I still don't own any of the characters owned by anyone else.

Warning character death.

The next morning found Rose glancing around the great hall at all of the young wizards with a smile on her face. "I'm going to enjoy this year a lot I think."

"So do we all have the same classes?" Lenora speared the sausage on her plate with her fork while trying to glance at her sisters' schedules.

Gabrielle nodded, "Yeah, I think so. I mean we are all taking the same classes. Here, look." She handed the schedule to Lenora who took it before taking a bite of her breakfast.

Rose frowned, "Well at least we get one class with the Ravenclaws."

Gabrielle nodded absently, "So what about you Trista?"

Trista glanced at an overly loud first year girl sitting next to her. "I just wish they had steak for breakfast." She grumbled.

Lenora chuckled as she noticed Gabrielle nodding her head, "I'm sure that bloody almost raw steaks violate some type of health code."

Gabrielle licked her lips, "Well it shouldn't."

Trista protested weakly, "I didn't say anything about undercooked steaks."

Rose shook her head, "Let it go. We have class in a few minutes we should get an early start."

Gabrielle nodded, "Defense against the Dark Arts. This is going to be so much fun."

Lenora put a hand on Trista's shoulder, "Don't mind her, she is just an eternal optimist."

Rose frowned up at the staff table, "Speaking of defense what happened to Snape? Shouldn't he have been at the table?"

Lenora shrugged, "Maybe he ate his breakfast in his office."

Gabrielle didn't buy the explanation of Snape eating breakfast in his office but was interrupted from saying anything by hundreds of owls flying into the great hall for the morning mail delivery. She frowned as an owl dropped a letter on her plate before it flew off. She picked it up curiously before carefully ripping it open. She smiled as she read the note.

Rose frowned, "How come you get mail and the rest of us don't?"

Gabrielle grinned, "It's from my mom. She was just congratulating us for making it into Gryffindor. She says the house is going well. Other than that she doesn't say much."

Rose frowned, "Probably afraid of the letters being searched and read."

Trista frowned, "They read your mail?"

Gabrielle whispered, "Everything going into or out of Hogwarts is being searched for dark magic these days. So don't say anything you wouldn't want your 'friendly' government to know about."

Trista shivered, "That doesn't sound like a good thing."

Gabrielle shrugged, "Not really no, not much we can do about it, right now at least."

Rose was slightly worried about the right now part of Gabrielle's comment but tried to ignore the voice in her head that was ringing the alarm bells.

Trista found the twisting passageways slightly confusing. "How do you know where we are going?"

Gabrielle shrugged, "I suppose you're just supposed to get used to it."

Lenora shrugged, "I think it's this way."

Leo sighed even as he tried to tune out the girls' giggles and whispered conversations as he followed them through the twisted corridors toward the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. He was regretting leaving his map in his trunk but it wouldn't do to be seen with it. He was getting enough attention as it was from passing students. He had already fended off five questions about his last name this morning. He didn't really like giving them some vague answer about Potter being a common name. But he couldn't exactly tell the truth about things. He was happy as the giggles cut off as they entered the classroom. He briefly wondered why the girls had gone silent but soon found the reason. His gaze traveled over the room and noted a number of disgusting pictures lining the walls. He guessed from their contents that they were what happened to people when various dark spells were used on them. He pulled his eyes from the pictures glad that the other students weren't there to see his initial reactions. He tried to focus on the wizard in bright blue robes sitting on the edge of the teacher's desk.

Gabrielle glanced away from the pictures in disgust, while she wasn't as opposed to violence as her sisters she drew the line at pointless torture. Besides having a spell to cause pain seemed rather lazy to her, Uncle Spike would have been horrified at the wizard's lack of creativity.

Lenora's face turned slightly green as her eyes tried to avoid looking at the ghastly pictures as they went through the motions of whatever horrible fate they portrayed. She was at glad that at least the curtains were open and some natural light was trickling in. It made the whole scene slightly better.

Rose sighed as she noticed her companions reactions to the pictures. The pictures might have been horrible but she had seen worse. She had a hard time understanding Lenora's naïve outlook regarding human nature. She knew that Lenora had also heard all of the stories she had that Uncle Xander told about people summoning demons and had listened to Anya along with the rest of them over the years. Still it wasn't Lenora's reaction that worried her the most. The reaction that scared her the most was Gabrielle's, she wasn't sure if the look of disgust on her face was because she found the people's pain saddening or because she felt contempt for the sloppiness of the magic that caused the attacks in the first place. She figured it was a little of both and forced herself to focus on the old wizard watching the students. She waved to Dumbledore. "Good to see you again professor."

Dumbledore smiled, "You've all certainly grown up since the last time I saw you." He turned and looked at Trista, "I trust you have found Hogwarts to your liking Miss Baker?"

Trista nodded shyly, "Yes sir."

Gabrielle frowned, "Sir about professor Snape?"

Dumbledore smiled, "Ah yes, if you will find your seat I'll explain once the rest of the students get here."

Gabrielle sighed and nodded before quietly rummaging through her book bag for a notebook and pen to keep notes with.

Dumbledore smiled as he waved his wand at the attendance scroll to check off the last of the names as the last student filed in. With a tap of his wand the attendance scroll on the desk rolled itself up. He waited a few seconds for the students to calm down before he spoke. "I'm sure you are all wondering about Professor Snape, I'll only say that he was injured while on Hogwarts' business. No I'm not going to tell you what it was but you should have your professor back in a day or two. As for the less than charming pictures on the walls that's professor Snape's way of explaining how dangerous the dark arts can be. I'll leave the details for him to explain."

One of the first year Ravenclaw boys with mousy blond hair raised his hand, "Are we going to learn curses in this class?"

"Not any of the ones that are detailed in the pictures. Defense is less about cursing people and more about making sure you aren't cursed as well as identifying dangerous creatures and dark spells."

The same boy raised his hand as he glanced at Trista, "Like a werewolf?"

"I would prefer in the future if you waited until I called on you Mr. Trimble. However to answer your question, I'll as a question. How often is a werewolf dangerous?"

Lillian raised her hand slightly ahead of her sister Lenora's.

Dumbledore gestured to Lillian, "Miss Granger, if you would."

Lillian smiled, "Other than contact with their blood, a werewolf is only truly dangerous three days a month. The day before, the day during and the day after a full moon when they change into a wolf like creature. Other than those times a werewolf looks and acts mostly just like any other person."

Dumbledore smiled, "Excellent, five points to Ravenclaw. Can anyone name me some other creatures to be worried about?"

Gabrielle raised her hand and waited until he called on her, "Vampires."

He nodded, "Depending on the situation yes, anyone else?"

One of the Gryffindor muggle born boys raised his hand.

Dumbledore smiled, "Mister Raven is it?"

He nodded, "Frankenstein, or zombies."

Dumbledore frowned slightly but his eyes still sparkled, "I can see three problems with those answers, shall I list them?" He waited to see if anyone was going to volunteer an answer. "One Frankenstein is a muggle fabrication and doesn't exist, second it was I believe not the name of the monster but in fact the name of the doctor's that created the monster, and three he isn't in the book of dangerous creatures that was assigned for the class. Of zombies I will only mention that while we don't have ones that spread their plague by biting a person there have on occasion been other types. Can anyone give the correct name for them?"

Lenora and Lillian both raised her hands.

Dumbledore smiled, "The other Miss Granger this time please."

Lenora nodded, "Inferius or Inferi for more than one. As they are nothing more than animated corpses they are immune to most spells involving pain. They have a dislike of fire and sunlight though sunlight doesn't destroy them. Fire on the other hand…"

Dumbledore nodded, "Vastly dangerous creatures in groups."

Mr. Trimble scowled as he raised his hand.

Dumbledore gestured with his good hand, "Yes Mr. Trimble."

"How are we supposed to fight them off we are just starting our first year?"

Dumbledore nodded, "An excellent question, I don't expect you to be able to beat such a creature. However, what if you don't have to beat them? What if you only have to use enough magic to get away? Can anyone here think of a way to do that?" He gestured to Gabrielle who had her hand up.

"My mother always said that if you can't attack a… monster head on you should use your environment. If you are near something flammable light it on fire with a simple fire spell. You could also try a nice sunlight spell or toss a few bluebell flames at them. It might not be enough to stop them completely but it might be enough to get to safety."

Mr. Trimble snickered.

Dumbledore paused to glance at Mr. Trimble, "Something amusing?"

He shook his head, "Sir, I've never heard of a sunlight spell."

Gabrielle frowned, "If I might?" Dumbledore nodded. She half closed her eyes then pulled out her wand and pointed it at the wall. With a strong flick and a whispered spell a bright light dashed out of the end of her wand. "It even works for keeping plants healthy."

The rest of the students were shocked by the display being that some of them were struggling with even the basic charms and spells.

Dumbledore smiled, "Just because you don't believe it can be done doesn't mean it can't. For your homework," He waited until the groans died down, "I want a list of twenty creatures from your text book and a spell from your standard book of spells that could be used to fight off the creature if only for a minute. You will be graded on how well thought out your spell choice is. Simply listing a spell they suggest or a weaker version will net you few points. I suggest you spend the rest of the time this class period working on the project."

Trista sat down on her bed, it had been a long day. She was a bit confused though relieved that when it came to wizarding history her new friends weren't that much ahead of her unlike the rest of her classes. She had been slightly nervous when Professor Binns walked through the chalkboard into the class room but sadly that was the most exciding event that class period. She was going to have to try extra hard to force herself to stay awake. She chuckled slightly when she remembered Rose's disgusted reply when she had asked if everyone was as good as Gabrielle at transfiguration.

"Oh goddess no, it's probably her best subject and she is sickeningly good at it. She is also fairly good at Defense Against the Dark Arts as well. Oh and if she wants to duel run the other way, fast. She takes way too much delight in it. If it makes you feel better history is her worst subject."

Trista nodded mutely. She wasn't sure what she would have done if she hadn't made such good if strange, friends so fast. What with that awful Malfoy ratting her out for being a werewolf the other students gave her a wide berth. Even the other girls in her room didn't really talk to her more than they had too.

Rose sat on her bed glancing around her dorm room. She was feeling a bit out of sorts with just how far past the other first years she was. She glanced around the room at the various girls excitedly practicing spells and tried to remember back to when she was just starting to learn her magic. She sighed as the memories wouldn't completely come. She could remember brief flickers and important details but on the whole she found that she couldn't remember everything. She wasn't sure if she should thank her parents for giving her a leg up or yell at them for robbing her of the experience of being normal. She gave up on the normal thought and cast her thoughts over to Gabrielle, "Hey sis can you hear me?"

Gabrielle smiled as she caught the edge of her sisters telepathy, "I could hear you from a lot further than the twelve or so feet separating us, what's up?"

"Were you bored today?"

"Slightly, plus I had to stop myself from saying that the best way to kill a zombie was to cut it into pieces or blow it up. It's frustrating that we have to hide what we are or what we know. Just once I want to show the world what magic can really do."

"You will always have to hide who and what you are. You blaze with power to anyone that has eyes. I am just amazed at how few people here notice." Rose knew how much Gabrielle hated hiding what she was.

"You aren't exactly normal either love."

"I have a mystical key to the universe for a mother, would you really expect me to be normal?"

"I guess neither of us get to be normal."

"As I always tell you, normal is overrated."

Gabrielle tried to change the subject, "Did you see any cute boys or girls you liked today?"

"Not really most of the boys are even sillier than William, if that's possible. As for the girls I think you might have snagged the only cutie besides I doubt that any of them have a tongue that is as long as yours." Rose tossed Gabrielle a mental image of herself wearing only whip cream panties.

"As much fun as that mental image is, we need to decide how we are going to pass the time in this place."

"Spoil sport, we could always join dad's dueling club."

"That might take up what a couple of hours a week? No I think we need some type of serious project."

Rose wished that her other siblings were more comfortable with telepathy, while they had practiced enough that they could receive well enough and even if the need was great enough flag her or Gabrielle's attention if they were close enough they lacked the ability to talk to anyone else without her or Gabrielle linked with them. "I suggest asking the siblings for their ideas but maybe some magical armor?"

Gabrielle grinned as she reached out for Lillian, "Hey Lil how's Ravenclaw treating you?"

Lillian's voice echoed back over the mental connection, "They have lots of riddles and mental games here. I'm not sure they are half as clever as they think they are but it's nice to spend some time with Luna again. Though, I think I've lost potential friends by hanging out with her. I'm just glad I let Rose do a few protection charms on my trunk. So as much as I just 'love' talking to you this way… get to the point please."

Gabrielle chuckled, "Rosey and I were thinking about projects. How would you feel about helping Lenora look up some armor ideas in the library?"

"I could do that. I have some free time before dinner."

"Thanks love, I'll send Lenora down to help you in a few."

Lillian smiled as she made her way down to the library. She missed her twin but at least this project of Gabrielle's would give them a chance to spend time together outside of class.

Rose chuckled quietly before reaching out to Leo's mind.

Leo almost jumped off his bed when a girl's voice whispered in his mind "Hey sexy." He swore mentally, "Don't ever do that sis, it's bad enough when you ghost my eyes while in the locker room at the swimming pool. I know for a fact that you don't find me attractive that way, for which I'm eternally grateful." He could hear her chuckle in his mind. "And keep your damn thoughts to yourself about William." He twitched, it was terribly inconvenient to have a telepath for a sister when she was a pervert. While Gabrielle was a worse pervert, at least with her he knew that she only liked girls. With Rose her mind was always a scary crapshoot.

"Fine, I'll keep my yummy thoughts about him to myself. Anyways do you think you can help out with a little project of mine?"

"Do I even want to know what it is?"

"Oh come on, you'll like it."

"Why does it worry me when you say things like that?"

"Because you know me? Seriously though I want your input on a magical defense system for the house that Dad's having build to replace the wreck at Godric's Hollow."

"I'm all ears."

"I knew I could count on your love of making things explode. I figure you could use some work animating stone statues anyways."

"It's never anything easy with you. I'll grab William after he finishes playing his chess match with Ron." Leo wanted to bleach out his mind when Rose sent him a mental image of William being grabbed by her.

Rose snickered as she dropped the mental link before Leo could scream at her.

Gabrielle had just finished mentally explaining her plans to Lenora when she felt the magic in the area shift as Dobby popped into being on her bed. "How can I help you Dobby?"

"Dobby is supposed to give Miss Gaby a letter from Harry Potter." He handed over the letter.

She smiled, "Thank you Dobby, is that everything?"

He nodded, "Yes my lady," He vanished with a snap of his fingers.

Gabrielle wished she could get away with teleporting here. She frowned as she read the letter. By the end of the short letter her face had lost most of it's color and all thoughts of calling Dobby back for some whip cream were gone. Her great uncle Vernon was dead. According to her dad, he had been found impaled on a stake and left to rot in the front yard. The letter slipped from her suddenly numb fingers.