Hi again! A bit later up than I wanted it to be but its up. I don't know how good the update rate will be to begin with - I'm at work most days and when I'm not I'm somehow really buse. But I'll do my best. :)

Remember this is a sequel, if you haven't checked out the original which is just called 'Midnight' yet, go and do that first because this story will have spoilers of the first and refer back to it a lot.

Remember to leave a comment telling me what you think and I'll talk to you all soon. Enjoy :)

I felt adrenaline pumping through my veins as our swords clashed. I ducked, dodged, went on the attack, my feet moving by themselves, no need for me to instruct them. I felt my heart pounding in my chest, the dying sunlight shining through the windows, gleaming off our swords as hilt met hilt.

"You're getting good," Alex grunted. I grinned determinedly, eye and hair colour changing continuously to try to ruin his focus – a tactic he himself had told me to try and include in as many fights as possible to throw the enemy. We flew apart and I quickly dodged a sneaky swipe before going on the offence, attempting to distract him by using the sword and then go in with an attack to the legs.

It almost worked, but he dodged at the last second and sent my sword clattering to the floor. The next thing I knew his sword was t my throat, and I was beaten. I panted, letting my lungs get air.

"I said you're getting good. But you still need work before you'll be able to take me out with a move like that." He said, panting as well. I've gotten a lot stronger and a lot faster since the start of summer. Training every day from dawn till dusk for just about six weeks has done me a world of good, despite the fact I go to bed every night aching. And I don't plan to stop training once I go back to Hogwarts next week. Alex has given me a strict schedule which involved training from dawn till breakfast and then again after all my lessons are finished until nightfall. Of course in winter that schedule will revolve around times more than dawn and dusk, otherwise I'd get no training done at all.

"All right, I think we're done for today," he said, sitting down on a bench at the side of the room. I handed my sword back to him and walked out, stretching. Dobby was waiting for me outside of the room, as he is every evening, with a towel and glass of water.

"Thanks Dobby," I smiled, taking both. Dobby nodded.

"The master has told Dobby to remember to inform the young mistress that they are going to Diagon Alley tomorrow morning, and her tutoring is cancelled for the day."

"Thank you Dobby," I smiled, and carried on to go to my room. I took a shower and then changed into my pyjamas before going back downstairs. I grabbed an apple, noticing how everyone else had already gone to bed. I'm not surprised. It must be past ten, at the least.

I walked into the main hall and unbolted the front door, opening it just a little. A small voice hissed her thanks as she slithered in. Chara has grown a lot too this summer. She's almost two feet longer than she was before. But then she's eating properly for the first time in her life, I'll bet.

I locked the door once she was through and we went upstairs together to my room. Βοήθεια was stood on her perch, waiting impatiently for me to let her out. I opened the window and Βοήθεια spread her wings, soaring out of the room and into the night.

I ate my apple, and got into bed. I laid awake for a few moments, thinking, as I usually do. I think about a lot of stuff, but mainly, I think about my parents. I think, finally, I've figured out what I need to do. She's busy in America, so I need to make sure the balance doesn't get too out of hand over here. I need to be able to work for or against both 'sides' if I need to. When I figured that out I was actually quite pleased with myself. I mean, I've already got Harry to trust me and if I keep it that way he'll persuade the others to trust me too. Draco will believe anything I say. I've got the biggest gossip in the school living in the same dorm as me, so if I need any 'information' to reach certain ears, I've got it covered.

But then there's dad… if he ever rises to power like he did when I was a baby. I mean, restoring balance is one thing, but I have a feeling if dad ever did get that powerful he'd want me to prove my loyalty and if the stories about him are true… I don't think I could kill someone. Especially someone like Harry. He's too innocent. I'm just not sure… but he is my dad. And, as I tell myself every night, I'm loyal to my family. No one else.

I went to sleep with those thoughts on my mind.

I woke up early the following morning, just before sunrise as I do every morning, only today there's no training. I laid in bed for a while, just listening to Chara's calm hisses as she slept and the low humming in the background. It's always there, just in the back of my mind, just a low, deep hum. Sometimes its whispers too, but I put that down to tiredness from training rather than anything else.

It's been a long time since I've just laid in bed. It's quite peaceful. But my ADHD soon gets the better of me, and I have to get up. I took a long shower and then sat and did a bit more packing for Hogwarts. We're going to Diagon Alley to get the new books and better fitting uniforms and everything, so I don't have too much to actually pack yet.

I've not really done anything this summer except train. It's strange to have time on my hands where I'm not doing anything. It's a bit boring, really. I've nothing to do. I waited for a while, watching the sunrise through my window. I opened the window to let Βοήθεια back in, as I do every morning, and then went downstairs to get some breakfast.

The house elves were already up and about, doing the chores and a variety of other stuff that the Malfoy's wouldn't dare touch. It's harsh but true. I mean, they've been really good to me, but they are incredibly pompous. I would be surprised that Nemesis hasn't already punished them for hubris if it wasn't for the fact she needed them because she needs me.

I went into the training room, simply because I had nothing else to do. Alex wasn't there, but his bag with all the weapons in was. I took out the sword I normally use and practised for a few hours, before a young house elf came to fetch me. The three Malfoy's were waiting for me in the main hall as I approached with a small smile.

"Good morning," I said pleasantly. Narcissa smiled at me.

"Good morning, dear. We're leaving for Diagon Alley," Narcissa said, her tone naturally how I'd imagine a real mother's would be – soft, gentle.

"Great, let's go," I smiled. Lucius held his arm out to Draco, and Narcissa held her arm out for me. In pairs, we apparated to Diagon Alley. Noise filled my ears as we entered the bustling street.

"There's lots to do. Come along now," Lucius said in his calm yet stern tone that demands obedience. He linked arms with Narcissa and walked towards Flourish and Blotts – the book store. People were crowding around it, and there were strong white flashes, seemingly from cameras coming from inside. We walked in, just in time to see Harry being pushed to the front of the crowd to be grabbed by a tall blonde main with a pompous grin on his face. At first he muttered something to a very uncomfortable looking Harry, while I noticed Narcissa joining the crowd to buy our books and Draco sneaking off up the stairs to our left. The blonde man addressed the crowd, his tone arrogant, attempting charisma.

"Ladies and gentlemen, what an extraordinary moment this is. When young Harry stepped into Flourish and Blotts this morning to purchse my autobiography 'Magical Me'" There was a pause while everyone clapped. I rolled my eyes. What a creep. How can anyone like this guy? He's as fake as anything. "which incidentally is currently celebrating its 27th week atop the Daily Prophet bestseller list, he had no idea he would in fact, be leaving with my entire collected works free of charge." He shoved the books into Harry's hands as everyone clapped. More photographs were taken as he pushed Harry away, sitting down to sign the books. Harry and was hurried towards the back of the crowd, followed by Ron, Hermione and a group of other redheads, who I assumed to be Ron's siblings.

Draco was stood on the sides, looking at an open book – or at least pretending to look. His real focus was on Harry. I, meanwhile, leant next to the doorframe casually, completely relaxed, my dark hair ringlets falling to just past my shoulders, eyes dark brown. The photographer passed us and hurried out of the door while Harry shuffled, seemingly overwhelmed, to the base of the staircase.

Draco ripped a page from the book he had been holding, putting it down again and hurrying to the bottom of the staircase to confront them.

"I'll bet you loved that, didn't you Potter?" He spat. "Famous Harry Potter. Can't even go into a bookshop without making the front page."

"Leave him alone." A small ginger girl said confidently, stepping up to defend him.

"Oh look, Potter. You've got yourself a girlfriend."

"Draco," I said, moving from my leaning post and walking over to them "Relax," I said calmly, drawing out the word. He glared at me slightly, and then caught the look in my eye and stopped. I know if the group hadn't been there, he would have let a grin slip onto his face. Instead, he frowned obviously, and looked away.

"Looked like you were having fun up there," I said to Harry with a sarcastic smile "How've you been?"

"Good," Harry said with a small splutter "You've gotten taller."

"You haven't," I grinned. I glanced to the small ginger girl. "And who might you be?"

"Ginny Weasley." She answered, obviously untrusting.

"Pleased to meet you. You must be Ron's little sister," I said with a friendly smile, holding out my hand to shake. She looked at it, but didn't take it. I brought it back with a sigh.

"Couldn't you tell by the hand me down clothes?" Draco sneered. I turned to give him a look, but I didn't have to. Lucius Malfoy put his cane against Draco's back, making him turn.

"Now, now, Draco, play nicely." He sent a direct look at Draco, and Draco backed down, not saying anything and moving out of the way.

"Mr Potter," Lucius said with a small smile that said 'I will crush you' in a very not-so-subtle way. "Lucius Malfoy. We meet at last." He held out his hand to shake. Harry took it nervously, and Lucius pulled him towards him sharply. "Forgive me, your scar is legendary." He moved Harry's fringe out of the way with his cane to look at the scar. "As of course, is the wizard who gave it to you." Oh you just had to go there.

"Voldemort killed my parents." Harry said strongly, making Lucius frown as he pulled away sharply "He was nothing more than a murderer."

"You must be very brave to mention his name. Or very foolish."

"Fear of a name only increases fear of the thing itself." Hermione stated bluntly. Lucius turned to her. I found myself glancing between all of them, trying to read them.

"And you must be Miss Granger." Lucius said, looking to Draco to see if he was correct. Draco nodded.

"Yes, Draco has told me all about you. And your parents. Muggles, aren't they?" He paused, looking into the crowd for the two who 'didn't belong'. Then he glanced to the Weasleys. "Let me see. Red hair. Vacant expressions. Tatty, second hand book," he plucked a small brown book from Ginny's cauldron and looked at it. "You must be the Weasleys."

"Children, it's mad in here. Let's get outside." A man said, hurrying up behind them. He had red hair, and a hat on.

"Well, well, well. Weasley senior."

"Lucius." The two men said, an obvious hatred between them.

"Busy time at the Ministry, Arthur. All those extra raids? I do hope they're paying you overtime. But judging by the state of this," Lucius waved the brown book in his hand as Arthur Weasley puts his arm around his daughter. "I'd say not." Lucius finished.

"What's the use of being a disgrace to the name of wizard if they don't even pay you well for it?" Ok, time to diffuse this situation.

"I think Narcissa's calling you, Mr Malfoy," I said quickly. He looked to me, and then to the crowd before back to the Weasleys.

"And I thought your family could sink no lower." He said finally, and put the brown book back in the cauldron before walking away past me. I glanced to Draco, and he took the hint, following his father.

"Sorry about them," I said apologetically "he doesn't know when to stop when he gets started."

"And you are?" Arthur Weasley asked sternly.

"Oh, Midnight Smith, sir." I held out my hand for him to shake "Pleasure to meet you." He took it and shook, but not firmly.

"You seem quite comfortable around them." Harry stated bluntly. I shrugged "I guess after a whole summer of it you get used to it." The older Weasley's were looking me up and down as Harry asked his next question.

"Are you feeling any better? After having a break…?" I frowned at first confused, and then I remembered and smiled.

"I'm fine now. But thanks for asking."

"Midnight." Draco called from across the store.

"I've got to go. I'll see you at Hogwarts. It was nice meeting you Mr Weasley."

"Bye Midnight." Harry said, and was the only one to say it, as I smiled, turned and left them to find the Malfoys.