Dear gods, could Liadan give me less to work with? Haha, just kidding Shadow. Ok now its my turn again, yes (evil smile) concerning the chapter title, don't mind it. It has absolutely nothing to do with anything in the chapter, in fact it comes from a joke I'm having with my friend over a Christmas gift she gave me. It's a necklace and it has a symbol on it and of course she and I don't know what it is. We don't even know if it's Japanese or Chinese. So that is where the chapter title comes from.

Chapter 5: Of Unknown Symbols

Like any other year, it was raining when they exited the train, Opeia's (sorry, I really like this one Shadow)hair luckily under a heavy cloak. She started walking with Hermes and Draco when voices stopped her

" LENA!!"

She turned to see three figures run up and smile at her despite the rain.

" Alex, Rose, Daniel!! I missed you." Opeia responded rushing up to her three friends.

Alex was a seventh year Ravenclaw, her medium length hair, that was dyed a nice bright blue, soaked with rain. The darkness was added to her silver contacts, which added on to her already creepy personality.

Rose was a sixth year Ravenclaw, her own short blonde hair hidden under a cloak like Cassiopeia. You could barely see her warm brown eyes in the growing darkness.

Daniel was the only boy of the group, not that he particularly cared. He was a master at hair charms, so the rain did not effect his spiky brown hair. His hazel eyes laughed at Opeia's own wetness.

" Missed us my butt! You didn't write all summer!" Alex clucked, the group now walking towards the carriages.

" I'm sorry, but I was busy with family stuff." She answered, smirking at her oldest friend.

" Like I'm supposed to believe that." Alex responded.

Cassiopeia could see the form of Draco & Hermes by a carriage, so she led her friends toward them. Hopping into the carriage, she curled into Daniel's side.

" I forgot how your always warm, Daniel, no matter how cold it is." She giggled.

" Hey Lena, can I ask you something?" Rose whispered, eyeing the forms of Cassiopeia's brothers as they entered the ride.

" Well, if it concerns those two, we need to wait until later, ok?" She replied, smiling at her old friend.

The rest of the ride was quiet, Cassiopeia trying to form a talk between everyone and a meeting place.

' I'll take care of that.' Hermes' voice said in her head.

Startled, she connected her eyes with his and mouthed

" What?"

' I know a place where we can meet. I'll tell you later, sis.'

She nodded slightly and went back to falling asleep against Daniel. When the finally arrived, they rushed into the castle, laughing because Daniel was covered in mud, even his rain proof hair. Wanting to stay away from her mud ridden friend, Cassiopeia walked into the doorway of the Great Hall with Hermes before almost doubling over as sharp pain ran through her spine.

Hermes barely felt it, but if anyone bothered to look up at the staff table, they would see Severus Snape in the same position as a girl everyone knew as Selena Slielth. (shit I just realized that they both have the same initials. Hahaha I'm such a dork)

" Opeia, what was that?' Hermes asked in a hurried whisper, moving her back towards the entrance hall.

" That was our Dragon Elf blood recognizing our father. I feel worse because I'm full blooded. I'm sure he felt it too, but you moved me out quickly, so I doubt he saw us." She answered in a hushed, pained whisper.

" Lena, what's wrong?" Rose asked when she came over to the two siblings.

Looking up at Hermes, she nodded. " I'm not that hungry, you?"

" Nope, but if I do end up like that, we can sneak into kitchens."

She stood, wincing in pain. " Guys listen, we're gonna explain. Do guys mind eating later?"

Her friends shook their heads and followed her as Hermes helped her to the meeting spot. They reached the fifth floor, Hermes left her in Daniel's arms and walked in front of a blank wall three times. Right when she was about to hex her nutty brother, a door appeared and he walked in, followed quickly by Draco. She nodded her head to Daniel and he walked in, the other two behind him.

The room was decorated in dark purple and silver and a warm fire was roaring, drawing the wincing Cassiopeia to it. When they were finally seated, Alex was giving the two Slytherins apprehensive looks.

" Ok Selena, spill. Something big happened this summer and it involves them somehow." Alex demanded.

" You never leave silence alone for very long do ya, my dear friend? Very well, you see it's quite a story, one that will having you laughing and gawking."

Cassiopeia drew a deep breath and started her tale, Hermes adding his own when it came time

Hey you, what do say, something beautiful, someth- sorry, in a Manson mood. Ok my part is done hope ya like. Its shadows turn now.

"I found Harry here almost half dead in the entrance to Diagon Alley, and I took him to a healer and than to my home. We ended up finding out that we are half siblings, and that we both had different names at birth. Mine is Cassiopeia and his is Apollo although he sometimes uses his middle name Hermes." She explained simply.

"That can't be the whole story, Harr... I mean Apollo what happened to you that she found you half dead?" Rose asked the older Slytherin.

"I had a problem with the people I was staying at before. I was trying to make it to the alley to get help but I passed out and Opeia here found me." Apollo answered.

"Thats horrible, were you staying at an orphanage or something?" It was well known his parents were gone what wasn't know was his location.

"No, I wasn't." He snapped back shortly, making it obvious you did not want to tread further in that line of questioning.

"Ok, relax Apollo," Draco's smooth voice broke in, "How about some different questions. How did you two find out you were siblings?"

"I will take this one," Cassiopeia said, "We saw each other as children in a dream. We came into our inheritance together, yes that is why we look different, and when we woke up we just kind of knew."

"What kind of inheritance? Wizarding inheritance happens at a set time it doesn't have to be triggered like it sounds like yours was?" Alex asked showing why she was a Ravenclaw.

"We are not normal wizards we both have creature blood. I am a full blooded Dragon Elf and he is a half blood. He has another inheritance he received from his mother but I won't tell you he will have to decide whether or not to tell you himself." Opeia said.

"Vampire," His answer was still short from the earlier questions but it had lost the edge of anger the other had contained.

"So you two have the same dad?" Daniel asked not wanting to antagonize Apollo anymore and being honestly curious.

"Yeah, and he is at the school that is what caused the pain when we walked in." Cassiopeia told her friends despite the sharply indrawn breath of her brother.

"Are you sure that was a good idea?" His voice ghosted to her mind.

"Yes Apollo I trust them," She answered firmly.

"I don't trust them yet, but I don't trust easily. I will have to settle with just trusting you. Please don't make me regret it." his reply was a bit snippy but she got the warning loud and clear.

"Apollo! Cassiopeia!" Draco's shout broke through their private conversations.

"Opps sorry about that," Cassiopeia said sheepishly to her friends.

"I take one of the things you can do is talk to each other telepathically?" Rose asked rhetorically.

Apollo answered anyway, "Yes we can."

"Are we back to full sentences my monosyllabic friend?" Draco teased.

"Shut up." Apollo growled out his eyes flashing dangerously.

"Well are we not the feisty one today." He continued despite the obvious danger.

"You have no idea how 'feisty' I can be." Apollo almost purred but there was more danger in his voice then before.

"You are about as feisty as a kitty cat." Draco baited once more.

"Thats it you are asking for it." Apollo exclaimed as he launched himself at Draco pinning the blond Slytherin.

He cursed his small stature as he was easily flipped around with Draco the one leaning down. "If you actually used your strength we would not be in this position." Draco said mock sagely as Apollo sat tapping his nails on the ground waiting for Draco to get bored and let him up.

"You know I don't think this is an unique performance. I am almost willing to bet there are things happening in the Slytherin common room we do not want to know about." Daniel observed the struggling duo.

"I think you are right on the frequency but speak for yourself on the not wanting to know." Alex said as she raked her eyes over the pair.

"Hey you two love birds cut it out!" Cassiopeia warned emphatically.

The two boys immediately stopped their little tussle, and took one look at each other than back at Opeia.

"Sister dear if I were you I would run now." Apollo warned his voice dripping honey. He barely finished talking when both Draco and him tackled her and started tickling.

"Alright, Alright Mercy! I give! You can stop now!" She cried out between shrieking laughter.

"Oh alright but only because your friend's stomachs are growling and we do not want to be accused of starving them." Apollo said letting up on the tickling and Draco followed his lead.

"I can take us down to the kitchens but please try not to get caught." He warned as he lead their small group out of the room of requirements and down to the cellar where the kitchens were located.

A/N I am truly sorry about the delay it is all my (Bloody's) fault. And Raven honey I do believe you called me by every single one of my nicknames besides the one for this account in this chapter.