Harry Potter and the Child of Night

Professor Sibyll Trelawney practically skipped on her way down to breakfast. The school year was over and she had her old job back. And, what with Dumbledore's return and that awful woman's departure, not even the that she had to share her position with a centaur could deflate her good mood. Her mood was so good, in fact, she had even decided to join her co-workers that had not left the school for holiday yet at breakfast.

She slowed her step and attempted an ethereal glide into the room. She looked ridiculous to the rest of the room's occupants, but Trelawney didn't notice their exasperated looks. She simply smiled airily at them as she lowered herself into a seat about halfway down the table from Dumbledore.

"Good morning, Sibyll," the Headmaster said cheerily as he attempted to jam a roll around his beard, which was falling back down from where he had flung it over his shoulder. "I trust you slept well?"

Trelawney nodded gracefully as she began to fill her plate with various breakfast foods. "Why yes, Dumbledore. Thank you. In fact I had a wonderful dream last night."

Snape snorted as McGonagall said, "Really, Sibyll? And who had the pleasure of dying this time? Or should I ask how?"

Trelawney sniffed in annoyance, but otherwise ignored the older woman, "Actually, I dreamt that You-Know-Who was finally vanquished and we had lost no more innocent souls in the battle."

Hopeful smiles lit around the table, though sadness colored the eyes of theirs owners. Taking the momentary silence as a sign of her co-workers' belief in her dream, Trelawney began to butter her own roll.

"That was a nice dream," McGonagall told her gently. Tears shone faintly in her eyes and Dumbledore offered her a handkerchief.

"Yes," groused Snape without much expression. "It was a nice DREAM, but it really is a doubtful one. When the Dark Lord goes, he will take many wizards with. Possibly even Potter." A corner of the dour Potions Master's mouth lifted slightly, though whether it was in anticipation of this occurrence or in dread of it, only he could say.

Trelawney frowned at him, "But my prophecy said that only one of them must die in the final battle."

Snape shook his head at the oblivious woman and scowled, "No, the prophecy only states that not both can live at the same time. It never says that ONLY one will die."

Trelawney's eyes narrowed as gasps sounded from the other teachers and the thin seer opened her mouth as if to speak, but no words issued forth. Her magnified eyes opened wide behind her thick glasses and the pupils dilated. A true unearthly air surrounded the woman and Dumbledore hurriedly leaned forward to listen as a voice that had only been heard twice before from between her lips split the morning's left over lazy air.

"FROM ANOTHER REALM SHE'LL COME...VIOLET WILL BE HER LIGHT...THIS IS THE CHILD OF DEATH...SHE MAY RESCUE WHAT IS LOST...THE HEART OF A PRINCESS COMBINES WITH A PRINCE...THEY CAN SAVE US ALL FROM THE ENEMY UNSEEN..."

Trelawney slumped in her seat and blinked repeatedly, "What was I saying?"

Stunned silence greeted her question, broken only by the soft chuckles of the Headmaster, "You were just receiving a raise, Sibyll." McGonagall shot Dumbledore a look full of questions, but remained silent as he shook his head and stood. "If you'll excuse me, I'll go make a note of it."

Trelawney grinned happily and began to eat her breakfast.

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Zasha Nox scowled at the stack of books she was currently kneeling before. She was 28 years old and a college graduate, but, due to an economic decline and some unknown family member gracing her with a curse to forever look fifteen, she was also an employee at the local Barnes and Nobles. Granted, she had just made Assistant Manager, but she should have been made that years ago with all the work she put in. Not to mention the fact that she didn't really want to be here. Six years ago, she had thought her high grades and the supposedly recovering economy would help her get a job in a school somewhere, allowing her teach and go the alternate route to achieving her certificate, but nothing had turned out the way she'd planned.

Focusing on English had been her mistake, she realized now. At the time, she had thought it would only help her know her subject better, but no one wanted a teacher that had never taught before. And being a good student and hard worker didn't help you when legislators were lying through their teeth about the progress the economy was making just to keep their own jobs. It had taken Zasha a year simply to find the job she held now, never mind a better one where she didn't have to face people who thought they could push her around because she looked both young and was an employee of the store.

Zasha stood and shoved a couple of books into place on their selves, muttering, "If they economy is improving so much, how come I haven't noticed it?"

"Because you're not very observant," questioned a voice from behind.

"Guess so," Zasha sighed, turning around to face her co-worker. "What's up, Kali?"

Kali Taylor was a dark-skinned blonde with the eyes so deeply blue that they were almost a light purple. The girl was only 20 and still a student at the near-by university, but Zasha always thought that she was still in high school with her rebellious attitude. Of course, some never did lose that attitude, just look at her first college roommate, Jordan Birke. She couldn't keep a job if it was attached to her rump.

"Not much," Kali replied cheerily. "I just wondered if you'd like to go to a club tonight with some of the girls?"

Zasha frowned, her own unnaturally deep blue eyes narrowing in irritation, and pushed back a lock of bright red hair. She knew why Kali wanted her to go. "The girls," as Kali liked to call them, were four co-workers just slightly younger than Kali herself. They liked Zasha to tag along when they were going somewhere so that they could check out the atmosphere for underage drinkers and have an ID to get drinks with even if the place wasn't amiable to serving them.

Still... It would be nice to get out of the house. Her mother was having a "guest" over and Zasha knew she would be probably stuck in her room all night if she didn't go.

"What club," Zasha asked quietly. "And until when? I'm not staying out late. I help open tomorrow."

Kali grinned, knowing she had Zasha exactly where she wanted the other woman, "That new one, down by the university. I think it's called "Island Dreams." They're having a Ladies' Night Out special as long as we arrive by 10."

Zasha hesitated a moment and nodded, knowing she would regret this all later. "Alright. I meet ya'll there at 9:30. Good enough? But we leave by 12:30! I have to work, don't forget."

Kali nodded enthusiastically at the reminder, and then stopped and lowered her head sheepishly. "Can I get a ride with you back to my dorm afterwards? I promised my roomie I wouldn't walk home alone."

Zasha nodded, knowing, as Kali's roommate obviously did, that if someone didn't escort the girl home, she'd never make it there. She smiled half-heartedly as Kali squealed, gave her a quick hug and ran off back towards the registers. With another sigh and a tightening of her ponytail to ensure her long hair stayed out of her way, Zasha turned back to her books, grudgingly filing them away.

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Zasha sighed as she stood waiting in front of the club. So far, no one had arrived, but it was only just 9:30 and they had a talent for being late. At least the area seemed safe enough and she'd been able to find a near-by lamp to stand under. The only drawback to waiting this night was the fact that her feet were killing her in her high heels and she had to share the small circle of light with a smoker who had no idea how disgusting Zasha found having smoke blown in her face every time she dared to shift a bit.

Zasha pulled her black tank top a little tighter over her chest and adjusted her Wonderbra a bit, wishing she could at least have made it into a B cup. She'd look better dressed up and no one would ever mistake her for being a guy again even if she didn't look any older. In fact, she'd already had one obviously gay man proposition her tonight and knew she'd have at least one more before the night was through, not to mention the few drunk women that would wend their way over to her. This was why she rarely ever went clubbing...

"Sorry I'm late," called Kali's overly happy voice.

Turning and shoving a now irate smoker out of her face, Zasha gave her younger friend a tight smile, "S'alright... No one else has showed yet either."

"Oh," Kali said, looking a bit stunned. Zasha knew she was in trouble now. "I forgot to tell you! The others said they weren't going to be able to make it."

The smoker chuckled and stamped out her cigarette on the pavement, saying in a raspy voice, "Tough luck, honey. And you thought I was desperate for your attention!"

Zasha glared after the woman as Kali grinned knowingly, "You get all the dates, Zash!"

"Yeah," Zasha answered tightly. "Too bad they're not ones I'd ever be stupid to go on."

Zasha leaned against the street lamp next to her and turned her attention back to her friend, "So, what happened to them?"

Kali shrugged and shifted a bit on her feet, "Shelly got stuck babysittin' and Sarah got roped into something with her family. Karen and Jess both got last minute dates with a set of twins. They said they just couldn't pass it up!"

Zasha chuckled as she imagined the flirtatious pair's reaction to having a date with a pair of twins. They were probably already giggling over what they would do once they were in-laws. "No. They wouldn't pass that one up, would they?"

Kali laughed one of her high laughs that normally warned Zasha that she was nervous. Looking around, she noticed the reason why. They were being approached by two men, neither of whom looked to be date material in outfits that consisted of overly large, ripped black jeans and wrinkled mesh shirts. It was made worse by the fact that Zasha could tell by their strut and leers that these men thought they were dressed to kill.

"Right," Zasha murmured, pulling her tightly clad friend closer to where she stood with one hand and reaching into her purse for a can of mace with the other. She shot a look at the entrance to building and noted the absence of the bouncer that had been standing there five minutes before. "That's two strikes against this place: Too obvious drug dealers and disappearing bouncers."

"Yo," called one of the guys, the shorter and dingier of the two. Zasha backed up as far as the light pole would allow. "I thought this place was new, but there'll doin' a'ight if they're bringin' in gurls like you!"

"We're not interested," Zasha said sternly, hoping they might decide her too young to argue the point. No such luck.

The men laugh and the taller one grinned at her, "Oh... Don't worry! We know how to get you interested!"

Zasha gasped as he reached for her and she tried to pull out her mace, but she realized to her horror that the little can was caught on the half-open zipper. She settled instead for pushing Kali behind her and readying her purse for use as her weapon instead. She never had a chance, however. A tugging from behind her navel pulled at her and the world swirled away from her sight.

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Snape scowled at Dumbledore's back as Remus Lupin chuckled gently at him. He turned to shoot the gentle werewolf a venomous glare that would have killed a lesser man and strode off after the Headmaster.

"I understand what you want me to do," he said, catching up with the older man finally, "but why do I have to do it with him?"

Dumbledore sighed and turned back to Snape, gentle reprimand in his sparkling blue eyes. "Because Remus is one of our best Order members in the Dark Arts and all of the others are not free to help you. They have their own assignments."

Snape looked as though he wanted to throttle the old wizard, but merely curled a lip up and argued, "But why do I need a partner on such a mission as this? I could have it done in a matter of days by myself."

Dumbledore's eyes hardened still further, "With Remus's help you will have it done in half the time." He paused, eyeing the intimidating Potions Master shrewdly for a moment. "I know you don't get along with him, Severus, but surely you are old enough to put aside your differences for one mission?"

Snape scowled unhappily, but he knew a dismissal when he was given one. Remus took pity on his biased colleague and stepped forward, opening his mouth as if to speak, but he lost the opportunity when a blinding light shone just in front of his eyes.

Remus saw Snape snap back, an arm flying up to shield his eyes before Remus's own eyes were blinded by the glare. He moved quickly to back away, but he was too late. A sudden high scream attacked his ears just before a heavy weight slammed into his chest. He fell back, his arms automatically flying forward to wrap around a small warm body. He closed his eyes, wondering if Hogwarts had been attacked and this was the end for him. If it was, he only wished he could have said good-bye to Harry. The poor boy didn't need to lose anybody else now.

It was a minute before Remus finally opened his eyes again. And the only reason he did so was the gasp that sounded above him.

He looked up into a pair of deep blue eyes, speckled with hints of purple that stared wide and horrified down at him. Disheveled, long red hair fell framed a pixie-shaped face of what seemed to be a very shocked young girl straddling his lower chest. He allowed his eyes to follow her hair down to her shoulders and caught of glimpse of pale white skin beneath a black Muggle sleeveless shirt. All in all, Remus was very uncertain as to what he should do, but was very sure that werewolf opponents everywhere would soon be bursting in to accuse him of molesting a child.

Swallowing hard and ignoring a low growling which was probably emanating from Snape, Remus said, "You know, we might both be more comfortable if you sat somewhere besides my chest."

He'd tried to be gentle, but the girl still screamed loudly and darted off him, tripping in his robes and this time falling on another girl that had just been getting to her feet behind the first. Both fell to the floor with short screams and immediately started wriggling to try to recover what dignity they had left. Remus and the other two wizards politely averted their eyes just enough to avoid seeing up the girls' skirts without losing sight of them.

Finally the girls were standing and facing them, the smaller one standing protectively in front of the older one. Remus watched as their eyes traveled up and down the three wizards and knew there was definitely something wrong when he saw panic start to set in.

"Where are we," asked the red head in a voice that seemed older than the teenager he saw before him. "And please don't tell me we've been kidnapped by some cult!"

"Cult," snarled Snape incredulously. "You attack us and then accuse us of being occult members?"

The girls' eyes widened, showing Remus a startling similarity that made him wonder if they might not be related, and they cowered back involuntarily from the imposing figure that was the Potions Master.

"No," Dumbledore answered, in a tone that was much more suited to calming the frayed nerves of panicking women. "We are not members of an occult. We are very curious as to how you came to be here, however."

The girls looked at each other and Remus could see tears brimming in the blonde's eyes. The red head noticed this and seemed to stiffen in determination.

"Why don't you tell us, Mister Merlin-Wanna-Be," she snarled, imitating Snape almost perfectly in her protective strike against the elderly Headmaster. "We were just minding our own business, preparing to go into a party when two druggies started hassling us. Then we were here. You must have been the ones to do this!"

Dumbledore blinked, then chuckled, "You're quite right, I'm no where near Merlin's quality of magic. But you're wrong about our involvement in this. We did not bring you here."

The girls blinked and the red head stared at Dumbledore, uncertainty lighting in her eyes. "But- but how did we get here then?"

"Ah..." Dumbledore agreed with a sage nod. "That would be the question then, wouldn't it?"

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Not many among the living could stand to think about it, but being dead was actually very relaxing. A bit boring perhaps, but very much the relaxing get away. Now if he could only get away from the get away.

He should be able to, shouldn't he? He never actually died, after all - just fell through some dusty old veil after being hit by a rather painful curse. Couldn't death make an exception? Just this once?

"No, you must find your own deliverance," was all the musty old fellow would say though. And then he'd grin and inquire whether Sirius wanted "one lump or two?"

"How can I find it in a misty place full of dead people," Sirius would cry before adding, "Two lumps. I'm dead, my cholesterol can't get me now."

This was Death's cue to grin his toothily and say, "With so many advantages to keeping me company, why would want to go back there? After all, your next death might not be so pleasant."

Normally Sirius would remain silent after that, sullenly staring into his cup and keeping his reasons for himself, but not today. Today he looked up at the Grim Reaper with haunted eyes, swallowed and told him, "My Godson. My Godson needs me. He doesn't have anyone else. I wasn't a very good Godfather the first time around, but I'll do better this time. I swear! I'll- I'll never let him do anything dangerous again. I'll fight Dumbledore and stop letting him hole the both of us up. We- We'll take our lives back and Voldemort won't know what hit him! Just, please let me go back. I have to protect him. He's just a boy. He can't fight alone..."

Death watched his new-found friend with sad interest in his bright violet eyes, "Do you know how many I hear ask me that very same question? They all have good reasons. Some even better than yours, but I can't send any of you back. One you've entered Hades, there is no way back."

"But the veil..." Sirius argued weakly.

"Yes, yes," Death sighed in exasperation, "the veil. It is the only direct route between the Lands. However, few have ever used it and fewer still ever return from it."

"Then it's possible," Sirius sat up a little straighter, hope shining from his once more youthful eyes.

"You would need help..." Death told him, his own eyes hardening and his jovial, youthful features turning into the pale, drawn features of a man who has lived too long. "And the price may be more than you are willing to pay."

Sirius stared at the imposing figure of darkness before him, letting his soak into his jammed mind. He thought of all he had to lose by staying. Harry, Remus, the Order. They all needed him. Maybe not the Order so much, but he was sure he could be of use one day soon. He'd already proven his ability to fight. Of course, he'd ended up killed, but still, that had to count for something.

And Remus needed him to keep him safe. That man would let himself go without coaxing from a close friend. Not even Dumbledore knew the extent to which Remus had let himself go before Sirius had arrived at his place a year ago. The man had been thin as a skeleton, pale as snow and his home a ramshackle cottage maintained just well enough to ensure it would keep him dry if not warm.

And then there was Harry. He couldn't leave Harry. Everybody else had already done that. The teenager needed his Godfather to be there for him. He needed someone to fight for him, not just let Molly Weasley and Dumbledore have their own way with him. Curious teenage boys who had already seen too much, knew too much, could not simply be shunted aside and told to be a child again. That was like time travel and it was no secret that time travel was dangerous not to mention impossible in the manner they wanted to travel. Had it been otherwise, Sirius would have gone back to a time before Azkaban and there would never have been this problem in the first place.

No, Harry needed his Godfather's protection especially for those he counted as he as allies. And he needed to have a father figure there to tell at least grant him some encouragement and comfort. He'd never replace James, but he still needed Sirius to fill the hole that had been left by the elder Potter's death.

Settled on what he knew was right and his duty, Sirius nodded, "Alright. What does this chance entail?"

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Zasha watched Dumbledore watch her from behind his desk. She attempted to ignore the stare of the man she'd landed on and the constant disapproving glare of Snape. She wondered if the greasy man's face ever did something besides sneer or scowl... The other man, Lupin, seemed nice enough, though. Unfortunately, he lost points for her embarrassment over landing on him.

Kali sat beside her, purplish eyes wandering about the room in amazement. Zasha couldn't blame her, the room was large and filled with interesting contraptions, including pictures that moved. She was even ready to swear that she could hear whispering coming from the portraits about the room, a fact that she wasn't sure if she should be frightened of or curious about.

"What are we waiting for," asked Snape. "We should just modify their memories and leave them in London!"

"Patience, Severus," Dumbledore said calmly, his gaze never wavering from Zasha and Kali. "We mustn't be too hasty."

Zasha tried and failed to restrain a shiver, "'Modify our memories?' What do you mean by that? I don't want no one messing with my brain!"

Kali nodded in agreement and tried to give the men her most intimidating glare, which no longer seemed to harness as much power after having been on the receiving end of Snape's.

Lupin put up his hands in an attempt to appease the frightened girls, "Don't worry. No one will hurt you here. Severus is simply irritated that you disturbed his territory." The thin man gave a small smile which Zasha couldn't help but reciprocate as she saw the look of loathing Lupin's words produced from the man in question.

"Yes," Dumbledore agreed. "Your arrival was very unexpected. It also presents us with a problem. Neither of you are magical, yet the way you arrived was magical. And impossible."

"If it was so impossible," Kali snapped back, "how did we manage it?"

Dumbledore nodded sagely and stood. He paced around his desk and to a high bookcase. Zasha watched as he allowed his eyes to wander over the books before turning to once again regard his guests.

"You will have to stay here for the time being," he told them finally. ""You said you worked in a bookstore? Well, Madame Pince is retiring this summer. She gave me her notice yesterday. Perhaps you can take over her library duties until we have this resolved."

"You did bring us here," Kali gasped angrily. "You want us to be your slaves!"

Dumbledore's eyes grew hard and his companions stiffened in anger. Zasha looked at them wide-eyed and realized her friend had just made the worst error she could have possibly made.

Wrapping an arm around her temperamental colleague's mouth and head, Zasha quickly began backtracking, "Of course not, Kali! We're at a school! They probably can't help us if they can't keep us here and can't keep us here without a legitimate reason. The jobs would be the answer to both that problem and their problem of finding a replacement for their librarian."

Dumbledore scrutinized Zasha closely as his eyes slowly softened. Finally, as though finding what he had been looking for, he smiled and nodded. "You would be correct, Zasha. I do not condone slavery and will give you my word that I will do everything within my power to return you to your homes."

Zasha nodded, finally releasing a sullen Kali. Somehow, she had the feeling that this man did not make idle promises. But why then did she feel like she'd never see her home again?

No! She mustn't think that way. She would get home! After all, who would keep her mother out of trouble if she didn't? The woman was by far too trusting and everyone always took advantage of her. She had to get home, simply to protect her mother.

Suddenly she gasped, a memory finally making its way into her consciousness, and slapped Kali upside her head, sending her neatly arranged hair flying.

"What," Kali screeched, scrambling away from Zasha.

"I had work in the morning! Now they're gonna think I skipped out! And it all your fault for talking me into going to that place with you!"

"It's not my fault," Kali screamed back. "I didn't force you to go! And it's not like there won't be an investigation into our disappearances! They'll think you've just been kidnapped or murdered or something!"

"Oh, and that's so much better," Zasha snarled, getting to her feet. "That's really gonna-"

"Ladies," Dumbledore said firmly, stepping between them. "Perhaps you would feel better after a good night's sleep." He pulled a nearby bell pull and a small, pointed ear creature appeared wearing mismatching clothes and far too many hats. "Please show these two ladies to a pair of chambers, Dobby. They are to be our new librarians."

Dobby nodded happily, "Yes sir! Dobby know just the ones, sir!"

"Thank you, Dobby," Dumbledore told the excitable creature before turning to see the pasty-faced pair of girls behind him. "Dobby here is a house-elf. He will show you to your rooms. Have a good night and please don't tell anyone anything more than you're being the new librarians."

Zasha and Kali nodded, throwing a "Good night" to the men in the office as they hesitantly followed the house-elf to their rooms.

"We shouldn't keep them, Dumbledore," Snape said as soon as they had disappeared. "They're Muggles. I know you like to protect the weak, but couldn't you be a little less generous?"

"Severus," Lupin told him. "I don't think they meant to come here. And I do think they need our help."

"You're just happy that someone finally touched you," Snape sneered. "After all, who in their right mind would? Unless they wanted to become a werewolf too?"

"Severus," Dumbledore said in rebuke. "I don't believe those girls to be normal Muggles. I think this is much larger than it would first appear."

"We still have the Dark Lord to defeat," Snape almost hissed.

Dumbledore sighed, "Yes. But you never know when Providence might decide to send you an angel. You just have to make sure you don't refuse the offer."

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Harry stared out his window at the moon sailing high in the sky. His birthday was next week and he still had yet to hear word of when he could escape this place. Though he suspected he might deserve to be pushed around by his family and forced to do all the chores. After all, it was his fault that Sirius had died. And it was his own stupidity that kept getting everyone into trouble.

He looked back down at his homework and sighed. He'd already done everything he was supposed to, plus. In his quest for peace of mind, Harry had researched each of his summer essays to an exhausting extent, so much so that he was sure he'd be giving Hermione a run for her money on the longest essay category.

Then again, this was Hermione he was talking about. Er...thinking about.

Harry sighed and resignedly repacked all his work back into his truck, picking out a large book on counter-curses his studious friend had sent him for summer reading. He suddenly let loose a huge grin, imagining the look on Ron's face if his friend could only see him actually reading a giant book after finishing all his work early. The red-head would be horribly disappointed in him, even more so if his mother found out before he'd finished his own.

Settling onto his bed again, Harry scowled at the early morning hour and decided to simply read the rest of the night. He'd be off for it, though he wondered if even then he'd able to sleep tomorrow night. Sleep was a rare commodity these days for boys named Harry Potter.

The book was actually pretty interesting, Harry thought. It catalogued, diagrammed and listed everything an individual curse did before doing the same to explain exactly why and how it could be counteracted. It also covered all the curses Harry knew and a good many he didn't. Harry was only sorry Hermione hadn't given him this in time for the Triwizard Tournament. He could have used it in the maze.

Still, no matter how good a book was, it was now 4 in the morning and he was finally tired. Maybe a couple hours of sleep would be good for him. If he could manage not to dream, that is.

Switching his light off, Harry slipped the book under his bed, pulled up his covers and snuggled down. He closed his eyes and tried to blank his mind as Snape had taught him to do, but, as usual, it refused to empty. Harry didn't know how long he attempted the Occlumency, all he knew was that he was startled into full awareness by the sudden crash that sounded from the downstairs.

Harry tensed beneath his covers, all five of his senses silently stretching out to find the source of the disturbance. They didn't get far as Harry's uncle had also woken up at the disturbance and was currently roaring and stomping angrily enough to wake the dead. Another shout, this one deeper and harsher than his uncle's, shouted a spell from the direction of the stairs and a scream muffled slightly by a horrible thump sounded from the hall outside Harry's door.

Harry shot out of bed and hit something standing next to his bed. He caught cloth as he fell back onto the bed and an invisibility cloak slipped, revealing the head of a woman only a few years older than Tonks wearing an expression worthy of Moody. Her brown eyes narrowed as a woman's screams were cut short with another spell and now only Dudley could be heard screaming as his door slammed closed.

"Grab your invisibility cloak and wand and hide," she hissed at him. Then she turned and scrawled a quick message on a piece of scroll and practically threw an indignant Hedwig out the quickly opened window.

"Hurry," she hissed urgently as she righted her cloak and waited for the sounds of Dudley's terror to quiet.

Harry didn't need telling a third time, he practically flew into his trunk, stopping only to put on his glasses. He dug a bit until he uncovered his cloak and shut the lid as quietly as he could. He gulped as the house shook from another loud crash and Dudley's screams for help were abruptly silenced. Harry grabbed his wand and book from the bedside table and slid under his bed, careful to keep his cloak carefully tucked around him so that no part of himself could be seen.

The woman also covered her head back up and disappeared into the darkness. Harry took this time to clamp a hand over his mouth to muffle any sounds he might be tempted to make. The door crashed open and Harry twitched in an aborted jump. A numb feeling seemed to steal over his body as the Death Eater stepped cautiously into the room. Two more followed him and Harry just caught the fluttering of the last one's robes.

They continued to entered the room, one using his wand to blast open and rifle through Harry's closet. Suddenly, the low voice of the woman shouted out a curse and the man in the closet flew back onto the bed. The other two spun back around and began firing their own curses at the door. Another well-placed curse blew a second Death Eater through the window and sent the third scrambling for cover at the foot of Harry's bed.

He sent a quick curse at the place where the woman seemed to be aiming from. She was apparently slow in moving, however, as the cloak was snagged off her from the spell. She screamed in pain as she let herself fall behind the unconscious first Death Eater. The last Death Eater threw Avada Kedavra at her, but missed. The curse blew apart what was left of Harry's closet and covered the woman in its splintered remains.

For a moment, the dust settled in the room and Harry thought that was worse than the fighting. Then both combatants peeked their heads up over their barricades and fired off spells. A red curse arced its way towards Harry's guardian, drawing a high scream from her, but it was too late. A split second before it hit, she called out, "Expelliarmus," and the Death Eater's wand followed the curse. The Death Eater himself flew back into the wall behind him.

"Stupefy," the woman cried in a strangled voice and he slipped to the ground unconscious. "You alright, Harry?"

"Yes," Harry told her, beginning to slip out from under his bed. "You?"

"Stay where you are! And fine," she told him before spelling ropes to bind the two Death Eaters still in the room. Then she stood and worked her way slowly over to the window to look for the third.

She turned and allowed herself to slip down the wall in exhaustion, "Stay put, Harry. We're missing one."

Harry watched as her eyes slowly closed after her last statement and hoped that she wasn't dead too. He concentrated on what he could see of her chest and finally saw a small, seemingly pained breath. He breathed his own sigh of relief and turned his attention to listening for signs of more Death Eaters.

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She didn't know where she was, but wherever it was, it was dark. And cold. She wrapped her arms around herself and shivered. Her eyes darted from side to side as she whimpered with fear.

"Is anyone there," she called softly, almost as though she was afraid to be heard. Which she was.

It was dark here, but not dark enough to hide the shadows which moved and flowed into the murky gloom. Voices seem to drift past her, but she couldn't catch what any of them said. Sometimes a shadow would begin to take on the shape of a person and she'd gasp. The shadow would stop at her gasp and quickly disappear back into the blackness.

"Zasha..." a voice spoke softly from the darkness, surprise filling its tones. "Why are you here? Surely it is not time yet..."

She jerked at her name and looked wildly around, as though expecting the gloom to suddenly part and allow her to see the source of the voice.

"Who are you," Zasha cried, tears forming in her eyes. "Time for what? And where is here?"

Silence met her questions and fear began to swell in her before being burnt away by anger. "Where am I," she screamed as she began to run towards where she thought the voice had originated.

"Stop," came another, hoarser voice. A hand grabbed her arm and spun her around. Zasha caught sight of a pair of dark hooded eyes and screamed. She shut her eyes and wrenched her arm free of the man's grip.

"No, wait! I need your help," he yelled. But it was too late. She tripped and was being pulled in by the darkness. She thought she felt a hand grab her sleeve, but it must have been her imagination as she continued to fall...fall...

Zasha woke suddenly as she hit the floor next to her bed in the room she'd been given to sleep in. She lay there for a moment, stunned and comforted by the cold stones beneath her. She breathed a sigh of relief as she realized it had all been a dream. Just a dream.

"Hey Zasha," Kali burst into the room. Zasha watched in amusement as the blonde attempted to tackle her in the bed, not yet having realized that her friend was currently lying on the floor. Zasha watched as Kali bounced and began frantically searching the twisted covers, barely suppressed laughter bubbling in her throat.

"Zasha," Kali called after a moment. Fear was tingeing her voice and Zasha opened her mouth to respond, but was cut off by the whirlwind that was the blonde girl. She watched in shock as the door slammed shut behind Kali.

Barking laughter sounded, seeming to surround her as it slammed through her head. She stood quickly and searched the room with wide eyes. The only things that looked out of place were her bed sheets.

"Who's there," she finally called out. The laughter stopped, but she had the feeling of someone watching her with a critical eye.

Searching the room cautiously once more, she decided that if the pictures could move, and reportedly speak, then perhaps the mirrors could too. She threw a blanket over the mirror, which made an indignant noise, and dressed quickly. Throwing her hair into a quick braid, she practically ran from the room, hoping she could find her way to breakfast all right.

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'If dreams came true,' Zasha thought as she rounded what seemed to be the millionth dim corner in the past half-hour, 'then nightmares must too.'

"Help," she called as she continued down yet another deserted corridor.

"Really," a voice exclaimed from next to her. "Couldn't you at least refrain from screaming until you're not standing directly in front of my portrait?"

Zasha shrieked and turned to stare directly into the eyes of a very irate portrait of a woman. She looked as though she might have once been a teacher with her blonde hair pulled back into a tight bun and her face set with sternness. Her robes, however, were white, which forced Zasha to wonder.

"Y-you really can talk," Zasha exclaimed, holding a hand to her heart. "I-I mean, sorry..."

The woman cast a cold, calculating look over Zasha before allowing herself a chuckle, "I am Izza Bellums. I was once a professor at this school."

"Oh, wow. Did you like it here?"

Izza gave Zasha a small smile, "Why of course. There is no better place to be than Hogwarts. Except when a Wizard War is beginning, that is."

"You mean," Zasha asked, curiosity getting the best of her, "it's easy to break into? But I thought castles were supposed to be medieval strongholds."

The woman sighed ad rolled her eyes, "They are, but that's there problem there, you see. Hogwarts is too strong. Whichever side controls it stands the best chance of winning it. Especially if they happen to know all its dark secrets."

"Secrets," Zasha repeated in fascination, her ears twitching slightly with excitement.

Izza's eyes twinkled with mischief and the love of gossip, but before she could answer Zasha found herself tackled to the ground by a very hyper Kali. Zasha struggled to free herself, but found that she couldn't move. Kali and the stones beneath her were both equally unyielding. Turning her head slightly to the side, Zasha just managed to free up enough of her nose and mouth to draw in small, quick breaths.

"Kali," a kind voice said over the blonde's incoherent ramblings. "She really will be hurt if you don't allow her some air soon."

Immediately, Kali sprang to her feet, almost bodily lifting Zasha up as she went. Zasha swayed and slipped from Kali's grip, tipping hard into the wall beside Izza's portrait.

"Oh," the woman moaned sympathetically. "That must have hurt."

Zasha sighed, eyeing her contrite friend. "Dang, you are hyper lately! What are you on, Kali?"

Kali frowned at Zasha, attempting a look of innocence and failing miserably. Zasha sighed again and turned her attention to the amused seeming headmaster. She wondered idly how a man so old could rock on his heels like a young man while still attaining a perfect look of grandfatherly reproach.

"Sorry, sir," Zasha apologized to him. "Did Kali drag you from breakfast to search for me?"

"Well, I couldn't find you," Kali interjected defensively. "You weren't in your room when I came to find you."

"You didn't check the floor, Miss Whirlwind," Zasha retorted flatly.

Kali opened her mouth, then closed it as Dumbledore chuckled. "But why would you have been on the floor," she finally managed.

A blush rushed the blood to Zasha's face and she averted her eyes.

"Hmm..." Dumbledore said in a light tone. "It always amazes me the positions one gets into as they sleep. Why, just the other morning I woke up to find my head where my feet usually were."

The girls both stared at the older man for a moment in stunned amazement. Zasha wondered if she was allowed to laugh as Kali softly commented to herself, "And he admits to that?"

"Dumbledore," Izza interrupted, her tone one of all duty. "There is someone waiting to speak to you outside your office. They say it's urgent."

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow and nodded. "If you will excuse me, ladies. I think you can find your way back to the Great Hall for the end of breakfast. If you have any trouble just ask the portraits."

"Thank you," Kali said as Zasha nodded. They watched together as Dumbledore strode past them and around the next corner.

"C'mon," Zasha said , starting off in the opposite direction of Dumbledore. "Let's get something to eat."

Kali reached out and grabbed the red-head's arm, pulling her back around, "This way, girl."

Zasha sighed in frustration and nodded. This time she allowed Kali to take the lead and allowed her mind to wander. Something was confusing her. She knew that no one was sure how they had gotten here, except that here was definitely not their world; events that had happened in her world, hadn't happened in this world. It was strange, however, how well Kali was taking this. Normally the girl started to spaz out at the prospect of even missing one episode of her favorite tv show, not to mention being cut off from it for possible forever. And there was the fact that they had been attacked just before they'd been brought here. Not to mention it had been Kali that had arranged things for this all to be possible. Did it all have something to do with the other?

"Hey, Kali," Zasha said. She hurried to walk beside the younger woman. "Have you playing with any of that- that Witchy stuff again? You know, the herbs and crystals and stuff?"

Kali shot a sideways look at Zasha, "It's Wiccan and even if I had, I wouldn't have gotten you caught in it. I remember your reaction the last time..."

Zasha blushed, "I can't help it if I'm allergic to Rosemary! Those stupid Catholic ladies just spread it on me too often when I was a baby... And you might have asked before attempting to help, y'know."

Kali laughed dryly, "Yeah, yeah. Breakfast's waiting for us, then we get to learn their library with its current librarian. We can discuss my activities later, right?"

"Alright," Zasha answered as she pulled open the doors to the Great Room and breakfast. She knew this for the stall tactic it was, but figured that since Kali's expression wasn't guilty, or at least not more guilty than what was normal for the prankster, that she could afford to drop the subject for the moment.