Free Fallin

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter; if I did you would know it. Story title is a song by H.I.M. Chapter title is song by Tom Petty.

It was a long and silent walk down to Slytherin's dungeon common room. By the time the group of first years reached it Mina was grateful that the cold did not bother her as much as humans. As there were only three first years they filed into the underwater room in a line. Once the wall closed behind them Lucius walked into the middle of the grand common room. Mina followed Severus and Urquart to the center of the room as well. The three stood shoulder to shoulder with Mina in the middle. The other students all fell silent as the head boy began a measured pace.

"Slytherin house is built on superiority and traditions. We do not carouse with the common rabble. We study hard and strive to be the best. We have no time for Gryffindor pranks or Hufflepuff meekness. We are the cunning and social elite. Ravenclaw may have the studious traits but we have social acumen. We are the leaders because we are better. We are smarter, sneakier, and more talented. We are the crème de la crème. Everything you do is a reflection of us and we take care of our own." He paused here and glared at each of the first years. Mina fought the smirk she knew was dancing around her mouth. "You are the future of our house, as such you will each be assessed over the next month. This will, naturally, end with a mentor for each of you. Your mentor will show you how to go on once they are gone. So show us why you are worthy." Here Lucius offered a smirk. "As it stands none of you are pure blood which is a pity as well as a point against you. This means you must work harder to prove yourself. Am I understood?"

Mina nodded but didn't dare look to see if her fellow first years were following suit. Lucius smirked, his eyes sweeping over them. "We each have separate rooms down in the dungeons, you are responsible for protection of what belongs to you. Girls rooms are through the door to the right of the fireplace boys are to the left. There are no charms to prevent us from mingling because Salazar knew we were better then the common rabble. I expect each of you to remember that. There is a guidebook in each of your rooms, read it. We are the best for a reason and being eleven or twelve does not excuse it. The rest of the night is yours but be awake and ready an hour before breakfast. Dismissed." With that he turned and headed towards what was obviously his chair by the fire. Mina glanced at both Severus and Stebbins before walking sedately to the door leading to the girls' rooms.

She stepped through the door and closed it silently behind her before walking down the dim hallway looking at the nameplates on each door. She was grateful for her superior night vision as the farther from the common room the darker the hallway got. She discovered rather quickly that her room was the furthest. She entered her room and paused. Floating near her wardrobe was a ghost. She studied his attire and realized that this was her house mascot, the Bloody Baron. "Can I help you?" He drifted around slowly to face her. "You are the Dampier, I will make sure Lucius is aware." Mina closed the door behind her. "I would rather you didn't."

The baron studied her. "The covens are still warring then?" Mina nodded and proceeded to her desk. "I was instructed not to let my nature be known. I would rather him think me half-blood." The baron drifted closer to her. "Tis foolish not to embrace what your due. In this house, they would revere you as you deserve." Mina smirked. "They would also whisper to their parents about the born vampire in their house." The Baron studied her again. "Very well, but you will be recognized long before you leave this school." Mina shrugged and opened her rulebook. "I should hope not." The ghost never responded and when she lifted her eyes from her book sometime later, she realized she was alone.

The next morning Mina rose early and made her way to the common room and sat lounged gracefully in a far corner with one of her school texts propped in her lap. She was four chapters deep when others slowly trickled into the room. An hour and a half later Lucius entered swiftly, his boot heels ringing. His pale gaze flicked around the room and landed on Mina, who sat heedless of her surroundings. He narrowed his eyes and his upper lip was just beginning to curl when Severus tapped Mina's wrist. She jumped slightly at the unexpected contact but closed her book and lifted violet eyes to him. "We are about to head out, Mina." She nodded and closed her book with a snap slipping it among its brothers and sisters in her bag and getting gracefully to her feet.

Lucius scowled but his features smoothed themselves when Narcissa Black entered the room. She paused, an empress surveying her domain and crossed over to the two first years. Mina had just shouldered her bag when the blonde paused before her. "Mina Chakano?" Mina lifted violet eyes to the older girl. "Yes?" Narcissa looked down her nose at the younger girl. "Did you finish your rule book?" Mina nodded and slipped closer. "Yes." Narcissa nodded and turned abruptly. "Follow me." The blonde moved away quickly and Mina slipped gracefully after her.

The walk was silent. They reached the great hall unmolested and sat near the center of the table across from one another. Mina slowly began putting together a modest breakfast as Narcissa gracefully did the same. When the rest of the Slytherin's entered and assumed seats near them the older girl began to speak. "Lucius forgets how difficult it is to be young." Mina lifted her eyes and studied the older girls. "I thought his speech was very informative." Narcissa's lips tilted in the mockery of a smile. "I imagine it's been a bit of a shock for you." Mina shook her head. "Not really, there are rules where I come from as well."

Narcissa set her eating utensils down and studied Mina. "Women in the house of Slytherin are the power behind the men. We lay the groundwork, plant seeds of ideas, and provide structured venues. As you are not a pureblood I have been designated as your guidance until you find your footing." Mina continued to eat slowly and considered what the older girl told her. "I am a half-blood but I am not without the education required to survive the house." Narcissa narrowed her eyes. "Refusing my help will not merit you a mentor. Without protections things can be difficult for you. Meeting the right people will be that much harder." Mina narrowed her eyes and they flashed silver, her irritation growing.

Slowly, she stood from the table and then met Narcissa's eyes, her own bright silver. "I will take your words under advisement. Thank you for taking the time to speak to me." She turned and headed to the end of the table where Severus sat alone. Conversation halted as she passed, and black met the silver amethysts above him. "May I help you?" Mina glanced back at Narcissa and bit her bottom lip before turning back to him. "May I sit with you?" Severus held her gaze for several minutes before slowly nodding. Mina released the breath she was holding and sat with him. She felt the older girl's eyes bore into her and carefully put together a second plate. Conversations resumed and the duo remained eating quietly.

Their plates were clear and they were waiting for their schedules when Mina's gaze was caught by Remus waving at her; she smiled brightly excused herself from the table and crossed the great hall towards her friend. The two met halfway between the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables. As was the habit before, Mina hugged him and he smiled his arms slipping around her, "You look like you had a rough morning." His voice wafted by her ear and she laughed a bit before releasing her friend. "I am thinking I should have gone to a different house, Slytherin is very… formal." He chuckled and she beamed. "Did you talk to Lily?" he nodded and glanced over her shoulder. "We can meet in the library after classes today. You should get back to your table, your head of house is almost to your seat." Mina nodded and hugged him again before retuning to sit by Severus.

When she sat Severus tapped her wrist for her attention. Mina smiled and looked up at him. "I see you left behind your inductor." Mina smiled and leaned on her elbows. "I notice there is a lack of one for you as well." Severus smirked. "I informed him that I am not looking to make connections based on outside merit." Mina's smile grew. "I told her I am a power in my own right." He nodded and the two fell silent as they were handed their schedules.

It was quickly apparent that Slytherin House first years shared their classes with the other houses, as there were so few new students. Mina grinned at the prospect as it meant more time spent with Remus. As such the young vampire and her lupine friend often pared together, their old friendship superseding house politics. It was an ideal shared with Lily and Severus. When not in classes the four intellectuals were often found in the library doing their homework together and building on their new and old friendships.

This was not, however a pleasing circumstance for the Slytherins. Lucius was, at best, displeased. Frequently he would send Narcissa after Mina and he would corner her pale counterpart to lecture them. When the icy Head boy realized that lectures were not working he changed his tactics. It was three months into the year when he found Mina alone in the library. She was standing on a small stepping stool and trying to reach a book near the top shelf. She was precariously balanced on her tiptoes when his pale hand reached up and passed her unerringly landing on the book she wanted.

Startled out of her intense concentration, Mina nearly slipped off the stool and would have fallen had she not suddenly found herself pulled tight against a broad and firm chest. Mina hissed and with the strength of her unholy blood she launched the body away from her and darted to the end of the isle before turning to glare her normally violet eyes now eerily silver. With an unconscious grace she turned fully to him and glared at where he lay stunned on the floor. Her beast surged and slowly she glided back towards him.

Lucius was slowly sitting up having just recovered from realizing he was on the floor. He looked up with narrowed eyes and froze as Mina slowly straddled him her eyes intent on his throat. He studied the girl in his lap as her hand rose to his throat. The blonde opened his mouth to speak when Mina's tiny hand reached her goal. Her pale otherworldly eyes lift to his icy blue ones and she spoke her voice sounding much older then before. "You are never to touch me again Lucius. I do not belong to you." He shivered and she smiled. "Do you understand?" The blonde studied her and slowly raised his hand to her wrist. Mina's hand flexed and his hand stopped its movement. "Nod Lucius, words aren't required." The blonde nodded and she smirked. "Don't forget." Gracefully, she rose from his lap and glided back the way she had come, a predator. When she reached the end of the isle he spoke. "What are you?" Mina glanced over her shoulder. "Nothing that concerns you." She turned the corner and was gone.

When she was out of his sight Mina fled to her table with inhuman speed. She panicked as she gathered her things shoving them haphazardly into her bag. She was almost to the exit when her wrist was snatched. Mina twisted and found herself nose to chest with Sirius Black. "What did he do Mina?" Mina lifted pale violet eyes to him. "Now is not a good time, Sirius." She twisted her wrist and his grip tightened. "Tell me what he did." Mina shook her head and jerked her wrist from his grasp. "What do you want?" Sirius huffed and backed her out of the library and across from it's doors. "Remus can't make your meeting, He's gone home to see his mother. She's sick." Mina nodded and slipped by him. "I know."

She darted away from him and froze at the corner of the hall when he called out. "I saw you Mina. I saw you with Lucius." Mina stiffened and turned her eyes steadily growing paler. "I don't know what you are talking about." She didn't give him a chance to respond as she whipped around the corner and ran, the thumping of her feet echoing behind her. She did not stop until she reached an abandoned classroom in the dungeons. With little thought she was in the room and fumbling inside her bag. She felt the blood lust rise and dropped to her knees and dumped her bag with little heed to her surroundings or her things.

Tossing a book aside violently she found her pills and nearly broke the bottle trying to get it open. She dumped four in her hand and tossed them into her mouth barely allowing them to rest on her tongue before swallowing. It was several minutes with her nails biting into her palm before calm returned. With the calm came awareness and she froze as she inhaled. Slowly she lifted her slowly darkening eyes and met those of black. Silence held for several long minutes.

Mina held Severus' gaze her mind a busy nest of thoughts. She had broken the one rule, now someone had witnessed her near loss of control and she knew that putting him off would be difficult. Slowly she swallowed again before speaking, her voice loud in the silent room. "What are you doing here Sev?" She watched as the dark boy got slowly to his feet and walked towards her. " I was reading, are you sick, Mina? Madam Pomfrey has many methods of healing; you shouldn't have to take pills. This is a magic school after all." Mina shook her head and climbed unsteadily to her feet. "Madam Pomfrey can't help me." She dropped her gaze from his and began gathering her school things again.

Severus rose from his seat and crossed the room to help her. "I am sure there is at least a potion out there to help-" Mina's eyes snapped up to his. "Leave it alone Snape, trust that I know what is wrong and that there is nothing the school nurse can do." Severus held her gaze and slowly nodded. The two dropped their eye contact and she returned to gathering her stuff. With the task complete he helped her climb to her feet and Mina turned to leave the room. "Thanks for the help Snape, try not to mention this to anyone." She left without waiting for a response.

After the incident in the library, Sirius took to following Mina in the hopes of talking with her. Mina was quick to discern his intentions and in response she stuck close to her housemates. The duo formed a pattern of seeking and avoidance with Severus as the most common block to conversation. As a result Mina and Severus soon had a close but mostly study-based friendship. The pattern changed when Sirius, fed up with Mina's avoidance, recruited James Potter and Remus to separate the duo. The trio was quick to attack Severus and as a result he wound up in the hospital wing.

Mina found this out rather late as she only made it to the great hall with five minutes to spare for class. As such she was forced to partner with others during class. The result was she clung to Lupin and by the time lunch came around she had the truth. They were just finishing transfiguration when the lupine let slip the reason why Severus was missing and Mina's control slipped. With out thought she jerked away from Remus and turned back towards the classroom where Sirius was just leaving the class.

She crossed toward him with an animal grace and stopped directly in front of her future downfall. Her silver eyes glowed brilliantly and Sirius fought not to shiver. Mina smiled as if she could read his thoughts. "A word, Black." Sirius nodded and Mina's tiny hand slid around his wrist and with a firm grip she turned leading him in the opposite direction away from the crowds. It was several long minutes before she reached an abandoned classroom that was also dark enough for her tastes. The animal in her had full control and as she slipped into the room she swung him around her, nearly throwing him in the room.

Surprised by this show of strength Sirius stumbled into the room, falling to his knees. The click of the door being locked caused him to look up at Mina. The vampire had discarded her bag as well as her robes on a near by table. Sirius climbed to his feet leaving his bag where it had fallen. "Mina-" "You are playing a game you don't understand, Sirius Black. You are to leave Severus as well as myself alone." Sirius chuckled and slipped his hands into his pockets. "I'd like to see you stop me." Mina growled and was behind him kicking his knee out from under him and seizing his hair and pulling his head to the side.

"I am dangerous Black." Her darkness leant an uneven bell like quality to her voice as she leaned over him, her loose hair cutting them off from the view of the room. Slowly, she leaned over his neck her voice wafting over him and causing an unknown desire to surge within him. Heat rose up through his body and with little thought he leaned back against her, yearning rising beneath his skin. His voice when he spoke was raspy with the beginnings of desire. "You would not hurt me, Mina." Mina purred with pleasure at his submission and lowered her mouth to his neck. Her lips had only lightly ghosted his skin causing a shiver when her attention was drawn from her prey.

"Miss Chakano." Mina lifted full on silver eyes to the door, wondering when it had opened. Her hand gentled in Sirius' hair and she hissed. "Get out." Lucius Malfoy studied the pair of first years before him and knew that his theory on the only first year female in his house was closer to truth then he had expected. He smirked and slid further into the room. "Now, that's not the way to speak to your elders, now is it?" Mina growled and released Sirius who seemed to realize they weren't alone and slowly got to his feet, looking as if he were trying to shake a drug haze. "Lucy this was a private conversation." Lucius scowled and lifted his gaze to his cousin.

"It didn't look like a conversation at all, what with her having you on your knees." Sirius opened his mouth but Mina slipped in front of him. "You saw nothing Lucius." The icy eyes returned to her. "Didn't I?" Mina took a deep breath fighting for the control she had already lost. "You didn't, Sirius' neck was cursed at an angle and I was endeavoring to counter act it." Lucius smirked easily reading through the lie. "Indeed." Mina nodded and turned back to Sirius. His silver eyes studied her own slowly returning amethysts as she spoke. "I am glad I was able to help you Sirius, but we should probably get to lunch." Sirius nodded and lifted his hand to her cheek, gently cupping it. "Thank you, I won't forget."

Mina took a deep breath and nodded. Sirius bent to retrieve his bag and then walked slowly from the room. Mina turned back to Lucius and he smiled and closed the door moving further into the room. "I think that its time for plain speaking between us my dear." Mina scowled and crossed the room to her bag opening it and with drawing her pill bottle. "You and I have nothing to talk about." Lucius chuckled. "That fact that you are part vampire makes me inclined to disagree." Mina paused and then swallowed two pills with a studied calm.

"You are delusional Lucius." She hefted her bag and turned to face the pale man before her. "I am not half vampire, that is a preposterous assumption." He moved closer. "Unusual strength and speed, secret medicine and the ability to draw fear or fascination with a just your gaze. Not to mention your fixation with necks. You lied to me Mina, you are not what you pretend to be." He reached for her and she jerked back from him. "You are mistaken Lucius Malfoy." She turned from him and scooping up both her bag and robes she fled the room.

A/N: Reviews warm my heart and hasten this version of shadowed dreams.

-DJR