"Alright!" I say loudly causing the line of people in front of me to shut up. Finally, I had everything set for our Quidditch team tryouts. So the kids around me all were trying out as a rookie or trying to reclaim their old spot. A whole lot of new kids were here seeing as they knew that since I took over they actually had a shot. We were at the last bit of tryouts. I already made them fly until they were sick. And sprint around the pitch. Then I had them show me their talent with the individual positions. Were people were weeded out by talent. Finally we were gonna see how they worked together. "We are gonna split up into two teams. So Zabini you're on team A with Malfoy, Cullen, Vaisey, Taylor, Nott, Gardner. The rest on team B."

"Why are we on team B?" Goyle asks. I smirk.

"Because I'm completely sure you're getting cut," I smirk at him, "but I'm required to at least play you once at tryouts." They look to each other as I march off towards the others who now were hovering over the pitch. "Okay, we are going to play a whole game. I will be monitoring your performance. You have to prove yourself for your spot this year! So when I release the snitch you can start." One of the second years brings over the trunk for the balls and marches towards me. I open up the case and pull the snitch from its spot. I look at Draco and smirk at him, before releasing the snitch. "Alright lets go!"

Right off the back team A was crushing team B. Blaise was very good at his position and worked quite well with Vasiey and Nott. While Cullen was a fantastic beater. Taylor was good but we only had one open spot, and she couldn't beat me for it. Draco was working hard on trying to find the snitch with Stoden hadn't seen it yet. He looked lost. Downside was Gardner was an awful keeper. Worse than I've seen in years.

"Alright Emily," I say to her as she walks beside me with her parchment and quill. "Draco's seeker, our chasers are Blaise, Vasiey, and Nott. Beater can be... Cullen. And our keeper- the team B keeper Hexbe."

"Alright," She says scribbling the names and positions down.

"Post that in the locker room," I order before looking up at the team. As Draco catches the snitch we call it and they come back down. I send them off to the locker room as Draco hangs back. "Don't even think about kissing me til you've showered."

"I'm just waiting for the crowd to die down," Draco says as he reaches out for my hand. His fingers lace with mine. I feel his ring against my hand. "It was on my nightstand. Do you know anything about that?"

"I nicked it from a first year," I lie as I tighten my grip around his hand.

"Must of picked it up as they were leaving the train," Draco says.

"Must of," I say to him as I look away quickly. I catch a glance at his raised sleeve to see him quickly yank it down.

"I'm going to go shower love," He says, "I'll see you later." He pecks my cheek before sliding off. What was going on with him?

****

I've never thought studying over the summer would pay off until nonverbal spells had taken over in not only Defense Against The Dark Arts, but now in Charms and Transfiguration too. And since my work with the nonverbal spells over the summer my life was made exponentially easier at learning the rest of the spells. But even with that advantage, NEWT classes were still hard. A lot more work had to be put into these classes.

Luckily Potions went by a little easier with the notes in Harry's book. Apparently it belonged to a guy who called himself the 'Half Blood Prince'. But as I experimented, I learned that he was right. I copied the ones that I believed made sense. The issue is the other things along the margins. Unlisted spells. His own spells.

"That book is dangerous," Hermione says as we sit inside the Gryffindor tower. Obvious glares from leaving first years as they spot the green among my robes.

"Well actually, the book isn't actually dangerous," I say, "now the author- that's another story."

"He's just-"

"Why do you assume it could be a man? The prince could be a woman!" Hermione says sternly.

"How many princes do you know that we're a woman?" Harry asks her. She looks around and sighs in defeat.

"Still, Harry it isn't safe to use any of those spells. I'll poison you if I hear that you used any of those," I snap, "any of you."

"I won't use the spells. I don't know what they do," He says.

"I doubt anyone except the Prince does," Ron says as he shuffles through a deck of cards.

"It's so dramatic, the name," I say to them, "but I guess that's to be expected by a man who seems that passionate."

"Speaking if dramatic, how did your tryouts go?" Harry asks. I smirk.

"Draco and I are the only returning players. Everyone else was replaced," I say.

"That's wow," Ron says, "Snape's gonna get a few nasty letters from some parents."

"But my team will be fantastic," I say to them, "my tryouts were pretty rigorous. I made a couple third years puke."

"How?" Harry asks in disbelief.

"A pretty 12 laps around the pitch," I say as I look down to my essay.

"Flying?" Hermione asks, "that doesn't seem to hard."

"Oh no," I say looking up at them, "we ran. That's a big thing about the kids on my old team. None of them really did anything but fly and look pretty. And some didn't even have that. I wanted to show them that we were working this year. They ran off fairly fast."

"That's hardcore," Ron says.

"A couple tips from your brother actually," I say to Ron, "with a little twist from Oliver. He's trying to recruit me. Or at least get me to go into quidditch professionally."

"You'd do great if you did it," Harry says.

"But wouldn't it make more sense to pick a career that is long term," Hermione says.

"Probably," I shrug, "how did tryouts go for you guys?"

"Ron and Ginny made it again," Harry says. Looking to me. I knew he wasn't going to cut either. Same with Draco and I. It wasn't going to happen. No matter how much we fronted that we wouldn't let them keep a spot no matter what.

"Congratulations," I say to Ron, "now if you'll all excuse me. I should be heading down to Care for Magical Creatures- but you lot should go visit Hagrid. He's not doing to well. And is a little upset with you."

"We hated the class," Ron sighs, "it's nothing personal."

"But he's taking it personal," I say to them, "just visit him. Please."

"We will," Hermione says taking charge. I nod and wave to them.

"I'll see you around."

*****

"This is strange," I say as Ginny, Hermione and I hide back in the corner of the potions room. "He's collected trophies."

"Yeah us," Ginny says scanning the room, "we could leave."

"No that would be rude," Hermione says, "let's just stick this one out."

"Easier said then done," I say as Slughorn starts ushering us around a now set up table. Ginny settles on my left, Hermione on my right. As food gets set out I place my book onto the table. Pushing it slightly towards Hermione. "No half blood prince," I whisper to her, "every book I've seen has nothing on him."

"He isn't big?" Ginny asks.

"More like he isn't really as big of a deal as Harry is making him out to be," I say.

"He's self named," Hermione says, "like Tom Riddle."

"Yeah," I say, "meaning we can't find anything out about him until we get more information- like his real name."

"What are we supposed to ask around?" Ginny asks. Slughorn interrupts us by calling out my name.

"Well we have one of the captains here, right Y/n?" Slughorn asks. I shut the book and look up.

"Yeah," I say to them, "first female captain in a while if not ever for Slytherin."

"How's the team going?" He asks. I look up to Blaise and wink quickly.

"Better than I think we've ever done," I say happily.

"I expect wonderful things from the team," Slughorn says, "maybe I can even bring in some professional team captains. To enjoy a game or two."

"That sounds delightful," I say to him, "but what about you? I suppose your old post is treating you well."

"Very well indeed," Slughorn says, "I've seen great things from you students. So much raw talent from these kids."

"Will prove useful in these times," Blaise slips out. Slughorn looks to him. And I shoot a look at Blaise to get him to shut up.

"How so?" Slughorn asks.

"We'll be more likely to survive... if we're lucky."
****

"What was that about with Zabaini?" Ginny asks as we walk through the halls. The three of us were trying to make sense of everything that had happened at dinner as we head to the prefect bathroom.

"He's a realist. He sees the truth. Not influenced by his emotions," I say, "but he's never been one to put forth an opinion."

"Maybe he's a little overwhelmed?" Hermione offers up.

"No, I chose him to help due to his ability to shut out everything," I say to them, "if he is to get overwhelmed it has to be due to something that hits close to home."

"Like an issue with someone he cares about?" Ginny asks.

"Yeah, but Blaise doesn't care about anyone but himself," I say to them, "his only 'friend' is Draco but even then I've learned they aren't really that close."

"What about you?" Ginny asks.

"Him and I have a similar goal," I say to them, "I reckon Blaise sees the relationship between him and I as a business deal." As the three of us walk inside the prefects bathroom we see Draco rushing out. The actions more than curious.

"What's with him?" Ginny asks.

"I wish I knew.."

****

  "Draco love," I say as I reach him staring out of the astronomy tower. "What's wrong with you lately." He keeps his eyes planted along the horizon as I place a hand on his shoulder. He looks around and sighs.

"My mother isn't doing well in the house alone," Draco says turning to me as I pull my hand away. I move to grab his hand but end up grabbing his wrist by mistake. He yanks his arm away. "You keep looking down at my wrist," Draco sighs as he pulls up his sleeve showing me his bare wrist. "I didn't join them. And I thought you knew me better than this."

"I didn't think you joined them," I say. Not knowing if I was lying or not. "You've been acting odd. I'm just worried."

"I promise if it was anything I'd tell you," he says as he pushes back his hair, "it's just my mother."

"Your mother. Of course," I say to him. I didn't know if I believed him. I knew I wanted to.

"Trust me love. Please trust me," Draco pleads, "I wouldn't do anything to put you in danger."

"Alright," I say to him. I needed to trust him after everything I've pulled without telling him. "I trust you." He pulls me into a hug before planting a kiss on my forehead. I knew I had to trust him. But why does it seem like I'm the only one. He takes my hand as we pull away and leads me back to the common room. We make it back to his room and climb into his bed getting comfortable. But my growing nerves make it harder for me to fall asleep. Normally I could melt asleep in his arms. But something was forcing me awake.

"Love, everything is fine," Draco assured me as he traces shapes along my arm. The action calms me down. And finally I feel my eyes get heavy.

The sky is dark, a green hue radiating from the large skull in the sky. Screaming around me, Hagrid's flame engulfed hut. Bellatrix laughing chaotically. I see blurs of black clothing. A familiar face, The werewolf Grayback. Flashes around me until the scene switches to a falling body, off the astronomy tower. White hair. Blond hair. I start to hear a voice call out my name- but before I can do anything a green flash hits me.

As my eyes flash open my surroundings calm me. Draco's arms tightly around me. Him facing me. I pull my arm up and place my hand on his cheek. "It was just a dream," I mumble, "obviously. Just a dream."

*****

As we sit in potions the next day my mind was so full of my confusing thoughts and theories and everything. That I couldn't keep my focus on anything. Even the thick smell of smoke. My  eyes trial off from the bubbling potions, they reach Theodore Nott's arm as he rests it beside Draco's cauldron. I see the inky black before I feel someone pull me away from the cauldron. I snap from my thoughts to see my potion bubbling over in a nasty black tar like substance. The other Slytherin's at the table pulls theirs over as it melts into the table.

"Oh dear," Slughorn says before he waves his wand over the substance making it disappear. I hadn't noticed all eyes on me until now.

"What happened?" Draco asks me as he steps from behind me to beside me. "You never lose focus. Are you feeling okay?" He reaches up to feel my head and I back up.

"I'm actually not," I say to him then look to Slughorn, "my I leave for the hospital wing?"

"Yes yes," Slughorn says, "of course." I grab my things and rush out. I could still feel the eyes burning into my back as I leave the room. Instead of heading to the hospital wing I head towards Snape's room. If it was someone messing with my thoughts it had to be limited down to the boys in Draco's dorm. Even then Goyle and Crabbe didn't have the brains to do it, and Blaise didn't care enough to do so. The only suspicious one is Theodore. He's the only one smart enough to do it, and with the will to.

But if I went to Snape, could he even do anything without proof. I stop dead track in the hallway and look around. I couldn't tell just anyone, most would find me mad, the ones who didn't would believe the repeating dreams could be credited to stress. And if these dreams were something and I told the wrong person.

"Miss Cultven," I hear someone say. I turn to see McGonagall watching me carefully. "Do you have a reason for being out of class?"

"I-i was," I stutter. My nerves and senses on overdrive. "I'm well."

"Are you Alright dear?" She asks. I back away slightly and nod.

"Yeah I just needed to go to the bathroom," I say, "nothing more."

"Of course," She says. I nod before turning and heading away. What was I supposed to do? What could I do?

The nerves and anxiety around me only grew over the weeks. I was on complete edge. You would of thought a girl who was a spy for a secret order would be able to handle her dreams more. Put something about them felt so real, it made me feel so uneasy. And in fear of doing something stupid. I shut down. Keeping my comments and appearance in anything unnecessary to keep from anything detrimental getting out.

But I wasn't the only one. I could tell Draco was doing the same. And whether it was truly over his mother, or over my withdrawal from everything. I refused to ignore it.

"...and then there was another flash of light and I landed on the bed again!" Ron grins as we walk down to Hogsmade. I had decided to join them seeing as Draco wasn't going due to a career meeting with Snape. Something that he was taking very seriously as of late.

"Was this spell, by any chance, another one from that potion book of yours?" Hermione asks.

"Always jump to the worst conclusion, don't you?" Harry asks.

"Was it?" I ask harshly. The three rather surprised at my participation in the conversation.

"Well... yeah, it was, but so what?" Harry asks.

"So you just decided to try out an unknown, handwritten incantation and see what would happen?" Harry asks.

"Why does it matter if it's handwritten?" Harry asks.

"You don't know what it can do," I say to him, "what were you going to do if that killed Ron? Or set the room on fire? Why can't you ever think of the consequences?!" Harry places a hand on my shoulder and I freeze. Realizing the outburst. "Sorry I'm just-"

"Are you okay?" Hermione asks, "is it something with Draco?"

"It's not Draco," I say as I look around nervously. "It's- it's not to be worried about."

"It is when you jump at the slightest touch," Ron says, "is he hitting you? Hurting you?"

"No Ron, all of you. It's not Draco okay," I say then lower my voice, "it's me. It's my dreams. Just very- I'm just being mad."

"A nightmare?" Harry asks.

"No no it was more real-"

"Like my visions?" Harry asks nervously.

"No no because then I could keep them out of my head, no it's like- I don't even know. Like seeing the future? But I can't see all of it. But each time i see more. Like someone is trying to force me to see it," I say to them, "I'm thinking since I've been sleeping in Draco's room-"

"What?" Ron asks protectively.

"You sleep in Draco's room?" Harry smirks. I nod.

"Him being there helps me sleep better. I haven't been able to sleep alone since everything thing with the ministry. Since the beginning of all of this at the triwizard tournament," I admit to them, "since Mikey's death even. But it doesn't matter. That isn't the point. The point is that. I thought it was Theordore Nott who was cursing me as I slept. But when I stayed in my room. I saw it once again."

"You don't know what it is?" Harry asks.

"No," I say, "I don't even know if it's something real. It couldn't be. I'm probably going mad."

"It's nothing I've ever seen. But your great grandmother was known to hold all these magical abilities," Hermione says. Her idea bringing me some sense.

"Those abilities thought to be lost to the wizarding world. It was said they died with her," I say, "the necromancer of lost Magic."

"Are you saying she inherited the ability to see the future?" Ron asks skeptically.

"No, well kinda," Hermione says, "not like how you're suggesting. A shop here has a book about her on hold for me. I was looking at it to show you after one of Professor Slughorn's dinners. We can make a stop there."

"Thank you," I say to them, "I just need some type of information before I go crazy."

"Think about it," Harry says, "other than helping you as a friend. What if it actually is the future. Like a prophecy or prediction. Our side needs that."

"That's what I was thinking," I say to them, "but I want to rule out any dangers before letting people relay on it."

"I reckon that's a good idea," Ron says as Hermione takes the lead, taking us to the small bookstore. As we walk inside I can see the worn books all around. Something unsettling in the air.

"Dark Magic," I whisper to Harry as I pull him and Ron away from the display of shrunken heads while Hermione walks to the counter. "This place is full of it."

"Why would they have her book here?" Harry asks, "does she have any ties to dark magic."

"She inherited abilities they were interested in," I whisper to them. "Ones dormant in my bloodline for generations, my Aunt and father were killed for the speculation of having such powers." I catch the man at the counter stare back from Hermione to eye me with a slight smirk. I pull the hood up to cover my hair.

"What about you?" Ron asks, "have they gotten to you?"

"Purple hair," I say to him as Harry steps in front of me as he notices the smirk on the shopkeepers face.

"That was from them?" Ron asks quietly.

"Now stop talking about it," Harry whispers back, "I don't trust that man." Hermione walks back clutching the book. Harry ushers me to leave first. As I hope the man didn't put everything together. As we get outside we quickly hurry to the more populated three broomsticks. As we sit down Harry looks to me.

"Why would they want to kill off these powers?" Harry asks.

"They know we won't work with him," I say to them, "so it's easier to kill them off rather than fight against them."

"Is that why you were at the joke shop all summer?" Ron asks.

"That doesn't make sense. Why would you go somewhere so populated?" Hermione asks.

"None of the Death Eaters would bother going in," I say to them, "and with me apparating everywhere they don't see me during travels."

"But you didn't even think you had the powers til now?" Harry asks, "why would they come after you?"

"I carry the blood," I say, "and that's enough to label me as a threat. I guess they saw something at the ministry that interested them while I was fighting. It might have been me constantly saving your asses."

"You're never going to let that down are you?" Ron asks sounding annoyed.

"Nope," I say. Hermione stands up and looms back to us.

"Butter beer?" She asks. We all nod. As she leaves I pull the book towards me.

"What do you reckon they'll do if they do find out you have the powers?" Harry asks.

"Try to recruit me, or try to kill me. But I don't plan on letting them do either," I say, "plus most don't know my face. A quick glamour charm and I can change my hair color for a little bit."

"Or polyjuice?" Ron offers. I look to him and smirk.

"That's actually a good idea," I say to him, "it's been a while since you had one of those."

"Piss off," he huffs. I smile at him then resume the conversation.

"Besides either way I'd only need it when I leave the burrow. Even then I still can apparate everywhere," I say to them as Hermione sits down with for glasses of butterbeer.

"You might want to use it at the joke shop," Hermione says, "you'll be constantly moving so if they are just quickly scanning you'll be fine."

"I'll be fine regardless. Plus us just being near Harry is enough to have us all killed," I say to them as Harry looks up.

"Oh no. It's Slughorn drop it drop it now," Harry says. Slughorn joins us standing behind me. Rather than looking back I watch Harry's reaction.

"Harry, that's three of my little suppers you've missed now!" Slughorn says. "It won't do, m'boy, I'm determined to have you! Miss Granger and Miss Cultven love them, don't you?"

"Yes," Hermione says helplessly, "they're really—"

"So why don't you come along, Harry?" demands Slughorn.

"Well, I've had Quidditch practice, Professor," Harry says. Slughorn places a hand on my shoulder.

"Y/n here has had hers but has managed to make the dinners," Slughorn says. Harry sends me an amused look. Harry had scheduled all of his practices to conflict with the dinners. Taking that option away from me. "Although as of late she's missed the last one."

"I was sick," I say simply. Then he pulls his hand off my shoulder and looks back to Harry.

"Well, I certainly expect you to win your first match after all this hard work!" Slughorn says, "But a little recreation never hurt anybody. Now, how about Monday night, you can't possibly want to practice in this weather..."

"I can't, Professor, I've got—er—an appointment with Professor Dumbledore that evening," Harry says.

"Unlucky again!" cries Slughorn dramatically. "Ah, well... you can't evade me forever, Harry!" He waves before marching off and I look to Harry and laugh.

"I can't believe you've wriggled out of another one," Hermione says, shaking her head. "They're not that bad, you know... They're even quite fun sometimes..."

"But to be fair her, Ginny, and I have been searching for information on the Half Blood Prince," I say to them, "which there is literally nothing."

"And you use a hand written spell from his book!" Hermione starts back up.

"My dad used this spell," Harry says. "I—Lupin told me."

"Maybe your dad did use it, Harry," Hermione says, "but he's not the only one. We've seen a whole bunch of people use it, in case you've forgotten. Dangling people in the air. Making them float along, asleep, helpless."

"That was different," Ron says robustly. "They were abusing it. Harry and his dad were just having a laugh."

"But that's the issue with spells. There has to be things in place if people do start to abuse it," I say, "a counter spell. Potion. Something."

"You Guys don't like the Prince," Ron adds, "because he's better than you two at Potions—"

"It's got nothing to do with that!" Hermione says her cheeks reddening. "I just think it's very irresponsible to start performing spells when you don't even know what they're for, and stop talking about 'the Prince' as if it's his title, I bet it's just a stupid nickname, and it doesn't seem as though he was a very nice person to me!"

"I don't see where you get that from," Harry says heatedly. "If he'd been a budding Death Eater he wouldn't have been boasting about being 'half-blood,' would he?"

"The Death Eaters can't all be pure-blood, there aren't enough pure-blood wizards left," Hermione says stubbornly. "I expect most of them are half-bloods pretending to be pure. It's only Muggle-borns they hate, they'd be quite happy to let you and Ron join up. Ecstatic if Y/n was to join."

"Actually they wouldn't let me join, blood traitor. My father literally was an order spy for them. I'm a spy against them," I say listing the reasons they wouldn't let me join, "I would be seen as a sympathetizer which has me compromised."

"There is no way they'd let me be a Death Eater!" Ron says indignantly, "My whole family are blood traitors! That's as bad as Muggle-borns to Death Eaters!"

"And they'd love to have me," Harry says sarcastically. "We'd be best pals if they didn't keep trying to do me in." Ron and I laugh as Hermione attempts to hold back a smile.

"Just be careful with those spells. It won't be as amusing if you end up killing someone," I say, "and they do take half bloods. But they aren't to keen on it. Has no one seen the wanted posters for the werewolf Grayback. They needed to recruit more." As I flip through the pages of the book it see a divination one. "kaaoksen ennustaminention," I read out, "'translates from Finnish into the prediction of chaos. Only occurs when predicting chaotic events through visions or dreams. Can predict up to a year earlier. But only can predict the event based on a loved one.'"

"That sounds barely useful," Ron scoffs.

"You can predict how your whole family dies a year ahead of it happening," I say to him, "thus being able to stop it. I think it's a little useful."

"It says here the length of the time before prediction is based on 'practice and raw talent'," Hermione says, "meaning it could even be tomorrow for you."

"So loved one, it has to be one or Ginny of us since it's a Hogwarts," Harry says, "and you are close to Neville and Luna. It could also be Draco. Or Hagrid."

"Who did you see?" Ron asks.

"No one I care about," I say.

"Let's start with what you see," Hermione says.

"Well," I say, "I see Hagrid's hut on fire. Fangs yelping- the sky's green. A dark mark. Bellatrix and other death eaters. And lately a person falling off the astronomy tower."

"Who falling off?" Harry asks. I shrug.

"I can never see," I say to them, "it's always very blurry. But like I said before I see more with each dream."

"But waiting is dangerous. By the time we realize it's happening it could be to late," Hermione says, "What about the weather? Is there snow?"

"No no," I say, "it's clear. Grass and flowers. It has to be spring."

"So we have until spring to figure out what's happening in the dream," Harry says, "you have to keep us posted."

"Of course," I say as I push my empty butterbeer glass away. The others had empty glasses as well.

"Let's go," Harry says. We follow him out and as we were walking back the harsh cold wind was becoming unbearable. I had on two of my jumpers, my jacket, and Draco's yet I was still shaking.

"It's nothing to do with you, Leanne!" We bear Katie Bell yell at her friend ahead of us. I look to the others and sigh.

"Girls are so dramatic," I scoff. They fight with each other over a box. And through some quickly movements it lands in the ground with Katie. We stop and look at her. She looks frozen. Dead even. I start to step towards her when she quickly raises into the air. Her arms outstretched and mouth open. She lets out a harsh blood curdling scream never seeming to stop and we rush forward to try to get her down.

"Stay here I'm going for help!" Harry says as he sprints to the school. Katie falls back onto the ground. Thrashing and screaming.

"Katie come on," I say as I pull out my wand. I was clueless on what to do. I look back at the necklace she had. It was cursed. Definitely. But how did she get it. Last I've ever seen of the necklace was at Borgon and Burke's and she never go to a place like that.

"Get back!" Hagrid's loud voice calls, "Lemme see her!"

"Something's happened to her!" Leanne sobs as Hermione and I keep her back. "I don't know what—" Hagrid scoops up Katie's body and looks to us.

"Don't touch the thing except for the wrappings and come on."

———————————-

Little Miss Cultven the whole book tbh

Also sorry it took 73 years for me to update. But hey over 5,000 words to make up for it.