Vivian pulled her cloak close against the chill as she waved Lily goodbye. She took a deep breath in trying to steel herself against the loneliness that was already seeping in. The hallways were quiet. Goosebumps started to cover her arms. Her breath came out as small puffs of white as she quickened her pace towards the Gryffindor common room. A barely audible hiss had her all, but sprinting down the last corridor. Panting she collapsed on the couch.

"Didn't know you'd be that excited to come see me," Sirius joked, causing a small squeak to escape from Vivian. She sat back down reclining back against the couch's cushioned armrest.

"It's just you."

"Just me? I'm hurt" Sirius teased holding a hand to his heart, "Almost seems like someone was chasing you." He added glancing towards the door.

"It's just…creepy I guess. I thought my house was creepy, but the school takes it to a whole new level." She shrugged trying to brush off the unease that had filled her only a moment ago. The fire crackled nearby slowly warming the chill that had worked its way into her bones. She watched the flames dance for a while before realizing how safe she'd felt once she realized Sirius had been there. At least she wouldn't be completely alone, though a part of her was slowly becoming more and more mortified at the fright she'd had. She had squeaked! Squeaked like a mouse! She'd even ran like a little kid afraid of the dark.

Sirius sat back to lounge sideways in one of the armchairs.

""It's refreshing, in a way. To know there are other crappy parents out there. Not that I'd wish it on anyone of course, but nice to know I'm not alone. Cookies? The elves left them. Probably taking pity on the ones left behind." He rambled before pushing a tray with a few cookies of various types. "I didn't think anyone else would be here so I may or may not have eaten most of them."

"That was nice of them." Vivian smiled thinking of her own house elf before taking a bite out of a warm chocolate chip cookie. When she was small she'd once tried to give Mardar a scarf. The poor house elf had almost fainted before adamantly refusing. She reached out and snagged a pillow off the floor before pulling her legs underneath her. Leaning back she relaxed and enjoyed the warm treat.

"I think one of the main things death eaters have in common is their sense of superiority." Vivian said rather out of the blue. "They think they are better and that muggles, specifically, are less. I don't know if Sev really believes that, but he might hate his father enough to convince himself of it. I also believe," she looked up to give him a hard stare, " Your and Jame's bullying drives him to want to be more powerful no matter the means." Sirius frowned at her moving to sit up properly.

"Everyone has hardships. It's his choice to use the dark arts to become stronger rather than through hard work."

"Not everyone can become strong simply because they try hard enough," Vivian took a breath in, "Let's agree to disagree there. We can focus on his viewpoint on muggles. Give it some thought." She stood up and headed to the girls' wing. Her head was pounding almost as hard as it had the day of her first dream. At least she'd be alone for it. She was asleep almost as soon as her head touched the pillow.

A young girl walked down an empty corridor clutching a black book to her chest. The sound of a snake coming through the walls. The girl began to run, bursting into what must have been a girls bathroom at the school before hurdling the book into a stall. The dream shifted. A boy stood in the same bathroom standing in front of the sinks before speaking in a language she wouldn't soon forget. The scene shifted again. The boy stood face to face with a snake larger than she believed possible. A monster taken straight out of a child's worst nightmare. Images blurred. Now the boy was beside a collapsed girl. He took one of the snake's fangs and plunged it into the book. Another boy's scream echoed in her head.

Vivian sat up panting. A scream stuck just within her throat. Looking around hastily she realized she was alone and for the first time she was grateful for it. She quickly grabbed her notebook from its drawer and wrote the contents of her dream. They seemed to slip away even as she hurried to write them. Closing it she looked around again. The once cheerful room seemed to foreign, full of shadows. Quickly she threw on her robe before running down the stairs, taking two at a time.

"Whoa there! There will be plenty of food at dinner. If there's something you want I'll help you elbow your way through the crowd." Sirius teased leaning against one of the bookshelves. Vivian smiled. She slowed her pace back to a walk. The tension from their earlier disagreement seemed forgotten, at least at the moment.

"If there's someone I'd have to fight over food with it would be you. The way the four of you eat is something else." She teased back before heading out the door.

They were just about to reach the Great Hall Vivian caught sight of Severus.

"Sev! I hadn't heard that you'd be staying." She smiled jogging up to walk next to him. From his behavior she'd assumed he'd stay. He shrugged half heartedly, "It was a last minute decision. Mum thought it would be best." Vivian thought for a moment pausing before the Great Hall doors.

"Well since you have the time, would you be up for tutoring me in potions? I heard we won't be partnered next semester and without Lily I'm likely to blow something up."

Severus hesitated, glancing over at the Slytherin table, before finally answering, "I think I can make that work. The library is still open."