Chapter 12


The rest of Christmas break past without incident and it was a happy one for Brianna. She got a rare dark arts book from Severus and clothes and jewelry from Draco, Lucius and Narcissa. All in all it was great and she had all but forgot the attack not that she ever would but having family that cared made it easier, she flinched away less and less everyday and was able to sleep without Potions. She had been nervous to go back to school but Severus informed her that Lucius made sure the incident was keep quite. None of the students at Hogwarts would know what happened. This made her feel better that people wouldn't be talking about her everywhere she went.

School started up again in January and their first Care of Magical Creatures class was interesting. Draco had shown Brianna a newspaper article that Rita did about Hagrid being half giant, when they arrived at Hagrid's hut to see and older woman instead of him they knew the newspaper had something to do with it.

"Hurry up, now, the bell rang five minutes ago." the old witch snapped at the Gryffindor's that sauntered in late.

"Who're you? And where's Hagrid?" Weasley ask.

"My name is Professor Grubbly-Plank and I am your temporary Care of Magical Creatures teacher." she said Draco raised his brow at Brianna.

"Where's Hagrid?" Potter ask loudly.

"He is indisposed at the moment." the teacher said shortly. Draco and Brianna laughed.

"I just bet he is." Brianna whispered to him.

"This way, please." called the teacher leading them towards the edge of the forest where a unicorn was tied to a tree. It was bright white and very pretty.

"What's wrong with Hagrid." Harry ask.

"Never you mind." the teacher said.

"I do mind though. What's up with him?" Harry pressed on. But the teacher ignored him.

"Keep back boys. They prefer the woman's touch. Girls to the front and approach with caution." Brianna stayed back with the boys already having touch a unicorn at her last school and wanted to hear what Draco said to Potter.

"What do you think is wrong with him. You don't think the Skrewts?" Potter ask Weasley but Draco cut him off.

"Oh he hasn't been attacked, Potter, if that's what you're thinking. No he's just too ashamed to show his big ugly face." Draco drawled out causing the other Slytherins to laugh.

"What do you mean?" Harry ask sharply.

Draco put his hands inside his pockets of his robes and pulled out a folded page of newspaper.

"There you go Potter. Hate to break it to you." Draco snickered as Harry snatched the paper from him and read, some of the other boys in his house reading over his shoulder. It was a long article where Hagrid admitted to having giant blood to which Rita made him out to be dangerous and made Dumbledore out to be crazy.

"Well, I think that should put an end to the oaf's teaching career. Half giant..and there was me thinking he'd just swallowed a bottle of Skele-Gro when he was young…None of the mummies and daddies are going to like this at all…They'll be worried he'll eat their kids." Draco laughed causing Potter to turn red as a tomato.

"You-." Potter started but the teacher cut him off. "Pay Attention." she barked.

Hermione came over there a few minutes later bragging about the lesson. She caught site of Brianna and started being nosy.

"Brianna you seem to be feeling better. What happened to you when we saw Draco's dad carrying you." she ask and the others turned to look at her not knowing anything about it. But Brianna just lied perfectly.

"It's really none of your business Granger but have you ever heard of accidents. I trip on those stupid heels I was wearing and feel down a couple stairs. My Aunt and Uncle after Snape's floo call were worried and decided to take us home early for the holidays." She said and Draco smiled at how good she covered that up. Hermione just huffed and read the article Potter shoved under her nose.

A few nights later Brianna was in the potions lab helping Severus grade essay's like she did many times when they heard a banging sound and a loud wailing. Brianna clasp her hands over her ears.

"What the hell is that." she ask. Snape shrugged and Brianna followed him out the door. They past his private office on the way to see the door open.

"Some one broke into my office. Only a powerful witch or wizard could have broken my wards." he hissed relocking the door.

"Disillusion yourself." he told her and she did following him invisible towards the wailing sound that had just stopped. When they turned the corner they saw Filch standing there with his mangy cat and holding a big golden egg talking to himself.

"Filch? What's going on? What was that noise?" Snape ask.

"It's Peeves, Professor. He threw this egg down the stairs." Filch grumbled.

"Peeves? But Peeves couldn't get into my office." Snape said quietly.

"This egg was in your office Professor?" Filch ask.

"Of course not you idiot. I heard banging and wailing." Snape snapped.

"Yes, Professor that was the egg." Filch interrupted.

"I was coming to investigate."-

"Peeves threw it Professor-."

"And when I passed my office, I saw it was unlocked and open. Somebody was searching it." Snape just keep on talking over Filch.

"But Peeves couldn't." Filch said.

"I know he couldn't Filch. I seal my office with a spell none but a wizard could break! I want you to come and help me search for the intruder." Snape snapped.

"I-yes, Professor. The thing is the headmaster will have to listen to me this time. Peeves had been stealing for a student, it might be my chance to get him thrown out of the castle once and for all." Filch said.

"Filch, I don't give a damn about that wretched poltergeist, It's my office that's." Snape said but stopped abruptly. They all turned to see Mad-eye Moody limping up the stairs. He caught site of Brianna and winked like he always does.

"Pajama party is it" he growled as he approached. Brianna stifled a laugh which he saw.

"Professor Snape and I heard noises. Peeves throwing things as usual-and Professor Snape discovered that someone had broken into his off-." Filch said.

"Shut up!." Snape hissed at Filch.

"Did I hear correctly, Snape? Someone broke into your office?" Moody asked slowly. Brianna stepped forward a little and stared at Moody/Barty to see what was going to happen. She knew he had to pretend to hate Snape but she wasn't going to let it go to far.

"It is unimportant." Snape said coldly.

"On the contrary. It is very important. Who'd want to break into your office?" Moody ask.

"A student, I daresay. It has happened before. Potion ingredients have gone missing from my private cupboard…students attempting illicit mixtures, no doubt." Snape explained.

"Reckon they were after potion ingredients, eh? Not hiding anything else in you office, are you?" Moody ask and Snape's face turned angry.

"You know I'm hiding nothing Moody, as you searched my office pretty thoroughly yourself." Snape said in a dangerous voice. Brianna turned to glare hard at Moody causing him to back up a little like a kid caught stealing.

"Auror's privilege, Snape, Dumbledore told me to keep an eye." Moody tried to say.

"Dumbledore happens to trust me. I refuse to believe that he gave you orders to search my office." Snape said angry.

"Of course Dumbledore trust you. He's a trusting man. Believes in second chance. But me-I say there are spots that don't come off, Snape." he said fake eye fixed on Snape's left arm. Snape grabbed his forearm suddenly as if the mark burned him. Brianna shot Moody a deadly look that he saw.

"Go to bed Snape." Moody told him.

"You don't have the authority to send me anywhere. I have as much right to prowl around this school after dark as you do." Snape spat back.

"Prowl away then. Did you drop something." Moody said pointing to a piece of parchment on the step. Snape reached for it but Moody Accioed it before he could.

"My mistake it's mine." Moody said and Brianna knew he was lying. She raise her brow at him.

Snape's eyes darted from the egg to the parchment putting two and two together.

"Potter." he whispered.

"What's that." Moody ask.

"Potter. That egg is Potter's and so is that parchment. I have seen it before. Potter is here under his invisibility cloak." Snape snarled stretching his arms out to feel around. Brianna closed her eyes and concentrated on the thoughts around until she found Potters and whipped around to look at the space they were coming from. Moody saw her and shook his head at her telling her not to say anything.

"There's nothing there Snape. But I'll be happy to tell Dumbledore how quickly your mind jumped to Harry Potter." Moody barked.

"Meaning what." Snape ask turning back towards Moody.

"Meaning that he is very interested to know who's got it in for that boy as am I." Moody said.

"I merely thought that if Potter was wandering around it is an unfortunate habit he should stop for his own safety." Snape said trying to calm his voice.

"Got Potter's best interest at heart have you." Moody said softy. There was a staring contest for a moment.

"I think I will go to bed." Snape said curtly.

"Best idea you've had all night." Moody laughed taking the egg from Filch and climbing the stairs.

Snape started to head for the dungeons but Brianna didn't follow.

"Severus I'm going to have a word with Barty." she told him in his mind.

"Don't worry about it Brianna." Snape replied.

"Oh I don't think so." she snarled heading towards Barty's room.

"Brianna." Snape said but she cut the connection and bloke it.

Brianna went into Barty's room and sat on his desk watching the door waiting. 15 minutes later she heard the limping of Moody and stood pointing her wand at the door. Moody pushed it open and stopped when he saw Brianna there.

"My lady I can explain." he said closing the door and warding it.

"And I'd love to hear it just as soon as you change back." she said coldly. He nodded and head to the bathroom. 5 minutes later a freshly changed Barty Crouch Jr. came back taking a seat and Brianna did the same still with her wand in hand looking very much like her father Barty thought.

"Well out with it then." she hissed.

"I wasn't trying to be mean to Snape but I need everyone to believe I really am Moody. And Moody doesn't like anyone that has the dark mark." he said pouring a class of whiskey.

"and that included searching his office." she ask. And he nodded.

"Yes I have searched ever teachers. It would look odd if I left one out." he told her and she excepted that for now.

"You broke into the potions store tonight didn't you." she said and he turned his face down.

"Yes I needed more Poly Juice ingredients." he said softly.

"Why didn't you just tell me I could have gotten them with out all this fuss." she fumed jumping up causing Barty to cringe.

"I know but after what happened before Christmas I didn't know how you were doing and I didn't want to bother you." he said voice showing how angry he was about the attack.

"I am fine alright. Next time ASK ME." she yelled and he nodded.

"I sent word to your father about what happen. He was furious." Barty told her. "He told me to tell you and I quote "Don't worry child you will get your revenge on anyone that has ever done you wrong." he also said he looks forward to seeing his little one." Barty said and Brianna had a little smile on her face before it vanished.

"Tell him I look forward to it as well. Now what was the deal with Potter." she ask sitting back down.

"Apparently the retard slipped and dropped his egg causing that scene. The parchment was a map of Hogwarts which I kept incase I needed it." he told her.

"Fine. Next time." she started but he interrupted her.

"I know I'll ask for your help. Please forgive me my lady." he said and she smiled a little at how he slide off his chair and bowed at her feet.

"What the hell are you doing. I am not your master. And what's with the my lady stuff." she ask bending to help him stand in front of her.

"It is an order from your father one that all death eaters will have to follow on his return. You are his equal and will lead with him. And My lady or Princess is what we are to call you." he told her smirking at the look on her face.

"O…k." was all she said blushing a little looking at the floor. He put a finger under her chin and turned her face to look at him.

"Don't be embarrassed. You deserve respect. You are powerful and no one will have a problem bowing to you." he said sweetly. She nodded and he brushed a finger down her face before stepping back.

"You should get to bed it's late and I don't want you out at night alone." he said.

"Your right. Good night." she said making herself invisible again.

"Night." he called back as she left.

In Potions that next day Snape entered her mind.

"Brianna I don't appreciate you breaking off our connection last night and blocking me out what if you got into trouble." he scolded and she looked up at him rolling her eyes.

"You don't appreciate? Well I am sorry it annoyed you but I didn't need you yelling in my head while I was talking with him." she replied back.

"I was not annoyed I was worried." came his reply. Brianna scoffed in her head.

"Everything went fine. He explained it to me and I scared the hell out of him with my anger. Ok." she said getting annoyed herself.

"Don't get upset I just don't want anything else to happen to you." he said softly. And she sighed.

"I know but really you don't need to worry. I'm sure you have better thing to do with your time then worry about some child." she said a little self conscience.

"You are not just some child Brianna at least not to me." he told her and she blushed a little.

"Thanks." she mumbled and she heard him chuckle.

"Did he say anything else." he ask.

"Yeah he was the one that took stuff from your store for the poly juice potion. I told him next time to ask me and I'd get it for him. He also said he told my father about the attack." she said.

"and."

"Well lets just say my father was not very happy about it." she laughed.

"I'd imagine he wasn't. If he ask you for potion stuff let me know and I'll make it available for you." he said and she nodded closing the connection.