CHAPTER 2

Sitting alone in her compartment on the Hogwarts Express, Ivy was going through her notebook on demons. Sirius had shown her the spell to make it hold an endless number of pages, though she did have to add them after she filled up what was in the book. What she, and Sirius, had discovered was not pretty at all. That said, they were unable to find anything about what happened to souls claimed by demons.

That wasn't to say they hadn't learned anything useful however. The biggest two things they learned was that there were multiple demon realms, and that there were multiple levels of demons. The most dangerous demons controlled their own realms, and were commonly referred to as Demon Lords. Below the Demon Lords were various other demons that couldn't truly be defined, as their ranks, and treatment, was largely based on what Demon Lord ruled their realm and their own power. Some were no more than animalistic beasts, others were intelligent and cunning. Some looked relatively harmless, others were truly monstrous, and still others could hide their true appearances.

Yet Ivy had yet to find the information she wanted. Details about Mephisto, what demons (Mephisto especially) did with the souls they claimed, and if there was any way out of deals with demons.

"Do you mind if I join you?"

Ivy looked up from her notes, to the door of the compartment. A girl she couldn't recall seeing before was standing in the doorway. She had blonde hair, blue eyes, and wore blue-trimmed robes indicating she belonged to Ravenclaw House. She also had what appeared to be radish earrings, and a necklace made of bottle corks.

The raven haired witch guessed the blonde was a younger year than her as well, not recognizing her from any of her own classes. That combined with her petite and small build lent credence to that assumption

"Are you sure you want to be associated with the Delusional-Pervert-Who-Lies?" Ivy asked, a bit coolly, using the latest label the Prophet had given her.

To her surprise, the blonde tilted her head, smiling lightly. "I don't believe you're delusional, or a pervert...and everyone lies at some point," she said, even as she bounced over and sat on the seat across from Ivy. "I'm Luna Lovegood, fourth year Ravenclaw. It's nice to meet you Ivy Potter."

Ivy wasn't sure what to make of the blonde. She was also afraid to believe the words she was saying. "Nice to meet you too," she replied, trying to be polite. She wasn't sure she succeeded.

Whether she did or not, it didn't seem to deter her new companion. Though her next words certainly startled Ivy.

There was no malice or worry in the blonde's words, only curiosity as she asked, "Why are you researching demons?"

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Ivy was never more thankful for Dobby and Winky.

This year was shaping up to be just as horrible as her last year at Hogwarts. While she didn't have to worry about dying in a tournament, it seemed that the students and staff actually were treating her worse. Then again, that could just because of a summer away from everyone was influencing her perception. But she also had to deal with a Ministry toady teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts.

And not only was Deloris Umbridge loyal to the Ministry (and Ivy recognized her from her trial earlier that summer), she was an inept teacher. This was on top of specifically focusing on trying to make Ivy's life more of a hell than it already was.

Luckily, Dobby the house-elf had no problems with Ivy. The little guy was still incredibly grateful for Ivy rescuing him from the Malfoys. And while he'd helped her out with the Tri-Wizard tournament last year, she had now bonded him as her personal elf shortly after returning to Hogwarts. Dobby had also convinced her to bond to Winky, who hadn't been doing so well since being freed by the Crouchs (may father and son both rot in Hell).

Dobby and Winky not only looked out for her, checking her mail for curses and booby traps before it could even get to her, but they also made meals for her when she didn't want to brave the Great Hall. The cleaning up of her private room, and other little things helped, but it was the support they gave her that Ivy valued most.

Now the two resourceful elves had shown her a room that could be anything she needed it to be. The Come-and-Go Room, as they called it, had quickly become Ivy's new sanctuary. She didn't have to worry about being ambushed in the library, and it allowed her freedom for a lot of things besides study.

Though it was still useful for that.

Since she began using the Come-and-Go Room, she had studied all sorts of different magics, done more research into non-magical sciences, and managed to learn several forms of hand-to-hand combat.

And her research into Demons had increased by volumes. Though what she discovered had truly horrified her.

Mephisto was a Demon Lord, who often posed as the biblical Satan (but as many Demon Lords did so, there was no definitive proof one way or the other as to whether Mephisto was the Christian Devil). He specialized in making deals with humans, often with said humans soul as payment. The souls he took he either turned into his servants, tortured into insanity for eternity, or tortured until they became his servants.

He even tortured his servants.

Needless to say, things did not look good for Lily Potter.

But her research on how to rescue her mother's soul was...not good. While there had been accounts of those who defied demons, including their own servants, no soul had ever truly escaped from them. At least not that anyone knew.

One thing Ivy knew, was that rescuing her mother would be no easy feat.

The only other good thing Ivy had going for her this year so far was Luna Lovegood.

The emerald-eyed witch had no idea why the blonde had no issues with her. But ever since their encounter on the Hogwarts Express, Ivy had come to consider Luna a friend.

An odd friend, but a friend.

The blue-eyed fourth year had a tendency to talk about creatures that were seemingly non-existent, even in the magical world, and conspiracy theories of the most ridiculous, yet somehow still serious, variety. And considering how she was being treated by the wizard world at large, Ivy wasn't inclined to simply dismiss the conspiracy theories, no matter how ridiculous they were.

For that reason, she did have to wonder about the creatures Luna spoke of as well.

Ivy was pulled from her thoughts about the blonde by a knock on her room door.

Frowning as she wondered who could be visiting her at this time of night, and more than a bit wary, Ivy drew her wand before answering the door.

She was surprised to find Luna standing in the doorway, barefoot. "Luna, what are you doing here?"

"I didn't want to sleep in the hallway," the blonde airily said, as though nothing was wrong. "So I wondered if I could stay here tonight?"

"Uhh...Sure," Ivy said, standing to the side to allow Luna entry. As she closed the door, she asked, "Why would you have to sleep in the hallway?"

"The nargles locked me out of the Ravenclaw dorm again."

Ivy narrowed her eyes. "Did the nargles take your shoes as well?"

"Who else?"

Taking a breath to calm herself, Ivy smiled at Luna. "Why don't you take a shower," she offered, gesturing to small, yet private, bathroom attached to her room. "I'll see if I can't find something for you to wear to bed."

"Thank you Ivy," Luna said, smiling happily at the ravenette, before bouncing into the bathroom.

Once she was gone, Ivy scowled.

She needed to have a word with these 'nargles,' just not now. Luna needed her at the moment.

Walking to her attached bedroom, the witch began looking for something Luna could wear to bed.

She also decide that she'd be sleeping on the couch in the small common room of her private rooms, leaving the bed to Luna.

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That's it. Hope you enjoyed.

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