters circled me, all laughing evilly as Greyback stepped forward, blood dripping down his growing fangs. He morphed into a huge, hideous, snarling werewolf right before my eyes, the other urging him on.

"No, no!" I screamed, throwing my hands in front of me.

"Please!" I screamed, spinning around, hoping to find a friendly face. They only laughed cruelly.

"Astoria! Tori!" A small, echoing voice reverberated. No one else seemed to hear it, but the sound of their laughing was fading.

"No, please, please!" I screamed, thrashing as Greyback pounced.

I was screaming as I bolted upright in my bed to see Sarah holding her lit wand which was making her face appear even paler in the dark surrounding us.

"Sarah?" I whispered. I tried to sit up but my legs were too entangled in my sheets. My hair was matted to my forehead with sweat.

"You were screaming in your sleep-having a really horrible nightmare by the sound of it. But it's over now, Tor-dreams are only real as we're experiencing them-then they're over when you wake up," she murmured, stroking my hair back from my face.

"Thank you, Sarah," I whispered hoarsely as she handed me a glass of water.

"What time is it?" I asked after downing the whole glass.

"Uh...3:43 A.M.," she said.

"Oh! I'm sorry, I woke you up!" I cried.

"No, no, it's fine. Are you all right, though? What were you dreaming about?

"Oh, it's nothing, it's fine. You should go back to bed, it's monday tomorrow," I said, stifling a yawn.

"Alright, if you're sure..." she said. "Knox," she whispered and the room plunged into darkness.

I knew I had been very lucky that visit, my parents must have done something to compensate for my idiocy- otherwise I would have been in trouble.

I stumbled into Ancient Runes the next morning half asleep. Yawning I walked in to find Draco and Hermione with their books already out, started on the assigned chapter for today. I had tried to get back to sleep after waking up from the nightmare, but every time I closed my eyes I saw their faces; so I had basically just lie there, staring at the dark ceiling until the sunlight had begun to seep through the windows, at which point I was already exhausted. The one time I had almost slipped into sleep I hadfound myself slipping back into the same nightmare, and had immediately shaken myself awake, and had been repeating that routine continuously.

Stifling another yawn, I fell into my seat next to Draco. Before I even had a chance to speak a note was tossed at me, landing neatly in the center of my desk.

So we keep this between us, at least for now?

Yes. I wrote back.

So we act like we did before, than.

Bring it, "Malfoy."

"Stop kicking me, Malfoy!" I yelled, winking at him when he looked at me in surprise.

"I think you're confused, it's you who's kicking me," he drawled back, catching on immediately. Hermione whirled around, her brown hair almost smacking me in the face.

"Honestly, couldn't you leave her alone, Draco?" Hermione scolded. Draco didn't respond or even look up; he just coolly ignored her by writing in his notebook.

Hermione turned around with a sigh, and the lesson began. Not long after, a tentative first year burst into the room holding a scroll of paper.

"For Professor Babbling," he said, handing her the scroll and then bolting out. She skimmed over it quickly and then looked up directly at me.

"Astoria, you're wanted in Dumbledore's office. Bring your things," she added.

Wondering why the headmaster would want to talk to me, I gathered my things and left, both Draco and Hermione looking at me oddly.

I stopped at the stone gargoyle as I was instructed, looking at it in confusion as I saw no visible entrance. Was I at the right stone gargoyle? How did I get in last time, again?

Suddenly, it sprang aside to reveal a smiling Dumbledore, wearing deep blue robes with silver moons and stars. His merry blue eyes twinkled at me as he smiled, making my feel completely safe.

"Hello, Miss Greengrass. I presume you are wondering by now why I have summoned you to my office," he said, now leading me in up the familiar spiral staircase.

Even seeing his office for the second time still amazed me; I took extra measures to avoid the picture of the man who bore an uncanny resemblance to Greyback.

"Yes, sir," I answered simply.

"I confess to you it was on a whim that I brought here, merely an attempt to tie some loose ends, just a double checking."

"I don't understand, sir,"I answered. Was he deliberately speaking cryptically?

"No, I would not have expected you to. Miss Greengrass, were you by any means at Hogsmeade this past weekend?" he asked, the conversation changing abruptly.

"Yes sir, I was."

"And were you possibly with a certain Draco Malfoy?" he smiled knowingly and looked at my over his half moon spectacles while I blushed furiously.

"Yes...but not the whole time. Why?" One of the portraits on the wall gave a snort, clearly meant to be heard by us.

"In my day, impertinent students never questioned-"

"Yes, thank you, Phineas," Dumbledore cut across. "Do you recall the time at which you met up with Mister Malfoy?"

"I...I'm not sure, sir, sorry," I said apologetically.

"Hm..." Dumbledore's bright eyes took on a slightly troubled look. "Pardon me. I have a very large favor to ask of you. You may refuse, but if you accept what I might possibly be able to procure from your memory may prove to be extremely beneficial."

"Er-my memory, sir?" I asked.

"My dear, have you heard of a pensieve?"

Oh no. No, no, no. The headmaster wanted to view my memories.

On the day I went to Hogsmeade. And kissed Draco. I suspected he might have at least an inkling of what had happened based on his previous words, although I didn't know how that could be possible. But I didn't want anyone to see that kiss! Much less the headmaster!

"Yes, I have. But I still don't understand what you're asking of me," I fibbed.

"Ah, I think you do, Astoria. You're a very intelligent girl, surely you know. I can see it in your eyes. Eyes, the windows to the soul," he mused.

"Alright, professor. But why would you need my memory? I'm not that important."

"Hm. Humility. A rare quality, and even rarer in a wealthy pureblood. But you too have seen troubles, have you not? More than someone of your age should have to shoulder."

"I..."

"You are extraordinarily strong, Astoria. Truly. It takes great character to remain pure of heart when your entire back round, is to say, not. The evidence even lies in your wand: unicorn tail hair, correct?"

"Yes, it is," I replied, intrigued.

"You see; the wand chooses the wizard, and the hair of the unicorn chooses the pure of heart," he said, walking to something behind him and running his hand along a stone basin-the pensieve.

"And about the memory..." he started. "What is holding you back, my dear?" he asked kindly. "Something personal lies in that memory, does it not?" he asked knowingly.

"Well...yes," I said sheepishly. My face was probably beet red, and I twisted my hands in my robes nervously.

"Miss Greengrass, you do not have to decide at this very moment."

"Well, Actually, I was just wondering, if you could tell me...of course you don't have to," I rushed, shooting a picture at the now vacant picture of Phineas. "Was I doing something wrong?"

"Oh no, not by any means. If anything, you did something right. If only you had met up with him slightly earlier we could have prevented...ah, never mind. Miss Greengrass, is the first of December sufficient time to give me your answer?" he asked.

"Oh yeah, that'll be fine," I answered, the gears in my head turning. If this was so important then why was he giving me until December?

"Not you wonder why I need precisely this memory, do you not?" he asked, examining his blackened hand.

"Yes sir."

"It is not you I am suspicious of, it is someone else. I cannot tell you why I need this memory, but know that you are not in any kind of trouble. I am not sure exactly if your memory will work exactly the way I want it to. You see, once you delve into another's memory, you cannot roam freely wherever you choose, but there is a certain limit in which you cannot pass. You cannot see past the limits of the memory owner's eyesight. You cannot hear past their hearing range, and so on. This is the variable in the equation, if I cannot get past a certain point than this will not work. There are other means that I can obtain what I need, but this may be the simplest.

"You are free to return to your next class now, Miss Greengrass. I fear I have kept you too long already. Enjoy the rest of your day."

"You too, professor."

I was right on time, students had just left first hour class and were walking to 2nd: I had defense with Julie, causing me to groan out loud.

"Hey, Tori!" came an all-to-familiar voice behind me.

"Hey, Eric," I sighed.

"What do you think Snape'll have us doing today in Defense?" he asked.

"Patronuses," I answered immediately. I had heard some Hufflepuffs who had Professor Snape's class earlier that day talking about it animatedly. But I had already learned (most of the time) how to produce one, as did some others, from DA.

"Those things that repel Dementors?" Eric asked, surprised, flipping his hair to the side with a jerk of his head. I covered up my snort with a cough.

"Yeah. But I've already gotten mine last year in Du-" I caught myself, remembering Eric hadn't taken part in Dumbledore's army. "Uh, last year. It's really complicated magic," I added lamely, trying to take his mind of my earlier blunder.

"No surprise you can do it, than," he winked. Blegh. Someone please help me.

We walked into Defense to see Julie sitting and holding a conversation with a redhead from Hufflepuff. They burst out laughing just as we passed their desk. The laughter almost had a forced sound to it, and a thought flickered through my mind that maybe Julie had planned that.

I wouldn't put it past her. I wouldn't put anything past her anymore.

"Hey, do you want to sit by me today?" Eric asked.

"Huh? Oh, sure," I responded as Draco walked in with Zabini. He looked at me and then to Eric, eyes narrowing slightly. Something that could have been jealousy flitted across his features.

Well, I couldn't exactly sit by Draco, could I?

He turned away, sitting down on the other side of the classroom.

A\N Even if you've already reviewed, please review again! I know the asking for reviews is overdone, but trust me, it makes an author feel VERY good about him or herself! You guys are amazing and I hope you keep reading, Happy Holidays!

And as always, thanks to my amazing beta, especially for realizing that the British wouldn't be celebrating Thanksgiving! :D

-Cassia