Chapter 1

Lights were popping at the edges of her periphery. The world around her had slowed to a crawl and it seemed her brain had halted all together. She found one arm moving of its own accord, reaching until it hit the door frame.

Handle. You need the handle.

She watched her hand slide down the door until her fingers curled around the cold metal of the handle and she pushed with all the weight she could muster.

I have to get out. Get out.

Once the door had swung open, the clarity of her mind started coming into sharper focus. Steam was pouring around her from the crumpled hood of the car. She could hear the hiss of the dying engine and liquid dripping onto the pavement.

GET OUT!

Within her mind, her brain was panicking, but it also seemed to be occupying a separate compartment than wherever the controls of her limbs were, because she still seemed unable to move at anything faster than a glacial pace.

No-Maj cars blow up when they get hit! Get out! What if it catches on fire! Get out! Get out!

Her shoes hit the pavement and she flung herself away from the car as ragged breaths started wracking through her body. She clutched her hand to her chest and ran the other one shakily through her hair.

Mom and dad... They're in the car!

She spun back around, her eyes piercing the front seat of the car. The windshield was gone. In fact, the entire front end was nearly gone. She wasn't sure how many times they had spun, but when they had finally come to a halt, it looked like she was the only passenger who had remained within the confines of the vehicle.

Her knees began to shake, she couldn't feel if her feet were connected to the ground anymore but her legs felt leaden. She followed the lines of the shattered windshield and scanned for her parents.

Apparated out. They were right next to each other. They apparated.

She was almost convinced, when her gaze fell upon a flutter of robin's egg blue fabric that laid in a ditch on the side of the road about 60 feet from the car.

"Mom?"

The blackness that was threatening at the edges of her periphery closed in around her vision and she felt her body hit the pavement.

Theia woke up in a hospital bed, a medi-witch bustled around the room.

"'Scuse me." Her voice was so faint, she wasn't sure if she had said it out loud or just thought about it. So she tried again, "Excuse me."

The medi-witch's head popped up from the bottled potion she had been shaking and muttering at. "OH! Dearie you're awake! Here! Drink this!" She stuck a straw into the top of the bottle and held it out in front of Theia and helped her drink from it. "There you go, that's it." Theia's eyelids felt heavy but she kept drinking the sour tasting potion. "You can go back to sleep in just a second, dearie! We need your name, do you remember your name?"

Through the fog that Theia's mind was swimming in, she remembered her voice again and croaked, "Theia. Nyx. Theia Nyx."

"Goodness. Nyx." The nurse tutted, and was fighting to keep a professionally muted facial expression while she fixed the pillows behind Theia. Theia could taste the slight panic at her name in the air around her... or maybe that was just the potion's aftertaste. "Alright dearie, we will call someone for you. Are you enrolled at Ilvermony?"

"Third year."

"Okay, now you can rest, here's something for you. Dreamless sleep. Drink up, it isn't as bad as the last one I promise." The medi-witch handed her another bottled potion with a straw and Theia began to drink. After a couple gulps, she stopped, a panic straining her addled brain.

"My parents! Mom, Dad. Where are my parents?"

"You've nearly finished the potion dear, you need to finish it for the dreamlessness to set in properly. The dreams on an unfinished dose otherwise can be quite unsettling." The Medi-Witch Academy in Boston had taught her not to stress out patients who were still recovering by answering these questions bluntly. At least not without others there to help walk her through what had happened, or someone there to comfort her at the very least. The small girl in front of her looked so distressed but she obeyed the request and finished the potion, before her head slumped onto her pillow.

My god... A Nyx. An orphaned Nyx. The papers are going to have a field day.

The medi-witches shoulders locked, and she stood up straight as she made to leave the room. No one is going to bother this poor girl. The first thing she did upon leaving the room was to notify her charge MW, privately of course- some of these new girls could be such gossips- and come up with a plan to protect the young girl's privacy. The papers were likely to swarm on the hospital once they caught wind that the wizarding couple that had perished in that crash were Mr. and Mrs. Nyx... and their eldest daughter had been in the car with them. All afternoon her mind flitted back to the hospital room where she had left Theia, and words from the report from the accident scene flashed alongside it.

'No-maj car found smoking... Windshield missing and front-end totaled... Patient appears unscathed... No injuries found.'

Unscathed... how on earth?

She checked on Theia hourly, the potion seemed to have worked, and she had given her a dose to keep her under for another 8 hours. A couple reporters, both in disguise and forthright, came in during her shift, and each of them was turned away and escorted from the premises without so much as glimpsing a corner of Theia's room.

"By order of the court of the Massachusetts Branch of the MCUSA, Miss Theia Zoe Nyx is hereby declared an emancipated citizen. She remains the Head of House to the Nyx Family and Galene Family. I declare this session ended." The gavel next to the High Wizard banged loudly while a simultaneous hiss escaped her aunt's lips. Theia didn't look, she didn't need to know how much hate was boiling over in her Aunt and Uncle's eyes. It didn't matter anymore. None of it did. She was free. Nine months later, and she was finally free.

She stood with as much poise as her 14-year-old-self could muster, and went to join Great Aunt Adrastea with Isla. Aunt Addie hugged Isla tightly and thanked her profusely over and over while Theia's eyes remained unfocused on the chaos around her. Isla glanced down at her, and drew her attention back to them.

"I can't thank you enough Isla..." Tears brimmed at the corners of Theia's eyes. She hadn't realized how happy she had been until Isla's kind blue eyes had turned down at her with a tone of gloating happiness.

"We showed them Theia, you did it honey. It was all you." Her arms swung around her into another one of her big, squishy hugs. Isla had on her familiar musky perfume and the same green robes she had been wearing when they had met all those months ago. Theia wiped the slow tears streaming down her face, and turned to Aunt Addie who was laughing and crying all at the same time. She chuckled and held an arm out to welcome the older woman into their collective embrace. All three girls hugged and laughed and made plans to finally go get some food.

It was a happy day at last. The only thing it was missing was Leon. But Theia figured she would have to get used to that. She was emancipated, but still not old enough to be his guardian. He would have to stay here. With them. She threw the thought viciously from her mind. She had won. It was over. Leon would come of age in 7 years and then he could do whatever he wanted. Then he could split the responsibility with her and not worry about them trying to weasel him into or out of anything.

When the girls slid into the booth of their favorite diner, Aunt Addie put on her 'business-face' that had always intimidated Theia as a little girl when she had visited from Britain. She knew she had something to say by the sight of that look without even having to probe the mood she was emitting into the aura around her.

"Now, one battle down. Only one last thing to sort out. You've shown great maturity my darling Theia, strength and maturity that your long line of ancestors would be proud to be represented by. Have you considered my offer?"

Theia straightened her shoulders and brought her dark eyes up to meet her Great Aunt squarely. 'Fake it until you make it' had been her mantra throughout the legal process to win her emancipation. Pretend you're okay and you're ready for this and eventually you'll start to believe it yourself.

"Yes. I'd like to. But where will I go to school... I'm a year behind now."

"Hogwarts is reputed to be the finest school of witchcraft and wizardry in the world. With your name and talent," Her look grew pointed to emphasize what she was unsubtly hinting at, "I am sure we will be able to implore Albus Dumbledore to find you a place."

Theia's throat tightened, but she knew Aunt Addie was right. He'll have to know, just like the headmaster at Ilvermony had to know. It's precautionary.

"Wait... The Albus Dumbledore? The European war hero? Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore?"

Isla's eyes were saucers as she set down her mug of coffee onto the table.

"That one precisely, yes. Theia, I can send him a letter on your behalf, but I would also suggest that you write one yourself. He may want to meet with you before accepting your transference."

"Should I ask my old Head of Thunderbird House to write as well?" Theia swirled the striped straw around in her milkshake and ran the other hand through her hair.

"Yes... brilliant my dear. Yes, I think that would be very good. He'll need your grades from Ilvermony, but a testament to your character from them would probably also help to sway him as well. Good thinking." Adrastea's eyes shown with pride for this little girl in front of her for what seemed to be the 500th time since she had come to Massachusetts to help her win her emancipation.

"See you've already got this whole 'Head of House' thing down. You know what you're doing. Trust yourself." Isla leaned over and whispered at Theia, throwing her arm around her and squeezing the petite teen.

"Alright, will you help me? Proofread I mean?"

"Of course, we are with you every step of the way."

Theia suppressed the blush at the overwhelming support and pushed down the familiar longing emotion that was riding up inside her.

"Okay, how do I look? This isn't too fancy? I don't want him to think I'm a brat... Oh my god what if I am! What if I say something wrong! What if he says no?!"

Theia was pacing again, she ran her hands over her skirt to avoid tangling them in her hair and receive another chiding from Aunt Addie.

"You're fine. Quite fine." Adrastea was smiling despite herself, she had known Dumbledore many years ago before he had sold his family's house in Godric's Hollow, and he was never one to pass up on exploring something fascinating. Thankfully, her great-niece was nothing short of fascinating. "Breathe, child."

Theia muttered like she couldn't hear anyone's reassurances. She hadn't been this nervous in her entire life. Her whole future hung on this interview. He had to like her. He was going to like her, goddamn it. She didn't realize that she hadn't been taking regular breaths until a thin hand crept its way into hers to stop her pacing.

A younger version of her grandmother's ocean blue eyes were staring up at her kindly. "You'll be great, Teetee. He'll love you." Leon was smiling at her despite the maelstrom that was wreaking havoc within her. He was always so steadying like this. He grounded her and let her catch her breath and remember where she was and who she was. He didn't really want her to leave, he just wanted her to be happy, and he knew she wouldn't be happy here, living on her own in America. She might be the head of the both of their ancient family houses, but she was only 14 and he understood that was too young to play at being a grown-up permanently.

"It's time dear. Breathe, you'll be alright. Just be honest." Aunt Addie placed her hand on Theia's shoulder as the clock struck 3 o'clock and the chimes went off around them. Theia nodded, squeezed Leon's hand, and turned to walk to the their fireplace that had been extended to travel cross-Atlantic so she could reach Hogwarts. Just before she dipped her hand into the floo powder on the mantel, she twirled around and vaulted herself into Leon's arms for one last good luck hug. He chuckled as she enveloped him in warmth that took him off guard. She was still quite small despite having stopped growing a little while back, but she was still about half a foot taller than he was. Everyone assured him he would catch up within the next couple years, but in the meantime, he was perfectly happy to receive her big hugs that felt so eerily similar to the ones their mother had given them so many countless times.

When she broke away, she still looked like the small 14-year-old girl that she was, but she was steeled, ready, to take on one of the greatest wizards of the era. Well, not literally. But so to speak.

Inside a whoosh of the strange purple flames Theia lost her breath and waited for her feet to hit the solid floor of the receiving fireplace.

The office that she stepped into once they did was... marvelous. There was absolutely no other word for it.

Trinkets, devices, and magical items were littered throughout the room. The magic of this place was so ancient and pungent, in a way that no room within Ilvermony could ever dream to achieve. She looked up and was greeted by smiling, expectant faces of old witches and wizards that resided within what seemed to be hundreds of paintings on the walls. She didn't realize what she must have looked like until she heard a small snigger across the room to her left. Reflexively, her mind reached out into the ether of the room and felt two distinct auras, one resolutely powerful, wise, and aged, Professor Dumbledore, and the other blindingly bright, strong, and had a distinctly untapped depth.

"Ah, yes, Miss Nyx. Welcome! You are right on time." The old wizard who must have been no one but Albus Dumbledore himself was smiling at Theia with twinkling clear blue eyes behind a pair of half-moon glasses. "Mr. Black, I would advise you to make your way down to the Common Room now, and make sure everyone is prepared to attend dinner. I heard that they will be serving chocolate mousse with dinner tonight." His tone of voice was with giddy with child-like excitement.

The dark-haired boy suppressed another snigger but did nothing to hide a broad smirk as he nodded at the Headmaster and excused himself from the office. He glanced at Theia as he glided across the room and she mirrored a small smirk back at him. Just as he reached the door, Dumbledore spoke again, "Oh, and Mr. Black." As the boy turned around, his long hair fell into his eyes, he effortlessly flipped it out of his face with a small sideways flick of his head. Theia's heart skipped and she swallowed harder than she should have. "I find that the simplest pleasures, such as a daily dose of chocolate, can brighten the darkest of moods and mend the greatest sores."

"Yes Professor." The boy gave another bright smirk and nodded as he backed out of the doorway and closed the door behind him, his eyes flicked to Theia inquisitively in the half a second before he disappeared behind the dark oak barrier.

Theia reluctantly turned her head back towards the headmaster, and tried not to let her nerves show on her face. She found that he was nearly as fascinating as all of the trinkets around the room. He had on deep teal robes littered with embroidered silver constellations. His long, white beard was most of the way down his chest, and he had a couple of gold and periwinkle tassels tied onto it. An image of braiding his beard like the dwarves from the no-maj fantasy books she had read last summer flashed into her head and her nerves were calmed for the moment while she tried to reign herself in from letting out a loud laugh. She let the happiness leak into her eyes as she walked up to shake his hand, and he smiled back warmly.

"It's very nice to meet you Professor Dumbledore. Thank you for having me today." Aunt Adrastea had told her not to try and charm him into liking her, that getting him to accept her lied more in getting him to be intrigued by her than in him appreciating her manners. Theia just didn't know how else to introduce herself to a grown up though, so she stuck to her comfort-zone courtesies. They appeared to be working, because Dumbledore's eyes seemed to be laughing a bit when he returned her greeting.

"Good afternoon Miss Nyx, I expect your trip here was uneventful?"

"Yes sir, it only took about an hour for the man back home to modify our floo to reach across the ocean. The purple flames were still a surprise though." Theia tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as she sat down in the chair he offered her in front of his desk.

Dumbledore chuckled at her frankness, "Yes magic can be quite marvelous at times can't it? It's the littlest things that I find to be the most surprising sometimes." A beacon of hope shone within Theia, Let me be one of them! He continued after a slight pause, and was peering at her over the top of his glasses. "So Miss Nyx, I was intrigued to see your letter requesting a transfer. Ilvermony is the forefront school in North America. It's not every day one would want to leave such a school in the middle of their educational career. Hogwarts hasn't had a student transfer in a fair number of centuries I'd expect."

"Yes sir..." Theia focused on not fumbling with her wording, she had known he would want to know why she was so adamant to come here that she would have 3 different people write letters on her behalf. She exhaled and tried not to let her voice shake, "My parents passed away last year. In a car crash. I wa-... I was with them. Um... I didn't attend Ilvermony last year and I don't have anyone to live with back in America since being emancipated, and my Great-Aunt Adrastea lives over here in Britain and she offered to take me in. But she doesn't feel up to home-schooling me. So... yea." Theia was sure no one had ever in the entire history of humanity used the word 'and' so many times in one sentence and that he was absolutely going to laugh her out of his office for being so inarticulate. But she swallowed the lump in her throat and waited for him to reply. Straighten up, it's too early for a panic attack. I just got here. Dumbledore looked very solemn, but not stern.

"Yes I believe that was reported in the paper when it happened. I am very sorry for your loss, Miss Nyx."

Theia's eyes brimmed up while she sucked in a breath and attempted to blink back the tears before they formed. She nodded her thanks and lifted up a corner of her mouth to smile at him. "Thank you sir." Her voice sounded thick. Damn it.

"I've reviewed your transcript from Ilvermony, you were a member of Thunderbird house. I have heard that the sorting process there is a bit different from our own..."

His curiosity seemed to be peaked so Theia indulged him happily at the change in topic. "Well I wouldn't know how it differs sir, but I know it's based on what Hogwarts does. I was quite nervous when I first went, not sure which house would want to choose me since my family doesn't have any propensity towards any particular house. If I'm entirely honest, I was hoping for Pukwudgie..."

"Pukwudgie? How fascinating. Why that house in particular?"

"Well my grandmother was a healer, and I rather like the idea of becoming one myself. The house represents the 'heart,' and they say that people who would be good as healers are picked by Pukwudgie. It's the house that was named and lead by the Nomaj founder."

Dumbledore's eyes lost their sparkle at the use of the word 'nomaj' in Theia's explanation. Aunt Adrastea had told Theia that he might be slightly suspicious of her due to her blood status as a pureblood and the current political climate in Britain but Theia didn't quite understand if she had said something wrong.

"Nomaj, I believe that is what we refer to as a 'muggle' over here?"

"Yes sir, my Aunt Adrastea said they mean the same thing."

"How are the current muggle relations in America, Miss Nyx?"

Theia furrowed her brow in confusion, but quickly composed herself as she answered. "We live in close proximity to Nomaj's sir, since the magical communities were built alongside the founding of the Nomaj country, we don't have established safe-communities the same way European wizarding communities exist." She thought back to when she had visited Aunt Adrastea in Godric's Hollow with her family when she was 9. She had taken them to the wizarding shops that were in the village and she was so excited that they could exist so blatantly among the Nomaj's. She had also been perplexed why all the wizards and witches she had met on that trip were dressed in such traditional magical clothes all the time... When she had asked an older couple why they were wearing wizarding robes around instead of Nomaj clothes which were easier to wear anyways, she had been confused and angered by their outraged reaction. Her parents had quickly whisked her away from that conversation before her temper ran away with her but the memory still left a sour taste in her mouth. "I don't have much experience with the British wizarding community but the attitude in America seems more... relaxed I suppose? But growing up in it makes it hard to notice I think."

"Well assessed Miss Nyx." The sparkle had returned to his eyes, but his face remained stern. "Forgive me, I must be blunt with you."

Theia stiffened and straightened herself up to her full, rather unassuming height.

"The current climate surrounding muggles and muggleborn witches and wizards by the pureblood community is growing increasingly agitated. Does your family abide by old rules and views of muggleborns?"

Aunt Addie hadn't prepared her for this question, she had said Dumbledore preferred to address things in roundabout conversations, alluding to what he was trying to get at before addressing anything head on. Which she noted as very un-Gryffindor of him. In this moment, Theia let the pure confusion flood her face while she grasped for an answer inside her head. She came up short.

"I don't know what you mean sir... I... It's not something my parents ever mentioned I don't think... I.. I can't remember them ever..." Her eyebrows were knit together in frustration with her lack of an answer. She was sure that she wasn't going to have the answer he wanted, but she was being honest. They never had mentioned anything about Nomaj's or Nomaj-born wizards. She lifted her dark eyes up to his and felt the tiniest prod against the edge of her mind.

"That is answer enough Miss Nyx." Dumbledore had held his hand up to her which stopped her reeling mind in its tracks, but he hadn't broken eye contact with her and by the time the thought occurred to her, his eyes had grown infinitesimally wider. Legilimency. Theia recognized the bewildered reaction despite the subtlety in his change in expression.

She was shocked but her mind reached out of its own accord and gauged his reaction in the aura surrounding him.

"It's called a Celestial, Professor."

Dumbledore blinked and she felt his connection to her mind break. The emotions swirling around Dumbledore included surprise, wonder, but most of all, pure, unadulterated intrigue. Regardless of how potent his emotions seemed to Theia, he remained outwardly composed, only betrayed by the dancing his eyes were doing while he wrestled with what he had just witnessed within her mind.

"I believe my aging brain is beginning to fail me, the name sounds familiar, but I haven't a clue what that entails. Would you care to enlighten an old man?"

Theia gave a winning smile, if there was a time to charm, it was now. Feed into the intrigue, Aunt Addie had told her. She would gladly oblige if it meant coming to study at this particular castle.

"It's a wizarding anomaly. My mom said it was kind of like Metamorphagi or Seers. That if a witch or wizard is born as one, they have abilities that other witches and wizards can't train or learn how to do."

"Marvelous. What are those abilities?"

"Well... I can manipulate Ether."

"Ether?"

"Umm... Yea. It's an intangible thing... the soul of the planet and the power that exists all around us. The Nomaj's call it gods or heaven or whatever. But wizards produce magic by forcing their will through the ether. When you cast a charm or transfigure an object, you're pushing your will into the ether to get the result you want. I can just also pull things out of it, which an ordinary wizard can't. Seers come the closest when they pull a prophecy out of the ether. But they can't control their access to it the same way a Celestial can."

"So this allows you to read auras the way Seers discuss them?"

"Yes... Sorry. I don't really do it on purpose. It's reflexive."

Dumbledore chuckled and leaned forward to get a better look at the small teenage witch in front of him. This was the last thing he would have ever expected, his mind was soaring as he grappled with the concept and possibilities.

"They died out though. The last one that existed was about a thousand years ago, probably around the same time that Hogwarts was being founded. She was my great, great, great, great ancestor. Iris Nyx. I would be surprised if anyone had heard of them though. They don't exist in much literature, we have the majority of the references back in the library at my house."

"I see. I deplore bragging but Miss Nyx, as you might expect, I am not your average wizard. I was overly fond of legends and magical myths in my youth, so my having heard of the term shouldn't surprise too many people I'd expect. Pepper imp?" He reached into a drawer in his desk and pulled out a small bowl of the black candies and eyed them mischievously as he picked one out and popped it into his mouth. He slid the bowl to Theia and she tentatively reached for one. After they had both enjoyed a couple of candies in amiable silence, he continued. "Is that the extent of your extra-magical abilities as a Celestial? Reading auras?" His eyebrow quirked up the tiniest bit, a challenge to see if she would lie to him. She felt like his gaze would pierce her very soul, but she could feel that he wasn't using Legilimency on her.

"No, Professor... It's a broad range of things they can do. We can pull out memories, or shades of people and events that either have happened or are very likely to. My first memory of it was when I pulled out a song that hadn't been written yet and was playing it for my little brother in his nursery so he would stop crying... Everything is connected within the ether so the Nomaj's got it right when they said time was just a concept. And... spells, I- well I can't- but there are records of Celestials being able to manipulate the path of spells cast by themselves and other wizards."

The crystalline blue of Dumbledore's eyes grew murky behind his half-moon glasses, not very many wizards were fond of hearing that their magic could be manipulated by someone else, even after they had cast it. It was a dark concept that Theia didn't particularly like to think on.

"I imagine with aging, and necessity, such profound abilities will come to you."

"Perhaps sir."

"Again Miss Nyx, do forgive my bluntness. These are growing to be troubling times and your branch of extraordinary magic cannot be denied. It would make you a very valuable, and therefore coveted, asset in the coming war."

"By which side are you referring to, sir?"

Dumbledore chuckled, "Why both of course, Miss Nyx." His expression sobered and Theia tried to remain steady, "Coming to Hogwarts could very well put you in more danger than any sane person might be comfortable with."

Theia chewed on the inside of her lip as she fought with how to phrase this properly.

"I would say that I understand Professor... but I don't imagine many 14 year olds do."

"Wisely said my dear."

Theia held her breath, the decision was coming, she could feel him mulling it over in front of her. She held his gaze with as much dignity as she could gather and when she felt the tiniest prods to the front of her mind again, her mind flew into the ether between them as she tried to drop any and all inadvertently placed shields it had constructed around her. Please find what you need to say yes. Please. I have no where else to go...

After what felt like the passing of an eon, Theia's breath caught in her throat as he finally spoke, "I shall have my Deputy Headmistress send you an owl with a list of school supplies you'll need for the coming term, if you would be so kind as to forward your address on this continent over to us. You'll be starting your third year here with us. I'll arrange for your sorting on the first night of term separately from the first year's ceremony."

"Thank you sir!" Theia's eyes brimmed again, and she choked back the urge to ball with every fiber of her being. Don't cry you ninny! He'll take it back!

They stood up and he walked her back to the fireplace for her to floo back to America and tell her Aunt and brother the good news. Just as they stepped in front of the fireplace, Dumbledore cleared his throat, "One last thing Miss Nyx," Oh my god... He was kidding. I'm too dangerous. It was a trick... "Any student, who finds it in their heart to try, will always find a home at Hogwarts."

"Thank you sir. Truly." Theia gave him a heartfelt, watery-eyed smile and chuckled at her own absurdity. He smiled warmly down at her and gave her a small pat on the back as she reached for a handful of floo powder. She spoke her home address clearly, and stepped into the purple flames.

Holy shit... I'm going to Hogwarts.