A real short chapter, but I'm falling asleep on my keyboard.

~*~

Waiting near the entrance for Raye, Harry watched Professor McGonagall start to leave the castle, then stop in relief as a voice shore through the darkness. "You idiot. You NEVER provoke a thestral. Thought it would be funny if you threw something at the air where something should be? Lucky you didn't see how close those hooves were… What were you THINKING?" Raye loomed out of the darkness, scolding Malfoy harshly. She was leading the thestral, and Harry was pleased to see Malfoy was pale and shaking, and he, Crabbe, Goyle, and Pansy refused to ride in the carriage. "Oh, Professor McGonagall, I suggest this thestral be taken to Hagrid, as it will probably be attacked by the others from the cut on its hind legs."

McGonagall nodded. Harry wondered who she had seen die, as Professor McGonagall strode directly to the thestral. "Hagrid is in the Great Hall right now, so we'll just take it in." She looked up warily at the thestrals circling overhead. "Mr. Potter, please lead the thestral in and tether it somewhere in the entrance hall." Harry held out his hand and McGonagall handed the reins to him and he carefully brought the thestral in. "Mr. Malfoy, will you take your friends into the Great Hall immediately. You too, Mr. Weasley, Ms. Granger, Longbottom." Ginny and Luna had already trickled in.

Harry looked around helplessly. Where was he supposed to tether the thestral? He settled for a suit of armor. "Um, just wait here, please." He hurried to the Great Hall. Professor McGonagall was already nearly through with the Sorting with "Storris, Blake." He hurried towards Ron and Hermione, who were luckily seated near the back. Raye was standing with the incoming first years, quite taller than them. She was the only one left as "Zimers, Kollin" ran off to join the Ravenclaw table.

"Aino, Raye." Raye stepped up to the stool, but didn't sit on it. She stood next to the stool and put the Sorting hat on. Ginny leaned over Harry to whisper to Hermione. "Hope she's in Gryffindor. I couldn't stand it if she's in Slytherin. I have a feeling she's just as bright as you can be."

Raye stood there for a long time before the hat finally called out, "Gryffindor!" She hurried down the length of the tables and seated herself next to Ginny.

The clapping ceased as Albus Dumbeldore stood. "I have a few messages to relay, but before that, I would like all of you to please enjoy the wonderful feast!"

"Finally!" Harry noticed Nearly Headless Nick quickly change places as Ron Weasley dug in with his usual vigor.

"Please Ron, you had nearly the whole pile of Pumpkin Pasties," Hermione sniffed.

"Yer, buh Ieshtill ungr." Hermione rolled her eyes and turned to Raye. "What took you so long?"

"The hat couldn't decide which house I should go in, so I thought Gryffindor." She smiled, rather stiffly. "I didn't think I could last a term in Severus Snape's jurisdiction."

Harry looked up at Snape and noticed that he was staring at Raye much like Harry remembered him staring at Moody. Harry chewed reflectively. Everything he had seen and heard about Raye Aino indicated that she was someone else… Someone like Raye Hino. Harry glanced at Ron and Hermione. No doubt Hermione had already figured it out, but did Ron know? Dumbeldore must have his reasons for covering Raye's true identity, and ever since last year, Harry knew Dumbeldore would have his reasons.

Harry looked up at Dumbeldore and their eyes met. Harry quickly glanced at Raye and Dumbeldore nodded, then put a hand to his chin as if to stroke his beard. He held up his index finger and put it to his lips. Harry nodded slightly.

CLANG! Professor McGonagall immediately turned, and Harry saw her hand going immediately to her wand, nor was she the only one to do so. There was a rather tense silence, and Harry knew that the students were all remembering last year when the Ministry of Magic finally acknowledged Voldemort's return. An odd sounding gait trailed towards the door. "Oh!" One of the girls in Hufflepuff screamed. "Th-there's a breastplate moving on the ground. Harry craned his neck, but couldn't see past Ron's tall form.

McGonagall tried to control a smile of relief as she strode towards the entrance. "Harry, where exactly did you tether that thestral?"

"Um…oh. I'm sorry, Professor, I…" Harry spluttered, relieved it wasn't Voldemort and yet embarrassed he had tethered the thestral to such an insecure base.

"Hagrid," Professor McGonagall beckoned to the man, "If you'll follow me, something happened earlier this evening…" They trailed off into the entrance hall. The hall suddenly broke out in a frenzy of relieved chatter.

"Oh, gosh," Ginny said, "I was sure the second war was about to begin."

"What was that? Professor McGonagall seemed pretty relieved," Hermione sighed, pressing her hand to her heart. "I thought I was going to have a heart attack from the suspense; I was so scared it was V-v-Voldemort."

"It was the thestral. I tied it to some armor and it must have pulled loose." Harry grinned.

"Can't do anything right, can you?"

Harry turned to see Malfoy sneering at him. He gritted his teeth together and tried to ignore him. "What, embarrassed, Potter? Perfect, pathetic, Potter?" Harry willed himself not to turn around, not to get to his wand, not to hex Malfoy…

Raye stood up, and Harry was pleased to see that Malfoy had to look up at her. She perused his face. "Yes, definitely a Malfoy." There was a sound of loathing in her voice.

Malfoy glared back. "So, what of it?"

"You weren't so cocky with that thestral, were you? Always willing to harass the weak, just to find out exactly how strong they are. Just like your father." Her voice grew harsh and tense as she spoke, and Harry wondered what she knew about Lucius Malfoy.

"What of my father?" Ron smirked to hear Malfoy's voice holding a distinct tremor.

Harry noticed Raye snapped her mouth shut, unwilling to give herself away too quickly. He was surprised Hermione hadn't picked up on who Raye was. Raye swallowed, then said in a much calmer tone, "He slaughtered families and taunted children only to find himself now with a scar on his back, and now he's at it again."

Malfoy's face contorted with rage, and yet fear. "It'll only be a time before my father breaks out and I'll make sure he takes you out first."

"The pleasure would be all mine," Raye said with the elegance of a fencing match, "and I'll look forward to it greatly." The hatred Raye emitted was so great and the tension so high that Harry was surprised that everyone in the hall hadn't been watching the conversation, but he noticed Dumbeldore give him a warning look, then glanced pointedly at Raye. Harry nodded. She would give herself away much too soon if he didn't try to help her not to. But too soon for what? Then he knew. Dumbeldore was worried there would be an attack on the school. An attack to kill him.