Latere Valeo

Harry, Hermione and Ron slowly stumbled along the train, looking for a carriage with some empty seats. Finally they found one at the very end of the train, it's only occupant was a short, red head girl. She looked as old as them but yet Harry was sure he'd never seen her at school. "Hey, do you recognize her?" he whispered to Hermione.

"No, I don't think so,' she replied. They took their seats opposite the girl who was staring out the window. She didn't even look up when they sat down. " Hey, Ron," Hermione whispered, "why don't you...."

"Well, well, look who it is. The three musketeers," sneered Malfoy. He stood in the doorway flanked by his goons, Crabbe and Goyle. He noticed the red head sitting in the corner. He brushed his silver blond hair back with his fingers, sat down next to her and said, "Hey."

"Hey, what's your name?" She asked. She kept her head down as she spoke.

"It's Malfoy, Draco Malfoy. This is Crabbe and Goyle." He waved in their general direction. "What's your name?"

"Athena Demeter," she said with a smile.

"So how come I've never seen you around before?" asked Draco.

"Well I went to Beauxbatons before, but my parents decided to move to England. It was too far to keep going there so mum enrolled me here."

"Do you know what house you'll be in? I'm a Slytherin," said Draco.

"No, but my parents went to school at Hogwarts. They were in Ravenclaw so I'll probably be in there to." At this Athena looked up and Draco suddenly noticed that she had a tiny black star under her bright violet eyes. Athena must have noticed him staring because she said, "Yeah, it's odd isn't it? It's like a birthmark."

"I think it makes you even more beautiful," Draco whispered in her ear so that only she could hear. Athena blushed as she looked into his gray eyes. "Anyway do you want to come meet some more of my friends?" Draco asked.

"Yeah, sure."

Once they'd left Harry turned to the others. "Did that just happen? Draco being nice?"

"She can't know who he is." Hermione couldn't help but look stunned. "I hope for her sake she's a pureblood." Then she pulled out a book to start studying.

Shortly after Harry, Ron and Hermione had changed into their robes, Fred came barging in. "Quick," he said beckoning, "you've got to see this." They all followed him down to the other end of the train. They stopped outside the last carriage door. "Okay. What's so great that you had to show interrupt my studying?" asked Hermione.

"You know that slimy git, Malfoy?"

"Yeah," said Ron sounding puzzled.

"Looks like he's got himself a girlfriend," laughed Fred.

"What?!" laughed Harry. "You've got to be kidding! We saw him hitting on this new girl in our carriage but we didn't think he'd get anywhere!"

"Well, look through there and you'll see that he did." Harry quietly opened the door so that so that all of they could see in side. The carriage was completely deserted except for in the far corner where Draco and Athena were all over each other, kissing. Fred let out a hoot of laughter. Athena quickly turned around. She gave them a sort of embarrassed laugh, jumped up, and hurried back down to the other end of the train. "I never thought I'd say this but, go Malfoy!" Fred cheered. Draco gave a quick bow and followed after her. Harry, Hermione and Ron looked flabbergasted.

***

Once they'd arrived at the school, it was bucketing down with rain. Harry, Hermione and Ron all ran to the closest carriage and hopped inside. "What do you think they'll do about Sorting Athena?"

"Dunno, probably make her go through the Sorting Ceremony like the first-years do."

***

Ron was right. When they'd settled down in the great hall, the Sorting Ceremony began. The very last person was Athena, looking very embarrassed and nervous. She sat on the stool and put the hat on her head. It had barely touched her red hair when it screamed "Slytherin!!" Draco looked over the moon. "I suppose Athena and Malfoy make a perfect couple, then. Not only is she a pureblood, but she's in Slytherin too," Hermione whispered to Ron.

"I thought she said that her parents were in Ravenclaw," Harry said.

"Oh, that doesn't matter. They only get put in the same house if they have the same talent."

***

"So, what do we have first," yawned Athena "I hope it's not Potions."

"Why?" asked Draco.

"Well, I heard Harry and Ron saying how awful the Potions master is."

"Oh, don't worry about that, he favors the Slytherins. Especially me."

"Do you think he'll favor me?"

"Definitely. So don't worry about it, okay?" Draco started to walk off.

"Hey, so what do we have first?"

"Potions!"

***

"All right class, calm down." Snape spoke only with a whisper but yet the class was silent at once. Athena bravely walked up to the front of the class to ask him where to sit. "Ah, yes, our new student. I believe you have, met, Mr. Malfoy, so could you please go sit next to him." Athena blushed as red as her hair and sat down between Draco and Crabbe.

"How does he know about that?" Athena whispered

"I don't know." A pink tinge had appeared on Draco's usually pale cheeks.

"Now class, please take out your books and turn to page..."

***

"See, now that wasn't so bad, was it?" Potions was finished, and Draco had been right. Apart from the little crack at the beginning, Snape had treated Athena with the respect that he gave Draco. "Suppose not. Okay, so what now?"

"Ummm." Draco skimmed down the timetable. "Oh brilliant. Care of Magical Creatures."

"Sounds good to me, why is it so bad?"

"The teacher, his name's Hagrid, he's half giant; he's the worst teacher in the school."

"Giant?! Oh, bloody brilliant, now this is really going to be a good lesson." Athena was starting to panic.

"Oh, don't worry he's harmless enough, he's just such an oaf," sneered Draco. "Come on, we'd better go."

***

"Okay, class," boomed Hagrid "Yeh can put away yer books, we're goin' teh have a practical lesson today."

"Wonder what that could be?" whispered Athena.

"Dunno, hope it's not a hippogriff," whispered Draco wincing.

"Why?"

"Last year one attacked me. I was in the hospital wing for ages."

"Oh, you poor thing," simpered Athena, "Hey, where did Hagrid go?"

"There he is," said Draco, pointing to Hagrid, who was standing next to a large cage covered with a white piece of cloth.

"Okay class, over here." Hagrid beckoned them all over to just in front of the cage. "Now, when I take this cover off, th' first person ter guess what it is, will receive twenty-five points fer their house."

"Bet Granger gets it," drawled Draco.

"Who?" whispered Athena.

"Hermione."

"Oh, yeah, same here. She always gets everything right. I used to be top student at my other school but I can never do better than her," said Athena bitterly.

"Oh, don't worry about her. Maybe you'll get it this time," said Draco.

"Yeah, right."

"Okay, are yeh ready? 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1!" Hagrid pulled off the cover. In the far corner was a young woman of about twenty. She had rich blue hair and violet eyes, and on her neck, there was a moon shaped birthmark. She was pacing the cage like a tiger.

"Oh, oh, I know, I know. It's a shifter!" squealed Hermione.

Draco turned to Athena to say "Oh, well never mind," but he never got to say it. Athena's mouth was open in a silent scream. "Athena, what's wrong?" He watched a single tear fall from her eye. Draco instantly put his arm around her.

"So cruel," she whispered. Hagrid continued to talk about the shifter.

"Now teh shifter is an extremely rare creature an' also extremely hard ter catch. I had ter get permission from Professor Dumbledore ter perform a Camilious Charm ter catch this one. Now, th' only way of distinction is a strangely shaped birthmark on its face or neck. See how this one has a moon shaped one on its neck? Another thing is that they 'er always female. As the name implies, it can take the form of any living thing, however, it can't change its eye color, or disguise its birthmark. The hair is very magical, and if stirred into a potion, will make th' drinker immortal. There is, however, a dangerous side ter these creatures. It actually has a higher level of magic than any witch or wizard. This is why I needed the charm ter catch it. There is one other thing about them that is really dangerous. Can anyone tell me what that is?" To nobody's surprise, Hermione's hand shot up in the air "Yes, Hermione?"

"The voice. When a shifter sings it can control anyone that hears it."

"Correct, five points ter Gryffindor. Yes, it could control anyone into doing anything it wanted 'em ter, even throw 'emself off a cliff." At this the class gasped. "Now, everyone take out their quills an' take some notes on what I've just told yeh."

***

For the rest of the day, Athena seemed very quiet and wouldn't talk unless someone talked to her first. When it was finally time for them to go to bed, Athena simply kissed Draco on the cheek and then walked away to her dorm. "Goodnight."

***

Draco silently rolled over in his bed. Something had awakened him, but he didn't know what. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and opened them. It took him every once of will power not to yell out, for there, sitting on the end of his bed, was a Fire Faerie. It looked as delicate as air, perched on the end of his bedpost. He reached out to it, just to make sure it wasn't a dream. At his touch, the Faerie looked up at him with mournful violet eyes. Draco was sure he saw a tear run over the star birthmark on its cheek. The birthmark! It couldn't be, it just couldn't. Suddenly the Faerie jumped up, as if awakening just as Draco had done, and then disappeared. Draco was suddenly aware of the sweat running through his silver-blond hair. It must have been a dream, but yet it had seemed so real. He had to find out.

***

"Granger, wait!" Hermione, Harry and Ron swung around in disbelief.

"Bugger off, Malfoy. Don't you give me enough hell in class without torturing me during break too?" Hermione asked angrily.

"Yeah, rack off Malfoy," growled Ron. When it came to Draco, Ron had a very short temper.

"Look, will you just listen to me?" reasoned Draco.

"No, Malfoy, why should we?" said Harry, turning away. As the three of them walked away, Hermione heard Draco mutter,

"Hermione, please, I'm s... I'm sorry, please just listen to me." His words lacked their usual malice. Hermione turned to face him, confused. What could worry him so much that it would make him talk civilly to her, let alone call her by name rather than his usual taunt, Mudblood?

"What is it, Malfoy?" Her words were suspicious as though she wasn't going to let her guard down so easily, but Draco didn't care. He needed to know and he'd do anything to find out.

"It's about Athena."

"Yeah, what about her?" spat Ron.

"Come on, just listen to me," pleaded Draco.

"Huh," sulked Ron, but he didn't say anything else.

"Okay, it's like this. Ever since Care of Magical Creatures, she's been acting really strange and well, last night I saw, well, I think saw, a Faerie with her birthmark under its eye, sitting on the end of my bed."

"What do you mean, 'you think, you saw'?" asked Hermione.

"It disappeared, and well, it was like a dream, but it just felt too real." Draco found it hard to describe what he'd seen, but Hermione seemed to understand.

"So where is she now?" asked Hermione.

"That's just it. I haven't seen her since last night," said Draco, looking quite worried now.

"You know what I think Malfoy? You think she's a shifter, don't you?" said Harry suddenly.

"Well, yeah, I guess I sort of do."

"Then what did you come to ask me?" asked Hermione impatiently.

"I didn't really want to ask you anything, I just want you to help me find out if she is or not. I mean, there's got to be some way to prove it," said Draco.

"Tell you what, Malfoy. I'll meet you in the library after dinner."

"Hermione!"

"Look Ron, she's my friend too." Draco tried hard not to laugh because he knew how much Athena hated Hermione.

"Oh, fine," spat Ron.

"Okay, I'll meet you then."

***

"Hermione, have you come up with anything yet?" For Draco, tea had seemed to take an eternity. Hermione had promised him a way to find out once and for all if Athena was a shifter, but he was worried that even she might not be able to come up with a way.

"Yes," she said finally, after looking through the book in front of her. Draco sighed in relief. "But," she said. "There is a problem."

"Just tell me your idea and then we'll smooth out the bugs later."

"Alright. This idea is very old and what you'd call traditional. It's really quite simple..."

"Look, will you just tell me already!"

"Calm down, Malfoy; don't get your knickers in a twist! All we have to do is put you in danger and then make it so she has to transform to save you." Draco nodded. "Right. Well, I can't really see a problem with this idea. If we did it correctly, it just might work."

"Well, there is a problem," Hermione mumbled. She didn't really want to tell him this because she was sure it would hurt him, and even after all the time he'd taunted her, she didn't want to hurt him this bad.

"What is that?" Draco snapped.

"Well. Umm... Draco, shifters........shifters can't love, and if she doesn't love you, she probably won't risk blowing her cover to save you." Draco was silent; that answer wasn't what he'd been expecting. It couldn't be true; she'd told him that she loved him. Suddenly he hoped with all his heart that she wasn't a shifter. Even if she was, maybe she was different; after all, she had told him that she loved him. But even about that he had doubts. No, that must be it, she must be different. Draco pushed all feelings of doubt out of his mind and got up and started to walk off. As he left, Hermione heard him say,

"We'll do it."

***

All during the week, Draco and Hermione planned what they would do. Meanwhile, Draco was finding it harder and harder not to tell Athena what they were up to. Twice now she had almost walked in on Draco writing down ideas for what they would do, but luckily she had never seen him talking to Hermione. Draco knew for sure that Athena would be suspicious if she saw them. By Thursday, Hermione had come up with the perfect plan. "It's as simple as this. Hagrid's in on it too..."

"Hagrid? There's, no way I am trusting him."

"Oh, would you just swallow your pride and listen?" snapped Hermione, "You and Athena must get detention, at the same time. Hagrid told me that he'd ask for you two to help him with a job on the lake. Then all you have to do is 'accidentally' fall out. Every one knows Hagrid can't swim, she'll have to save you." Hermione looked very pleased with herself to have finally come up with a solution. Every one at Hogwarts knew she was good at that, so she considered it as holding up her reputation.

"Umm, sorry, Hermione but there's a small problem. If I really fell out, I'd just swim back in, and Athena's told me numerous times that she can't swim," said Draco.

"Well, you'll just have to pretend you can't swim and in regards to her not being able to swim, wake up Draco. Even if she can't swim, she's a shifter for crying out loud."

"Oh, yeah, right, I forgot about that," said Draco sheepishly.

"Honestly, anyone would think that you had some troll inheritance. Everyone knows that their heads are full of nothing but air," said Hermione with an exasperated laugh.

"Give me a break Hermione; we can't all be walking dictionaries like you. Anyway, I better go and think of a way to get me and Athena into detention." And with that Draco walked off.

***

The next day, Draco had the perfect opportunity to get him and Athena into trouble: Double Transfiguration. Professor McGonagall disliked Slytherins because they'd always been troublemakers, but in her eye, Draco was the worst, and although Athena was very different to Draco, she was his girlfriend so that made her just as bad. This week in class, they had been trying to change a hedgehog into a pincushion, a perfect mixture for disaster. Making sure that Athena was talking intently to Pansy Parkinson about the latest gossip and that Professor McGonagall was busy congratulating Hermione on her pincushion, Draco picked up his and Athena's hedgehog and placed them under the desk behind him. The result was almost immediate. Neville Longbottom had put his feet down... on top of the hedgehog. He let out an all mighty yell and when Seamus Finnigan jumped up to see what was wrong, he jumped on top of the other hedgehog and yelled even more loudly then Neville. Draco couldn't help but laugh, and then Athena turned around to see what was going on. What she saw were two boys jumping around the classroom clutching their feet. She tried to stifle her giggles but it was no use, Professor McGonagall had heard. "Longbottom, Finnigan, hospital wing now. Malfoy, Demeter, up to the front." Professor McGonagall snapped. Athena abruptly stopped laughing. With a stunned look at Draco, she walked next to him up to the desk.

"Now, I suppose you think that was funny. Well, if you enjoy playing immature practical jokes on others, you shall serve detention together," snapped the Professor. Both Athena and Draco tried to argue their way out of it but Professor would not listen, and this was what Draco had hoped would happen.

***

"I can't believe it! Detention on our first day of the holidays, and with that idiot Hagrid on top of it! He's probably going to want us to help him feed the giant squid or something stupid like that." Athena had been furious ever since they'd got detention but luckily did not blame Draco for it.

"Come on, we'd better go and meet him," sighed Draco.

"Yeah, I suppose."

"You two, come on," said Hagrid, "the boats over there." Athena stormed over too the boat and sat down on one of the seats. Hagrid winked to Draco before they both got in as well. Athena didn't say a word while Hagrid rowed out to the middle of the lake. Then suddenly the boat came to a stop, so quickly that Hagrid jerked forward and knocked hard into Draco. Draco, seizing the opportunity, fell out of the boat so it looked as though Hagrid had knocked him out. He started to pretend that he couldn't swim....but then something he hadn't expected happened. A black hand rose out of the water and smashed him across the back of the head knocking Draco out cold. He began to sink below the surface. Athena screamed

"Do something! Do something!" But she knew Hagrid couldn't swim. Slowly a figure rose out of the water. It was a Water Devil. Her skin was black to match her inky black eyes and instead of legs she had tentacles like an octopus. Growing from her back she had the wings of a manta ray, and she had devil horns and tail. She held Draco out of the water by his collar. Hermione, who was watching from the shore with omnioculars, gasped,

"Athena, I hope for Draco's sake you're a shifter, or there's nothing that can save Draco now."

"You dare to wake me!" screeched the Water Devil. "Athena, I thought even you would have more sense. Maybe I'll just take this boy and we'll call it even."

"NO! You shan't have him Morgana. Leave him be, it's me you want," screamed Athena.

"It's all right. I was only joking," Morgana smiled wickedly. "Besides, I have a message for you child," Morgana beckoned.

"Return Draco first." A fine jet of water pushed Draco out of the water and back into the boat. "Thank you," said Athena and dived into the water. Draco coughed and sputtered. Rubbing the water out of his eyes, he sat up to watch what was happening.

As Athena came to the surface again, Morgana said, "Come here, child."

"Make me!" yelled Athena and she jumped high out above the water. By the time she had hit the water again, she had transformed. Her skin was now a green-gray and instead of legs, she had a mermaid's tail. In her webbed hand she held a silver trident. Draco gasped. He had been right, she was a shifter! Athena pointed the trident straight at Morgana's heart and shouted,

"Leave now Morgana, I know longer wish to be part of....this."

"I'll be back, Athena, I know your weakness now; I'll get you next time!"And with that, Morgana vanished. Athena swam to the boat and transformed back into her normal self, climbing into the boat. Draco looked at her expecting her face to still be contorted in rage, but to his surprise she looked terrified.

"So now you know, just please don't let him have me. He'll kill me Draco, please don't let him take me away," Athena muttered her eyes changing rapidly to blue and back to violet again.

"What are you talking about Athena, let who have you?" Draco asked sounding very confused.

"What? You don't know, do you?"

"Know what?"

"I........I'll tell you later." Hagrid rowed back to shore still looking very confused. As Athena and Draco walked back to the Slytherin common room, Hermione hurried over to meet them but Draco glowered at her and she stopped. "Huh, well of all the... I help him and this is the thanks I get?" But then she stopped, what had she expected, to become his friend? She knew that no Malfoy was worth becoming friends with, and went back to the Gryffindor common room to see Harry and Ron again.

***

When Athena and Draco reached the common room, it was completely empty for everyone had gone to Hogsmeade for the day. Athena sat down on the green velvet mat in front of the fireplace and beckoned to Draco to sit down next to her. He sat down and put his arm around her shoulders. "So tell me... tell me the whole story," he said softly. Athena sighed.

"My parents didn't move here, I don't even have parents, shifters never do. You see, I'm being chased... well, hunted is a better way of putting it," Athena began.

"By who?" asked Draco.

"By a man named Lucius Malfoy. He hunts me for my hair to reinstate Voldemort's immortality. You know he's returned, don't you?" said Athena.

"Yes, but Lucius Malfoy, Athena, that's my father," said Draco.

"I know that Draco, and he knows I'm here... with you. I'm sorry that I got you mixed up in all this, but now I really need your help."

"But Athena, even if they cut off your hair it would just grow back, wouldn't it?" asked Draco.

"Well, it would have before, but....." Athena paused. "Draco do you know why hardly anyone ever sees shifters? It's because shape-shifters are scared of falling in love; for when a shifter kisses a mortal they denounce their immortality; they keep all their powers but they will then grow old and die at what you would call a normal rate. But if their hair were completely cut off, which the potion requires, they would grow old and die... instantly," sighed Athena.

"Oh, Athena, I'm sorry, I...I..." muttered Draco looking down.

"Apology not needed," said Athena, cutting him off, "If I hadn't wanted to give up my immortality, you wouldn't have been able to get near me."

"So, what do we do now? I mean, my father is after you and he knows where you are, you'll have to leave again. But that means I'll never see you again." Draco looked up.

Athena looked into his gray eyes and sighed,

"No. I can't keep running away, I can't live like that."

"I understand." Draco sighed, gazing into the fire. "I've never told anyone this, but my father wants me to become a Death Eater. I don't want to, Athena, I really don't," Draco said, looking back at Athena, "but how can I stand up to him forever? How can we fight him?"

"I don't know Draco," said Athena, "I really don't know."

***

When Draco woke up the next day, he pulled on his robes and stumbled sleepily into the common room. Athena was already waiting for him. Her eyes looked as though she hadn't had enough sleep and her hair clouded her face. "Draco, I think I know what we should do." Draco turned quickly; there was something about Athena's voice that wasn't quite right. Athena smiled at him but even her smile seemed wrong. As she walked over to him he froze, she went to place a hand on his shoulder but instantly he stepped back. "Draco, what's wrong?" Athena laughed. Draco listened as Athena's soft laugh became louder until it sounded like a banshee's screech. There was a bright flash and Draco fell to the ground.

***

Draco could hear sobbing. He opened his eyes and blinked his eyes and stared around. He was in some sort of dungeon and a crest on the wall told him exactly where he was: his home. A shriek from behind him made him spin around. There was Athena, chained to one of the walls. She was blindfolded and her hair seemed shorter than usual. Athena shrieked again and Draco saw why. Along her arm there was a large spider crawling towards her shoulder. Draco rushed over and flicked it off her arm. Athena's face had a cut running from her left eye down to her chin and when Draco pulled off the blindfold, he could tell that she'd been crying. "Athena, what happened to you?" Athena didn't reply. She just looked at him with mournful eyes. "Athena, talk to me. What happened?" Athena continued to stare at him without saying a word. Draco looked into her eyes and watched them flick between all the colors imaginable. "You can't talk, can you?" Athena shook her head. Draco stroked her hair. "What has he done to you? I'm sorry Athena, I'm so sorry." A laugh rippled through the stillness of the room. Draco spun around and Athena jerked her head up.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Am I interrupting?" Morgana asked. She shook her head. "Tsk, tsk, Athena, I warned you. I know your weakness. It's this pitiful human. I told you before that you should join us, but you're always the good girl. Never wish to defy our ancestors do you? Well, I'm a nice shifter, Athena. I'll give you one more chance. Join us." Morgana held a hand towards Athena. Draco couldn't believe what he saw. It was the Water Devil but it wasn't. Then Draco understood. Morgana was a shifter too. She was now in human form, her black hair wildly spread over her shoulders. "So, Athena, will you join us?" Morgana waited but Athena didn't even look at her. "No? Well, I hate it when negotiations turn sour but if I must...." Morgana opened her mouth and began to sing. It was a slow haunting melody. Athena watched in horror as Draco's eyes glazed over. He smiled an eerie smile and walked over to Morgana. He stood behind her and draped his arms around her. He kissed her neck and Morgana stopped singing. Draco pulled away as though he'd been burnt.

"What the....?"

Morgana laughed again. "You see Athena. I can win this time. I know that his love to you means more than anything else and that is one of the easiest things that I can take away from you."

A silent tear fell down Athena's cheek.

"Athena...I.....I love you. I....I didn't just do that. What just happened?" Draco stammered.

Morgana sighed in exasperation, "You humans never understand anything. I can make you love me. I can make you do anything. I can make you hate this pitiful excuse for a shifter, which I know would tear her apart."

"Why?"

"Why? Because, although I hate to admit it, she's the most powerful shifter in this world and we need her powers to help Voldemort. He will take over this world and I have no desire for the shifters to become second rate slaves. We will rule along side him, but we need to prove to him that we are on his side. Athena's hair would give him not only immortality but also give him unlimited protection from spells, curses, anything. And as Athena and I have never, well, seen eye to eye, handing her over to my master leaves no regrets." Draco backed away until he hit the wall. "So Athena, changed your mind yet?" Athena looked up, and nodded.

"Athena! No!" yelled Draco.

"To late, loverboy," shrieked Morgana. Margana waved her hand and Athena's shackles released. She fell to the ground coughing. Draco ran to her.

"She would have killed you Draco. I couldn't let that happen," Athena muttered.

"Hmmmm. Athena, I'm still not convinced," Morgana said. "Oh, I've got a good idea. Let's see how loyal you really are. Kill this man, Athena. He'll die anyway, you know, better he's killed by the woman he loves," Morgana cackled.

"No, Morgana, you can not expect me to do that!" yelled Athena.

"Yes, I can. Do it now Athena. Or I'll kill him myself." Athena stood up. A blinding flash of light threw Draco to the far side of the room. They faced each other and Draco became aware of a tear running down her cheek.

"I'm sorry," Athena whispered.

"Oh, shove it. I can't stand this sappy romance. Now, let the games begin!" screamed Morgana. Slowly Athena transformed. Her skin turned black and her hair grew until it hit the floor. Her feet morphed into an eel's tail. She opened her mouth with a hiss. A forked tongue flickered between her lips and two long fangs caught the light. Morgana laughed, "Wonderful choice Athena, a Vaprilite. What a fantastic way to end his life." Draco wracked his brains, what was a Vaprilite? Then he remembered. A Vaprilite was a water form of a Black Widow. They made love to their victims before injecting them with venom and devouring them. Now he knew why Morgana had sounded so amused at Athena's choice. But how was he going to get himself out of this mess? Athena wouldn't kill him, would she? He couldn't be to sure though, with her transformed as she was, she was terrifying. He reached for his wand, but it was missing.

"Give Draco his wand Morgana," hissed Athena.

"Oh, yes I forgot about that. Not that it will help him much." Morgana tossed Draco's wand back to him. He caught it and pointed it at Athena. Athena slithered towards him.

"Stupefy!" Draco yelled. The light that shot out from the wand hit an invisible shield around Athena and bounced off in all directions.

"Sorry, Draco," Athena hissed, "Morgana's right. Your wand will have no effect on me. You may as well accept your fate." Draco fell to his knees. He knew he was about to die. Athena slithered behind him and pulled him to his feet. She wrapped her arms around him and began to twist her tail around his legs. She kissed him briefly, pushing his hair back with her clawed fingers. She pulled him close and kissed him long and passionately. "Morgana, could you give us a little privacy please? After all, he is a human, this sort of thing is done privately by their kind," Athena hissed lazily.

"Well..."

"Leave Morgana." Athena began to sing a single high note that pierced the heavens.

Morgana seemed to shrink a little before their eyes. "Yes, of course," she said quietly before disappearing before their eyes. Athena kissed Draco again before unwinding her tail from his legs and backing away. Slowly she transformed back to her human state.

"Ok, quick, we have to get out of here before she shakes off the spell and returns."

"Lord, you scared me Athena, I really thought you were going to kill me."

"I wouldn't do a thing like that, now would I?" smiled Athena.

"I hope not," said Draco, "How did you come up with a Vaprilite for you transformation?"

"Well, it had to look real didn't it? Otherwise, Morgana would alert Voldemort that I was no longer following his wishes. If I'd changed into anything else, your killing would have had to be instant. With a Vaprilite, I could make it look like I was going to continue.........ummm....well, you know, finish the job, without hurting you in any way. Also, the beginning of a Vaprilites seduction is a good way to cover up a Malligian."

"Malligian? What's that?" Draco asked, puzzled.

Athena smiled. "Concentrate on a Culton." Draco looked at her confused, but she nodded at him so he thought about the creature they're learnt about in Care of Magical Creatures last year. He felt the bones in his back twist. He fell to the ground once more. It was all over in a flash. "Stand up Draco," said Athena.

"What have you done to me?" he whispered. He stumbled to his feet.

"There's a mirror over there, go have a look." Draco walked over to the silver framed mirror on the far wall. He gasped at what he saw. His skin, instead of its usual paleness, was green and had turned into scales. Great wings had sprouted from his back and two horns had grown on his head. His ears had become pointed and his eyes were narrowed into slits.

"What have you done to me?" Draco repeated.

"Nothing really. A Malligian is when a Shifter gives a copy of her powers to a mortal. You now have all the powers that I do."

"You mean, I can shift into anything I want?"

"Yes, but there's no time to explain the full extent of your powers right now. We have to get out of this dungeon."

"Not a problem, after all, this is my house," said Draco. He took Athena's hand and led her towards the mirror. "Melt," he commanded it. The glass rippled and then seemed to evaporate. A long corridor stretched ahead of them...