Hey everyone I'm back! Thank you for your patience and please enjoy because there's more to come! Don't rush these things cuz I'm in a twilight block right now, meaning my other stories are being blocked out by a twilight CRAZE!

Salena: They don't care just get on with the story!

AV: Hey unless you want me to marry you with the Dark Lord in the end I suggest you calm down!

Salena:…..You wouldn't…. (clings to Snape)

AV: Oh yes I would…

Snape: He can't have her she's mine!

AV: We'll see…now on with the story, enjoy everyone!

Salena hadn't had any visions at all since her long sleep. This was troubling her and no matter where or when she looked she couldn't find anything to do with the Dark Lord and Harry. Not even the smallest amount of danger could provoke her visions.

'Ugh, this is getting annoying!' she was so caught up she almost ran into several students and teachers until she stopped by the stone bridge to rest her feet. As she looked around she saw several students with the French girls and Bulgarian boys, flirting, talking, smiling slyly, anything to get each other's attention. She spotted Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny all talking by the trees, but something caught her eye and her senses.

'What's this magic I'm sensing?' using her special eyes Salena could feel a tiny bit of magic somewhere a few inches from the kids. Looking around she didn't see anything unusual, but a small speck of light reflected off the tree's trunk. It had to be a bug, but bugs don't reflect light that much and don't have magical senses.

'Animagus….has to be.' She walked up quickly to the four teens and smiled as they stood up to greet her.

"Professor Sardinia good morning."

"Good morning to you too Ms. Granger, now I want you, Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley to meet me in my office in ten minutes, Ms. Weasley you can go."

"Yes ma'am." They did as told and as Salena turned around she smiled.

"Come by my office tonight, I'll have a great story for you that will surely bring out your spotlight." She smiled and walked close behind the three teens. As they strolled towards her office Salena could feel that tiny amount of magic fade; when they reached her door she locked it and motioned for them all to sit in her chairs.

"What's this about Professor?"

"I just wanted to let you know that I've been looking around lately and it seems some of my Slytherins have been blabbing lies to the reporters for the Daily Prophet. It's getting rather annoying…"

"We know, that Rita Skeeter is a monster! She completely trashed Hagrid on the front page."

"Not just him, but you and Harry too Ms. Granger; I'm going to have a chat with her later."

"You will? Professor you know that…"

"Yes I do Mr. Potter, oh Ms. Granger and Mr. Weasley could you step out for a minute? I'll call you back in after I speak with Mr. Potter for a while." The two nodded and left without a word. "Now then, Harry Dumbledore has told me you've been having strange dreams lately. About the Dark Lord, Crouch Jr. and Wormtail in an old house near a cemetery correct?"

"Yes…"

"Did the Dark Lord say anything? About you or anything close to it?"

"Not really, just said that the time is near. He looked at a mark on Crouch's arm…"

"Death eater's mark, the one with the skull and snake?"

"Yes."

"How long have you been having this dream?"

"Nearly all year."

"Did they say anything else?"

"He wants me…for something that he said couldn't be done without me."

"Oh dear…it could mean that he's going to return. I will check and be sure…"

"Your sight…have you had any more visions lately?"

"Strangely no, I keep searching and searching but unfortunately it hasn't come up with anything. Bring Ronald and Hermione back in here will you?" Harry turned and looked at the door calling his friends back inside.

"Now then, I want all of you to be on your guard. I have a feeling and I'm sure you do too that the danger in this tournament is about to get worse. Don't you worry too much, just be sure to focus on the tasks because the next one could include all of you. Now be on your way…and tell Mr. Malfoy that I need to see him."

"Yes professor, thank you." They nodded and left whispering amongst themselves. Soon after they left a small hissing sound came from behind a big stack of books Salena had against the corner of her office.

"There you are Naomi, find anything out today?"

"Not yet mistress, but there's something up with that Moody man; he makes me…quiver every time he comes near me."

"Has he seen you?"

"No but you know what I mean."

"Oh, he does creep me out as well. As far as I'm concerned he could be a death eater using polyjuice potion. Sure would explain all the stolen items from Severus' storage closet."

"You're joking aren't you?"

"How did you guess?" the two laughed until there came a knock at the door. Naomi slid up onto her little stand next to Salena's desk and slithered around it waiting for the visitor.

"Come in." the lock clicked on the door and in walked Draco Malfoy with Crabbe and Goyle. The minute they walked in they backed against the door in fear spotting the huge snake. "Don't mind her boys; she's harmless unless she tries to hug you. Take a seat please…"

"Sorry Professor Sardinia we just hadn't realized you had such a…unique pet."

"Thank you boys, and don't worry she's not venomous."

"What kind of snake is that? Never seen one like that before…"

"She's a black anaconda, probably one of the few left of her kind; her name is Naomi and she's very friendly."

"Black anaconda? Those are supposed to be extinct!"

"Yes but there have been reports of some being held in captivity to breed, poor things. Anyway I wanted to you all to explain to me why the past few weeks I've caught you with those badges against Mr. Potter, and why I've caught you bullying some of the younger students?" all three boys looked to each other frantically but Malfoy didn't seem as scared.

"I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about Professor?"

"I think you do, if you're lying then I'll have to get drastic though I don't want to." Malfoy looked at his friends and they just shrugged.

"We were just having a little fun professor."

"A little fun as in giving a Ravenclaw girl a black eye; or pushing a Gryffindor boy into the wall while throwing snowballs at him?" neither boy answered. "Well?"

"Well we…got carried away those times."

"Too carried away….riiiight. Sadly even if you are telling the truth I can't let your actions go unpunished. That's fifty points from Slytherin and two months of detention for all of you."

"Professor that's so unfair!"

"Don't shout Mr. Malfoy you'll upset Naomi. But if you think this is unfair then you'll have to show me some progress and I'll cut your detention in half."

"What kind of progress?"

"Get rid of those badges, and I mean all of them in Slytherin. And if I catch you bullying anymore students I'll take five points off for every time I see it. Now go…" before Malfoy could argue Naomi gave off a low hiss and they ran out immediately. Salena laughed and put away her books.

"Well done my little black beauty."

"Oh mistress you're making me blush."

"Be mindful my darling, this is going to be a complicated year." There was a knock at the door.

"Who is it?"

"Professor Snape." Salena smiled.

"Come in." Snape entered and locked the door behind him.

"Would you by any chance know what's gotten my godson so upset? He's seems…infuriated."

"That's because I took 50 points from the house and gave him and his friends three months detention for bullying."

"Don't you think that's a bit harsh?"

"It was either that or Malfoy gets kicked off the Quidditch team, and Lucius wouldn't have liked that."

"Maybe so, but they are just children."

"Since when do you care if they're children or not? They're growing into young men and they need to be disciplined one way or another."

"Alright, I think Naomi might've given them a scare as well."

"She did, they were rather fascinated by her."

"That Rita Skeeter is acting as if it's Christmas all over again."

"I'm not surprised; Christmas is just around the corner. Speaking of which isn't that Yule Ball on Christmas Eve?"

"As a matter of fact it's in two days."

"Two days? I didn't realize it was that close already."

"That's why I came to ask….if you would like to attend the dance with me?" Salena knew he'd ask, but she didn't think on it until now.

"Severus, you know that if you and I both attend the ball together then it will be all over the school. I'm not saying I won't go, I just don't think we should dance together."

"I understand, I was just curious if you would or not."

"I would if I could, but it's too risky. I just…" Severus went and lifted her chin to meet his eyes. He kissed her lips softly and her arms went around his neck.

"I understand my love, we'll just make the best of it." They embraced briefly and he let go. "I must return to my classes my dear, I'll see you tonight." He left and Salena was left flushed and kind of embarrassed since Naomi was watching.

"You two are so lovely together mistress. Like you and Sir Austin once were…" Salena gasped at the thought of her deceased fiancé and a small tear fell from her eyes.

"Oh please forgive me mistress I didn't mean to…."

"It's alright Naomi; it's just a memory that's all." Salena left the room and locked the door letting Naomi slink away down the hole from whence she came.

'Austin…' Salena kept trying to remember the times she had with Austin when they were growing up, but it was getting harder and harder to remember. Salena checked the clock and noticed it was almost eight, Rita Skeeter would be arriving in minute. Forgetting about before, Salena's green eyes twinkled in the fire light as she let a clever idea swim into her head.

Thirty minutes later:

Salena was seated in the comfortable armchair near the fireplace in her office. She was calmly sipping her tea when a small clicking sound caught her ears.

"Nice of you to join me Ms. Skeeter." Suddenly a blonde woman appeared on the couch opposite of Salena's chair, pad and quill in hand.

"A pleasure to meet you Ms….?"

"Sardinia, Eleanor Sardinia."

"Ms. Sardinia, I was quite surprised when you addressed me in the gardens."

"I could feel your magic, even if Animagus are good at cloaking their magic I'm able to see if it's a wizard or not. Now then, I saw your last post and I must say I was a bit disappointed."

"How so?"

"The story was remarkable, but the information you received from my Slytherins was pure rubbish." Skeeter looked shocked.

"Maybe so, but you understand how critical times are now. Most reporters will go to any extent to get a good story, something my readers would enjoy."

"And something to go against Harry Potter correct? You were a Slytherin once yourself right?"

"Yes…"

"Then you should know I don't like it when others try and trash my students on paper or news."

"Well you can't go against my freedom of speech Professor, and since you're so critical on the Potter case why don't you tell me what your involvement is with him?"

"I can't say much, I haven't spoken very often to Mr. Potter this year."

"That's not what the other students say. Apparently you've been watching Harry Potter ever since the champion choosing."

"That's not the students' concern, nor is it yours. Are you writing this down?" the quill had been scribbling the whole time they'd been talking.

"Well you did say you had a story for me, now may I ask you some questions?"

"Go on, I can't say you'll be satisfied."

"I'll decide that. Now please tell me what you're opinions are on such a young boy at the age of twelve entering a deadly tournament?"

"First off he's fourteen, and second I'm just as concerned as the other teachers. I do fear for the boy yet I think he has a reason for being in this tournament."

"Oh yes I understand that, but why have you been following the boy and the other contestants?"

"Again that's not your concern."

"I think it is, the students are curious and have the right to know."

"Them and every last one of your readers….if you want to know so bad then all I can say is it's my job to look out for the champions. Their supervisors and I have been quite busy trying to keep things under control-and I am not spying on them!" she noticed on the pad that it was written 'compassionate for her students yet spies on the other enemies. Could it be she's feeding Harry Potter information?'.

"Oh come on, are you sure you're not giving them information on how to win the tournament so easily?" Salena was getting irritated. "I mean you have been sneaking around lately, and you have been seen with Professor Snape more often than usual? Could you be in a relationship with him?" Salena's eyes glowed green the fire, and she let a smile come across her face as she placed her tea cup down gently and placed her hands in her lap.

"You really think that don't you? Well then if you'll let me see your notes I'll give you the full story."

"I'm fine with me writing them if you don't mind."

"Well I do mind…" Salena quickly snatched the pad and quill away from Skeeter and glanced at the notes. "Let's see here, 'Snape and Sardinia in a secret relationship, spies for the students, and secret affair with Gilderoy Lockhart?' Oh now this simply won't do… who told you I had an affair with Lockhart?"

"It was all over the alley last two years ago, it's true is it not? Getting some from dear old Snape now aren't you? Now please give me my pad…"

"I'm afraid not." Salena took the written paper off the pad and ripped it to little pieces before throwing them into the fire. Skeeter looked shocked and mortified; no one had ever torn up her work, or taken it for that matter.

"What are you—no don't!"

"I don't like people who spread lies about my students and me. So I have no choice…" she took the green quill in four fingers and the middle of it snapped in half before she threw the pieces into the fire. Skeeter was mortified but Salena used her magic to bring out a blue quill and pad after it jotted down a few notes. "Now then, we're going to do this interview…MY way."

The next day:

Salena was rushing all over the place, the second challenge was in a few hours yet she was having trouble finding the potion to help her breathe underwater. The students had to use charms and other forms of weeds or whatever, but she had prepared a potion that would help her breathe over an hour underwater.

"Damn it where is it?" she had been rummaging through her desk and office looking for the vile but no luck. Naomi had even tried finding it but almost squished her tail under the big piles of books Salena kept toppling over.

"Watch it mistress!"

"Sorry Naomi, just can't find that blasted vile!"

"Great Godric Gryffindor what the hell happened in here?" Salena turned and spotted Dumbledore in her doorway; her face flushed as she began twirling her hair. "It looks like a dragon came through, what on earth were you looking for?"

"My vile of mermaid's breath, I was going to use it during the challenge today." Dumbledore smiled and Severus soon appeared behind him holding Salena's potion.

"You mean this? You left it in my office last night after you finished it remember?"

"Oh that's right, thank you Severus." She quickly snatched the vile from him and put on her cloak before wandering off, face beet red and flushed. Snape looked at Dumbledore and he smiled.

"You think she's alright Severus?"

"I'm sure she is headmaster, just embarrassed is all." He looked at Naomi and she winked at him. They made their way out to the stadium where Salena had gone, knowing that this would be a dangerous match, even for the Slytherin princess.

Two hours later:

Salena was hiding in the beds of cattails near the Black Pond watching everyone else in the stands awaiting the time for the champions to dive straight into the water. A treasure, or a person, was stolen the night before and the champions had an hour to retrieve the treasure underwater or lose the match. Soon she heard the cannon blow off and the four champions dove into the water, Harry being the last. Salena quickly drunk the potion and dove in after them. As the potion took effect she felt her legs become one huge fish flipper and her skin felt scaly.

'Great now I'm a mermaid.' She swam quickly through the big kelp at the bottom avoiding the grindylows swimming in every direction. She spotted Fleur trying to weave her way through the kelp and weeds, and Harry swam past her towards the large ditch that led to the merpeople territory. Salena swam another path and spotted the four prisoners chained to a large statue in the middle of the merpeople city guarded by mermaids and mermen. Hermione, Ron, Gabrielle, and Cho were all chained and guarded and she spotted Harry swim their way.

'Wow, the first champion to reach it. Very nice.' She saw Harry check to see if Ron was still alive, then he moved to Hermione and the others; their magic was still intact so they were alive for the moment. Salena's job was to rescue the other prisoners in case the rest didn't make it by the end of the hour. 'What is that boy doing?' Harry was trying to free the others before the rest of the champions got closer, but the merpeople wouldn't let him free them.

'Idiot kid.' Salena quickly swam towards the statue but spotted Cedric swimming down their way and grabbing Cho. He said something to Harry and left with Cho on his arm then came along Krum who nearly tore Hermione in half until Harry helped him free her. Salena found and searched but not a single ounce of Fleur's magic was around. Just as she was about to head over and help Harry something big grabbed her tail and yanked her back. She turned to see a whole school of grindylows nipping at her fins until she managed to smack them away and used her wand to shoot off the rest. When she was free she swam as fast as she could to the surface and jumped out into the cattails. Her tail turned back into legs and her skin felt smooth and wet from the water.

'Damn grindylows.' Cheering came from the stands and Dumbledore shouted out Harry may have been the first to reach the treasures but since he had wanted to save them all he was awarded second place. 'Excellent.' Salena tried to get up but her legs were numb from all the swimming, her breath began to slow and her lungs felt tight.

"Eleanor! Are you alright?" she heard Professor McGonagall come and call her placing a cape over her wet, nude body.

"Yes…fine, just exhausted that's all."

"Come on we best get you inside before you catch a cold." She led Salena to the palace away from the students' sight and up to her quarters. "Would you like something warm to drink? Tea? Coffee?"

"Tea's fine…where's Severus?"

"He'll be in soon dear, it's so blistering cold I can't believe Albus let you go into the black lake. And in the nude too? Crazy old man…" Salena laughed as her hair was dried and she pulled some clothes from her closet. "I'll call the house elves to bring you some tea Elly, seriously though what were you thinking?"

"I was just following orders." Minerva left and Salena fell back on her bed going to sleep from the match.

The next night:

Salena had been resting all day from the night before until she finally got her strength back. Snape had checked on her many times but she never woke up until he came in for the fiftieth time. He gave her dinner and stayed while she ate.

"Thanks a lot Severus…my stomach was killing me."

"You're welcome my dear. You know the ball is in thirty minutes right?"

"Yes, but I don't think I'll be going."

"Yes your strength hasn't fully returned yet. I'll be attending tonight just to keep an eye on the students."

"And punish them if they're caught being sneaky? Come on Severus you were young once too."

"Yes but I followed the rules."

"Oh really?" Snape scoffed at Salena but she giggled. "You're so funny Severus. I'm glad I was able to meet someone like you."

"As am I with you my dear snake princess. I wish I could stay with you tonight…"

"Oh don't worry, you'll see me tomorrow anyway." She kissed his nose and he smiled.

"I have to go now my darling, I'll come check on you when it's over." He got up and left dimming Salena's light. She fell back on her pillow and fell asleep, again.

Dream vision:

Salena was walking through a forest listening to the sounds of the insects until she somehow wound up in a dark, spooky cemetery. She looked around until she heard a loud scream and the words 'Avada Kedavra' followed by a green light caught her ears. She raced over to the scene and saw a body but the face was obscured and blurry, but then she saw Harry bound and gagged to a headstone in front of a large cauldron where a body was forming and was covered by a misty black robe and cloak.

"Harry!" the boy didn't notice her. She tried to untie him but her hands just went through him. She looked to see many cloaked figures surround the area and them. She noticed blood oozing from a man's wrist and saw his hand was gone.

'Wormtail, Voldemort…the death eaters…' suddenly Salena was pulled away from the spot and went back to the crystal cave where she'd stayed for over 1000 years. Then she saw the same figures surrounding the cave with Voldemort in the middle of it along with a woman with stringy black hair and horrible teeth cackling like an old hag. And they were staring at something, then Salena realized they were staring at her.

End Dream Vision:

Salena shot up from her bed and jumped into her green robe noticing it was nearly midnight, meaning the Yule Ball should've ended. As she left the room Naomi laid asleep in her own bed and didn't move a muscle as Salena noisily ran down the corridor and out towards the gargoyle statue.

"Cockroach cluster…" it didn't move. "Lemon drop…licorice snap…dammit Pumpkin Pasties!" the gargoyle finally moved and Salena hurried up the staircase and hastily knocked on the door. When it opened she saw Severus, Minerva, Albus, and Moody surrounding Albus' desk with Fawkes sleeping soundly on his little stand.

"Eleanor where've you been you missed the ball?"

"I know, Albus I have to talk to you privately it's urgent." Dumbledore nodded and shooed everyone away except Snape.

"Did you have a vision?"

"Yes but it was different than the others."

"How so?"

"I had a vision of the Dark Lord returning, and another about me being cornered by him and his death eaters in the crystal cave."

"What did you see about the Dark Lord returning?"

"It was in a graveyard, with Harry tied to a tombstone and Voldemort being circled by his minions. The other had me in the crystal cave you found me in with Voldemort surrounding me with a straggly looking woman laughing like an old hag."

"Bellatrix…" Snape scratched his head. They were all quiet for a few minutes and then Dumbledore looked at Salena with a strange look in his eyes.

"It makes sense about the first, but the second is one I question seriously." Salena looked confused.

"What're you talking about?" Snape looked at Dumbledore and stood next to Salena.

"You have to leave."

Sorry it took so long just have craziness going on with school and work. Could be a while before the next is ready so give me some time ok? Later and leave a good review…