…..

As the hall cleared of students for the night, the assembled adults looked upon the ambassador again, varying expressions ranging from shock and disbelief to exasperation at the turn of events. They watched as she moved towards the end of the Ravenclaw table before turning and leaning against it. As a student, they once knew to some and others the young woman who had worked with them during various events, be it exchange programs or the apprehension of criminals. With a sigh, Ambassador Drake once more ran a hand through their short, sun-kissed brown hair slicked back with shaved sides before looking up at the adults. Her eyes shifted from one silver and the other amber to a blueish-grayish hue as she spoke again. "Ya know, usually when people see me, there's less…seeing a ghost expression and better that," gesturing to Director Bones and Auror tonks, who looked on in exasperation. " I had intended to remain and graduate…but getting dragged kicking and screaming into another war was more important. So, on that note, I'll be here for the year unless another emissary is requested. I am here not to cause conflict but to help find truth and healing. For all its faults, this school was one of the few where I didn't constantly have to reign in my abilities till the point of agony. Considering those institutions were of the mundane variant, enough said." She took a deep breath and could not stop the wince nor the unconscious movement to brace her ribs, which caused an instant response from the school matron and the director.

….

After all these years, I could read her subtle tells before injuries go untreated for too long. I sigh as I approach her, with Madame Pomfrey close behind.

" Ambassador, please, for Merlin's sake, tell me you've treated those wounds before coming here and did not ignore them again?'' The reaction on her face, looking almost sheepish and giving her a youthful look that nearly betrayed her age, reminded me of how much the world has failed these kids. They were growing up fighting a war that should not have been placed upon their shoulders. The look passed as she strained and schooled her expression before raising an eyebrow as she spoke, "When perhaps would you have liked that to occur after the raid when children were being triaged when I received an immediate notice of a team being assembled to enact a warrant, or when I rushed here to ensure that it was done without the students and staff coming to harm. Because I have been up and moving for the past 48 hours without sleep; no, I have not gotten a chance to ask doc to take a look because the survivors needed immediate care." The steel veneer that was laced with exhaustion made everyone pause once more as I looked at her for a moment before turning to professor McGonagall, " professor, would it be possible if the ambassador was given one of the empty rooms for the night along with her entourage?" As if summoned, several people waltzed through the doors as they materialized from shadow and light, assessing the assembled group before shaking their drenched cloaks and sitting down towards the middle of the hall, reclining back as if barely awake.

….

There was a moment of quiet before the revered Scott spoke once more. "Tradition that was once upheld meant that if a member of the fallen was in need, Hogwarts as neutral grounds could offer sanctuary. In times of despair, I also understood that the wards would not have let in a member, regardless of their state, if they held ill intent towards these hallowed grounds. I welcome the ambassador and the rest to reside by the will of the founders and the Hogwarts charter as long as they uphold the treaty." As she spoke, several things occurred: the group that had sat down stood and moved closer, the wixen present looked on in amazement, and a dark chuckle escaped the ambassador who straightened and stepped closer to the scot, " the treaty…the very thing that I was denied when I started here huh seems that someone remembers the fact that there used to be five houses here. Unlike Dumbledore, who found out what I was after I managed to grab hold of one of the landings after I'd been attacked and flung from the seventh floor to nearly the main hall by a group of Gryffindors and Ravenclaw the year I transferred here. Seeing as he forced a suppression cuff upon me with the threat of Azkaban if I so much as breathed a word about my assailants. I find the mention of the treaty hilarious." She paused and looked down at her forearm before rolling up her right sleeve to reveal a silver cuff that glowed faintly. " Well, will you look at that? I think that's the first time I've been able to speak about it that day. It seems the fool should have worded the parameters better." She then looked up and slightly paled at the look that passed over the visage of a member of the entourage who wore the symbol of a healer upon her lapel and radiated a subtle power under her seemingly calm veneer. There was a barely audible 'oh shit' from the ambassadors' direction before the healer spoke. "Pray tell me why this incident never had a report filed on my desk, nor was there any mention of it when I healed your injuries at the end of that year or until now. When you practically hand-picked me to be your main healer, seeing as you detest letting anyone with the moniker within five feet of you. After all these years, it better be a damn good explanation, or I'll be handing in my resignation now." The anger visible on the healer's face nearly hid the worry that showed through. As the healer and ambassador stood there, the observers witnessed a flashing of color through their seemingly mundane appearances. A single tear escaped the ambassador's eye as their eyes returned to normal.

After all these years of heartbreak, every time she was hurt, every time I felt the repercussions of her pain from my mate's Parabati bond to her, I had hoped she finally trusted me, but alas, doubt still lingers. As the tear fell, I knew that I'd not only jumped the proverbial gun but that she had tried to tell me, only to be blocked by that cursed cuff.

Drake subconsciously cleared her throat, rubbing the cropped hair on the back of her head before speaking. " Seeing as it seems as though the old goat may have worded it as if he'd always be headmaster and that it appears that Lady Hogwarts herself disagrees, I can partly remember that this damn thing existed." Pausing and looking up into the healer's eyes, her words shocked the assembled witnesses even more. "Doc, I swear on my blade and on the river Styx that I did not knowingly nor intentionally hide this incident nor the resulting injuries from you. It appears the headmaster had held on to some old war relics, and when everything happened, he made a threat that I could not ignore. If he had been severe, it would have meant the loss of any hope of peace that generations have sacrificed for. So I won't apologize for doing everything that has been forced upon me for years because if I ever decide to be selfish just once, I become worse than the scum of the earth. All because the world can not accept that I have a heart and soul. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll patch my wounds, seeing as while most forget I'm a licensed healer because, when a person is forced to be a killer, it is impossible for them to do anything else." with that, the ambassador turned and addressed the rest of the room, " there's no point in carrying on when emotions are high, and it's late. We'll continue this in the morning at a reasonable hour." sighing, she looked towards the Gryffindor head of the house, " Professor, if it wouldn't be too much trouble, could someone show us towards those rooms?" after receiving a nod of affirmative, the rouge who became an ambassador turned and walked out of the great hall, leaving an uncertain silence in their wake.