Hey guys, I need a huge favor! Remember that contest I'm writing a book for? Every two weeks, I'm paired against someone new, and whoever gets the most votes on their chapter wins! So... Well... Basically I'm just asking you to go vote on it so I can win. Because that's the kind of amazing person I am! Thanks!

Please forgive me for not having a more interesting answer to last time's question (BLAME ROWLING! SHE ONLY LET US REALLY GET TO KNOW FIVE* RAVENCLAWS, AND ONE WAS HOST TO LORD VOLDEMORT'S DISEMBODIED SOUL!) but the most Ravenclaw-ish Ravenclaw is Luna Lovegood. (Just a suggestion, riddleravenclaw spelled it out really well in her comment on the previous chapter! If I don't convince you, go see her reasoning!) Because, yes, Luna wasn't into academic learning much, but there are many more types of learning that some Ravenclaws (me included) are prone to ignore. She became a Magizoologist, for goodness sake! She loved learning (granted, about strange things). She was polite, and overly honest, and trust me, smart people have a problem with being too honest. She was open-minded, and dreamy, and creative, and I just realized that we're not as dissimilar as I always thought! Wow...

"You're just as sane as I am."

~Luna Lovegood

*Those five Ravenclaws are Luna, Cho, Trelawney, Gilderoy Lockhart, and Quirrell.

By the way, I haven't seen the new Star Wars yet, and I swear, if any of you spoil anything I will punch something. Probably the wall. It will break my hand and I wont be able to write!! So this is a no spoiler zone!

~~~~

We sat at the edge of the cliff for a few minutes. In the silence, it was a little surreal, with the moonlight giving everything a silver tint. I would have believed I was dreaming if I wasn't a little sore from being thrown to the ground twice. Colette looked a little too shaky to stand, which was probably pretty normal for someone who'd almost just fallen to their death.

"I think that went well," Scorpius said finally, obviously trying to lighten the mood. I smiled for his sake, but really, that was probably the easy part of what we were doing tonight.

"We need a plan," Colette said, staring off in the direction Bird Isaac had flown.

"He's probably gone to warn Katreena," I said glumly.

Colette shook her head. "Didn't you see him? He can hardly fly. There's no way he'll be getting to her any time soon. And if he morphed back into human form and tried to get to her on foot, he'd probably get hopelessly lost."

"Or captured by centaurs. Which could very easily happen to us."

"Thanks for that encouraging thought, Scorp," I said, rolling my eyes. "I vote for avoiding centaurs at all costs."

"Can you both fit under that Cloak?" Colette asked suddenly, turning to face me.

I nodded. "Why?"

"How well does it work?" she asked, handing it to me and standing up.

"Better than any other in the world," I said. "Why?"

"I think I might have an idea."

~~~~

"Stop stepping on my heel!" I whispered to Scorpius.

"Sorry! Shh!"

It was pretty tight under the Cloak, and even worse because we had to move fairly quickly to keep up with Colette, who was basically unhindered. All she had to grapple with was the dark, since she was hiding her wand to fool Katreena. I was just praying Scorpius and I didn't trip and ruin everything.

I couldn't tell where Colette was going, but she had claimed there was a path, and I was trusting her. Of course, Scorpius and I were walking along the side of it, so we couldn't see it, anyway. Colette had suggested that, just in case Isaac happened to somehow come along behind us. As it was, Scorpius and I were moving slower than normal, trying to avoid fallen branches and exposed roots of trees.

Every once in a while, Colette would pause and glance over her shoulder. I would make a point of stepping on some dry leaves, or snapping a twig, to give her a general idea of where we were. If I was frightened here, I couldn't imagine what she was feeling like. At least we could see her; to all the world, Colette looked entirely alone.

Once, she paused, and bent over as if she was picking something up.

I risked a whisper. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing," she said, smiling at the trees and acting like she was talking to herself. "Strange. I thought trees didn't talk..."

Scorpius poked me in the back, and we kept walking. Finally, the trees started to thin out. Colette slowed down as she stepped into a clearing, much smaller than the last one. Scorpius and I stepped out into the clearing, being careful not to make a sound.

The first thing I saw was Katreena, idly twirling her wand. She was sitting on a large rock, apparently waiting for Isaac. She frowned when she saw Colette, hopping up and quickly walking over. "What are you doing here?"

"Mr. Predatel sent me," she said, backing up a little. Katreena was a little intimidating when she had her wand pointed at your face. "He's...dealing...with my friends."

Katreena smiled, apparently delighted. "Good. But why did he send you here?"

"Um..." We hadn't discussed that. Colette simply shrugged. "He didn't say. He'll be along soon, though."

Katreena frowned. "Fine." She turned and walked back to the rock, while Scorpius and I slowly started edging around the clearing. It was washed in moonlight, but the far side was dark from the shadow of the trees, and I could barely see anything over there. As we drew nearer, though, I made out three forms slumped against a tree.

Scorpius saw them, too, and we hurried as quickly and silently as we could around the edge of the clearing. Colette was talking loudly, trying to distract Katreena's attention from anything we might be doing.

When we reached the tree, we found James, Al, and Rose gagged and bound, with a rope tied around the tree keeping them in place. Rose and Al were either asleep or unconscious, but James was awake, and glaring at Katreena and Colette. I could only barely hear what Colette was saying from here. To James, it probably looked like our original theory had been right.

I glanced over my shoulder at Scorpius. Katreena had chosen to sit in the moonlight as opposed to the shadows, which would give us the advantage of not being seen. Slowly, I lifted an edge of the Cloak, revealing Scorpius and myself to James.

His eyes grew wide, but luckily he didn't make a sound. I quickly loosened the gag around his mouth and let it drop.

"How did you-"

"Shh!" Scorpius and I both whispered immediately. I glanced back at Katreena and Colette, but they didn't seem to have heard anything.

"Our wands," James whispered, lowering his voice so even I could barely hear it. "That psychotic woman has our wands."

"That psychotic woman is Katreena Predatel," I breathed.

"We'll untie you once we get your wands," Scorpius whispered. "It'd be too loud for now."

James nodded. "Hurry. I'm getting tired of sitting."

I nodded, then threw the Cloak back over the two of us. We inched our way over to where Colette and Katreena were sitting. Colette was listening as Katreena praised the merits of the Cruciatus Curse.

As we stepped up behind her, Colette gasped. "Wren Predatel... That's where I've heard your name."

Katreena nodded, puzzled. "My daughter? Yes. She was at school with you last year, if you remember."

"I don't think I can forget that," Colette said bitterly. It was hard to believe she hadn't been there herself, and only knew of Wren from the papers.

Katreena shook her head, sighing. "Such a difficult girl..."

"Didn't seem very 'difficult' to me. In fact, I think whatever your plan was, she acted out her part flawlessly." I was surprised at how well Colette was acting as me. That's almost exactly what I would have said, given the circumstances.

"Yes, she did," Katreena admitted. "But since then... Well, you'll see, I suppose."

I knew we needed to get closer, but I couldn't move. Scorpius poked my shoulder a few times, but I felt like my legs had suddenly become stone.

Colette didn't say anything to keep that topic going. Instead, she said, "Why did you have her use the Cruciatus Curse in the first place?"

"Wouldn't you love to know?"

Finally, Scorpius was able to prod me into moving once more. We had to find the wands. We circled the rock, but Katreena must have had the wands hidden in her robe. Perfect.

Suddenly, Scorpius froze behind me, grabbing my arm so I wouldn't move either. I directed my attention back to the conversation of Colette and Katreena, which had taken a wildly bad turn, it seemed.

"Isaac should be along by now," Katreena was saying, the suspicion evident in her voice.

"I suppose Scorpius must be giving him a real fight," Colette mused. I could see her tense the slightest bit as she spoke, though.

Katreena must have seen it, too. "You lied."

"What?" To her credit, Colette looked completely confused, not guilty.

Suddenly, Katreena smiled sweetly. "My dear, what happened to Isaac?"

"What are you talking about?"

As quick as lighting, Katreena's had shot out and grabbed Colette's wand from her inner pocket in her robe. Colette froze, eyes wide. All pretense fled immediately. The game was up, and we all knew it.

I glanced back at Scorpius, and he nodded. "On three," I breathed, barely a whisper. I could hear Scorpius counting down behind me. When he got to one, I threw the Cloak off, wand out and pointed at Katreena.

She jumped when Scorpius and I appeared out of thin air. Scorpius kept a hold of the Cloak, but I saw her eyes lock onto it almost immediately.

"I see..." she said slowly. "Where's Isaac?"

"Oh, he flew off someone to nurse his wounds," I said venomously.

Katreena's eyes narrowed, and she pointed her own wand at me. "I'm afraid I can't leave you alive to nurse your own."

"Expelliarmus!" Scorpius shouted. The wand flew out of Katreena's hand, and he picked it up. We all smiled, relieved. That was easy.

Too easy.

Katreena laughed, a bone-chillingly mad laugh. It made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I glanced in confusion at Colette, who was backing away.

"What sort of victory do you think you've won?" she asked, tossing Colette's wand into her right hand. Without speaking, she flung a curse at Scorpius. He ducked onto the ground, then rolled as she fired another at him.

By that time, Colette had picked up Katreena's fallen wand. "Confringo!"

Katreena dodged the fiery explosion, but only barely. She took shelter behind the large rock, then let out another cackle. "You really must learn to cast spells without announcing them!" She threw a curse at Colette, which she dodged.

"Expulso!" I shouted, pointing my wand not at her, but at the rock she was hiding behind.

Everyone screamed as the rock exploded, firing bits of it everywhere. The force knocked all of us off our feet. Once the dust cleared, though, I was disappointed to see Katreena using a charm to shield herself.

I took a second to turn to Scorpius, who had been closer to the explosion than me. He was having difficulty getting to his feet, so I quickly dropped to my knees to help him.

I heard Colette shouting, "Astra! Look out!" I only had time to turn before the curse hit my arm.

It felt like my arm had suddenly started to freeze. It felt like fire, but cold, if that even made sense. My vision started to cloud, and I fought the urge to scream in pain. All I knew was it hurt more than anything else ever had.

It was over in less than a minute. My arm felt like it was thawing, which was a very unpleasant sensation, but welcome since it brought warmth back, and let my blood start flowing again.

Katreena was staring at Colette. "That one is Astra?"

Colette was staring at me in horror. "I'm so sorry-"

"You lied!" Katreena shrieked, turning her full fury on Colette. Scorpius helped me to my feet, but I couldn't move my arm. My wand arm, to boot. Even in the moonlight, it looked an unnatural color.

Colette was doing her best to block the flurry of spells set at her by Katreena, but several hit her, making her cry out in pain. I didn't know what spells the woman was firing, but once I saw cuts appear all over Colette's face, and one lifted her into the air and slammed her down on the ground again. Scorpius ran up behind Katreena and fired a curse, but she managed to block it, and fire a few curses at him, as well. I grabbed my arm and shook it, sending a painful jolt from the shoulder to the fingertips. It felt like a block of ice. I glared at the duel, feeling completely useless.

Two on one might seem unfair. And it definitely was. Scorpius and Colette were no match for Katreena. I forced my freezing fingers to close around my wand, and held my arm up with my other hand. I managed to point at her, then yelled, "Expelliarmus!"

Colette's wand flew out of Katreena's hand, and Colette scrambled to pick it up, shooting me a grateful smile. I'd never tried to use anyone else's wand, but I'd heard it was hard.

Katreena didn't skip a beat before pulling a wand I recognized as Rose's out of her robes. So she had three backups, it seemed. And the only way we would be able to beat her was if we somehow got all three.

My arm was functional, at least, if still hurting, so I joined the fray. It soon became evident, though, that even the three of us together would have a hard time beating Katreena. She'd spent years training, it seemed. The three of us? Not quite two.

Scorpius managed to disarm her again after several minutes mainly spent dodging a hell fire of curses. Colette did it a third time. But by then, we were visibly weary. Katreena looked like the fighting was giving her energy, only increasing the strength of her attack as she went on. However, Colette, Scorpius, and I were growing slower with each curse fired. It was only a matter of time before one of us fell.

Scorpius got hit first. It looked like a stunning spell, since he simply fell to the ground unconscious, but still breathing. Colette and I increased our attacks with new vigor for a few minutes. It was just impossible to hit her, since we had to announce each spell we flung at her, while she cast all hers silently. I didn't dare take the time to try nonverbal magic. It normally took me several minutes. Several minutes that I didn't have. Several minutes that would easily get me killed.

The situation was pretty grim. I didn't have much time to think, which was good. If I had, probably would have given in to despair. Katreena was too good.

Suddenly, I saw Colette get hit and crumple to the ground. Another stunning spell. I felt myself breathe a sigh of relief. I wouldn't put it past Katreena to throw killing curses at us.

A moment later, that relief turned to dread as she wheeled about and turned on me.

I took a few steps back as approached me. "You can still come quietly," Katreena said, in a very calm voice that didn't match her disheveled appearance. "We don't want to hurt you, Astra."

In answer, I cast a spell at her. She easily blocked it, still advancing.

"If you don't come of your own accord, it will be much worse."

I cast another spell, and it hit one she was firing at me in midair, causing an explosion that threw both of us backwards. Katreena got up before I did, and slowly walked up to me. Once she was standing over me, she pointed her wand at my head. "Did you like that freezing spell earlier? It's one of my personal favorites. Very good for getting people to do what you want."

Before I could answer, a burst of light came out of her wand and swallowed my vision. The next thing I knew was pain. It felt like I was freezing, which felt like I was burning, except the fire was cold. Too cold. I clamped my mouth closed so I wouldn't give Katreena the satisfaction of hearing me scream.

Pain...

Endless pain...

Suddenly, it was replaced by the thawing sensation from before. It hurt almost as much as the freezing itself. I couldn't move, but my eyes were open. I was staring up into Katreena's smile.

"Are you ready to be a good girl now?"

With a great deal of effort, I managed to spit in her face.

Katreena reeled back in disgust. "You and my daughter are more alike than you know."

She probably meant that as an insult, and she probably expected me to be horrified at the thought of being like Wren. Earlier this year, I might have been. But she had just confirmed what I'd already suspected from my dreams. Wren was fighting back. And if she could stand this, and worse tortures, and not even tell them who I was, then I could stand it, too.

Before I could think about that anymore, I was suddenly being frozen again. This time I couldn't stop myself from crying out in pain. Who knew there were spells to turn you into a human icicle?

It was never going to end. I felt tears forcing themselves out of my eyes, only to freeze on my face. I couldn't see anything at all, even though my eyes were open. Just white. The only sounds I could hear were my own shrieks of pain.

Suddenly, it was gone once more. There were still yells, though, but I was almost sure I wasn't making them. I couldn't turn my head to see what was going on, though. I concentrated on the sounds.

Yells. Not words, just yelling. I felt myself drifting away. Maybe I had hypothermia, and this was how I was going to die. I was strangely content with that. At least it would stop the pain. My only regret was that James, Rose, and Albus were still here...

Suddenly, there was someone bending over me, muttering something. As his wand moved over me, I suddenly started to feel normal, if a bit sore. When the thawing had completely ceased, I felt an arm helping me sit up.

"Are you all right?" a familiar voice asked. I turned to see my savior.

I was staring right into the face of the headmaster.

Startled, I scrambled backwards. I'd just started to think he wasn't a part of this, that he wouldn't show up. It seemed I'd been wrong, yet again. However, his face immediately clouded with concern. "Astra, it's all right."

I glanced over my shoulder, expecting to see Katreena smirking at me in triumph. Instead, I saw her struggling to free herself. From ropes and a gag. He tied her up.

I turned back to Pouri in shock. He still looked concerned. I unsteadily pulled myself to my feet. Pouri nodded and stood up as well as I glanced around. Scorpius's unconscious form was a few yards away, so I stumbled to him, dropping to my knees at his side. My legs were barely able to support me.

His eyes fluttered open as I sank down in the cool grass. Slowly, I helped him sit up. We both glanced across the clearing, where Pouri was waving his wand over Colette. After a second, Scorpius stood up, and we slowly made our way over to the two of them.

My legs gave out as we reached Colette, and Scorpius had to throw out an arm to catch me, to stop me from falling. Slowly, he let me down gently on the grass, so I was seated beside Colette.

Pouri was muttering some sort of charm, trying to wake her up, I supposed. Colette's eyes opened as he spoke, and she sat up almost immediately, fumbling around for her wand. When she noticed us all gathered around her, though, she relaxed.

"Not quite the rescue party I would have envisioned, Ms. Lewis," Pouri said finally, sounding amused.

I shrugged. "Why are you out here?" I asked, still suspicious.

"I found the note you so kindly dropped. Of course, I knew it must have been you and a few of your friends. Anyone else would have gone straight for our resident auror."

I felt my cheeks getting hotter, and hoped the dim light would hide the blush. How did he know I'd do that?

"So, I simply followed. Finally found the three of you, and it's lucky I came when I did."

Colette and Scorpius sent me questioning glances, but I ignored them. "How did you beat her so quickly?"

"The element of surprise can work wonders, Ms. Lewis. Speaking of which, I must say, I'm surprised at your choice of accomplices."

Scorpius and I looked at Colette. "I'm surprised, too," I admitted.

"Let's go get the others and get out here," Scorpius suggested. "Please."

Pouri smiled. "Yes, of course. Lead the way, Mr. Malfoy."

We followed as Scorpius led us to James, Rose, and Albus. Colette had to help me as we walked, stooping down so I could put my arm over her shoulders. Freezing really drains your energy.

"Took you long enough!" James called as we walked up. In a matter of seconds, Pouri had severed the ropes, letting James, Albus, and Rose free. The other two had awoken, probably from all the commotion, and as soon as they could, they leaped to their feet. Albus and James almost knocked me over as they both hugged me.

"I'm so sorry," I said, suddenly very close to tears. Normally, I would try to stop them from falling, but I really didn't care right now. I let it all out. "I'm so sorry for everything."

"It's okay," Albus said, laughing. "Thanks for rescuing us."

"Even if you had to use her to do it," James said.

I looked over my shoulder at Colette, who was staring at the ground. I didn't have time or energy to explain everything that had happened, not right then. I simply shook my head. "I'll explain later."

Rose and Scorpius were hugging and laughing and crying. It was really cute. After a minute, though, Rose disentangled herself and came over to me.

"Rose, I'm s-"

"No, it's fine," she said, smiling. She hugged me. "Thank you."

"Are we ready?" Pouri asked. James must have seen the whole fight, because he nodded, grinning at the headmaster. It seemed we really had been wrong about him.

Pouri made Katreena stand up, then forced her along in front of him. She glared at all of us as she passed, but Pouri led her to the front of the procession, keeping her in his sight and us out of harm's way.

Before we'd gone ten steps, it became apparent I wouldn't be able to make it on my own. I stumbled forward, and would have probably hit the ground hard (because I much too tired to care), but James managed to catch me and help me up. After that, he didn't leave my side, half helping me and half carrying me.

Normally, I would have been on the verge of throwing up from excitement at being this close to James, but I felt nothing. That was probably due to the incredible lack of energy I was facing, but it was strange all the same.

We were at the back of the group,

"What was she doing to you?" James whispered.

I winced at the thought. "It... It felt like she was f-freezing me," I whispered back.

"It looked like she was killing you," James remarked.

"She probably would have if Pouri hadn't shown up. I... Well, I think I almost did d-die." James looked completely horrified, so I decided to drop the subject.

We plodded on in silence for a while, with Colette following closely after Pouri, and the rest of us bunched together just behind them. It wasn't quite as scary walking through the woods now that the immediate danger was gone, and we were all safe. It was still dark, of course, but the darkness didn't seem ominous now. I was just ready to get to the castle and sleep. I focused on that, making that my motivation to keep walking, even though every step felt impossible. I didn't know it was possible to be this weak, and I hated it.

I was so focused on moving forward, that when a bird landed on Katreena's shoulder, I didn't pay if attention.

Not when it seemed to peck at her ropes.

Not when it pulled her gag away with its beak.

"Professor, he's an animagus!" Colette yelled suddenly, noticing the bird.

Pouri seemed to notice the bird for the first time, and connected the dots rather quickly, which was good. He shot a spell at the bird, which simply flapped away. I was momentarily pleased to see that its wing was still bent at an awkward angle.

Unfortunately, it had done its work. Katreena's bonds fell off her, and she wasted no time in taking off into the dark, eerie forest, off the path. The bird flapped after her, and all chaos broke loose on the path.

"Who's an animagus?" Rose was asking. Scorpius and Colette were both trying to take off into the woods after the Predatels, but Pouri stopped them. James was simply yelling for someone to tell him what was going on.

Pouri lifted his wand, and a loud bang like a gunshot rang out. We were all silent immediately. "Quiet!" he said, even though we were already silent. "The last thing we need is the centaurs finding us. Those two won't get far."

But I knew better. They had slipped away, gone for good. The best chance we had had at finding Wren had just disappeared into the forest. If I had been able to walk on my own, I probably would have run after them myself.

Before we could do anything, though, what sounded like a dozen far away drums drifted to my ears. As it got louder, I recognized the sound of hoofbeats.

The centaurs had found us, it seemed.

~~~~

Tried to be more detailed than normal in this chapter. Did you like the change, or no? (Did you notice the change? Cause if not, wow, am I ever self-deluded, thinking I'm doing all right)

Question of the day: Now I've actually got to think about these? Great. Why did you fall in love with Harry Potter? (Because I'm sure you did, if you've read almost two whole spinoff fanfics about his kids, and are willing to stick around for five more)

Vote and comment and TWO MORE CHAPTERS!

~Ellie