AN: I know I know. I'm dead. I haven't updated anything in a while. My computer had been tripping earlier in the summer and it caused me to accidentally delete all my files. My fanfic files anyway. And I had a back up file but it was at school and I wasn't able to get to it until soccer preseason and then my computer officially shut down for good so there was no way to do any writing until school started again so here I am. I probably could have done some prep writing before but I had a summer job and soccer preseason to do so… no way. Also Junior year is keeping right busy so that's why this came so late.

Also after giving some thought and getting tired of changing it when I thought it wasn't appropriate size, Velcora has been shortened to about 4 feet instead of 5. I just thought that there was no way that Ebony would be able to get away with carrying a snake that big. Velcora is a long and slim snake, not too big like a boa and not pathetically small either. Kind of like a regular garter snake width and 4 feet long. I don't know what breed she is so don't ask me.

Disclaimer: I do not Harry and company. Although I do own Ebony and the band so that's something, right?

"Talk"

'Thought'

$Parseltongue$

Ebony

Chapter 5

Cascilla walked out of the store with her new purchases wrapped loosely around her arm with its head resting on her shoulder. Velcora slept peacefully as they walked toward Severus who was sitting on a bench across the path, her other purchases sitting at his feet. Severus had looked up to see what she had bought and paled visibly at what she was carrying. As the teenager walked toward him, many people noticed the snake and either stopped to stare at the spectacle or immediately hurried away from her.

She stopped before her godfather, who rose quickly, simply speechless as he stared at the black and white snake. She smiled smugly at his reaction and seemed to be daring him to say anything.

"You like it?" she said as she petted the snake's head leisurely. She could hear Velcora make a noise of approval as she continued her ministrations. "I saw it in the very back of the shop and I just had to buy it."

At those words, Severus miraculously was able to find his voice, "I don't believe Professor Dumbledore would allow it in school-"

"He will… if he wants me to go to his school. I won't go without it." And with that final statement she began to pick up some of her bags, being careful not to jostle Velcora too much, and started walking back to the inn. She stopped momentarily, "Are you coming or not?" Severus could do nothing but sigh and help her with the last of her bags.

"Do you need help bringing them back to your apartment?" he said with a defeated tone, knowing that nothing he said would change her mind. He would have one hell of a time trying to convince Dumbledore to let her have it. It was like she was purposely trying to start a fuss.

…That's most likely what she was doing.

Her voice pulled him out of his thoughts. "No need." She reached into her bag and pulled out a slender black case. It clicked open and inside protected by satin red cushion. Was a wand; her wand.

It was a nice lacquer-ware 5 ft black shaft and with a dark red handle. She pulled it out and waved a silent spell over the bags, shrinking them. Severus thought momentarily of why she didn't just do that wandlessly but then realized that it would attract more attention than they needed if she was spotted doing it. He almost smacked his head for thinking such a thing.

Almost… Severus Snape would never be seen doing that.

"Well, see ya in a week." She started for the exit but then Severus remembered that he had to give her something. He took out a slip of paper his robe. "Wait. You'll need this for the train."

Cascilla took it from his hand and saw that it was train ticket. It looked pretty much normal except for the platform number that was 9 ¾. She looked up at incredulously and said, "Is this some sort of joke? There's no such thing as a ¾ platform."

"You'll see…" Severus said cryptically.

Cascilla rolled her eyes at him before exiting.

Severus walked into his room of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He barely got a chance to unwind from his stressful day before his fireplace lighted up with green flames and Dumbledore's aged face showed up in the inferno.

"Oh Severus. I see you're back. Could you see me up in my office momentarily?" His face disappeared right after, leaving no room for protest.

Severus sighed before walking right out of his door that he had just entered two seconds ago.

He made it to the headmaster's office and walked in without knocking. "Ah Severus! Have a seat."

He looked around to see that the rest of the staff was present. Well the heads anyway. He sat in an empty chair, waiting to find out what this meeting was about so that he could go to the privacy of his dungeons and unwinding with a nice headache potion.

"So," the Headmaster began as he looked at Severus, "How was your outing with Miss Riddle? Or should I say: Miss Rose?"

"It was fine. I must say that she is a rather… unusual young girl."

"I see… anything out of the ordinary happen?" Dumbledore asked. He leaned forward onto his desk with an inquisitive twinkle in his eye.

"Actually… there is one thing that I wanted to talk to you about," Severus sighed tiredly as he paused to think of a way to put this across. "She had decided to buy a familiar for the school year. Now when I let her go in by herself I expected her to buy a black cat or a owl, but I should have known that was a bit too predictable for a girl like her. She had decided to buy a… ahem… a snake as her familiar." He mumbled the last part to avoid the inevitable objections that were to begin. His wishes were against him however as McGonagall,who was sitting next to him, had heard every word.

"A snake!" This exclamation caused a lot of panic amongst the other heads as they were aware who Cascilla actually was. The spawn of Voldemort having something that had always been a symbol of her father's terror and destruction as a familiar! Dumbledore held back a shudder at the thought.

"Enough!" Albus yelled to silence the shouting. Everyone quieted instantly to look at Dumbledore to see how he would react to this news. Dumbledore sighed tiredly before asking, "Now Severus… did you tell her our rule on having a familiar outside of the kind requested on the form?"

"I did. I stated to her that you would not allow a snake into Hogwarts. And she so eloquently replied with, 'He will if he wants me to go.' She said she wouldn't go without it." Severus smirked inwardly as he watched Dumbledore have an internal battle with himself on whether he should let this one snake in. There would be calls of favoritism (which couldn't be farthest from the truth) if anyone were to find out that Ebony had a snake. Then there would be calls that Dumbledore was "endangering" his students with such a beast prowling around the property.

There was silence for about five minutes as the Heads watched the Headmaster reach his decision. Finally he announced with no small amount of regret, "If she will not go to Hogwarts without it, then I have no choice but to allow it," This caused the other teachers except for Severus to protest loudly at his decision, but with stern glance they all silenced themselves. "But Severus I want you tell her when she arrives here to try to keep this confidential. We don't want a widespread school panic, now do we? It is not to leave her room, let alone her common room, understood?"

"Yes Albus I will." Severus replied. Sensing that the meeting had ended, he stood from his chair stiffly and exited the room, his cloak billowing behind him. The others however still stay seated as they thought there were still some issues to discuss.

"Albus," McGonagall began, "How can you allow this?"

"I have no choice Minerva. My hands are tied. We need her here and away from Voldemort as much as possible before he realizes that she is truly alive. For all we know, he most possibly already does. If she wants to have a snake as a pet for school, then I'm going to let her, just as long as it doesn't cause any trouble."

"Do you think that she can speak… it?" Flitwick asked.

"Well, her being his daughter, I would have to say that she does with certainty. It is after all hereditary from parent to child. We just have to hope for the best."

Cascilla jumped off her skateboard as she walked into the King Cross at 10 o'clock in the morning. Unusual to her usual appearance she gave off the semblance of a normal teenage girl, wearing a simple pair of dark blue jeans, long sleeved black shirt, black and white sneakers, and black cap on her head. With the colder weather, she decided to wear a thin black jacket. For once there was no reason for anyone to stare at her. Well… except for the snake that was wrapped loosely around her neck. That garnered a few stares. Though most of the people in there could easily be recognized as muggles so none of them freaked out as badly as a wizard or witch would do if they saw Velcora. She went to the reception office to get a trolley and unshrunk her things inside of a bathroom before loading her things.

Cascilla reached into her pocket taking out the ticket that said in big bold letters "Platform 9 ¾". Cascilla rolled her eyes as she began to walk around looking for this "imaginary" platform. She still couldn't believe that such a platform could ever exist without a muggle noticing the strange number and wanting to know what it was. She walked back and forth through the train station looking for said platform and still bubcus. She even asked a cross station guard and all she had gotten was a "What kind of nonsense are you spouting? Move along you little troublemaker." 'What a dick…' Ebony thought irritably.

She looked at her watch and saw that it was now 10:40 so that meant she only had ten minutes before the trains left without her if she didn't find it in time. She was starting to kind of panic at this thought…

'Dammit! Why couldn't Uncle Sev have just told me where the platform was! It's almost like it's hidden somewhere…' Cascilla's eyes widened at this thought as she slapped a hand onto to her forehead at her stupidity, "Duh!" she yelled eliciting a few stares from people who passed her. She grinned sheepishly at them before walking briskly toward platform nine and ten.

What she thought was that if this platform was between nine and ten that would mean that it would literally be between platforms nine and ten. She look at the column that had a "10" on it. '9 ¾ is closer to ten than nine.' She thought. She moved her trolley in front of the column and took a claming breathe before beginning to run head-on into column. 'I hope I'm right about this or I'm screwed.' She thought as she closed her eyes. A few seconds after she realized she should have ran into brick, she opened her eyes to see a copper train standing before her, billowing white smoke from its spout.

"Oh yeah. Am I smart or what…?" she murmured to herself as a smirk crossed her face. She dragged her things onto the train and into a compartment on the last cart; fortunately there was no one there to bug her. She pushed her trunk into the overhead bin and sat down, rearranging Velcora's position from around her neck to curl in her lap in a spiral. She looked out the window to watch other students who would soon be her classmates be kissed and smothered by their parents before being helped onto the train. The sight made her think of her mother and how she would kiss her head before she sent her off to school. Of course at that time she had been known as Keiko Kumagi, her mother having to lie on her application form so as not to be found out.

Velcora, seeming to sense her owner's distress, raised her head and climbed up to lick the edge of Cas' chin to get her attention. Cascilla felt the soft silk tongue tickle her chin and looked down Velcora. Realizing her intentions, she smiled and petted the snake softly on its head. Velcora made a sound of approval as she rested her head back onto Cas' lap.

Not much time had passed before a student opened the compartment without a single knock, obviously thinking that the compartment was empty and was most certainly incorrect in that assumption. The boy looked about 15 years of age, had dirty blond hair and hazel eyes. As he sighted Cascilla sitting in the room, a strange glint came to his eyes and he smiled, "Whoops, sorry. I didn't think anyone was in here." He seemed to pause in thought before he said, "Hey, can I-"

"No. Go away." Cas interrupted tersely at being disturbed. She knew she was being rude and saving bas impression, but she did not feel like having company or talking either.

The boy looked shocked at her answer and seemed to feel a bit awkward at the brisk rejection. "Oh… well… okay then…" his eyes seemed to scan the room for something to look at besides Cas' aggravated face. His eyes settled on the thing that was coiled on her lap and it took him only a moment to realize what that object was.

He spazzed in random panic as he yelled, "Snakes are not allowed at Hogwarts! It's against the rules!"

Cas smirked at the boy's expression as she gently stroked Velcora's scales. The snake hissed in appreciation, but the boy could not tell and looked about ready to piss his pants.

"I'm pretty sure that the Headmaster will allow it." If he wants me to come anyway. I'm not leaving Velcora behind.

"Well I don't think he will. Snakes aren't allowed because they eat other people pets-"

"Velcora would never do that. As long as I say not to, that is." Cas' smile grew as she watched the boy's face turn green at her words.

He started to sweat and simply stared at the "menacing" four-foot long snake. It began to move but instead of snapping at him, it simply slid a slow path up Cas' arm and then wrapped its body around her neck again. The snake licked her cheek before resting leisurely on her right shoulder.

"Um… I-I have to g-go now…" And those were his final words before high-tailing it out of there.

Cas waited only a moment before she burst out in hysterical laughter.

$Was it really that funny?$ Velcora asked as Cas began to calm down. She could practically feel Velcora roll her eyes at her mistress' antics. The train gave slight jolt as it began to move forward.

$Oh come on Cora,$ Cas wiped a tear from her cheek and smiled at her snake. $Did you see the look on his face when he saw you! He looked green as grass!$

$Cora…?$ Velcora inquired, moving away from the conversation slightly.

$What? You don't like it? It's a nickname. Short for Velcora.$

$I know what it is?! I wasn't born yesterday. And I do like it. It is acceptable.$

$Alright then.$

Velcora moved back to the subject at hand. $Do you think everyone will react that way when they see me?$ She was far from self conscious of what the other human students would think of her, but she didn't want to cause a scene unlike her restless mistress.

$I don't think so. But if they do, so what? I'm not gonna leave you behind just because people want to be pussies about a simple snake. Those stereotypes need to be left in the dust once and for all!$

Velcora chose not to respond and contented herself to simply lay back in the nest she had made out the young girl's lap. Cas began to rub Velcora's back leisurely and the rest of the train continued in silence.

"Firs' Yeas! Firs' Yeas Here!"

Cascilla cautiously stepped off the train, and as the cool night air hit her, she wrapped her jacket closer around her figure. She still had neglected to wear her uniform so as other student walked by her to the carriages, she was looked at strangely but otherwise ignored.

She jumped slightly when another bellowing "Firs' Yeas Here!" broke through the crowd. She looked up to find that the source was an overly large man, waving all the first year student towards him to the small boats at the dock.

This was her first year here, but she was far from being a first year student. She looked at the boats for a few seconds, wondering whether she should join the little eleven-year-olds. But in the last second when she saw other children who appeared to be closer to her age going another direction. She voted to follow them.

She tagged along until they got to a bunch of carriages. As she got closer, she saw that they were more than just carriages. There was something in front of them. To her they resembled horse, but more like horse from a zombie movie that she had seen with the band a couple years ago. They had no coat of fur, just blackened skin that stretched over their bones in a dilapidated manner. They stood eerily rigid on four thin limbs, not even neighing or stepping in place like regular horses would. Cascilla looked around to see the majority of the older students simply walked by the creature, as if they themselves could not see them.

"You can see them as well, can't you?"

Cas nearly jumped out of her skin as a light voice chimed from behind her. She whirled around to find a girl standing behind her. The young girl with light blonde hair seemed to ignore Cas' bewildered look, choosing to respond with small smile. The girl's light gray eyes seemed to be looking through Cas' head, as if her mind was in a completely different place. She wore the standard Hogwarts girls' uniform with a tie that was striped blue and bronze, telling Cas she was a student.

"Um… hello." Cascilla was unsure of really what to say. She didn't even know if she was talking to her, but as she looked around quickly she saw that they were only ones so far at that carriage.

The girl immediately responded, "Hello." That was all she said, as if waiting for Cas' to say the first word.

Cas' was about to ask what she had been talking about earlier, but was swiftly interrupted.

"I have not seen for your face before. You are new." It wasn't question. It was a statement of confident knowledge.

To tell the truth, the platinum- haired girl sort of freaked her out, especially the way she simply stared at her with those wistful gray eyes.

"Uh… yeah. I am. Cascilla Rose. Most call me Cas." Not wanting to just stand there, she held out a hand for the girl to shake.

"Luna Lovegood." The girl, Luna, lightly took Cas' hand and shook it once before letting go. She then walked by Cas to stand before the decrepit-looking horses. Still with that faraway look she reached up a hand to pet its head. The head gave a sort straggly neigh but did not struggle against the gentle touch.

"They are called Threstrals. And I can see them too so don't worry, you're as sane as I am." Somehow… that didn't make Cas feel better.

"How come we can see them, but they," She waved her hand at the other children laughing and packing into the carriages, "can't."

Luna kept silence for a few moments before saying, "I'm not sure. I have been able to see them since my first year here at Hogwarts, but never bothered to do research on their mysterious existence." She turned her attention from the threstral to look at Cas. Her smile returned. "Isn't that silly of me?"

Cas was saved from responding as others arrived. None of which she recognized, she turned to look back at the girl but found she had disappeared without a trace. She looked around in bewilderment before agitatedly shaking it off and getting onto the carriage with the other newcomers. They stared at her confusedly because she still did not sport her uniform. She pointedly ignored them and instead chose to look out the window as they floated toward the castle gates.

End of Chapter

AN: I know. I'm a big fat liar. I didn't update as much as I said I would. But I have made it my New Year resolution to write and update more so look forward to that. Next story to be updated will be… Summoner's Sadness. Hopefully I'll be able to get that out sometime in February if I stick to my schedule so look out for that. I just realized that I havven't update thissince before my junior and I'm now in the second semester of my senior year. Wow. I suck. Ignore the AN at the top then, I'm just lazy.

I know it seems like it got nowhere but don't worry more will happen next chapter. A lot more.