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Shopping in Diagon Alley wasn’t - usually - a special occasion for Acadia Kane. She often walked the streets and bought trinkets and the like every other evening. She knew almost every shop owner by name, and they knew her’s. Acadia was a thin girl with pale, freckled skin. She wore muggle jeans and a vermillion sweater that slightly fell off one shoulder, but no one gave her weird glances for her choice of clothing. Deep scars littered her freckled face. The two most prominent were carved across her nose and under her light green eyes.

Ophelia Kane, Acadia’s aunt who was a famous potioneer in both Europe and America, strode beside the young girl. She was a tall, middle-aged woman with orange hair that fell to her shoulders in big, loose curls. She had a heart-shaped face, and her deep-set, tired eyes were a tawny brown. Thin, bronze spectacles sat on the edge of her small rounded nose and her full lips turned up into a wide grin. She wore long, black robes and a large witch’s hat. In one hand, she held bags full of robes. In the other was a pewter cauldron filled with books.

Witches and wizards buzzed around purchasing supplies for their children. The crowd had a life of its own, the vibrant clothes shone in the morning light and the people moved like the enchanting shoals of fish. There was chatter between sellers and buyers, old friends catching up, new friends made.

“Where to next?” Acadia asked as she bounced beside her aunt. Acadia’s luscious hair rivaled that of her aunt’s. Instead of pumpkin orange, hers was a stunning burnt auburn. It fell in long, lavish waves all the way to her upper thigh.

“Time for your first wand.” Ophelia’s American accent was sweet and bubbly as she spoke. The young girl beamed up at her aunt and skipped ahead. The older woman smiled, it wasn’t often that she got to see Acadia this excited. “Wait up, Cadi!” Acadia pushed through the crowd and entered the famous wand shop.

Acadia greeted the old man as she flung open the door. The older man looked up from his papers with a wide grin. “Acadia Kane,” Ollivander beamed and stood. His fluffed, white hair bounced as he strolled up to her. He placed his bony hands firmly on Acadia’s shoulders and smiled. “I’ve been looking forward to this for a few years.” Ollivander quickly walked to one of the shelves and slipped out a box that was tightly packed with others. “Aspen… Troll skin…” he mumbled before handing it to Acadia. “Try it.”She studied the wand. It was simple and straight with a few carvings in the handle. She was about to give it a flick, but Ollivander snatched it from her hands. “No,” he fretted and handed her another box. Acadia wasn’t even able to open it before he changed his mind.

The freckled girl opened the next to show a simple, yet beautifully crafted wand made of a honey-colored wood. The shaft was straight and smooth; the point was somewhat sharp. The handle was expertly carved into a slight spiral. Something stuck in her throat as she plucked the 12¾ inch wand from the box. It was comfortable in her thin fingers. She flicked it and gasped. Red sparks sprung forth from the wand. Her pale features lit up and she whipped around to look at Ollivander.

Glee clouded his old features, but his eyes flickered with worry. “That wand,” he began, “cypress with phoenix tail feather and werewolf nail core,” he paused, his thin lips twisting into a slight smile. “Very special. It embraces a witch or wizard who has courage, bravery, and loyalty. The bravest of heart.” Ollivander smiled and gripped her shoulder.

Acadia brightened, happily looking down at the wand. She placed seven galleons on the counter and turned to leave. “Thank you, Ollivander.” She tossed a glowing smile over her shoulder before leaving the store.

When she returned home with everything, Acadia immediately crashed onto her couch and opened one of her new school books.
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection
by Professor Quentin Trimble. A shiny, black book. The pages were crisp and Acadia hummed as she flipped the through the brand new book. “Avoid the Red Cap, a dark dwarfish creature that lurks in places where blood has been shed and will attempt to bludgeon the unwary to death.” She read aloud to no one in particular.

“Interested in Defense Against the Dark Arts, are we?” Ophelia queried without even looking up from her coffee. The spoon that she charmed to stir clink against the mug.

Acadia flipped to another page. “Yeah,” she said wiggling in her seat. By the time she was ready to go to bed, she had read everything she could. Granted, she knew most of the material, so it was mainly a refresher. She almost couldn’t fall asleep at the anticipation. As she lied in bed, she stared out her window at the glowing moon.

Three weeks

.
 
Acadia padded across the tiles of Platform Ten, rolling her trolley in front of her. Unfortunately, Ophelia was held up with a client emergency and couldn't see her off. Most likely, someone had gotten poisoned.

She paced beside her childhood friend, Ronald Weasley. Ron was much taller than Acadia but almost as skinny. The two looked as though they could be related with their abundant freckles and pale complexions. Acadia’s hair was even close to the same color as the Weasleys’. “It’s the same every year. Packed with muggles, of course,” Molly Weasley, Ron’s stout mother, exclaimed. The only daughter of the Weasley clan, Ginerva, clung to her mother’s arm as the group walked down the platform. The twins, Ron, and Acadia just shook with laughter. “Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, this way!” She broadcasted with a sing-song tone, practically dragging Ginny as she marched. Muggles didn’t pay them much mind. The most any of them did was look at the group with confused glances before continuing on with their mediocre days. They stopped their journey in front of the passage. Molly studied them with a proud face. “Alright Percy, you first.” Percy briskly walked through the passage without a problem, exactly like he had the years before. “Fred, you next,” Molly urged looking at one of the twins.

“He’s not

Fred

, I am!” The shorter shouted.

“Honestly woman, you call yourself our mother,” The other sighed.

“Oh, I’m sorry, George…” Molly apologized as “George” lined up with the wall.

“I’m only joking, I am Fred,” he grinned before running through. George right after him.

“Excuse me!” Acadia whipped around towards a somewhat familiar boy, who sheepishly looked towards them. Molly smiled sweetly as Ginny clutched her hand and slightly hid behind her mother. A small blush covered her face. “Could you… could you t-tell me how to…” he pointed towards the passage.

“How to get on the platform?” Molly finished his sentence for him with a sweet, motherly smile. “Not to worry dear. It’s Ron and Cadi’s first time to Hogwarts as well.” She motioned to the pair of first years. Ron smiled with pride, and Acadia waved. “Now all you’ve got to do is walk straight at the wall, between platforms nine and ten. Best to do it at a bit of a run if you’re nervous.” The boy’s emerald eyes lingered on Acadia’s face for a moment, no doubt studying her scars. Acadia returned the gesture, and gasped inaudibly. Acadia’s peridot green eyes widened.  How stupid had she been to not recognize one of the most famous faces in the European wizarding world?

“Good luck,” Ginny said shyly before Acadia could speak. He lined himself up with the entrance just like Fred had. He took a deep breath before running towards the wall and passed through without a problem.

“Alright, Cadi,” Molly said. Acadia grinned in anticipation and walked the wall. She pushed forward and passed through the magical barrier. A refreshing adrenaline rush surged through her body as she transversed. On the other side, hoards of students flooded into the crimson train.

“Woah,” Ron gasps, walking slightly behind her. They moved slowly through the throng of young witches and wizards. The right-back wheel of Ron’s trolley squealed obnoxiously until they reached the storage car.

They walked past many full compartments. Glossy, platinum hair caught her eye. Slate grey eyes met her mint green for just a second before she walked past the window. The heat in her cheeks faded as quickly as it came.

Ron had paused in the middle of the corridor. He pulled the door open with a whoosh. “Excuse me,” Ron asked poking his head in, causing Acadia to peer in curiously as well. The boy from platform ten perked up and looked a the pair. “Everywhere else is full.”

“Not at all,” the boy gladly agreed. They shuffled in and sat across from him. Acadia stared out the window for a second before turning to the boy. “You’re Harry Potter, aren't you?” She asked bluntly. Ron gasped, obliviously appalled.

The boy nodded. “So- So it’s true! I mean- do you really have the-?” Ron stammered pointing to his forehead anxiously. Acadia laughed with a scoff and rolled her eyes.

“The what?” He seemed completely oblivious to his fame.

“The scar,” Acadia said plainly, before snickering at Ron’s scarlet face.

“Oh,” Harry said with a chuckle as he moved his dark bangs to the side. Carved into his light flesh was a lightning-like scar.

“Wicked,” Ron breathed.

“Anything off the trolley, dears?” An elderly woman in a pink dress peeked into the room. The smell of sweets wafted into the compartment. It almost made Acadia sick, but she stood and walked into the hall.

“No thanks, I’m all set,” Ron held up the bundle of homemade sandwiches from his mother with an ashamed smile. Harry looked to the woman with excited green orbs and joined Acadia.  
 
“Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans?” Harry asked sitting against the train’s window. Ron sat beside him while Scabbers, Ron’s disgusting pet rat, was halfway into a candy box on his lap. Empty wrappers and boxes once filled with candy surrounded them.

“They’re not lying,” Acadia spoke after swallowing a bite of cauldron cake. “They’ve got just about every flavor you can think of.”

“There's chocolate and peppermint, but there’s also spinach, liver, and tripe.” Ron counted out on his fingers. “George swore that he got a bogey flavored one once.” Acadia frowned in disgust.

“These aren't real frogs, are they?” Harry asked turning the packet over in his hands. The blue material slightly shined in the sunlight.

“It’s just a spell, besides it’s the card you want,” Ron explained with a mouth full of jelly slugs. “Each packet’s got a famous witch or wizard. I got about 500 myself.” Harry opened the wrapping causing the frog to wiggle to life. It sprung off the paper and onto the window.

“Watch it!” Ron yelped as it squirmed up the glass. Once it reached the top, the wind caught its arm and it was flung from the train. “Aw, it’s rotten luck, they’ve only got one good jump in ‘em, to begin with.”

“I’ve got Dumbledore.”

“I’ve got ‘bout six of ‘em,” Ron said

“Hey, he’s gone!” Harry flipped the card a few times before setting it down.

“Well, you can’t expect him to stick around all day, can you?” Ron asked through a mouth-full of licorice. “This is Scabber’s by the way… Pathetic isn’t he? “

“Just a little bit,” Harry said meekly.

“Fred gave me a spell that’s to turn ‘im yellow. Wanna see?”

“Yeah.”

“Sun-” Acadia jumped the compartment door opened to reveal a bushy-haired girl the same age as the three of them. She was already dressed in her rodes. "Has anyone seen a toad? A boy named Neville's lost one." They shook their heads before her eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. “Oh,” she confidently smiled. “Are you doing magic? Let’s see then.” She seemed to puff out her chest a bit and smiled smugly.

Ron, suddenly becoming self-conscious, cleared his throat. He readied his wand and spoke. “Sunshine, daisies, butter, mellow… Turn this stupid fat rat yellow!” Nothing happened.

“Are you sure that’s a real spell?” The girl asked with a frown.  “Well, it's not very good, is it?” Acadia frowned deeply, it took a few deep breaths not to lash out at the bushy-haired girl. “Of course, I’ve only tried a few simple ones myself, but they’ve all worked for me.” She strutted into the compartment and sat between Acadia and the window. “For example… Oculus Reparo,” she waved her wand in front of Harry’s glasses, mending them instantly. She froze and gaped. "Holy cricket! You're Harry Potter!" Harry looked away shyly. "My name's Hermione Granger..." She shifted to Ron. "And you are?"

"Ron Weasley," Ron said stuffing his mouth with food.

“Pleasure.” Hermione frowned. When she turned to Acadia her eyebrows rose in surprise.

"Don't mind Ron... he's a mess." Acadia barely managed to stifle a laugh. "Acadia Kane,” She said sticking out her hand.

"Nice to meet you," she smiled weakly before shaking it. Hermione, just like Harry just a few hours ago, traced every scar on the freckled girl’s face before standing.

"I’m gonna go change," Acadia told to the boys as Hermione started to leave. She waved them goodbye. "You two better put on your robes as well, we're almost there."

After changing in one of the onboard restrooms, a mysterious smell graced her nose. Acadia easily traced the odor to a luggage car. "Oh," she whispered before picking up the toad. Her nose crinkled, and she turned her head away from it. It didn't help that the gift of a sensitive sense of smell was something that came with her curse.

"Neville, right?" She asked a chubby brunette boy holding the smelly toad. He almost seemed lost.

"Y-yes." He spoke as his cheeks flushed.

"I believe this is yours." The toad croaked loudly as Acadia offered it to the timid boy. Neville's eyes widened as he took the animal and thanked her repeatedly.

Acadia had no trouble finding the boys and followed them from the train. “Right then,” a giant man called over the heads of students. Which wasn’t hard considering his size. He was at least ten feet tall and six times as wide as Acadia. “First ye’rs! This way, please!” His messy, black hair waved about his head. A matching beard masked most of his tanned face and tiny dark eyes stared down at her. “Come on now, first ye’rs, don’t be shy!” The three walked side by side to the large man. Acadia could probably sit in the palm of his hand. “‘Ello Harry!”

“Hey, Hagrid,” the raven-haired boy replied shyly. Acadia and Ron looked up at the man in awe, having never seen someone as tall as him.

“Alright, this way to teh boats!”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Welcome to Hogwarts!” An older woman with emerald robes stopped the first years at the top of the stone steps. “Now, in a few moments, you will pass through these doors and join the rest of your classmates. But before you can take your seats, you must be sorted into your houses. There are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin.” Acadia heard someone behind her cleared their throat proudly. “Now, while you're here, your house will be like your family. Your triumphs will earn you points. Any rule breaking, and you will lose points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points will win the house cup. The sorting ceremony will begin momentarily.” She turned to walk into the room but glanced at the first years briefly before she walked inside.

Within seconds of the professor walking into the Great Hall, a boy spoke up. "Is it true then? What they were saying on the train... Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts?" Acadia turned her attention to a boy with slick, platinum hair. "This is Crabbe and Goyle... And I'm Malfoy, Draco Malfoy," he announced to Harry, who just looked at him blankly.  Ron snorted at his words, causing Draco whip around to meet Ron's eyes. "Think my name's funny, do you? No need to ask yours. Red hair, hand-me-down robe? You must be a Weasley." He scoffed and turned to Harry again. "You'll soon find out some wizarding families are better than others, Potter. You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there." He smirked offering his hand for Harry to shake.

Harry studied Ron and Acadia for a moment before turning back to him. “I think I can tell the wrong sort for myself, thanks." Harry rejected his hand. Malfoy's smirk faltered and he glanced at the thin, frowning girl, who stood beside the red-head he had insulted previously. His eyes were drawn to the two, deep scars over her freckled nose. The top scar, which was longer, ran under one eye, across her small nose, and under the other eye.

A small flush heated his cheeks as he returned to his goons. “We're ready for you now." The professor guided the large group of first years through the grandiose doors. Acadia beamed and waved at Fred and George. Percy, who was sitting next to them, offered a small smile. “When I call your name, you will come forth. I’ll place the sorting hat on your head, and you’ll be sorted into your houses.” McGonagall read the first name off the list. “Abbott, Hannah!”

A blonde girl shyly walked up to the stool and sat down. “HUFFLEPUFF!” The table furthest to the right cheered and clapped for their new housemate.

“Bones, Susan!”

“HUFFLEPUFF!”

“Boot, Terry!”

“RAVENCLAW!” The table next to the Hufflepuff table clapped as Terry walked over to it. He sat next to a pale girl with silky, black hair.

“Brocklehurst, Mandy!”

“RAVENCLAW!”

“Brown, Lavender!” Acadia had met Lavender once before. Her mother often bought potions and ingredients from Ophelia’s shop.

“GRYFFINDOR!” Her curly blond hair bounced as she skipped to the table.

“Bulstrode, Millicent!” The large girl pushed past the much smaller Acadia, almost knocking her over.

“SLYTHERIN!” No surprise...

“Finch-Fletchley, Justin!” A dark-haired boy walked up to the stool. From the look on his face, he must’ve been Muggle-born.

“HUFFLEPUFF!”

“Finnigan, Seamus!”

“GRYFFINDOR!”

“Granger, Hermione!” The bushy-haired girl from the train happily flaunted up to the stool.

“Mental, that one. I’m telling you,” Ron whispered to Acadia and Harry, who both nodded in agreement.

“GRYFFINDOR!”

“Kane, Acadia,” McGonagall subsequently read, but her voice had a barely noticeable break.

Before she had a chance to step up, movement caught her eye. A dark-haired professor stared at her with dark, intimidating eyes. In a way, it was somewhat comforting. She slowly sauntered up to the stool and sat upon it. The feeling of the hat graced her head, as Fred and George gave her a quick thumbs up. She took a deep breath and waited.

"Hmm... another Kane too, ay? Full of so much potential,” the hat mumbled. "It’s obvious where to put you… GRYFFINDOR!” She winced.

With a quick glance to her beaming friends, she lept off towards her cheering table. As Acadia walked to her seat, she cast a glance to see Draco frowning. The two locked eyes for a split second before both turning away. With a smile, she sat beside Fred.

“Longbottom, Neville!” Neville tripped to the stool, and a few laughs echoed throughout the room. Mainly, from the Slytherin table.

“GRYFFINDOR!”

“Malfoy, Draco.” Acadia watched as the boy walked onto the stairs and sat. The hat bellowed his house before even resting on his head.

Slytherin

.

“Potter, Harry!” Whispers spread through the tables just like the giggles had for Neville. Acadia watched in anticipation as the hat was placed on his head.

After a few minutes of waiting… “GRYFFINDOR!” The whole table stood and cheered as loud as they could. Harry shook with anxiety and excitement as he walked to the table. He sat opposite of Acadia, who beamed at the bespectacled ravenette. That, somewhat, calmed his nerves.

“Weasley, Ronald!”

“GRYFFINDOR!” Ron grinned widely and slipped in beside Acadia.

Once every first year was sorted and at their correct table, Dumbledore stood. He was a tall, skinny man, and his silver hair and beard fell to his knees. The hall fell silent. “Ahem — just a few words before the feast. I have a few start of term notices to give you. First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well.” He, not so subtly, glanced towards Fred and George. “I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors. Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch. And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third floor corridor on the right hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death.”

Acadia heard Harry and a few others chuckle. “I don’t think he’s joking,” she whispered. Harry looked at her with a worried expression.

“Let the feast begin.” The table swelled with food. Cheers and ‘woahs’ filled the hall as they began to dig in. Ron grabbed a small drumstick and hastily bit into it.

“Say, Percy, who’s that teacher talking to Professor Quirrell?” Acadia threw a glance towards where Harry was pointing. The man that was staring at her earlier was chatting with a twitchy, pale man in a purple turban.

“Oh, that’s Professor Snape, head of Slytherin house.”

“What’s he teach?”

“Potions,” he said with a weird look directed at Acadia. “But everyone knows it’s the Dark Arts he fancies. He’s been after Quirrell’s job for years.”

A silvery, translucent man popped up from the table making the Gryffindors jump with a start. “Hello, how are you?” Acadia bit into a piece of chicken as several ghostly men and women floated around their house tables. “Welcome to Gryffindor!” He cheered and came out from the table.

“Hello, Sir Nicholas. Have a nice summer?” Percy greeted respectfully as he picked at his food.

“Dismal,” he grunted. “Once again, my request to join the Headless Hunt has been denied.”

“I know you!” Ron declared with a mouth full of food….

again.

“You’re Nearly Headless Nick.”

“I prefer,

Sir Nicholas,

if you don’t mind.” The ghost frowned as he looked down at the young ginger.

Hermione’s eyebrows pushed together skeptically. “Nearly headless? How can you be nearly headless?” She inquired doubtfully in that bossy tone that her voice always seemed to carry.

“Like this.” He grabbed a fistful of his own hair and pulled his head off onto one shoulder. Acadia frowned and pushed away her food.

“Gryffindors. Follow me,” Percy beckoned after dinner, reveling in his prefect duties. The hoard of newly minted Gryffindors trailed behind him as he ascended the stairs. “This is the most direct way to the dormitories.”

They came upon a portrait of an obese woman in a flowy, silk dress. “Password?” The Fat Lady asked in a haughty tone.

“

Caput Draconis

.” The Fat Lady opened and revealed a large room. The Gryffindor common room was a large circular room with many plush chairs and a few couches. Everything was either crimson or gold. “Gather ‘round here. Welcome to the Gryffindor common room. Boys’ dormitories are upstairs and down to your left. Girls’ same to your right. You’ll find all your belongings have already been brought upstairs.”

Acadia quickly ran up to the girls’ dorms to find hers after Percy’s speech. The last door on the left had four names in golden letters: L. Brown, H. Granger, A. Kane, and P. Patil. “Hermione!” She shouted into the crowd. The bushy-haired girl whipped around from a few doors down.

Five four-poster beds were covered in crimson eiderdowns with red curtains, nightstands next to them and the girl’s school trunks at the foot of each of their beds. Their own wooden chair and dresser, with a lamp, were near each bed. A wooden board was situated on either side of their bed for them to decorate. The dorm had stone walls and shiny wooden floors. The windows had red curtains and looked out to the Quidditch pitch. Acadia smiled widely as she plopped down on her bed. Her eyes fluttered closed as she slowly drifted off.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Acadia dug into a plate of bacon and eggs, but luckily caught Ophelia’s letter before it made its way into her food. Emerald ink was scrawled in her aunt’s beautiful calligraphy. 
My little lioness,

It was to be expected that you would be sorted into Gryffindor. I watched you grow for the majority of your life and expected nothing less. I am proud. I know you will do great things with your time at Hogwarts.

P.S. Mrs.McNelty says thank you for your excellent healing salve.

Love,

Auntie Ophelia
 Along with the note, the envelope held a galleon, no doubt from the elderly witch, and a bracelet from her aunt. The bracelet had several scarlet spherical beads and one gold bead that resembled a lion’s head. With a smile, she put it around her left wrist.After they finished eating they stood and walked out of the hall. Every time they turned down another corridor, it suddenly went quiet, but only for a brief moment. Whispers spread like wildfire, and everyone turned to stare. Though, Harry wasn’t the only one being stared at.“Look at her.”“Do you see her face?”“I wonder what happened to her.”“I’ve never seen someone with so many scars.”“HEY!” Acadia snapped on their way to their first Potions class. The huddle of fourth-year girls all flinched at once and hesitantly turned to the fuming first year. The corridor had gone silent as everyone stopped to watch. “STOP. STARING.” Venom dripped from her words. “That goes for all of you.”The group of upperclassmen squeaked as they skittered away. The boys stared in quiet amazement as they continued on to class.Acadia leaned back in her chair, tipping it back on two legs. She prayed that this class would be better than her “Defense Against the Dark Arts” lesson from earlier in the week. She’d go mad if all of her DADA classes were that dry for the next seven years. “I bet you’ll ace this class,” Ron huffed from her left. He leaned back alongside her and crossed his arms.Her retort was cut off by the door slamming open. The greasy haired professor from the night before strutted in the hushed class and spun around by the podium.She knew that all potioneers wouldn’t be exactly like Ophelia, but she did not expect this. The air seemed to grow tense and nervous whenever he was around. He looked at her as if he expected her to know him, but she’d never seen him before last night.“You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion making,” he began. "As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through the human veins, bewitching the minds, ensnaring the senses…” Acadia groaned under her breath and leaned back in her chair once more. “I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even put a stopper on death - if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach," he said as if he had just tasted something bitter. “Miss Kane.” Acadia looked up with a start. The front legs of her chair crashed back to the ground. Everyone’s eyes in the room glued themselves to her skin. “Tell me, what would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?”“Asphodel and wormwood are the main ingredients in the Draught of Living Death, a powerful sleeping potion.” Acadia frowned. She sat forward and rested her chin in her palm.Snape made a small noise of approvement. “Where would I find a bezoar?” With each word, he walked towards her desk.“The stomach of a goat.”“What is the difference of monkshood and wolfsbane?” Acadia glared daggers at the sallow man, who returned a knowing glower. Of course, he knew, he was going to be the one who was making her potions for the next few years.“Different names for the same plant,” she answered through gritted teeth.Snape nodded before turning to the rest of the first years. “Well, why aren't you all copying this down?” He sneered before walking to his podium. “Five points to Gryffindor,” he grumbled.After a few minutes, Snape put together pairs for their first potion.  Ron and Harry were put together, but instead of putting Acadia with another Gryffindor… “Kane and Malfoy.”“What?!” They said at once and turned to each other. They both scowled, not moving to the other’s side.“Now!” Snape hissed. Acadia begrudgingly gathered her things and drug her feet to the stool beside the blond. He quietly weighed the dried nettles while she easily crushed snake fangs. Snape strolled over to their table and looked over their progress. He scowled down at it as Acadia stewed the horned slugs perfectly.Green smoke started to fill the dungeon along with a loud hissing noise. Acadia turned around to see Neville and Seamus standing over a melted cauldron. Their potion dripped onto the floor. Acadia and Draco hopped onto their stools just before the potion reached their feet. Neville whined as ugly boils formed on his limbs. “Idiot boy!” Snape flicked his wand making the potion dispose of itself. “I suppose you added the porcupine quills before taking the cauldron off the fire?” Snape interrogated him as more boils started to cover the poor boy. “Potter, why didn’t you tell him not to add the quills? Thought he’d make you look good if he got it wrong, did you? That’s another point you’ve lost for Gryffindor.” Snape had Seamus take Neville to the hospital wing after berating him some more.After their first run of potions, Ron, Harry, and Acadia rushed to Hagrid’s hut. They crossed the beautiful green grounds to the sizable hut that sat on the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest.Ron and Acadia waited silently as Harry knocked on the hardwood door. “Back, Fang. Back!” The large man swung open the door and leaned out. “Oh, Harry!” He let them in, and a giant black boarhound pushed his nose into Ron’s hand. “Make yerselves at home,” he said.“This is Ron and Acadia,” Harry introduced.Hagrid turned to them. “Another Weasley, eh? I spent half me life chasin’ yer twin brothers away from the forest.” Acadia snorted as Ron’s cheeks heated slightly.They all sat as they told Hagrid about their first week of class. “That old git,” Hagrid mumbled, “an’ as fer that cat, Mrs. Norris, I’d like ter introduce her to Fang sometime. D’yeh know, every time I go up ter the school, she follows me everywhere? Can’t get rid of her — Filch puts her up to it.”A piece of paper caught Acadia’s eye. She picked it up and began to read the clipping from the Daily Prophet. “Someone broke into Gringotts,” she announced to the other two. The three looked at each other confused as Hagrid stood and cleared his throat.“Ought to time you returned to the castle. Dinner’s bound to be startin’ soon,” Hagrid said ushering them out the door. The next Thursday, the Slytherin and Gryffindor first years crowded around two rows of old brooms. Malfoy and Harry glared daggers at each other. Madam Hooch, a hawkish, grey-haired witch, walked through the row of first-year students. “Good afternoon class!”“Good afternoon, Madam Hooch,” they said in unison."Everyone step up to the left of your brooms, stick your right hand over it and say up!" The brooms were old and basically falling apart.Acadia did as Madam Hooch said and sternly ordered the broom to rise. The broom flew up to her hand as soon as she finished the word. “Fine job, Miss Kane,” Hooch praised. She glanced over to Hermione, who let go of a frustrated sigh as her broom writhed on the grass."Now once you get ahold of the broom, I want you to mount it." Madam Hooch walked in between the rows. "And once I blow my whistle I want you to kick off the ground and hover slightly." Before Madam Hooch even had a chance to blow her whistle, Neville began to rise up into the air. His old broom whipped around flinging him like a doll as they shouted.He eventually lost his grip and crashed to the ground. A loud crunch came from his wrist. “Everyone is to keep their feet firmly on the ground while I take Mr.Longbottom to the hospital wing. If I see any brooms in the air, the one riding it will be expelled before they can say ‘Quidditch’.” The professor escorted him back it the castle. Every student watched silently until they disappeared from sight.The Slytherins roared with laughter all at once. “Did you see his face? And look it’s his remembrall.” Acadia swirled around to see Draco holding the clear orb. He raised it in the air with that stupid smirk that was always plastered on his pale face. “Maybe if the fat lump had given this a squeeze, he’d’ve remembered to land on his fat arse.”"Give it here, Malfoy," Harry ordered.Malfoy smirked harder and his eye glittered. "No, I think... I'll leave it somewhere for Longbottom to find." Draco mounted his broom and started to fly up in the air. "How ‘bout on the roof?"A furious Harry mounted his broom preparing to fly, but Acadia beat him to it. “Acadia!” Hermione yelled with wide eyes. “You could be expelled一” Without paying the girl any mind, she flew skillfully up to the blond. The Gryffindors’ shouting soon became inaudible.Something strange flashed in his eyes when he spotted her. He probably expected Harry to follow him into the air. "Oh hello, Kane, was it?" He smirked, tossing the small ball into the air and catching it with little difficulty."C'mon, Malfoy give it back." Draco's smirk faltered again."Oh? And what do I get in return?"  His smirk grew with a waggle of his eyebrows.A low rumble of a growl grew in the back of her throat, but she smirked back. “Well,” she mused. “How about I don’t knock you off your broom?”He tightened his grip around the sphere almost crushing it. "Whatever," He grumbled acidly. Draco reeled his arm back and chucked the ball far away. Acadia’s peridot green eyes locked onto the small thing, suddenly glad that she had pulled her mane into a snug ponytail prior to class, before racing after it. Staring after her with a sour expression, Draco slowly floated back to Crabbe and Goyle.Acadia’s eyes never moved from the little orb. She gasped seeing it approach a window. A sharp pull to the right causing the broom to turn quickly as the remembrall was snatched from the air by her nimble fingers. She gripped the clear orb before flying back down to the crowd of the cheering Gryffindors.She held the remembrall up in triumph 一 while shooting a mocking grin at Malfoy 一 and ran towards her friends as soon as she hit the ground. "ACADIA KANE!" The thin girl flinched. Everyone turned to see Professor McGonagall looming over them with a worried expression. “Never一 in all my time at Hogwarts.” She held the skirt of her robes as she hurried over. “How dare you 一 What would’ve your aunt done if you had broken your neck?” Guilt flushed Acadia’s face.“It wasn’t her fault, Professor一”“Be quiet, Mr. Potter.”“But Malfoy一” Ron started angrily.“That’s enough, Mr. Weasley. Kane, follow me, now.”"I'll be right back.." She handed the orb to Hermione to return it to its rightful owner. She glanced at Malfoy with a frown, and he looked away. “Hopefully,” Acadia gulped and followed the professor with trembling legs.She wrung her hands as the professor led her through the halls. They stopped in front of a classroom. Flitwick’s classroom. “You wait here.” McGonagall went inside. The professor returned with a muscular, quite attractive fifth year, who looked very confused. “Follow me, you two,” McGonagall said. The fifth-year and Acadia looked at each other for a moment before following.“Kane, this is Oliver Wood. Wood — I’ve found you a Seeker.”“Are you serious, Professor?” His brown eyes lit up within an instant. Acadia’s mouth hung open.“Absolutely, the girl’s a natural. I've never seen anything like it. Not even with Charlie Weasley," McGonagall said, a proud grin plastered on her wrinkled face. She rested a hand on Wood's shoulder. “She flies like she was born with a broom.”"Wait, what?" Acadia was frozen with wide eyes. "I thought一 P-Professor一”“She’s just the build for a Seeker, too,” Wood mused as he studied the girl. Acadia blushed lightly and wish that her cloak would swallow her whole. “Light — speedy — we’ll have to get her a decent broom if she doesn’t already have one, Professor一” Acadia shook her head. Her broom had broken a few months ago, but Ophelia had promised to buy her a new one before her second year. “— a Nimbus Two Thousand or a Cleansweep Seven, I’d say.”  Wood smiled. He turned to her with an excited grin plastered on his face.“I shall speak to Professor Dumbledore and see if we can’t bend the first year rule. Heaven knows we need a better team than last year. Flattened in that last match by Slytherin, I couldn’t look Severus Snape in the face for weeks…” The Professor sighed before looking sternly at Acadia, who flinched. “I want to hear you’re training hard, Kane, or I may change my mind about punishing you.” Acadia gulped, but the older woman’s face broke out into a wide, unexpected grin. “Your Uncle, Octavius, would be proud.”“Octavius? Why would he一”“He was an excellent beater for Hufflepuff一”“Wait!” Wood gasped. “Kane, like一 Mikael Kane?”“Yeah…” Acadia raised an eyebrow. “Ya’ know him?”“He’s one of the best Quidditch Keepers I’ve ever seen!” Oliver Wood looked like a kid on Christmas day. “He’s the reason I wanted to be a keeper.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Acadia descended the dungeon’s stairs and walked past the potions classroom. “Professor?” She cracked open the door and stepped inside. Snape’s office was dank and dimly-lit.
“Kane,” he said without looking up from his book. “I was starting to think you wouldn’t show.” He placed a bookmark between the pages and set the book down.

Acadia looked away in embarrassment. “I was at Quidditch practice.”

Snape just sighed. “Taking your Wolfsbane is

very

important.”

“I’m aware,” she said barely above a whisper. He nodded and handed her a goblet of murky, blue slime. Acadia downed the potion as soon as it was it her hand. She grimaced and swallowed. “Thank you.” She walked from the room before slamming into something solid.

Acadia looked up and was met with cold grey eyes. “Get out of my way, Malfoy,” she barked angrily, but he stared at her blankly. Her eyebrows creased even more, and her freckled cheeks heated slightly. “Are you gonna get out of my way, or just stared at me all night?” He recoiled, stammering as a bright flush crept up his face.

“I-I… Shut up,” he huffed with a pout, trying to cover his red face. His expression hardened before he ran back to the Slytherin common room. She glared at his back until he disappeared from sight.

Acadia returned to Snape’s classroom at the same time for the next five days, fortunately, she didn’t see the blond the caused her and her friends so much anguish.

On the last, the day of the full moon, she met Snape and Madam Pomfrey in the hospital wing. It was eerily empty. Madam Pomfrey must’ve rush students out early all week. “Ready dear?” The elderly witch asked, her wrinkled face contorting in worry. It had been quite some time since she had to assist a student with lycanthropy.

“Yes,” she grumbled fidgeting with the plain white shirt she wore. Acadia had been tired and groggy for the past week, blaming her insomnia, but tonight she was downright lethargic. Following them out of the castle, she shivered.

Snape easily poked the knob on the Weeping Willow for it to remain docile. “Alright,” Madam Pomfrey sighed. “Down the tunnel and up into the shack.” For the seventh time that month she drank the sour potion and handed the goblet back to Snape. She grimaced and wiped her mouth with her shirt. “I’ll be back in the morning, dear.” Acadia carefully took a set of clothes from the older lady and disappeared through the tunnel.

The Shrieking Shack was immensely dusty. So much so that it made Acadia cough violently as she closed the trapdoor. She reached the master bedroom and placed the robes on the dusty desk.

Her head snapped towards the window to watch the moon rise in the inky black sky. She doubled over with a groan as her skin sprouted fur.  The potion dulled the pain, but some of it was still present. Her bones moved under her skin like snakes; harsh cracks sliced through the night air and echoed off the walls.

Once it was all over, she rolled her shoulders and stretched. Her paws padded along the grimy floor as she took the time to look around. Acadia passed a dirty mirror and studied her form. At a glance, she could’ve been mistaken for an abnormally large wolf, but upon closer inspection, the differences were apparent. Her limbs were longer, her snout shorter, and her human-like peridot eyes stared back.

Acadia abandoned her shredded clothes and wandered out of the shack betraying her better judgment. She reeled back and howled loudly, before bounding into the Forbidden Forest.

When a peaky Acadia walked into the Great Hall, Hermione gave her a look. A look that made her stomach churn. Honestly, she would’ve been surprised if Hermione didn’t figure it out.

She sat next to Harry and filled her plate with bacon and any other meat she could find. “Malfoy stood you up, huh?” She said after seeing the look on the ravenet’s face.

“Yeah,” he grumbled, “but we found something last night.”

“What?”

“

A three-headed dog in the third-floor corridor,

” Ron hissed so only Acadia could hear.

“‘Die a very painful death’.” Acadia quoted from their first night at Hogwarts. “Told you he wasn’t joking. Welcome to the Wizarding World.”

Harry frowned. “It’s either really valuable or really dangerous,” Ron said as he took a drink of pumpkin juice.

“Or both,” Harry acknowledged.

Acadia took her seat at dinner after another practice with Oliver Wood 一 seeing as the first game of the season was the following day 一 before noticing someone was missing. “Where’s Hermione?” She asked aloud staring at the Jack-o-lanterns floating above the long tables.
“I heard she’s crying in the girl’s bathroom.” An annoying voice mocked. She turned to see a girl with dark hair and a squashed face at the Slytherin table.
Acadia glared, standing to leave, but a bang of the doors silenced the hall. “Troll! In the dungeon! A troll in the dungeon!” The professors stood in anger and concern. “Thought you oughtta know.” A hysterical Professor Quirrell screamed before collapsing in the middle of the floor. Acadia took the opportunity to slip away, dragging Ron and Harry with her, as everyone started to panic.

“How could a troll get in?” Harry asked as they walked down the corridor.

“Definitely not on its own. They’re exceptionally stupid.” Acadia frowned and stomped downstairs.

“Probably people playing jokes,” Ron grumbled. The trio froze as a huge shadowed loomed down the hallway. “I think the troll’s left the dungeon.”

“It's headed towards the girls' bathroom.” The sound of Hermione’s scream made Acadia race towards the monster. She crashed through the door and growled. “Hey!” The short girl shouted.

It stumbled around to look at her and grabbed her by the leg with its huge stubby fingers. It smelled of rotten eggs and pond water. “Cadi!” Hermione cried from under one of the sinks.

It shook her like a bottle of ketchup. “Do something, Ronald!”

“Pea brain!” Ron shouted as he threw something at it. It turned, but Harry ran to the other side and threw a piece of broken sink at its head. “Wingardium Leviosa!”

After a loud

thack

echoed in the bathroom, the troll dropped Acadia to the ground. She winced and scooted towards Hermione. “Is it dead?” Hermione asked as Acadia helped her to her feet. It drooled and it’s bald head lolled to the side.

“I don’t think so,” Harry said standing over it. “Just knocked out.”

McGonagall panted as her and the other teachers ran into the trashed room. They stood in shock and awe for a moment before McGonagall spoke. “Oh my goodness! Explain yourself, all of you!”

“It was my fault, professor.”

“What, Miss Granger?” The color drained from McGonagall’s wrinkled face as she clasped her bony hands together. The sleeves of her emerald robes quivered betraying her worry.

“I’ve read about the troll and went looking for it. I thought I could handle it, but I was wrong. If Ron, Acadia, and Harry hadn’t of found me… I-I’d probably be dead.” Hermione stared at her scuffed black flats.

“Be that as it may, it was an extremely foolish thing to do.” McGonagall frowned as she looked between the group of first years. “I am very disappointed in you Miss Granger. Five points will be taken from Gryffindor. As for you three,” The others froze preparing for punishment. “I hope you realize how fortunate you are. Not many first years could take on a grown mountain troll, and live to tell the tale.” Acadia elbowed Ron in the side when she saw his boastful smile. “Five points will be awarded to each of you. For sheer dumb luck.”

They scrambled out the bathroom and walked into the hall. “Thanks, ‘Mione.” Acadia grinned as the strolled back to the common room.

“We did save her life,” Ron tsked.

“Mind you, she might not have needed saving if you hadn’t insulted her,” Harry offered from Acadia’s right.

“What are friends for?” Hermione smiled and grabbed Acadia’s hand practically dragging her back to the dorms.
 
The next morning, Acadia crunched on bacon giddily, barely able to sit still. She felt great, aside from the anticipation of the day’s match, the moon would only be nine-percent visible tonight. “Good luck today, Kane. Then again now that you’ve proven yourself against a troll,” Snape scoffed form behind her, but she shivered at the thought. She didn’t even do anything to the troll. She just helped Hermione from being bludgeoned to death. “A little game of Quidditch should be easy work for you... Even if it is against Slytherin.” Snape struggled to fake a smile before walking away.

“That explains the blood,” Harry whispered.

“Blood?” Hermione and Acadia questioned in unison.

“Listen,” Harry said leaning closer to the three of them, “last night I’m guessing Snape let the troll out as a diversion so he could get past that three-headed dog, but he got himself bitten. That’s why he’s limping.” Acadia hadn’t been there when they found ‘Fluffy’, but the more they spoke about it the more she wished that she had. Though she had other, unavoidable matters to deal with at the time.

“But why would anyone go near that dog?” Hermione frowned.

“Yeah,” Acadia said, “Isn’t it like two stories tall with not one一 but three mouths of sharp teeth?”

“The day I was at Gringotts, Hagrid took something from one of the vaults. Said it was Hogwarts business. ‘Very secret’.”

“So you’re saying-” Acadia started before Harry finished her thought.

“That’s what the dog’s guarding. That’s what Snape wants.” Harry looked at his food in worry.

They jumped as a large, white owl dropped a wrapped broom on the girl’s plate. “I was gonna eat that.” She groaned just like she had after Sir Nicholas’ ‘demonstration’. The package was suspiciously shaped like a broomstick. She hurriedly unwrapped it with Ron and Harry’s help and stared at it with awe.

“It’s a Nimbus 2000,” Ron gasped.

“A brand new Nimbus 2000,” Acadia said almost breathlessly. “But who-” She turned her head to see the head of Gryffindor stroking the white owl’s feathers. The professor's thin lips curved into a smile. She gave McGonagall a wide grin in response. “Hey Malfoy!” Acadia hollered, holding the broom on her shoulder. A whole crowd of Slytherins turned all at once, Malfoy in the middle of them. “Thanks.” Before his brain had the chance to connect, she hurried to the Quidditch pitch.

In the Gryffindor’s locker room she pulled the scarlet and gold sweater over her matching red tank-top. She stepped back and pulled her auburn mane into a tight ponytail. “Ready?” Katie Bell, a thin second year with long mocha hair, asked holding Acadia’s broom towards her.

“Hell yeah.” Acadia mirrored Alicia’s infectious grin and followed the Chasers out of the changing room. In a single file line, the Gryffindor Quidditch Team walked through the opening of the Quidditch pitch. Acadia, who was second from the front, bumped into Oliver’s back when he stopped at the door. He tossed a chuckle over his shoulder as Acadia stood beside him, a flush flooding her freckles.

They mounted their brooms and flew out. “Hello, and welcome to Hogwarts first Quidditch game of the season. Today’s game

Slytherin

versus

Gryffindor

!” Each side cheered for their house as the members from each team circled the pitch. The seekers stopped above the others who formed a circle just ten feet below. “The players take their positions as Madam Hooch steps onto the field to begin the game.”

“Now I want a nice clean game. From all of you!” She specifically looked at Marcus Flint, the Slytherin team captain. He had an uncanny resemblance to the troll from the night before.

“The bulgers are up, followed by the golden snitch.” Jordan reminded the students about the snitch as it buzzed around Acadia’s head. Hooch threw up the Quaffle starting the game. The thin girl rose while she watched for the snitch. “Angelina Johnson scores!

10 points for Gryffindor!

” Whoops, and hollers surrounded her from all sides.

Marcus Flint, Slytherin’s Team Captain, ripped the beater’s bat away and hit the bulger straight towards Oliver. It hit him in the chest knocking him off of his broom. Acadia growled wanting to help Wood back onto his broom, but a golden ball caught her eye.

She darted towards the snitch and reached out her hand. Just barely missing it. A startled yelp escaped her lips as her broom started to shake violently. Bucking back and forth made her head throb. The broom spun on its own and threw her from it. She screamed reaching out for it.

She barely managed to grab it at the last minute saving herself from hitting the ground. It slowly stopped convulsing, letting her swing herself back onto the broom. The snitch buzzed quickly around her head. A determined growl quietly passed through her lips as she stretched a skinny arm out to grab the golden ball.

Out of the corner of her eye, Acadia saw a blur of green as it shoved her off course. She skillfully weaved through the pitch towers. The Slytherin seeker gasped as she threw her shoulder into him. They pushed each other trailing the snitch. Acadia glared forward, and they plummeted towards the ground. The other seeker decided to back away before hitting the solid earth. But before Acadia made contact she pulled up with a wild grin.

Her fingers strained as she went to grab the golden ball. Higgs smacked into her again causing Acadia to flip off of it. Screams from the crowd fill her sensitive ears as she fell, but luckily she was only five feet for the grass. Quickly rolling to soften her landing; the crowd cheered again. She crashed to the ground with an

’oomph’.

A small golden ball sat still in the palm of her hand.

“Acadia Kane has received 150 points for catching the snitch!”

She stood and ran to the broom that was thrown about fifty yards away from her body. Without slowing, Acadia scooped up her Nimbus 2000 and begin to fly once more.  The crowd roared with cheers, with the exception of most Slytherins, as she held up the snitch like a Roman Gladiatrix presenting her kill.

Once back on the ground, Fred and George hoisted her on their shoulders as the team cheered all the way back to the Gryffindor common room. “

Go! Go! Gryffindor! Go! Go! Gryffindor!

” Acadia beamed with pride and pumped her fist to the beat of their chant.

Acadia received high-fives and pats on the back for the next few days after the match against Slytherin. She didn’t mind being the center of attention for once. She was extremely proud of being a Gryffindor seeker.
 
After leaving from Snape’s office, she was about to go back to her common room, but Draco intercepted her… again. “Funny seeing you here,” he said smugly, but his face didn’t quite match his tone.

She weakly looked up at him. She didn’t have to look up very far to meet his dove grey eyes, but he was still taller than her. “Go away, Draco,” she yawned and rubbed her weary eyes. “You’re staring again.” Instead of the devilish smirk, she held two months ago, she hugged the sunset orange sweater she wore closer to her skinny frame. Dark, violet bags hung under her mint green eyes. This month had been particularly exhausting.

“What’s wrong with your face?”

“E-excuse me一?” Acadia sputtered with wide eyes.

“You look like you haven’t slept in days.” The girl pouted in annoyance. She couldn’t tell if he was making fun of her or if he was genuinely concerned.  Had to be the former.

“Why do you care?” she asked with a bitter laugh. They both stood there in awkward silence before Acadia cleared her throat. “Good talk,” she snorted and patted him on the chest before walking past him. She had one hour before the November full moon.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Acadia filed in with the rest of the students who were going home for Christmas. She slipped into an empty compartment and dropped into the seat. Large trees blanketed in snow flew past the large window. She hugged her Quidditch sweater, that she basically lived in, closer to her body and curled up in the seat. She jerked awake at the compartment door sliding open. “Jeez ‘Mione,” she groaned and rubbed her eyes. “Be a lil’ softer with the d-” She glanced over her shoulder and froze.Draco Malfoy stood in the doorway. His head tilted as he studied her. “What? Expecting the mudblood, were you?”A fresh swell of rage rose in her. “ Don’t call her that ,” Acadia seethed. She glared at him with weary, light green eyes as he sat opposite of her. With another yawn, she lied against the window again. “What do you even want?” He blushed slightly. Why had he come here? He opened his mouth to speak, but when he looked back at her she was already snoring softly. Acadia’s skin was drained of color and dark bags hung under her eyes. She hadn’t been sleeping again. But why? He hummed with the faintest hint of concern and left the compartment.Acadia sat up and stretched. “When’d you get here?” Hermione looked up from her book and smiled.“After I stopped chatting with the Patil sisters,” she said and went back to her book. “I thought I’d let you sleep.”“You know一 don’t you,” Acadia yawned.Hermione flinched at the blunt question. She closed her book and leaned forward. “So you are一 a werewolf?” The bushy-haired girl whispered as if someone was in the compartment with them.Acadia nodded.“How long?”“Since birth.” Hermione tilted her head. “My aunt says that it’s extremely rare. Only one or two cases ever recorded.”“Was your mum一”“No.” Acadia looked away. “My father.” The girls sat in tense silence for nearly half an hour before Hermione started to ask her about what it was like to grow up as a witch.After hugging Hermione goodbye, she stumbled out of the car and onto the platform. “Cadi!” Ophelia strode up to her niece, her black robes fluttering behind her. It reminded her a little of Professor Snape. Acadia hugged her aunt tightly and smiled. The older witch smelled like lavender and ginger.Acadia waved to Hermione before Ophelia apparated them into their living room. “Here.” She shoved a cup of cider to Acadia, who drank most of it in two large gulps. She sighed happily and sank into the couch. To the left of the couch sat a fat pine tree covered in twinkling lights.“So.” Ophelia sat in the plush chair next to the fireplace, setting her thin-rimmed glasses on the side table. She pulled up her legs to sit cross-legged in the chair and sipped her own glass of cider. “How have your transformations been?” Her tangerine curls bounced around her heart-shaped face.“Fine,” Acadia replied. “Though yesterday’s was pretty rough.”“How so?”“I’ve been really tired with Quidditch practice and the moon coming out earlier doesn’t help.” Acadia held her cup out for her aunt to tap it with her wand. The cider appeared in the once empty glass.“Speaking of which, I heard about your first game,” Ophelia couldn’t contain her proud grin as she spoke. “I’m proud of you.”“What一” Acadia pouted. “I was just about to tell you about that… Who told you?”“Minerva.”“You know Professor McGonagall?”“Who do you think taught Transfiguration at Hogwarts when I was a student?” Ophelia chuckled and refilled her cup. “She had a noticeable bitterness for the Slytherins, but she quite liked me. She loved your mother as well. Opal was one of her favorites.” Acadia’s heart seized. The topic of her mother was sensitive. She swallowed thickly and offered a smile.“W-was transfiguration her favorite class?”“One of her favorites,” Ophelia said, “but her absolute favorite was Astronomy. Her and Aurora Sinistra were best friends in school. Both Ravenclaws, of course.”Acadia snickered. “Oh, Godric一 that’s probably the only reason I’m passing Astronomy.” Acadia clopped down the stairs Christmas morning after sending her owl out with presents for her friends. Her red and orange plaid pajama pants hung loosely from her thin hips. “ Merry Christmas! ” Ophelia cheered loudly and shot red and green fireworks from her wand. The young girl shook with laughter as she walked up to the tree.The first present she picked up was a bright red, rather large package. “From me,” Ophelia confirmed her thoughts. She opened it and pulled out a few sweaters, scarves and shirts all in various shades of reds and oranges, a scarlet beanie with thin yellow stripes, and several other things in Gryffindor colors. “I kinda went all out for Gryffindor pride.”The next she opened was the annual “Weasley Sweater” that smelled like freshly baked cookies. She almost immediately pulled the soft, candy red sweater over her black tank-top and brought it up to her nose. A golden ‘A’ was emblazoned on the front.She received a muggle book from Hermione, a simple opal bracelet that had once belonged to her mother from her grandfather, prototype bruise removal paste from Gred and Forge with a tag that read ‘ To our new Gryffindor Seeker ’, and a few silverish Ukrainian Ironbelly scales, that were bigger than her palm, from Charlie. Charlie had also written her a letter telling her about the dragon he had got the scales from. Apparently, it had put a few of his co-workers in the hospital.Her last gift was a black box wrapped up with a red ribbon. “Who’s this from?” Acadia asked searching the box for a tag. Ophelia shrugged before looking away.Acadia settled on the couch, and slowly opened it. A beautiful rose gold necklace with a moon pendant. “What is it?” Ophelia sipped from her mug and peered over her shoulder. The older woman mumbled something incohesive.Acadia looked up. “What?”“It’s a lunar temporium,” Ophelia said looking over her glass as she tilted the small box towards herself. “It changes with the phases of the moon. Quite useful to a werewolf.” She smiled and took the sturdy necklace. The chain was cold on Acadia’s skin as Ophelia put it around her neck.The young girl jumped to her feet and ran to the large mirror in the hallway. The necklace stuck out like a sore thumb in her disheveled state. The thought of who it was from never even crossed her mind.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Acadia floated fifty-feet above the ground of the Quidditch pitch, caked in mud and sweat. “Will you stop messing around!” She turned from looking at Fred and George who were pretending to knock each other off their brooms. The former froze in mid-air. Wood ran a hand through his hair as he studied his team. “That’s exactly the sort of thing that’ll lose us the match! Snape’s refereeing this time, and he’ll be looking for any excuse to knock points off Gryffindor!” George gasped, fell from his broom, and right into the mud below.“Snape?” Acadia asked, landing near the team captain. According to Hermione, Snape had been the one that tried to throw her from her broom during the first match, but Acadia wasn’t so sure. If Snape wanted her dead, he had seven easy chances each month.“When’s he ever refereed a Quidditch match? He’s not going to be fair if we might overtake Slytherin!” George shouted.“It’s not my fault. We’ve just got to make sure we play a clean game, so Snape hasn’t got an excuse to pick on us.” Acadia hung back, talking to Oliver about new plays for the upcoming match. To say that Oliver was obsessed with Quidditch would be an understatement. Acadia would catch him most nights, usually before heading to Snape’s office, awake at one of the tables in the common room. She found it kinda cute.After debating tactics for nearly ten minutes in front of the changing rooms, Oliver and Acadia went into their respective rooms. She passed Angelina and Alicia and walked right into a shower stall.Once she and her broom were clean, she carried it back to the Gryffindor Tower. It was peaceful 一 for a moment. “Oi, Kane!” The freckled girl spun on her heel and faced him.“Yes, Malfoy?” She drawled.“You think you’re so special 一 seeker for Gryffindor,” he scoffed. “You might as well throw the next match. Slytherin is going to win the Quidditch Cup 一 we haven’t lost in seven years.”Acadia threw her head back with laughter. “Really?!” She wore a grin. “Higgs was absolutely pathetic! He couldn’t have caught the snitch if it stayed completely still,” she fought off fits of giggles. Draco looked startled. He opened his mouth to say something but closed it.By the time Acadia got back to the common room, Harry was losing at wizard’s chess. “Don’t talk to me for a moment,” Ron said as he rested his chin in his palm, “I need to concen 一 Why are you laughing?”“I can’t be that bad,” Harry joked.Acadia snorted. “Malfoy stopped me in the hallway.”Hermione looked up from her book. “What? Why?”“Did he一”“It’s fine,” she chuckled, “weak attempt at dampening my spirits for the next game. ‘You might as well throw the next match. Slytherin is going to win the Quidditch Cup 一 we haven’t lost in seven years.’” She recited in a mockingly haughty tone, but she paused. “We might actually have a problem though.” All three stared at her with wide curious eyes. “Snape is refereeing the Hufflepuff match.”“Don’t play.”“What 一 I can’t just 一 ”“Say you’re ill.”“That’s ridiculo 一 ”“Pretend to break your leg.”“And what would 一 ”“Really break your leg.”“Ron一” Acadia huffed. “There isn’t another seeker 一 and before you say anything Hermione I’m not throwing the match 一 ” Acadia quickly stood as she heard a crash near the portrait hole. She rushed over to see Neville laying just inside the common room. “Neville, what in the 一 ” His legs had been locked together. Hermione quietly cast the countercurse and Acadia helped him up.“What happened?”“Malfoy,” Neville sighed, “he looked really upset and said he’d been looking for someone to practice that on.” Acadia scowled and led the shaking boy to a chair.“Go to Professor McGonagall!” Hermione ordered angrily. “Report him!”“I don’t want more trouble,” he sighed again.“You can’t let him just walk all over you like that,” Acadia said, “if you don’t do anything he’ll 一 ”“There’s no need to tell me I’m not brave enough to be in Gryffindor, Malfoy’s already done that.” Tears brimmed in the brunet’s eyes as he looked away.Acadia scoffed. “What would Malfoy know about being brave?”“You’re worth twelve of Malfoy,” Harry said before he handed Neville a chocolate frog. “The Sorting Hat chose you for Gryffindor, didn’t it? And where’s Malfoy? In stinking Slytherin.” Neville gave a weak smile and handed Harry the blue card, before heading to bed. Acadia patted his shoulder and offered him a friendly smile.“I’ve found him!” Harry gasped. Hermione, Acadia, and Ron rushed to his side.  “I’ve found Flamel! I told you I’d read the name somewhere before, I read it on the train coming here — listen to this: ‘Dumbledore is particularly famous for his defeat of the dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945, for the discovery of the twelve uses of dragon’s blood, and his work on alchemy with his partner, Nicolas Flamel’!” Hermione excitedly ran up to the girls’ dorm. Within a few seconds, she came back with a book that was almost as big as she was.“I never thought to look in here! I got this out of the library weeks ago for a bit of light reading 一 ““Light?” Ron and Acadia asked in unison. They watched as she flipped through the pages. Dust and stale air wafted off the crinkled parchment. Hermione scanned each page as Harry, Ron, and Acadia stood around each lamely. Acadia crossed and uncrossed her arms, and Ron shoved his hands into his pockets. Harry just rocked on his heels.“I knew it!” Hermione cheered and the other three fell back in surprise. She motioned for them to huddle together. “Nicolas Flamel,” she whispered once they crowded around. “The only known maker of the Philosopher’s Stone!” Hermione looked up as if she expected them to clap and cheer.“The what?” Harry tilted his head in confusion.“Oh, honestly, don’t you three read? Look — read that, there.”Acadia leaned over the book. “The ancient study of alchemy is concerned with making the Philosopher’s Stone, a legendary substance with astonishing powers. The stone will transform any metal into pure gold. It also produces the Elixir of Life, which will make the drinker immortal,” she read aloud. Her eyebrows knitted together, but she continued. “There have been many reports of the Philosopher’s Stone over the centuries, but the only Stone currently in existence belongs to Mr. Nicolas Flamel, the noted alchemist, and opera lover. Mr. Flamel, who celebrated his six hundred and sixty-fifth birthday last year, enjoys a quiet life in Devon with his wife, Perenelle.”“See? The dog must be guarding Flamel’s Philosopher’s Stone! I bet he asked Dumbledore to keep it safe for him, because they’re friends and he knew someone was after it, that’s why he wanted the Stone moved out of Gringotts!”Harry scoffed. “A stone that makes gold and stops you from ever dying! No wonder Snape’s after it! Anyone would want it.”“And no wonder we couldn’t find Flamel in that Study of Recent Developments in Wizardry. He’s not exactly recent if he’s six hundred and sixty-five, is he?” Ron pointed out.Hermione and Acadia retreated to their dorm. Parvati nor Lavender had made their way up from the common room yet. “Are you ever going to tell them?”Acadia’s shoulders slumped. “I一” she sighed. “I should’ve told Ron a long time ago. His parents know. So does Percy, Bill, Charlie 一 ”“Fred and George?”Acadia nodded. “They’re cool about it though,” she said with a shrug, “they don’t treat me any different.”Hermione looked away. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mea 一 ” Acadia huffed and wrapped the bushy-haired girl in a tight embrace. Hermione didn’t hesitate to hug back. Acadia decided that she’d love to push Professor Quirrell out of a moving vehicle, the moment they learned about how to treat werewolf bites in Defense Against the Dark Arts. The twitchy little man looked everywhere and anywhere other than Acadia. He stuttered even more when he noticed that she kept her icy gaze on him. “A-a-a f-fresh wound can be s-se-sealed with a mixt-mixture of powdered-d s-silver and d-d-dittany 一 ”“I’m gonna play,” Acadia said, leaning back in her chair. Her hands rested behind her head. “Wood’s counting on me and I’m not scared of Snape.”“Just as long as we’re not scraping you off the field with spatulas after you finally fall from your broom,” Harry joked. Quirrell flinched when Acadia burst out laughing.The trio wished Acadia luck as walked into the changing rooms a week later. “Don’t give Snape any reason to screw us over,” he said, directing his glare at the twins, before turning to Acadia, “I don’t want to pressure you, Kane, but if we ever need an early capture of the Snitch it’s now. Finish the game before Snape can favor Hufflepuff too much.”Acadia nodded and picked up her polished broom, but before she could reply, Fred gasped. “The whole school’s out there! Blimey, even Dumbledore’s come to watch.”Snape’s scowl was carved deeper into his sallow face that morning. Both teams met in the middle of the field, the captain of the Hufflepuff team and Oliver shook hands, and they were off. Acadia shot straight up into the air, followed by the Hufflepuff Seeker.Cedric Diggory was a handsome, third-year boy with dark brown hair. He was built similar to Wood, muscular and burly and… well, very attractive. Acadia’s cheeks turned pink when he gave her a sweet, charming smile.She was getting distracted. She cursed to herself and looked away, focusing on searching for the snitch. Then she spotted it, her whole face lit up.  Gasps and cheers filled the crowd as she dived. “COME ON, CADI!” Hermione screamed from the Gryffindor side. The triumphant grin never left her face, even when she barely missed knocking Snape from his broom.Acadia whooped as her hand shot into the air. “ACADIA KANE HAS CAUGHT THE SNITCH!” The pitch exploded.The whole Gryffindor house swarmed her on the field. Oliver managed to worm his way through the crowd and lifted the thin girl onto his shoulders. “Gryffindor’s in the lead!” he shouted with a wide smile.It wasn’t often that she saw the top of her ginger friend’s head, but it was his face that she was gawking at. Ron sported a bloody nose, and Harry had a busted lip. “Good Godric, Ronald 一 Harry,” Acadia chuckled, “What happened to you two?”“I gave Malfoy a black eye!” Ron beamed.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Acadia, Ron, Harry, and Hermione raced to Hagrid’s shack as soon as night fell. Their cloaks rippled in the air behind them. The damp grass mushed beneath Acadia’s shoes. She marched up the step and knocked three times. The solid wood vibrated under her knuckles.

Hagrid swung open the door. His small black eyes widened from under his bushy eyebrows. “Hullo. Sorry to be rude, but I’m in no fit state to entertain today.” He waved them off with a large oven mitt.

“

We know about the Philosopher's Stone!

” They shouted in unison.

He opened the door wide and looked to each of them. “Oh…” He mumbled as they squeezed inside. They took off their cloaks before sitting down. Ron sat on the couch while Acadia and Hermione fell into the large armchair.

“We think Snape is trying to steal it,” Harry said settling into the couch beside Ron.

“Snape?” Hagrid waddled over to his fireplace. He peered inside the cauldron. Maybe he made a stew? “Blimey, yeh’re still not on ‘bout him, are yeh?”

“Hagrid, we know he’s after the stone, we just don’t know why,” Harry argued.

“Snape is one of the teachers protecting the stone, he’s not ‘bout to steal it.” The half-giant turned from the pot and fixed his apron.

“What?”

“Yeh ‘eard,” He ushered for them to stand, but they stayed as if glue held them tight. “Right now, I’m a bit preoccupied.”

“Wait,

one

of the teachers?” Acadia tilted her head in confusion.

“Of course!” Hermione wiggled excitedly beside her. “There are other things protecting the stone aren't there? Spells, enchantments...” Hagrid nodded and gave her a somewhat proud look.

“That’s right,” he voiced. “Waste o’ bloody time if yeh ask me. Ain’t no one gonna get past Fluffy. Ain’t a soul knows how ‘cept for me an’ Dumbledore.” The tall man paused. “I shouldn’ta told ya’ that.” The pot behind him began to clatter. He gasped and reached in with the mitts. A large black object vibrated in his hands. Hagrid hurried it to the table.

“Hagrid, how’d you get a dragon egg!” Acadia exclaimed as they ran up to the table. She planted her hands on the wooden surface and leaned forward.

“I won it,” he said sitting in a chair. He watched the egg impatiently and fidgeted in his seat. “Las’ night. I was down in the village havin’ a few drinks an’ got into a game o’ cards with a stranger. Think he was quite glad ter get rid of it, ter be honest,” his voice lowered.

The students yelped as the egg exploded. The dark brown dragon stumbled around the wooden table. Black ridges ran down its back and disproportional wings hung off his body. “A Norwegian Ridgeback,” Acadia beamed. “Charlie works with these in Romania.” Ron also beamed, but with pride instead of amazement.

“Isn't he beautiful?” Hagrid praised and clapped his hands together. The dragon, attracted by the noise, bounced toward the large man. “Oh, bless ‘im, he knows ‘is mummy!” He rubbed under the dragon’s chin, almost crying with happiness. “Ello Norbert.” He grinned widely.

“Norbert?” Harry inclined, folding his hands on the table.

“Oh well, ‘is got to ‘ave a name don’t he?” Norbert coughed a ball of fire into Hagrid’s beard. He gasped and smothered the flames. “Oh dear, he’ll ‘ave to be trained up a bit 一 Who’s that?” Acadia looked up to see a startled pale face with sharp features. Their eyes met few a brief moment before a blur of white-blond hair moved from the window.

“Malfoy,” Harry croaked.

Acadia ran to the door and heaved it open. She watched as the unmistakable platinum hair bobbed back and forth as he ran towards the castle. “Lovely seeing you, Hagrid, but I think it’s time we get back to the castle.” She pulled back on her cloak and followed Harry out the door.

“Hagrid always wanted a dragon,” Harry said as they ascended the steps of the entrance hall. “Told me so himself the first time I met him.”

“That’s crazy,” Ron huffed. “Worse, Malfoy knows.”

“I don’t understand, is that bad?” Hermione looked between the three.

“Very,” Acadia hummed. He had seen them. She’d be kicked off the Quidditch team for sure, or maybe even expelled. She didn’t even dare think about what Ophelia would do.

“Good evening.” McGonagall and a grinning Malfoy were waiting by the time they had reached the first-floor hallway. Hermione had stopped cold causing Ron to slam into her back.

“Professor,” Acadia greeted trying to stay calm, but her shoulders slumped.

The Gryffindors followed her glumly as the Slytherin strutted along like a proud hippogriff. Acadia had to resist the urge to trip him. They stood on the other side of McGonagall’s desk while she crossed her arm. “Nothing, I repeat,

nothing

gives a student the right to walk about at night.” Malfoy beamed as the others looked at their shoes. “Therefore as punishment for your actions: Fifty points will be taken.”

“

Fifty!

” They shouted in unison. If Acadia wasn’t going to be kicked out of Quidditch, she would surely be hated by the rest of the Gryffindors.

“Each,” she finished. Acadia glanced to Malfoy, who looked as though he had won the wizard’s lottery. “And to be sure it doesn’t happen again all five of you will receive detention.” Draco’s face fell, and his eyebrows furrowed together.

“Excuse me, Professor,” he faltered as he walked closer to her desk. “Perhaps I heard you wrong. I thought you said the

five

of us.”

McGonagall pressed her lips into a tight line. “No, you heard me correctly Mr. Malfoy.” Draco’s whole smug atmosphere quickly faded. “As honorable as your intentions were, you too were out of bed after hours. You will join your classmates in detention.” Acadia snickered under her breath when he looked back at them. “Now, off to bed,” she ordered sternly. “All of you.”
 
After Quidditch practice,  Acadia ran to McGonagall's office still clad in her uniform. She swung open the door and froze. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Draco were already there. They must’ve been there for a while. “You’re

late

,” Argus Filch spat. She hadn’t come face to face with him often, usually after late Quidditch practice, but he hated her nonetheless.

“Quidditch practice ran late,” she said pulling the sleeves of her sweater down. She hadn’t even taken off the arm and shin guards. Copper strands of hair stuck out of her high ponytail. Acadia walked up to her fellow first years and stood between Harry and Draco.

“Alright,” the foul man glowered, “now that you're all ‘ere… follow me.”

“Where are we going?” Hermione asked, but Filch just flat out ignored her. “Wh 一 ” She almost asked again before Acadia put a hand on her shoulder.

“Don’t,” she whispered and put her hand back down to her side. “You’ll upset him even more.” The small group followed Filch out of the castle.

His lantern swung back and forth as he limped down the stairs. “A pity they let the old punishments die. There was a time when detention found you hanging by your thumbs in the dungeons. God, I miss the screamin’,” he reminisced. That was the first time Acadia heard Filch be happy about something. “You’ll be servin’ detention with Hagrid tonight. He’s got a little job to do inside the dark forest.” Acadia crossed her arms and frowned. They came upon the cottage just as Hagrid opened the door, crossbow in hand. Fang moved from his spot behind Hagrid and bounded to Acadia, who happily rubbed behind his ears. “A sorry lot this is, Hagrid.” Filch motioned towards the first years. Hagrid nodded with a sniffle obviously not comprehending the words. “Oh, good god man. You’re not still on about that bloody dragon, are you?”

“Norbert’s gone,” Hagrid blubbered as he loaded the crossbow. “Dumbledore sent ‘im off to Romania to live in a colony.” He threw his large hands up in anguish.

“That’s good, isn’t it? He’s with his own kind,” Hermione speculated, meaning the words to be more comforting than they sounded.

“Yeah, but what if ‘e don’t like Romania? What if the other dragons are mean to ‘im? ‘E’s only a baby after all.”

“Oh, for god's sake. Pull yourself together man. You’re going into the forest after all. Gotta have your wits about you,” Filch criticized.

“The forest!” It was Draco’s turn to shout. He tried not to look frightened. “I thought that was a joke. We can’t go in there,” he sputtered and  “Students aren't allowed 一 there are 一 ” As if on cue wolves howled from within the forest. “

Werewolves

.”

“It’s not even close to the full moon, idiot,” Acadia mumbled bitterly under her breath.

“There’s more than werewolves in those trees, lad. You can be sure of that,” he said, walking back towards the castle. “Nighty-night.”

“Right, let’s go,” Hagrid sighed, and led them into the forest. Acadia walked beside Hermione, behind Harry and Ron. Draco brought up the rear, turning around every few seconds.

After an hour of walking, Hagrid rushed forward and bent over. Acadia ran to his side. “Is that unicorn blood?” She frowned.

“That’s what we’re here for,” He said holding up two of his fingers that were coated in the thick, silver substance to the rest of the group. “See that? That’s unicorn blood that is. I found one dead a few weeks ago.” Acadia shivered. What would want to take the life of a unicorn? Better question, what would be able to take the life of a unicorn? “Now, this one’s been hurt bad by somthin’. So it’s our job to find the poor thing.

“And what if whatever hurt the unicorn finds us first?” Draco whined.

“There’s nothin’ that lives in the forest that’ll hurt yeh if yer with me or Fang, an’ keep ter the path. Right, now, we’re gonna split inter two parties an’ follow the trail in diff’rent directions. There’s blood all over the place, it must’ve bin staggerin’ around since last night at least. Ron, Hermione yeh’ll come with me.” Ron squeaked in relief and trembled as he strolled up to Hagrid. “Harry, Malfoy you’ll be with Acadia.” They nodded politely.

“Okay, then I get Fang.” Malfoy’s voice shook slightly as he stood taller.

“Fine, just so you know, he’s a bloody coward,” Hagrid huffed making the blond’s fearless facade crumble even more. Acadia snickered before Draco shot her an angry look.

“C’mon Fang,” Draco mumbled as he hurried to follow Acadia and Harry. Acadia ran ahead a bit letting her eyes adjust fully to the darkness. She breathed in deeply.

“Could a werewolf be killing the unicorns?” Harry asked once they had split from the others. He caught up to her and matched her stride, and, unfortunately, so did Draco.

Acadia stiffened. “Uh… Even a werewolf wouldn’t be able to catch a healthy unicorn, and werewolves are only present during the full moon.” Her thin fingers fiddled with the lunar temporium around her neck.

“Wait ‘til my father hears about this. This is servants stuff!” She heard Draco scoff from her right.

“If I didn’t know better, Draco, I’d say you were scared.” Harry retorted making a chuckle escaped from his friend’s lips. Acadia’s Quidditch boots crunched the leaves the littered the forest floor.

“Scared, Potter,” He spat in an offended tone. The thin girl whipped around at a rustle somewhere in the trees. “Did you hear that?” Draco whimpered.

“Yeah 一 ” When she turned back around she froze. Her light green eyes widened. A hunched figure drank from a bright white unicorn. Draco gasped.

“What is it?” Harry asked as he looked down. Acadia stuck out her arm to stop him from going any further.

The ugly creature’s head reared up, its malformed head half-hidden by a hood. The blood that dripped from its mouth looked like molten silver. As it stared straight at Harry, he stumbled back and winced. Acadia turned to him quickly. “Harry,” she whispered sharply.

Malfoy shrieked and ran, so did Fang. Acadia shuddered as it floated closer like a ghost. “Harry?” She whispered again and looked back to see him slowly backing away. He tripped over a large tree root and scooted back as far as he could. Acadia backed up to shield him with her body but tripped backward against him. She reached for her wand, but nothing was there. She forgot that Filch had taken their wands before detention.

The thing slowly raised an arm to attack. Acadia threw her hands forwards to block the blow, but, to her and Harry’s surprise, angry orange flames exploded from her hands. The thing reeled back before turning tail. “What was that?” Harry gasped. She matched his expression of panic and confusion.

Several pairs of footsteps pounded towards the spot where Acadia and Harry sat. One significantly heavier than the others. Hagrid ran up to them, crossbow at the ready. Hermione, Ron, and Draco behind him. “Acadia! Harry!” Hermione squeaked in worry.

Hagrid clambered down the tree roots to them. “You two alright?” He studied the befuddled pair for any sign of injury.

“Peachy,” Acadia said barely above a whisper.

“What was that?” Draco exclaimed spinning around the flickering lantern still in his hand. Hagrid offered a giant hand down to Acadia, which she took. After she was standing, she helped up Harry.

“No bloody idea,” Harry said.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The moment Acadia stepped into the common room, she knew something was up. Three figures sat by the fire. Her best friend. “What’s going on?” Acadia asked as she walked past the couch.

“You’re a werewolf?” Harry asked in a whisper.

Acadia took a step back. “Hermione!” Acadia shouted. An intense feeling flooded over her. She wanted to run away or vomit or just curl up and sob for several hours.

Hermione stood and brushed off her pink bathrobe. “It just came out. I 一 ”

But before she could get another word out, Acadia was tackled into a hug. The tallest of the group let her go but gripped her shoulders. “Why didn’t you tell me!” He shouted as he shook the pale girl back and forth. “You told Hermione, but not me?” Ron couldn’t hide the hurt from his red face.

“Hermione found out!” She shouted back. “I didn’t know what I would do if you were disgusted or scared of me!”

“I’ve known you nearly all my bloody life!” Ron let go of her and ran a hand through his pumpkin locks. He started to pace around the room like a

“And I’m sorry for not telling you! I should have told you sooner!” Acadia blinked back tears.

“Good, you should be sorry, and I’d never be disgusted by you! You’re my best mate and I love you!”

“I love you too!” Acadia wrapped her arms around Ron’s torso and hugged him.

As Ron hugged her back he whispered, “you can be pretty scary sometimes though.” She laughed as she rested her forehead against his shoulder.

“What just happened?” Harry asked with a laugh.

Acadia laughed too and wiped her eyes. “Honestly, I’m surprised you didn’t find out sooner. I’m not exactly a great liar.”

“Well, our little Moondog,” Fred said causing the four first-years to jump. The twin's arms were full of food, most likely from raiding the kitchens again. “Ronnikins is exceptionally daft.” Acadia chuckled and grabbed a chocolate chip muffin.

“Hey!” Ron put his hands on his hip. It reminded Acadia of his mother.

The morning after the full moon, the trio greeted Acadia in the common room with chocolate and a plate full of bacon they had swiped from breakfast. She curled up on an armchair in the corner of the common room. Her sweater from Molly hung loosely from her thin shoulders. “You guys sure you aren't bothered by all this?” Acadia asked as she munched on a bar of chocolate. Hermione sat in the chair across from the table while Ron and Harry pulled up two wooden stools.

“I’ve seen you fall up the stairs, forgive me if I’m not cowering in fear,” Harry said, stuffing his mouth with a piece of bacon.
 
Acadia tilted back in her chair after setting the Anti-Cheating quill down beside her finished exam. She shot Harry, who was a few desks away from her, a quick thumbs-up. He replied with a worried smile.

After written exams, Professor Flitwick had them try and make a pineapple tap-dance across a desk. Acadia’s did, but it also flew into the wall.

Acadia’s snuffbox was simple, and was, luckily, whisker-free.

During her potions practical exam, she easily brewed the forgetfulness potion. Hermione smacked her on the back of the head as they left the class because every time she had the chance she mouthed directions to Ron and Harry.

In History of Magic, Acadia almost fell asleep. A paper ball hit her in the back of the head, so she whipped around. Draco smirked, and she stuck out her tongue before returned to the paper. “That was far easier than I thought it would be,” Hermione said once they left the class. “I needn’t have learned about the 1637 Werewolf Code of Conduct or the uprising of Elfric the Eager.”

“No more studying!” Ron cheered as he crashed down under a tree near the Black Lake. You could look more cheerful, Harry, we’ve got a week before we find out how badly we’ve done, there’s no need to worry yet.” Acadia flopped down onto her back and rested her head on Ron’s stomach.

“I wish I knew what this means!” Harry bellowed. “My scar keeps hurting — it’s happened before, but never as often as this.”

“Go to Madam Pomfrey,” Hermione said sitting by Acadia’s legs.

“I’m not ill,” He sighed and paced back and forth. “I think it’s a warning… it means danger’s coming…”

“Harry, relax, Hermione’s right, the Stone’s safe as long as Dumbledore’s around. Anyway, we’ve never had any proof Snape found out how to get past Fluffy. He nearly had his leg ripped off once, he’s not going to try it again in a hurry. And Neville will play Quidditch for England before Hagrid lets Dumbledore down.”

“Harry, mate, it’s probably just post-exams nerves,” Acadia chimed in with her forearm over her eyes. Harry sat down but jumped back up a minute later. “What is it?”

“I’ve just thought of something. We’ve got to go and see Hagrid, now.”

“Why?” They all stood and followed Harry.

His face was as white as Dumbledore’s beard. “Don’t you think it’s a bit odd that what Hagrid wants more than anything else is a dragon, and a stranger turns up who just happens to have an egg in his pocket? How many people wander around with dragon eggs if it’s against wizard law? Lucky they found Hagrid, don’t you think? Why didn’t I see it before?”

“What are you talking about?” When they got to Hagrid’s hut, he was sitting outside and shelling peas.

“Hagrid, I’ve got to ask you something. You know that night you won Norbert? What did the stranger you were playing cards with look like?” Harry asked.

“Dunno, he wouldn’t take his cloak off.” Hagrid shrugged. “It’s not that unusual, yeh get a lot o’ funny folk in the Hog’s Head — that’s the pub down in the village. Mighta bin a dragon dealer, mightn’ he? I never saw his face, he kept his hood up.”

“What did you talk to him about, Hagrid? Did you mention Hogwarts at all?”

“Mighta come up,” Hagrid said and looked up from the bowl. “Yeah… he asked what I did, an’ I told him I was gamekeeper here… He asked a bit about the sorta creatures I took after… so I told him… an’ I said what I’d always really wanted was a dragon… an’ then… I can’t remember too well, ’cause he kept buyin’ me drinks… Let’s see… yeah, then he said he had the dragon egg an’ we could play cards fer it if I wanted… but he had ter be sure I could handle it, he didn’ want it ter go ter any old home… So I told him, after Fluffy, a dragon would be easy…”

“And did he — did he seem interested in Fluffy?” Harry was now bouncing foot to foot.

“Well — yeah — how many three headed dogs d’yeh meet, even around Hogwarts? So I told him, Fluffy’s a piece o’ cake if yeh know how to calm him down, jus’ play him a bit o’ music an’ he’ll go straight off ter sleep — ” He stopped, and his beetle black eyes widened in shock. “I shouldn’ta told yeh that! Hey 一 where’re yeh goin’?” All four of them ran straight towards the castle. Acadia almost tripped as they stopped at the entrance hall.

“We’ve got to go to Dumbledore,” Harry fretted and turned towards them.  “Hagrid told that stranger how to get past Fluffy, and it was either Snape or Voldemort under that cloak — it must’ve been easy, once he’d got Hagrid drunk. I just hope Dumbledore believes us. Where’s his office?”

“No idea.” Acadia ran a hand through her hair. “Maybe we 一 ”

“What are you four doing inside?” Professor McGonagall looked around the tall stack of books in her hands.

“We want to see Professor Dumbledore,” Hermione said, standing taller.

“See Professor Dumbledore? Why?” She narrowed her eyes and scanned the four first years.

“It’s sort of a secret,” Harry said, and Acadia backhanded his arm as subtly as possible.

“Professor Dumbledore left ten minutes ago,” she informed with a tight-lipped frown. “He received an urgent owl from the Ministry of Magic and flew off for London at once.”

“He’s gone? Now?

“Professor Dumbledore is a very great wizard, Potter, he has many demands on his time — ”

“But this is important.”

“Something you have to say is more important than the Ministry of Magic, Kane?”

“Look,” Harry breathed with a frown. “Professor — it’s about the Philosopher’s stone — ”

“How do you know about that?”

“Professor, I think — I know — that Sn — that someone’s going to try and steal the Stone. I’ve got to talk to Professor Dumbledore.”

“Professor Dumbledore will be back tomorrow,” she said. “I don’t know how you found out about the Stone, but rest assured, no one can possibly steal it, it’s too well protected.”

“But Professor 一 ”

“I suggest you all go back outside and enjoy the sunshine.”

“It’s tonight,” Harry assured as he watched McGonagall walk down the hallway. “Snape’s going through the trapdoor tonight. He’s found out everything he needs, and now he’s got Dumbledore out of the way. He sent that note, I bet the Ministry of Magic will get a real shock when Dumbledore turns up.”

They sat in the common room until nightfall. Wood had come up to Acadia, reminding her about practice the following day and the match that weekend.

Once everyone had gone off to bed, they all prepared to huddle under the cloak. “We’d better put the cloak on here, and make sure it covers all three of us — if Filch spots one of our feet wandering along on its own — ”

“What are you doing?” Neville tilted his head and studied the four of them.

“Nothing, Neville, nothing.” Harry hide the cloak behind him and looked away.

“You’re going out again,” he accused.

“No, no, no,” Hermione said a little too quickly. “No, we’re not. Why don’t you go to bed, Neville?”

“You can’t go out,” he said, trying to cover his shaky voice. “You’ll be caught again. Gryffindor will be in even more trouble.”

“This is really important, Neville,” Acadia urged.

“I won’t let you.” He rushed to the portrait hole and blocked the way. “I’ll 一 I’ll fight you!”

“Neville,” Ron warned, “get away from that hole and don’t be an idiot — ”

“Don’t you call me an idiot!” The chubby boy shouted. “I don’t think you should be breaking any more rules! And you were the ones who told me to stand up to people!”

“Yes, but not to us.” Ron threw his head back with a sigh and rubbed his temples. “Neville, you don’t know what you’re doing.”

“Neville,” Hermione stressed. “I’m really, really sorry about this. Petrificus Totalus!” Neville stiffened with wide, horrified eyes, but before he fell Acadia caught him. Ron helped her move him to the couch.

“Honestly, Neville, we’re really sorry,” Acadia said, slipping out into the hall.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Snake-like vines wrapped around Acadia’s legs. She rushed to rip them off, but the vines bound her arms to her sides. “Stop moving!” Hermione commanded. “I know what this is — it’s Devil’s Snare!”

“Oh, I’m so glad we know what it’s called, that’s a great help,” Ron spat and wrestled against the vine slithering around his neck.

“Shut up, I’m trying to remember how to kill it!”

“Please, hurry,” Acadia groaned as vines wrapped around her face and throat.

"Devil's Snare, Devil's Snare... What did Professor Sprout say? It likes the dark and the damp — " Hermione started to mumble hurriedly to herself.

“So light a fire!” Harry bellowed.

“Yes — of course — but there’s no wood!”

“HAVE YOU GONE MAD?” Ron raged. “ARE YOU A WITCH OR NOT!”

“Oh, right!” Acadia groaned as Hermione took out her wand and waved. Bluebell flames sprung forth and filled the room. Acadia slipped down to the floor below. Harry and Hermione not far behind.

Ron fell from the plant’s grasp and right onto Acadia. She cursed and shoved him off. “Do you hear that?” Harry asked as Ron dusted himself off.

“Wings?” Hermione wondered aloud. They followed Harry into the next room. Bright flashes of colors whizzed around the dome ceiling.

“I’ve never seen birds like that,” Ron said.

"They're not birds! They're keys! Winged keys — look carefully. So that must mean... Yes — look! Broomsticks! We've got to catch the key to the door!" Harry turned to Acadia. “You’re the seeker. If you can catch a snitch, you can catch a key 一 right?”

“Oh Godric, I hope so,” Acadia huffed before mounting one of the old, school brooms that leaned against the brick. It was shaky and harder to control than her faithful Nimbus, but she was still able to zoom into the fog of keys. The key, that Harry had pointed out to be the right one, had glittering blue wings. One was mangled as a result of being shoved into the keyhole by Snape.

Her thin fingers wrapped around the rusted key. Acadia quickly dropped to the ground 一 not even bothering to pick up the broom. Harry jammed the key into the door and swung it open.

In the next room, a life-sized chess board lay in front of them. “Bloody hell,” Ron whispered in a mix of awe and anxiety.

“Now what?” Harry grumbled as he walked onto the board.

“It’s obvious, isn’t it?” Ron exclaimed. “We’ve got to play our way across the room.”

“And how do we do that?” Acadia frowned.

“I think, we’re going to have to be chessmen.”

“Great,” the thin girl mumbled under her breath. Acadia, Harry, and Hermione followed Ron’s orders. Hermione took the place of the Queen’s rook and Harry replaced the King’s Bishop. Acadia took a deep breath before taking a pawn‘s place as Ron replaced one of the knights. “Think this is like,

real一

wizard’s chess?” Acadia asked cautiously as she watched a white pawn move forward.

Ron, taking this into consideration, ordered a pawn forward. As soon as it reached its destination, the white pawn reared up and smashed the black pawn to pieces. “Yup, I think this is going to be exactly like real wizard’s chess,” he gulped.

They followed Ron’s orders carefully.

“Harry — move diagonally four squares to the right.” Acadia gasped as the other knight was smashed into pieces by the white queen.

“Had to let that happen,” Ron said when Acadia looked to him. “Leaves you free to take that bishop, Hermione, go on.” She begrudgingly moved forward.

Acadia scanned the board, assessing the pieces left on the board. “Wait a minute一” Harry cautioned as if reading Acadia’s mind.

“Harry, once I make my move the queen will take me, then you check the king.” This suggestion was met with a bellow of arguments from the other three. “That’s chess! You’ve got to make some sacrifices! I take one step forward and she’ll take me — that leaves you free to checkmate the king, Harry!”

Acadia watched as Ron moved. The queen took no time in hitting him to the side, knocking him unconscious. Acadia held out her arm to stop Hermione, who was in the square to her right, from running to his side. “We’re still playing,” she warned before looking to Harry.

He gulped and moved forward. “

Checkmate!

” He said clearly and forcefully. The king’s sword fell to the ground to clatter by Harry’s feet. They wasted no time running to Ron’s side. He lied unconscious in a pile of broken pieces, but didn’t seem very injured. “Ron?” Harry shook the ginger’s shoulder before standing.

“We have to keep moving,” Acadia hesitated.

“But 一 ”

“I don’t wanna leave him either, Hermione, but we’ll have to come back for him later.” The girls followed Harry into the next room, but he suddenly froze. An intense smell assaulted her senses and burned her lungs. “What is 一 ” Acadia looked over Harry’s shoulder to see another mountain troll. “You’ve gotta be kidding me,” she groaned under her breath, before turning back into the chess room.

“Where are you going?” Hermione whined as quietly as she could.

“Stay still,” Acadia hissed. “I’ll be back.” Before the brunette could counter, Acadia leaped over Ron and ran back into the room of keys.

Within a minute, the thin girl flew over her friends and around the troll’s potato-shaped head like a pesky snitch. “HEY!” She shouted grabbing its attention. His large head swung around so fast it almost toppled over. “This way, ugly!” She slowly floated backward leading it from the door. Its fat feet shook the floor with every single step. Acadia’s green eyes followed Hermione and Harry as they walked across the grimy room.

With a yelp, Hermione tripped over an animal femur and fell to the ground. The troll whipped around again and stumbled towards her. “HERMIONE!” Acadia lunged forward on the broom. She barely managed to push her friend towards the door and took a hard blow to the stomach. It flung her off the broom, and she hit the farthest wall. Fireworks exploded violently behind her eyelids as she slid to the ground.
 
She woke up in a cluttered kitchen. A kitchen she vaguely recognized. Sunlight flooded into the room from the two skylights that were installed in the slanted ceiling. A large chandelier-like lantern hung from in the middle of them. On the wall behind her, stood a woodstove and a squat bookshelf. The bookshelf held several witches’ cookbooks and an antique gramophone.

To her left was a cupboard that held dishes and to the right of it was a doorway. It led to a hallway, so she could see into the room across from the kitchen. It looked like one of the Herbology greenhouses with various magical and non-magical plants. On the other side of the cupboard, were wall-mounted shelves filled with bottles of spices and herbs.

In front of Acadia was a counter. A large window loomed above the sink. A figurine of a wampus cat and a pot with yellow and orange flowers. In the sink, dishes were charmed to wash themselves. At the end of the counter in the corner was a bubbling cauldron. On the table against the right wall sat beard and cheese, along with butter, jars of cookies and other sweets, and a steaming kettle of tea.

Footsteps came from the staircase behind her. “Well, well,” a sweet voice mused. Something caught in Acadia’s throat. “I didn’t expect you to be up so early, baby girl,” the woman said and planted a kiss on the top of the ginger’s head. Acadia’s head snapped up to the woman and her mouth fell open. “Hungry?” Acadia couldn’t stop herself from nodding. The smile on the woman’s face reached her ice blue eyes.

The woman in front of her was beautiful and thin. A navy sweater with silver stars hung loosely from her frame, similar to Acadia’s sweaters, and grey leggings hugged her legs. Blonde hair fell in waves to her shoulders and bounced as she tied it up in a ponytail.

She moved gracefully around the kitchen and hummed happily. She placed two teacups on the beautifully carved wooden table. The charmed tea kettle floated over and filled them as the woman cooked slabs of bacon on a frying pan. A lovely aroma filled the air.

Acadia picked up the teacup and put it to her lips. Once she tasted the warm liquid, she gagged. “What 一 ” The small porcelain cup was filled with blood. The coppery-taste lingered on her tongue as she stood. When she looked up, it had become dark outside. “U-um 一 ”

“Yes, sweetie?” The woman turned, and, with a gasp, she fell to the ground. She writhed and convulsed like she was being mauled by an invisible bear.

Acadia screamed as many large gashes appeared on the woman’s skin. Her sweater and leggings were torn to shreds and soaked in her own blood. Her once beautiful, freckled face was scratched up and gushing blood. The invisible forced bit down on the blonde’s neck, drawing the life from her eyes.

The dead woman stared up at Acadia, who had backed up against the wall. “M-mommy?”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

When Acadia first woke up she was in immense pain. She howled and screamed until Madam Pomfrey had put her to sleep with a hasty spell.

When she woke up the second time, she was covered in sweat and breathing heavy. Each breath caused pain in her chest, and she quickly threw up in the bin beside her bed. The dream she had just suffered through made her want to never sleep again, but she almost immediately passed out from exhaustion after wiping her mouth.

When she woke up for the third time, she felt like thick jelly. Her chest no longer hurt, but then again nothing hurt at all. She sat up and pulled back the curtain. “Acadia?” She looked to the bed beside her and grinned.

“Ya doin’ alright, Harry?”

He shrugged. “I could ask you the same thing,” he said with a smile.

She shrugged too. At the foot of each of their beds sat baskets of gifts and candies, though, as expected, Harry’s held far more than Acadia’s. “What happened?” Harry told her everything from Quirrell to the mirror to Voldemort. Acadia absorbed everything and frowned.

“We never would’ve guessed,” Acadia said thoughtfully.

They both turned their heads in the direction of the door. Dumbledore sashayed into the hospital wing, his robes waving behind him. “Good afternoon,” he greeted. He stopped between the beds and hummed. “Ah, tokens from your admirers.”

“Admirers?” Harry tilted his head.

“What happened down in the dungeons between you and Professor Quirrell is a complete secret, so, naturally, the whole school knows. I believe your friends, Misters Fred, and George Weasley were responsible for trying to send you a toilet seat. No doubt they thought it would amuse you. Madam Pomfrey, however, felt it might not be very hygienic, and confiscated it."

“Are Ron and Hermione okay?” Acadia asked fiddling with the lunar temporium around her neck.

“They’re fine,” he assured.

“How long have we been in here?”

Dumbledore sighed. “Three days. Mr. Ronald Weasley and Miss Granger will be most relieved you have come round, they have been extremely worried.”

“What about the philosopher's stone?”

“The stone has been destroyed. My friend, Nicolas and I had a little chat and agreed it was best.”

“Mr. Flamel and his wife will die without the stone won’t they?”

Dumbledore nodded. “They have enough Elixir stored to set their affairs in order and then, yes, they will die. To one as young as you, I’m sure it seems incredible, but to Nicolas and Perenelle, it really is like going to bed after a very, very long day. After all, to the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure. You know, the Stone was really not such a wonderful thing. As much money and life as you could want! The two things most human beings would choose above all — the trouble is, humans do have a knack of choosing precisely those things that are worst for them.”

“Sir?” Harry spoke up. “I’ve been thinking… sir — even if the Stone’s gone, Vol — , I mean, You-Know-Who — ”

“Call him Voldemort, Harry. Always use the proper name for things. Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself.” Acadia moved uncomfortably. Of course, she was told about Voldemort as a child, but she never heard someone use his name so freely.

“Yes, sir. Well, Voldemort’s going to try other ways of coming back, isn’t he? I mean, he hasn’t gone, has he?” Harry fiddled with the edge of his bed sheet as he spoke.

“No, Harry, he has not. He is still out there somewhere, perhaps looking for another body to share… not being truly alive, he cannot be killed. He left Quirrell to die; he shows just as little mercy to his followers as his enemies. Nevertheless, Harry, while you may only have delayed his return to power, it will merely take someone else who is prepared to fight what seems a losing battle next time — and if he is delayed again, and again, why, he may never return to power.”

“Sir, there are some other things I’d like to know if you can tell me… things I want to know the truth about…”

“The truth. It is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should, therefore, be treated with great caution. However, I shall answer your questions unless I have a very good reason not to, in which case I beg you’ll forgive me. I shall not, of course, lie.”

“Well… Voldemort said that he only killed my mother because she tried to stop him from killing me. But why would he want to kill me in the first place?”

“Alas, the first thing you ask me, I cannot tell you. Not today. Not now. You will know, one day… put it from your mind for now, Harry. When you are older… I know you hate to hear this… when you are ready, you will know.”

“But why couldn’t Quirrell touch me?”

“Your mother died to save you. If there is one thing Voldemort cannot understand, it is love. He didn’t realize that love as powerful as your mother’s for you leaves its own mark. Not a scar, no visible sign… to have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is gone, will give us some protection forever. It is in your very skin. Quirrell, full of hatred, greed, and ambition, sharing his soul with Voldemort, could not touch you for this reason. It was agony to touch a person marked by something so good.”

“Quirrell said Snape — ”

“Professor Snape, Harry,” Dumbledore corrected.

“Yes, him — Quirrell said he hates me because he hated my father. Is that true?”

“Well, they did rather detest each other. Not unlike yourself and Mr. Malfoy.” Acadia snorted but tried to cover it with a cough. “And then, your father did something Snape could never forgive.”

“What?”

“He saved his life.”

“What?”

“Yes… Funny, the way people’s minds work, isn’t it?” Dumbledore said with a small smile. “Professor Snape couldn’t bear being in your father’s debt… I do believe he worked so hard to protect you this year because he felt that would make him and your father even. Then he could go back to hating your father’s memory in peace…”

“How did he get the stone from the mirror?” Acadia blurted.

Dumbledore chuckled. “Ah, now, I’m glad you asked me that. It was one of my more brilliant ideas, and between you and me, that’s saying something. You see, only one who wanted to find the Stone — find it, but not use it — would be able to get it, otherwise they’d just see themselves making gold or drinking Elixir of Life. My brain surprises even me sometimes… Now, enough questions. I suggest you two make a start on these sweets. Ah! Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans! I was unfortunate enough in my youth to come across a vomit-flavored one, and since then I’m afraid I’ve rather lost my liking for them — but I think I’ll be safe with a nice toffee, don’t you?” Dumbledore gagged but swallowed the bean with a smile. “Alas! Ear wax!”

Hermione and Ron charged into the hospital wing, once Dumbledore had left.  Hermione was in tears as she wrapped Acadia in a tight embrace. “What were you thinking?” She hissed. “You could’ve died.”

“You could’ve died,” Acadia shot back.

“The whole school’s talking about it,” Ron said and sat on Harry’s bed. “What really happened?” Acadia sat back and absorbed everything for a second time. Hermione screamed and clutched Acadia’s arm when Harry explained the reason Quirrel wore a turban.

“So the stone’s gone? Flamel’s just going to die?”

“That’s what I said, but Dumbledore thinks that — what was it? — ‘to the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure. ’”

“I always said he was off his rocker,” Ron grumbled.
 
Harry and Acadia had enough time to dress and meet everyone at the feast the next day. Everyone sat in shocked silence as Acadia and Harry walked in, but once they sat down it got very loud all at once.

In the middle of the feast, McGonagall tapped her glass with a spoon, signaling for everyone to quiet. Acadia turned her head and watched as Dumbledore stood. “Another year gone.” He gave the barest hint of a smile. “What a year it has been! Hopefully, your heads are all a little fuller than they were… you have the whole summer ahead to get them nice and empty before next year starts… Now, the House Cup needs awarding, and the points stand thus: in fourth place Gryffindor 262 points, in third place Hufflepuff with 352 points, in second place Ravenclaw with 426 points, and in first place Slytherin with 472 points.”

The Slytherin table cheered loudly as everyone else sunk into their seats. “Yes, yes Slytherin well done. However, recent events must be taken into account and I have a few last minute points to award.” The entire hall went silent. Acadia looked around and gave a questioning look to Ron and Harry, who were sitting across from her and Hermione.

Dumbledore pushed his half-moon glasses up his long nose and spoke. “To Miss Hermione Granger for the cool use of intellect while others were in grave peril 一 Fifty points!” Her chocolate eyes widened and she buried her face into her hands. Acadia chuckled and rubbed her back as she cried.

“Second to Mr. Ronald Weasley for the best-played game of chess that Hogwarts has seen these many years 一 Fifty points.” Acadia made a face at Percy, who was boasting to the other students that Ronald was his brother.

“Third to Miss Acadia Kane for the willingness to sacrifice her life for the lives of her friends 一 Fifty points!” She smiled widely as Fred clapped her on the back.

“And fourth to Mr. Harry Potter for pure nerve and outstanding courage 一 I award Gryffindor House sixty points!” The Gryffindors whooped and cheered, the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs did as well, but the Slytherins sat in miffed silence.

“

We’re tied with Slytherin

!” Hermione mouthed barely able to stay in her seat.

Dumbledore motioned for everyone to listen, his face holding a small grin. “And finally, it takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to your enemies, but a great deal more to stand up to your friends. I award ten points to Neville Longbottom!” The said round-faced boy went white. He froze as Hermione had cursed him with another full-body bind. “Assuming that my calculations are correct, I believe that a change of decoration is in order.” With a clap of Dumbledore’s bony hands, the emerald banners faded into a deep scarlet. “Gryffindor wins the House Cup!”

The tables roared as wizard’s caps were thrown into the air. Oliver housted Acadia on his shoulders. Red crept up her face and she threw her hat as high as she could. When a specific Slytherin caught her light green eyes she stuck out her tongue. The Gryffindors hollered all the way back the common room.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Acadia’s summer was, for the most part, uneventful. She worked in the back of Ophelia’s shop making potions and in the front selling them. She sent letters and received them. Though Harry never sent anything back, however she kind of expected this after hearing about his family, the Dursleys.

For three weeks of the summer, Acadia stayed at the Burrow with the Weasleys. They spent most of the daytime playing Quidditch. Fred and Acadia against George and Ron. She even helped Molly cook dinner in the evenings.

“

Hey

.” Acadia’s eyes fluttered open from a dreamless sleep. Ron stood over her trying to shake her awake.

“What?” She yawned. Acadia sat up before following Ron downstairs. Her oversized quidditch sweater hung off one shoulder, and her burgundy, PJ shorts just barely peeked out the bottom. Fred and George stood at the bottom of the stairs. “What is this?” She whisper-yelled.

“We’re going to get Harry.”

Acadia perked up. “How?”

“The Anglia,” Fred said with a smirk.

“I’m in.” Acadia pulled on her shoes and followed them out of the burrow. She quickly slid into the backseat beside Ronald and carefully shut the door. Fred started the car and flew it into the sky.

“Where are we going?” Fred asked.

“4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging,” Acadia replied.

After an hour or two of soaring over England, they floated down next to 4 Privet Drive. It was a cute, yet mundane two story. The grass was bright and perfectly cut, and Acadia could see a tiny bit of the back garden. She rolled down her window and knocked softly on the glass.

Harry’s wide emerald orbs peeked through the gap in the drapes. He flung them open before opening the window. He winced slightly, most likely from hearing someone in the house. “Wh 一 What are you doing here? Woah!” He stared at the Ford Anglia that seemed to be parked in midair. His mouth fell open as the twins grinned from the front seat.

“All right, Harry?” George asked.

“What’s been going on?” Ron asked, squeezing in next to Acadia. “Why haven’t you been answering our letters? I’ve asked you to stay about twelve times, and then Dad came home and said you’d got an official warning for using magic in front of Muggles — ”

“It wasn’t me — and how did he know?”

“He works for the Ministry,” Acadia answered.

“You know we’re not supposed to do spells outside school — ”

“You should talk.” Harry stared at the floating car.

“Oh, this doesn’t count,” Ron said. “We’re only borrowing this. It’s Dad’s, we didn’t enchant it. But doing magic in front of those Muggles you live with — ”

“I told you, I didn’t — but it’ll take too long to explain now — look, can you tell them at Hogwarts that the Dursleys have locked me up and won’t let me come back, and obviously I can’t magic myself out, because the Ministry’ll think that’s the second spell I’ve done in three days, so — ”

“Stop gibbering,” Ron said. “We’ve come to take you home with us.”

“But you can’t magic me out either — ”

“We don’t need to,” Acadia beamed mischievously.  A Cheshire cat grin adorned the pale girl’s face. She tied the rope to the bars on Harry’s window and slipped back into the car. “Stand back, Harry. Mush!” Acadia ordered Fred to pull the car from the house. The bars ripped right from the window as if nothing had been holding them to the brick.

Fred and George climbed through the window, while Ron took everything Harry handed him. Acadia watched the streets for any signs of life. Nothing… Every house was still, as if sleeping just like the families inside of them. Once the twins and Harry were back, they struggled to pull his trunk into the seat. Acadia flinched when she heard a man cough.

Hedwig screeched and hit her cage. “THAT RUDDY OWL!”

Harry’s face went white. He scampered back into the room and grabbed the cage. Light peeked out from under the door as someone stomped down the hallway. “C’mon Harry,” Acadia squeaked and took the cage. After passing it to Ron, the door burst open.

“WHAT?!” As Acadia started to help Harry into the backseat, a corpulent, purple-faced man stood framed in the doorway. “GET BACK HERE, BOY!” Vernon Dursley lurched forward, grabbing Harry by the ankle. “Petunia!” The man howled. “He’s getting away! HE’S GETTING AWAY!”

“I got ‘im, Fred, GO!” Acadia held on tight to Harry’s arms as the car shot forward. Vernon, still holding onto Harry’s ankle, was pulled out the window. He was forced to let go by gravity and crashed into the bushes below. “That was close,” Acadia laughed nervously and pulled Harry into the car. She shut the door with a slam before she leaned her back against it.

“Let Hedwig out,” he told Ron. “She can fly behind us. She hasn’t had a chance to stretch her wings for ages.” Ron nodded and unlocked the cage. Hedwig took no time in soaring out of his window.

“So,” Acadia started. She pulled her legs into the seat and got comfortable. “What happened?” They listened intently as Harry explained the events of this summer. A house named Dobby visited Privet drive and had given Harry a warning.  Acadia leaned back against the door in thought.

Fred was the first to speak. “Very fishy.” He looked in the rearview mirror every few seconds.

“Why didn’t he tell you who was behind this?”

“I don’t think he could,” Harry sighed. “I told you, every time he got close to letting something slip, he started banging his head against the wall.”

“House-elves are under powerful binding magic. They can’t really do anything without their owner’s permission,” Acadia commented.

“I reckon old Dobby was sent to stop you coming back to Hogwarts,” Fred said.

“But who would do that?” Acadia asked.

“Someone’s idea of a joke. Can you think of anyone at school with a grudge against you?”

“Yes,” the three in the backseat said in unison.
 
By the time they landed at The Burrow, the sun peeked out over the horizon. Acadia took a moment to marvel at the home alongside Harry. The Burrow was a several story tall, patchwork house. She stayed in Bill’s old room on third floor when ever she stayed over. “It’s not much,” Ron said coming up beside them and put his hands on his hips.

“It’s wonderful,” Harry beamed.

“Now, we’ll go upstairs really quietly,” Fred said after getting out of the car, “and wait for Mum to call us for breakfast. Then, Ron, you come bounding downstairs going, ‘Mum, look who turned up in the night!’ and she’ll be all pleased to see Harry and no one need ever know we flew the car.”

Acadia sighed. “We’re dead for sure,” she mumbled under her breath.

“Right. C’mon, Harry, I sleep 一 ” he grimaced, “at the very top.”

When Acadia turned, she spotted an enraged Molly Weasley storming towards them. The chickens scrambled in every direction as her feet disturbed their breakfast. The thin girl thought she heard one of the boys say ‘

Oh dear

’, but that could’ve just been from her own mouth. Molly stopped in front of them and scanned their faces. “So,” she said in a mock casual way that would have been somewhat convincing if the vein in her neck wasn’t throbbing.

“Morning, Mum,” George said as if he thought that his tone would calm his mother from her fury.

“Have you

any

idea how worried I’ve been?” she hissed in a low, frightening tone.

“Sorry, Mum, but see, we had to 一 ” Ron started.

“Beds

empty!

No

note!

Car

gone!

” Acadia flinched and took a step back. “You could have crashed — out of my mind with worry — did you care?

Never

, as long as I’ve lived — you

wait

until your father gets home, we never had trouble like this from Bill or Charlie or Percy — ”  Tears of anger and fear brimmed in her hazel eyes as she scolded her sons.

“Perfect Percy,” Fred couldn’t help but say.

“

YOU COULD DO WITH TAKING A LEAF OUT OF PERCY’S BOOK!

” she bellowed. “You could have died, you could have been seen, you could have lost your father his job — and you dragged Acadia along with you!” Acadia froze. She could’ve burst out laughing if Molly didn’t seem like an angry bear at the moment. The older woman stood taller and smoothed out her apron before turning to Harry. “I’m very pleased to see you, Harry, dear,” she said. “Come in and have some breakfast. You too, Cadi.” They nervously followed after her into the house.

As they past the living room, Acadia looked at the clock. Her own hand, that Ophelia said Molly was adamant to add after her mother’s death, returned to

Holidays

. Ophelia’s pointed to

Travelling

. Acadia sat at the table next to Harry and yawned. Molly mumbled angrily as she started breakfast.

“I don’t blame you, dears. Arthur and I have been worried about you, too, Harry. Just last night we were saying we’d come and get you ourselves if you hadn’t written back to Ron by Friday. But really flying an illegal car halfway across the country.” She sighed and set plates of eggs and bread in front of them. “Anyone could have seen you.”

“It was cloudy, Mum,” Fred argued.

“You keep your mouth closed while you are eating!” She scolded.

“They were starving him, Mum!” George cut in.

Her frown faltered. “And you!” While Molly was cutting bread for Harry, Ginny had walked into the noisy kitchen. Her eyes widened as she spotted Harry and she ran from the room.

“That’s Ginny,” Acadia snorted. “She’s been talking about you

all

summer.”

“Yeah, she’ll be wanting your autograph, Harry,” Fred laughed, but a death glare from Molly made him cower. A nervous silence fell over them. “Blimey, I’m tired,” Fred yawned and started to stand. “I think I’ll go to bed and — ”

“You will not.” Molly frowned and gave the twins a glare. “It’s your own fault you’ve been up all night. You’re going to de-gnome the garden for me; they’re getting completely out of hand again — ” With a flick of her wand the dishes floated to the sink and started washing themselves.

“Mum,” Ron whined.

“I’ll help.” Acadia stood and followed them out.

“Me too. I’ve never seen a de-gnoming — ”

“That’s very sweet of you, dear, but it’s dull work,” Molly sighed. “Now, let’s see what Lockhart’s got to say on the subject.” She pulled one of Lockhart’s book from her shelf.

“Mum, we know how to de-gnome a garden,” George groaned.

“Oh, he is marvelous,” she said as she spotted Harry studying the book cover. “He knows his household pests, all right, it’s a wonderful book. …”

“He’s a hack,” Acadia whispered to Harry so Molly couldn’t hear her.

“Mum fancies him,” Fred said in an over dramatic whisper. Molly whipped around with a flushed face and pushed them out the door.

Acadia swung the overgrown potato over her head and chucked it over the hedge. “Good one!” George laughed as he threw his own.

“They’ll be back,” Ron said, “they love it here. Dad’s too soft with them; he thinks they’re funny.” They all perked up as a door slammed shut.

“He’s back,” Acadia said as she started to walk back to the house. Arthur Weasley was already sitting at the kitchen table when they walked in. “Morning Arthur,” Acadia greeted.

“Good morning,” he said with a tired smile. “What a night.” They sat around him as he poured himself some tea. “Nine raids. Nine! And old Mundungus Fletcher tried to put a hex on me when I had my back turned.”

“Coward,” Acadia grumbled, earning an agreeing nod from Mr. Weasley.

“Find anything?” Fred asked.

“All I got were a few shrinking door keys and a biting kettle,” he sighed. “There was some pretty nasty stuff that wasn’t my department, though. Mortlake was taken away for questioning about some extremely odd ferrets, but that’s the Committee on Experimental Charms, thank goodness.”

“Why would anyone bother making door keys shrink?” Acadia asked as she bit into another slice of bread and butter.

“Just Muggle-baiting. Sell them a key that keeps shrinking to nothing so they can never find it when they need it. … Of course, it’s very hard to convict anyone because no Muggle would admit their key keeps shrinking — they’ll insist they just keep losing it. Bless them, they’ll go to any lengths to ignore magic, even if it’s staring them in the face一 But the things our lot have taken to enchanting, you wouldn’t believe — ”

“LIKE CARS, FOR INSTANCE?” Arthur’s eyes widened as if he was suddenly wide awake.

“C 一 cars, Molly, dear?” He asked innocently.

Acadia struggled to zone out as Molly bellowed at her husband “...And for your information, Harry arrived this morning in the car you weren’t intending to fly!”

“Harry? Harry who?” He scanned the kitchen and jumped when he saw him. Harry smiled weakly form between Ron and Acadia. “Good lord, is it Harry Potter? Very pleased to meet you, Ron’s told us so much about — ”

“Your sons flew that car to Harry’s house and back last night!” Mrs. Weasley shouted as she waved the poker in her hand around. “What have you got to say about that, eh?” She planted her hands on her hips.

“Did you really? Did it go all right? I — I mean,” he cleared his throat and frowned when Mrs. Weasley scowled, “that — that was very wrong, boys — very wrong indeed.”

Acadia, Ron, and Harry ran up to ‘Ronald’s Room’, that was overenthusiastically decorated with The Chudley Cannons. Acadia plopped down onto the bed and yawned. She slowly drifted back to sleep as Harry and Ron chatted.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“We’re running low, Arthur,” Molly sighed as she looked into a dingy, clay pot. “We’ll have to buy some more today… ah well, guests first! After you, Harry dear!”Harry stared at the flower pot with a blank expression.

Acadia had to hold back a snort. “He’s never used Floo powder,” she said, taking a small pinch for herself. “Watch.” Vibrant green flames filled the brick fireplace with a loud ‘whoosh’. “Diagon Alley!” She shouted and briskly strutted into the flames. A familiar, yet slightly overwhelming, feeling washed over her as she whirled through the magical transportation system. Acadia was able to walk out the other side without a problem, brushing off the small amount of soot that clung to her Quidditch sweater. A few witches and wizards 一 both fellow students she recognized from her classes the previous year and regulars from the potion shop 一 waved.

Within a few minutes, the Weasleys walked out of the fireplace one-by-one. “Where’s Harry?” Acadia asked as she looked around their group.

“He got a lungful of ash,” George answered.

“Well, where’d he end up?” Acadia nearly shouted.

Her brain was in panic-mode before Mrs. Weasley wrapped a motherly arm around her shoulders. “Don’t worry, dear,” she said as if she was trying to convince herself as well as the young girl, “we’ll find him.” Acadia nodded, but the deep frown was still etched on her face.

Mrs. Weasley and Ginny stayed behind as Mr. Weasley, Acadia, and the boys searched around Diagon Alley. Scruffy raven hair caught her eye. “Harry!” Acadia called, Hermione, and the groundskeeper, Hagrid, stood by his side.

Hermione tackled the freckled girl in a hug knocking the air from her lungs. “Where did you come out?” Ron asked a dust-covered Harry as Mr. Weasley fixed his glasses with a wave of his wand. The glass made a faint clicking sound as it sealed itself.

“Knockturn Alley,” Hagrid answered for him.

Both twins clapped their hands together. “Excellent!” They praised with matching grins.

“We’ve never been allowed in,” Ron said.

“I should ruddy think not!” Hagrid shouted making the children flinch back in surprise.

A clacking of heels sounded behind them as Molly ran up with a frazzled Ginny clinging to her arm. “Oh, Harry — oh, my dear — you could have been anywhere — ” she tutted. She brushed the soot off of his clothes and fixed his hair.

“Guess who I saw in Borgin and Burkes?” Harry spoke up once they reached the steps of Gringotts.

“Who?” Acadia asked. Borgin and Burkes was an infamous, dark arts shop. They bought and sold some questionable magical artifacts. Acadia had been there a few times purely out of curiosity.

“Malfoy and his father,” Harry whispered as they entered Gringotts.

Arthur whipped around like a toy top. “Did Lucius Malfoy buy anything?” he asked somewhat hopefully.

“No, he was selling — ”

“So he’s worried.” Mr. Weasley smirked. “Oh, I’d love to get Lucius Malfoy for something…”

“You be careful, Arthur. That family’s trouble. Don’t go biting off more than you can chew,” Molly warned, shaking a finger in his direction.

“So you don’t think I’m a match for Lucius Malfoy?” He puffed out his chest and frowned. His frown turned as he spotted Hermione’s parents. “— you’re Muggles!” He ran up to them like Acadia when a new racing broom was released. “We must have a drink! What’s that you’ve got there? Oh, you’re changing Muggle money. Molly, look!” Mrs. and Mr. Granger looked quite embarrassed having, probably, never encountered such a man before.

Hermione and Acadia lagged behind, chatting about their respective summers. Hermione's parents were trading currency, and Acadia already had all the money she required for her school supplies. They waited in the lobby as the Weasleys and Harry went down to the vault. Hermione introduced Acadia to her parents. Mrs. Granger gasped at the sight of her deep scars. Even though she was used to the strange glances and hushed whispers, muggles reacting to her wounds in such a way made her frown.

“We’ll all meet at Flourish and Blotts in an hour to buy your school books,” Mrs. Weasley said as they left Gringotts. “And not one step down Knockturn Alley!” She yelled to the twins.

Acadia followed Hermione to buy parchment and ink. Then she ran into Quality Quidditch Supplies to buy a new pair of dragon skin riding gloves and a bottle of broom polish.

Swarms of people crowded around Flourish and Blotts. Middle-aged witches stood crammed into the store, some even had to stand outside. ‘GILDEROY LOCKHART will be signing copies of his autobiography MAGICAL ME’ Acadia read from the banner. She frowned and squeezed through the crowd. After grabbing up the school books she needed and purchasing them as fast as she could, she climbed the stairs to the balcony where the stranger books were kept. “Ladies and gentlemen,” Lockhart announced pulling Harry to the stage. Harry looked extremely uncomfortable and embarrassed. “What an extraordinary moment this is! The perfect moment for me to make a little announcement I’ve been sitting on for some time! When young Harry here stepped into Flourish and Blotts today, he only wanted to buy my autobiography — which I shall be happy to present him now, free of charge — ” Annoyed beyond belief, Acadia turned to the bookshelves and ran her finger along the spines. She hoped that a title would catch her eye.

“Perfect Little Harry Potter,” an oh-so-familiar voice spat from behind her. He sneered and leaned against the railing. “He thinks he’s so great.”

Acadia scoffed loudly. “You are absolutely ridiculous, Malfoy.” Finally, a book caught her eye, but it wasn’t on the shelf. 'Wanderings with Werewolves'. She removed it from her stack of schoolbooks and flipped through the pages. How hadn’t she noticed this before?! Red hot anger flooded over her all at once as she glanced down at the smiling man. Lockhart was most definitely a hack. A loathsome, lying, insufferable HACK.

“You’re absolutely ridiculous,” Draco repeated in a high-pitch, mocking tone, trying to copy her British-American accent. It snapped her out of her rage, and she almost laughed.

Acadia just peered at him over the book blankly. “You’re just....” She snorted before setting the book down. “...proving my point.” Draco followed shortly behind her as she descended the stairs. Harry, who had managed to get away from the crowd, approached her. “Hey, Har 一 ”

“Bet you loved that, didn’t you, Potter?” Draco asked speaking over her. Acadia sighed wearily and rolled her eyes. “Famous Harry Potter. Can’t even go into a bookshop without making the front page.”

“Leave him alone, he didn’t want all that!”

“Potter, you’ve got yourself a girlfriend!” Malfoy snickered and looked down at her. Ginny turned scarlet before hiding behind Acadia.

“Oh, it’s you, bet you’re surprised to see Harry here, eh?” Ron said offhandedly.

“Not as surprised as I am to see you in a shop, Weasley,” Malfoy smirked. “I suppose your parents will go hungry for a month to pay for all those.” Ron lunged forward. He would’ve walloped the blond if Harry and Acadia hadn’t each grabbed an arm.

“Ron! What are you doing? It’s too crowded in here, let’s go outside.” Mr. Weasley rushed over, twins in tow. Acadia let go of Ron, but Harry’s hand hovered over the ginger’s arm for a moment.

A jiggle from the bell above the door caught everyone’s attention. A tall man with a pale, pointed face loomed over her. Lucius Malfoy. She’d met the man before, not a pleasant experience. He looked down at her like she was something horrid he had stepped on in the street. “Well, well, well — Arthur Weasley.” He placed his hand on Draco’s shoulder and pulled him away from Ron.

“Lucius.”

“Busy time at the Ministry, I hear,” Mr. Malfoy sneered. “All those raids… I hope they’re paying you overtime?” He snatched a book from Ginny’s cauldron and flipped through it. It was tattered and second-hand. “Obviously not. Dear me, what’s the use of being a disgrace to the name of wizard if they don’t even pay you well for it?”

The signature ‘Weasley Red Face’ overtook Mr. Weasley in a matter of seconds. “We have a very different idea of what disgraces the name of wizard, Malfoy,” he said.

“Clearly. The company you keep, Weasley…” His cold grey eyes moved to the Grangers, but, to no surprise, soon moved to her. “And I thought your family could sink no lower — ”

Arthur lunged forward, similar to his son, and tackled the older Malfoy. They threw punches and hollered until Hagrid came to pull them apart. “Break it up, there, gents, break it up — ”

Malfoy broke away from the giant's grip like an insolent child and flung the book back into Ginny’s cauldron. “Here, girl — take your book — it’s the best your father can give you — ” Acadia glared at their backs as the hurried from the store and down the street. 
 
Their last meal before going back to Hogwarts was magnificent. Acadia ate happily as they laughed and shared stories. Mr. Weasley constantly asking about muggle things, and the twins shooting off fireworks every few minutes.

In the morning they all squeezed into the car, with the help of magic, and left for King’s Cross. Acadia rolled her trolley along Ron and Harry’s, her nimbus on top of her trunk. They watched as each of the Weasley passed through the barrier without a problem.

When it was Acadia’s turn, she lined-up with the barrier and walked right through it. She weaved her way through the crowd towards the luggage car, looking out for Hermione along the way.

Once spotting the bushy-haired girl, she hurried through the crowd. “Where are the boys?”

Acadia paused in her stride. “I haven’t seen you in two weeks and the first thing you ask me is ‘Where are the boys?’” Acadia glowered jokingly, but she looked around. “I don’t know, though. They’re probably already on the train.”

By the time Acadia and Hermione made it to a compartment, the train had already started on its course. “Where are they?” Hermione said with a worried frown.

“Don’t know,” Acadia sighed as she stood, “stay here in case they coming looking for us.” The door slid open with an annoying squeak and she stepped out. After choosing a random direction, she strode down the long corridor.

The pudgy boy she had been searching for, jumped as she flung his compartment door open. “W-what?” he squeaked.

“Have you seen Harry or Ron?”

“N-n-no.”

Acadia’s features softened. “Sorry that I scared you,” she said before turning back to the hall. Dean and Seamus were laughing as they walked towards the ginger. Dean had sprouted up over the summer, standing a few inches taller than Seamus and Acadia. “Have either of you seen Harry or Ron?”

“No,” Dean reported, “yeh seen Neville?” Acadia nodded towards the compartment she’d just exited before carrying on.

She visited each of the other Weasleys, Oliver, and a few students she knew from other houses before moving back to her and Hermione’s compartment. A small part of her expected to see them there, but no luck. “Find ‘em?” Hermione asked. Acadia shook her head and leaned back in her seat. Where ever they were, she'd kill them for making her fret.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Acadia was officially anxious once they had reached the train station. There was no sign of either Harry or Ron. As soon as her shoes hit the stone platform of the Hogsmeade station, she jumped up to stand on a wooden bench.

“We should tell someone,” Hermione fretted. Acadia glanced down at her friend, but quickly returned to scanning the heads of fellow students. “One of the professors could help 一 ”

“They could also get expelled, ‘Mione. Telling a professor should be a last resort...”

“Perhaps, but 一 ”

“What in Salazar’s name are

you

doing?” A shrill laugh erupted from behind the pair. Pansy Parkinson and her group of Slytherin girls each had their hands over there mouths to hold in their giggles. “You’re like a deranged animal!

Civilized

human beings don’t jump on the furniture, Poochie,” she mocked.

Acadia scowled as she jumped from the bench. There’s no way Pansy would know about her lycanthropy, but it irked her none-the-less. Acadia had a few inches on Pansy, so she loomed over the Slytherin girl in a menacing manner. “Don’t know who you’re calling Poochie,

Pug-face

,” she seethed.

Hermione pulled the taller girl’s arm as the Slytherin stumbled back. “Let’s just go,” the brunette sighed.

“

She’s practically feral!

” She heard one of the girls whisper to another. 
 
The Start-of-Term Feast went as smooth as ever. Ginny was, unsurprisingly, placed into Gryffindor along with a skinny, muggle-born boy named Colin Creevey. Hermione and Acadia walked slowly to the common room, looking out for Harry and Ron. They turned the corner and there they were… standing right next to the Fat Lady.

Acadia broke out into a sprint and grabbed a fistful of Ron’s shirt. “Where the hell have you two idiots been?! You had us worried sick!” She shouted.

“We’ve heard the most ridiculous rumors—someone said you’d been expelled for crashing a flying car!” Hermione said running up behind them.

“Well, we haven’t been expelled,” Harry shrugged.

Acadia let go of Ron and stepped back to study the two boys in front of her. “So you did fly here? In the car?”

“Well, what else would’ve we flew here in?” Ron crossed his arms. “What’s the new password?”

“It’s ‘wattlebird, but that’s not the point—” Hermione started. The portrait was flung open to reveal the whole of Gryffindor house, clapping and cheering.

Lee Jordan was the first one to speak, Brilliant! Inspired! What an entrance! Flying a car right into the Whomping Willow, people’ll be talking about that one for years—” Acadia cut him off with a threatening look before walking up to bed. 
 
“Mail’s due any minute—I think Gran’s sending a few things I forgot.” Neville said with an embarrassed chuckle.

“Maybe we should just put sticking charms on everything you own so you no longer lose things.” Acadia smirked from behind her goblet of milk. Neville gulped and shook his head.

Errol, in his signature fashion, crash landed right into Acadia’s eggs. “Why does everything ruin my food…” She sighed and picked up the bird before dropping it in Ron’s lap.

“Oh no 一 ” Acadia leaned over his shoulder to see the letter in his hands. A howler. Not just any howler, but a howler from

Mrs. Weasley

.

“What’s the matter?” Harry asked, lifting up in his seat to see across the table.

“She’s—she’s sent me a Howler,” Ron whispered.

“You’d better open it, Ron. It’ll be worse if you don’t. My gran sent me one once, and I ignored it and—” Neville gulped, “it was horrible.”

“He’s right,” Acadia cut in, “better just to get it over with 一 ”

“What’s a Howler?” Harry looked between the three.

“Just cover your ears,” Acadia said to Harry and Hermione, “this is gonna be loud.”

With trembling hands, Ron tore open the letter and the roaring yells of his mother shook the Great Hall. “RONALD BILLIUS WEASLEY! I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU!  STEALING THE CAR, I WOULDN’T HAVE BEEN SURPRISED IF THEY’D EXPELLED YOU, YOU WAIT TILL I GET HOLD OF YOU, I DON’T SUPPOSE YOU STOPPED TO THINK WHAT YOUR FATHER AND I WENT THROUGH WHEN WE SAW IT WAS GONE. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM DUMBLEDORE LAST NIGHT, I THOUGHT YOUR FATHER WOULD DIE OF SHAME, WE DIDN’T BRING YOU UP TO BEHAVE LIKE THIS, YOU AND HARRY COULD BOTH HAVE DIED. I AM ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTED—YOUR FATHER’S FACING AN INQUIRY AT WORK, IT’S ENTIRELY YOUR FAULT AND IF YOU PUT ANOTHER TOE OUT OF LINE WE’LL BRING YOU STRAIGHT BACK HOME.” The absolute silence that followed sent Acadia into a sort of whiplash. Her head spun and there was a dull ache in her temples.

Hermione looked up from her book as if nothing had happened and sighed. “Well, I don’t know what you expected, Ron, but you—”

“Don’t tell me I deserved it,” Ron said with a glare. Acadia lightly patted his back and drug him and Harry off to their first class: Double Herbology with the Hufflepuffs.

The rest of the class were already standing outside the greenhouses when they had walked up. It took a few minutes before Professor Sprout came into view, bandages in her arms. “Hope that doesn’t interfere with me getting into the Shrieking Shack…” Acadia whispered. Harry looked even more guilty than he already did.

A man Acadia hoped to avoid for as long as possible strode in beside the Head of Hufflepuff.

Perfect Gilderoy Lockhart

. She wondered if this was how Draco felt whenever he saw Harry. “Oh, hello there!” he boasted over the heads of the second years. “Just been showing Professor Sprout the right way to doctor a Whomping Willow!” Acadia scoffed and Hermione elbowed her in the side. “But I don’t want you running away with the idea that I’m better at Herbology than she is! I just happen to have met several of these exotic plants on my travels…” He seemed to trail off as soon as his eyes landed on Acadia. Maybe he could read minds...

“Greenhouse three today, chaps!”  Sprout said briefly. She seemed like getting away from Lockhart as soon as she could was her only mission. Acadia fully understood.

“Harry! I’ve been wanting a word—you don’t mind if he’s a couple of minutes late, do you, Professor Sprout?” She frowned and opened her mouth to speak, but Lockhart clapped his hands and shut the greenhouse door before she could even say ‘no’.

Acadia shuffled from foot to foot nervously until Harry walked back in. “What did he want?” She asked once he stood between her and Ron.

“He thinks I have a thirst for fame,” he grumbled before Professor Sprout spoke to the class. “And that flying the car to Hogwarts was for attention一”

“We’ll be repotting Mandrakes today. Now, who can tell me the properties of the Mandrake?”

Hermione was the first to shoot up her hand. Ron rolled his eyes, making Acadia chuckle. “Mandrake, or Mandragora, is a powerful restorative. It is used to return people who have been transfigured or cursed to their original state.”

“Excellent. Ten points to Gryffindor,” Professor Sprout congratulated. “The Mandrake forms an essential part of most antidotes. It is also, however, dangerous. Who can tell me why?”

Acadia held down Hermione’s hand and raised her own. “When Mandrakes are exposed they tend to cry. The cry of a full grown mandrake can be fatal and even a baby mandrake can make someone faint or put them in a coma.”

“Perfect, Miss Kane. Another ten points to Gryffindor. Now, the Mandrakes we have here are still very young.” The professor motioned to the two dozen or so flower pots that sat on the table behind her. A baby mandrake securely planted in each. “As our Mandrakes are only seedlings, their cries won’t kill yet. However, they will knock you out for several hours, and as I’m sure none of you want to miss your first day back, make sure your earmuffs are securely in place while you work. I will attract your attention when it is time to pack up.” Once the students had earmuffs, they each took one pot and made their way to a part of the long tables in the middle.

Acadia stood next to a boy in Hufflepuff. “J-Justin Finch-Fletchley,” the boy greeted with a shake of the hand. He wasn’t much taller than her with curly, light brown hair. His robes were neat, while Acadia’s were wrinkled and her white blouse was partially unbuttoned so her red tank-top could be seen. “And you’re Acadia Kane, the Gryffindor Seeker.”

She smiled. Quidditch practice had definitely  been on her mind, but it didn’t start until mid-September. “That Lockhart’s something, isn’t he?” He said out of nowhere, effectively snapping her out of her reverie. “Awfully brave chap. Have you read his books?” Her frown set in deeper. “I’d have died of fear if I’d been cornered in a telephone booth by a werewolf, but he stayed cool and—zap—just fantastic. My name was down for Eton, you know. I can’t tell you how glad I am I came here instead. Of course, Mother was slightly disappointed, but since I made her read Lockhart’s books I think she’s begun to see how useful it’ll be to have a fully trained wizard in the family…” She let him ramble. Simply pulling on her earmuffs and looking to Sprout for further instruction.

Acadia yanked the flailing creature out of the tightly packed dirt right as the professor gave the direction. She shoved the mandrake into the larger ceramic, keeping a strong hold on the stems to keep it in place. Repotting mandrakes was something that Acadia had done before with Ophelia. There was an extensive greenhouse in the basement of the shop that held many different kinds of plants and plant-like creatures, mandrakes included. Acadia scooped the new dirt into the larger pot and packed it down like brown sugar in a baking recipe. She finished with her mandrake and helped Neville wrestle his into the pot.

After class, Acadia raced back to Gryffindor tower as fast as she could to shower and change clothes before going to their next class. As much as Acadia liked Professor McGonagall, Transfiguration was always more of a struggle of her than Potions, Defence against the Dark Arts, and even Herbology. It took her a couple of tries to turn a beetle into a button. Hermione’s changed flawlessly on the first try, but Ron ended up brutally killing his with his elbow.

“What’ve we got this afternoon?” Harry asked as they walked down to the Great Hall for lunch.

“Defense Against the Dark Arts,” Hermione said a little too quickly.

“Why? Have you outlined all Lockhart’s lessons in little hearts?” He snatched the paper from her hand. The bushy-haired girl blushed a deep red and grabbed at it, hitting him on the arm.

“N-no, of course not,” she grumbled.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

I obviously haven't updated in a long ass time, BUT FEAR NOT!! I am in love with my character so I will keep writing this. The problem I have is that I'm not exactly happy with how some things are. Reading over some older chapters I notice some things that I either forgot about before publishing the chapter or some things that don't work with plot points I have planned for later in the story. So I'm going to be going through and editing the story (Some parts might have larger rewrites, but I'm not sure yet).Thanks so much for being patient and thank you for all the reads <3