Illusions

Prologue

Professor Dumbledore paused before walking into the staff room. It wasn't that he was nervous or afraid. No, nothing of the sort. He was worried. He was supposed to introduce a student to them, their new transfer student from Beuxbatons. And he wasn't sure how they'd react. He waited a moment more before entering.

He was greeted by a few glances from the teachers. He had said that everyone should come, but he meant teachers-he hadn't expected everyone to come. Hagrid was there, Madame Pomfrey was there, and even Filch was there. He'd merely expected the teachers, but having the others here was a pleasant surprise. He sat down at the head of the staff table and looked at everyone before beginning.

"You're probably wondering why I wanted you all here today. Well, it's with good reason. Good reason with some bad and good news." A few of the teachers frowned, and Professor Snape scowled.

"We have a transfer student from Beuxbatons this year. It's the only school she's been in and has found problems. She wants to enroll in Hogwarts this year, and I think the best place for her would be with the First years. Why? She learned very little from Beuxbatons, as she was only there for a few months."

"Well, why is this a problem? Why do you need all of us here to say that?" Minerva wondered why he would do this-calling every person in the school, just to announce this?

Dumbledore smiled sadly. "It's not so simple. You ask because you think, that since I'm putting her into First year, she's 11. Not so, I'm afraid. She's 14 years old." They stared. Filius said, "14? But-but how could she be put with the First years? She hasn't missed out on that much, has she?"

"I'm afraid she has. She's been to Beuxbatons for three months. Before that, she had no schooling. None. Zilch-no one would accept her"

"But why, Dumbledore? Why would she miss that much? No one's that bad. She can't-"

"It's not so easy, Minerva. She's been kicked out, not failed."

"Kicked out? You're not serious? The one school that would accept her, and she causes trouble?"

"She gets blamed for things that aren't her fault. Like Hagrid, she seems not entirely Human. She is, but one wonders."

"Thas' not fair...sh' never should have ter put up with it. Gotta go all over, be way b'hin on her work. Was' wrong wit' her that everyone has a problem with?"

"Have any of you heard of Elsarinxzarlas Calsarracktik?" This had both a desired and undesired effect. Filius and Minerva looked dazed, while Hagrid looked surprised. Professor Trewalney, too, seemed to know-not that that was a surprise. But too, Snape seemed to know. He looked rather blank, glazed over, as if he were thinking.

"Well, I was an ol' friend o' her family. She's a good kid, too-not her fault, shouldn't have ter put up wit all this. She's human, after all, even if she's a bit different." Now those who didn't understand looked quite bewildered.

"I never met her, but I remember hearing about her. I myself looked for something that might help her, but I came up with very little," squeaked Filius.

Minerva sighed. "I too, heard about her. They thought perhaps transfiguration would do, but she distinctly refused, saying she was what she was and there wasn't going to be a change."

"Ahh, I said she was a good kid. Proud o' who she is-wit' good reason! Good family she had-one o' the best pure-blooded ones I ever met."

"I have seen her, though not with my own to eyes. She is highly tormented and seems quite aloof, never a social person." Sibyll said mistily, while other gave her annoyed looks. *Doesn't take even a Muggle to figure that out* thought Minerva irritably

"Yes, that is all true. She is quite kept to herself, and is rather proud."

"Sorry to seem thick, but what is the problem with this...this...girl?" Poppy couldn't pronounce her name-quite understandable.

"Elsarinxzarlas Calsarracktik?"

"Yes."

"I'm not really the one to tell you that, as I don't know the entire story. Only a few alive do-and one sits right in this room. However, if he wishes not to indulge us he doesn't need to."

Everyone looked at Hagrid, and he looked blankly at everyone, saying, "He ain't refferin' t' me." People looked confused-except for of course Dumbledore, whose eyes were twinkling and sad as well.

"No, he's referring to me." Said a quite voice that chilled the room. "Hagrid knows most of it, but he wasn't there-while I was. As to whether that's fortunate or not, I'm not sure." Snape glanced up before continuing.

"It was 12 years ago. June 19^th.

"His target was the Calars. A large pure-blood family that was very outspoken against the Dark side that provided useful information here and there for us-they didn't want to make themselves to big a target.

"Unfortunately, the whole family-aunts, uncles, cousins, everyone-was there that night. You-know-Who couldn't have been much happier in one night.

"So they went, and I had no choice but to follow. The killing that ensured...brutal. Horrible. I cannot forget the yelling and panic.

"Yet when it seemed almost everyone was dead, someone was seen running off. A number of spells were shot at him-2 Killings, and a Crustatious" a few people had raised eyebrows at this, clearly thinking of the pain he must have felt. "-And he went down. A quick check revealed that he was dead, however his daughter, whom he'd been hoping to escape-was not.

"But You-Know-Who was happy enough-he had destroyed her entire family, and she was horribly disfigured as a result of all the hexes and curses. He decided not to kill her-said she'd suffer as it is, why not leave her as her life be one long living hell.

"About then Aurors began to show up, and we left. She was raised by a few people on and off through the years, and I now believe she resides on her own."

There was a ringing silence ending his story, and Minerva said, "But that still doesn't explain-"

"Why she's shunned from society?" Snape finished. She nodded, and he said. "Because. Much like demi-human creatures -werewolves, vampires, hags, and giants- are shunned, so is she. She doesn't look entirely human. She has dragon wings and a tail, not to mention blue scales. She also has one dragon leg. And don't ask me how it happened and why, because I honestely don't know." He said quikly, seeing a few people ready to ask more questions.

Dumbledore nodded. "That is a very brief description of what happened, yes

, and a good one.

"You now she why she is shunned and why she has been to only one school. I merely wanted to see if anyone had any objections..." but they did not. He nodded and said "Then I think you can all go back to your duties before you came. I myself must contact Professor Quirrell to see if he wil be back this summer." They all stood up and left.

All, except one, who was still lost in his own thoughts.