A/N: I had thought about posting this on Monday but honestly, I got bored and I had this done so…y'all benefit from my boredom.

So, I just wanted to mention a couple things. First, I'm not sure when chapter three will be done. I keep going back to my other stories to look things up and end up reading instead the whole 'seek and find' mission. Much like Athena, I'm easily amused.

Secondly, I have decided to try my hand at for original content but I suck at social media. I'm the kind that's happy to sit back and just read/like what other's post and not post myself. It's weird when you realize that I do post stuff…here. Anyways, I've never done self-promotion all that well.

Thirdly, a BIG, OUT OF THIS WORLD SHOUT OUT TO EVERYONE who liked/favorited and subscribed/followed Dark Lord's Gambit. I am humbled and excited that y'all are still liking Miss Athena.

I don't own Harry Potter.

Chapter Two: Not the Same Goodbye as Last Summer…

Nym was waiting for me when I came out of Bones's office. My cousin was sitting in an office chair playing with her wand, using paper to act out scenes from Star Wars; the little cube of Frozen Solo was the best. Nym grunted irritably when she caught sight of me.

"Finally!" she cried and the paper figures fell. "I was about to get really bored and move on to Return of the Jedi! Merlin help the lot of us if that happens." My cousin can be so dramatic.

"Yes, well," I shrugged noncommittally. "Your boss had quite a few questions and she wanted the whole story. Besides, are you really looking forward to the circus that is the Burrow?" I asked inquisitively and Nym scowled. "I feel like our going away party-thingy gets bigger every frigging year and I'm sure the Weasley field had never seen this much use before. Only the genomes know."

Nym smirked as she started us towards the lifts. "That may be very true, little cousin." She scowled then and gave me a little shove. "I still can believe I'm going to be your liaison, I swear this is a conflict of interest." Nym shook her head as her hair turned a silly green from its normal bubblegum pink. "I'm not sure ole Bones-y Bones was think this thing through when she started tossing personal around."

"Maybe you should point that out," I told her as we enter the crazy elevator. "I don't mind working with family, Nym but if it makes you that uncomfortable then just ask her. Trust me, I won't be offended."

Nym just nodded as the lift started to move, headed for the lobby after Nym pushed the button. Once to the lobby, I shook my head when Nym asked if I wanted to head to the Burrow. I needed to talk to Uncle Ted and asked if he was at his office for the day.

My cousin didn't look surprised at my requested. Nym may have even been expecting of the query. She just nodded and pulled me into a hug and apperated away.

**A**

I remember Uncle Ted's office as being bigger. The man that I hadn't gotten to see much of since my return was sitting at his desk wearing reading glasses as he poured over legal documents. I didn't know that he wore reading glasses. I was trying to remember if I'd ever seen him with them before, however, the man smiled when he looked up and grinned when Nym pulled me with her into his office.

"Nym! Athena! Two of my most favorite women in the world," Uncle Ted cried happily as he took his glasses off and came out of his chair. He caught us both in breath stealing hugs. The man was strong. "What are you ladies doing here?" he asked after Nym had wiggled out of his grasp.

I leaned back against the edge of his desk as Nym shot off towards the little fridge still on the other side of the room. "Uncle Ted, I need…I mean, I wanted to ask if you knew if there was any way to help my mother." I felt so small as those words left my mouth and I blinked away the tears that were started to form. "I know she was cursed and I can prove it but I don't know how I can help her."

Uncle Ted nodded slowly as he sat on the arm rest of his couch. Folding his arms across his chest and put those tight shirts of his to the test. He hummed thoughtfully as he thought over what I'd just said, I could see the gears spinning in his head.

"Well, I'm not sure what we can do," he said and held up a hand to stop any response. "That being said because Bellatrix Lestrange was convicted of two counts of casting an unforgiveable. She was sentenced to life imprisonment. However, if you can prove that she performed those acts against her will then you might have some wiggle room." Uncle Ted shook his head, I think he was talking more to himself than to Nym and me. "It would also depend upon the curse too, if it was one that truly took away her free will, made her a thrall or if it was one that simply took away her inhibitions and allowed her to act on her inner urges," he mused and his eyes came back into focus as he looked to me. "Why can't you just order Fudge or Madam Bones to release her?"

The question didn't catch me as off guard as it had Nym; my cousin frowned as she hadn't given thought to what I was capable of before now. "Because," I stated simply, "that would be an abuse of power on my part. Also, my mother is not a subject of Camelot. She's never sworn allegiance to the Pendragon crown nor can she without a proper head to place that crown. It's the same problem that Aunt Cissy had trying to get her marriage annulled. I am only a proxy in larger means of government," I explained. "If there was no ministry to govern then I could have more power in the day to day things but I already stated to Madam Bones that I would only intervene if I was needed. My mother is not a subject of national concern."

"That sucks!" Nym declared, stopping for a second as she sorted through the goodies Uncle Ted had stashed in the fridge.

I nodded, she wasn't wrong. "Also, I would like to be as legal as possible about this so that people cannot proclaim favoritism. I don't want to strong arm anyone."

Uncle Ted grinned proudly at me. "I think that this firm can help you, Athena," he said as he popped up from his seat. "I just need to know how a secondary source can prove that Bellatrix was cursed."

"Scars on the magical core, I would think. Memorial evidence too," I shrugged as I tossed out suggestions. "I would bet my bottom dollar that the Lestrange Brothers were present when she was cursed considering it wasn't long after their 'marriage' that she turned dark," I scowled as the word marriage came out of my mouth. "I know that Lady Longbottom might protest but I think, don't-don't tell them this because I'm not sure because the voices…" I closed my eyes and tried to stop the mad rush of garbled words, "…I think that earth magick can heal what happened to Neville's parents, the same way that it tried to break the curse on my mother today."

"Say what?" Nym exclaimed. Both Tonks looked shocked at that confession.

I rubbed at my temples. "I think it would be a bit like mind healing but using the power of the earth. Natural healing whatever. The Druids of old could heal just about anything but that sort of practice has fallen away."

Uncle Ted started to nod as he said, "I think you need to have a conversation with our favorite mind healer." I groaned and he tisked at me as he shook his finger. "I never suggested that Healer Ball crawl inside your noggin, my overgrown niece," he chided softly, playfully. "I'm just meaning that if you can do this it can help more than the Longbottoms and would give us a sort of bargaining chip and could get Augusta on our side. Besides, it would be premature thinking to put forth this possibility and then not be able too."

"Also cruel," Nym added, "so totally cruel and you'd be a right knob-top wanker for giving that sort of hope."

I glared at her. "Thanks for that, Nym."

Nym saluted me with a cold butterbeer. "Anytime, little cousin, anytime."

**A**

Uncle Ted shooed us out of his office so that he could return to work and get things in motion. Nym had to coax me to return to the Burrow; I think she understood the fact that I was unease with how many people had gathered there. According to her Mad-Eye Moody was the same way before he decided to retire to some quite little place in the country, did so the day that I returned.

Freaking everyone had turned up to the Weasley house for the annual 'End of Summer Bash'. Not just my little band of year-mates but Ginny's friends plus the elder Holmes twins; with all those students came their parents as well. Plan was that everyone would just camp out at the Weasleys and then head for the station together.

The only piece of Nym's logic that got me to let her take us to the Burrow was the fact that I'd be hunted down otherwise. Whether by student or parent, I'd would be found and their dressing down would make Molly' howlers look like a kitten's meow. Normally that'd be heartwarming but at the moment it made me feel claustrophobic.

Dimitri was hiding near the apperation site outside the Burrow's wall. I know this because I could see through his cloaking spell while he sat against the wall and read. He was wearing comfortable clothes, for him, being loose trousers, tunic and slipper like shoes. The clothes were quite stylish with being velvet, satin and some cotton thrown in at Jubilee's discretion. There were embroidered works around the cuffs and neck of the tunic.

It was quite the contrast to the comic book he was reading whilst wearing headphones that were connected to a Walkman; one of my mixed tapes that he'd fallen in love with and nicked when he thought I wasn't looking. I never said anything about the 'theft' because it was my way of trying to ease Dimitri back into the modern world after going so far back. In retrospect, I'd gotten lucky with just the two hundred year gap.

Dimitri was a change of pace from the people I'd gotten used to being around. He was quiet, not something I was really used to with my group of friends, and reserved; though, that was probably learned because he had such a hard time talking from time to time. There was a natural born curiosity to him and he was very interested in my ability to shape-shift.

He was eager for animagi class to start at Hogwarts. Gran had assured us that those would continue this year even though Quidditch had been cancelled because that made sense. Why cancel the games when you only have three challenges through the whole freaking year? Made more sense just add games and teams to make a bigger league than just the inner house cup.

More competition with the other school…huh…I think I am going to have to override Dumbledore on this. Just make it so the chosen School Champions couldn't play. Yeppers, that's what I was going to do. In the meantime, I should probably find out why Dimitri was hiding.

I tossed a pebble at his knee because he would have heard me over the headphones. He didn't start, just looked up and grinned. Nym just smirked when the cloaking spell was removed and Dimitri appeared.

"What are you doing out here, Dimitri?" I asked, trying not to be concerned.

He'd pulled the headphones off and was killing the cassette player as he said, "I was avoiding the new arrivals." He took my hand to help him up. "The Lord Potter is very zealous…excited to finally meet us for…reasons?" he raised an eyebrow, he was getting better at talking. "Also, there are many sets of twins here, it is strange. Do you think magic causes duplicates like the Gemini charm?"

Nym grinned at that question. "Magic does like to multiply."

Dimitri frowned and nod. "This is true," he agreed and then tilted his head in question at my cousin. "Are you still our liaison with the Ministry?" he asked. "Because I would like for you to help with…a difficulty…no…knotty…not that either." Dimitri paused, counted to ten in Hebrew before saying, with his eyes still closed, "The Granger must stop having the joyful elf mess with my clothes."

I frowned; his problem the same as mine it would seem. "Hermione is having Jubilee dress you more modernly and you're not comfortable with that?" I asked and the young man nodded his head as he opened his eyes. "They too heavy and rough?" I wanted to know and again he nodded. "The voices in your head protesting?" Again he nodded. "I'll take care of that, Dimitri. Nym can be my backup."

Nym folded her arms across her chest and snorted. "You want to draw me into the line of fire?"

"Blacks going down in blaze of glory," I teased. "Besides, Hermione might not kill me if there are witnesses. She's trying to bring things back to the normal before the Statue."

Nym patted me on the shoulder and stated, "Good luck with that, little cousin."

**A**

We found Harry before we found Hermione. Probably should have gone to the pavilion that'd put up with the gathering storm clouds. Instead, we went to the house and found Harry sitting with the newly minted Lord and Lady Potter and Aunt Cissy. From the look on Harry's face I was going assume Aunt Cissy was giving wizarding nobility lessons.

Nym grunted when I saw this because I stopped in my tracks. I was trying to get her to back away from the danger zone but the dummy was loudly asking questions and got our Aunt's attention; knew this by the high pitched squeal Aunt Cissy gave off. Echolocation of the wizarding world, I swear to the divines!

"Athena! Nymphadora!" Aunt Cissy called happily.

Nym's rely was instantaneous. "DON'T CALL ME THAT!" Nym screeched and woke every owl that was napping on the Weasley window sill. They took off in an offended flutter of feathers. Aunt Cissy did not look impressed when Nym hissed at her, "Either Nym or Tonks, you know this woman!"

Aunt Cissy looked to her guests, while Harry was trying everything in his power to not laugh, and said dryly, "as you can see, manners are an ongoing lesson."

"That's alright," Lady Potter offered, a smirk playing at her lips.

Lord Archibald Potter was a broad-shouldered man who looked so much like Harry an older version of Har ry that he could have been the boy's father: only difference were the eyes. He had the fly away black hair that was trimmed shorter than what Harry was wearing. That reminded me, I needed a haircut and so did Harry; I could have put his hair in braids.

His wife had long legs and very solidly built; seemed to dwarf the chair she was sitting in. She could have walked right out of the Amazon camp there in Macedonia. I frowned at her, maybe I had seen her there, all while she was frowning at me but I'm not sure for what reason.

Aunty Cissy the three of us in the doorway into the room and Nym grumbled the whole way into the living room. It was strange to have to go through proper nobility greetings that Aunt Cissy insisted upon. I wanted to let Nym loose on the woman, the now fiery redhead could have been mistaken for a Weasley at the moment.

We had just sat down, Potters on one side of the living room and the Dimitri, Aunt Cissy, Nym and myself on the other, when Lady Potter blurted uncomfortably, "I can't read you!" she shifted in her seat, staring at me and stated bluntly, "That's really never happen before. It's like your mind is protected by the Great Wall of China."

I smiled at her; trying not to chuckle at her confusion. "That would be because, Lady Potter, that's my defense. The Great Wall I mean, though why are you trying to read my mind?" I asked curiously.

"I'm a natural legilimens," Lady Potter explained. "Your occlumency is outstanding."

"I know," I shrugged; no need to be modest when I already knew this, "I had a great teacher in China."

Lady Potter kept staring at me and I kept staring right back, only ended when Lord Potter cleared his throat. Seems the contest was making everyone else uncomfortable. I turned my attention to the man without blinking.

"Hi," the American gave a dorky wavy…yep, he was related to Harry. "Is it true that you and Dimitri here are basically royalty?" Lord Potter asked peculiarly, something about his manner told me he had a reason for asking beyond simple conversation.

After a second's hesitation I nodded. "Yes, basically. Why do you ask, Lord Potter?"

The man grinned brightly and reached over the edge of the chair he was sitting in for a messenger bag on the floor. "Because, it's a tradition to give magical royalty in Great Britain gifts," he started to explain but paused. He was digging in bag, went up to the arm before he exclaimed happily. "At the sanctuary that Sarah and I run, we recently, over the summer, got in an egg-heavy wyvern queen," Lord Potter said as he pulled out an ornate and heavily enchanted box that reminded me of a jack-in-the-box but without the wind up handle. He handed the box to his wife and his arm went back into the bag. "Wyverns, if ya don't know, are ingenious little creatures. No bigger than a house cat when they're full grown and a slew of really awesome qualities. They don't have back legs, they're a mixture of feather and scales."

"They can spew short bursts of fire and can produce venom when they're on the attack," Lady Potter added. "Wyverns can fly superfast, have very strong little bodies and aren't effect by the cold like dragons are."

It weirded me out that both older Potters were staring eagerly at me. "Okay," I frowned at them. "That's…ya know, nice. Why are you telling us this?"

Harry couldn't take the tension. "Because they want to give you wyvern eggs as gifts for being royalty or whatever!" he cried and then let out a long breath. "Sorry," he told his aunt and uncle, "but if you were going to play twenty questions with Athena, it would have taken forever. She's brilliant but most of the time she's a smart-arse. I was saving us all some time."

"You want to give me a dragon?" I asked inquiringly; I was trying not to nod at Harry's statment. "That's nice, really, but a bad idea. I forgot I had a cat once, at least Gorgo makes noise and steals my bacon."

The elder Potters frowned at me. Harry collaborated with, "she's actually serious, Uncle Archie. You know the Shadow Cat that was stalking the genomes when you arrived?" he asked and they nodded. "Well, that's Tiberius the Roman cat and he used to be Athena's before he ran away through the floo to find Ginny."

Lord Potter was undeterred. "Nah, these little puppies will be better than a cat," He promised and held the box in his hands out to me while Lady Potter handed her box to Dimitri. "The boxes are enchanted so to keep the egg in good conditions until the wyvern inside is ready to hatch. They are quick learners and are the best companions."

I frowned at the box in my hands before over at Nym; who just shrugged. Aunt Cissy growled softly determining that I wasn't making my thanks quick enough. "Thank you for the thoughtful and meaningful gift, Lord Potter. You'll have to forgive my niece and her companion."

"Shoot," Lord Potter grinned and waved Aunt Cissy off, "nothing to forgive, Miss Cissy. It's completely understandable. Trust me, Lady Black, Dimitri, your little wyverns are going to be the best!"

"Thank you," I parroted when Aunt Cissy elbowed me rather harshly. "Umm…really, though. For-forgive me but I need to go check on Hermione. We actually came in her looking for her."

"Looking for your girlfriend, Whiskers?" Harry teased.

I frowned at him. "Yes, she's in cahoots with Jubilee to determine mine and Dimitri's wardrobe." Harry winced. "Yea, tell me about it, Harry. If we let it continue we're going to be wearing those baggy pants and dog collars to catch up with the times. I don't want frosted tips, Harry, or lip rings!"

Aunt Cissy rolled her eyes as Harry sniggered at me; the woman actually shoved me off the couch. "Go then, dramatic child of mine sister's," she called and waved as Dimitri followed.

"Wait for me!" Nym called not too far behind us; escaping Aunt Cissy's grasp just barely.

**A**

The foxy bookworm that was the subject of my hunt was with the Hogwarts students gathered in the pavilion where there was a reprieve from the humidity and oncoming storm. Winky had taken the wyvern eggs back to Hogwarts before we'd enter the pavilion. Hermione smiled happily as she pulled me down to sit next to her on little loveseat. I was barley seated when Hermione turned and draped her legs across my lap; a forgotten book in hers.

The gathered group were sitting on a mix of furniture in large circle. I really hoped no one found out that I would have preferred a less crowded setting. Same problem I had at the campgrounds, the crowds made me nervous. Though, I could have cared less about the dirty looks I was getting from the elder set of Holmes.

Hermione brought my attention back to her by tapping my chin and was glaring at me; I gulped trying to figure out which reason of many that I could be in trouble. "Why didn't you tell us you wouldn't be riding the train with us tomorrow?" Hermione demanded heatedly.

At least Dimitri looked apologetic when I looked to him, he was the only one who knew this bit of information. I sighed and looked back to Hermione when she slapped my stomach. "Because, I was going to wait until tonight to make that little announcement. Gran wants me there to do one last dorm check and I have to be present at their staff meeting before you all get there." I frowned deeply. "I really did want to go by train. A bit of normalcy, ya know."

"When were you ever normal?" Damien Holmes sneered from where he was sitting with his twin.

"For five minutes," I answered automatically; sighing in nostalgia. "First year, on the train, then I introduced myself and it was downhill from there."

Ron scowled. "I can still hear that howler in my nightmares." That drew some chuckles, and I'm pretty sure that the lot that heard that howler could probably recite the thing word for word. Molly Weasley sure left an impression when upset.

"So…" Malcom eyed me carefully, "what do you know about the Triwizard Tournament?"

I grinned at my younger cousin; I was really not surprised that he'd know or ask about that. "More than you do, that's for certain. However, I'm not telling you anything. Not because I've sworn an oath or any of that malarkey but more because…well, I don't want to make the effort. You lot are going to have to find out on your own. Besides," I added, ignoring the indignant scowls sent my way, "do the adults know that you know this stuff?"

"No," Malcom shook his head, "and it's going to stay that way. They don't like it when I eavesdrop. Not my fault mom and grandma were complaining about the whole thing loudly where any grey hound could hear them."

"Did you do the transformation on purpose or did you have allergies again?" I asked questioningly, very much aware of the older Holmes' glare at Malcom and Izzy. If I had to say the emotion displayed then I would have called it jealousy.

Malcom blushed, throwing himself back in his seat as he folded his arms across his chest. "Don't judge me, Whiskers. It's a serious problem." He then pouted at me.

"Yea, Whiskers," Fred jumped in with a grin. "Allergies that causes perfectly healthy Second, now Third, Years to suddenly become a galloping grey hound are a serious matter."

George just had to help as well. "Who knows who else these allergies could effect, my feathery friend, why they be magical in origin and a simple sneeze could bring out the hopping horse, the bouncy bunny rabbit or the finicky fennec fox in any Second, now Third, Year." the boy learned forwards with large eyes having just named the forms of the third years present. "You never know!"

"Shut it, you knob-tops!" Ginny growled and throw a chocolate frog at her brothers and then elbowed a snickering Draco who was sitting beside her. "You too, towhead. Just remember that I know a lot of hexes and am not afraid to deploy them once we return to Hogwarts. My revenge might not happen right away but it will be brutal." Draco swallowed his amusement and it was the Third Years' turn to snicker.

Heard Daphne snicker lowly, "that one should have been wearing green."

Samuel scowled. "It's unfair that Grandma let y'all go through with your transformations."

"Oh, boy," Neville frowned, the first to gain a hold of himself. Draco was practically sitting on Ginny with his hand over his mouth to keep her from coming unglued. I had the feeling I knew who her first hexes of the year were saved for. "You thinking that she let them go through with it is really quite sad. Tragic even. McG didn't let them do anything and when she found out, well, our Second Years here didn't step foot outside the castle or inside the library for about four months." He shook his head. "Sort of the harshest punishments besides being expelled and having your wand snapped that Hogwarts has."

"I really don't remember what the Hogwarts Library looks like," Luna pouted as she wiggled into Annie's side.

"You mean you really did that on your own?" Samuel gaped in disbelief.

I just had to point out. "They didn't do it on their own, they researched and asked questions of those already going through the class. Seriously, if Mal hadn't sneezed and turned, well…we'd have never known."

Nym was giggling at that. "You know, I've never seen the ministry quite so a flutter than when we got the requests for animagus registration. Augusta Longbottom was boasting, Neville, boasting about her grandson the caracal. Then I had to look up what that was because I thought it was a cactus and that didn't make sense."

No, that really didn't and we were all looking at the woman as if she'd grown a second head. Nym just shrugged at the attention and started making her face shift to make the group giggle. Honestly, the metamorphmagus enjoyed making the faces more than the group enjoyed seeing them.

**A**

Later that evening, after the furniture had been transfigured from couches to tables and chairs, the whole host of students and family had gathered. Dinner was being overseen by Molly Weasley with Kreacher, Jubilee, Gobhar and some of his family doing the actual cooking. Winky was at Hogwarts in the Camelot dorms making sure that everything was ready; truthfully, I don't think she was ready to be around big crowds and I understood that feeling.

I pulled Jubilee aside and asked her about the uniforms that she and Hermione had been working on; the devious little elf look uncomfortable. She admitted that she'd only pacified Hermione with the looking through of catalogues and such while the elves, both at Hogwarts and at Dorcha Clagh, had working on their original designs. Jubilee promised that both Dimitri's and mine's comfort had been taken into account and that we wouldn't be disappointed.

While that was comforting to me, but I knew that comfort wasn't going to last once my girlfriend found out; time to take Madam Bone's advice. One thing I am good at is planning ahead for gifts and Jubilee was happy to take notes for me on what I'd need. It was only after she popped away that I realized she knew how to write. Huh…

After Jubilee had left, I sat down next to Hermione and couldn't help but watch her. There was this happy glow about her, like her magic was unable to contain itself. Her hair was curlier than I'd remembered and her brown eyes shone with life. I think I could have spent the rest of my life just looking at her and be as content and happy as I was at the moment.

Hermione was older than she appeared to be, I realized. That line of thought started because I was trying to figure out how old I was going to be this coming November. Could I really call myself sixteen when the 5th came? Then I realized that Hermione had spent over a year with her time turner where I'd only had eight months. That, a year, does not make.

The fox-shifter felt me watching her and she raised an eyebrow as she turned away from the chicken dance that Uncle Ted had going in the middle of the pavilion. There was some time before Molly would decide that dinner was done. I think the parents had planned this because they'd banded together for games with prizes and such.

"Why are you staring, Hammy?" Hermione asked, trying not to blush under my stare. .

She hummed happily when I reached out to gently touch her cheek. "I dreamed of you," I confessed softly, "but a dream is a fading thing, and you are real." I told her and I swear the girl swooned. "I think that without you, Hermione, I could have stayed back there and lived. It wouldn't been any different than the first twelve years of my life; traveling to new places and being like a chameleon. But…you weren't there. You, Hermione, you who are so important to me that I would find you in any life."

Hermione ducked her head, to wipe at her watery eyes and I used the motion to brush her hair back over her. When she looked up again, she had a small smile on her lips. "Keep saying things like that, Hammy, and someone going to think that you fancy me," she teased, catching my hand and slipping he fingers through mine.

"Hermione Granger," I leaned close and whispered, "I do fancy you. You are my best friend, the person I love the most and quite frankly, the person who scares me the most."

That took the girl by surprise. She leaned back as both eyebrows flew up as she studied me for something, probably what the hell I meant by that. Slowly he eyes started to narrow and she leaned back in close.

"Explain," was all she said.

I tried not to falter as I did as told. "I want to tell you everything that happened to me. I want to tell you about how I got my scars and so forth. I want to tell you more about the people I met and how they changed my life. I want to tell you…I want…" I let out a shuddering breath. "I want to tell you how I survived but I am frightened that when I do, that you'll see me different because I see myself differently. My aunts see me differently. I know that Gran does."

Hermione let go of my hand to gently hold my face in hers. "You are Athena Cassiopeia Black," she stated firmly, staring intently at me. "You are not just one thing, you are multifaceted. I love you and I get the feeling that I always will and honestly, I'm alright with that." Hermione confessed bluntly and I had to smile at her. "I'm even alright with the fact that you are like, six inches taller than I am. You've no idea how tempted I am to find a magical means of making myself taller just so I don't have to climb you like tree to kiss you."

Her grip tightened when I started laughing. Hermione had been very vocal about our height difference and Harry offered to procure her a step ladder. My laughter died off and I inhaled deeply, contently, and smelled Hermione's vanilla shampoo.

Hermione tapped on the nose. "I don't want you scared of me," she leaned in close so that our foreheads rested against each other. "Tell me when you're ready."

"Thank you," damn, her eyes were pretty; that's why what came next was hard. "Do you think, I-I don't know, that maybe you could lay off the muggle clothes? They really are uncomfortable."

The foxy-shifter sighed and leaned back. "Yea," she nodded, tracing a delicate fingertip over my scar. "I can do that."

I was saying my 'thank you' as dinner arrived. Elfin magic causing the food heavy plates to appear on the table at each spot. Hermione let me go but shifted her chair closer before she dove into her food. I wished that tomorrow would never come, that this night would never end.

**A**

Getting to the train station the next morning was interesting. There were three groups going via portkey about three minutes apart. Trunks had been shrunk down to fit in pockets and animal cages were held to tightly by their owners. Dimitri, Nym and I watched the last group leave with Mr. Weasley and Uncle Ted; we were doing one last sweep of the pavilion that'd been turned into sleeping quarters when dinner was over.

Sheets had been hung up to divide the boys and the girls. Then cots and sleeping bags had been conjured. What I thought was the funniest to seeing how many Gryffindor's wore their button up shirts and the standard bottoms for the uniforms. Seems someone was paying attention last year.

When we were sure that nothing had been left behind, we apperated into Platform 9 ¾. As usual the platform was pure chaos and it was hard to find everyone. Being tall does have its advantages.

I wanted to smack a Weasley when Bill and Molly kept suggesting that this year was going to be awesome; we all know that's a lie. Maybe not them saying they wished they were still in school. That was just creepy to be honest. At least I got to kiss Hermione goodbye before the train left.

"You're going to look out for them, right?" Mrs. Granger asked, standing next to me as we watched the train move on down the tracks. "Andy told me what's going to happen this year and it always seems like you lot are in the midst of all that trouble."

I smirked, she wasn't wrong. "That's because we're friends with Harry Potter and certain wizards be stupid, but yea," I looked to the woman and nodded. "I will look after them. I always have, I just now have a sword to reinforce my meaning instead of fists."

Mrs. Granger shook her head. "That wasn't reassuring, Athena."

**A**

Dimitri and I apperated to Hogsmeade and then walked on up to the castle; the carriages weren't running yet and I didn't feel like going through a floo. Besides, even with the clouds out and starting to build, it was still a nice day; plus Dimitri was teaching me his native language as we walked. We both agreed that instead of going straight away to Gran, well, we wanted into more comfortable clothes that Jubilee had promised me the night before.

Just when I thought that I couldn't love Jubilee any more than I already did. That little elf hadn't lied whatsoever about how she was going to make sure that Dimitri and I were going to be comfortable. Upon arriving to our rooms in the Knight's Dorms, we found our uniforms and they weren't the same.

Mine was a touch of old with a touch of new. I'd been given black pants that were made of a strong material that was also soft and had pockets, cargo ones too but the pants ended at mid-calf. The boots were highly polished black leather that were supple but sturdy with greaves already attacked; shin guards that also protected the knee.

The shirt, the one that'd been laid out, was gold and made from the same stuff as auror shirts. It was tighter than a tunic shirt would have been but not super tight like I used to wear before going back in time. Jubilee promised me those had been put into Hermione's wardrobe; she'd also rescued my favorite hoodie too.

Over the shirt was a back vest and over that was a very soft but crisp looking crème colored jacket with no collar. The jacket had embroidery around the cuffs, the hem, and the collar area and down the lapels where the big copper buttons were. Black thread that depicted dragons and winged horses. On the left shoulder, just under my collar bone, was the Camelot crest.

However, the piéce de résistance was the tartan that I'd been given. The thing was a great tartan measuring out to about eighteen yards. Bright royal blue and crème checkered with lines of gold, red running along the length of the fabric and black crisscrossing across the fabric. I'd been given a shiny belt and someone had polished up my Black family cloak pin that been in my pocket when I'd come out of the knight.

I felt…normal after I'd redressed; though it was weird not to be in Black colors. My dirk slid onto my belt, opposite of a belt satchel, after I'd pleated the tartan into a kilt and my hair done up in braids. It truly irked me that me putting my hair in braids was becoming a natural thing. I was going to have to talk to someone about that, I decided, as I holstered my wand on my left arm and my aspen wand went in to the top of my boot; felt wrong not to carry both.

When I came out of my room, I found that Dimitri was already dressed and waiting in the dorms' rather spacious common room. I do have to say that our dorm was designed strangle. There were seven rooms on the right side of common rooms and then two staircases on the other side; went up above the level of the Knight's rooms. Those stair cases let up to the boys' and girls' dorms but were not like Gryffindor tower.

The landing at the top of the staircases were enchanted so that all four dorms were on the same level. Hogwarts didn't have seven years of students back then. The levels wrapped around the whole dorm as if we were in a square tower; the girls were one story higher than the boys. It was totally creepy and I could see why the dorms were moved so early. Anyone scared of failing enchantments and being squished…so not the dorm for them.

I smiled at Dimitri when he rose from the couch because the young man finally looked at peace; something he hadn't been since we'd left Hogwarts like a week or so ago. He'd been given the same basic clothes as I'd been. The black cargo-non-cargo pants, armored boots and fancy, collarless jacket.

However, that was about all that was similar. His jacket was looser, velvety and was split into two color; Royal blue on the right and crème on the left. It had the same embroidery of beasts but in thread that stood out against the color they were on. Over that was a slim tabard that was similar to the one we wore on our armor but had differences. The size and the fact that there was wide black trim around the edges and the Camelot crest just under his collar bone; the colors matched the arms of the jackets, same colors on the same sides.

Around his waist was a long and striking red leather belt that also held a dagger and pouch. I could tell though that he was missing the same thing as I; the familiar weight of a sword at our side, it was how we held our arms. Kept trying to find the sword to rest a hand upon.

"I feel better," Dimitri declared, happily patting his stomach and running his hands over the material of the tabard. "Your Jubilation has done miracles." I had to chuckle because he never got Jubilee's name right and the little elf had not the heart to correct him.

"Feel good enough to brave the Headmaster's office?" I asked and looked to the clock on the wall. "That two o'clock meeting is an hour away," I pointed out as I folded my arms across my chest. "All teachers, even the new ones, will be there. We'll have to explain to them who we are."

Dimitri shook his head. "We don't not have to elucidate…err…explain," he corrected himself using a simpler word, "anything that we do not want. They can learn when we announce ourselves…tonight."

I smirked and nodded. "Depends of if we have the choice, my friend. Think you can keep me from blowing up on Dumbledore?"

Dimitri nodded and we left the dorms, headed for Gran's office. As we walked, I was going over what I was going to tell the school; speeches are stupid. So I wasn't paying particular attention to whom was already in Gran's office when we did arrive. I was completely surprised by the hugs from two different women; Kaylee's hug, I soaked in the familiar warmth and smell of her perfume.

Helena Wells, though, broke my heart because she was supposed to have been 'dead'. Her consciousness, everything that made her…ya know…her had been stolen away and imprisoned. Now this woman that I looked up to as a motherly figure, queried about magic in multiple letters that later saved my life, was standing right in front of me as if a day hadn't passed since we met two years ago.

I held her at arm length, my eyes blurry with unshed tears. "How?" I asked, unable to push out any more words than that without them being broken.

Helena wiped the tears that had escaped down my cheeks away as she said with a shrug, "a bad man brought me back but Myka and the rest stopped him. I know that you had your own run in with bad men." Her expression darkened then before she was hugging me again, whispering softly so only I could hear her, "I am so very happy to see you again, Athena."

I just tightened my grip on the Englishwoman and buried my face in her shoulder. There were no words at how happy I was to see Helena. On some level, it was the same when I met Bellatrix for the first time and she recognized me. I think that the reason that Helena and I clicked more than smarts and similar interests was because she was a mother without a child and I was a child without a mother figure free of duties.

Helena liked me because she wanted too, because she felt that pull of motherly instincts. All the mother figures I'd ever had were tainted by obligation. They should all be thankful that I wasn't comparing them to Nana.

Kaylee was reminded I was her charge and that she could be replaced for trying to make a deeper connection. Aunt Andy didn't come into the picture until it suited her and Aunt Cissy; I don't care what either of them say. They could have looked for me before I was disowned. Uncle Ted could have sued for custody or visitation rights at least. As for Gran, well, she made herself distant because I reminded her too much of what she'd lost.

Not that I dislike any of them or resented any of the women I considered pseudo-mother figures in anyway. It was just how I perceived Helena. Plus, her ice wall had saved my life twice. She is my friend.

Finally, when I'd calmed down, Helena let me go and I moved back a pace. "How…why are you here?" I asked, accepting the glass of water that Kaylee had ready for me. Dimitri was sitting next to Gran's desk munching on a sandwich; Gran watching with watery eyes while Bridget had smile.

"Sit," Helena commanded, conjuring a chair with a silvery colored wand. I sat because I was sort of pushed into the chair. "I am to be the new lower division Charm's teacher for the year," Helena grinned proudly. "Filius, lovely little man, is taking the upper years, fifth and above as every charm taught below those are one that I know."

"You're going to get to teach me charms this year?" I asked eagerly and Helena nodded.

This was year was starting to look up. I happily accepted the sandwich that Gran floated my way when my stomach rumbled loudly. My mood was so good, in fact, that I didn't mind fielding a slew of questions about the uniform I was wearing.