Dreaming Of You

Dreaming of You

Part 19 - One-upmanship

Neverland's well protected, against all time and age
All schooling's been rejected, I'm not a parrot in a cage
Your minds are overrated, your spirits all in are cowed
Here I'm not tolerated and my freedom's not allowed.

Chapter 33

"So do you know who sent that Howler yet?"

Judging by Snape's glare and Deva's sigh, Draco assumed that the answer was no.

"That is enough, Mr. Malfoy," Snape said. His harassed tone of voice told Draco quite a bit about what had been happening among the Hogwarts faculty members in the hour or so since the Howler had caused chaos in the Great Hall. "We still have over half of Slytherin House to question, and I am not in the mood to put up with your smart remarks."

"Do you have any idea who might have sent it?" Deva asked. "As a joke or something, maybe?"

"Yes. I sent it, and I plan to murder Potter in his sleep tonight. All I have to do is torture the passwords out of Longbottom, and I'm set." Draco rolled his eyes at the two professors' unamused expressions. "Oh, lighten up, it was a joke."

"It wasn't very funny," Deva said.

"Maybe you just didn't catch the humor." Draco scowled, uninterested in the fact that Deva seemed quite hurt. "Can I go yet?"

"Not until you answer the question seriously," Snape told him. "Stop sniveling," he added, transferring his glare to Deva.

Draco smirked. Normally, he didn't mind Deva - her Ancient Runes class actually wasn't half bad, and she didn't seem to dislike him quite as much as some of the other professors - but he was in a rotten mood today, and he felt like causing some pain. This was especially sweet because he rather suspected that Deva had a crush on Snape - she was always staring at him when she thought no one was paying attention. Disturbing as that was, it made him twice as pleased to know that he'd gotten Snape to snap at her.

"I don't know anything," Draco said, shrugging. "Some idiot with too much time on his hands. Ask Potter, maybe he did it to get attention."

"Other professors are questioning the Gryffindors," Snape said evenly. "Go now - we're through here. If you should think of anything else - "

"I know where to find you." Draco got up, and left the room.

"Well?" Pansy had been waiting for him outside the room, and the two of them headed back for the Slytherin Common Room together.

Draco wasn't prepared to reveal anything just yet. "Well what?"

"Well, who do you think sent it?" Pansy asked impatiently. "Do you think it was - y'know, her?"

Her - oh. Draco realized Pansy must mean the Witness. "Don't be stupid," he sneered. "That was a man's voice."

"She could have changed it," Pansy said, though a shadow of doubt now colored her words.

Draco couldn't believe the girl's idiocy. Hadn't she been looking at Potter? He had been, and he'd noticed one thing right away - Potter recognized that voice. Unless the Witness could alter her voice to sound enough like the Dark Lord's to fool Potter - very unlikely - that Howler had been genuine. Besides, it reeked of the Dark Lord's style. The man had always had a taste for the theatrical. Anyone who knew anything about the Dark Lord's first reign would know that.

Draco was about to make a cutting remark to that effect, but he stopped suddenly. Why should he give Pansy any information? With the Witness around, even though no one knew who she was, anyone seeking the Dark Lord's notice would be in competition for the Witness's favor. He had no reason to give Pansy an edge, and every reason to conceal information from her.

"I suppose anything's possible," Draco said instead, gently manipulating Pansy's mind back onto the wrong train of thought. "After all, you never know."

~*~

"Where are we going?" Autumn had to hurry to keep up with Miache as the vampire woman strode down a path away from the school. How come she's moving twice as fast as I am, but she seems half as tired? Autumn wondered irritably, speeding up yet again.

"'Ogsmeade," Miache said.

Autumn waited a moment for more information. "Why?" she prompted, when it became clear none would be offered.

"To get your school supplies, of course," Miache said. "Vhy else?"

"Oh." Autumn frowned. "Doesn't the school provide them?"

"No." Miache sniffed. "Vhy vould zhey?"

"Well... that's how it works in America..."

"You're at a boarding school now. You buy your own supplies 'ere."

A very distressing thought occurred to Autumn. "You know, I don't actually have any money," she said, worried.

"Yes, you 'ave," Miache said calmly.

Autumn stared at the woman. "No," she repeated, more loudly, "I haven't. I think I ought to know."
"You're mistaken," Miache said. "You in'erited a generous sum of money vhen your Uncle Marvin died."

"My what?" Autumn blinked. "I haven't got an Uncle Marvin."

"Not anymore, you 'aven't," Miache agreed.

"That's not what I meant!" Autumn snapped. "I've never had an Uncle Marvin. I don't know what you're talking about."

"Really. Zhat's extremely interesting." Miache considered this for a moment. "Vell, I shouldn't mention it if I vere you. Wizzout zhis money, you really don't 'ave anyzhing."

"It isn't stealing?" Autumn asked warily.

Miache shrugged. "Eh. Might be. Turn ze money back in, zhen, if it bozzers you zhat much. But buy your school supplies first. I'm not paying for zhem."

Autumn's frown deepened as she followed Miache on the road to Hogsmeade. This wasn't a philosophy she'd been exposed to before - but it did make sense. Hogwarts was a boarding school. That meant she had to pay to attend, and if she turned this money back in, she couldn't afford it. And where would she go then? She'd have no money, no home, no education. Maybe by the time anyone worked out what mistake had happened with this Marvin person, she'd have finished school and gotten a job of her own, or at least started a new life. Whoever this money really belonged to, could he need it more than she did?

"Zhis is it," Miache said, interrupting Autumn's internal debate. "First you 'ave to wizdraw part of your in'eritance, zhen you'll need robes, books, equipment, and a vand."

"So we're going to Gringotts?" Autumn asked.

Miache glanced at Autumn, a little too casually. "You've 'eard of it, zhen?"

Autumn hesitated. "A little."

"I see," Miache said. "Yes, ze first stop is a branch of Gringotts."

It turned out to be exceedingly dull. The goblins required Autumn to fill out page after page of forms - she had to register for a Gringotts account, apply to have her funds transferred, register a second time with the American division of Gringotts once the goblins found out she was technically American, and then repeat the application to have her funds transferred through her American account into the British account. Once all that was done, Autumn was outraged to learn that it would take at least another hour before she could even get her money.

"Calm down," Miache advised. "I've no intention of sitting around 'ere for anozzer hour. You can be measured at Gladrags. By ze time zhey've fitted your new robes, ze order should 'ave gone through."

As it turned out, it hadn't. Eventually, Miache put Autumn's robes on hold and went to see exactly what was taking the goblins so long.

"Well, aren't you the lucky one?"

Autumn looked up at the Gladrags employee who'd been assisting her, startled by the heavy irony. "Huh?"

"Getting to go places with that woman?" The lady's expression was somewhere between pitying and derisive. "How in the world did you get stuck with her?"

"She works at Hogwarts," Autumn said coldly, not liking this woman's tone.

"Lots of people work at Hogwarts," the woman said, shrugging. "Not like that one - or didn't you know?"

"You mean that she's a vampire?" Autumn raised an eyebrow. "Of course I know. I'm not stupid."

"Of course you're not - you've been accepted to Hogwarts, haven't you?" the woman said. "That isn't what I meant. That Lady Miache isn't just any vampire. Rumor has it," she leaned forward, lowering her voice, "that she's from the same tribe as the vampires who attacked the school last year."

Autumn frowned. No one had mentioned this before. "Vampires attacked the school last year?"

"Hasn't it gotten around to America yet?" the woman said. "Well, they did. They flew right over the village - it was horrible. And everyone says that Lady Miache - " She stopped.

"Zhat I vhat?" Miache entered the shop, smiling pleasantly. "Zhat I vas ze only vun 'oo vould take zhis job after Miss Delacour quit in hysterics? Or zhat I've sworn zhat ze next vampire to attack ze castle vill be dust? Do tell me vhat 'everyvun' says about me, madam. I am most intrigued."

"Oh - oh - nothing," the woman said, going pale. "They don't say anything about you - they never talk about you - and I don't listen to that sort of gossip anyway - "

"Very good." Miache nodded haughtily. "Gossip is a dreadful 'abit to get into. You should encourage ze rest of your friends to drop it as vell - I should 'ate to zhink zhat somezhing... dreadful... might 'appen to zhem."

Ignoring the woman's hasty reassurances that no one she knew would ever dream of gossiping about the Hogwarts staff, Miache calmly paid for Autumn's new robes, and swept out of the shop.

"Stupid creature," Miache muttered. She handed Autumn a large bag. "Zhat is ze part of your in'eritance you vill be spending today. Ze goblins send zheir apologies for ze delay."

Autumn frowned. Judging from what she knew of the Gringotts goblins, this seemed unlikely. "Really?"

Miache smiled grimly. "If zhey know vhat's good for zhem, zhey do."

Autumn decided to let that subject go. Whatever the delay had been, Miache had clearly dealt with it.

Miache, as Autumn discovered through the course of the day, was not much of a conversationalist. Her only comments in Dervish and Banges were to bully the hapless store manager into deciding that Hogwarts transfer students ought to get a discount on the - according to Miache - vastly overpriced books, scales, cauldron, and telescope.

"Don't I need a wand?" Autumn asked as they left.

"Not from zhere, you don't," Miache said. "Unless you vant to pay twice ze price for 'alf ze quality."

"Then we're going somewhere else?" Autumn asked. "Ollivanders?"

Miache raised an eyebrow. "As far as I know, Mr. Ollivander's shop is in Diagon Alley," she said. "I am not taking you all ze vay zhere just to buy you a name brand vand." She turned down an alley next to Zonko's. "'Ere."

Autumn looked around dubiously. "Here? It's kind of... deserted..."

Miache sniffed. "Better zhan zhat crowded shop," she said, opening a door near the back of one of the buildings. Autumn had assumed it would lead into the back of the other shop, but this dim room, smoky with incense, didn't look much like a joke store, even the backroom.

"Who comes?" a voice croaked from the thickest part of the smoke. Autumn could just make out the outline of a figure, silhouetted by flickering candlelight. "Who comes, to seek the dark and terrible mysteries - "

"It's Miache Sanguinis, you old bat," Miache snapped. "Stop zhat nonsense at vunce, ve aren't 'ere to 'ave our fortunes told."

"Oh. Good." The hidden speaker immediately began waving aside the majority of the smoke. "I've run out of tea leaves, anyway, and no one believes a psychic without physical props." She turned out to be a woman fighting the onset of middle age with expertly applied cosmetics, wearing a bright pink shirt over jeans, rather than robes. "What do you want, then?"

"She needs a vand." Miache nodded at Autumn. "Sell 'er vun."

"A va- oh, a wand. Right." The woman nodded sagely. "Well, I don't really do that sort of thing anymore - but," she added hastily, catching sight of Miache's fangs glinting in the candlelight, "I suppose I could make an exception. Since I like you so much." She turned to Autumn. "So, you must be the transfer student."

"How'd you know that?" Autumn drew back, suspicious.

"With all the new and exciting things that go on in this town?" The woman rolled her eyes, and began shuffling through the drawers of a desk that had become visible as the smoke dissipated. "You're going to be the hottest gossip item for at least another month - unless Rosmerta makes another dramatic conquest, of course." She pulled out a tape measure. "Here we go." She tapped it with her wand, and it began measuring Autumn of its own accord. "So your name is - what, Spring?"

"Autumn. Autumn Vance." Autumn stiffened as the tape measure wrapped itself around various parts of her body.

"Nice to meet you. Call me Elberta." She noticed Autumn's extreme discomfort. "Oh, don't mind that, it won't hurt you. See, we're done." She caught the tape measure in midair. "Now, let's see what we can find for you today."

"Do you make wands?" Autumn asked.

Miache snorted. "Stop that, Miache, it was a perfectly reasonable question," Elberta said, opening a wardrobe and rummaging through it. She leaned in up to her waist, and her voice got muffled. By Autumn's calculations, either Elberta was halfway into the next room over, or there was something fishy about that wardrobe. "Yes, I make wands - or I used to, anyway. Ollivander taught me, but we had a bit of a disagreement as to exactly how wands ought to be made. He's very traditional, you know. Or maybe you don't, if you're just here from America." She resurfaced, juggling about a dozen boxes. "Anyway, I started experimenting a little with the formula, and - to make a long story short - he got mad, threw me out, and I decided my true calling was to exploit Hogsmeade tourists as Elberta the Extraordinary."

"Um." Autumn looked from Miache to Elberta, wondering whether or not she should ask. Her curiosity got the better of her. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm a psychic," Elberta explained. She dumped her boxes onto the desk, causing a flurry of papers to scatter across the floor. "Low level member of the Seers' Guild. Most witches and wizards have no talent whatsoever for divination. I've only got a drop or so - just enough to get me officially into the Guild. So when the magic tour bus comes around, which happens a couple times a month, the visitors are looking for the authentic experience of a wizarding town, including the resident psychic."

"Meaning she's a fraud," Miache added sourly.

"Yep." Elberta was entirely unashamed. "They want the future, they can go to a diviner or a seer. They want entertaining bullshit, they come here." She peered at Autumn consideringly, then handed her a wand. "Spruce and dragon heartstring, try that."

Autumn waved it cautiously. Elberta shook her head. "Nope, nothing. How about unicorn hair and alder?" She grinned when this one, too, failed. "Didn't think so. Elm and phoenix feather? This one's nice, good at illusions."

This wand produced a small sizzle, getting Autumn's hopes up, but it seemed to be a fluke. She sighed in disappointment. Elberta, however, seemed thrilled. "Guess not. Great."

"Why great?" Autumn demanded. "What aren't you telling me?"

Elberta's grin widened. "How would you feel about getting a very special, one-of-a-kind wand?"

"How so?" Autumn said guardedly.

"Well, you seem to have a affinity for bird wands," Elberta said, "but I'm going to bet the phoenix feather isn't the one for you." Her eyes gleamed silver as she pulled out a fourth wand. "This," she said, "is one of my unique wands. Ollivander thought he'd convinced me to quit making them - but he didn't. I've still got them, and I've got the technique for making them." She stroked the wand lovingly with a single finger. "Laurel wood. Ten inches." She smiled. "Diricrawl feather."

Autumn blinked. "What's a Diricrawl?"

"A magical bird," Elberta said. "It's like the phoenix. Sort of. In a way." She shook her head, and smiled brightly. "Anyway, its feathers make very nice wands, no matter what Ollivander thinks. This one's very good for defensive work," she added cajolingly.

Autumn took it dubiously, and waved it. Nothing happened. Elberta's face fell. "But I was so sure," she said, devastated. She snatched up another box. "Here - try this one - "

Autumn barely had it in her hand an instant before Elberta all but threw another one at her. "No? This - or maybe this - "

"Hold on!" Autumn snapped, trying to keep all the wands straight.

"Mooncalf hair, maybe," Elberta muttered, ignoring the girl. "Or kelpie mane?" She thrust two more at Autumn, then rushed back to the wardrobe for more boxes. "Not to worry, dear, I'll find you the perfect wand! No bald phoenixes or murdered dragons for you!"

"But - " Autumn shot a helpless glance at Miache. "Do something!" Miache simply raised an eyebrow, and didn't comment. Autumn glared at her, and threw the four wands she was holding onto the table. Three more rolled off. Autumn gave a snort of disgust, and bent to pick them up.

"Whoa!"

Autumn jumped back, dropping the wand she'd grabbed. Lime green sparks had exploded from it as soon as she'd touched it, and it was now producing a cloud of foul-smelling orange smoke.

Elberta spun around, and an enormous grin spread across her face. "You found one!" she cried, delighted. "Which was it?" She picked it up to examine it. "Pear wood and Fwooper feather, twelve inches. Oh, this one's very nice. Wonderful for curses. I'm sure you'll just love it!"

"What's a Fwooper?" Autumn asked, hoping she'd get a bit more explanation that she had about the Diricrawl.

"Oh, just another bird," Elberta said dismissively. "A magical one. Quite magical. Its feathers give lovely results in all the wands I've tried it in."

"Great." Autumn looked down at the wand. It was still producing orange smoke, which seemed to be turning the purple carpet to the ugly brown of burnt clay. "Should be interesting."

After paying for the wand and leaving Elberta's shop, Autumn immediately said, "What's a Fwooper?"

"A magical bird," Miache said, smirking. After a moment, she elaborated. "Its song drives people insane."

"So my wand is for crazy people? That's lovely." Autumn grimaced. "Is that everything I need, then?"

"Everyzhing you need, yes," Miache said. "'Owever, you might as vell take zhis time to get somezhing just because you vant it. You may not get anozzer chance to shop for a vhile."

Autumn started to say she'd had enough shopping for the day - then stopped. All her possessions had been at her house in America. She wouldn't be able to get them back. Maybe she should take advantage of this opportunity.

She didn't want candy or anything, of course. Nothing that frivolous. And there was no point in buying magical books until she knew more about the magical world. Besides, there was a whole library at Hogwarts that she hadn't even begun to explore yet. Autumn turned in a full circle, considering the shops carefully. She rejected the post office... Zonko's... the touristy gift shop... the pet store - the pet store? Autumn frowned. She'd never been allowed a real pet, since her father had been allergic to all things furry and feathered.

"Let's go there," Autumn said, pointing at Potiva's Pet Shop.

Miache shrugged and headed in. As soon as the vampire crossed the threshold, all the animals in the shop fell silent. A nervous-looking young man approached quickly, abandoning his other customers. "Can I help you?" he asked. To his credit, he didn't stammer at all.

"Um... yeah," Autumn said, drawing his attention to her, away from Miache. "I'd like to buy a pet."

"That's good," the young man - Tim, according to his cheerful nametag - said. "Er... any particular kind of pet?"

"Not really, no," Autumn said, after a moment's thought. "Help me decide."

"Um." Tim looked as though he was going to protest this, but then he caught Miache's eye and swallowed hard. "Well... are you a Hogwarts student?"

A grin spread across Autumn's face. "Yes."

"Well, then how about an owl?" Tim suggested. "You can - you know, write to your family at home."

Autumn's grin disappeared. "I haven't got any family."

Tim's gaze flickered from Autumn to Miache, then to Miache's fangs. "Er... right. Maybe not an owl, then. How about a toad? They're bound to come back into fashion any time now - "

"I don't like toads," Autumn said flatly.

"Or not." Tim gulped. "A cat, then? Cats are always nice. We have some nice shorthairs, very friendly, right over this way." He led them to a large structure, and lifted out a little black kitten. "What do you think?"

"It's - " Autumn sneezed. "I - " She sneezed again. And again. Hurriedly, Tim took the cat back. "My dad was allergic," Autumn explained, backing away from the cats. "I guess I am, too."

"Well, those are all the usual school pets," Tim said. "But maybe you'd like something more unusual," he added quickly. "We have rats - rabbits - snakes - ferrets - fish - "

"Wait, wait," Autumn said, holding up a hand. "What was that?"

"Er... fish?"

"No, before that." Autumn grinned. "You have ferrets?"

"Oh, yes!" Tim nodded enthusiastically. "Lots of them, in just about every color you can imagine. We have an illusionist who - "

"Can I see them?" Autumn asked.

"Of course! Right away!" Tim hastened to another display case, where three or four ferrets were playing in each of the many compartments. "Here they are. See any you like?"

Autumn's first instinct was to pick a white one. After all, it could be Draco Malfoy, the Amazing Bouncing Ferret. It would serve the bastard right, after the way he'd acted.

But that wasn't exactly something she'd want to wish on a poor innocent ferret. Besides, the white ones looked like skinny rats.

"The grey one," Autumn said finally, pointing. "It's kind of cute."

"Right. The grey one." Tim opened the compartment and lifted out the grey ferret. "This is a silver. See the mask? He's very friendly. Want to hold him?" He handed the ferret to Autumn. It - he - wiggled around, then started trying to crawl up her arm.

Autumn smiled. "I like him."

"If you're sure, then maybe you'd like to hear about some of the tricks our trained ferrets can - or not," Tim backtracked, taking another look at Miache. "Er... I'm sure this ferret will make you a great pet."

He couldn't sell Autumn the ferret and ferret supplies quickly enough. At the counter, while Autumn was paying, Tim started to mention a book about keeping ferrets that might come in handy - then decided that it would make a great gift for a new Hogwarts student. Especially one accompanied by a vampire.

As they returned to the castle, Autumn had to struggle to carry both her new pet and her school supplies. Eventually, Miache sighed, and took all the packages.

Autumn stared. They were heavy packages, but Miache was carrying them as if they contained feathers and air. "Thanks," she said at last. Miache nodded expressionlessly, and they continued in silence.

~*~

"Nothing." Snape scowled at the desk in Dumbledore's office. It was too full of the Headmaster's little toys. How Dumbledore got any work done in here was a mystery.

"I can't believe none of the Slytherins knew anything about that Howler," Sprout said, frowning. "Not to sound judgmental, of course, but you'd think they'd have heard something."

"Of course they'd heard something," Snape said witheringly. "They know exactly what's going on. They just won't tell us."

"Well, I, for one, think this is outrageous," Anderson said. She turned on Dumbledore. "How dare you tell me to bring innocent children here when this school is under attack!"

"One Howler is hardly an attack," McGonagall said.

"Oh, no?" Anderson said. "Because that Howler sounded an awful lot like an attack to me. I want reassurance that my students will be safe here!"

"You have it," Dumbledore said calmly. "This school is the safest place in all of Britain."

"Hah!" Anderson was unmollified. "If this - person - can send in Howlers, what else can he send in?"

"The mail delivery system is admittedly one of the weaker points of security," Dumbledore said. "Since owls deliver messages of ill-intent without any malicious feelings of their own, they do not trigger the guard spells. Professor Flitwick is working on a way to determine what message an owl is carrying, but until then our choices are to either stop all owls, or to let all of them through."

"Then stop all of them!" Anderson snapped.

"I don't think the situation calls for that," Dumbledore said. "Be reasonable, Juliet. If an owl were enchanted to be dangerous, it would be caught by the wards against natural predators. If it were to carry a message cursed badly enough to do real damage, the wards against Dark magic would stop it. The worst that can be done now is harassment - annoying, yes, but hardly a threat to anyone's life."

"I'm sorry to say that I do not agree," Anderson said. "You suggested this exchange as a way to promote understanding and fellowship between the youth of our countries. I don't see that there will be much of either if this Dark Lord of yours keeps terrifying my students with threatening messages." She stood up. "We are going back to America as soon as I can manage it - today, if possible. I shall inform my students now."

Dumbledore watched the Headmistress storm from the room. "I suppose it was inevitable," he murmured. He looked around at the Heads of the Houses. "And what about our students? How are they responding to this threat?"

"Several students wanted to know if they can expect to be murdered in their beds," Sinistra said. "I told them not to be silly."

"I'm sure it was a great comfort to them to hear such a compassionate response," Dumbledore said gravely, his eyes twinkling. "What about the Hufflepuffs? How are they dealing with the situation?"

"Hysterics, probably," Snape said.

Sprout gave him a dark look. "As a matter of fact, they are dealing extremely well," she said proudly. "Only three of them had to go to the hospital wing for shock treatment."

"That's very good," Dumbledore said, smiling. "And I assume the Gryffindors have been equally brave?"

"All but Longbottom," McGonagall said with a sigh. "But Miss Granger managed to get his wand away from him before he did too much damage."

"I'd noticed that," Dumbledore said. He looked at Snape. "And the Slytherins?"

"They're hiding something," Snape said, "but I can't see what. I'm certain it has something to do with those letters half of them got from their parents at the same time. Some sort of warning, maybe."

"I doubt it," Dumbledore said. "They all looked quite surprised when the Howler arrived. Some of them have the acting skills to fake it, of course, but not the entire House. No, my guess is that Voldemort has revived the role of the Witness."

Snape looked at Dumbledore sharply. "Another spy in the Ministry? It can't be Rookwood again, he's been caught - "

"Not in the Ministry," Dumbledore said. "I suspect this spy is here at Hogwarts. Of course, I have no way of confirming this, but I suggest that we all be even more careful than usual."

"Do you know who it could be?" Sprout asked, glancing uneasily around the room as if expecting a rabid Death Eater to come bursting out from Fawkes's cage or behind a painting.

"I have my suspicions," Dumbledore said calmly. "Nothing so solid as to share yet, but I do have some people in mind."

"You might keep zhat new American girl in mind."

The four Heads of Houses turned around abruptly. Miache was leaning against the closed door, looking grim.

"Hello, Miache," Dumbledore said, raising his eyebrows. "You do realize that the door was shut for a reason?"

Miache shrugged. "I assumed you'd vant to know. Zhat girl knows far too much about zhis vorld for a Muggle. More zhan can be explained by a few 'ours of conversation wiz Erin Connor and Blaise Zabini."

"Of course." Dumbledore nodded. "I thought she might."

"Did you really? Vhy?"

"Because Erin and Lianne both did, as well," Dumbledore said. "Or don't you remember the first time you met Miss Connor?"

"Zhat does not explain anyzhing," Miache said coldly.

"If anything, it creates more questions," Sinistra added. "Severus pointed out earlier that these three girls come from remarkably similar situations. If they all know more than they should, there has to be a reason."

"Oh, there is," Dumbledore assured them. "It isn't something that I'm quite prepared to reveal just yet, but it's there. All I can tell you is that I'm almost positive that none of our three friends are evil."

"Almost?" Miache repeated skeptically. "You aren't certain, zhen?"

Dumbledore shrugged. "Nothing is ever completely certain. Where there is free will, there exists the possibility of both good and evil. There is always a choice. The evil may become good, or the good may become evil." He smiled suddenly. "But I'm reasonably sure that Miss Vance will not be going on an unprovoked murderous rampage any time soon."

"How reassuring," Sinistra said.

"Quite," Dumbledore agreed pleasantly. "And unless anyone else has something more to discuss... no? Then I believe we are done here."

McGonagall, Sprout, and Sinistra left. Snape looked at the door, then chose to remain where he was, scowling blackly. Miache leaned against the wall by the door, as if she could never imagine a more comfortable spot to stand.

Eventually, Dumbledore looked up at them again. "I'm sure you both have many important tasks to occupy your time elsewhere," he said.

"Yes, and I'd like to get on wiz zhem," Miache said. "Per'aps your permanent faculty is used to your reticence, but I am not. Autumn Vance may or may not be ze Vitness - I don't know yet. But I do know zhat you are 'iding somezhing about 'er. I vant to know vhat it is."

"It is something that Lianne told me in confidence," Dumbledore said sternly. "I see no reason as yet to betray that confidence."

"And you're sure she isn't the Witness?" Snape asked, eyes narrowed.

"It is extremely unlikely," Dumbledore said. "I'm afraid I can't tell you anymore than that."

"Can't?" Miache asked pointedly. "Or von't?"

"Won't, actually," Dumbledore said cheerfully. "If you really feel the need to know, you could write to Lianne or Erin yourselves, though I don't know how much they'll tell you. The pair of them seem to consider it more of an awkward personal matter than information of strategic importance."

Snape snorted. "They would."

"I zhink I vill write to vun of zhem," Miache said meditatively. "Per'aps both. I do not like secrets. In my experience, zhey very often turn out badly not only for ze keepers, but for all people affected."

"They'll tell Vance, if you do," Snape warned. "Erin Connor's too loyal for her own good, and Lianne Black can't keep a secret to save her life."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that, Severus," Dumbledore said. He smiled. "I don't think you know either of those two ladies quite as well as you think you do."

~*~

"What the hell is that thing?"

Autumn looked over her shoulder. She'd been put in the dormitory with the other sixth year Slytherin girls, on the basis that since she had to sleep somewhere she might as well be with other girls her own age. She was arranging her new possessions around the extra bed. Or at least, she'd been doing so until two of her new roommates had interrupted her.

"What's what?" Autumn asked impatiently. "I'm busy."

"That - that thing on your shoulder," said the girl. She was the one Tabitha had pointed out as Pansy Parkinson, and the expression of disgust on the girl's face did nothing to improve her looks. Not that much would, in Autumn's opinion.

"Oh, you mean my new pet?" Autumn said brightly, taking her ferret off her shoulder to give the two other girls a better look at it. "This is a ferret. That's a kind of mammal," she added helpfully, in a slow, clear voice. "You can tell because it has fur, and suckles its young - "

"We aren't allowed to have ferrets," said the other girl. Autumn's eyes narrowed. This was the girl with the horrible laugh who'd tripped her earlier - Asin Greengrass, wasn't it? "Only a cat, a toad, or an owl."

Autumn looked over at the dresser on the other end of the room. Sitting on top was a glass tank, containing a large coiled snake. "Ugly cat," she said.

"The snake is the symbol of Slytherin House," Parkinson said. "That - ferret - is just disgusting. It looks like a rat, and it probably has fleas." The ferret snarled at this. "And it's dangerous!" Parkinson added triumphantly. "I bet Professor Snape will make you get rid of it."

"Lady Miache didn't seem to think so," Autumn said coolly.

"Well, Lady Miache isn't the Head of Slytherin House, is she?" Parkinson snapped.

"Besides, even if Snape doesn't make you get rid of it, Draco will," Greengrass said sweetly. "He doesn't like ferrets." She giggled. "At all."

~*~

"She's got a what?" Draco said, startled.

"A ferret," Asin said, her eyes wide with sincerity. "A horrible grey one. She keeps it on her shoulder."

Draco scowled. Ever since fourth year, no Slytherin had dared to even mention ferrets around him. Bringing one to Hogwarts had been out of the question. Even the one or two people in other Houses who owned ferrets had tended to keep as far away from Draco as possible.

"Are you going to deal with her?" Asin asked. Draco gave her a measuring glance. She seemed a little too enthusiastic about this.

"What's in it for you?" he wanted to know.

Asin pouted. "Can't I just be helpful for no reason?" she said. She paled as a dark look crossed Draco's face, clearly recalling the last time she'd had information he'd wanted. "I don't like her," she said. "I don't see why my year should be stuck with some American Mudblood just because Dumbledore thinks she ought to come to Hogwarts. If we make life rotten for her, maybe she'll leave."

Draco nodded. "Fair enough. I don't like her either." He grinned. "What say you and Pansy make some difficulties, hmm?"

Asin smiled demurely. "I think we can come up with something."

"Right." Draco stood purposefully. "Then I think it's time to deal with that creature of hers."

He strode across the Slytherin Common Room, to the entryway to the seven girls' dormitories, and pounded on the door until one of the girls came out. "Fetch Autumn Vance out here," he commanded.

The girl, a seventh year and one of Tabitha's crowd, sniffed. "Do it yourself," she suggested. "Oh, wait - you can't. Too bad." She slammed the door in his face.

Draco's lip curled into his trademark sneer as he decided what curse he would inflict on that girl the next time they met. He raised his hand to knock again.

"Don't bother, Draco," Asin said, gliding past him. She smiled. "I'll bring her out for you."

Draco raised an eyebrow. "She'll listen to you?"

Asin just smiled, and went in. Draco counted seconds under his breath, prepared to give Asin two minutes before he tried knocking again. Her time was almost up when Autumn came storming out, fury written across her face. Draco wondered just what Asin had told the girl to get her out here.

"I see you've acquired a pet," Draco said smoothly, before Autumn could speak. "Perhaps you weren't aware that ferrets are not permitted in the Slytherin Common Room."

"Oh, yeah?" Autumn took her ferret off her shoulder and began petting it challengingly. "Says who?"

"Says the sixth year Slytherin prefect," Draco said, stepping forward. "Get rid of that thing, or I'll do it for you."

"I'd like to see you try," Autumn sneered.

"Oh, you will," Draco promised her, drawing his wand. "Maybe I'll turn it into a rat - I know how much girls love rats. It shouldn't be too hard." He smirked. "It practically is a rat, anyway."

"Oh, you think so?" Autumn's face was perfectly innocent. "I'd say it's too grey to look like a rat. There were some white ferrets in the shop, though, and they definitely looked like rats - so scrawny and pale."

Draco felt his face heat up, and he cursed himself for the spots of pale pink he knew were coloring his cheeks. Stop that, he told himself fiercely. She doesn't know. There's no way she could have found out this quickly. And besides, who would dare to tell her?

"I think my ferret isn't at all rat-like," Autumn said, making a show of studying it. "But you know what? His coat is the same color as your eyes. Maybe I'll name him after you - Draco Malfoy, the Amazing Bouncing Ferret." She smiled maliciously. "Has a nice ring, don't you think?"

Draco froze, unable to believe it. She knew. How could she know? Who would have had the nerve to tell her?

"What's wrong, Draco?" Autumn asked, eyes wide. "Don't you think it's the most adorable thing you've ever heard? A little baby Draco ferret," she added, in the most saccharine tones he'd ever heard.

Draco absolutely saw red. He didn't know what curse he screamed, but he did know that the bitch managed to duck just in the nick of time. The jet of light hit a third year standing behind Autumn. Judging by the young girl's shrieks, it had been a pretty nasty spell.

"You're gonna regret that." Autumn drew her wand with the hand that wasn't holding the ferret.

Draco laughed mockingly. "You haven't even had a class yet," he scoffed. "You don't even know how to shoot sparks."

"I know more than you think," Autumn said coldly. Draco had just opened his mouth for a retort when she yelled, "Expelliarmus!"

Draco's wand went flying - and so did he, in a shower of violently pink sparks that set fire to the hem of his robes. He screamed as the heat of the fire reached his skin.

"Atramentus!"

Several gallons of liquid suddenly drenched Draco from head to foot. Mercifully, the flames were doused at once. Draco looked up to see who his guardian had been.

Tabitha stood beside Autumn in the doorway. Behind her was, not just her usual sixth year crowd, but nearly half of Slytherin House. "Not bad," Tabitha said to Autumn, not taking her eyes off Draco. "But next time, the pattern is curse, then the snappy retort. Don't give him the chance to prepare."

Draco stood up, noting as he did so that the other Slytherins were not gathering behind him, as they should have been doing in such a confrontation. "There isn't going to be a next time," he said grimly.

Tabitha looked him ostentatiously up and down. "I think you have that part right, anyway."

Draco followed her gaze. He realized, to his horror, that the liquid she'd poured over him had been black ink. And knowing the Slytherin mentality, it was probably indelible black ink.

Tabitha smirked. "The ferret stays."

~*~

The humiliation of his defeat - or rather, his temporary setback, as Draco hastened to reassure himself - stayed with him even through the next day. The other Slytherins in his clique made it very clear that their leader had better do something to redeem himself, soon, if he didn't want to lose more than his pride. He didn't know if the professors noticed the infinitesimal snubs constantly administered, the slight distance his Housemates kept from him, but he definitely noticed it.

The professors certainly saw his reaction to the treatment he was receiving. It didn't do much for his temper, which was never very good in the first place. He managed to send dumpy old Sprout and oversensitive Deva out of their respective classrooms in tears. However, when he got to Transfiguration, that pattern changed.

"Mr. Malfoy." McGonagall's expression was as stern as the one she turned on the misbehaving students of her own House. "Come here."

Draco walked unhurriedly up to her desk. "Yes?"

"I understand that you have been tormenting the other professors. I won't stand for it. You will cease that sort of behavior at once."

"You aren't the Head of Slytherin," Draco said.

McGonagall fixed him with a glare that promised great suffering in his future if he wasn't careful. "No, I am not. But I am a professor, as well as the Deputy Headmistress of this school. On behalf of Professors Sprout and Deva, you will have a detention tonight. Take your seat, and see me when class is over to arrange that detention."

Draco's eyes widened, and he opened his mouth to object.

"And ten points from Slytherin," McGonagall added crisply. "For impertinence. Not a word out of you for the rest of the period, Mr. Malfoy. If you try your tricks on me, you'll have detention for a week. Now sit."

Draco sat, seething through the entire lesson. He didn't hear a word of the instructions, and didn't even make the effort to try to turn his tarantula into a tortoise. He toyed with the idea of turning it into a snapping turtle, to express his feelings, but decided in the end that it would be too much like real work to be worth the effort.

Finally, the class ended, and Draco walked grumpily up to McGonagall's desk.

"You will be sent to Madam Pomfrey," the professor said, without preamble. "I have no use for you here, and the hospital wing is always in need of a pair of hands. You will report to the hospital wing at seven o'clock tonight. And Mr. Malfoy," McGonagall leveled the full force of her famed glare at him, "if I ever hear of you tormenting another professor, I will turn you over to the Headmaster. Is that clear?"

Draco's lip curled into a sneer. "Perfectly." He spun on his heel and strode out of the room with as much dignity as he could muster.

That's two times I've been disgraced, in two days time. They'll never let this pass. Draco scowled as he headed to the Slytherin Common Room. He didn't think he could face his House at lunch. He'd just claim not to be hungry. It was a perfectly reasonable explanation.

What he couldn't explain was how he had allowed himself to be doubled shamed. But he was certain it all began with that American girl - Autumn Vance. It was her fault, all of it. None of this would have happened if she'd stayed in America where she belonged!

Yes, Autumn Vance was the beginning of his troubles - but, Draco realized, she could also be the end of them. All he had to do was shame her, and his reputation would be restored. All that he had to figure out, was how to go about it.

~*~

"But I don't understand! How can this - this piece of wood make anything happen?"

"It isn't a piece of wood," Blaise told Autumn patiently. "It's a wand. You can tell because sparks and stuff come out when you wave it."

"But it doesn't make sense!" Autumn protested, glaring furiously at her wand. "What makes it different from other pieces of wood? How come it makes spells happen, if it's just ordinary wood with dead animals stuffed inside?"

"Well, does it really matter?" Blaise said. "I mean, stuff happens whether you understand it or not, right? So why do you care if you know why?"

"But I have to write essays about it," Autumn said impatiently. "Miache's making me write about basic Transfiguration theory by tomorrow, and about the properties of the Draught of Living Death for Wednesday. Flitwick wants me to read and take notes on the first chapter of my textbook so that I can use the information next time he meets with me. And tomorrow I have even more classes! I don't know if I can do this."

Blaise frowned, his forehead wrinkling in the effort of thought. "I think it's hard, too," he said finally. "But I know all the things you have to do. I'll help you, if you want me to."

"Oh, please." Mandy Brocklehurst entered Blaise's section of the hospital wing. "You're being tutored. You're in no position to teach anything to anybody." She looked Autumn up and down appraisingly. "I'll help tutor you, if you like."

Autumn frowned. She knew what the Ravenclaw was getting in exchange for tutoring Blaise. "I can't pay you," she warned.

"Didn't ask you to," Mandy said, shrugging. "I like you. I don't like Draco Malfoy, so he's fair game to hit up for candy."

"You don't like Draco?" Blaise asked, shocked. "Why not?"

"Because he's an arrogant prick who thinks the world exists for him to wipe his feet on," Mandy said calmly. "By the way, Vance, I heard about your ferret. Great name." Her grin reminded Autumn of wolves in the snow.

"You have a ferret?" Blaise said, bewildered. "But Draco won't like it."

"He mentioned that." Autumn smiled innocently. "He was convinced otherwise."

"But - "

"Well, well, well."

Everyone looked up at the new arrival in the hospital wing. Draco Malfoy lounged in the doorway, smirking like a king viewing his flock of peasants. "And here I thought your judgment couldn't be worse, Zabini. Consorting with the upstart American?" He clucked his tongue disapprovingly.

Autumn snickered. "You know, I don't think I've ever heard anyone make that sound and expect to be taken seriously," she said. She echoed the clucking noise, loudly and mockingly. "Goodness, this is so difficult. I'm astonished at how articulate you must be to pull it off."

Draco glared at her. "Shut up."

"You started it," Autumn said snidely.

"I did not!"

"Did too."

"I - " Draco stopped short. "Oh, no. You will not catch me that way again."

"Again?" Mandy said, with great interest. "Have you had one of those arguments before?"

"That is none of your concern," Draco said. "I'm paying you to tutor Zabini, not to goggle at me. Get on with your tutoring!"

Mandy just grinned and sat on the edge of Blaise's bed, to get a better view.

"Don't shout at her, Draco," Blaise objected.

"I'll shout at whoever I want to shout at," Draco snapped.

"But I don't want you to shout at Mandy," Blaise said. "I like her. I like Autumn, too. You shouldn't shout at her, either."

"Do you want a worse curse laid on you than that pansy-arsed one Boot hit you with?" Draco snarled. "I tell you that you do not like Autumn Vance, and that I will shout at her whenever I damn well please!"

"I'm standing right here, in case you didn't notice," Autumn said angrily.

"Oh, I noticed, all right," Draco sneered. "How could I miss the filthy stench of a Mudblood? You stink up the entire room. Good thing you didn't bring that rat of yours - we'd hardly be able to breathe for the - "

Draco just managed to duck as Autumn's fist went sailing over his head.

"Oh, that's clever," he taunted. "You can't come up with anything to refute me, so you have to resort to violence. Very classy."

"Just trying to speak a language you understand," Autumn said, silently calculating when he'd been within reach of her fist again.

"You might try real English, then," Draco said. "That indecipherable American accent of yours is getting unbearable."

"About as unbearable as your prima donna attitude?" Autumn shot back. "No wonder you don't have any friends."

Draco smirked. "What are you, blind? I have dozens of friends."

"You have followers, maybe," Autumn said, "but friends? Please. I've only been here a couple days, and even I can see that no one likes you."

"But you see," Draco smiled nastily, "I don't care if anyone likes me. I care if they obey me. And you will obey me, Vance. One way or another."

"Oh, is that supposed to make me frightened?" Autumn scoffed. "I'm quaking in my shoes - really I am."

"You will be soon." Draco chose to ignore her sarcasm. He turned to depart, but looked over his shoulder before he went. "You've made yourself a dangerous enemy, Vance. I don't forget. And I never forgive."

Autumn just grinned. "And isn't that nice for you?"