Note: I do not own 'Harry Potter'. I do own my own characters. I hope you enjoy and I'll try to post a couple of chapters a day since I leave on a 40 day vacation on the 25th...No matter what or how busy I become with packing and everything, I will have it all posted before my flight takes off...

Now that I had used my magic in public, I started to work in class on the spells. Most often I helped the professors in teaching it and helping the students practice. I had talked to Dumbledore and the Minister about something I wanted to do. At first they were skeptical but I reminded them that they owed me this favor. I only wanted to write my O. and N.E. before the end of the year.

Life had semi gotten back to normal. I kept an eye on Moody (Crouch Jr.) and kept handing in fake death prophecies to Trelawney. I forgot and cared less about the second task. I'd see Cedric occasionally in the halls but never stopped to see how he was doing with it.

Ron and Neville didn't know that I had planned to sit my exams that Christmas. It wasn't like I was spending all my extra time studying. There was nothing I tried to do that didn't work.

Life turned upside down when the Yule Ball was announced. Every female in 4th year and older freaked out about dresses, makeup, and hair. The boys freaked about who they were going to take. None of it mattered to me even though it would be the only dance I'd ever attend.

I helped Ron get a date with Lavender Brown and set Neville up with Ginny. I laughed when Fred mimed his question to Angelina Johnson, inviting her to the dance. George was taking Katie Bell and had asked her personally with a charmed letter in the shape of a bird. I had been planning on going alone until McGonagall pulled me aside after class one day.

"Ms. Potter, who will be escorting you to the Yule Ball?"

"No one."

"You must have an escort. The champions and their dates start off the Ball with a dance. Lessons for those going will begin a week before. You and your escort will need to be there."

Great, I thought. Now I had to show up and pretend to be happy. It's not like I'm afraid of what will come but I didn't want to be forced to do things I had no interest in.

My green eyes scanned the Great Hall at dinner for someone I could take. All of my guy friends were already going and none of the older students interested me. I looked down at my plate when I thought of a possibility. I smirked and couldn't wait until that Saturday.

I apparated to the alley behind the shop. I recast the aging glamour and entered. The bell above the door chimed my arrival and soon he came out from the back.

"Back again, I see. Did you get in trouble?"

"Not more than a lecture from my friend's mother. No one has figured out what it means yet so I'd imagine if they had, I'd have a raging headache still."

"So what can I do for you?"

"I would say a favor but it's more of an arrangement. How would you like to see Hogwarts again?"

He didn't want to but after I told him what I would do, he totally jumped at the opportunity. At the mention of robes, I told him to forget traditional robes and wear whatever. He could come in jeans and I wouldn't care.

"You should be happier about this, Arya. I translated the Latin so I know what you plan to do. I don't know why or how but it's not over yet."

"You don't get it. No one can kill Voldemort but me. I either kill him or he kills me so says a prophecy from before I was born. Instead I get chosen to be a mage and my type of mage is special. Nothing can harm me. Nothing can kill me. Nothing but myself. That's why my tattoo reads: Began with a Sacrifice, Ends with a Sacrifice.

"It was my mother's sacrifice that made me a mage and it'll be my sacrifice that ends this war with Voldemort."

He seemed to think about it for a second and then smiled.

"OK, so you'll be dead. What's something you always wanted to do before you died?"

"I'd be too young for one but my uncle saw to that and the other I had you do already and the last will happen when Voldemort is gone. It's fine. Anyways, for the Yule Ball the champions start it off. I'll learn the dance and I'll come by to teach it to you."

When I went back to teach it, he caught on pretty quick. We talked about Hogwarts and my years there and then what he felt comfortable about sharing with me. He told me about his fiancé, about how no one knew they had been engaged especially his family, although his mother was interested in getting to know the woman who stole her son's heart.

"So the night of the Yule Ball, would you like me to apparate you there or meet at the school?" I asked.

"I'll meet you there," he replied with a semi lopsided grin.

***

I spent an hour before the Ball trying to calm Ron. He was going on about the dancing and being with Lavender. I informed him one or two dances weren't going to kill him and if he entertains her, it won't be so bad. I explicitly told him that under no circumstances was he to talk with his mouth full or open. I was OK with it but he better be on his best behavior.

I pulled on my dress and covered it with my cloak. On the back was the general crest of a mage and only if a person knew what to look for would they spot the differences that spoke of the type I was. I removed the streaks from my hair and pinned it up, curly tendrils hanging down around my face.

The boys had already gone down so I headed to the entrance hall myself. No one passed me in the halls or on the stairs so everyone must be waiting to go in. I was coming up to the last set of stairs before the entrance hall when I heard yelling.

"What are you doing here? You left and no one's seen you in years."

"Someone has or obviously I wouldn't be here."

I stared down at Snape and my date. They hadn't noticed me yet or the crowd that came out of the Great Hall. I glided down the stairs as Snape pulled his wand. I quickly summoned it to me.

"Now, Professor Snape, surely you wouldn't curse a guest and former student of Hogwarts."

"Since it's him, yes. How do you know him?"

"Because I'm the one who invited him. Did you attend Hogwarts together?"

"I was a year behind Severus but I knew him outside school. Brothers do tend to grow up together."