The next day ws uneventful, the accational titter-tatter of Mademe Pomfrey's feet as she checked on Crow and his slow but steady hartbeet was the only comfort. Even Ka had left me to my vigil. When hight finaly fell I heard swiftsure footfalls. When they stopped next to me I cracked an eye to see the steel faced Snape, dressed in his trademart black robs, "I think I like you better in the green dress."

His eyes flashed pure hatred but he took a calming breathe and sat on the bad as Albus had. "They're healed, my ribs that is." He set a bottle and a set of glasses on the floor nest to my feet. "Albus thought you could use a drink. Mind pouring me one?" I gave him a smirk and let the bottle pour itself. "No spells or charms? You are an off creature."

"Magic had an odd affect on me. Crow's seems to take power where it can get it and it's usually mine." I handed him his glass and wrapped my fingers around mine.

"I know it's a mortal habit but, to the health of your charge," he tilted his glass toward me.

I just stared into mine, unaware he hadn't taken a drink until he cleared his throat. "Oh,.. to... Damnation: In all its forms and splender," he gave a smirk as he chimed his glass to mine. I just stared at the amber liquid as he sipped his. When the drink swirled to dark red I quickly set it down before I could drop it.

"Are you alright?"

"I will be. One more night," I glanced back at the glass, the amber liquid was swirling in the glass.

"I saw it too. That's some gift you have," he picked up my glass and examined it. "Do it again," he had a commanding note in his voice, the teacher had returned.

"A kid with a new toy." I took the bottom of the glass and it swirled back to dark red. "Care for a drink?" If it was possible, his face paled even more and he released the glass into my hand. "I can only do it on a small scale. Change one thing into another, at least that's all I've tried to do."

"Ever try living things?"

"No. Would you be willing to be the guine pig? Shapeshifting's a bitch but you get use to the pain."

"No. Just curious," Snape lowered his eyes and sipped at his drink.

"Scaring people, as always?"

"Crow," I was standing over him with a hand on his cheak.

"Stormy skys! Knives you're cold," he had shoved my hand away but not before I had judged his tempertator to be normal, Human. "When was the last time you fed?"

"Since you scared the non-life out of me. Nearly two days you've been out," somehow Snape had dissappeared, leaving only my blood drink sitting where I had left it. "How do you feel?" I payed close attention as he sat up and glanced around.

"We're still at Hogwarts? Two days? No wonder I'm hungry," his complection was much paler than it should be, I chalked that up to the lack of food, his teeth looked sharper but nothing like the fangs of one of mine or the monstrous teeth of a pet or remnent. Perhaps his elfen haratege saved him from my curse.

I couldn't help but smile as he rambled off a list of food; burgers, fries, barbaque ribs, and apparently the joys of pizza, along with a half million others he had mumbled too low or fast for me to care. I gave a laugh as his descriptions got detailed enough for me to wonder how they'd taste. "Easy, little bird. Not so fast. How are you feeling, besides hungry enough to eat a dragon?"

"Scales and all," he gave a smile but then gave a thoughtful frown and licked his lips,"Thirsty. Water!" I had to force myself to stay still as he attacked the pitcher Mademe Pomphrey was carrying to him. I gave a relieved laugh as he chugged it, glasses and manners forgotten.

"Better?" He had finished the pitcher and was now wearing more of it than he had drank.

"Uh huh," he nodded and handed the pitcher back to Mademe Pomfrey. "Sorry about the mess and thanks," he rushed over and tucked himself under my arm. "Food? Where's Ka?" He gave a worried look around, "Ah, there," he rushed over and flung open a window as Ka flew through to land on his shoulder, peaking and preening at Crow's hair and clothes. "I'm alright. I'm all... EE," Ka had found the ticklish spot at the back of his neck and Crow was giggling adn swatting at him to stop.

Chick safe! Chick ok! Ka kept saying as Crow twisted and turned, trying to off-balance him into getting off his shoulders. I tried to take Ka and he spun on me. My chick! Chick mine!

Relax my friend. Crow needs to stay calm. I don't know what's going on right now. It's best to keep away until I do.

No! My chick! He knew where I was. I feel him, like I feel you.

All I could do was stand there, stunned by the bird's words. Crow frowned at me, "Knives? Food, remember?" I blinked and looked down at his worried face.

"Food, right."

"Albus already has a banquet ready for you," Mademe Pomfrey startled me.

"How does word travel so fast here?" Crow just smiled at me and drug me with him toward the main floor.

"This is quicker," he smirked and hopped over the stair rail.

"Crow!" I instinctively followed, stopping him from hitting the ground.

"See?" he dropped the final inches to the ground and headed to where we had met Proffesor Flitwick.

I shook my head and didn't even bother with the ground, just floated after him. "I should've let you go splat." He just gave me a smug smile and headed into a gigantic dinning hall.

"Ah, there you are," Albus smiled down at Crow and signalled to the too full table of food. "Eat all you want. You look like you need it."

"Thank you Headmaster. I'm sorry if I scared everyone," Albus just smiled as Crow prosceeded to scarf down food.

I smiled and took a seat near the end. Albus made his way toward me, setting a chalise in front of me. "You should, eat, as well. You're nearly as pale as the house ghosts," I pushed the charmed cup away and crossed one leg over the other.

"As quickly as you knew of his waking, you would have to either by psychic or tellapathic. So, which one are you?"

"Niether. You could say, a little bird told me."

"Ka always was a chatter-box," he chuckled as Ka flew to rest on his outstretched hand. "Traitor." that just caused Albus to laugh full out as he scratched Ka under the chin. "That's where you've been all day."

"By the look of it, the boy's perfectly fine. He's eating more than half the first years could. You still look worried. Ka has... informed me that your are unique among your kind, is that why you are so worried?"

"My... kind doesn't excist. One does not make a race or species. But for lack of a better term, yes I am unique and I don't know what affect my blood has on anyone or thing. Crow's the first to come in contact with it."

I suddenly had a plate of food stuffed under my nose, Crow was the culprit. "Here, for you," he set it on the table, sending a stray grape rolling off the plate.

"No, not hungry," I pushed the plate away, only to have it pushed toward me.

"You said you haven't fed in two days. Either eat or drink but you will do one of the two."

"And I was worried about ending up as your master," I smiled and gave him a look that caused him to forget about worrying and go back to eating. "Defenitly not a pet and remnents are monstrous creatures, they couldn't hide behind that child's face."

"Remnents? Pets? Ka told me you killed someone for calling him that."

"Yeah well, she deserved it. With the exception of Remnent, pet is the worst insult to be called. At least when it comes to Humans."

"So, what excactly is a pet?"

I couldn't help but blink at him. He had taken a seat next to me and looked as if he was a student waiting to be taught. "Uh.. This is aquard."

"I'm jsut a young man wishing to learn from an elder," those words caused me to give a laugh. He was right, but the differenct in appearence was the reversed. For some reason Crow found that funny.

"Why does that seem so fermiliar?" Both me and Albus watched asCrow couldn't stop laughing.

What worried me was, his heart rate wasn't increasing and he wasn't out of breathe yet. I listened to that slow, steady rythm until he had finally clamed down, "Crow? You alright?"

"Yeah, fine," it didn't take him long before he was chugging another cup of water or juice. When he was finished, he just starred at the empty cup and licked his lips.

I let out a sigh and watched him for a few more moments, trying to compose myself for the first test. "Crow," he blinked and I threw a loose fork, aiming a foot in front of his face.

"Hm?" In the time it took him to respond, he had already caught it and starred at his closed hand. "Hu?" He dropped it and jsut starred as it clattered onto the table. He looked over at me with wide, scared eyes, "How? Did I?"

"Looks like I truly am stuck with you," I tried to sooth him with a motherly smile but it only seemed to worry him more. "Still thirsty?" He shook his head and wrapped his arms around himself. "Scared," he nodded his head even though it wasn't a question. "How do you feel?"

He gave a short, high pitched laugh and smiled at me, "Like I could take on Dragon's Hill."

"A halfling like you, taking on full blown high ranking elves? Other than delirious, how do you feel?"

"I ment what I said," he gave me a look, I was instantly at his side, mussing his hair. "Do we have to leave? I know this place, I like it here."

"How do you know so much about this place?" He smiled and shook his head.

"And you wanted me to stay out of the library." He let out a huff and gae a defeated smile, "Alright, at least let me say goodbye to Dumbledore." To my surprise, he jumped up into Albus's arms and tucked his head into the long grey/white hair. I paniced until I heard whispering,"...be there for him. He will need all the friends he can get." When Albus wrapped his arms around Crow in a hug, I let out a breathe I couldn't remember taking.

"I will, thank you. You will always be welcome here, my friends," even with his appearent age, Albus easily lowered Crow to the ground.

"If you should ever have need for aide, call my name. I will hear you and help if I can."

Albus smiled, eyes twinkling as if made of stars, "If I need help, Knives, I will call."

Crow had the biggest, proudest smile on his face when he took my hand, "Don't forget your chalise." I gave a groan but grabbed the charmed cup, even as Crow slung a bag over his shoulder. "Summer reading," I shook my head as he took the cup and put it in the bag. "Where to now?"

"The unknown," I mussed his hair. "Somewhere I can find out what's going on with you."

"What? No, somewhere safe?"

"Crow, I'm an... annamally, and you might just be second generation," I opened up a portal to somewhere, anywhere, that could help me find answers. "I have to find out what is happening to you and now. Before the infection becomes too,,," I couldn't even find words to express my worry, I just pulled him through the portal.

Author's Corner:

Well since no one, no offence Tristan, is reviewing the next few chapters will take place in a world of my own design. This world will be filled with all sorts of puns and jokes of all types so if you see something you find funny send me a review to say Hey go here, or That looks like fun, or maybe even That so wasn't right... Come on here people, I'm running out of Ideas,,,,,,, I need a few clues...

Oh and Tristan,,,,Hope you liked the previews