Disclaimer: Anything that rings a bell is JK Rowling's.

Chapter 76: All's fair in love and war, or is it?

Ky's POV

"Ky?"

Mi rubbed her eyes and straightened up in her bed, she glanced at the clock on her bedside, "It's two in the morning. Are you just getting in from your lab now?"

"I can't do it."

She looked at me in confusion, "Can't do what?"

"The whole average thing-"

"Oh Ky, we've been through this already."

"No, no I spoke a whole load of bullshit." I paced beside her bed, "What was I even thinking…I've never been normal…"

She rubbed at her eyes and straightened up, neatening her dishevelled hair into semblance of order by a hair tie. "Of course not, you're very special. You'll always-"

"Ugh you know what I mean. I'm not talking about being 'special'." I said the word with derision. "I'm talking about normal. About average. I'm talking about C's…I've never gotten a B before."

She frowned down at me, "Since when did you care about marks?"

"Never. I've never ever cared about marks. Because I've never ever had to before…believe me, I'm just as surprised." I stared at the scarlet drapes, riddled in my introspective realisation. "I guess…I do give a damn about status and such…about all those things that I thought didn't matter."

"It's OK to be ambitious Ky. You speak as if it's the worst quality in the world." Her voice echoed in offence in the quiet dorm.

"Well yes, it's all well and good to realise ambitions but to find them out of reach-"

"They're not out of your reach. They're just…on standby. The OWLs are not the most important exams for our career, it's the NEWT's. The OWLs are just prep. Even if you just pass, it's OK, as long as you keep your magic. And then cover up in the NEWT's."

"I thought that…I did, but it's easier to think it…isn't it? If you were-"

"Ky, you know that isn't a fair question, we're not the same. I hold much more regard to grades than you do, obsessively so, it's not a healthy quality to possess, you on the other hand. You're so confident and sure of yourself, you don't need to measure yourself by any universal standard."

I stood up frustrated and paced beside her bed, "Because I've never had to! Don't you get it Mi! I never had to measure myself by a universal standard because I was born with an advantage! I only developed this nonchalance because I've being playing a game with an unlevelled playing field…in my favour! The game is a lie! It's played me! I'm not confident! How can I be when all my confidence was harnessed by skills I thought I possessed but in reality, it's all just luck…genetics…a twist of DNA that allows me to possess more power than everyone else! I've been cheating this whole time! But at the same time, I'm acclimatised to winning…the playing field has been evened out and the tables have turned yet I…still want to win!"

I didn't want to look at her and stared at the drapes instead; she'd be horrified to know the truth that I myself found out hours ago, that I was this egotistic! I couldn't stand the look on her face after my self-aggrandisement!

"Ky, your grandfather would be proud of you irrelevant of the results. He doesn't measure it by the quantity, but by the quality, and beating all odds and keeping hold of your magic would make him proud beyond measure."

"Who said anything about Nonno? This has to do with me and the realisation that I am an arrogant pig." I looked down to find her looking at me sympathetically.

"Those examiners opinions do not matter. The world's opinion do not matter. You ARE Albus Dumbledore's granddaughter whether you wield a wand like him, or not. Because you wield a weapon much greater than that, a weapon he has always kept in his arsenal. The ability to love and trust and comfort and protect."

I slowly sat down, lifting my knees up and resting my chin on them, the denial disappearing before it could even reach my lips… when did I ever have to lie to her…why start now?

"They won't say it…they won't say how much I'm like him…they won't say it because they won't see it and their blindness would hurt…to see me as a Dumbledore…it matters more than I thought…much more."

I heard a rustling and the bed sigh and Mi stood before me, "There's nothing I can say?"

I shook my head and shrugged, "I guess I'm shallower than you thought."

"I don't think you're shallow. I actually find this quite humanising; I never thought Ky Thornton feared a single thing."

I rolled my eyes, "I guess I fear failure…you've rubbed off on me."

She laughed but shook her head, "No, not failure. You fear repudiation. And to fear repudiation means to strive for acceptance. Something you need not strive for as you already have it."

"Not from everyone."

"Ky you're never going to be accepted by everyone! That notion is astral to the highest degree."

"Then I am a dreamer. I am a dreamer who seeks an ignorant notion out of an irrational fear to accomplish a feat deemed impossible."

She sighed and sat next to me, forehead lying against my shoulder, "Yet here I am…backing the venture of a dreamer. So, Ky, what part do I play in this dreamer's quest?"

"Like all my ventures Mi, you're the navigator. I need direction on a subject you're quite the prodigy in."

"Godric, you want me to teach you how to study, don't you?"

I sighed and lay my head against hers, "I guess Minnie will finally get what she always wanted. For me to fulfil that latent potential she's always rattling on about."

"So, you really want to do this. Make an effort? Try?"

"I spent the last six hours writing the five essays that were due last week and plan on finishing the ones due this week by daybreak, so my year mark won't bring my examination mark down. I think that can be defined as trying, right?"

"And when do you plan on sleeping?"

"Sleeping? Sleep is for the weak. And the dead. And I'm neither."

"Carry on the way you are, and you'll become either. But I know better than to try and talk any sense into you. I, on the other hand, am weak, and therefore must get some sleep. So kindly remove your body from my bed." She pulled the sheet from underneath me and turned away from me.

I knew she would disapprove. But I still had to tell her in advance so she wouldn't nag me about resting and decreasing my workload. I stood and grabbed my bag, heading for the common room, optimistically hoping that Harry would take the news better when I informed him of my decision to end my recently reinstated 'go with the flow' approach in just a day…

-x-x-x-

"Harry-"

"Shush!" I glared at his response, and he raised his eyebrows, "Oh, are you the only one in this relationship that's allowed to get the other up and pull them off to unknown destinations at the dead of night?"

"According to my recollection there was no unjustified disarming and then brutal manhandling!"

"Manhandling? Manhandling? You're my girlfriend, I'm carrying you!"

I glared at Ernie McMillan and Hanna Abbot as they giggled past us, "You've got me over your shoulder like some ignoramus!" I wriggled in the arch of his elbow; his grip was considerably tighter than it was when he lifted me all those months ago in Grimauld Place. "Have you been working out or something?"

I could only see the silhouette of his face in the dark corridor, but I didn't need any illumination to know he was blushing, I could feel his neck get hotter at my waist, "If you continue wriggling, you will fall. Do you want that?"

"Yes!"

With the absence of heat from his body and the sudden cold air of falling I watched the cold stone floor get closer and closer.

"Wingardium pendiosa."

I glared up into his amused green eyes as I hovered about half a meter off the floor, he held his hand out to me and I turned my nose up at him,

"You do know the spell breaks in 14 seconds, you have about 3 left, take my hand. 2, 1…"

I felt the release of magic and prepared myself for the impact on my back, but it never came. Harry rose from his kneeling position, me securely in his arms with an annoyed expression on his face.

"You really are the most stubborn woman on the planet! What if I didn't catch you? You could have really hurt your back!"

"Well, you're the one that tossed me to the floor in the first place!"

"Because you wouldn't just follow me! Why does everything have to be such a battle with you!"

"If you want a walkover for a girlfriend-"

"If you bring Cho up in this Ky, I will drop you and this time I WONT catch you!"

"Nobody is asking you to carry me!"

"It's the only way I can get your stubborn arse to go where I want you to go!"

"What you call stubborn, I call tenacious."

"Tenacious! Tenacious! Then damn your tenacity, Ky!" I wobbled slightly as my foot hit the ground as he let me down and righted myself quickly.

We were standing in the middle of one of the deserted dungeon corridors, "You haven't slept in two days! Nor have you eaten a thing! Fuck tenacity! It's insanity!"

"Oh, for the last time, I did sleep! And I am eating!"

"A forty-five-minute nap during History of Magic is not sleep! And you've missed dinner for the last three days!"

"The OWLs start in three days! Do you know how much catching up I have to do! I've been in the Wing for some of the most critical parts of the year, Harry! I've just managed to catch up, not to mention I have to still practice my magic nonstop!"

"Godric Ky, just relent! For fuck sakes!" He grabbed my shoulders and shook me, "What's the use of doing well if you make yourself sick whilst doing so! It was OK when it was about getting your magic, that was fine, but now you're not just biting off more than you can chew, you're swallowing it whole!"

I shoved his hand from my shoulder, "Just get off my back Harry! You don't understand!" I pushed past him and walked down the corridor.

"Because I don't have any expectations to live up to? There's no pressure on me to do well? To follow in my parents' footsteps, who admittedly are not as herculean as Dumbledore's but they're quite prodigious still."

I turned around, meeting him angry feature for angry feature, "You've already proven yourself! More than enough! How many times did you face Him? Three? Four? What have I done? Nothing."

He grabbed my elbow, his features exceeding my own in anger, "Don't talk like that! Be glad that you've never had to face Him! I would consider it my greatest achievement in life to keep you as far away from Him as possible!"

I sighed and my lip trembled, the anger leaving me at the pained look on his face. I looked down, shaking my head, "I know. I know that you don't do those things to prove yourself…that they just happen…it's just…Linus and Len are out there fighting! Even Sev complimented their skills…all those people expect the same of me, as a Dumbledore. I can't live with that disappointment."

"Who cares what strangers say? Fuck them, right? This whole year you've been telling me that! Every single time another farfetched story surfaces about me, you tell me that. As long as the people who matter hold you in good regard, then who cares for the rest?"

I averted my eyes, hating that he was using my very own words against me. It's different though, those insipid Daily Prophet reporters were different from the most notable academics of this century.

"Ky…nobody could experience five seconds in your company and not know you are a Dumbledore. That has nothing to do with your magic and everything to do with the aura that resonates from…" He blinked taking a deep breath, "from here."

He raised my hand enclosed in his own, to my heart. He stared at the action for a few moments and for once words failed me at the intensity of the stare, he slowly raised his eyes to my own, emerald green bright, disarming in its sincerity.

"I am in complete and utter awe of you." He lowered his hands to my elbows and brought me closer to him. He opened his mouth, but the words seemed to fail him. He looked down, leaning his head down on my forehead.

"I thought finding out about Hogwarts would be the last of the great surprises in my life… that no moment in life could ever compare to the moment I learned of magic. The moment I learned what I truly was. And then that moment was pushed easily into second place by the moment you fell into my life. Then further into third when you kissed me for the first time, and then fourth when you told me... those words. And I just know, life with you, a future with you, one day that moment, which I placed right at the top, would be pushed right to the hundredth place. Because the only thing better than the moment that I learned of magic, is the moment I learned of love. And who could teach a lesson like that but a Dumbledore, Ky. I love you. I am in love with you."

I looked up at his green eyes, my mouth hanging open in complete amazement at the words he just spoke. He smirked and captured my lips, changing the kiss from sweet to stormy with a few flicks of his fine skilled tongue. I laughed as he trailed his way down my neck, "You don't fight fair Potter."

I felt his Adam's apple bob at my chest as he laughed silently and ran my hand through his hair as his lips found their goal. He covered my mouth with one hand stifling the gasp he knew to expect and worked his way down my tummy with his other hand. Five minutes later my limbs relaxed, and I sighed in contentment.

"Just when I thought your tongue would be used solely for sweet nothings in our future, you tastefully proved me wrong."

He laughed, "I pour my heart out to you, and you only appreciate the aftermath. I feel so used."

I pulled him by his belt and gave him a quick kiss, "You're about to feel a whole lot more used."

He laughed and pushed me away slightly, but his grip stayed steadily on my arms, "Maybe we should take this somewhere else. Deserted these parts of the dungeons are at night we did see Hannah and Ernie patrolling just now, and we're in the middle of quite a brightly lit corridor and I don't think I would be able to pay attention to the sounds of footsteps when you…ahhhh."

"Nox." I cast the spell with my left hand, but it worked fine, "There, we're in the dark."

"Well yes but…ahhhh…"

I smiled, trailing kisses down his neck as I lowered myself slowly. I honestly didn't care if Hannah and Ernie appeared again. Nothing could spoil this moment, as my knees hit the ground I heard his voice echo in the darkness, "I love you, Ky."

Harry lazily opened his eyes a few minutes later and I smiled up at him, buttoning up my shirt, which I honestly didn't even know how it popped opened in the first place. "Not that I'm complaining…but why did you bring me down to the dungeons, the Tower would- "

"Fuck!" His eyes widened and he grabbed my hand, dragging me down the corridor, "I made an appointment for you to meet McGonagall and Snape in his office!"

"You did what!"

"I was worried, I thought they could talk some sense into you!"

"Talk sense into me! Harry! I can't believe you tattled on me to Sev and Minnie! You sneaky- "

He stopped outside Sev's door, an apologetic grin on his face, "Remember that time five minutes ago when I said I love you. Remember it. Keep the memory there." He rapped at the door and kissed me on my cheek quickly, dodging passed me and walking to the stairs, "See, all better now, right?"

"No! No, it is not all better! You can't just leave me to- "

"Bane! You're fifteen minutes late! My goodness, look at you! You're pale as death! But your face has a receding flush, do you have a fever. Look at your hair; you haven't brushed it for days have you! Have you even showered! Look at you, you're skin and bone! Thank Godric Harry called us, get inside young lady! Severus conjure some 'sandwiches! I cannot believe the level of irresponsibility being displayed…"

I let Minnie drag me into Sev's office, turning to glare at the twinkling green eyes that floated almost disembodied in the darkness. I caught the thin-lipped smile just before the door closed. I let Minnie natter at me nonstop save for the scattered two knut insults that Sev interjected with for the next hour.

"What pray tell is there to be smiling about, Bane?"

"Absolutely nothing Zia Minnie. May I go?"

"Go? Not until you promise to- "

I nodded my head, not knowing what on earth she was saying. All I could hear was, "I love you, Ky."

The sneaky devil… how am I supposed be angry at him for this after he said that. He definitely did not fight fair…whoever said all's fair in love and war did not find them self in love with one Mr Potter…

-x-x-x-

"Ladies first." I rolled my eyes at the excessive gesture from Dean and walked through the Great Hall. He seemed offended on my behalf by the fact that Lucren Thicknesse had flounced in once our names were called out, without even a glance of acknowledgement to either of us. He was now determined that the blonde boy take a lesson on etiquette from the master himself. His lesson was lost as Thicknesse looked as phased by Dean's opinion of him as a butterfly to the matter of religion.

"Ahhhh, good day Miss Thornton." I smiled up at Professor Marchbanks, whose easy smile faltered when she took me in at her own leisure. "Are you well, Miss Thornton?"

"Just peachy Professor Marchbanks. Just the last vestiges of the seasonal flu…" As Minnie ranted three days ago, I looked sickly. As if I hadn't eaten in a month and hadn't slept for longer.

Whilst I was too preoccupied to eat or sleep when catching up with my work, it was nowhere near the amount of neglect my body appeared to be displaying. After Harry's convincing, I made sure I ate three meals and slept for at least three hours daily, which was all I was going to relent on. I was nowhere near replenished; but I think everyone was exaggerating the matter.

I just looked like Luna, pale and thin… and I only looked paler because of the contrast with my dark hair which I didn't have time to wash as regularly as I did before (and that was nothing to boast about) and almost everyone had bags under their eyes! It's exam time! Who looks resplendent? But did anyone else get a note forcing them to go and see Madam Pomfrey? No, they did not! I've been taking so much Vitamix I'm surprised I haven't turned into a vegetable as yet.

She nodded, yet her expression still seemed unsettled, "Why don't we begin with the levitation charm." She gestured at the goblet in front of me and I nodded. I looked at the clear crystal, grateful that it wasn't the gilded gold ones we used in the dining hall and recited the incantation in my head. It rose steadily in a straight line, floating from left to right when it reached the level of her lips. There was a difference between the levitation charm and the hover charm; if it remained steady it would become the latter.

She nodded without comment, the only thing that displayed that she was impressed by my wandless and non-verbal use for spell casting was the vanishing of the look of unsettlement in her eyes. "Please, change the colour to gold."

I smiled; this was a trick. What she wanted was for me to make the clear crystal goblet gold in colour which can easily be misconstrued as changing the crystal material into gold metal which would be a branch of transfiguration. I didn't need to concentrate much as the goblet took on a gold colour, she tapped the glass, feeling that it was still crystal and looked back up at me, "Make it so a giant would be able to drink in it."

I thought of the question, one would think that all that meant was to use an engorgement charm, but no. To enable a giant to drink from this goblet I would need to do more than make it bigger. I stared at the glinting crystal and watched as it grew larger, stopping at about a meter in height. She flicked her wand, the goblet whistled past my head but there was no sound of crashing crystal on cold stone. I knew the durability charm would work, giants were a clumsy bunch, you'd never find crystal on their dinner table. I growled inwardly when I felt the familiar pull on my chest, trying and failing to stifle the cough.

"Would you like a glass of water, Miss Thornton?"

"No thanks." I coughed out, ignoring her shrewd look. She sighed, "Summon the goblet."

I coughed, having to use my wand this time and summoned the goblet with ease. The coughing still didn't stop. "Shrink it and fill it with water."

"Translatio Arguamenti." I couldn't manage non-verbal and wandless magic in this state.

"Drink it." I looked up at Professor Marchbanks and she gave me a stern glare so akin to Minnie's that I took the goblet without complaint. It did help the coughing to subside, and I placed it down. She picked up the goblet and smiled for the first time, sniffing at the water. "Raspberry?"

"I figured you would have me drink it." I liked raspberry flavoured water, so the spell was actually a transference of water from the Kitchen's downstairs. The transference charm only works if you know where the exact location of the desired material is, and I knew where Kink's kept my water. She didn't specify what water she wanted, Arguamenti would have been fine but I hated drinking Arguamenti water as it was just liquefied water vapour and it left a funny taste in the mouth, but as it stands, one didn't use the water spell for drinking unless it couldn't be helped.

"I see…" She smiled as she shifted the papers around, "It was your grandfather's preferred choice as well. Thank you, Miss Thornton, good day." She nodded to me in dismissal, and I turned on my heel, happy that concerned look that graced her face upon my arrival had left her.

I opened the door and saw a jet of black hair in my periphery as I sprinted into the girls' toilet, spitting out the blood that I had accumulated in my mouth whilst coughing. I opened the tap and splashed my face with water, grateful I managed to prevent her seeing this weakness at least, the coughing was enough as is.

I looked up into my ghostly reflection, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. I pushed the oily hair out of my face and my eyes looked so dark in the poorly lit restroom, it appeared black.

I laughed out loud into the mirror, scaring a second year into running out without washing her hands. It seemed I was trying so hard for everyone to see me as a Dumbledore…but ironically, I ended up looking like Kyrianna Snape…

-x-x-x-

I walked into the dorm and tossed my bag onto the floor, heading for the bookshelf to get the notes I needed on Venomous plants. I changed the drapes from scarlet to green to gold as I searched for the right textbook. I couldn't have my magic fail me in the defence exam tomorrow.

"A bit ostentatious, isn't it?" I dropped the book and turned around; his midnight blue eyes twinkled down at me as he held the golden drape in the palm of his hand.

He let it go as I bounded on him, and he hugged me back just as fiercely. For the past few days, the only thought that crossed my mind aside from studying was where the boys were.

"Len-"

"Len is well. He'll be arriving at HQ in half an hour actually. I just got in myself, five minutes ago."

I pulled back, taking in his form after the initial shock of his appearance. "What happened here?" I pushed his blue collar aside and saw the burned skin splayed across his already scarred chest, it continued along to his back from what I could see.

"I'm OK, the package may be a little damaged but the goods are in working order. I hope I can say the same for you." His thumb touched my cheek and I saw him flinch at the bony texture where it was once bright and full.

"I'm OK." I held his hand to my cheek and kissed the palm, so grateful to know my brothers were well. I closed my eyes, thanking the universe for his return.

"I can't be long. Fawkes will be back any second. I just needed to see that you're well. I have to admit, I'm not entirely pleased. I would have been here a week earlier…but…well, I was delayed. This is from the Old Man." He pushed the parchment into my hand, and I took it without looking down at it. He glanced outside, "I have to go." He pulled me to his body, "I love you so much Ky, you will never know how sorry I am for ever making you take that potion. I am so sorry."

"Linus, it's OK, I understand-"

With a flash of flames he disappeared. I would have been shocked if not for the single scarlet feather that floated down onto the floor. It was hard enough breaking the wards surrounding Hogwarts, I doubt it could be kept down for a long duration, and probably was only possible because of Fawkes' magic. I slowly lowered myself onto the bed behind me, busying myself with reading the note.

My Dearest Kyrianna,

I know this letter will find you in good stead, I have complete faith in both Minerva and Severus, not to mention Masters' Potter and Weasley, and of course Miss Granger.

I doubt anything I say in this letter would bring you as much joy as the sight of your brother, but I feel I would be failing in the duties of your grandfather in not wishing you the best of luck for your examinations.

I know the circumstances are not what you expected but I must say cucciolo, I could not possibly be prouder at the hard work I know you are displaying at keeping your magic alive. That to me is greater than any quantifiable achievement, but I am mesmerized by your tenacity and only hope that I take a leaf out of your book, the next time I am faced with a situation where the odds are tumbling upon me.

I need not inquire about anything at Hogwarts, for of course, all is well, as I have left my most capable young lady on the job.

I miss you.

I love you.

Your Nonno.

I clutched the letter in my hand and stared out the window, hoping to see the flash of flames again that would bring my Nonno back. It never came, but there was a flame lit at the pit of my stomach…warming me from the inside… as I read his words again and again… until sleep claimed me, the book on Runes lying forgotten on the floor.

A/N: I know a lot of people think making a character 'gifted' is a Mary Sue cop out, but I hope what the story is showing is that even if you have natural advantages, you still have to put in the hard work to actually achieve your dreams. Ky is guilty of being pretentious at times, and craves validation for her skills, but she's also sixteen and sees the world in a very black and white way. Also, I didn't set out to write the perfect character – she's very flawed, but there can be beauty in that! What do you think of her as a character – now that you know her better?

I hope you enjoyed the surprise appearance by Linus at the end!

Kalina