Chapter 18:: The New Headmaster

Eva was walked to her room by the Headmaster. He tried to convince her to get some rest but instead she sat down in the empty common room in front of the fire that was smoldering down to the coals.

Though she was exhausted and curled up on the couch, sleep never came. Instead, she just watched as the fire slowly dwindled down to nothing until the room was pitch black. For awhile she didn't know if she was awake or asleep yet her thoughts were always with her.

She wondered what Swan and Sparrow would think, or Michael, or Gran, or Lucy, or even the whole school would think. Eva was scared for what tomorrow would bring. But eventually, she forgot to think any more about what had happened or what was to come.

The next thing Eva remembered was a hand shaking her awake. She opened her eyes groggily and looked up to see Tonya.

"Eva, what are you doing sleeping on the couch," she asked. Apparently, she hadn't noticed that she was missing for two days.

"I couldn't sleep upstairs for some reason," Eva lied and sat up rubbing her eyes.

"Well, you look like you slept in your day clothes. You might want to change and possibly bathe," Tonya shook her head and left the dormitory with her friends.

Eva looked at her clothes. They were stained and dirty from her ordeal and she didn't think she smelled much better. She figured if she hurried, she could get clean, grab something small for breakfast and get to class on time.

It was exhausting but somehow she managed it and finished her cinnamon scone before walking into Professor Hillborn's Charm class. Eva hurried to her spot and was met with several wide-eyed stares.

"Eva!" Swan and Sparrow called out in tandem. Eva tried to give them a smile before Hillborn approached her. He held a red envelope in his hands. His face seemed confused as he looked down at her.

"Ms. Highmore, I just received this message that you are suppose to report to..." he paused, looking at the message again, "to the Headmasters office."

There was a large gasp throughout the room. Eva looked to see her friend in more of a confused state than before. She slowly packed up her things and walked out of the classroom.

Her stomach filled with butterflies as she climbed the stairs to his office. For some reason, even thinking about what had happened gave her chills.

Eva entered into the multi-teared room filled with all sorts of gadgets. There were some many things to ponder over and she soon became overwhelmed.

Luckily, Foxstrand entered from somewhere underneath a stairwell.

"Eva, please come in and have a seat," he said. He looked different. Perhaps he had gotten some sleep or ate something. It also might have been his fancy robes much like a headmaster should wear. "How are you feeling?"

"Tired really," she said quietly, setting her bag down and having a seat in a throne-like chair.

"I figured you would have taken the day off from classes. I sent an owl for you in your dormitory but you were not there." He paused a moment and then sat behind his large desk. "Eva, first and foremost, I would like to thank you for saving my life. If you hadn't jumped in to action , who knows how long I might have been down there." Eva didn't know what to say, she was only happy that they both got out alive. "Secondly, due to the instances that led you to my location; you have broken so many rules that you should be punished for. Based on all of your offenses; leaving school grounds, going into the forbidden forest, stealing a school animals, well, you should be expelled."

Eva's mouth gaped open in horror. While she hoped that he was completely joking, she saw in his face that he wasn't. There was a long while before he said anything.

"However, due to your bravery and courage, I will reduce your punishment to detention for the rest of the year on Saturdays which will be held with me. During that time we might be able to discuss some of those burning questions I can see you are wondering about right now."

"Yes sir," was all Eva could say with a sigh of relief. "But I do have one question for today Headmaster. What do I tell everyone? Some people did notice that I was missing and a whole class heard that you called me to your office after being presumed dead for seven months?"

"I will handle all of this. You should go back to your dormitory and get some rest. All I ask is that you come to supper in the Great Hall tonight."

With that he sent Eva on her way back to Gryffindor Tower. Eva quickly fell asleep with no one around. Myster didn't want to let her sleep but not even his consistent pawing could keep her awake.

Eva was soon shaken awake. She opened her eyes groggily and saw Ren looking down at her.

"Eva where have you been?" she asked, incredibly concerned. "We thought you might have gotten sick but you were not in the hospital wing. We tried telling the teachers but they didn't do anything about it. Swan was distraught."

Suddenly, the door burst open and there was Swan and behind her the rest of the girls from the room.

"Eva, you left so suddenly, with no note, no information about where you were. And after what you..." she stopped herself seeing the girls around her, "you scared me to death." Swan looked near to tears and eventually ran over to Eva and embraced her. Eva hugged her back and sighed.

Swan released her and sat back, black streams running down her face. She chuckled to herself, "we have supper coming, and look at me, I'm a mess." Swan wiped her eyes and then quickly found her makeup bag once again.

Swan updated Eva on every bit of gossip that she missed in the past day as they walked down to the common room. Standing next to the fireplace was Sparrow. None of his friends were around and he just stood there with his hands in his pockets. When he saw them, he moved swiftly around the chairs, approaching Eva. He paused right in front of her and then quickly hugged her. The girls around them giggled, except for Swan and Eva. Sparrow quickly released her and back away.

"You are okay then?" He asked, trying to sound disinterested.

Eva simply nodded and led the way down to the Great Hall. It felt like home walking into the great room surrounded by students. Though, with all the noises around her she was reminded of the hall of mirrors. All of those screams of anger. She quickly pushed it from her mind and sat down amongst the Gryffindors.

Eva ate the smallest amount of food but she was nervous about what the Headmaster had said. Swan and Sparrow both noticed her and tried to shove of their leftovers.

The meal time soon came to a close without any Headmaster. Eva was beginning to feel like she needed to come up with a lie quick because once others did not get the answers they wanted then they would be pressuring her.

Renly and Tonya stood up, ready to dismiss the Gryffindors back to the dorm. Students began to climb off the benches but then the heavy doors of the Great Hall opened with a loud screech. All eyes turned to the back of the Hall as a man entered.

The room was instantly filled with murmurs and confusion as Headmaster Holt Von Foxstrand walked down the center aisle towards the head tables.

Eva watched as he moved swiftly, dressed in his robes, looking more leader-like than before. She looked up at the front tables and saw many of the teachers in awe. Some were smiling, some had their hands clasped over their mouth. Only two did not follow these actions. One was Shufflebottom who didn't seem to notice what was going on and the two was Madame Duquette. She stood cold-faced and staring as the Headmaster reached the stage.

He turned just in front of the teachers tables and faced the hall of students, eagerly waiting to know where he had been.

"Good evening, students of Hogwarts School. For those of you who don't know me, I am Headmaster Holt Von Foxstrand. I apologize, first of all, for not being here during this school year. I know that it is not much to say, but I hope to be more involved for the remaining few weeks of classes.

"Now many of you have been hearing rumors that I was kidnapped or something of the like. Unfortunately, life is not always like what you read in books. I had an opportunity to research the lives of a tribe of magical people who was once thought to be extinct. I chose to do this and leave you and this school in the care of someone that I trust." Foxstrand turned a stared, almost too long, at Duquette. "Though towards the end of my research I was trapped during a cave-in without magic to help me. Fortunately, a seer was able to pinpoint my whereabouts and notify the proper authorities to rescue me which would explain my less than Headmaster appearance. But I am recovered an here thanks to that witch.

"I know it is not customary to give a beginning of the year speech towards the end of the year but I would like to say welcome to Hogwarts. I hope you find a home in these halls, a family in these dorms and livelihood in these classrooms. Now, my favorite part, off to bed with ya."

The Great Hall filled with applause and hollers. Eva watched as the Headmaster approached the professors and greeted them. Somehow, she felt empty as she sat there and watched.

He had lied. He knew that Duquette was somehow involved and he did not expose her. He knew that that story was far from believable, at least to her. He called her a seer, which she thought strange. Michael told her about seers before, she remembered.

Eva was pulled from her thoughts as Swan squeezed her arm. She gave a half smile and helped her off of the bench. The three, Swan Sparrow and Eva, walked back to the dorms. All the other students went to their rooms for the night leaving them alone in the common room.

"So, did you really save him from a cave-in?" Swan asked.

Sparrow scoffed, "Are you kidding me? He was lying obviously. Isn't that right, Eva?"

She nodded, "I don't know why he was up there, he never told me. But he was being held against his will and I did what I could to save him." Eva didn't like to brag about being a hero or anything but it didn't seem enough.

"Oh come on, you cannot just leave us with that. Tell us the whole story. How did you get there? When did you get there? What in the world is a nanus?" Swan rapidly asked.

Eva, though reluctant, told them the tale. She watched as their faces twisted and turned at every detail.

At some point, Myster had come down and heard the story. She did leave out the part about him being able to talk.

They stayed up for most of the night talking. They were both real friends. They didn't tell anyone about her gift and yet they were willing to go to any length to make sure she was okay. She finally found a friend to confide in, and lucky for her they came in a pair.

The following days seemed to become increasingly easier for Eva to manage. It seemed that all of the first year Gryffindor's had found a new respect for her. Swan and Sparrow had kept her secret safe but Eva being missing for several days and the Headmaster's return didn't seem like coincidence.

They seemed to ask very probing questions, especially about her involvement with the Headmaster. Luckily, Swan was always ready to swoop in with an answer.

Eva worried about Saturday detention with Headmaster Foxstrand. He said she would be able to ask him questions but she didn't even know where to begin with the questions. She also didn't know how much she could trust the answers that he gave her.

These thoughts seemed to fill her mind as she went about her usual schedule. Soon, flying day was upon her which also meant that she had her lesson with Madame Duquette. It wasn't until she left her flying class and walked in her normal pattern to the divinations room that she realized what she might be walking into.

If Madame Duquette had, in fact, put Foxstrand in that mountain to remove him from the school and if she knew that Eva had something to do with his return to the school, then Eva was walking into something that she was unprepared for.

With all of these thoughts floating in her mind she wondered if she would be able to focus. If Madame Duquette explored her mind she might discover things about Eva and the Headmaster that might put him in danger.

Eva approached the door slowly trying to calm her mind and her breath. She paused in front of the door and took one final breath but before she could exhale fully the door opened swiftly. Duquette stood, her white hair standing high on top of her head and her expression blank.

There was a long pause until finally Duquette's mouth curled into a welcoming yet foreboding smile. "Eva, please come in."

Eva, still shaky, walked through the door and sat at the small round table. The tea and cups sat in front of her and she waited as Duquette served her.

"And how has the practicing been coming along?" she asked, almost too sweetly as she sipped down her tea.

Eva took her time drinking the liquid as she composed her thoughts. "Fine, just fine."

"Excellent, I hope to see an improvement in your clarity today," Duquette said in a deceitful way.

Duquette gave her a moment to relax and get comfortable though Eva never fully felt that way. All the while Duquette discussed more about clarity, though Eva was only half paying attention. Instead her mind was remembering back to the Great Hall and the words that Foxstrand had said.

Eventually, without thinking Eva blurted out, "what is seer?"

Duquette had paused and gave Eva a sideway glance. "A seer is one who is registered with the Ministry of Magic as having the sight. Many witches and wizards have the sight, and many refuse to be registered therefore any use of the power, in some circumstances, is against the law."

"So, seers can only see into the past?"

"Most can only see into the past, yes. For instance, you can see into the past, I, however, can see into the future as well. The more directions, the rarer the seer." Duquette finished her tea and sat with her long fingers entwined in one another.

"Is it possible to see past, present, and future? Are their seers out there that can do that?"

Duquette's face turned downward. "Why are you so curious about this? You have never asked these types of questions before."

Eva could feel her face become hot. Her hand were in fists at her side as Duqette studied her.

"Yes, it is possible, but no one witch or wizard has ever been found with all three skills for nearly a century. I would not worry about such things," she talked slow and purposefully in her response. "Now, it is time to meditate."

Eva sat back in her chair, as she was taught, with her palms facing upwards. She breathed deeply. She could hear Duquette walking around the room, probably preparing for her next class while Eva prepared herself.

As she sat, her mind swam with thoughts. This was never going to get her to focus but she could not relax.

Her mind went directly to the Headmaster, his speech yesterday, and the soon detention that she would have with him. She hoped that he might shed light on what had happened.

Suddenly, clear in her mind she saw Foxstrand sitting at his desk. His face was straining as he starred down at a piece of parchment. The feather quill in his hand scribbled slowly and thoughtfully. As he wrote, Eva seemed to be moving towards him, looking over his shoulder. Her eyes fell on one word, Michael.

Why would he be writing to Michael? Was Foxstrand going to tell him? Eva knew that she would never get to stay if Michael found. She would have so much to explain. Including her incline that Duquette had something to do with it.

Quickly, Foxstrand's head turned abruptly to look at Eva. She gasped a moment but felt a strange sense that he couldn't see her. It was as if he was being watched. She stepped back from him but her back came up against something rough.

Eva spun around and saw that she was in a forest. It was night, and the ground was covered in an eerie fog. In the distance she heard footsteps snapping twigs on the ground. Peering around the tree, she saw two figures, hooded and cloaked, both carrying their wands with white lights guiding their way.

"This better be true. This is a long and dangerous path. If you believe that this mirror is in that mountain then that means so are the people that created it. There is a reason why we no longer have magic mirrors," a male voice said sounding rather perturbed.

"Trust me, it will be there," a female replied calmly.

"Magic mirrors are a curse," the man continued .

Eva followed them finding that the ground was becoming increasingly rocky. The small pebbles began to turn to large boulders and she soon realized they were at the edge of a mountain. The mountain she was in. She swallowed hard feeling something pulling in her mind but she stayed planted behind them.

Through the fog, shadows of figures began to approach. The duo came to a stop and lowered their wands. The incoming party stopped short of being visible.

The two figures looked at one another and then the female spoke loud and clear, her voice sounding too familiar.

"Do you have what I have asked?" Something began to pull at Eva's vision becoming blurry but she focused in harder.

"Yes," a horridly recent voice came. "Do you have what we asked?"

"What?" whispered the man to the woman.

The woman stepped back.

Suddenly, through the fog there was yelling, as several nanus barreled towards the man. Though he threw a spell, it was not enough to stop them. Their pale white bodied grabbed hold the man, bringing him to his knees. His hood fell from his face, and Eva saw Foxstrand, helpless.

Again, something pulled at her vision but she tried to hold on as long she could. Eva had to see the proof. She had to.

The Nanus that called for her trial approached the woman. He handed her something wrapped in a piece of brown leather. With that he disappeared and the Nanus began to drag Foxstrand to the mountain.

The woman walked away calmly, holding her prize in hand. As she walked into the woods, alone, Eva tried to follow but her vision blurred again.

"Eva," she could hear someone screaming faintly.

Eva pushed forward, competing against the force holding her back. She needed to see her face, she needed the proof.

"Eva," the voice came again, closer this time. The pressure was becoming unbearable.

In an instance, Eva's eyes snapped open. She was looking towards the ceiling, her body sprawled on the floor, limp. She sat up slowly feeling as if she had been asleep for hours. As she dazedly looked around the room she saw Duquette pulling herself to her feet, unsteady. Was she on the ground too? What happened? How did we get here? Eva began to feel her throat catch as an icy stare fell upon her.

"How did you do that? When did you learn to see like that?" Duquette was having trouble getting the words out as she steadied herself on the chair.

It became apparent to Eva, that she was seeing something that Duquette never meant for anyone to see. Or was it possible that she was seeing someone else's past. There was no way to confirm that Duquette left Highmore to the Nanus. Though it seemed that Eva took Duquette on a wild ride that left them both exhausted.

"I...I," Eva stammered to get the words out but nothing appropriate came to mind.

"That's all today," Duquette sat herself in the chair and looked down at her empty tea cup. Her voice was shaking, either with anger or with fear.

"Yes ma'am," Eva said quickly and grabbed her things. She walked briskly out of the room that turned into a sprint down the steps of the tower.

Eva immediately went to her dorm room and waited for Swan to return. Myster had taken to exploring on his own while she was away it seemed because was absent as well. She lay on her bed staring at the ceiling thinking about the vision she had. Tomorrow she would meet with Foxstrand and she hoped that her would have answers. If he is willing to share them was her only concern.

During the evening, Eva finally met up with Swan and Sparrow. She told them what had happened and they became fearful of her involvement with Duquette. Sparrow suggested that Duquette might try to do something if she knew what Eva saw. Eva wasn't so sure. Either way, Swan agreed to keep an eye on Eva during the night though surely she must have fallen asleep. Instead when Eva woke she found Myster laying beside her. His yellow eyes were open as he watched her awake.

"Where have you been?" Eva asked.

"You won't believe how large this school is. Many places to explore, many rats to catch," he began. "However, I did make it for that last part. I knew there was no way, Pigeon over there was going to stay awake all night. So, I took it upon myself to watch over you."

"Her name is Swan," Eva laughed. She felt even more protected with Myster there. She gave him a good petting before getting dressed.

It was Saturday and most students slept in. However, Eva had detention with the Headmaster so she quietly got ready and headed out for the morning.

She headed towards the Headmasters office but as she approached she heard loud voices from behind the heavy wooden doors.

Eva cautiously pulled the door open and popped her head around the corner. The Headmaster sat behind his desk with his woven together in front of his face. In front of his desk a man was pacing back and forth speaking harshly.

"I never trusted you. I never believed that you would have any other effect of my child's life other than being her Headmaster. I didn't think that you would stoop so low as to make our history impact her future!" Michael seemed disheveled as he paced back and forth though Foxstrand didn't show any sign of argument.

Eventually, his hand waved and the door from which Eva was hiding behind opened. Michael turned around quickly and saw her standing there. A sigh of relief escaped his lips and it seemed that all the anger he had moments ago disappeared.

"Eva," he said and ran to her, embracing her in a deep hug. Finally, she remembered the feeling of her new fathers touch. He smelled like the home with the red door in Caterjune Square and she grew home sick, a feeling that she never remembered having.

Michael pushed her back to look at her, "Are you all right? Scars, scrapes?"

Eva shook her head with a smile. "I'm fine Michael."

"Come on, let's get your stuff. We are going home," he began.

Eva stepped away. "But I still have school. It is not over for another month."

"It doesn't matter. I can't have you here. I can't have you with someone who puts you in danger."

"But he didn't put me in danger. I did that myself. Michael, my gift, it led me to him and I saved him. And I think that it is leading me to something bigger than I expected." Eva moved past Michael and walked towards the Headmaster still at his desk. "Yesterday, during my lesson with Madame Duquette, I saw something that happened. I saw how you were taken. I don't know how but I did."

Foxstrand stopped a moment and stood up slowly. "What you saw was not meant for your eyes."

"I doesn't matter. Whoever arranged your capture received something very important."

"That is enough Eva," Michael said abruptly. Eva turned to look at him. "You cannot get involved any more than you already are. He is an adult and can handle his own mistakes, not you. Not an 11 year old girl." His voice was firm but caring in a way.

Eva felt defeated as she waited for someone to say something else.

"He's right," Foxstrand broke the silence. "It is no longer your duty to save me. Now it is your job to learn. When you are at detention you will do solely homework and studying for your finals."

"I can't let her stay," Michael interjected.

Eva felt helpless. She knew that something was very wrong in this school but no one would listen to her. Her father wanted her to leave her school, her friends and possibly her only means to figuring all of these mysteries out. She could not leave Hogwarts just yet.

"I want to stay," Eva began. "I want to take my finals and I want to finish my first year here. That is all I will do, I promise." It felt so strange to lie like this to Michael but she found no other option.

Michael watched her for a moment, seeming to understand that he could not argue with her. "If I hear of one more incident, even if it is merely you saying something to her that has nothing to do with her school work, by Merlin, I will remove her." Michael seemed defeated yet still full of anger. He placed his arm around her shoulder and began to guide her towards the door.

Eva wanted to stay to talk with the headmaster. He promised her, earlier, that she could ask him one question each day she had detention. Some many questions were in her mind though she knew she could not ask him today, or possibly ever, especially with his new stipulations on her detention time.

Michael guided her out of the office through the school. With each step, Eva could feel less tension between them. He lead her to the courtyard; a place, she was sure, that he had been many times as a student before. He sat down on a bench and let out a long sigh.

Eva sat cautiously next to him, afraid that her next question would make him angry again. "How did you find out?" she said realizing that this made it seem like she would have lied to him later on.

"Holt...I mean, Foxstrand sent me an urgent owl. He told me everything," his voice was quiet and his body slumped over. His hands reached to his face and her almost seemed to be rubbing out the frustration.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you," Eva began, knowing that this wouldn't help.

"I just have tried so hard to make your life as normal as possible since the adoption. I know that who you are is...well different than most witches but..." he paused running his fingers through his messy hair. It was if he didn't know how to finish his sentence.

"I know, and I should be doing my part as well to make you less anxious," she gave a weak smile.

"But that is what kids are suppose to do to their parents. I worry about you constantly because you are my daughter and I am your father, no matter what the circumstances are." He reached his arm around his shoulder and gave her a squeeze.

Eva had never heard him call her his daughter before. It was just the same as her calling him father. She had not become accustom to using the word. Having not remembered her own parents, the idea of a mother or father was foreign and strange. Now, she assumed this was the feeling that was connected to having a parent.

"But dad," Eva began feeling Michael stir a little at the word, "don't you think that Foxstrand told you for a reason. He knew that it was wrong but it was completely out of his control. Still, he told you knowing that you would be in his office screaming at him."

Michael's eyes found the ground as he thought about his. Finally, he looked up at her and made a small smile. "I guess you're right, maybe he is looking out for you." With that the conversation was over. Michael told her all the news about Lucy and Gran and all her friends from Caterjune Square.

Soon, it was clear that students were stirring from their beds to go to breakfast. Michael gave her one last hug before departing.

Eva considered what to do next. She went back to the headmaster's office but found that he was not there. She supposed detention was cancelled for today.