To Headmaster Albus Dumbledore,

You may or may not remember who I am, but I was once a foreign exchange student of yours several years ago. I started in my first year and had been sorted into the house of Hufflepuff. My friends were many and you may recall that I was close friends to Andromeda Black and her lovely sister Narcissa Black, this of course made me acquaintances with Lucious Malfoy, Regulus Black, Bellatrix Black, and several other infamous Wizards and Witches who either followed He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named willingly or by Imperius Curse.

During my years at Hogwarts things were already becoming intense as soldiers were silently recruited for both sides of the war. By the time I reached my seventh year, I was desperate to get myself back home to California in the USA. The Blacks and Malfoys were frightening in their blood-status zealotry and I had known a great evil was on the horizon even then. Still, I would not be able to return home until a few months after I had turned 19 and so I had to keep up appearances as friends with the Blacks, especially after Andromeda disappeared. I even spent the night with an old classmate of Lucious Malfoy's thanks to a few too many drinks.

I may not have seemed like much but there was a role I played amongst the Death Eaters, while still being an unofficial member of their disgusting group. Like Narcissa, I helped to provide certain support and healing when necessary. Thankfully I was able to finally escape England with the help of a couple I knew from Hogwarts; Frank and Alice Longbottom. Had they not believed me or taken pity on me I have no idea what might have become of me.

This is where my son comes in. He is sixteen, almost seventeen years old. I have had to go into hiding as I have seen several supporters of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named moving about the area ever since last summer. I remember reading all about the death of that poor boy and I knew that seeing Death Eaters in this area meant that he had indeed returned. You probably already know he has been looking for his followers and those who had once aided him in his cause. Those of us who refuse to join his ranks will be killed, but I cannot allow my fear to lead me after all the kindness I was shown by the Longbottom couple. I will not dishonor them by falling back into the hands of his followers no matter how frightened I may be.

I seem to have gone off topic, I apologize. There is just so much to say and make sure that you understand. Anyhow, I have been in hiding since the end of fourth year but my son's muggle guardian is no longer capable of protecting him properly, or subduing him for that matter. Emery is a very bright and powerful wizard despite what his grades and past teachers may say about him. He has also been expelled from Salem High's Academy of Witchcraft and Wizardry after a group of five boys jumped him and he retaliated by hexing them.

He must be allowed to finish his schooling. If he doesn't, he will be unprepared to fend off any who may come for him. Also being a part of the public school system will only make him stand out to agents of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. If the Death Eaters ever learn that he is my son they will know who the father is and I am afraid that may make him all the more desirable. He needs to be at Hogwarts where the professors know what they are looking for and where he can be protected easier. Please Dumbledore, allow him to finish his education at your school. I can't let him become what his father was... I won't allow it.

Sincerely,

Amelia Hart

Emery Graves sat before Albus Dumbledore in a tiny coffee shop in Salem, Massachusettes with the simple muffliato spell cast over them. The boy was dressed in faded blue jeans and a black long sleeved t-shirt. His strange eyes, the left a pale blue while the right was a dark bronze, were focused intently on a large crack running along the top of the wooden table they were seated at. His long black hair was thick with strong waves that almost curled; it had been pulled some what haphazardly into a purple elastic tie.

"Do you know what happened to my mother?" Emery asked in a voice so soft that the Headmaster had nearly missed it altogether.

"Mr. Graves, I am afraid that we don't have much time to spare if we are going to escape unnoticed." The old man with twinkling blue eyes replied gently. He was dressed in sky blue silk robes, his long white beard giving him his trade-mark Merlin appearance. He even wore a pair of moon crescent shaped glasses above his long crooked nose. "We must get you to the safety of Hogwarts."

Immediately the Headmaster felt those odd eyes narrow upon him; anger and hate radiating all around the young man. With the same alacrity that the hostile emotions filled the room, they vanished, leaving no trace of his magical energy behind. All the same, Emery looked to him expectantly, making it silently clear that he would not leave until he knew what the Headmaster knew of his mother.

"Your mother is in hiding so that she may protect you both." Albus answered, finding that hard and impatient look quite familiar.

"I am aware that she is in hiding, she has been in hiding since the end of my fourth year." Emery's upper lip curled into a sneer. "Something happened in London and Mother abandoned me to some muggle friend of hers."

"Mr. Graves, your mother did not tell me where she was hiding. It was a great risk to send me a letter at all and to do so on your behalf, I believe implies a great deal as to how much she must care for you." The old man said in a delicate, but firm tone.

"How was the letter signed?" Emery suddenly demanded, his intense gaze hinting at a mild paranoia as he something was making him rather uneasy.

"Amelia Hart, it was the same name she was known by at Hogwarts and most likely her birth name." The ease and confidence in which the Headmaster spoke seemed to help calm the teenager. "Graves was your grandmother's maiden name, was it not? This keeps your existence secret from those who would do either of you harm."

Emery nodded as he stood up and looked to the man who would very soon be his Headmaster. The boy's face was impassive, almost seeming indifferent, but there was a nervous energy surrounding him that gave away the feeling of excitement for something new. While Emery might not ever admit such a thing, Albus saw it all the same. Again, something that felt vaguely familiar and yet he could not identify the individual his mind seemed to insist he was so similar to.

"Follow me, Mr. Graves." Albus smiled kindly. "We have much to discuss on our journey to Hogwarts."

The wind was a bit chilly against his face as he stood with several students close to his age. They were all waiting to be taken to the Hogwarts castle, and Emery had to admit that it was a rather impressive sight. The castle was enormous, with three large towers and was at least seven stories that he could see. It was beautiful in it's antiquity and while it was breathtaking to behold it was also intimidating, especially with the heavy magical aura that he could feel emanating from the massive building and it's grounds.

"Who do you reckon that is?" Ginny asked Hermoine as the two girls took note of the tall young man observing the castle for what was most likely the first time. "He is in plain robes, but with no house colors."

"Must be a transfer student." Hermoine guessed as she focused on the teenager. "He could probably see the castle better if he took off those sunglasses."

Emery was indeed wearing a pair of rectangled black shades and he had better hearing than either girl seemed to realize as they continued to talk about him as if he wasn't there. His lips twisted upward into a smirk as he turned to face them. "Perhaps I am blind." His voice carried to the girls as they both blushed. "Or I maybe I am getting a feel of the magical aura of my new home and don't want my sight to interfere?"

"I am so sorry, I had no idea that you could..." Hermoine cut herself off before she made herself sound really stupid. "I am Hermoine Granger, 6th year; and this is Ginny Weasley, 5th year."

Ginny, Emery noted, was a cute kind of girl with red hair, red freckles and the typically fair skin that came along with the red features. She was as tall as Hermoine, if not a half inch to an inch taller. She had a fierce and challenging look upon her face that warned she was ready for anything, that she was everything a brave young Gryffindor ought to be. He wondered how many brothers she had. She wasn't wearing make-up, her hair wasn't put up in any special way and she seemed very much like a tomboy. She definitely had to have at least two brothers.

"A pleasure to meet you both." He continued to smile, though both girls got the feeling he was laughing at them. "I'm Emery. I just transferred from Salem High's Academy of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I am also a 6th year student."

Two boys made their way over to Emery, Hermoine and Ginny. One was a red head who looked quite similar to Ginny wearing hand-me-down robes and the other was Harry Potter. He knew it immediately by the lightning bolt scar, the green eyes and the unkempt black hair. He was world famous and there wasn't a witch or wizard alive who didn't know of Harry Potter and his escape from death.

"Who is this?" Harry asked the girls as he looked to the new kid.

"What kind of prat wears sunglasses at night?" Ron whispered to Harry.

"His name is Emery." Hermoine introduced leveling Ron with a glare. "Emery this is Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley."

"What house do you think you want to be in?" Ronald asked, though he kept looking at the boy's face with annoyance, clearly bothered by his wearing of sunglasses.

"The headmaster told me a little bit about the houses. Hufflepuff, stubborn and loyal. Ravenclaw, intelligent and boastful. Gryffindor, brave and self-righteous and Slytherin, cunning and treacherous." He shrugged. "My mother was a Hufflepuff during her time here."

Harry groaned. "Well if the Sorting Hat knows that you may very well end up a Hufflepuff as it usually sorts you based on family."

Hermoine rolled her eyes. "That's not always true. Parvati and Padma Patil are twins and they are each in different houses. Family doesn't always determine house and there is nothing wrong with being a Hufflepuff."

"'Cept of course that they never win the house cup. Or the quidditch cup. Or anything really, for that matter." Ron laughed. "They're kind of a pathetic lot."

While Hermoine looked very angry, none of the others in her little group seemed too bothered by Ron's assertion. Even Emery had given somewhat of a half smirk, though she did find it hard to tell if it was sarcastic or sincere. Not being able to see his eyes, Hermoine found that his face was difficult to read accurately.

"It's highly unlikely that I will end up a Hufflepuff. I am far too proud of myself and my accomplishments to be as humble as they are. Nor do I feel a need to be loyal to anyone who hasn't earned it." Emery assured the boys. "I take my studies seriously, I work hard and I will stop at nothing to make sure I get a proper education during my time here."

"Ravenclaw for sure then." Ron informed him. "They are absolutely obsessive about knowledge and grades. Hermoine here was almost a Ravenclaw, but the hat must of have realized she has as much bravery as intelligence."

As the group waited to be loaded into a carriage, Emery found his gaze falling to Hermoine Granger more than he liked. It hadn't escaped his notice that she was an especially pretty girl with wild curly hair and honey brown eyes. Her figure appeared petite with soft curves beneath her Gryffindor colored robes. However, as she began to tell him more about each house he found her intelligence was dangerously close to annoying, but then again he knew he was considered to be annoying as well. His guarded eyes remained fixed on the rather talkative girl all the way to the castle.

Nearly an hour later, the Gryffindors cheered as the last of the first years was sorted into their house. Minerva McGonagall smiled and then looked to the lone boy standing without a house. She called out his name expecting him to be a little embarrassed at being sorted with first years. It was usually the reaction she saw from past student transfers. Emery, however, strode over to her with a quiet confidence that bordered on indifference.

"Mr. Graves, you will please remove your sunglasses. Those are to be worn outside only." Professor McGonagall lectured, her hand held out to take them.

Hermoine watched as he curled his upper lip into vicious sneer before it was replaced by a tight lipped frown. The air was suddenly tense with magical energy but it dissipated quickly as with some hesitation Emery removed the eye-wear. At first, Hermoine was unsure why he seemed so annoyed. Upon taking a closer look however, she noticed that he had two different colored eyes. They were drastically different as the left was a pale blue, the right a dark brown. She could hear several whispers from the first year Slytherins, Ravenclaws and Gryffindors about how weird or odd he looked.

As Emery sat on the stool, his eyes focused once more on Hermoine Granger. As soon as the hat was placed on his head it shouted. "Slytherin!" He winked at her with his blue eye as he stepped down to join his house.

Ron gaped while Harry frowned, but it was Ginny who finally asked what they were all thinking. "Why Slytherin? After everything Hermoine told him about that house and then with as friendly as he seemed...It just doesn't make sense."

"Friendly?" Harry shook his head. "Ginny, the guy may have been polite to our faces but he wasn't outwardly friendly in the slightest. I didn't like him from the beginning."

"Me either." Ron added quickly.

Severus Snape watched with mild interest as the young man was sorted into his house. Being the observant man that he was,he caught the shocked and disappointed looks of Harry Potter and his pathetic group of lackeys. He wasn't sure why they thought the boy would be anything but Slytherin. From the moment the boy had dared to sneer at Minerva and flex his magic, he had seen the makings of a very powerful young wizard. Would he become a dark wizard or would he be an asset to the Order of the Phoenix? While he wasn't one to involve students as often as Dumbledore or Voldemort, he was constantly on the look out for capable wizards and witches.

"Severus, a word after dinner, if you could." Albus said softly. "We have much to discuss for the upcoming school year."

"Of course Headmaster." Snape responded, his eyes continuing to watch Emery as he moved to take a seat beside Draco Malfoy and his gang of miscreants.

"Welcome to Slytherin." A platinum blonde boy with bright blue eyes spoke as Emery took a seat beside him at the large table. "I am Draco Malfoy, these two behind me are Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle. Across from you is Blaise Zabini and Pansy Parkinson. To the other side of you is Theodore Nott and Millicent Bulstrode. We're all from very powerful and strong families, all pure bloods, too."

Emery raised a black brow as he looked over everyone, taking a quick appraisal of each of them and then back to Draco. "Yeah, ok. I suppose that's something to know about all of you."

"Well what about you? What's your family like?" Millicent demanded.

His angry eyes found her face as he looked over the rather plain looking witch. Her brown hair was lifeless, her brown eyes flat and her complexion was simply fair. She was nothing in comparison to the very comely Pansy Parkinson who's dark eyes glittered with interest, her chestnut hair pulled back simply but elegantly. She had unblemished and clear olive skin. He could tell that Millicent was very jealous of Pansy and by questioning him immediately she was hoping to capture his particular attention before the other girl could.

"What about them?" Emery shrugged, not inclined to answer.

"Your last name is Graves, but we aren't familiar with the name." Crabbe spoke up next. The rather thick and tall boy was clearly an enforcer type, Emery could tell it about him immediately by the way he sat behind Draco. He probably wasn't completely stupid, but it was obvious that Draco led Vincent and Gregory with little effort.

"We are an American family." Emery answered, refusing to give them the information they seemed so keen to get. He noticed that Theo in particular was watching him with a quiet curiosity, but it didn't seem as hostile as the others were now starting to become.

"Are you a pure-blood?" Blaise finally asked point blank.

"I am not going to answer that." The boy with strange eyes replied casually.

"Why not?" Draco sneered. "Are you afraid of us finding out that you are some kind of mudblood?"

The grin that spread across Emery's face was the last thing any of Draco's gang expected. "I like you Drake; you don't even bother to hide what a complete asshole you are."

Draco sputtered in disbelief. "Beg your pardon? What did you just call me you...you trashy-"

Emery smiled as he took hold of Draco's shoulder. "I called you an asshole, Drake. I take it you object?"

"Of course I object you bloody imbecile!" Draco snarled. He started to reach for his wand but realized that their head of house, Severus Snape as well the Headmaster were watching the scene play out. "What are you playing at, Graves?"

The blue and brown eyes of Emery contemplated the self-proclaimed Prince of Slytherin. Finally he shrugged non-nonchalantly. "Honestly, Drake, I am just here to finish out my final two years of school so that I can go back home. I wanted to feel you guys out and now I know exactly what I am dealing with."

Draco blinked back his surprised but then smirked. "You are either a complete tosser or a brilliant Slytherin.

"And now for a few announcements!" Dumbledore's voice silenced any further chattering amongst the students. "Firstly, I would like to welcome back Horace Slughorn who is returning to his old post as Potions Master and congratulate Professor Snape on his acquiring the Defense Against The Dark Arts post."

"Guess the rumors were true." Draco said. "Perhaps we'll finally learn something important from Defense Against the Dark Arts for once."

"You wished to speak with me, Headmaster?" Severus reminded as the old man looked up at him with an expression of confusion at his presence. "I imagine it has something to do with Potter or The Dark Lord."

With a small smile Albus shook his head. "No, Severus. For once you will find my request for this meeting with you purely academic in nature. It has nothing to do with Mr. Potter or Tom Riddle directly."

One of Snapes black brows rose, his curiosity peaked as he took a seat in the chair directly in front of the desk. "How refreshing." He smirked. "What is that you wish to discuss?" Before the Headmaster could answer, he realized what the topic would most likely be about. "Mr. Graves?"

"Yes. The boy is here as a favor to an old student of mine. He has quite a history and I would like you to keep an eye on him. According to his past instructors he has a tendency to react rather violently when pushed, agitated or harassed." The deceptively powerful wizard slid a thick yellow folder across the desk and to his Head of Slytherin house. "I would suggest looking over his folder when you get the opportunity."

Snape opened the folder and was surprised to see that unlike most student files, this boy's was riddled with teacher comments, red writing indicating times he had been in trouble and the accounts of what had happened and then finally catching his eyes were the boldly stamped words across the bottom. EXPELLED.

"You are sending a trouble maker into my midst." Snape sneered.

"I am sure once you read through it all, you will be rather pleased to find he is a well behaved student who simply finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time." Albus smiled pleasantly, his blue eyes sparkling softly behind his glasses.

"Another arrogant fool-hardy boy who believes he knows best. Who would have thought Harry Potter came in Slytherin colors as well." Clearly the Potions Master was not impressed. "Is there anything else?"

"Yes, actually. The mother does not want Emery involved with the Death Eaters or their children."

"He chose his house well then; didn't he?" Professor Snape snorted as he was barely able to refrain from rolling his eyes. "How do you expect me to keep him away from all the Death Eater's children when most of them are in and of his house? What exactly do you suggest I do?"

"I trust you to make the right decisions, Severus." Albus replied with an easy smile. "He is a very intelligent young man, and while he does come from a prestigious American bloodline, there has been no signs of prejudiced in the history of the family. I doubt he will be any great burden."