Fan: Lol, it's only been interrupted twice.but, alas, it's not gonna happen this chapter. As for Nyo.I don't think she's gonna have very many fans as time goes on.

Athenakitty: Can't say anything about Snape. And was that trip to the past bad? A lot of people keep mentioning it. And as for your other two questions.you'll see in this chapter.

Crater212: Maine? And what's the big deal? That song gave me the entire idea for this story. And it wasn't half the chapter, either. You read the first story in this series.of course Harry would change. :Pouts: I hate flames.I'm just gonna go now.

Englishgirl: Thanks! Really needed that after the last review!

Ears91: Will it ever happen? Maybe. As for the letter, yes, it's about Nyo. What about her, though. Read on and find out.

Issa2:Winces: That's probably my fault for not updating in so long. :Sigh: Been way to busy lately. Anywho, Nyo's the new transfer student at Hogwarts who has a little crush on Harry.

Bookwormgirl: If you're reading this, I'd be glad to help you. Didn't have your e-mail, though, so I couldn't e-mail you.leave it to me in your next review and we can chat! And as for Harry being more of a Headmaster.oh, he's gonna buckle down very soon.

Istalksiriusonweekends: Yes, but you know what they say. All good things come to those who wait.

Lenne Angel Sakura: Umm.Sorry 'bout that. Didn't mean for it to take so long.this one either.

Bookcrazy77: Thanks!

Lady Reaper of the Shadows: Cruel, yes, but all the better to keep your interest with, my dear. Lol.

Charlie: Yeah, everyone's mad at her at the moment.sorry to say you probably won't like her much later on in the story, either.

Wanted: A Happy Ending
Ch10: Darkness Beckons

"Oh, good. You're here," Madame Pomfrey said, hurrying over to him in the brightly lit Hospital Wing.

"Where is she?" Harry asked, allowing Pomfrey to steer him toward an occupied bed.

Pomfrey motioned to the bed, "Severus found her in the dungeons."

"Where's he now?" Harry asked.

"He went to go get Dumbledore," Pomfrey cast a glance back to the door.

Harry sighed heavily and took a seat in the chair next to the bed, "It figures. My first month as Headmaster, and already one of my students is in the Hospital Wing."

"Now, Mr. Potter," Pomfrey said sternly, "What kind of attitude is that for you to have? Why, I haven't worked here a single year without having some troublesome student get injured the first week! This is a record for me."

"Any idea of what happened?"

Pomfrey shook her head, "I can't say that I know for certain. Obviously she has been petrified, how I don't know, but that cut."

Harry turned his attention to the perfectly circular cut on the girl's forehead. It looked as though someone had branded her with a fire-hot pipe. He cautiously brought his hand to it. Before his fingers even touched the skin, he felt heat radiating off the injury.

"Odd." he whispered under his breath.

He carefully touched the cut and a flash of black and blue flew past his eyes. He jerked his hand away and stood up suddenly.

"Is something wrong?" Pomfrey asked.

Harry quickly shook his head, "No...no. Everything's fine."

"I understand, Severus. That is quite enough."

The two in the room turned quickly to see Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall staring sternly at Snape who crossed his arms, "I am just—"

"Ah, Harry, nice to see you again. I do wish it might have been under better circumstances," Dumbledore said, walking over to the bed, "That is the girl, I presume?"

"Merlin, what happened to her?" McGonagall asked breathlessly, eyes glued to the cut.

"I don't know," Pomfrey said shortly, obviously not pleased at not being able to diagnose the problem, "Severus found Miss Nickels in the dungeon and brought her straight to me."

Harry looked back into the petrified face of the young blonde Ravenclaw third year, "Professor Sprout is having her second years grow Mandrakes again."

"Mandrakes? They won't be ready till the spring. Surely you know some sort of spell to counter this," Snape said with a small sneer.

"There's no spell for petrification. Only Mandrake juice can cure it," Harry said, looking indignantly at the greasy-haired professor.

"That may be, but the question still remains of how she became petrified in the first place," McGonagall said.

"It couldn't be another Basilisk again?" Pomfrey wondered out loud.

All eyes fell to Harry who shook his head, "I doubt it. I've been running around this school for the past week trying to get things ready for Hermione's birthday, and I haven't heard anything. …I suppose I should keep an ear out for anything, though."

"I agree. I find it hard to believe that Hogwarts might play host to two Basilisks in such a short time span." Dumbledore nodded.

"Well, I actually wouldn't mind it so much. After last year, killing another Basilisk would hardly be difficult. Besides, look at her forehead. I don't recall that happening last time." Harry tapped his foot as he thought, "What happened…"

"That is the question, isn't it?" Snape cast a glance at Harry who glared at him.

"Now, now, Severus. You must learn to show more respect to your Headmaster," Dumbledore said calmly, "After all, Mr. Potter was out proposing at the time, if I'm not mistaken. By the way, Harry, how did that go?"

Harry sighed heavily and shook his head, "Well…let's just say paparazzi have a habit of turning up at the wrong time."

If he wasn't mistaken, Harry could almost swear that he heard Snape snort back a laugh, but he could never be certain of this, for at that very moment, a loud piercing scream broke through the very walls of the castle. Everyone in the room froze and looked at each other.

"What was that?" McGonagall asked quietly.

Severus rolled his eyes, "Nothing. It sounded to have come from the Forbidden Forest."

"That wasn't anything from the Forest," Harry said definitely, "That was human."

As if to assert this belief, the scream sounded again. Accompanying it this time, however, was Hedwig who zoomed into the Hospital Wing so quickly that it was almost as if she had seen a ghost. She screeched loudly at them before grabbing Harry's shirt and pulling him back out through the window causing those still in the Hospital Wing to shout out.

The second the cool September air hit his face, he knew why Hedwig had been in such a frenzy. Along the edge of the Forbidden Forest, another one of his students was running from two adults who cast spell after spell at the student. Instantly, Harry something was familiar about the trio, and he urged Hedwig on faster.

They were drawing closer now, and Harry was barely twenty feet away when one of the spells hit the student and he fell to the ground. The adults slowed now, walking casually to the still form of the student. Harry, close enough now to see who it was, narrowed his eyes.

The woman of the duo started to reach out towards the student when, out of no where, Hedwig released Harry and he landed directly between the adults the still form of the young girl.

Harry's wand was level with the woman's nose and he spoke in a low voice, "Don't even think about it, Mrs. Rill.'"

Belle, shocked to see anyone, let alone Harry, shrieked and jumped back to join her husband. Harry looked over his shoulder at Nyo who was quite clearly not about to get up on her own.

Turning back to the other two, he glowered, "I think you have some explaining to do."

"We have nothing to say to you," Quincy said, his hand discreetly moving to his pocket, "She's ours, and we'll do as we please with her."

He suddenly drew his wand, but Harry beat him to it, "Deserus Croxia!"

The two flew back, landing with a rather loud crunch on the ground. Sneering at them, Harry turned and knelt next Nyo, cursing himself mentally. He could have prevented this. He, himself, had been in the same situation not but a year ago, he knew the signs.

"Tripindium!"

Harry whipped around to see Belle and Quincy, who had apparently been sneaking up on him, sail back into a couple of trees.

"How is she, Harry?" Dumbledore asked, coming up next to him.

"She'll be okay. Madame Pomfrey should look at her, though," Harry said, picking Nyo up.

A flash of light, and Harry felt an acute dull pain sear across his cheek.

"This isn't over yet, Potter!" Quincy bellowed, lowering his wand before disappearing with a pop along with his wife.

"Are you okay, Harry?" McGonagall asked, quickly grabbing his face and looking at the deep cut on his cheek.

Harry continued to stare at the spot where Nyo's parents had been but a moment before, "Yeah…yeah, I'm fine. We should get her back to the Hospital Wing, though."

McGonagall nodded and let go of Harry's face. Harry started back to the school but stopped when he reached Snape who was staring at seemingly nothing, "Something wrong?"

Snape suddenly snapped back into reality, "What? Oh, no. Nothing at all…that woman...she just seems terribly familiar."

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Ron shouted.

Harry clamped his hand over Ron's mouth and grinned sheepishly at the students in the room who stared at them.

"Harry, are you sure?" Hermione asked, putting a hand on his shoulder.

Harry looked around at those who continued to stare at them briefly before motioning for his friends to follow him and the quartet headed out of the Great Hall. Once the doors had been completely closed behind them, Harry released Ron.

"Are you sure?" Hermione asked again.

"You think I'd say something like this without being positive?" Harry asked, starting to walk down one of the corridors, "I think that I, of all people, would know when someone's been abused. If you're still not sure, ask Snape. He was there too."

"I never said I didn't believe you, Harry," Hermione said indignantly, "I just…I just can't believe this would happen again... And so soon."

"At least it explains why she wasn't at the party yesterday," Lavenders stated.

"Yeah, and why Hermione's stuff was all over the place. That must have been where they got her," Ron said knowledgably.

"What?" Hermione asked.

Lavender and Harry looked at Ron before rolling their eyes. "We found your stuff trashed yesterday when we were installing your portable library," Lavender said.

"Yeah, Ron thought Nyo had done it," Harry said, snorting at the absurdity of it.

Ron crossed his arms, "Well, excuse me. I just thought that with Nyo lik—"

Harry glared at Ron from behind Hermione's back and Ron shut up quickly, "Never mind."

"What about that Nickels girl?" Hermione asked.

Harry sighed and shook his head, "Pomfrey and I were working on an antidote all last night. Looks like we're going to have to wait for the Mandrakes, though."

"Do her parents know?" Lavender asked.

He nodded, "I apparated to their house this morning. They weren't too happy, but they…well, they want her to stay here until the cure is ready."

"More like demanded she stay here."

Harry rolled his eyes, "Perfect timing as usual, Padfoot."

Sirius smiled ruffled Harry's hair before turning to their friends, "They were flipping out. Said the safest place for her was here…I guess it never occurred to them that this is where it happened in the first place."

"Yeah, well…I don't think I need to tell you guys to keep this quiet. The last thing I need is another panic like in our second year," Harry said, shaking is head at the would-be drama.

"No problem there mate," Ron said, punching Harry's shoulder jovially.

"You three best be on your way if you don't want to be late to your first class," Remus said, walking past them.

"We have you first, Remus," Ron said with little concern.

"All the more reason to hurry," Remus smiled as he continued on his way, "I hear Professor Lupin can be a monster with tardiness."

Ron, Hermione, and Lavender laughed, but bid farewell to Harry and Sirius before following their professor.

"I have to go, too," Sirius said, "I promised to show those Newbourn twins a couple of pointers before class."

Harry smiled, "Fine by me. Just nothing too dangerous, Sirius."

Sirius smiled innocently, "Who, me?"

Before Harry could say anything, Sirius had turned down a corridor, leaving Harry alone in the entrance to the Hospital Wing. Shaking his head, he silently prayed Sirius didn't create a worse version of Fred and George.

Once Sirius' footsteps had faded from his ears, Harry headed into the Hospital Wing. Madame Pomfrey was busy administering some kind of supplement to Nickels, and she didn't even notice him as he walked threw the curtains to where Nyo was resting.

She wasn't facing him, but Harry could tell she was awake. He himself had too often pretended to be asleep that he could pick up on all the tiny signs.

"I hear that telling your Headmaster something important can save you a lot of trouble in the future," he said, crossing his arms.

Nyo didn't move, and Harry took a seat in the chair, "I know your awake, Nyo."

"Please just leave me alone," she mumbled through the blankets.

"Sorry, no can do. I know you don't like it, but you have to talk about it," Harry said, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"Says who?" she muttered.

Harry smiled bittersweetly and cocked an eyebrow, "Don't you think I'd know?"

Nyo didn't respond to that, she only pulled the blankets tighter around her neck. Harry sighed and stood up, "Well, if you don't want to talk about it, you might as well go back to class. Pomfrey and I fixed up all your injuries. There's nothing stopping you."

She did nothing for a moment before starting to stand up. Harry laughed and gently pushed her back down, "Hey, I was just kidding. Pomfrey'd kill me if I let you go now. She wants you in bed till tomorrow."

Nyo, sitting up now, drew her knees to her chest and looked at him, "What do you want to hear me say? You know everything already."

"If I knew everything I wouldn't be in here asking you. How'd your parents get in here? They shouldn't be able to apparate, but last night proved me wrong. And how long has this been going on? Why didn't you ever tell anybody?"

Nyo snorted, "Obviously you don't."

"Huh?" Harry asked.

"You said you know what I'm going through. Bull. If you did, you wouldn't be asking me that. You should know the answer yourself," Nyo said, sneering slightly.

Harry smiled quietly, "I know why I never told anyone, but I don't know why you never did, especially after you got here. Don't you think I could've helped you before it got this far?"

"Even if I didn't tell you, there's nothing you could have done. You don't know them. They've always gotten things their way. They'd've gotten me eventually," Nyo said bitterly.

Harry was quickly reminded of his own words the previous year when he had been on the other side of this conversation and he shook his head, "No they wouldn't've. There are steps to be taken. Especially here at Hogwarts. You're surrounded by dozens of fully trained wizards."

Nyo turned away, "It doesn't matter anyway. What's done is done."

Silence fell upon the two for the better portion of ten minutes until it was finally broken my Harry standing up, "Nyo, last night I was talking to Dumbledore and McGonagall. They've gone ahead and taken the measures. You're parents don't have control over you anymore."

"What?" she asked quietly, looking back at him.

"You're nearly finished with school. The Ministry has agreed to dissolve the rights your parents have over you," Harry smiled at the shocked look on her face, "You're free from them now."

"But…but..." Nyo stuttered.

"The professors and I here at Hogwarts are your 'parents' until the summer, but after that, you're free," Harry grinned, "Your mum and dad—"

But before he could finish, he found himself thrown back by an ecstatic hug Nyo sent his way. Instantly, Ron's words raced to the front of his mind and Harry felt rather uncomfortable. Careful as to not appear to be doing so, Harry squirmed to remove himself from her arms.

"Listen, I have some work to do up in my office. You should try to get some rest…you're going to need it if you plan to beat me tomorrow."

The cheering and yelling that was already deafening, only tripled as the doors leading into the Quidditch field opened. Harry couldn't help but grin as the bright sun hit his face and the oh-so-familiar feeling of anticipation of a great game filled his being from head to toe.

On the other side of the field, he could see Gryffindor's team already filing out onto the field, and it was only then that he realized how awkward it was to be playing a game of Quidditch without his red and gold uniform. Looking down at the clothes Parvati and Padma Patil had designed, they seemed very similar to those of the other houses, only black and white with a Hogwarts crest stitched onto the cape.

"Ready?" he asked, turning around.

It was quite apparent that all were excited about the game with the exception of a certain Potions Master. Snape's eyes narrowed to mere slits as the rest of his teammates let out an enthusiastic response to Harry's question. His arms were crossed, and Harry had to turn back around to hide his smile.

"Let's go then!" he shouted, and the team bounded out into the center of the field with eager whoops.

Harry was certain that, had he still been a student, he would have found the whole prospect of a Quidditch team of professors a most entertaining prospect, and, apparently, so did his pupils.

Laughter rang out from the stands as the portly Professor Vector tripped over his cape, nearly colliding roughly to the surface. Harry groaned inwardly. If Megan, Ginny, and Colin were half as good as they were last year, then it was bound to be a close game.

Once they had reached the middle of the field, Harry became quite aware of the dangerous looks Megan was sending his way. He had no doubt as to who would become the next captain of Gryffindor's team after Ron graduated.

"Hey, Harry, nice day for a game, huh?" Ron asked jovially.

"You don't talk to the enemy! Let alone make small talk!" Megan said venomously.

Harry wasn't the only one who had to laugh at that. Both teams, with the exception of Snape and Megan, laughed heartily. Typically, words such as the ones she had just produced would be a cause for indignation and arguing, but as it was Megan who had said it, no one took it seriously. She had far too much of her brother in her to waste concern on.

"Captains shake hands," Trelawney said.

When she had first volunteered to referee the match, Harry had flat out refused, along with a good portion of both teams, but when all the other teachers were discovered to be incapable of flying or being able to avoid Bludgers, there had been few other options.

Ron and Harry shook hands briefly.

"Good luck, mate," they said simultaneously before laughing.

"Get on your brooms," Trelawney instructed.

"That's 'mount' your brooms," Megan said, annoyed. Harry shook his head. He couldn't imagine what Mr. and Mrs. Wood had to put up with the other year during the World Cup. Oliver and Megan, from what he had heard, were supporting different teams. Harry shuddered at the thought.

"Yes, yes, that's what I said," Trelawney said mistily and both teams hovered in the air.

"And the Bludgers erupt! Followed by the golden snitch—"

Harry let the Newbourn twins' voices fall into the back of his mind where he could easily conjure them back forward should he have the need to.

Looking around, he saw Madame Pomfrey shouting at Nyo to 'get off that broom this instant!' Apparently, the matron had forgotten about the game, otherwise she would have held Nyo there until after the match.

Nyo rolled her eyes and flew off in the opposite direction of the Professors' stand. Harry watched her dodge a Bludger before letting his eyes wander the field again. Directly below him, Ron blocked shot sent by Tali who promptly cursed and flew off in the other direction.

Harry noted with brief amusement that as she flew past Pomfrey, the nurse once again attempted to order her off the broom claiming that it was 'far too dangerous for a pregnant woman to play Quidditch.'

A Bludger flew past his ear, and Harry darted sharply to the side from instinct.

"—And Weasley scores again, making the score fifty to twenty," Alex Newbourn's voice echoed in the back of Harry's head.

Harry looked down to see Sirius hit a Bludger in Ginny's direction, though it was quite apparent that it wasn't intended to hit her. The only one seemed to be taking the game seriously was Megan who was currently shouting at Sirius for his Bludger.

"You could have killed her!" Megan screeched.

"Megan, it wasn't anywhere near me," Ginny said, flying off towards the other side of the field.

"Yeah, lucky he's not a good Beater!" Megan said wretchedly.

"Someone's a little loopy," Nyo said to Seamus and Dean who laughed.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Rill. You're still new here. Be careful or you might find yourself off the team," Megan warned.

Nyo laughed and rolled her eyes before flying off again.

Harry sighed. At least he wasn't on the same team as her anymore. She was a nice person, but when a game rolled around, she was just plain crazy.

"Gryffindor scores again!" Barry Newbourn screamed through the speaker system.

Harry whipped his head around and saw Colin high five Ginny. Which one had scored, he didn't know, but at least Megan seemed to be pleased again.

"That's the ticket! Show 'em that old Gryffindor fight!" she shouted.

Back in the stands, Harry noted that Hermione and Lavender seemed to be debating about whose team to cheer for. Every time someone scored, they would cheer before looking around as if wondering if they had done the correct thing. Harry laughed and peered around, looking for the snitch.

Distantly, he heard Trelawney float by muttering something about how the outcome of the game would spell certain doom to the winning team. Harry wondered if he might be able to persuade Lavender to take over for the bat next year. The idea was quickly put the back of his mind, though, as a flash of gold dashed past by his face.

Instantly, before he could even bend to move his broom, he felt it start to zoom after the snitch. The element of surprise in this nearly caused him to lose his grip on the handle, but he reminded himself that that was what the broom was designed to do, follow brain messages.

The broom suddenly pulled into a dive, and Harry's grip slipped temporarily but he flushed his body with the broom and soon was diving with such speed, that he would later hear that he had been nothing more than a streak of color. Tears started to form in the corners of his eyes from the wind, and he began to wonder how close he was to the ground when he found a sudden pressure in his palm.

As quickly as the dive had begun, it ended, and Harry found himself staring breathlessly forward with a golden ball of feathers struggling against the strength of his fingers. The broom wasn't exactly new to him, he had ridden in several times before, but never had it gone that fast.

After a few minutes, he felt himself begin to regain feeling in his body, and realized that he had been holding his breath. Breathing deeply, he noticed that there was complete silence in the stands and on the field. Swallowing, a dry mouth, he hopped off his broom, three feet from the ground.

Then, up in the sky, someone shouted "Bloody hell!" and a monstrous explosion of cheering literally shook the ground beneath Harry's feet. Dimly, he could hear the Newbourn twins shouting the results of the match.

"And after that amazing, unbelievable, remarkable, totally wicked awesome display of flying talent, our Headmaster managed to tie the score! What a fitting end to such an anticipated game! And what a display of that new Starshooter 83! I have GOT to get me one of those!"

"Bloody hell!"

Harry turned around to face a large group of people, Ron in front. His eyes were popping out of his head, much like how Harry's hair was pointed up in every direction.

Ron breathed a laugh and shook his head, "Bloody hell."

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Yeah, I know it's been forever! I'm super sorry! Please no flames because of that! But it's my senior year, and I have a job, and I'm in 6 clubs at school! I am so incredibly busy.But, anyway, did you like the chapter? I truly am going to try to have it updated ASAP!

NEXT CHAPTER: Trelawney's not such a 'bat' after all. Harry and Snape get a well deserved reward. Snape gets exposed. And Harry becomes quite serious on a couple of matters.