When I arrived at Hogwarts the next morning, there was a happy sensation of spring in the air. The weather was beautiful and calm, with clear skies, a gentle breeze and warm temperatures. Despite it being early in the morning, there were already students out on the grounds taking in the morning sunshine as they eat toast on their way to Care For Magical Creatures or Herbology. As I walked up the gravel path towards the castle, I saw Horace, Carrigan's griffin, playing in Hagrid's old pumpkin patch. Most of the pumpkins were green or smashed as Horace galloped around the fenced in patch. With Hagrid gone, I doubted he was being properly taken care of.

To my surprise, as I stared at the griffin in the pumpkin patch, my eyes fell on Carrigan. She was walking from Hagrid's hut to the pumpkin patch while carrying a large bucket. I couldn't help but smile. She looked utterly ridiculous carrying the over-sized bucket, no doubt full of Horace's breakfast, against her small torso. It was the first time in a long time that she looked her age of fourteen. She had celebrated her birthday in April; we hadn't celebrated very much because Carrigan didn't like to. She had never liked birthdays, but she was hoping that Sirius would let her get a tattoo this year…which hadn't happened because she didn't come home for Easter holiday. But, Sirius had decided it was better for her to wait until her next birthday anyways.

She looked young and innocent from across the grounds. She was playfully throwing the dead rats that Horace liked to eat at him and laughed each time he caught one of her ridiculous throws. As I approached however, her innocence seemed to melt away. When I was close enough to hear her voice laugh, I saw the darkness in her midnight blue eyes; it was a darkness that revealed depth only brought on by pain. She didn't look young either; she looked mature and developed. Despite the baggage that I could clearly see her carrying, I couldn't help but smile. She was beautiful. Her brown hair flew around in the gentle spring breeze weightlessly. Her skin was pale and fragile looking, but her defined muscles and rough hands revealed that she was anything but delicate. She was a pillar of strength. Her smile was full of life and for a moment, her eyes were dancing with happiness. She laughed loudly as Horace caught a rat that she launched high into the sky.

"Carrigan," I said softly once I was within earshot. She stopped laughing immediately and turned to me, leaving the bucket of dead rats against the fence.

"Mom!" she said surprised. She beamed and approached me. "What is my middle name?" There was a cautious expression on her face, despite her happiness at seeing me, and the darkness in her eyes returned.

"Arista," I replied. "After a star in the constellation Virgo, in honor of your father who was also named after a star."

Carrigan smiled again. "I'm happy you came," she said moving forward and embracing me tightly. I held her small frame against mine and kissed her forehead.

"I just received your letter yesterday," I said softly. "What's the matter?"

Carrigan pulled back and looked up at me with sad eyes. "I wanted to speak to you about something Benjamin and I overheard."

"Overheard?" I asked.

"Yes," Carrigan nodded. "We were on our back from taking a run on the grounds late a few weeks ago. We had to sneak back into the castle—"

"You were running late at night?"

"Mom," Carrigan sighed. "Ben was with me! We were fine…that's not the point anyways. As we came through the entrance hall, we heard voices in the corridor leading to the dungeons. We overheard Divinity speaking to someone…"

"Who?"

Carrigan looked uncomfortable for a moment. "Honestly, I don't know for sure, but it sounded like she was talking to herself. It was a woman's voice, but it sounded just like her with a different tone."

I frowned deeply. Carrigan had probably overheard Divinity talking to herself, or rather, her other personality, Haiden who was the essence of my niece. "What were they saying to each other?"

"Divinity was talking about being in control," Carrigan said. "That it didn't matter what the other women did, she would remain in control because Voldemort had a plan."

Carrigan's statement confirmed my suspicion that Divinity was in fact talking to herself. I bit my bottom lip with nervousness and nodded my head.

"Anything else?"

"That something was set in motion that she couldn't stop," Carrigan continued. "Whoever Divinity was talking to was trying to stop whatever Voldemort is doing. Divinity said, 'it doesn't matter how hard you try to warn Gabriel, it won't stop Grandfather.'"

"That's why you wanted to speak to one of us," I said with realization. When Divinity dropped Gabriel's name, of course Carrigan would want to warn us.

"Yes," she said quickly. "Has Gabriel gotten any dreams from Haiden, or whoever? Do you think it was her that Divinity was arguing with?"

"Yes, I do," I replied. "He hasn't gotten a dream from her in months. The dream he did receive sent us on that wild goose chase that lead me to believe someone was going to try and kidnap you…that's why I warned you the last time I was here."

"When Dumbledore left," Carrigan nodded. A thought occurred to me as she looked away from my green stare. She frowned deeply and looked at the grass below us. Suddenly she looked back up at me. "What do you think it all means?"

"I don't know," I said with bewilderment. "What I do know, is that you should continue to keep your head down—and going for late night runs is not how you do that. You didn't tell Benjamin what I told you last time, did you?"

Carrigan gave me a guilty shrug and forced smile, like she had innocently forgotten to tell Benjamin that someone was probably going to try and kidnap her or me in the near future. "I'm sorry, I forgot!"

"That's something you should always have on your mind, Carrigan," I responded quickly. "You're in great danger as it is, with what we found from the vision Haiden sent Gabriel and how Firenz warned me that a great tragedy lies in my future—well, you just have to be more careful. And that means not going for late runs! Or doing anything you're not supposed to do."

Carrigan frowned, but nodded. "I understand. When did you speak to Firenz?"

"The last time I was here," I said softly. "Where is Benjamin? I would like to speak to him."

"He's about to start his last N.E.W.T." Carrigan replied. "Come on, we might be able to catch him. The fifth years are getting ready for their last O.W.L. this afternoon. My exams are next week, but I have to get to class too." Carrigan turned to the fenced in pumpkin patch. "Bye, Horace!" she called with a wave. The griffin looked at her with his glowing yellow eyes; there was a sad expression to them. Obviously, he didn't want her to go.

"He's been a little depressed since Hagrid left," Carrigan said. "He likes to have constant company, but I can't be here all the time…obviously."

As we started to walk up the hill towards the castle, Carrigan asked, "What if Umbridge sees that you're here?"

"I'll say there was a family emergency," I replied. "I wanted to inform you that your dear uncle in Maine passed away."

Carrigan smirked. "How long did it take you to think of that?"

"All night actually," I replied. "And I had to fight off your father. He wanted to come see you."

Carrigan frowned at the statement. "He's not very practical, is he?"

"He was worried," I shrugged. "He does have a tendency to act rashly, but we all do when it comes to the ones we love."

"Except Gabriel," Carrigan said slowly. "He is the only person I've seen stay calm and relaxed in situations of high tension…even when you were missing last year and two years ago when you went searching for Pettigrew…he was always clear-headed."

"Yes," I said with a nod and smile. "Gabriel is pretty level-headed in all situations." I remembered how he had reacted last night to Sirius' insistence that he go to Hogwarts. That was not levelheaded behavior. That was a moment that Gabriel showed how much he loved Carrigan and I…how much he feared for our futures…I didn't tell Carrigan that though. She knew how much Gabriel loved her.

Luckily, Benjamin was in the entrance hall when Carrigan and I entered. He was standing outside the Great Hall, where his N.E.W.T was about to start (Carrigan informed me that the last O.W.L. for the fifth years was to take place in the afternoon). The pretty redhead with purple eyes, named Madison, was standing next to him, holding his hand as she talked to a brunette friend in front of her. Benjamin was facing into the conversation, but not participating at all. His crystal blue eyes fell on Carrigan and I instantly. His facial expression didn't change, but I sensed something very familiar about the way Benjamin looked at Carrigan. Gabriel often looked at me that way when I was with Sirius, years ago in our past. The thought of Benjamin being interested in Carrigan made my stomach lurch with discomfort and I remembered what Firenze had predicted when I visited Hogwarts last time—not the great tragedy that awaited in my future, but Carrigan being pregnant and I was meant to protect her child….

"Hi Benjamin," Carrigan said as she reached the trio in the entrance hall. "Madison, Devon, hi," she added with a nod to each girl. "Ben, can I have a word?"

Madison clung to Benjamin's hand as she looked at Carrigan like a bug. I recognized that look all too well…it was the look Sirius always gave Gabriel when we were together; Sirius still gave that look to Gabriel.

"Of course," Benjamin replied as he looked at me. "Maddy, I'll be back in a moment."

"Alright," the redhead sighed with a flutter as she smiled up at him. It was a fake smile; one that reassured her that everything was all right because of the show she was putting on. I tried not to laugh and shake my head.

Carrigan led Benjamin away from the other two girls, towards me as I stood a few feet away.

"Hello, Cadence," Benjamin said with mild concern. "I hope everything is alright?"

"It's not perfect," I replied. "But I'm not here because of anything severe. I finally received Carrigan's letter. She told me about what you two overheard."

Benjamin nodded. He stood taller then me; I wondered if he had gotten taller since the last time I had seen him. He seemed larger, more manly and muscular. He was about to be eighteen, a young man in most societies standards, but in the wizarding world, he was an adult and able to make his own decisions.

"Mom, thinks Divinity was talking to Haiden," Carrigan added quickly.

"She probably was," I said with a nod. "But I have no idea what she was talking about. I'll talk to Gabriel and Dumbledore, see what the Order thinks and we'll go from there. But, I wanted to speak to you, Benjamin."

"About what?"

"Carrigan forgot to tell you that Gabriel and I think there is someone after her," I said.

"As if that's a new thing," Carrigan said casually. I slid her a dirty glare and then looked back at Benjamin who looked concerned. He was taking the warning seriously.

"We don't know the validity of what we found—a collection of news clippings with mine, Gabriel and Carrigan's pictures—but we still want to be cautious."

"Of course," Benjamin nodded. "Alright. We will be careful. I'll be sure to keep a close eye on her." He gave me a reassuring smile as he looked to Carrigan with sincerity.

"I doubt, Maddy will let you," Carrigan said smugly. Her comment didn't phase Benjamin's expression.

"The least you could do is be nice to her," he said smartly. "If that is all Cadence, I must go to my last exam."

"Of course," I said with a nod. "Good luck on your exam."

"Thank you," he bowed his head to me. "Carrigan, seven in McGonagall's office."

"Sure," she said with a scowl.

Benjamin didn't say anything else before he turned and walked away. I watched as he returned to Madison's side and squeezed her arm with affection. I turned my attention to Carrigan who was staring across the entrance hall at the couple with burning eyes.

"Carrigan," I whispered her name. She frowned and looked at me quickly, wiping the somber expression off her face.

"Yea?"

"Are you alright?"

"Yea."

"What's bothering you?"

Carrigan hesitated, but as I stared at her with motherly eyes, she sighed heavily and gave in, which she didn't do often. "I've overheard her thoughts. She's only dating Benjamin to make another guy jealous. She's just using him…"

"You've told him?"

"I tried to," she nodded. "Ginny thinks I probably shouldn't have…but how could I not! At first I didn't know how to, then I just said it one day in training when I was angry at him. He thinks I'm just jealous. We haven't really 'talked' since. We only train…he's mad at me and I don't blame him. I was completely unfair when I tried to tell him. I wanted to hurt him because he was beating me in a fight."

"Gabriel would say you're smart for using his personal feelings against him," I shrugged mildly.

Carrigan frowned. "It didn't work though," she said sadly. "He still kicked my ass." I laughed lightly and patted her shoulder with comfort.

"I'm sure he'll come around," I said seriously. "Maybe you should apologize and try talking to him about it again…or just apologize and mind your business. Benjamin is a big boy. He can take care of himself."

"If you knew someone was using Lily wouldn't you've tried to warn her?" Carrigan asked. "Wouldn't you want to prevent her pain?"

"Of course I would have," I nodded. "But after the first attempt, if it didn't go well then I would mind my business. There are some things that people have to learn on their own, Carrigan."

"He's my best friend," she admitted. "And it's hard right now because he's there, but he isn't really. He's there physically…but he's not there as my best friend. I kind of need my best friend back."

"Then you should apologize," I advised. Carrigan nodded at me in understanding.

"I'll try."

I smiled and kissed her forehead as I pulled her into a hug. She wrapped her arms around my body and returned the embrace. As I clung to my daughter a sudden, and unimaginable, pain shot through my body—straight through my spine and up the back of my neck into the front of my temple. I cried out, released Carrigan and fell to my knees. I felt her holding onto me, trying to prevent my fall, but she couldn't. I hit the ground and felt a chill of overwhelming happiness flood my system. It was all going to plan. Tonight, everything would fall into place and I would be able to celebrate.

The emotions were not my own. As I crumbled on the cold stone floor of the Hogwarts entrance hall, I felt Voldemort's ecstatic emotions running through me. I grabbed my head and cringed viciously, grinding my teeth as my head seared in pain.

"Mom!" Carrigan yelled, but her voice seemed so far away.

"Gabriel," I muttered as the pain overtook my head and my vision started to blur. "Get Gabe…" my voice trembled and I couldn't speak anymore. The happiness was overpowering me; it was so joyous it hurt my entire body. My fingers and toes twitched as the pain spread all the way to the tips of my body.

"Benjamin!" Carrigan screamed over me. "Help!"

She never left my side. As I faded into unconsciousness, I felt her hands on my side, holding me up as my weight forced me to slump towards the ground.