**Chapter six finally! It's a little better than the last one. I didn't really edit it as well as I should so it's kind of rough. I hope you like it!**

Saturday was a big day for quite a few people. Quidditch Tryouts, which involved everybody, Professor Snape's detentions, which involved certain parties, and then the meeting with Professor Dumbledore, which was none of Zephyris's business but she knew about through some Extendable Ears Ginny had on hand.

She could hear Hermione pulling back her curtains in the next bed and did the same, too excited to stay in bed any longer.

"Good morning," Hermione said with a great yawn.

"Good morning to you!" replied the raven haired girl as she jumped out of bed and quickly began dressing. Hermione watched her as she dressed at the speed of light.

"Plans today, I assume?" she asked as she pulled some clothes out of her dresser.

Zephyris looked at her as she began tugging a pair of jeans on. "Oh yes! Oh yes oh yes." She said excitedly, zipping up. She shoved her feet in a pair of sneakers and tied them, her hands a blur.

"Care to share?" Hermione asked as she began moving faster too, "I dare say you're excitement is infectious."

"Well," Zephyris began. She tossed her hair up into a messy bun. "I get to spend time with my father today and I'm excited about that. Harry is meeting with Dumbledore, don't look shocked, we heard it on Ginny's extendable ears. And," She climbed up the side of her bed, reaching over the canopy. She pulled down a long black leather case and set it on the bed. It was the size and thickness of a guitar case except rectangular. In the center, towards the front was a small mirror, about the size of one's palm. It was circular and framed with bronze wirework that seemed to have sewn the mirror in.

Hermione walked over to her. "What is it?"

Zephyris lowered her full lips to the mirror and breathed warm air onto it, causing it to fog over. Then, with her fingers, she wrote her initials. The locks on the case sprung open and Zephyris looked at Hermione. "I spent years saving for this. Doing odd jobs here and there. But finally I saved enough to buy this last year while I was at Durmstrang." She opened the case and lying on a bed of red crushed velvet was a Snitch and the most beautiful broom Hermione had ever seen. It had a cherry wood handle with the words "Firebolt" etched in gold. Along the grip inlaid into the wood were tiny stars made of mother of pearl. The broom straws were all straight and painstakingly manicured. Every bit of the broom gleamed and shined. It seemed to light up the room. Lavender and Parvati, who had just gotten out of bed, joined Hermione and Zephyris in looking at the broom.

"Wow…" Lavender cooed, "that's beautiful."

"Wait!" Hermione looked at Zephyris, mildly ignoring Lavender who'd been trying to catch Ron's eye lately, "Are you going to try out?"

Zephyris nodded, smiling.

"But Harry is the seeker!" Parvati growled. "Best we've ever had!"

Zephyris turned to the girl, her mouth dropping into a frown. "No. I'm not playing seeker. This," she took the snitch from the case, "Is actually for Hermione." Zephyris put the snitch into Hermione's hand. "I forgot about it. It's a gift from, heh, you know." She winked at Hermione who had begun to blush furiously.

"Is that from Krum!?" Katie Bell yelled. She'd appeared from thin air. The four girls jumped.

"Yes." Zephyris said. The other girls began to chat animatedly amongst themselves and Zephyris closed the case.

"What position?" Hermione asked as she stowed the Snitch away somewhere safe.

"Beater or Chaser, I guess. Either way I can do alright. They had alternates in Durmstrang, in case someone couldn't play, and I was an alternate. I've done every field position in game, plus practices so I'm alright."

They walked down the stairs, leaving the locked broom and talking, giggling girls behind.

"Well your broom says you have more confidence than just being alright." Hermione told her. They stepped through the painting.

"No," the other girl said. "That just shows that I'll work hard for something." Zephyris told her. "You know what would be awesome but would never happen?" she asked Hermione, quickly changing the subject, "If my father would let you visit during the holidays. I think that—" her voice trailed off down the hall as they walked.

Soon after Harry and Ron climbed out of the painting.

"Don't be nervous." Harry said to Ron as they walked down the stairs. "You're going to do fine. I know it."

"Right," Ron replied, turning an early morning shade of green, "If I don't bung it up."

"Then don't bung it up." Harry said. "I think I'll pick alternates as well." They jumped the vanishing step. "That way if anything happens, you know, detention or you know who," he chuckled, "anything at all, the team will be prepared."

"Fine idea, mate." Ron said. "Hey, are you going to tell Dumbledore about Malfoy's prowling?"

"I'd love to if we had proof. Hermione's made it very clear that without proof, no one is going to care." Harry's face frowned. "I know, though, that something's up!" His hands ground themselves into the bottom of his jean pockets. "I just have to figure out what!"

"Who knows? But with security so high, there can't be much he can get away with."

Harry looked at Ron and rolled his eyes slightly. "Yes and we've never gotten away with anything…"

"That's not what I meant, Harry. I mean something vile. Something Draco would do."

Harry shrugged. "Hey, uh, Lavender. She's trying to get your attention all the time. What gives?"

Ron blushed. "I dunno. She's rather pretty and, well, Ginny's been teasing me about never kissing a girl. So, you know, I figured—"

Harry looked at him surprised, "you've never kissed a girl!" he exclaimed. A couple of first years shrieked at Harry's outburst and ran past.

"Shut it, will you!?" Ron growled. "I don't need the whole wizarding world knowing!"

"It's not that big of a deal." Harry said as he walked with Ron into the great hall.

Ron grumbled, "Sure…not for you…" but said nothing more on the matter. Katie had run up to Harry.

"Did you know," she started, then paused, "Good morning Ron!" she said cheerily, then resumed, "did you know that Zephyris is trying out?"

Harry pulled his head back. "Seriously? Is she good?"

Katie shrugged, "I dunno. She has a miraculous looking broom though. Of course that doesn't say much. Rumor is that she played with Krum in Durmstarang but I doubt it." She shrugged. "Oh, speaking of which, ask Hermione about the Snitch!" She winked and walked off. Harry and Ron looked at each other.

"The snitch?" Ron echoed as they walked to where their friends sat. Harry looked at Zephyris who was sitting between Neville and Hermione. They were all laughing rather hard about something. So much so that Neville laughed up milk through his nose, sending them into even harder scores of laughter.

"You all seem cheery this morning." Harry said sitting down across from them with Ron. Zephyris quieted quickly, eyeing Harry warily. The bespectacled boy looked down at his plate then back to her. "Uh…I hear you're trying out for quidditch today." He said

With a great smile, Zephyris nodded. "yes!" she exclaimed, "I am!"

"Have you played much?" Harry began serving himself while Hermione told Ron the joke that Zephyris had told them.

For a moment, Zephyris was lost for words. It was startling that he was actually speaking to her civilly. "A little."

"Really? What positions?"

"A little of everything. They had an alternate system at Durmstrang. I played when people were gone. So I got game time and practice time."

Harry nodded, "So why didn't they give you a regular position?"

She sighed and pushed her locks over her shoulder. "Boobs, I'd imagine." Neville choked on his milk again. "are you ok, Nev?" Neville waved a dismissive hand at her as he reached for some napkins. She looked back at harry who was chuckling.

"So, because you're a girl?"

"oh yeah." She replied. "So many big burly guys. Ve don vant you to get hurt. They told me. Which in my opinion is—"

"A bunch of bull!" Hermione finished for her.

Ron looked surprised. "Hermione!"

"What? It's true. They'd put her on as an alternate to practice and occasionally play. She ran the same risk! It's politics and sexism, I'm telling you!"

Zephyris skewered a sausage and brought it to her plate. "That could be it," she said, "but I could have also not been that good."

Harry picked up some toast thoughtfully. "Well, we'll see in a little while, wont we?"

"Indeed." Zephyris replied. "I bet you have a lot of people trying out today."

Ron looked a little queasy, "yeah, I bet."

Hermione looked over her book. "Don't worry Ron. We'll be in the stands cheering you on."

Ron sighed. "That makes me feel better. Hey, what's up with the snitch?"

Hermione blushed. "Just a present from a friend." she said. "That's all."

"Is it from Krum?"

Zephyris jumped in, "If you must know, it's the Snitch from the Quidditch World Tournament a few years ago. You remember, Bulgaria caught the snitch but the Irish still won?"

Ron looked at Hermione, his mouth agape. "That's bloody amazing! Can I see it?"

"Later, Ron." Hermione said diving back to her book.

Zephyris finished eating quickly then stood. "Well, I'll see you on the pitch!" she said energetically.

He looked at her. "Uh, yeah! See you in a bit." And she walked off.

"So," Neville said to harry. "Are you two still at odds?" It was a bold question for him but his voice was steady. Harry was taken back a little bit.

"What makes you ask that?"

"It's just that we spend a lot of time together in Hagrid's class for our project and such. We talk a lot and she does talk about how it bothers her that you two can't get along."

Harry looked at Neville for a moment, trying to think about what to say next. Ron jumped in for him. "Well, Harry's been busy, you know?"

"I can handle this Ron, thanks." Harry told his friend. "Well I have been busy but still…" he sighed, "I guess the whole she's Snape's daughter thing throws me off."

"Shouldn't it throw me off the most since I'm most afraid of him?" Neville countered.

"I don't think—"

"It should! But I don't care. You took a chance on me and you took a chance on Luna." Neville said sharply yet quietly to harry. Neville's hands shook slightly as he spoke. "Why not take a chance on her?"

Harry looked at Neville, his mouth agape and at a loss for words. "I…I…uh…"

"There is no good reason." Neville finished. "No good reason at all." Neville stood. "I've got plants to tend to. See you all later." And he left without another word.

Hermione, Ron, and harry sat in silence. The hum of everyone in the great hall speaking and eating surrounded them as they looked at each other. None of the three could believe that Neville had been so bold.

"Good for him!" Hermione finally said. "Good for him! And I couldn't agree more."

"Oh, come off it," Ron said to her. "Not now."

"No, no." she replied, "I wasn't going to say anything. I just—" she cut herself short, looking at harry. "Er, ar you alright?"

Harry nodded, wincing. His hand rubbed at his scar. "No, I'm fine. It's a headache."

They all spent a little more time in silence.

"Harry," Hermione finally said, "Are you going to Professor Slughorn's little tea party?"

"Party?" Ron said quickly, "what party?"

Hermione sighed and pushed around some eggs on her plate, "Just some silly get together he is having for certain students. I can't imagine it being any fun. Harry, are you going?"

"Wait, I wasn't invited." Ron continued.

"Consider yourself lucky. It should be boring. Harry, Ginny said she was going."

"Ginny was invited?" Ron yelled.

"Shut it!" Hermione hissed, "Yes she was. He saw her perform a bat boogey hex and evidently was impressed. Harry? Going?"

Harry nodded, "I suppose. When is it?"

"Tonight," she said, "Oh wait. You'll be with Dumbledore."

Harry nodded with a smile, "Oh yeah, that's right."

"Hold up, I'm going to be all alone this evening? You at a party, you with Dumbledore."

"Zephyris will be free tonight." Harry said.

Hermione shook her head. "No, part of the time she'll be with her dad and the other half, she'll be at Slughorn's."

Ron dropped his fork, "Her too?"

Hermione gave him a sidelong glance. "She is a very talented witch. You've just been too busy wanting to hate her."

"I never said I wanted to hate her." Ron replied dejectedly.

Hermione stood, "well either way, you'll just have to figure out what to do on your own tonight." She picked up her book and turned to leave. "See you at tryouts. Good luck Ron." She smiled at him then left.

"I'm going to ask Dumbledore what he thinks about Zephyris's presence here."

"Why would he care?" Ron said around some eggs in his mouth.

"I dunno…I just feel strange around her. And not in a good way. She reminds me of…"

Ron looked at him, mid bite. "Of what?"

Harry shook his head then ran his fingers through his jet hair, "She makes me think of Sirius's death."

"oh…I'm sorry mate." Ron never knew what to say when Harry had that look on his face. That I'm-reliving-my-nightmares look. Hermione had told him to just be there for Harry but not exactly what to do. Ron, desperate to change the subject began talking. "You know, I think while you and everyone else is gone, I might try to chat up Lavender. What do you think?"

Thankful for change in subject, Harry smiled, "I think that be interesting. Have you talked to Hermione about it?"

Ron's red eyebrows crinkled. "Why on earth for? She's not my mum. Speaking of which I hope she remembers to send my pajamas."

"Hermione?" Harry asked, utterly confused.

"No, My mum! What would Hermione be doing with my pajamas?" Ron pushed his plate away. "Well, it's now or never. I'm going to get ready."

"I'll go with you." Harry said as he stood. He followed Ron who was babbling on about the reasons he should chat up Lavender but Harry wasn't really listening. His mind was awash with thoughts of Sirius dying, of standing over Bellatrix and wanting so badly to make her suffer, of Zephyris and how she made him so uncomfortable, and lastly of Draco. What was he doing? What was he up to? Could he get Zephyris to find out since her father was head of Slytherin?

"And so I think that I should give it a go. You know. If anything just to get snogged." Ron said as they walked towards the Quidditch pitch.

"That's brilliant!" Harry exclaimed.

Ron turned and looked at harry. "It's not that brilliant. It's just my love life."

Harry sighed and shook his head. "No, not you. I mean we should ask Zephyris to get information on Malfoy from Snape!"

Ron looked to the side, thinking it over. "I dunno, mate. I highly doubt she'd be willing to give us any information."

Harry wracked his brains. "Well she might. I mean, if we, hey! What if I put her on the team!"

Ron gave harry an aghast look. "Harry, that wouldn't be fair! What if she stinks? I mean, everyone would notice that you're trying to get on someone's good side. Maybe hers. Maybe Snape's. Either way, it would look wrong. Plus, what if she STINKS?!"

"In that case, let's hope she doesn't….Oh my god…" Harry was stopped short at the sight of a crowd gathered in the pitch. Ginny was running up to them, her face beaming with excitement. Harry felt his heart jump a little at the sight of her. "What's all this?" he asked her.

She grinned. "They're here to try out!" Harry shot her a confused look. "Well they all think you're the chosen one! You're kind of famous. Even more than before." She laughed. "This is going to be brutal!"

Harry smiled at her. "Um…yeah!" he said. He made his way to the middle of the crowd. As he did, he noticed that a lot of the people there weren't even in his house. "Excuse me!" he yelled, trying to quiet the hopefuls. They didn't yield. "EXCUSE ME!" He yelled again, this time with his wand to his throat, amplifying his voice. Everyone froze and looked to him. He reversed the charm and continued in his regular voice.

"Thank you all for coming out. I will start by asking that if you are not in Gryffindor, please leave. That doesn't even make any sense!" Many people started walking off, taking places in the stands or the sidelines to watch. "Now the rest of you, get in groups of five. You'll be flying around the pitch. What? You don't' have a broom? You don't either!?" Harry said to various students. "If you don't have a broom, you'll have to wait for those who do!" He said. Harry caught sight of Zephyris walk up to a first year and offer the younger student her broom.

"It's ok. You can use it." Zephyris said to the younger girl.

"No..no. It's alright." The other girl looked scared.

"Have you flown before?"

"No…"

"Then maybe you should try next year, huh?" Zephyris suggested. The girl nodded and ran off. Zephyris offered to a few other students until a second year took her offer. A few other players were taking lead from her and trying to get younger students to fly. Without trying, they all weeded out at least half of that group. Next was the actual flying.

"Two laps." Harry said. "Groups of five. Ok. You five," he pointed at a group of young student, "go!" They all took off at the speed of Christmas. Slow. Tedious. Harry sighed as he watched them go. Ten minutes later he called them down and dismissed them. Groups flew around and harry dismissed more poor flyers.

Zephyris mounted up with another grouped up with three shaky looking flyers and Ginny.

"Hey there, new kid." Ginny teased as they mounted up.

Zephyris smiled as Harry gave them the queue to start. "Now you can say hi to my back!" she yelled to Ginny as she shot forward. The crowd gasped as Zephyris and Ginny chased each other around the pitch at break neck speed. Harry watched as Zephyris would taper her speed just slightly to let Ginny catch up, then speed off again, leaving her behind. A few times Ginny caught up and it seemed as if she would overtake Zephyris but somehow, leaning lower to her broom , Zephyris pulled ahead. As they rounded for lap two, Harry noticed Snape sitting in the stands, alone. He was watching the two students fly. Harry could make out a small scowl on his face. Harry smirked and turned his attention back to Ginny and Zephyris who were fast coming to stopping points. They were practically in a dive, racing to be the first one to touch down. Ginny and Zephyris grinned at each other in competitive bliss as they bolted to the ground.

Suddenly Zephyris felt something blunt strike her in the back hard. She was knocked forward on her broom. Ginny turned to see what happened then feigned left just in time to dodge an out of control broom. Zephyris pulled her broom up quickly, just before she was to fly head long into the ground. Her toes drug across the grass and she fell off of her broom, rolling across the lawn. She came to a stop, broom still in hand. Ginny landed beside her and knelt down.

"Oh my god, are you ok?" she asked as Zephyris sat up.

"Who can't control their broom?" Zephyris yelled. She held up a battered looking cleansweep that had been sitting just left of where she crashed. Ginny helped Zephyris up as a third year walked up to reclaim his broom. "I don't know how you managed to not get hurt," Zephyris said, "but you should not be allowed to ride." Zephyris shoved the broom at the kid and limped off. Harry ran up to her.

"Are you alright? I saw that run away broom just come out of now where and knock you square on the back!" he exclaimed. He reached out with the hem of his undershirt and dabbed at her lip. It was swollen and bleeding.

"Ow! Stop that." She replied, pushing his hands away. "I'm alright. I managed not to kill myself. Ginny, are you alright?"

Ginny nodded, "oh yeah. I'm fine. I managed to dodge it."

Out of nowhere, appeared Snape. "Zephyris." He said as he pushed the students out of the way. "This is why I told you not to come try out." He took her face in his hand and surveyed the damage. "It's not bad." He pulled his wand out and muttered an incantation, mending her lip.

"Father, I'm fine." She said, twisting out of his grip. Her face was red.

"Alright, come back to the castle with me."

"But I've got to finish the try out."

Snape took her by the shoulders to guide her off the field, "I'm sure after that, you're not making it to the next round."

Harry came up beside him, "are you kidding? That was a great bit of flying!" he said to Zephyris. "I want you to stay!"

"No," Snape said, "I think she should come into the castle for a look over."

Zephyris pulled away. "I said I was fine!" she snapped. Everyone went silent as father and daughter squared off. "I am going to stay down here and finish the try outs. I'm not a quitter."

Snape glared at her. "Do as you wish." He growled. "I will be waiting for you on the grounds to discuss your little bout of insubordination!" With that, he walked off towards the castle, robes billowing.

She glared after him. "Ugh! He lives to embarrass!" she said as she turned back to the pitch. Harry smirked. Then rounded up the next few groups. Zephyris and Ginny took a sideline seat.

"Is he always like that?" Ginny asked as they watched other groups fly.

Zephyris sighed and leaned back on the grass. "Well…I dunno. I couldn't really tell you because this is probably the most time we've ever spent together. Even at home, we're just doing our own thing."

"That must suck. Though I wouldn't mind time alone in my house."

"A lot of family?"

"Loads. And we live in this crazy little house. It's madness. Cozy madness." Ginny chuckled. "It's home!"

Zephyris smiled and looked off in the stands. She caught a glimpse of Neville sitting with Hermione and Luna. He waved down to her and she waved back.

"So what's that all about?" Ginny asked.

"What?"

"Neville."

Zephyris picked at some blades of grass. "We hang out a lot. He's really more brilliant that people give him credit."

Ginny smiled, "yeah, I mean, is there anything going on between you two?"

"aside from being friends? Not really."

"But you go off to the lake in the evenings."

Zephyris laughed. "oh that's just for a class project. We feed the Hippocamps."

"ah, I see. Well he's a really nice guy."

"I know."

"So don't hurt him." Ginny finished as she stood. She offered her hand to Zephyris to stand.

"I couldn't see myself doing that." Zephyris replied. She took Ginny's hand and the redheaded girl hoisted her up.

"Good. Now let's go and do some drills. I can hear harry yelling for us."

The rest of the tryouts were different drills and then keeper hopefuls saving goals. Zephyris felt her drills went well and when it came to hitting the quaffle into the goal, she got them all. At the end of the day, she found herself being a part of the Gryffindor team as one of their Chasers. She had excepted to be an alternate but was thrilled when her name was called.

"Now those are my decisions! I don't' want to hear it!" Harry yelled over angry students. "We'll start practicing this week. Good job all of you!"

Finally Zephyris felt herself being a part of something and not an outcast. She saw Ginny kiss Dean briefly but turned away to find Neville in front of her.

"Congratulations!" he cried as he shook her shoulder. "You were great!"

She beamed. "Thanks! I can't believe I did it!"

"I can." He replied as he gave her a quick hug. Zephyris froze a bit, not knowing what to make of it but hugged him back anyway. Ron came up.

"hey!" he said, "let's go get some butterbeers and celebrate a little!" They all made their way back to the castle. Once the got there, Zephyris saw her father walking to her.

"Aw hell…I've got to go." She said as she bid her new friends goodbye.

"Why?" Harry asked.

She just shook her head. "Trust me. I've got to go right now."

"See you in the common room." He said as she walked off. Her footsteps were quiet across the stone walkway as she approached her father.

"I know. I'm in trouble." She said as she stood before him. Snape said nothing for a moment as he looked down at his daughter. She had pieces of grass in her tousled hair and a bit of dried blood on her teeshirt .

"You look a mess." He finally said as he pulled a bit of grass from her hair.

"I was playing quidditch." She said shrugging her shoulders.

"I know. I saw." He looked towards the doors that lead inside and to the Slytherin dungeons. "Walk with me." He said as he began taking strides to the door. Zephyris followed. They entered and began meandering down the halls. "Zephyris, I'm not angry with you. In fact, I'm somewhat proud of your performance."

"You saw the rest of it?"

"I watched from the castle. I didn't know you were so good." He said to her. "It makes me regret your placement into Gryffindor even more."

She smiled at him.

"Unfortunately, I am worried."

"Of what? I won't get too hurt."

"No." he said, cutting her off, "not of you getting hurt in that silly game. I'm worried about you getting more publicity that what's safe."

"that's silly. It's just quidditch."

"I know, Zephyris, but the more you're out there, the more someone will be able to find you. Namely the dark lord. I still must…" he paused then uttered the muffliato charm. "I still must, "he continued whispering, "explain to him why you are here, alive, and not on his side."

"Are you on his side?" she asked.

Snape stop walking and faced her in the deserted corridor that lead to his quarters. He looked at her with a hard gaze. "I am not." He told her. "My job is complicated." He continued. "There is so much uncertainty for your safety due to my job. Pretending to be helping the dark lord so I can be in his favor to get information. Being cruel to everyone here to keep up the façade. Well, that's not that hard. But if he finds you or if anyone else finds you, they will use you too."

"What If I want to be used?" she asked. "What if I want to help?"

"Your occulmency is just as shoddy as Potter's. You would be like an open book to him." He told her.

"Teach me!"

"No!" he yelled. She shrank back. Severus sighed and put an arm around her, walking her into his quarters. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell. I just don't think that would work. He…" Snape closed the door to his dark apartment. He lit the lamps, revealing his small sitting room. Zephyris threw herself on the couch. "Look. There is a plan." He said. "I'm revealing this to you because you may need to know."

"Alright."

"But you must not breathe a word to anyone!" he said as he sat beside her.

"I understand. You don't have to tell me."

"No, I do." Snape said. He patted her leg. "Alright, you know Draco Malfoy. I've seen you speaking to him in class. He has been entrusted by the Dark Lord to carry out a task. What task, I cannot tell you." He said. "But it is a grave task. I've promised his mother I'd protect him at all costs from the Dark Lord. He is refusing my help."

"Alright…" Zephyris said. She took a deep breath. "How can I help?"

"You can't." Snape said. "I just need you to stay away from him."

"First stay away from Harry, now stay away from Draco."

Snape rolled his eyes. "I don't care about Harry." He spat. "That boy just gets on my nerves! I need you to stay far away from Draco. Be kind to him. Be polite to him. Don't get close to him. Can you do that for me?"

"Yes sir."

"Good. Very good." Snape leaned back on the couch. "I'll be leaving during Christmas time." He said. "I know it's far off but I just needed to tell you. I feel guilty."

Zephyris sat cross legged, leaning against the arm of the couch. "Why?"

"Unsavory work, I assure you." He said to her.

She nodded. "This is off subject but can you tell me something." She said. "Don't get mad when I ask. It's a curiosity."

"Ask."

She twirled some of her hair. "Aside from the fact that he can be self important, why do you hate Harry?"

Snape frowned. "I actually have a list in my desk…"

She smiled, "I'm serious."

"I am too." He replied giving her a rare smile.

"No really."

Snape sighed, "Zephyris, it's not that simple…no, well yes it is. I…." he looked at her then looked away. "Back when I was a child and a student, I knew his parents. I loved his mother. She was one of my only true friends." He told her. His face looked sad. "and his father was a complete bastard. Haughty, self important, spoiled, cruel." He shifted in the couch. "And he…" Snape paused for a moment. "well, he bullied me, Zephyris. He and his friends were constantly cruel to me. Lily, Harry's mother, always stood up for me and while it warmed my heart for her to take up for me, it was also embarrassing. Emasculating. One afternoon, during one of their taunting tirades, I lost it. I shouted something vile to her and we were never friends again."

"What did you say?"

"I called her a mudblood."

Zephyris gasped. "That is bad."

"Very." Snape replied. "Very much indeed. "I lost all chance with her and she went on to marry him. I'm not saying it's the best reason but I see so much of his father in him. Sometimes I see myself too and it makes me think of her and it hurts me."

"That's no reason to hate him."

Snape smiled weakly at her. "I don't hate harry." He said. "I hate his father. He just reminds me of his father."

"Have you told him this?"

"No!" Snape snapped. "This is none of his business. In fact, it's none of yours either." He cursed himself inwardly for revealing all this to her. Quickly he pointed his wand at her. "Obliviate." Her silver eyes went out of focus for a moment. "I'm sorry, Zephyris." He whispered as her eyes came back into focus.

"So why? Why do you hate him?" her memory was altered to right before his initial answer.

Snape sighed. "Because he doesn't know how to follow rules, thinks he's special, and reminds me of his father who was less than humble."

She nodded mulling it over. "Oh. Well, I can understand that." She stood. "I need to get back to my house now. They're waiting, I'm sure."

Snape smiled at her. "I'm glad you're fitting in here despite some of the people you have to hang out with."

"They're not that bad. It wouldn't hurt you to be slightly kinder."

Snape walked her out of the door. "And lose this bastard mystique? No, I think not." He gently squeezed her shoulder. "Are you coming back tonight to help me gather ingredients?"

"Yes sir."

"Good. Goodbye."

Zephyris hugged her father. "Bye bye." She said and she left him there. Snape watched his daughter walk off. He hated himself for tearing into her memory like that. It was necessary. There were things he just didn't want her to know. It was just so easy to speak with her sometimes. He looked at the dark mark on his forearm. The snake was dark against his pale skin and twisted into the skull. With a sigh, he closed the door, retreating into his small quarters.

Robes billowing behind her, Zephyris ran all the way to her house common room, stopping only to thank Professor McGonagall who had congratulated her. She skidded to a stop in front of the painting and said, "Rigamarole!" then entered into the common room. Her team mates were all hanging around the main table, laughing and talking, drinking butterbeers. Ginny ran up to Zephyris and shoved a bottle into her hand.

"He didn't yell at you too much, did he?" She asked as she drug Zephyris to the table with everyone else. There was a small group of dejected students sulking to the side, glaring at the people who were chosen to play.

"Nah, not really. He actually wanted to congratulate me and to see if I was going to help him collect ingredients tonight."

"You mean you're not going to Slughorn's little get together?"

Zephyris shrugged. "No, I decided to pass. I wanted to spend some time with my father and since somebody," she shot a look at Harry, "is skipping out on detention," she looked back at Ginny, "I get to spend a little time with him."

Harry shrugged, "It's not my fault I have extra lessons."

Zephyris smirked, "Damn the luck, huh?" She told him as Ron and lavender whisked by. "They seem to be getting along well." She said to Ginny as they watched Ron wrap himself around Lavender.

"I know. It's disgusting." Hermione said before Ginny could reply. She took her book and made her way up the stairs to the dormitory. Zephyris made to follow her but Ginny stopped her.

"Give her a moment. Sometimes she just needs to be alone. We'll go talk to her in a little while."

Zephyris nodded, still looking at the door where Hermione disappeared. "right… oh, harry!" she turned to Harry. "Um, could I have a word in the hall?" Harry looked at her, cocking an eyebrow up.

"Sure. Uh, yeah let's go." He put his drink down went to the passage way in the wall. Zephyris followed him as everyone in the room was whistling and cat calling.

"Oh shut it!" Zephyris called over her shoulder. "It's about his detention!" the remaining Gryffindors began chuckling and talking amongst themselves as the doorway closed.

Harry looked at her as she climbed out. "Is this really about detention? Because he said I could make it up tonight."

"What? Oh, that? No. No that's not what I wanted to talk about. I was just trying to shut them up." She wrung the sleeve of her robes. "Uh…Thanks for, um, choosing me for your team. I really appreciate it."

"Don't thank me." He said. "You're amazing. I'm really surprised that they didn't put you on in Durmstrang, despite…well despite you being a girl. I mean, Katie and Ginny alone are proof that it doesn't matter."

"Yeah, well thanks anyway. I mean, we got off to a rocky start, you know?"

Harry looked away and sighed, his cheeks going pink slightly. "Yeah, I know. Zephyris I'm really—"

"No let me. I need to."

Harry shook his head. "No it was me. You just don't understand." He leaned on the wall and slid down till he was sitting. Zephyris sat by him. "I've been going through some really tough times."

"Hermione kind of alluded to some of what's been going on for you. The prophet and the quibbler kind of fill in the rest."

"Well there's stuff that the prophet and the quibbler don't know." He told her. "I lost someone very close to me last spring." He said.

"I know." Zephyris pulled out the album locket. She opened it and flipped to Sirius's picture then she handed it to him. "He was your godfather. My dad told me."

Harry stared down at Sirius who stared back at him, smiling coolly, draped across a chair. Sirius looked young. Maybe in his early twenties.

"Where did you get this picture? It seems like it's really old. I know you said you collected snippets and stuff but this picture looks like it could have come from their family album." Harry asked.

"I dunno. I found it in my trunk before I left to Hogwarts. I haven't shown it to anyone. Not even my father. I'd been trying to get the picture out so I could give It to you, you know, like a peace offering, but I can't figure out what kind of charm does it. It's magically stuck."

"Wait, you found this whole thing? Its' not yours?"

"Well, yes. I mean, it's mine now. I've actually tried to lose it twice and it keeps reappearing in my trunk. Curious."

Harry looked at the pictures. "Oh that's Tonks. And, I don't' know who this is. Phinneas Nigellus. You know, these are all people who are related to the Blacks." He looked at sirius's picture again. "You're not related to the Blacks, are you?"

She shrugged. "Probably not. I mean, I have no idea who my father is but I doubt there's anyone in the Black family who," she shuddered, "made it with my dad. Just the thought of my father uh…getting it on, makes me a little queasy."

"You and me both." He closed the small album and gave it back to her. "It doesn't talk to you or anything, does it?"

"Nope. It just refuses to be lost. It must be some sort of wacky charm. Who knows?" She took it from him and put it back in her pocket. "Look, I'm seriously sorry for calling you a bastard and everything. I meant it though, when I said that I was looking forward to meeting you. I really did want to prove that you're not as much of a jerk as he says you are. And I don't think you are. I just think, like Hermione said, you're just really going through some stuff. Big stuff."

He smiled. "You said you'd be able to handle it."

"I said a lot of crap." She told him. "Who knows?"

"Well I'm sorry too." He said. "I wasn't exactly welcoming when you arrived." He put his hand out to her. "Friends?"

She took his hand and shook it. "Friends." She leaned back on the wall for a second. "you know, he doesn't really hate you, I don't think."

Harry shrugged, "Right."

"No seriously. I think you and he have more in common than you think. I think that's why you don't get along. You know, in that two sides of the same coin kind of way."

Harry said nothing for a second then looked at her. "Hey, I've got a question for you."

"what?"

"What is Malfoy up to?" harry asked. He surprised himself at his lack of tact.

Zephyris jerked back a little. "What in the world do you know about that?"

"He is up to something?"

"No, that's not what I said." She told him. Think fast! She told herself. Crud! He would ask this just after my father made me promise not to tell. "I just meant, what do you care about that stupid boy?"

"He said, well I overheard him, he said he had a task. There's something the dark lord wants him to do, I think." Harry told her. He began telling her all his speculations and thoughts on the subject. Zephyris listened and began to relax. He actually knew more about it than she did. She was releaved that she didn't have to make something up. "and that's why I think something's up with him."

"To be honest," she told harry, "I'm supposed to stay away from him. I was told to be cordial and civil but aside from that, stay far away."

"Now that's curious." Harry told her. "Why would you have to say away?"

"For my own good, I'd suppose." She said. "My father didn't elabora—" She clapped her hands over her mouth. She'd said too much.

"What does he know about it?"

"I dunno!" She said quickly. Harry turned to her and grabbed her shoulders.

"Zephyris this is important! What does he know?"

"I seriously don't know!" She said shaking his arms off. "Look, you can't tell anyone that he told me not to go around Draco. Please!"

"But why?"

Zephyris shook her head, "I really don't know. Probably because of Draco's family being death eaters. He probably wants me out of the way so nothing happens. I think he's right. We should stay far away from him."

Harry watched her almost fall to pieces in front of him. Something about it must have unnerved her. "Hey," he said as he patted her shoulder, "Calm down. You know, that makes sense."

She put her head in her hands. "You think he's really awful, don't you?"

"Your father? I…" Harry hesitated. He didn't want to start arguing with her now that they were actually on speaking terms. "I don't know…you have to admit he is hard to deal with."

"Oh I know that." She said. "but you think he's' in league with the dark lord, right?"

Harry took a deep breath. "Sometimes I think that." He said. It was best to be truthful.

Zephyris turned to him. "Well he's not. He's doing all he can to help the Order. I know nobody likes him but he's a brilliant man! He's doing everything he can to help you, Harry."

Harry nodded. He had heard all this before but something told him, something deep down in his gut, said don't trust him. "You know, we're going to have to agree to disagree on this one." He held up a hand as she made to argue with him. "My thoughts on your father don't' reflect my thoughts on you. I don't' think you're evil or anything. Plus…" he chuckled. "Plus, I've been treating you how he treats me."

"How's that?"

"Way back when our fathers went here, my dad wasn't exactly kind to yours. He bullied him. I think your dad resents that and takes it out on me. I was more or less doing the same thing. Snape bullies me and I took it out on you. I'm sorry."

She smiled at him. "Thank you Harry. I don't want you guys to think that you can't trust me or that I'm going to go running to my dad. McGonagall said that my house is my family when I'm here."

Harry stood and helped Zephyris up. "When we should start acting like it, huh?" he looked at the portrait. "Rigamarole" The fat lady swung open. "Let's put this behind us and start fresh. How bout it?"

"Sounds good to me, captain my captain." She saluted him as she went in and for the next few hours till everyone had to go their separate ways for their activities, felt more at home than she'd felt anywhere.

**I hope you enjoyed Ch 6! Ch 7 in progress! ^_^**