The 'spell' I use in this chapter is real Latin. .

Also, I know that Mrs. Weasley really has red hair too, but I felt like changing it a little ok? Plus, do you want a romance to develope between Mannie+Draco or Mannie+Harry, or one of the twins? Or no romance at all? Snape is coming up in the next chapter! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I am poor, and don't own anything except my hair.

Harry quietly excused himself and followed Mannie out into the silent moonlight. She walked out onto the porch, and stared out into nothingness. Harry could see the myriad of emotions cross her face, and wondered what she was thinking about. Her lower lip trembled slightly, and he could tell that she was trying to hold in her tears. She put her head in her hands, and Harry could hear her sniff slightly. He softly approached her, and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. As soon as his hand touched her shoulder, she jumped in shock and spun around. Harry almost hugged her when he saw her eyes. They were huge and dark, and had such pain and sorrow in them, Harry's heart hurt for her. He could feel his scar tingle looking at her. When he had shook hands with her earlier, that same prickling feeling shot through his scar and startled him. It didn't exactly hurt, like it did whenever he was in trouble, but more as if it was trying to tell him something. She looked up at him with a question in her eyes, but she remained silent. Harry smiled at her,

"Sorry if I startled you."

Her eyes lost some of their surprise, and her long lashes gently closed halfway as she turned and looked at her hands.

"It's alright."

Harry stood beside her.

"Can I sit with you?"

She looked at him again, before slowly nodding, and scooting over to give him some more room. Harry sat down next to her and looked up at the sky. Stars dotted the black expanse of sky, and a pale yellow half-moon hung off the side. At the horizon, light purple and pink clouds revealed where the sun had set, and the trees made little black silhouettes against the sky. It was a beautiful night. Harry glanced over at her. She had her knees pulled to her chest with her arms around her legs. She was staring out at the sky, but her eyes were unfocused, and it looked like she was thinking something entirely different.

"Are you ok?"

She looked at him a moment, and then looked back out at the sky.

"Do you want a real answer, or just the generic 'I'm fine'?"

Harry moved closer to her.

"A real answer."

She looked at him again. Her eyes big and bottomless.

"I don't know. I wish I could say I'm fine, or at least I hope I'm going to be, but the truth is, I have no idea."

"Do you want to talk about anything?"

"No, not really."

"Ok. But remember, I'm always open for talking."

She looked at him gratefully.

"Thank you, Harry."

Harry put his arm around her, and gave her a little hug. Harry expected her to pull away when he did that, but instead she leaned into him with a slight shudder. He pulled her tight against him for a moment before relaxing his grip. He wondered if she would ever tell him what had happened to her.

-----

Mannie climbed up the stairs to the room that she would share with Ginny. She sighed gently. Harry was such a sweet person. She would like to have him as a friend. She lowered her eyes and watched her feet trudge up the wooden stairs. Maybe he wouldn't want to be her friend, though. Maybe she came off as weird, or strange. He had pulled his hand away from hers pretty suddenly when she shook it earlier. When she got to the room, Ginny was already there, sitting on her bed in her pajamas reading. She grinned, and pointed above her to the top bunk.

"Take your pick. I don't mind sleeping on the top or bottom."

"Uh, I'll sleep on the top."

"Ok. Do you need anything?"

"No, I'm fine."

"I'm reading a really great story." She held up a thick tome that was worn at the edges, and had dog-eared pages, but appeared to be in good shape, nonetheless. "It's a fairy tale about a Druid in Ireland. Do you want me to read to you while you go to sleep?"

Mannie was about to decline, but then thought about how nice that would really be. She poked her head over the bed and looked down at Ginny.

"Really?"

"Sure will."

"I'd…I'd like that. Thank you."

"You're welcome!"

Ginny settled back into the many pillows of her bed, and began to read:

"In the Northern forests of Ireland, where the enchanted realms of pixies and elves reside, and humans avoid, a young wizard was born under the crescent moon, and his parents named him Aysel Oni…"

Mannie laid her head on the pillow and felt herself drifting off into the romanticized world of Aysel Oni the great unicorn wizard, and his pixie clan. Ginny's voice was soft and rhythmic, and Mannie could feel herself gently easing into a calm sleep.

"EEEYAGH!"

"Tell us the secrets to your power!"

"I don't know! I can't tell you anything!"

"Ha! Lets see how long you can hold out."

"AUGH! AAAAGH! PLEASE! STOP, I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING!"

"Stop it! You're going to break her ribs!"

"Shut up, young wizard! You're time will come soon enough."

"AUGH!"

"MANNIE! HOLD ON!"

"STOP! PLEASE STOP! I CAN'T TELL YOU ANYTHING!"

Mannie jerked awake, and nearly fell off the bed. Her clothes were soaked in a cold sweat, and her heart was pounding so hard it hurt her chest. She was panting hard, and it felt like her lungs would burst if she didn't get enough air into them. Fred and George ran into the room, with worried looks across their identical faces.

"Mannie, are you alright!"

"I…Yes, I'm fine. I…had a nightmare, I'm sorry."

George pulled himself up.

"You're shaking. Are you sure you're gonna be fine?"

"Yes. I was…I was just scared for a moment. I'm sorry I woke you up."

Fred also climbed up and sat next to her, and took her cold hands in his.

"Blimey, your freezing!"

He wrapped his arms around her, and hugged her close to his chest. Mannie bit her lip against tears, and clutched his shirt in her hands. She could feel George rubbing her back in gentle circles. She tried to speak, and her voice was muffled by Fred's chest.

"Did I wake Ginny up?"

"Nah, nothing could wake her up. She sleeps like a rock."

"You should see mum try to get her up in the mornings."

Mannie smiled slightly, and pushed away from Fred.

"I'm ok, now. I'm sorry I woke you two up."

"Ah, it's ok. Don't be sorry."

"Yeah, if you ever need to talk to anyone, come find us. Really."

"Ok. Thank you guys."

"Good night."

"Sweet dreams."

George tucked the covers around her chin and gave her a little wave as he left the room. Mannie lay awake, dreading sleep, lest memories of what happened in the dungeons of the Deatheaters haunt her memories again.

-----

Harry bounced along with the train as it sped its way to Hogwarts. About a month and a half had gone by since Mannie had come to stay with the Weasleys. She had fallen in routine with everybody else quickly, but she never said much, and didn't smile often, despite ceaseless efforts made by Fred and George. She was in a compartment across from the one he and Ron shared, with Ginny. Since this was her first year at Hogwarts, (even though she was starting with Harry and the rest of the fourth-years) she had had to get most of the first-year supplies, in addition to fourth-year ones. One of the things she had gotten was a huge, great horned owl, whom she named Cathal. Harry looked across at her. She was currently holding the behemoth on her lap, and petting it. Cathal only like her, everyone else he pecked unforgivably on the head. Harry smiled. The two of them sitting together like that looked both endearing and ridiculous at the same time. Harry wondered what was going to happen to her after the school year. He had spoken to Dumbledore about her in an owl once, and Dumbledore had replied that she had a guardian that was to take care of her. Harry had asked who, but the headmaster had replied that he should ask her himself. Harry thought it rude to ask her a personal question like that, and so had never found out.

At Hogwarts, everyone sat down at the house tables to watch as the Sorting Hat assigned first years to their tables. Mannie was standing at the front of the line. After the Sorting Hat sang its song, Dumbledore motioned for silence.

"We have a new student in our midst. Her name is Mandara Mortacrin, and she is starting as a fourth-year. She is going to the Sorting Hat with the rest of the first-years, to determine what house she'll be in."

-----

Mannie nervously stepped up to the hat on the chair. A tall, austere woman picked it up and gestured at the chair. Mannie sat down, and watched the room go black as the hat settled onto her head, and flopped over her eyes. As she sat there, a voice invaded her consciousness.

"Ah, much sorrow and pain you carry."

Mannie started. The hat was talking to her?

"Yes, I am talking to you. I can see your mind, you know."

Mannie wondered how that could be, considering it was a hat and had no eyes, and for a moment, a giggle threatened to cross her lips.

"You have many strong traits. You are smart and resourceful, Ravenclaw attributes. You are sweet and thoughtful, Hufflepuff characteristics. You are clever and have a decidedly dark side…Slytherin qualities."

Mannie shivered underneath the hat. Was she to have a house?

"But more than any of those, you are brave, and loyal, and strong. All of which make you perfect for, GRYFFINDOR!"

The hat shouted the last part loud enough for the whole room to hear, and the Gryffindor table erupted in applause. Mannie made her way over to the table, where she sat down between an excited pair of red-headed twins.

Dinner proceed in a lively manner, with way too much food to eat, and plenty of laughter and conversations. Mannie decided to go to bed early so she would be able to get a fresh start in the morning. She planned on graduating at the top of her class. A girl named Hermione, whom Harry had introduced her to on the train, offered to join her.

"I'm fine."

"Ok. I'll join you later then. We can share a room, if you'd like."

"I'd like to, thank you."

Mannie walked out of the hall and out into a corridor. She suddenly felt uneasy, and spun around to look up into the eyes of a smirking blond. He had icy blue eyes and platinum blond hair that was pushed back over his head. He looked her over head to toe in a manner way to familiar for Mannie's taste.

"Off to bed so early?"

"Yes. Excuse me."

Mannie turned around and continued in the direction of the Gryffindor hallway. The blond caught up to her easily, and stood in front of her.

"Well, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Draco Malfoy, and I love going to bed. I rather like to think I'm an expert at it."

Mannie caught the not-so-subtle hint and gave him a sarcastically simpering smile.

"That's bloody fantastic. I rather think I'm an expert at wandless hexes."

She brushed past him, but he caught her shoulder.

"No need to be so cold, love."

Mannie turned her head slightly and looked at his hand gripping her shoulder. She whispered, "Congelo Manus Manus"

Immediately Draco wrenched his hand off with a yelp. Tiny icicles had formed on his shivering, blue hand.

"Little witch! Take it off!"

"Calm yourself. It will wear off in a few moments. But please observe this little lesson. I am indeed cold. Please take note next time."

Mannie walked calmly away from him, and could practically feel the daggers he was staring into her back. After getting into her room, and being sure to move Hermione's stuff in there with her luggage, she flopped into bed, and fell into a light sleep.