"Ria.. You don't have to come. I'm sure the Professor will understand." said Blaise as the Slytherin trio struggled down their way towards Hagrid's through the snow.

"And what?" Ria huffed in question. "Let the rest of the Slytherins make fun of him? You know, Umbridge is inspecting him today, right? She'll do anything to ruin him."

"Yeah, I know." He rolled his eyes. "But, you aren't obligated to keep them in line. It's not your duty."

Theodore looked at Blaise, raising an eyebrow. "You are telling her that?" He chuckled. "Did you forget she grew up watching superheroes?"

Ria hissed in irritation. "That's not the point." She said. "If I can keep them in line, why shouldn't I?"

Blaise looked at her, lips pursed, and then at Theo. "Yeah, you're right, she grew up watching superheroes."

And Ria rolled her eyes again. "That's got nothing to do with superheroes." She defended herself. "They just.. They just piss me off."

Theodore nodded in agreement. Him and Blaise weren't close with Hagrid or anything, but they just felt bad seeing Ria like that. "Anyway.. What is Professor Hagrid teaching us today?" He asked as they reached closer to where the class was.

Ria shrugged. "No idea." She sighed. "I just hope he has it all under control."

They reached the edge of the forest and immediately joined the Gryffindor trio. Harry's gloomy, tensed face lit up as his eyes fell on her. "Ria.. what're you doing here?" He asked.

"Attending my classes?" answered Ria.

You think a Bludger in the head is bad? You wouldn't want to know the way every inch of me screamed during that outburst at the hospital wing after Cedric had died. It felt like I was being stabbed with nails and being burned at the same time.

"Hey.." Harry said softly, bringing her back from her thoughts. "You shouldn't have come if you didn't feel well." He said, his arm going around her waist, but someone smacked his hand.

"Oww.." He took it back, looking behind him. He saw Theo and Blaise glaring at him. "Really?" He whispered in disbelief.

Ria looked at them too, and they quickly eased their expressions. "Hey, Ri!" they smiled, making her roll her eyes. Once she looked away, they put on their mean faces again.

But this time, Asteria linked her arm with her boyfriend's. Harry gave her best friends a victorious smirk before looking at his front, too.

"I'm fine, Harry." She answered, and her eyes locked on the rogues of Slytherins. "Don't worry about me."

The students, who had come with the intentions of absolutely ruining Hagrid today, had suddenly gone quiet. Honestly, no one had thought she was going to show up right after she had gotten a Bludger to her head..

The High Inquisitor was nowhere to be seen yet, but when Hagrid showed up with a dead half cow on his shoulder, Ria had a questioning look on her face. "Why.. Why does he look like he's wrestled with some trolls?" She asked Harry.

"We're workin' in here today!" Hagrid called happily to the students, jerking his head back at the dark trees behind him. "Bit more sheltered! Anyway, they prefer the dark..."

"What prefers the dark?" Malfoy said sharply to Crabbe and Goyle, a trace of panic in his voice. "What did he say prefers the dark— did you hear?"

Harry opened and closed his mouth like a fish, trying to give Ria an answer without giving away too much since there were students nearby. "Er— you're on the right track.. but a bit off." He answered, his voice low.

"Ready?" said Hagrid happily, looking around at the class. "Right, well, I've bin savin' a trip inter the forest fer yer fifth year. Thought we'd go an' see these creatures in their natural habitat. Now, what we're studyin' today is pretty rare, I reckon I'm probably the on'y person in Britain who's managed ter train 'em—"

"And you're sure they're trained, are you?" said Malfoy, the panic in his voice even more pronounced now. "Only it wouldn't be the first time you'd brought wild stuff to class, would it?"

The Slytherins murmured agreement and a few Gryffindors looked as though they thought Malfoy had a fair point too. Ria couldn't say anything, not until he, or any of them, had done or said anything out of line.

"'Course they're trained," said Hagrid, scowling and hoisting the dead cow a little higher on his shoulder.

"So what happened to your face, then?" demanded Malfoy.

"Mind yer own business!" said Hagrid, angrily. "Now if yeh've finished askin' stupid questions, follow me!" He turned and strode straight into the forest. Nobody seemed much disposed to follow. Ron and Hermione exchanged looks, following him at once as all the class hesitantly followed.

Ria thought for a while, continuing to walk. Then it somehow clicked. She held Harry's hand and slowed down, letting all the other students proceed until they were at the very back of the group. "Giants?" she whispered in horror. Harry nodded. "Why?"

"To persuade them to our side." He whispered back. "Turns out the death-eaters had tried to do the same before us.

"So.. whose side are they on?" asked Ria.

"No idea, yet."

They walked for about ten minutes until they reached a place where the trees stood so close together that it was as dark as twilight, and there was no snow on the ground at all. Hagrid deposited his half a cow with a grunt on the ground, stepped back, and turned to face his class again, most of whom were creeping toward him from tree to tree, peering around nervously as though expecting to be set upon at any moment.

"Gather roun', gather roun'," said Hagrid encouragingly, and Harry and Ria rushed towards the front. "Now, they'll be attracted by the smell o' the meat but I'm goin' ter give 'em a call anyway, 'cause they'll like ter know it's me..."

He turned, shook his shaggy head to get the hair out of his face, and gave an odd, shrieking cry that echoed through the dark trees like the call of some monstrous bird. Nobody laughed; most of them looked too scared to make a sound.

Hagrid gave the shrieking cry again. A minute passed in which the class continued to peer nervously over their shoulders and around trees for a first glimpse of whatever that was coming. And then, as Hagrid prepared himself to give out a cry for the third time, Harry pointed his hand behind a pair of trees.

A pair of blank, white, shining eyes were growing larger through the gloom and a moment later the dragonish face, neck, and then skeletal body of a great, black, winged horse emerged from the darkness. The couple remembered them almost too quickly.

"They're Thestrals!" Someone answered out loud, and Ria looked at Theodore with surprise.

"Correct answer, Nott!" Hagrid said with a huge grin on his face. "Five point ter Slytherin."

A great wave of relief broke over Harry. Here at last was proof that he had not imagined these creatures, that they were real: that Harry and Ria weren't just imagining them.. that Voldemort hadn't tricked the two into seeing stuff.

"Oh, an' here comes another one!" said Hagrid proudly, as a second black horse appeared out of the dark trees, folded its leathery wings closer to its body, and dipped its head to gorge on the meat. "Now... put yer hands up, who can see 'em?"

"Yeah... yeah, I knew you'd be able ter, you two," he said seriously, gesturing towards Harry and Ria. "An' you too, Neville, eh? An'—"

"Excuse me," said Parkinson in a sneering voice, "but where exactly are we supposed to be seeing?"

For an answer, Hagrid pointed at the cow carcass on the ground. The whole class stared at it for a few seconds, then several people gasped and Parvati squealed. For those who couldn't see, bits of flesh stripping themselves away from the bones and vanishing had to look very odd indeed.

"Are— Are those really supposed to be Thestrals?" Parvati asked, her tone terrified.

"Yes!" Hagrid answered. "Hogwarts has got a whole herd of 'em in here. Now, who knows—?"

"But they're really, really unlucky!" interrupted Parvati, looking alarmed. "They're supposed to bring all sorts of horrible misfortune on people who see them. Professor Trelawney told me once—"

"Tha's jus' superstition, that is, they aren' unlucky, they're dead clever an' useful! 'Course, this lot don' get a lot o' work, it's mainly jus' pullin' the school carriages unless Dumbledore's takin' a long journey an' don' want ter Apparate— an' here's another couple, look—"

Two more horses came quietly out of the trees, one of them passing very close to Parvati, who shivered and pressed herself closer to the tree, saying, "I think I felt something. I think it's near me!"

"Don' worry, it won' hurt yeh," said Hagrid patiently. "Righ', now, who can tell me why some o' you can see them an' some can't?"

Hermione raised her hand. "Go on then," said Hagrid, beaming at her.

"The only people who can see thestrals," she said, "are people who have seen death."

Asteria looked at Theodore again. "You've seen—"

"My Mother.. yeah." He said to her, and Ria could do nothing but stare at him for a while before looking ahead again.

"You just.. you never mentioned." She said. To be fair, he rarely talked about his family.

He just shrugged. "It happened a long time ago. Doesn't really matter."

"Tha's exactly right," said Hagrid solemnly, pointing towards Hermione, "five points ter Gryffindor. Now, thestrals—"

"Hem, hem."

Ria rolled her eyes. Professor Umbridge had arrived. She was standing a few feet away from the pair, wearing a green hat and cloak, her clipboard at the ready. Hagrid, who had never heard Umbridge's fake cough before, was gazing in some concern at the closest thestral, evidently under the impression that it had made the sound.

"Hem, hem."

"Oh hello!" Hagrid said, smiling, having located the source of the noise.

"You received the note I sent to your cabin this morning?" said Umbridge, in a loud, slow voice, as though she was addressing somebody both foreign and very slow. "Telling you that I would be inspecting your lesson?"

"Oh yeah," said Hagrid brightly. "Glad yeh found the place all righ'! Well, as you can see— or, I dunno— can you? We're doin' thestrals today—"

"I'm sorry?" said Umbridge loudly, cupping her hand around her ear and frowning. "What did you say?"

Hagrid looked a little confused. "Er— thestrals!" he said loudly. "Big— er— winged horses, yeh know!" He flapped his gigantic arms hopefully.

Professor Umbridge raised her eyebrows at him and muttered as she made a note on her clipboard, "'has... to... resort... to... crude... sign... language...'"

"He said we're doing thestrals today!" Harry answered loudly, which made Umbridge slightly jump in her place. "Oh, sorry.. thought you weren't able to hear properly.. so.."

The woman turned back to Hagrid with a stern look. Asteria nudged Harry with a small, warning smile on her face. He just winked at her before looking back at Hagrid.

"Well... anyway..." said Hagrid, turning back to the class. "Erm... what was I sayin'?"

"'Appears... to... have... poor... short... term... memory...'" muttered Umbridge, loudly enough for everyone to hear her. Pansy looked as though Christmas had come a month early; Hermione, on the other hand, had turned scarlet with suppressed rage.

"Oh yeah," said Hagrid, throwing an uneasy glance at Umbridge's clipboard, but plowing on valiantly. "Yeah, I was gonna tell yeh how come we got a herd. Yeah, so, we started off with a male an' five females. This one," he patted the first horse to have appeared, "name o' Tenebrus, he's my special favorite, firs' one born here in the forest—"

"Are you aware," Umbridge said loudly, interrupting him, "that the Ministry of Magic has classified thestrals as 'dangerous'?" Harry's heart sank like a stone, but Hagrid merely chuckled.

"Thestrals aren' dangerous! All righ, they might take a bite outta you if yeh really annoy them—"

"'Shows... signs... of... pleasure... at... idea... of... violence...'" muttered Umbridge, scribbling on her clipboard again.

"If you annoy them.." Ria spoke, and Umbridge looked up at her. "They might attack you.. if you really annoy them.. Just like any other animal does."

Umbridge stopped her scribbling for a moment. "Excuse me, dear. But as a Magizoologist's daughter.. do you suddenly think you know more than a Professional?" She asked, her tone sweet, but the annoyance behind her eyes amused Asteria.

"Of course not, Professor." Ria gave her a blank smile. "But I do think I know more than someone who does not have common sense."

"If you provoke an animal, it tends to attack. I don't need to be a Magizoologist's daughter to know basic animal nature. In fact, I don't need to be a witch either.. Most humans tend to naturally know that."

Where Hermione, Ron, Theo and Blaise were successfully masking their joy, Harry was having trouble hiding his smile as he looked at Umbridge's face. He leaned closer to Ria, his lips brushing her ear. "That's my girl.." Ria concealed a smile, softly pushing him away.

Umbridge did not answer; she looked up at Hagrid and said, again very loudly and slowly, "Please continue teaching as usual. I am going to walk" — she mimed walking "among the students"— she pointed around at individual members of the class— "and ask them questions." She pointed at her mouth to indicate talking.

Hagrid stared at her, clearly at a complete loss to understand why she was acting as though he did not understand normal English.

Ria gasped silently. "I finally remember what she reminded me of.. Clowns!" It wasn't that funny, but the suddenness of the comment made the group accidentally laughed out loud. Though they silenced themselves before Umbridge could figure out where the voice came from. And thanks to Ria's earthquake in the Slytherin common room, no one else sold them out either.

"Erm... anyway," said Hagrid, clearly struggling to regain the flow of his lesson, "so— thestrals. Yeah. Well, there's loads o' good stuff abou' them.."

"Do you find," said Professor Umbridge in a ringing voice to Pansy Parkinson, "that you are able to understand Professor Hagrid when he talks?"

"No... because..." A clearing of throat took her attention. Ria smirked at her, raising an eyebrow. She'd be damned if she let anyone ruin Hagrid's lesson today. "well— well.. Not these days.. Like.. it's" Pansy nervously looked back and forth between Umbridge and Asteria. "It's cold.. now-a-days?"

Umbridge looked up from her clipboard, confused. "Yeah! Cold really does.. stuff your ears, doesn't it? I— I can't really hear.. pretty much anything during winters." And behind Umbridge's confused face, Ria smiled in content, assuring Pansy that she was safe for the while.

"Er... yeah... good stuff abou' thestrals. Well, once they're tamed, like this lot, yeh'll never be lost again. 'Mazin' senses o' direction, jus' tell 'em where yeh want ter go!" Hagrid continued, seeming a bit relaxed.

One of them walked towards Asteria, and began smelling her hand. "Now.. those o' yeh who can't see 'em.. One o' 'em is smelling Asteria's 'and." Hagrid described. "They do 'at, when they're curious."

Umbridge ignored that and walked towards Neville. "You can see the thestrals, Longbottom, can you?" she said. Neville nodded. "Whom did you see die?" she asked, her tone indifferent.

"My... my grandad," said Neville.

"And what do you think of them?" she said, waving her stubby hand at the horses, who by now had stripped a great deal of the carcass down to bone.

"Erm," said Neville nervously, with a glance at Hagrid. "Well, they're... er... okay..."

"'Students... are... too... intimidated... to... admit... they... are... frightened...'" muttered Umbridge, making another note on her clipboard. She had finally got something negative to say about his class.

"No!" said Neville, looking upset, "no, I'm not scared of them— !"

"It's quite all right," said Umbridge, patting Neville on the shoulder with what she evidently intended to be an understanding smile.

"Well, Hagrid—"

"Oh— 'er name is Nessa. Looks like she'd gettin' warmed up ter yeh, Ria!" Hagrid continued, ignoring Umbridge. Much to everyone's surprise, Ria nodded. She gently raised her hand in front of Nessa. And the Thestral went along with her, softly resting her head against her palm.

Theodore gasped. "What? Is something wrong?" Umbridge asked hopefully.

He shook his head. "No. Actually, the thestral.. it allowed Asteria to pet her. And— wow— she's closed her eyes, which is in animals, most of the times, a sign of trust—"

"Alright! Alright." Umbridge interrupted him, annoyed. "That's enough."

"Aren't you..?" Neville started, his voice quiet. "Aren't you going to write that down?"

Umbridge suppressed her irritation and hesitantly nodded, with a smile. "Yes.. Yes. Of course, I am.." she said, practically crushing the quill in her hand as she walked towards Hagrid to tell him that the result of the inspection would be given ten days later.

Ria looked back at her group. "Well.. do you want to?" She asked, and they hesitantly stepped forward. And as she guided them, as they got a little bit easy towards those invisible creatures, Hagrid couldn't help but grin widely.

Harry sighed, looking at Asteria as her eyes lit up while explaining how the thestrals looked like, to their friends.

Lord, that was happening almost every day. That one moment he would catch Asteria smiling, enlightening everyone around her.. just glowing like the Sun.. it felt overwhelming.

Ria looked back at Harry, just to see him looking at her like she was a miracle. She chuckled and snapped her fingers in front of his eyes, making him snap out of his daydreaming.

"Pay attention, Potter. There's a class going on." she squinted her eyes playfully, and that just made his heart race.

Godric, pull yourself together! He said to himself.

Harry walked towards her until he was behind her. "Trust me, Edwards.." It wasn't even a whisper. It was a quiet answer that only Ria could hear. "I'm giving my everything."

And Asteria just couldn't stop smiling for the rest of the class.

After such a pleasant day of failing Umbridge and another successful DA meeting, Ria had given in to her tiredness instead of her plan to sneak into the library. She wanted to know if she could find other books about Enchantresses there, even if the chances were minimal to zero.

She was sleeping in her dorm peacefully until her mind clouded. Until her mind plunged her into complete darkness, surrounded by the dense fog that felt too familiar.

She turned in her bed, pulling her knees closer to her chest, as if she was a small child. She jerked her head quickly, feeling a terrible ache grow.

Ria focused hard to part the cloud of fog in front of her. Her head was begging for her to stop, feeling like it would crack open at any given moment, but she couldn't. Once she began to succumb into her visions, she couldn't stop even if she wanted to.

The fog parted, and she saw a dark corridor in front of her. There was something eerie about it that made the hair on the back of her neck stand, or was it just because of the cool tone of colours that the tiles had?

Something slimy brushed against her ankle, and she jumped in fear. Her eyes went wide in fear.

The same gigantic snake that she saw last year.. the one that attacked that old man in her dreams.. was slithering past her. She was frozen in fear in her place. She knew she was falling into the same dark pit all over again.

Faint footsteps fell on her ear, and the snake slither around the corner. Ria's breath hitched. No.. She couldn't let it take another life.

With all the courage she could muster, she followed the reptile. A man was pacing in the corridor, in front of a silverish door. The snake crawled closer and closer towards the man, and as he turned around, it attacked.

Asteria screamed in terror.

In her dorm, Ria was sitting up with her hands covering her ears. Her eyes were closed shut as she kicked her feet in bed frantically and cried like a scared child.

"Ria! Asteria, wake up!" Daphne tried to shake her awake. She was scared in the midst of the earthquake she was causing, no doubt, but for it to stop, Ria had to be calmed down.

The girl was sobbing by the time she was awake, and Daphne was trying to comfort her while the other two girls watched her with fright. "I'm sorry.. I'm sorry.. I'm so sorry.." she cried out apologies.

"Hey.. hey.." Daphne said, rubbing her back. "What happened? Do you need something?"

Ria took in a shaky breath in an attempt to calm herself. She wiped her tears away, while the earthquake slowly calmed down too. "I'm sorry.." She said, trying to get out of bed but she stumbled slightly. "I'm sorry.. I— I need to go.. I'm sorry.."

Asteria didn't bother to wear something that could shield her from the cold air. She just took off towards the nearest Professor's office in a thin, black t-shirt and plaid sweatpants as her body shivered violently, both with fear and cold.

She cursed mentally when she didn't find Snape in his office, and continued walking in hopes of finding him, or McGonagall or Dumbledore.

Though she bumped into someone she didn't wish to see. She stared at the face for a moment before continuing on her way. "Hey.. Hey!" He called out, but she kept ignoring and walking away.

"What— what are you doing here?" He asked, and she ignored once again. "Edwards, I asked you something.. Is everything okay?"

"That's none of your damn business, Malfoy.." she muttered.

"Listen.. Listen.." He tried to convince her. "If something is wrong.. I could help."

"I don't want your help, Malfoy!" She exclaimed, not bothering to stop. "Just leave me alone and—"

"What do you think you are doing here, this late, Miss. Edwards?"

Oh lord, not now.. Please, not now. She prayed, slowly turning around to face her.

"Mr. Malfoy.." said Umbridge, "I hope you were about to report her sneaking out to me." Malfoy gave her a half nod. "Great. You can leave."

"But, Professor—"

"I will handle it from here, Mr. Malfoy." She said, grabbing Ria's forearm, and Malfoy nodded, walking away.

"Now, you.." Umbridge smiled at Ria. "You come with me." She began dragging her to her office as the girl tried to keep calm.

"Professor.. You need to listen to me." Ria started. "Ple... Please?" She asked with much dismay. "Please.. This is really important. Someone's life is at stake, please."

Umbridge just smiled as they reached the DADA classroom. "Should've thought of that before ruining today's inspection, dear.." Her grip tightened, becoming more harsh. "I am not going to let anyone stand in my path of my goal again.. Especially not someone like you."

Asteria stared at her, disgust and anger bubbling inside her. "Jeez! This isn't about you! This isn't about me either! How do you not get it? Someone could lose their life!"

Umbridge chuckled, stopping in her tracks. "Did you really think people like you save lives?"

Ria rolled her eyes desperately. "I don't care, just let me go! You can come with me if you want— Just—" her eyes teared up, "Just let me save him." She begged.

Umbridge had a sinister smile growing on her face.

"I lost my— my brother like this. If I fail again.." Ria had tears streaming down her face. "I would never be able to forgive myself.. Please, let me save him.. Please."

"Professor." The familiar voice gave Ria hope again.

"Severus." said Umbridge, her smile faltering slightly. "What are you doing here?" His eyes moved between her face and the grip she had on his goddaughter.

"Headmaster sent me here," he said, walking towards the two and quickly took Umbridge's hand off Ria before distancing himself from them again. "For Miss. Edwards. She's needed in his office." He answered, and then looked at Ria.

"You can't take her." Umbridge instructed strictly. "Right now, she is needed here. I have crucial matters to discuss with her."

"The Headmaster insists, Madam." said Snape, getting irritated but not showing it on his face. "It's important."

"Is it?" Umbridge chuckled. "Well, then tell me what it is and—"

"Oh, Salazar.. woman!" Ria bellowed. "What do you think I've been screaming at you for the past minute?!"

"Miss. Edwards!" Umbridge exclaimed. "This behaviour will not be tolerated—" She gasped as a palm collided with her cheek, so hard that it almost threw her to a side.

"Shut up!" Ria yelled, walking towards Severus.

"You won't just walk away with this—"

"Stupefy!"

Severus stared at the unconscious Umbridge lying on the floor, and then at Ria.

Asteria muttered curses under her breath, walking towards her. "Fucking—" She stomped on her face, leaving a bloody nose.

Ria then pointed the wand at her. "Episkey." The nose was healed.

"Bitch!" She stomped on her face again, this time hearing a crack.

Ria looked at Snape, heaving, as he stared at her in shock. "What? She deserved it."

"I don't remember you carrying your wand.." Severus muttered as she walked towards him again.

Ria nodded, continuing to walk away. "Yeah.. It's yours." She tossed him his wand. "Got it from your pocket." she said just as he began searching the pockets of his robe.

"Do you think she won't remember this when she wakes up?" Severus asked. "She will do anything to make sure she makes you regret."

"Well then, Sev, you better make sure to alter her memories.." She said, exiting the classroom. "Or else Mum's gonna blame you when I get expelled."

She stopped instantly, watching the ghost of the Poltergeist sniggering with his hands on his mouth. "Peeves.." Ria said, taking his attention. She then lifted her hand to her mouth and mimicked zipping her lips.

Peeves slammed his hand to his forehead, saluting her. "Aye, aye! Captain Eddy!"

And Ria continued her way towards Minerva's office.

"Are you sure that's what you saw?" asked McGonagall, and Ria nodded frantically. All that feeling of satisfaction she had felt after kicking Umbridge in the face was dissolving back into pure panic.

"I'm sure.. I'm a hundred percent sure, it was Mr. Weasley! He was being attacked by a big snake! And that snake has killed before. I know it, I saw it!" She answered, looking desperately at Minerva and Dumbledore.

"And I'm— I'm not taking your bullshit, this time! Do you hear me?" Asteria warned Dumbledore. "If anything happens to Mr. Weasley.. Anything, then—"

"I believe you." said Dumbledore, and it took Ria by slight surprise. He looked at one of the old portraits hanging near the ceiling. "Everard?" he said. "Dilys?"

A sallow-faced wizard with short, black bangs and an elderly witch with long silver ringlets in the frame beside him, both of whom seemed to have been in the deepest of sleeps, opened their eyes immediately. "Have you been listening?" said Dumbledore.

The wizard nodded, the witch said, "Naturally."

Dumbledore looked at Ria. "How long do we have?"

Ria reddened eyes closed in despair as she tried to think and put the pieces together. "It could.. It could start any minute now.. or may have started.." she said, her voice getting heavier with the lump in her throat.

"We'll have to act quick, then. The man has red hair and glasses," said Dumbledore. "Everard, you will need to raise the alarm, make sure he is alarmed.. or that he is found by the right people."

Both nodded and moved sideways out of their frames, but instead of emerging in neighbouring pictures as usual, neither reappeared; the frames were empty of their figures..

"Everard and Dilys were two of Hogwarts's most celebrated Heads," Dumbledore said. "Their renown is such that both have portraits hanging in other important Wizarding institutions. As they are free to move between their own portraits, they can tell us what may be happening elsewhere.."

Asteria left a tensed breath and leaned back in the chair. She hid her face in her palms. She felt like she could cry in relief. But then, a thought randomly popped into her mind. It wasn't a thought.. It was a name.

"Harry." She breathed out.

"What?" McGonagall asked. "What about Potter? Did you see him too? Is he hurt?"

"No.. No." Ria croaked out. "I— I don't know why.. I just— I can't really explain it—"

Minerva placed a hand on her shoulder, silencing her. "I will get him."

Ria sighed in relief and nodded as she left the office to get him. Dumbledore began pacing behind his chair, momentarily sweeping around his Phoenix; Fawkes, that peered at Asteria curiously once in a while.

After a while, he looked at Ria. "Water?"

Ria shook her head, focusing more on her breathing. "No, thank you."

Dumbledore nodded and stopped right behind his chair. He sighed, looking at Asteria. "I truly am sorry." She looked up at him in question. "For what happened to Mr. Diggory."

Despite being a bit surprised, Ria nodded, accepting the apology but not really forgiving him.

"Are you sure what you saw tonight was a vision?" Dumbledore asked. "And not something Carrow had possibly made up."

Ria nodded quickly. "Yeah, I'm sure."

The headmaster looked at her curiously. "How?"

"I.. I don't know.." She drifted off. "It just.." Ria took a huge gulp of air. "It feels like the Seer part of me is much more capable of herself.. than I am of myself."

Dumbledore's expression did not falter. "I do not understand."

"I don't know how.." answered Ria. "I don't know how, but it seems like Carrow can't control the Seer in me."

"Like.. yes! Carrow can stop me from seeing and comprehending my visions.. They can pull me back from being even an inch close to actually seeing the vision. But they can't stop the visions from occurring to me."

"Can you perhaps.. elaborate?"

Ria stayed silent for a while, before something told him to show a little faith in him. "In my visions.. I am always.. kind of trapped in a foggy room. Whenever I see that fog, I know I am having a vision.. And Carrow can't stop this from occurring." Dumbledore nodded.

"But.. Whether I go beyond the fog and see what the actual vision is about.. it's my choice." She explained. "I can either stay in that fog-filled room for the rest of my dream.. or I can part the fog and see the future."

"And Carrow can control that choice of yours." asked Dumbledore, and Ria frantically nodded.

"Yes.. But my visions aren't the only thing they can't control." She said, and he gestured her to proceed. "I have this.. this intuition.. this gut feeling that is always— always right. I think I have that intuition because I am a Seer. They can't control that.. they can't stop the feeling from warning me.. But—"

"But they can control your choice to act upon that feeling?" Dumbledore completed, and Ria nodded.

Albus began pacing again, and after a while, he looked at Asteria again. "How often do you get this.. this gut feeling?"

Ria shrugged. "Almost every day? But when something bad is about to happen— it's— it's like an alarm blaring in my ears."

"When was the last time you listened to you intui—"

"Right now.." Ria interrupted, and he gave her an intrigued look. "When I told you about my visions and my intuition."

Dumbledore sighed, before sitting in his chair. "Asteria.. Why are you telling me this?" He asked, his gaze locked on her face for any sign of abnormality.

"Because my gut feeling says I should.." She answered firmly, and when nothing felt wrong, she went on, "because it says that my mind is alone, at the moment. That I am free from Carrow, but not for long."

And that answer was enough for Dumbledore to know that he was still far away from solving the puzzle called 'Asteria Edwards'. He leaned back in his seat. He might need to work more to figure out her magic.

He searched his drawer for something, and then threw it at her. Ria caught it with ease. "A wand?" Dumbledore pointed his own wand at her, making her eyes widen for a moment. "What are you—?"

"We don't have time, Asteria." He said. "I have heard from Filius that you are quite efficient at Charms. I hope you know how to use Memory Charms.. especially the one where you make a person forget about one certain thing only."

"I— I do?" Ria said, her tone exasperated. "I do. But—"

"Then at the count of three, I want you to remove this memory from my head.. about whatever you told me of your unmistakable intuition. And I will remove the memory that you ever told it to me. Also make sure you do not forget to remove the part where we used this Memory Charm on each other—"

"I don't understand.." She confessed.

"Asteria, dear.." He said very calmly. "We are going to remove certain memories from each other's minds, at the same time." Ria nodded. "But if we just leave it at that, Carrow will know that we have used Memory charms. They will just claw into our mind and bring that memory back again."

She nodded again, and he continued. "Therefore.. to prevent that, we have to make sure that we ourselves don't remember using any Memory spell on each other." He explained. "Because then, in our minds, there will be no sign that a memory that has been altered. Do you understand?" Ria slowly nodded. 

"Do you want Carrow to know what you have told me now?" He asked.

"No, but— How will I remember it again—"

"Trust me, you will." He said. And for some reason, Ria's gut feeling told her to go with it.

"But—" She gulped. "They'll find out anyway—"

"How?" asked Dumbledore. "Certainly, it will seem that you have not told me anything. Nor have you used any spell to take my memories away. How will Carrow find out, if there is nothing that has been hidden or erased?"

Ria blinked slowly, taking his words in. She pulled her mind together and then raised her wand, pointing it at him. "I'm ready.."

"Three— two— one—"

"Obliviate." the two muttered together, and the small part of their memory vanished forever.

When Ria opened her eyes, she was confused as to why she had a wand— that wasn't hers— pointed at her old Professor. He definitely said something to make me mad. She thought.

She tossed the wand on his table, frustrated. Right.. Right. Mr. Weasley—

The door behind her opened, and Ria leapt up from her seat at Harry's sight. She took him in an embrace, and Harry hid his face in her shoulder, letting out a shuddering breath. She exchanged a look with Ron, who was just behind Harry.

"It's— It's him. It's him. It's Mr. Weasley." Harry said, his voice shivering, and Ria hugged him tighter, getting concerned. He had the same dream?

"Professor Dumbledore, Potter has had a.. well, a vision, too," said Professor McGonagall, and Harry left Ria's embrace. "He says.."

"I.. well, I was asleep.." said Harry, and even when he was terrified, he couldn't help but feel frustrated at the way Dumbledore was ignoring him again. "Ron's dad.. I saw him getting attacked by a— a giant snake."

There was a slight pause before Dumbledore asked quietly, "How did you see this?" He still wasn't looking at Harry.

"Well... I don't know," said Harry, rather annoyed. What did it matter? Couldn't he just focus on saving Mr. Weasley? "Inside my head, I suppose—"

"You misunderstand me," said Dumbledore, still in the same calm tone. "I mean... can you remember— er— where you were positioned as you watched this attack happen? Were you perhaps standing beside the victim, or else looking down on the scene from above?"

This was such a curious question that Harry gaped at Dumbledore; it was almost as though he knew..

Harry's grip on Ria's hand tightened. "I was the snake," he said. "I saw it all from the snake's point of view..."

Nobody else spoke for a moment, then Dumbledore, now looking at Ron, who appeared pale, said in a new and sharper voice, "Is Arthur seriously injured?"

"Yes," said Harry emphatically. "But— But I also heard someone's footsteps before I woke up.."

The room was silent. It took some seconds for Ria to realise, and she let out a shaky breath when she did. She choked out a sob in relief and hid her face in Harry's shoulder as she hugged him.

He shakily rubbed her back, but before he could ask what was happening, a wizard in one of the portraits had come back running and shouting: "Dumbledore!"

"What news, Everard?" said Dumbledore at once.

"It was true! I yelled until someone came running," said Everard, who was mopping his brow on the curtain behind him, "said I'd heard something moving downstairs— they weren't sure whether to believe me but went down to check— you know there are no portraits down there to watch from."

"Can you get to the point, please?" Ron asked desperately.

"They have rescued him." He answered. "I ran along through portraits to get a good look as they left.. The man was saying the snake was still there when he reached, and then it disappeared—"

The witch in the next portrait: Dilys had arrived too. She sank into her armchair, coughing as she said. "He wasn't fatally injured. But yes, they have taken him to St. Mungo's." Dumbledore thanked the two.

"It worked.. Oh heavens, it worked.." Ria mumbled into Harry's shoulder. Someone had reached there in time.

"What.." Harry muttered, "what worked? What's happening?" He asked.

Ria distanced herself from him and hastily wiped her tears away. "I.. I saw him getting attacked until.. until he wasn't moving anymore." She muttered.

"But you— you saw someone reaching there.. just in time, before that could happen." she said, tears of happiness racing down her face. "I.. I changed it.. I changed it.. for the first time.. and saved.." Her words drowned down into joyous cries, and Ron rushed to take her in a quick hug.

And as she comprehended the fact that she had finally saved someone after all those failed attempts.. the faces of all those people who she had seen dying in her visions rushed past her eyes. 

If only she could save them now..

"Thank you.." Ron muttered, his terrified soul breathing somewhat calmly again. "Thank you so much.. both of you.."

"Minerva, I need you to go and wake the other Weasley children."

"Of course..." Professor McGonagall got up and moved swiftly to the door. "What about Molly?" She asked, stopping at the door.

"She will know." Dumbledore answered. "With that impressive wall clock of hers." Ria vaguely remembered the clock in the Weasley house that tracked the family members' locations. McGonagall nodded, leaving the office.

"Shit." Ria muttered under her breath, remembering something.

"What is it?"

"'Fred, George, Amelia and Lee.." she whispered. "Minnie won't find them. They were planning to sneak out to Hogsmeade tonight."

"What?!" Ron exclaimed, but Ria gave him a warning glare. They quickly spared a look at Dumbledore, who was casting some spell over an old kettle. "What?" He asked, more quietly this time.

Ria nodded. "Yeah.. Amelia was asking me if I wanted to join. I refused, but I'm positive they'd be somewhere in the village right now.."

"Fawkes will take care of it." Dumbledore said, and the two stopped talking. The headmaster looked at his Phoenix. "You know what to do.." There was a burst of light, and Fawkes disappeared into thin air. And it intrigued Asteria how her mother could once turn into that fascinating creature.

Dumbledore looked at another portrait, "Phineas, you are going to your portrait in Grimmauld's Place and give Sirius the message that Arthur Weasley has been gravely injured and that his wife, children, Harry and Asteria will be arriving at his house shortly. Do you understand?"

He nodded, sloping away into the frame of the portrait and disappearing from view at the very moment that the study door opened again.

McGonagall had come back with Ginny, and Fawkes appeared back with Fred and George, who seemed shocked, looking at their surroundings. "Are we in trouble?" The twins asked in unison.

"Ria, Harry— what's going on?" asked Ginny, who looked frightened. "Professor McGonagall says you two saw Dad hurt—"

"What?!" The twins exclaimed outrageously.

"Your father has been injured in the course of his work for the Order of the Phoenix," said Dumbledore before Harry or Ria could speak. "He has been taken to St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. I am sending you back to Sirius's house, which is much more convenient for the hospital than the Burrow. You will meet your mother there."

"How're we going?" asked Fred, looking shaken. "Floo powder?"

"No," said Dumbledore, "Floo powder is not safe at the moment. The Network is being watched. You will be taking a Portkey." He indicated the old kettle lying innocently on his desk. "We are just waiting for Phineas Nigellus to report back... I wish to be sure that the coast is clear before sending you."

"Sir?" Ria said quietly, walking a little closer to him. "I.. I encountered Umbridge when I was coming here—"

"I know." He answered, taking her by surprise. "Severus and I were outside, discussing matters, when someone came asking for help."

Ria stared at him in question. Malfoy? She thought. And Dumbledore nodded. She looked away, pinching the bridge of her nose. Lord, that boy was confusing.

"He says he'll be delighted," said a bored voice behind Dumbledore; the wizard called Phineas had reappeared in front of his Slytherin banner. "My great-great-grandson has always had odd taste in houseguests..."

"Come here, then," Dumbledore said to Harry and the Weasleys. "And quickly, before anyone else joins us..."

All the children gathered around Dumbledore's desk. "Wait— Wait, what about Amelia?" George asked.

"She will be arriving with Miss. Granger over the holiday." Dumbledore answered. "At the moment, we do not have time. You have all used a Portkey before?" he asked, and they nodded, each reaching out to touch some part of the blackened kettle. "Good. On the count of three then.. one.. two.."

It happened in a fraction of a second: In the infinitesimal pause before Dumbledore said "three," Harry looked up at him— and Dumbledore's clear blue gaze moved from the Portkey to Harry's face.

At once, Harry's scar burned white-hot, as though the old wound had burst open again— and unbidden, unwanted, but terrifyingly strong, there rose within Harry a hatred so powerful he felt, for that instant, that he would like nothing better than to strike— to bite— to sink his fangs into the man before him—

"..three."

The ground beneath his floor vanished, and it took some mere seconds before his feet hit the ground again. He had prepared to land properly, but the pain in his scar distracted him badly, making him fall on his knees, clutching his scar once they reached Grimmauld's Place.

Ria crouched beside him, scared. "Harry.. What happened?" she asked in concern. Harry shook his head, getting up with her help.

Another figure had arrived beside them, and Harry couldn't explain the relief he felt after seeing Isabella. The woman quickly hugged her two children. "Are you two okay?"

"What's going on?" Sirius said from behind her as they let go of their hug. "Phineas said Arthur's been badly injured—"

"Ask them," said Fred, looking at Ria and Harry.

"Yeah, I want to hear this for myself," said George.

Ria looked at Harry; he stood still in his place, as if still unsure about what had just happened, still in a shocked stance.

"We will— We will explain everything.. We just need some time." She pleaded, "could you please wait in the kitchen? We'll be there in a minute or two.."

Sirius and Bella looked at each other and exchanged silent nods. They scurried all the Weasley children to the kitchen, while Harry and Ria stood in the corridor.

Ria looked at Harry with concern in her eyes. She held his cold hands, moving a little closer. "Harry.." He looked at her, "please say something."

Harry looked away. He couldn't stop his thoughts from rushing to the day Mrs. Weasley had confronted the Boggart in the cupboard. The way the Boggart had changed into Mr. Weasley's body.. her screams and cries.. He couldn't take that out of his head.

He looked back at Ria again. The thoughts of him hurting Dumbledore made him concerned about Ria's own safety around him. 

He wasn't turning into him.. Was he? What if I hurt her?

"Hey.." said Ria, cupping his face and stroking her thumb against his cheek. "You don't have to.. If you want, I'll explain everything to them."

"Please." Harry breathed out, and Ria nodded. 

She rested her forehead against his. He let go of the focus he had on his pain and focused on her instead. "It might not be completely fine, right now.. but it is going to be, eventually.." Every word she said was everything he needed.

Harry nodded, closing his eyes as his hands found their way around her. "Just talk to me.. whenever you feel like." He nodded again. 

The chaos in his head somehow disappeared when she was around.

"And I'll be here, no matter what. I promise." Ria said it so quietly that no soul beside Harry could hear.

He nodded again, a feeling of peace conquering his mind as she whispered to him.. as she shielded him from his own darkness.. and as she held his hand to draw him out of it.

And deep inside.. something told him that maybe the concept of having a Star to guide you wasn't so crazy after all.

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