Belay entered the first year boys' dorm and sat on his bed, removing the letter from his father that he had kept hidden in his sleeve. Once he was sure that the curtains were tightly drawn around him, he ripped the seal and removed the faded parchment from its envelope.

There wasn't much written in his father's elegant script and he felt a bit put out that he hadn't spent more time on the letter but he was grateful for the contact nonetheless. He set his eyes to the task of reading the crimson ink.

My dear son,

I am greatly pleased with your sorting and expect you to excel in your classes. I am not surprised that Zabini has knowledge of your identity; his father has a loose tongue and I will have to punish him for his slip.

The Malfoys are good allies for you to have. They are loyal to their comrades and intelligent enough to act on their own for the cause. If your friend turns out anything like his parents, than it will be a most rewarding friendship indeed. I suggest that you do not draw forth his anger as the Black family—from whom his mother is born from—has a tendency to raise foul tempered sons.

Try not to attract anymore attention from the Dumbledore or his allies; You are too important to be sacrificed so easily. Avoid Potter's advances and refrain from getting too close to his presence. If is aware of his heritage than he will be a most unpleasant threat to us and it is best that he remains as unaware of you as possible.

When the time comes for you to shine, I will send Severus Snape to you bearing instructions. Until then, continue to report at the end of every month.

Your Father

A frown tugged on Belay's mouth but he fought against it. 'Father has many things to do,' he reminded himself. 'He can't be forced to worry about you all the time!' He slid the letter into the drawer of his night table and locked it with a charm he'd learned years ago. Sighing, he leaned back on his pillow and pet Peru softly on the head.

Belay listened as someone stalked into the room and opened their trunk, slamming it closed, and running out with a bang as they exited and the door smashed against its frame. Outside he could just here the pattering of water on the window and the low growls of thunder.

His warm and sunny Sunday had turned into a cold and wet day with a sudden rainstorm. Draco, Blaise and he had to scramble inside as the dark clouds had loomed over the castle and Belay couldn't help but feel it had been an omen along with his fathers letter. He had already known that his father had ulterior motives for sending him to Hogwarts, but it appeared to be much more than that now.

Closing his eyes he hoped that once his mission was over he would still be allowed to continue his schooling at Hogwarts. He had made it known that he was very unhappy to be leaving his home at the end of the summer but now that he'd actually made friends, he didn't want to leave them; the idea frightened him somewhat. He thought back to what his initial impression of the Malfoys had been, and how he'd been so sure that Blaise would be just another brat who thought he had an advantage. Those memories were frowned upon now, and he looked at his friends company with great fondness.

When the time comes for you to shine, I will send Severus Snape to you bearing instructions

He hoped beyond hopes that Professor Snape would not bring about the end of his happiness. The man seemed like a specter of death himself, with his dark presence and intimidating air, but he was also protective of his house and defended them against anything that threatened them. Even when Peru had bitten Nott, another Slytherin, the man understood the issue and made a compromise.

Belay pulled his curtains aside and looked at the clock to check the time. He had best collect his friends and head down to the Great Hall for dinner. He made sure Peru was wrapped completely around his arm before leaving the dorm to head up the stairs to the common room.

He found Blaise and Draco engaged in a game of chess with Draco about to checkmate his opponent. Blaise scrunched his nose and surrendered before the blonde's turn. "You can't just give up when you're about to lose!" Draco whined.

"Yes, I can," Blaise replied. "And I just did."

Belay fought a snicker and made his way over to the two. "It's time for dinner," he told them quietly. They sent him skeptical looks and Blaise looked at his pocket watch. "No way!" he cried. "We've seriously been playing chess for two whole hours!" Draco sneered mockingly at him across the table.

"Well, you did take at least five minutes for every move you took! I'm not surprised Belay decided it was too monotonous to bother watching anymore." He turned to look at Belay and asked, "What did you do in the dorm anyway?" Belay shrugged nonchalantly.

"Caught up on some reading I'd been wanting to do." It seemed to satisfy the blonde and they all made their way out of the common room and into the corridor.

"Tomorrow's going to be great!" Draco rambled. "I haven't been on a broom since the beginning of summer!"

"I hear the school broom are absolute rubbish though," Blaise interjected. Draco nodded in dismay. Belay quickly put in his two cents that they would be able to try out for the team next year anyway and they could ride their own brooms. It cheered Draco up and by the time they entered the Great Hall, he was giddy all over again.

"Hey, Belay!" Looking to the far end of the table, he saw Daphne waving him over. He led Blaise and Draco over to her and the all squeezed onto the bench. "Quidditch tomorrow!" She sang joyously. Belay rolled his eyes that got his two tow friends started all over again.

Dinner was quick and blurry to him. He didn't say much, still somewhat disappointed by his father's letter, and when the time came to leave his was the first out of the Great Hall.

Pulling the covers up to his chin, he slept easily without any dreams to disturb him. Instead a thick veil of darkness surrounded him until he opened his eyes the next morning.

"It's time!" Draco cried breathlessly. Belay snorted and followed his friend to the Quidditch pitch. Blaise had stayed back to talk to Professor Snape leaving him to run after Draco as he seemed to fly through the corridors. "Will you calm down already!" He cried as the blonde took another tight corner.

"Seriously Draco! It's just fly-" As Belay went to go around the corner, he ungracefully crashed right into a large, hard chest. Or perhaps it would be best to say abs, as the Slytherin in front of him was much too tall for him to even dream of crashing into his chest. The boy caught him before he fell and Belay realized the instant he inhaled his scent that it was Flint. Leaping back, he eyed him nervously.

Flint leered at him but walked right by, deciding he had better things to do than harass first years. He sighed in relief and looked down the hall to realize that Draco hadn't even noticed he wasn't right behind him and had merrily disappeared already. Belay growled and took off for the pitch.

Draco had saved Blaise and him a broom each and they were just as worn and wind beaten as Blaise had heard they would be. The Italian boy had arrived not too long after Belay, pale and a little upset looking but refused to say what was wrong.

"Later," he muttered in Belay's ear.

Madame Hooch trotted onto the pitch with her own broom, a sleek and rather new looking model and when she reached them she placed it on the ground to her right. "Of course," Draco drawled quietly to his friends. "She gets a shiny new broom while the rest of us are given these death traps!"

Across from where they stood, Belay could see Neville looking nervously down at his broom, not at all pleased with the quality of what was supposed to support him at anywhere between three to fifty feet in the air. When he looked up and caught Belay's eye he sent him a pitiful smile which the Slytherin returned encouragingly. It apparently worked as the Gryffindor took a breath and paid close attention to what the teacher was starting to say.

"I'm Madame Hooch!" The woman said with a strong voice that one would not expect from such a small body. Her sharp golden-like eyes flashed over her students, searching out those who appeared most likely to cause her trouble later. "I am your flying instructor and the referee for all Hogwarts Quidditch matches! I hope that you will all take flying seriously and refrain from foolish antics."

A few shifted uncomfortably under her gaze. "No one is to be in the air without my or another teacher's presence, anyone who is found doing so will risk expulsion." Ignoring the mutters of disbelief that rose from her statement, she continued her lesson.

"Place your hand over your broom and order it 'up'!" The students echoed her command and only a few managed to get it right away.

"Up," Belay commanded coldly. The broom quivered a bit, like it was frightened of him, but leapt ito his hand nonetheless. Draco had managed to do the same but Blaise's broom remained unresponsive, even when the teacher came over to see what was wrong. She frowned at it and sighed in frustration. "We lose one every year!" She turned to Draco with a raised brow. "You tell your father about these 'death traps'" Draco flushed a bit, " and have him get the board to pay for some new brooms! These are from '76 and they aren't going to last much longer."

Draco nodded quickly and received a nudge Blaise. The blonde scowled at him, blushing even harder. Madame Hooch instructed them to share the broom and take turns, causing Weasley to snicker at them. Draco was about snarl an insult but the flying instructor started to speak again, stopping the potential brawl temporarily.

"Mount your brooms now and gently push up from the ground, just enough to hover!" Shhe demonstrated and the class followed suit. Belay could see Neville's neck reddening, nerves making his hands sweat and shake. His legs jerked too hard, sending him flying upward and into the sky. Shocked cries rang out and Madame Hooch jumped off her broom and could do nothing but call, "come down here this instant!"

And he did. Belay watched with wide eyes as the timid Gryffindor was tugged this way and that way until his perspiring palms finally slid off the handle and the broom sped forward. Before anyone realized it, he was on the ground a few yards away, trying to get up after a nasty twenty-foot fall.

Tears were streaming down his flushed face and he was biting his lip to keep from sobbing. The teacher dragged him away to the hospital wing before the rest of the class could truly comprehend what was happening. As he passed, Neville refused to look Belay in the eye.

"I better not see anyone in the air when I get back!" Madame Hooch shouted over her shoulder. "I'll make sure whoever on the broom is expelled!" Whispers broke out amongst both houses, no one wanting any one other than their own group of friends to hear what they thought about this situation.

"Great!" Draco hissed, "now we can't even fly! This was what I needed to last me until next year and Longbottom has to drop his fat arse down right on top of it!" Blaise refrained from giving his opinion but Belay frowned at his blonde friend, not all happy with what he was saying.

"Don't blame Neville! You said it yourself, these brooms are worthless, decades old too, according to Hooch." Draco sneered and might have replied if he hadn't caught a golden glint across the field where Neville had fallen. Jogging over to it, he snatched up whatever it was and turned back to the class with a malicious glint in his eye.

"Look what Longbottom dropped!" He let the golden object fall and he caught it by the chain. It was golden pendant with a dash of red—Belay was to far away to truly tell. Everyone was watching him now, Gryffindors keeping a wary eye. Zaniel took a few steps forward, undoubtedly eager to get a good punch in Draco's face—Belay couldn't help but feel the same.

"Give it back, Malfoy," He growled lowly. Brown eyes were narrowed but they held a giddy gleam. Draco laughed at him and Belay felt a stinging in his chest, he was pretty sure he knew what this feeling was. "Why should I, Potty?" Draco danced out of the way when Zaniel lunged at him. "I think I should put this some place safe for the Gryffindork, maybe I'll toss it in the lake!"

This time, Draco didn't manage to get out of the way when Zaniel came after him, he got knocked to the ground and the Pendant when flying out of his hand and onto the beaten grass near Belay's feet. Red eyes watched the two boys with distaste and shame crept into his heart.

Draco was fighting to get Zaniel off him so he could get a good shot at his face and no one thought to stop them. Many—in fact—were cheering them on. Blaise cried out his encouragement yet they all steered clear of the 'fighting ring'. Scowling, Belay picked up the pendant and coldly said, "Are you two done with your petty brawl?" Everyone seemed to stop and look at him, some were confused and others flushed with embarassment.

Zaniel through himself off Draco, as if burned and was a tad pale as he looked at Belay. The Slytherin glared down at Draco, anger filling him as well as disgust. "Get up Draco," he snapped. "It is a disgrace to Slytherin's name—and to Gryffindor's" He glowered at the offending part and they shuffled their feet though a few looked enthralled. "-to act in such a brutish manner."

Tearing his gaze from those around him, he looked to the pendant in his hand and new exactly what it was. Two lions rearing back on either side of a ruby crest. It had to be a Longbottom heirloom. Zaniel, still white faced, watched him suspiciously. "Give it to me, Belay," he mumbled, shaking hand out stretched.

He flinched when Belay's eyes shot to his and they only connected a moment before looking away. "I will give it to Neville when I see him in the Hospital Wing," he informed him. It was best not to approach the Potter—he could sense something, it was clear now. He would undoubtedly search for skin to skin contact as reassurance.

Madame Hooch returned at that moment and Draco scrambled up off the ground, blushing and refusing to remove his gaze from the grass. Belay didn't pay him any notice, anger still rippling deep inside him. If there was thing his father had ingrained into him since childhood, it was how to honor the Slytherin line and uphold its dignity.

There weren't anymore mishaps for a while, though Draco avoided him, Belay believed he was merely sulking. Blaise stuck by him silently, ashamed by his own behavior and he apologized for acting like a fool. By the time the reached the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, the fury had died down to a dull thrum in Belay's chest. He began to feel a bit angry at himself for the way he'd treated Draco but he pushed it aside as to pay attention to Quirrel.

The man was quite excitable, and the entire first half of the class was spent telling stories of his findings in Albania. Though the stories themselves were somewhat interesting, the man put so much detail and unnecessary information into it that they lost their value and most of the students had occupied the time doodling.

The first thing the learned about their Professor was that he was a chatter box and to never ask him about anything when you needed a quick answer because he would go far too in depth and leave you completely clueless.

After the class managed to escape their teacher's ramblings, the Slytherins headed up two flights of stairs to reach the Charms room. "Well," Blaise muttered through heavy pants. "At least no one has to worry about gaining weight from the meals here!" Belay gave him a small smile and continued upwards without a breaking a sweat, nearly flying up each step and having to wait for his friend at the top.

Potter beamed at them all, hands on her hips I expect that you've all practiced!" There were a few nods and grunts. "Well than, why don't you all just show me how you've improved." This was followed by many groans and she gave a laugh, skin glowing. Belay eyed her nervously and was curious as to what set off this oddly joyful attitude.

Once content and reassured that her class had done the homework—except for Finnigan whose feather wacked him in the face instead of floating—she set them about the task of changing an objects color. She pulled out her chalk board, which had been stored in the closet to the side of the room, and began her lecture. Belay dutifully took his notes but was very much aware of the still pale Zaniel glancing at him every few moments. "I think Potter's got a crush on you, Belay," Blaise whispered and Belay fought a flush and bit back a disgusted retort.

'That would be incest,' he thought, feeling a bit ill. Incest itself was perfectly understandable to Belay. In order to preserve a bloodline one must interbreed a bit but not between siblings. He decided to forget that the Italian boy every mentioned such a preposterous thing.

He kept his eyes and mind firmly focused on taking notes for the rest of the class. As Potter explained the how to cast a color changing charm, a folded up piece of paper floated passed Belay's ear and landed right in front of him. Unfolding the piece of paper he realized it was a small note.

I'm sorry

Looking back he caught Draco looking at him with his lip between his teeth. Belay smiled encouragingly, something he came to regret as Daphne, who was right next to Draco, caught it as well and her eyes clouded over.

"Riddle!" Belay snapped back around to find and glowering Professor Potter looking down at him. He met her gaze with cool blood red eyes and she almost stepped back. 'Good,' Belay thought. Beneath his mask he was fretting at her closeness, hoping against hopes she could sense him.

"Detention for not paying attention in my class!" Potter growled, and Belay felt his heart drop. "You'll be serving it here with me directly after dinner."

There went any plans he might have had for the rest of the night. Peru gave a small hiss of displeasure beneath his robes and Potter took a wary step backward before returning to teaching her class.

Chewing on the inside of cheek, Belay continued to take his notes.

"I'm sorry, Belay! I didn't think she'd do that!"

Draco, Blaise and Belay were all seated in the Great Hall and Daphne was still eyeing him appraisingly, no doubt under the affects of his Dark Angel.

"It's fine," Belay sighed for the fourth time since the end of Charms. The blonde, still upset about the flying lessons, continued to bother him endlessly with apologies. "It really doesn't matter."

But it did. His father had told him to stay away from the Potters. He could very well do that with Lily Potter standing over him as she had do merlin knows what for detention. He fed Peru a bit of chicken from his plate. The snake took it with a disappointed hiss.

(I'll get you a real dinner tomorrow.) He promised quietly and the cobra seemed satisfied. Nerves somewhat frayed from the days activities, Belay felt his wings shudder and near spread out. He mentally scolded the appendages for their fidgeting. A piercing stab on either shoulder blade was their angry reply and he couldn't help but squirm a bit.

Blaise sent him a funny look but shrugged it off. Down the table, Nott was watching him warily, having heard Peru a bit earlier and not fully trusting his housemate to keep the cobra in check. Belay finished his meal a bit early and exited the hall before dinner was over. He needed to return Neville's pendant to him. Removing the heirloom from his pocket he looked at it more carefully.

It could be a coincidence, but he had a feeling that the Longbottom's were—however distantly—related to the Gryffindors. He knew the Prewetts were, though the only Prewet still alive was Weasley's mother and she was the youngest.

The crest was just wasn't quite right. The motto below it wasn't right either so he put it down to being coincidence. He stalked down the halls just a little faster to ensure that he'd have enough time to get to his—he frowned it disgust—detention.

He had memorized the way to the Hospital Wing when he had dropped his bag off in the dorms and hoped he was going the right way. There was no helping it if he was going in the wrong direction; he sighed heavily. His wings jerked around in frustration and he gave a yelp of surprise as he was nearly shoved over by their tugging and pulling.

He covered his mouth wide-eyed and looked around in near terror—had someone heard him? The hall was deserted. Everyone was in the Great Hall or the Hospital Wing and he was directly between them—if he was going in the right direction. No one would be around for a while, not until dinner was over and the corridors would be flooded again but until then he was alone.

Maybe he could allow himself a little freedom. Ducking into an abandoned classroom, he placed a chair under the doorknob to keep anyone from entering aimlessly. Just in case. He tugged off his robes and placed the pendant on top before removing his school uniform, leaving him topless. He was surprised how cold it was and rubbed his arms unconsciously. Another tug tore through his shoulders and this time he let it go.

Immediately, enormous bone like wings shredded out of his back, tearing a bit at the hastiness of their release and he bit back a scream. They stretched wide and the black feathers flew in every direction,. But they weren't attached.

Belay's eyes widened in horror as the fell all across the floor and on top of the desks, completely covering the room. There were only a few but their size was enough to turn the classroom black and silky. "Oh…" He whispered, starting to shake a bit. "Oh no…Father never said what I should do if this happened." In truth, there was never an if, only a when. It was already time for him to molt his feathers and grow new ones, that must have been why his wings were so achy.

The charm his father had used to hide his wings could only do so much and there wasn't enough space for him to release and regrow all of his feathers. It had gotten cramped to the point of bursting. 'Maybe,' he though idly. 'Maybe Potter had just finished her molting.'

Neither his father nor Belay truly knew everything about Angels. That was impossible, all that was known was only passed from parent to child. Belay hadn't been with his mother anywhere near long enough to know what would happen and when. His father only knew of the charm to hide his wings because he had to hide his own.

'But Father doesn't have feathers,' he though in irritation. 'He's never had to molt or anything of the like. He can just spread his wings whenever he likes.'

Belay gave an experimental flap of his wings and winced at the stiffness in the joints and retracted them slowly. He could only take a few moments to relax them as he needed to get the Hospital Wing and back upstairs to the Charms room. The appendages folded reluctantly—though much more easily than before—back into his shoulders and Belay scrambled to pick up all the feathers.

By the time he was ready to leave, he had at least twenty, long, silken, black feather in one hand and the pendant in the other. He wished he had his bag with him but he settled for stuffing the feathers inside the large pockets of his robes. Hopefully no one would be able to tell. He left the classroom in a rush and dashed down the halls, thinking back to the map to make sure he was going in the right direction. He was relieved when he stood in front of two large doors. He knocked and entered.

The room was a sterile white and smelled of potion ingredients and gauze. The air seemed a little sparky and it sizzled as he entered.

"What is it know!" He nearly jumped as the frustrated yet very much authoritative voice rang. A stern looking woman dressed in a healer's uniform marched over to him. "I'm hear to see Neville Longbottom," he mumbled a bit nervously. She eyed his house crest but led him over to a bad surrounded by curtains.

"Mister Longbottom, you have a guest."

Pulling the curtain aside, Belay was mer with a watery eyed Neville whose hair was a tad mussed up. His left wrist was bandaged and set.

Large and glassy blue eyes looked at him a bit pitifully. They seemed a bit dull and ready for the sneers and jeering that he would receive. His heart pulled a bit and he held the pendant out to the Gryffindor. "You dropped this outside," he said simply, allowing a little warmth into his voice and the glassy look in the eyes lifted a bit although they seemed a bit dazed. "T-thanks," the boy stuttered and took the pendant.

"I-it was my dad's," Neville explained. "Said it would bring me luck but it looks like it was a lie." Belay furrowed his brows. Luck, huh? Luck was rather silly art. Everyone had it, it all just depended on knowing how to use it. He told the boy so.

Neville released a strained laugh and said, "doubt I'll ever figure it out!" before retreating into a small ball, half under the glaring white sheets. Belay took a seat on the bed, feeling somewhat awkward as his—would he be considered a friend? —Started to cry. "You've got to believe it to work," he mumbled and Neville peered up at him over the sheets.

"What?"

"Luck," Belay explained. " It's like an accidental magic. You have to feel strongly about something for it to happen. Muggles think of it as telekinesis sometimes."

Neville looked back down at his knees, unsure of what to say. The two sat in silence a few moments until Belay asked, "when can you go back to your dorm?"

"Madame Pomfrey said I could leave a bit after dinner was over but Professor McGonagall wanted me to talk with her and my parents."

"I've got detention with Professor Potter in a few minutes," Belay started and Neville's eyes widened in shock; Belay couldn't help but smile in amusement. "Do you want me to come pick you up?"

Neville stuttered for a moment, surprised at the friendliness that now seeped from the rather indifferent Slytherin. "O-okay," he finally managed to say. "But don't the Slytherins sleep in the dungeons?" Belay nodded.

"I don't really care to be around some of them for a bit."

Neville accepted that and when the time came, Belay waved good bye and left the Hospital Wing to go to the charms room. He got there before the teacher and sat against the wall, making sure that all the feathers were safely tucked away.

When Potter did come, she seemed like a raging storm of red hair that flew out behind her as she nearly flew down the hall. Belay stood quickly with his face cold and solid as a rock. She pierced him with her emerald eyes which, according to his father, he had when he was just a babe. She entered the classroom and he followed.

After she was seated behind her desk and he just in front of it, she folded her fingers in front of her. "Would you like to tell me what was distracting you during class, Mister Riddle?" It was clear that she was not happy with him at all. "My friend and I had a disagreement earlier," he said truthfully. "And they merely sent me a note—with a levitation charm," he added. "—Saying they were sorry. I only turned around to give the thumbs up that we were okay."

"Well," Potter said with a scowl not unlike the one from class. "I'll have you take a quick quiz I made up for you just so I am assured you paid attention in class." She reached into one of the drawer of the desk and pulled out a piece of parchment that she had no doubt stashed earlier for this detention and a quill with an inkbottle.

Looking down at the quiz, he quickly answered the problems without much difficulty, the only thing he had to be concerned about was whether or not a few had double meanings. He finished in less than ten minutes. Potter took the paper and looked over it and the malevolence that had lurked in her eyes seemed to fade away. She gave a small smile and said, "good job, Mister Riddle. It seems you have been taking notes." Belay just nodded lazily.

Potter eyed him up and down and he nearly shivered. Her Light Angel seemed to be trying to wrap around him and 'decipher his code' so to speak. His demon blood, however, made it difficult. While some were capable of resisting such a presence as an Angel's, they were rare and were hard to find.

"Do you have any creature blood, Mister Riddle?" she asked cautiously and the Light Angel withdrew, defeated.

"No ma'am," Belay replied as innocently as he could. He tilted his head to the side for extra affect. "Why do you ask?" Potter frowned slightly but it quickly turned into a smile.

"No reason, dear, just a bit curious. Thought you might have a bit of Dark Veela in you, what with the way Miss Greengrass was reacting to that smile of yours."

A small flush rose in Belay's cheeks against his will and he said nothing. "Well than, I suppose you can go."

He looked at her a bit surprised. "What?" He asked.

"You can go," she repeated and gave a bell like laugh. "You're understanding what we're doing in class so I have no reason to punish you for making amends with a classmate." She gave him a sharp look then. "Just refrain from playing around with Miss Greengrass in my classroom, okay?" Belay was about to sputter something embarrassing but Potter shoved him out of the classroom before he could respond.

"Now get to your dorm, Mister Riddle," She said. "Curfew for students is ten o'clock and it's—" she looked at a watch on her arm. "Nine o'clock already." Belay nodded dumbly and left the classroom.

'A half hour long detention,' he thought. 'That's a tad suspicious.' He returned to the Hospital Wing a bit later and was told by a harassed looking Madame Pomfrey that Neville was speaking with his parents and head of house. Belay nodded and leaned against the wall to wait. The medi-witch gave him a scathing look but retreated to her office.

There must have been a silencing charm around the bed Neville was occupying because he couldn't hear anything being said but the ruffles of the curtain implied someone was pacing. He felt a wave of sorrow for his friend.

It wasn't until another ten minutes had passed that the people around Neville's bed came out from behind the curtains. Mcgonagall seemed surprised to see him. "Mister Riddle," she said in a stern voice. "What are you doing here so late?" He gave a blank face.

"I said I would walk with Neville to the Gryffindor tower." She rose a brow.

"Why," she began. "Would you take him in the opposite direction of your own common room?" The man and the woman who had followed her out of the curtain looked at him and caught the house crest on his robes. The identical frowns on their faces deepened though their eyes watched his own nervously.

"Well," he said. "I had to bring Neville something earlier and since I had detention with Professor Potter, I offered to take him." McGonagall looked skeptical, as did—Belay assumed—Neville's parents but he ignored them and stood up.

At that moment, Neville pulled the curtain aside, dressed in his robes that still had a bit of dirt on them from when he fell off his broom and walked over to Belay. He glanced nervously between the two groups and said in a somewhat high voice." Ready to go, Belay?" He nodded and they left the very confused adults behind in the Hospital Wing.

"What was that about?" Neville asked him timidly. Belay turned to him and saw that the pendant was hanging around Neville's neck. He gave a small smile and said, "nothing." The two walked in silence up the staircases. The portraits all looked down at them from their spots on the walls, whispering and gossiping. Belay bet that at least ten of them were Dumbledore's spies.

"So," Belay started as the silence beginning to feel a bit over whelming. "What's your favorite class so far?"

"Oh!" Neville said, sounding excited. "I love Herbology." Belay grinned.

"I had a feeling that would be what you would say." At the questioning look he explained, "you looked pretty into it during class." Neville flushed and nodded.

"It doesn't require magic too often so I can work pretty easily. But potions," he shivered. "Professor Snape scares me too much for me to focus." Belay laughed a little in agreement.

"He is a bit scary at times. But Potions is a dangerous subject; one mistake and it could blow up the whole classroom."

"I just wish- hey!" The staircase was rumbling as it changed their destination. "We need to go the other way! I haven't a clue where it will go." Belay ushered Neville up the staircase and onto the next one.

"We might as well see where it leads," He said and Neville nodded reluctantly. The continued upward though the stair also pushed them down. Eventually they were lost. They had finally reached a solid platform which opened into a dark corridor. The dust on the floors indicated that it hadn't been used much lately.

"I think it's the third floor," Belay whispered. The house elves wouldn't have allowed any part of the castle to get this dirty unless they were ordered not to go there. The suits of armor were covered with grim and the air was freezing. Stepping forward to peer down the hall, the torch above Belay's head lit on fire, lighting a bit of the area.

"I-I don't think we should go down there," Neville stuttered and Belay silently agreed; who knew what had made a nest down there in the dark. Moving back to the platform, the staircase seemed not to have any intention of coming back to collect them any time soon, so they sat down to wait.

"What were your parents in the Hospital Wing for?" Belay asked after several tense moments.

"Madame Pomfrey said that I had fractured my wrist," he lifted his arm, still wrapped up in the white bandages. "Professor McGonagall thought that my parents should know and she thinks I did it for attention." Neville's eyes began to water again as he looked at his shoes. "But it really was an accident. My parents were trying to explain to her how klutzy I get but she didn't really get it."

"That's too bad," Belay said in sympathy. Neville always seemed to get the short end of the stick.

"Yeah, well," Neville choked. "I'm not surprised. Even my family hardly believes it, how can they convince someone else." He crossed his arms.

"My parents are aurors," he explained. "Not just any aurors, but good aurors. They've both gotten Order of Merlins and everyone expected me to be just as good. But instead, I'm some socially inept klutz without any friends."

"Well, we're friends, aren't we Neville?" Belay asked. He hoped they were.

The pink faced boy looked up at him in surprise, as I f he'd forgotten just who he was talking to. "Y-yeah," he stuttered. "I-I guess we are." A timid smile finally broke out across his face and Belay returned it.

"What's that, Mrs. Norris?" Both boys shot their head around. They heard a single set of footsteps walking fast up a flight of stairs. Below them, Filch was running up the stair after a mangy looking cat. "Oh know!" Neville gasped. "It must be after curfew! And you've just gotten out of your last one."

Belay hushed him and gestured for Neville to get up. The slunk into the corridor behind them and made a mad dash around the corner. Belay felt his heart pumping hard as adrenaline rushed through his veins. Finally! Some excitement! Looking back, his friend was a few paces behind him looking terrified. 'Too bad Neville had to get mixed up in it,' he though with a bit of pity for the Gryffindor.

"Students out of bed, I bet." The voice seemed far away but Belay had no doubt that the caretaker would reach them soon enough. The light turned on and off as they passed them, like a spotlight following them as they made their run for it. After another corner they came face to face with a door. Neville tried to open it but it was locked and he began to panic.

"Oh no," he cried frantically. "Oh no, my parents will be so mad at me. I know they will and we might get expelled for being here-"

"Calm down, Neville," Belay whispered frantically and whipped out his wand. Wracking his mind for the right spell—he knew came across an unlocking charm somewhere in one of his books—he finally pointed it at the door and hissed, "Alohamora!" and shoved the door open.

The ran inside and thrust the door shut before Filch rounded the corner. Eyes closed and panting, they leaned against the door and shook nervously. "What?" They heard, "Mrs. Norris! There ain't anybody here! You got my 'opes up!" The voice was fading as well as the footsteps and Belay sighed.

A snuffing sound made his freeze and beside him, Neville tensed. Opening his eyes, Belay couldn't move them from the gigantic three headed dog that stood right in front of him. Its enormous head began to growl as it towered over them and Neville let out a scream. It lunged and Belay grabbed Neville and thrust the door open. They tumbled out and scooted backward as the one of the canine's muzzles snapped through the door, trying but unable to get a bite of them.

Belay leapt toward the door and seized it before slamming it closed. The snapping and snarling continued, though muffled and the door shook as it was attacked. Neville looked up at Belay with a ghostly white face and was shaking something terrible. "N-Nev," Belay managed to say through his chattering teeth. "L-let's get you to Gryffindor tower."

Neville nodded and jumped to his feet, swaying a bit. Belay grabbed hold of his arm and they tore through the hall and back to the platform. The staircase seemed to be waiting there smugly, as if to say, 'Aha! And you thought I wasn't going to stick around!' and they skipped steps on there way down. It led them straight to Gryffindor tower and by the time they reached the portrait for Gryffindor, Neville had managed to calm down some.

"N-night," he said and Belay, not trusting himself to speak, nodded.

When Belay climbed into bed that night, after a firm scolding by his own house's portrait, he wrapped the blankets tightly around his own shivering form. Miraculously, Peru had slept through the entire encounter.

Laying still and listening to the light—and heavy—snoring through his dorm, he wondered what a cerebrus could possibly be doing in a school. Eyes growing heavy, he decided he would need to send another letter to his Father sooner than expected.

A/N

Another long chapter! Yay! Lol

Today was a snowday, and it actually snowed. This year, we've had about three unnecessary snowdays. Kinda ridiculous. Well, progress with the site is a bit awkward, because the damn spry widget tool is being an ass. (you haven't got a clue what I'm saying).

I'm around 200 out of 330 pages through Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. It's slow going because the text is small and the pages are big…making it a thinner book than it really is…yeah…so you 'Elven One' and 'Mountain Peek's the Limit' fans are gonna have to keep on waiting…sorry.