Anders had taken the long way around, still too enchanted by the idea of being able to walk WHERE he wanted, WHEN he wanted, and was currently rounding the final corner of the castle, when he saw a tall young wizard, about his age, standing directly in his path. As he walked a little closer, he felt a faint flicker of recognition.

Since The Incident at the Quidditch match, Anders' memory had been, at best, extremely poor, and he'd been unable to recall many faces and events from before the match. Things had started filtering back through, and he scratched the end of his nose thoughtfully.

"You're familiar," he said, softly. "I think I...should know you." The familiar feeling of panic at his appalling recall kicked in and he bit his lip. "I'm sorry," he said, finally. "I never was very good with names and faces..."

Marcus may have had his reservations about Anders Grimalkin but he was still a courtier and acted it.

"Yes, you may well. Marcus Falconer. I was a couple of years behind you when at Hogwarts. Ravenclaw. I did a bit of substitute flying for the Ravenclaw team but lacked the nerve to really compete. I think you rather intimidated me on the field when it came to Quidditch." Marcus looked anything like a bookworm.

Of course, actually talking to Anders again after all these years was very different than reading about him in the paper or forming ideas in his head about him. Marcus thought he seemed a very gentle and honourable man. He resolved to try to put his concerns about Nimue to one side and if not befriend the new teacher at least try not to make an enemy of him.

Anders blinked at the Quidditch reference. Then Marcus' face swam into his memory, a younger face. "I was in the fifth year," he murmured. "Yes...you were the substitute Ravenclaw Seeker..."

He looked vaguely distant for a moment, a slightly triumphant smile on his face. Every time a memory came back, he felt less like the condemned man and more like his old self. "It's good to see you again, Marcus," he said, conversationally. "What are you doing here? Just visiting?"

Marcus smiled at the memory. "Yes I was. Actually it was you who proved to me I didn't have the 'right stuff' for the game. Still I never was that competitive. Madame Hooch always said I lacked the will."

Marcus then addressed the main question. "No, actually I 'm not a visitor. Not staff either though I'll be helping Professor McGonagall with some of the transfiguration classes since it was my strongest subject.

No, I'm here as the ... I guess the muggles would call it bodyguard though I'm trying not to embarrass her too much by being here ... of one of the Third Year pupils. You've met her I believe..... Elizabeth Hawkwood. She's called Nimue by most everyone now."

"Nimue?" Anders' perpetual fog of self-pity lifted for an instant. "Yes, I remember her. She's a lovely girl. Very grown up. Very sweet." His eyes seemed full of stars as he spoke, then he shook his head as if to clear it.

"I was hopeless at Transfiguration," he said. "Actually, I was pretty hopeless at everything bar Quidditch. And Illusion. But Snape mocked me choosing that as an optional class, said Illusion was for dreamers and no-hopers..." He stopped speaking, a delighted smile crossing his face. "These memories are coming back easily," he said, happily. "It's wonderful!"

Something seemed to sink in. "Bodyguard?"

Marcus wasn't at all happy to see that look in Anders eyes. He wondered if there was more of a problem here than he anticipated having encountered Nimue earlier. So he decided that he'd make the teacher realise that she was so beyond his reach in this and any other world.

"Yes though more of a companion-protector because of the Office her Father holds and which she will hold in time. I was undercover for last few months but the incident just before Christmas kind of finished that. When the school was effected by powerful spell and the *children* (he emphasised this word) including Nimue were in danger. I escaped the spell but was wounded while protecting them and also revealed as an animagus. So it's rather pointless now pretending to be her pet but Lord Hawkwood and Professor Dumbledore agree I should remain close to her."

Anders may have been shy and naive, but he was not stupid. He picked up the undertones in Marcus' friendly conversation and looked away, disturbed. "I'm sure she'll be just fine with you around to look after her..."

He stopped speaking as he was suddenly overcome with a wave of coughing. The tea he had taken to settle the pain in his chest had clearly worn off now. He pulled a handkerchief out from his robes and coughed loudly and painfully into it.

Once the spasm had passed, he looked apologetically at Marcus. "Excuse me," he said in his soft, Welsh lilt. "I need to go take my potion. I've not been very well, see. It was nice...to see you again, Marcus. Sure that I'll see you around again."

He gave a vague smile and walked, a little shakily, towards the main door. Maybe he *should* have asked Snape about that Restorative. Maybe he still should. But he wasn't going to lower himself to the level of begging for Snape's help. He'd get by somehow. Just how, he wasn't sure. But he would.

As he walked into the school, he glanced back to see a very thoughtful-looking Marcus Falconer watching him. For some reason, it made him feel uncomfortable. The man had seemed friendly enough, but that hint about Nimue had been blatantly obvious, even to the young DADA Professor. He would try to steer clear of her, if only for the sake of his own sanity. What little he had left, anyway.

Once inside he found himself feeling restless again. As dinner had not get been called he decided to head out to walk around the lake.

*************

Nimue continued to look for Morticia and finally spotted her. "Sorry Tish about earlier. He wanted to thank me for helping him out with some supplies. How was Arithmancy?"

"It was boring! We had to calculate stuff from our names but the results were as enlightening as the stuff you get on muggle fairs." She sneers." And Miss Vector even fell ASLEEP! Can you imagine that? I think I'll drop the class."

Just as she says the last sentence, Nathan happens to walk along with some of his friends. "Tish? You'll drop a class? I don't think Papa would like that!"

"Why don't you mind your own business?" Morticia hisses at him.

Nathan shrugs. "Sure. Hello, Nimue. So you had a conversation with our newly elected Mr Azkaban 2001? What is he like, we don't get DADA before Monday..."

Niki comes down the hallway behind them. She makes a face at Nathan's back, then glances at Morticia. "Aren't brothers annoying?" she asks. "Particularly older ones, not to name any names, of course," she coughs, and it sounds peculiarly like 'Nathan!' "What time is supper?"

"Not as annoying as little girls intruding a conversation - girls who don't even know dinnertime." Nathan flashes Niki a fake warm smile. "But, my dearest, dinner will be soon, so don't worry, you'll be able to eat well and thus grow to be beautiful which you dearly need..."

Nimue was just about to suggest to Morticia that she join her in Snape's alchemical tutorial when Nathan had joined them. She slightly coloured at his description of Professor Grimalkin as 'Mr. Azkaban 2001'.

"Oh, he's OK. I didn't really spend more than a moment with him and he seems very quiet and nice. Why do you call him that? Was he in Azkaban?" Her head was more than a little befuddled by everything that had happened since the morning.

"Oh, rumours only, but interesting ones, aren't they?" Nathan sniggers. "We had Potions today and Snape let slip that he didn't think too much of him... Anders Grimalkin is the name, right? I had a glimpse at him. Guess you're right - he DOES look nice. I'm quite curious what he'll be like in class."

"That was the impression I got from Professor Snape. " replied Nimue. "I guess we'll find out in the morning what he's like in class." Nathan seemed a lot nicer to talk to than she expected.

"Well, I'm curious!" Nathan smiles at her. "Tishy, will you fill me in with all the important details?"

"Only if you stop calling me Tishy," mutter Morticia sulkily which makes Nathan laugh. "Maybe I will - if you promise not to quit this class... Well, then, Miss Hawkwood, it was a pleasure talking to you! See you later." He re-joins his Slytherin friends and wanders off with them, talking about Quidditch teams.

When Nathan left Nimue took the opportunity to talk to Morticia about alchemy tutorials. "How do you feel about alchemy? Only one student turned up for Snape's option and then another girl - Katia - dressed in a way that got Snape really angry - turned up at his office. Her robe was altered all tight and sexy looking with long red nails. You know 14 going on 24... and he kicked her out and told her to wash her face and change or something. It was spectacular! She looked so pissed off with him when she came back dressed more or less 'correctly' and he still told her to 'go away' in that way he has - quite cold but almost witty at the same time."

There was a point to this sentence Nimue knew it. "Anyway, I earlier talked to him about the possibility of a different approach to alchemy and it would be great if some one else from our year wanted to do it aside from me. I get enough jokes as it is from the time I help him out. So if that interests you more than Arithmancy I'm sure your Father would approve after all he know Professor Snape and all."

Morticia looks flabbergasted. "Alchemy? Wow! I didn't even know there was an Alchemy class! That sounds great! Sure, I'd LOVE to join. And Papa, well, he'd be happy, him being friends with Snape and all... and Alchemy is much more interesting than stupid numbers, isn't it? Come on, let's go and find Snape and tell him!"

She hops up and down with excitement. "Oh, and what did you do to Nathan, by the way? He behaved almost.. human!"

Nimue was glad of having someone else work with her. "I guess we could go down and see him before dinner if you want. Professor Snape said he would prepare me a list of basic texts which we'd then have tutorials on every 3-weeks or so. It won't be like usual classes at all. More that we've got to do the work on our own and then discuss what we find with him. Much more advanced in a sense. Are you up for that?"

"As for Nathan, I have no idea about that. I mean ... he seemed really nice and everything but I take it that's unusual. Maybe it's because I have the same name as your younger sister? Or that now he knows that my father knows your father so it's all kind of allowable to be nice because they hang out in the same type of society?"

"Sounds great! Let's go to Snape." While wandering along the corridors, Morticia ponders the Nathan-question: "Maybe you're right about your name. I mean, he's really fond of Ninny. And he's not a bad person, really. He's annoying most of the times, I know...but he's still my brother, and we have a lot of fun together at home... Maybe he's also feeling bad because he and Marvo didn't get along, and now Marvo's gone and he can't settle it. Or maybe," here she grins wickedly, "maybe he just noticed that you look really nice today."

"They call her Ninny...I'm lucky you never told that to Marvo. Thank you for saying that about how I look today." She did feel somewhat radiant but felt that had little to do with Nathan and more to do with her other encounters during the afternoon.

"Ah, here we are" they had arrived at Snape's office and Nimue knocked for entrance

"Yep, Ninny. That's what you get when parents give their kids weird names... Nat, Ginny, Tish, Ninny, Clare, Arm and Rafe, that's us." She sniggers, but becomes silent again as Nimue knocks. She doesn't want to anger Snape...

"Enter!" Snape's voice caught them both off guard and he sounded as though he was in somewhat of a bad mood. Snape already sounded in a less than perfect mood. Still maybe they'd cheer him up. Feeling there was strength in numbers Nimue opened the door and then they went in......

Morticia and Nimue made their entrance and explained the purpose of their visit.

"So, you want to study alchemy with Miss Hawkwood?" said Professor Snape sharply but not coldly.

"I assume by your both being here that you are happy to study together. Miss Lagrand your grades in Potions are very good and as with Miss Hawkwood you exhibit maturity beyond your years, so in theory I will be happy to expand our little class. "

"However, I trust you realise that alchemy has been removed as an option by Professor Dumbledore since so few students expressed an interest once they discovered whom would be taking the class. Therefore, the burden of reading and work would be on you as it is upon Miss Hawkwood.

Like Potions it is not about magic spells but hard scholarship, discipline and patience both in theoretical work and practical work in the lesser alchemy of plant elixirs. If, that is, either of you ever progress to the stage of being allowed to undertake such work. Are you willing to work to these conditions?"

Morticia gave her ascent to understanding all the above.

"The first reading list will be given to you after your next Potions Class and I will arrange the permissions with Madam Pince. Good afternoon!"

With that they were summarily dismissed from Professor Snape's presence and they had the good sense to leave though talked excitedly about the special class on their way back upstairs.

Nimue decided she wanted some fresh air before dinner and excused herself. She headed towards the lakeside, a special spot well hidden from view of the castle.

*****************

Elia also was by the lake, shivering a bit in the cool air, but unwilling to return to the castle. Why, just when she was getting comfortable, did things have to happen? She had overheard Ayumi's comments about her fox, and was torn between sympathy towards the girl who lost her pet, and anger. She had been almost happy before Niki arrived, bringing with her memories of loss.

Why did that stupid fox have to become a boggart? Elia was 99.9% sure that Niki had seen who the boggart became for her, and her face flushed as she realised what it must have been like for Niki. After all, the child is not to blame for the sins of the mother... Still, Elia felt angry, irrationally so, whenever she saw Niki, and now all the Third Years were having classes together! She longed for someone- anyone, really- she could talk to. Lying back on a large rock, she gazed up at the cloudy sky, and let out a gusty sigh.

Randal was also wandering the grounds. He was not in the best of moods. First that boggart and now he gets some strange number come out that apparently told him he had to make sacrifices. His shoulders were hunched over and he was loping along at great speed. He paced up and down the large grassed area in front of the school.

As he was pacing, no noticed Elia by the lake. She didn't look very happy. He felt he really ought to go and talk to her, regardless of his mood.

"Hi. Are you ok? You haven't said much after that boggart appeared."

Elia shook her head violently. "No, I'm not okay!" she said. "You saw that woman too, didn't you?" She turns to Randal. "I hate boggarts! We had one in Defence Against the Dark Arts before, and it was her, too, and..." Her voice trails off. "What was it for you?" she asks. "You look unhappy too..."

"Yeh, I was just thrown by the boggart. And then that silly numbers thing coming out the way it did."

"I saw Arcadia in the boggart. But who was the woman you saw?"

"My father was an Auror. Shortly after You-Know-Who was defeated, he was killed by a Death Eater. She is, or, was, Maryam Pheidippides. She killed my father. She is also Niki's mother." Elia smiles grimly. "That's why I dislike Niki. Do you blame me?"

Randal considered this for a minute. "So Niki's mum killed your dad? I can see that wouldn't make you best friends. I guess that can't be very nice having Niki joining Hogwarts this year then. I guess I can't blame you for not liking Niki. But you wouldn't do anything about though, would you?"

Randal carefully smelt Elia. There was a familiar smell about her. Maybe she was the one that had left the article on Niki's bed last night.

"What do you mean, do anything about it?" Elia's voice was tight and guarded. "I'm not planning to murder Niki, if that's what you mean." She stares out over the lake. "All my life, or at least, almost as far back as I can remember, I've been an orphan. I was raised in an orphanage. When I was accepted to Hogwarts I was so happy, and it was actually tolerable, and then everyone fell asleep, and when I woke up, there *she* was! As if what her mother did didn't matter..." Tears ran down Elia's cheeks, and she wiped them away with a fold of her robe.

Randal dug into his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief. "Here." He wiped her cheek where a few tears had escaped from Elia's robe.

"Now let's see a smile on that face. Such a pretty face should not look so sad." Elia couldn't help but smile at this.

"That's better. I can't tell you things will go away, I can only try to make them seem a little easier." He smiled at Elia warmly.

"Now I think dinner is being served soon, so let us go." Randal led the way to the hall where he escorted Elia to the Gryffindor table and smiled at the 3rd years he recognised. He finds Elia a seat in the middle of them in the hope that talking to fellow students will help her to talk and feel a little happier.

Yvette plopped down into a chair at the Gryffindor table. She helped herself to some mashed potatoes (the things British think of!) and wrinkled her nose as a pestering seventh year ordered her to take some green beans.

'What is she, my mother?' She thought, but obediently spooned some onto her plate. She hated green beans! They were disgusting! She speared one with her fork and examined in closely. EEEWW! They looked so gross, too!

Another glare from the seventh year made her put it into her mouth, and she chewed. Just as the older girl looked away, she quickly spat it into her napkin, and smiled innocently when the seventh year looked back.

Elia smiles warmly at Randal as he goes, then begins with her food. After serving herself a large number of green beans, she offers the dish to Yvette. "They really are good..."

"Finsh your milk." The seventh year orders Yvette, receiving an indignant look in return. Both stare each other down until Yvette decides she doesn't want to mess with someone four years older.

"Fine." She takes a sip, then puts it back. The seventh year raises an eyebrow.

"I said, FINISH it."

Yvette scowls and chugs it, then wipes her mouth with her napkin. Why did the seventh years always baby her? It was so annoying! Just because she was short, they had to treat her like a kid...like they were a flock of mother hens with just one baby chick!

"Hey, Nimue." She says absently, making a face at the seventh year's back.

Arcadia left Arithmancy class very quickly and is currently in the gardens walking Pantalaimon and chatting to him, or herself. it's hard to tell.

Somewhere along her way she runs into Nathan Lagrand and they strike up a rather playful, flirtatious conversation in which their mutual attraction appears quite obvious as well as their mutual willingness to trade secrets about other students including their siblings. (Note: off list chat by these characters)

Nathan enters the great hall without his usual huddle of Slytherin friends and sits down next to Morticia who doesn't seem to be too happy about this. "Now tell me, you want to drop Arithmancy?" he asks teasingly. "Bad girl!"

"Why don't you mind your own business?" she snaps. "I'm taking Alchemy with Snape instead!" Pleased about the positively stunned expression on Nathan's face, she turns towards her friends again.

A few minutes later Arcadia strolls in, looking very innocent and takes a seat at the Slytherin Table.

Still a bit angry about Morticia, Nathan smiles at her. "So, Arcadia, have you made up your mind about what time you'd like me to help with your Potions-stuff?" His friends roll their eyes, and one of them mutters something along "only a third-year".

Katia does not look the least bit happy about Nathan talking to Arcadia. She picks at her food, and watches the other students from slightly narrowed eyes. Finally, she turns to Randal, and introduces herself, smiling sweetly at him and batting her eyelashes.

Randal smiled back. "Hello Katia. I'm Randal Fudge. And I have to say you look just charming without all that makeup." Randal wasn't sure if Katia would take this the right way, but he'd had to talk to SOooo many people today. Why didn't they just leave him alone.

Katia giggles. "Professor Snape made me take it off." She pretends to pout for a moment, then smiles at Randal. "I'd no *idea* the teachers here were so prudish!"

Randal Fudge wasn't quite sure what to say. "Well I think that girls your age look better without it anyway. And, the teachers can be quite strict on the silliest things. So are you trying to complete with Arcadia then? I mean you have good looks on your side and so does she." Katia might have got the idea that Randal was making fun of her if she wasn't busy flirting...

Katia does notice she is being teased, and she rolls her eyes before returning to her meal. "Oh, really," she murmurs.

Arcadia smiles and (of course) flicks her hair. "Oh, whenever your ready. I'll be waiting." She looks over to Katia speaking with Randal, but says nothing more. Pantalaimon also looks over to Katia and sniffs the hair.

"Okay then, cutie, tell me." With that, the subject appears to be closed for Nathan. He gets up and sits down a bit further down the table where the other 5th years are seated.

*************

Very little seemed to have changed at first glance, as Kalidor walked through the gates of Hogwarts Castle in much the same state as he had done that day a few weeks ago. Except had it been a few weeks? It could have been months, even years. Time didn't seem to make sense anymore.

The events that had taken him away from Hogwarts after only a few weeks in the school span inside his head. What he would have given for the quiet life at Hogwarts in that time! He planned to have a good hard think about these things, just as soon as he had got some food inside him! Very little seemed to have changed at first glance, although there seemed a sombre air around.

Walking sedately behind the boy, with a look of one with less than 9 lives, was a small black and white cat. Those who had known Kalidor before would probably have deduced that this was Glyndwr, but none could have known the life this poor little creature had experienced.

Two house elves greeted the sad entourage at the Castle door, and dragged away the boy's trunks. Yes, Kalidor had brought two trunks back with him...

Up in the Ravenclaw boy's dormitory, Kalidor pushed one of the trunks under his bed as far as possible, and changed into his usual wizarding attire from the other one.

He made his way down to the dining hall, and sat down at one of the many empty seats at the Ravenclaw table. He ate ravenously from one of the plates of bacon sandwiches (provided there isn't suddenly a bacon shortage, or it's been banned or something and it was only after a while that he noticed the strange faces in the dining hall and, more importantly, the lack of some familiar faces.

Nevermind, he thought, someone will talk to me if they want to.