~ How did Andrei STAND it? ~ he wondered to himself, recalling how the Almighty Andrei would return from a term at Durmstrang enthusing about the friends he had and the pursuits they followed. Of course, Andrei had long left school - there were nearly ten years between him and his impossibly perfect older brother.

Cursing himself roundly, he tried to derail the train of thought, but it ploughed on ahead, dragging up the memories of his childhood. Ostensibly happier days, and indeed, they may have been until his father had interfered.

Andrei had always been protective of his little brother. Ivan Rachinov was not a violent man, but he had a bad attitude that Andrei had been able to avoid through sheer dint of his indelible good nature. Piotr was not so lucky. He was more fiery than Andrei had ever been, and answered his father back from a very early age. Andrei had stepped in on more than one occasion to stop his young brother from being ripped to shreds by his father's scathing tongue.

Piotr, of course, hadn't appreciated it. All he could ever see in Andrei was the mark of his own failure. Powerfully built, blond, ridiculously handsome and intelligent, Andrei was Piotr's polar opposite in more ways than one. As the child grew, he become more and more bitter. Every year more awards, more commendations for the Almighty Andrei. Every year for Piotr was one year closer to his pre-ordained fate, his twelfth birthday looming closer and closer.

It was the way, of course. The 'honour' of the family line went to the second child of the household, the one traditionally considered to be the less fortunate in terms of parental bond. At first, Piotr had looked forward to the ritual and the initiation, and for a time, Ivan Rachinov had high hopes for his son. But then Piotr began to realise just what would be expected of him, and he did not like it one little bit.

He didn't want to be what his father was.

By the time he'd realised this, of course, it was too late. The primary initiation was already about 30% underway.

When he regained control of his own senses, Piotr's initial reaction was one of awed amazement. He'd developed certain powers and talents that would, his proud father assured him, develop even more with the passage of time. He would be highly skilled and persuasive by his sixteenth birthday, when the primary initiation effect completed the transmogrification of his being from human to a member of the Umbra clan.

The Umbra clan. Marked by their peculiarity of having no shadows. Piotr had already noticed his own starting to waver and occasionally vanish altogether. There was nothing he could do about that. But there was something he could do about the transition of his biology.

He had countered the infection with the potion, which he had discovered through painstaking research and trial and error. It blocked the passage of the infected cells, subduing the constant lust for blood that would drive his change to completion. He had even become a vegetarian in an effort to fool his body.

But the change was winning. Daily, the potion was having a lesser effect. He dared not increase the dosage - he was already taking more of it than was advisable, and it left him feeling ill and frail a lot of the time.

It was so unfair. He wanted the powers. He LIKED the powers.

But he did not want to be a vampire.

He wanted to be able to go outside during daytime without fifteen layers of factor 50 suncream and dark glasses on. He wanted the best of both worlds. There had to be a way. And Piotr Rachinov had determined to find it. Because, frankly, it would drive his father mad.

He walked the halls of Hogwarts, no destination in mind, cutting a lonely figure in his beautifully tailored robes, the hood pulled up around his head.

********

Anders had more or less wolfed down his dinner, as was his fashion since the return of his appetite. Over the summer whilst he'd been staying with Nimue and her family in Italy, her mother had told him that it was a good job he had such a lot of nervous energy, otherwise he'd be the side of a house.

After he'd downed his third helping of treacle sponge, topped with a veritable vat of custard, he got to his feet and stretched languidly. "Cigarette time," he beamed happily at Professor Flitwick.

"Haven't you give that up yet?" squeaked the tiny Professor. "Really, Anders, it's terribly bad for your health...I have an anti-nicotine craving charm somewhere, perhaps I could look it up for you..."

"Yes," said Anders, meeting Nimue's eyes meaningfully as he began to walk towards the exit. "Yes, you do that, Professor."

Then he was gone, outside the side door to his customary smoking spot. He resisted the urge to light up, even though he had a new pack in his pocket. He HAD told Nimue he'd given up, and had been managing to do quite a good job of fooling her.

He hoped she got the hint, and stood outside waiting.

Nimue did get the hint but she didn't want to leave too soon after Anders. She was aware that those who knew her and Anders would expect that they would need a chance to discuss the matter of Hogsmeade before the end of the evening and wouldn't pay her leaving any mind.

"Please excuse me. I'll return soon. Marvo - if things break up before I'm back I am sure you can take the new students to Gryffindor Tower and give them the password."

Marvo nodded and gave her a knowing smile. She picked up the warm cloak that she had arrived in from the back of her chair.

In a few minutes she had exited the Castle and joined Anders at his customary smoking spot.

"I guess you won't be cooking us tea tomorrow then." she said quietly to break the silence.

Anders sighed heavily. "No. At least you'll be spared a culinary disaster. Damn it, Nimue, it's not fair! I mean, you had nothing to do with the sinking of the boats, why should the whole school have to suffer the same punishment?"

He was aware he sounded faintly petulant and adjusted his stance.

"I guess I'd better be thinking about making a move home," he said. "But I wanted to have a little private time with you before I went."

He looked around and shivered slightly. "Do you feel like we're being watched?"

Before she could answer, he laughed. "I'm still so paranoid. I still think that my Da...that Dafydd Grimalkin...will show up any time. But he's not going to. I know that. The only father I have to worry about is Sirius Black showing for an impromptu visit and criticising my housekeeping." He still looked faintly worried, though.

He reached out and pulled Nimue into his embrace, kissing the top of her hair. "It's so unfair," he repeated. "I was really looking forward to showing you the house and everything, now it's not going to happen for ages. I guess you'll see me around school, but it's going to be so hard to speak to you."

Again, that unnerving sensation that someone was watching them. Without letting go of Nimue, he looked around uncertainly, but could see nobody.

"I know it isn't fair but Marvo did say that all the boats were hulled which is pretty serious. I don't think any student would have had time to do something like that under the noses of Hagrid. I mean everyone was on the train and getting off." The suggestion was there that other dangers might be threatening the school but she didn't want to worry him overly.

She shook her head, "Anyway, Marvo also said he might be able to help, so we'll see. Still if an exception is made for one ..... "

She tried to smile about the matter. "Let's not be too discouraged. We're both going to be very busy and the time will fly. We'll be writing each other often and well ... I am sure it won't last that long. Maybe if Sirius drops by we can have a family outing which is allowed."

She hugged him fiercely not wishing to let go, "I still wish we could see your little house and you mustn't leave before seeing Kat."

She was a little worried about how the little kitten would fare would Anders take it with him between London and Hogsmeade?

She noted that he seemed a little on edge. "Are you still feeling like we're being watched? Do you want to go indoors?"

Anders nodded wordlessly, then laughed aloud. "How foolish am I? But maybe you're right. We should go back indoors. Perhaps I'll feel less exposed inside."

He tilted Nimue's head up and lowering his own, treated her to a gentle kiss. "Feels good doing that knowing I'm not your teacher any more," he said with a shy smile, threading his fingers through hers and heading back towards the castle.

It was a delicate kiss and deeply appreciated. Things had changed so much for them from the previous year. It wasn't just that Anders was no longer a teacher.

That Sirius Black and Emrys Hawkwood were old friends and approved of their son and daughter having an understanding, as yet informal until Nimue was of age, meant that there was so much less pressure for them to snatch every moment of time. They knew they had a future rather than a seemingly impossible relationship.

She held his hand as they walked back inside though of course they were more discreet once heading back into the Great Hall.

Still they entered together to find Kat Black. Nimue was very excited about the kitten and couldn't wait to see Anders face. It would be a good time for some of the new students to meet Anders as well.

*******

The darkness shifted ever so slightly to reveal a tall, slim figure clad in black robes. A pair of violet eyes glittered in the gloom. How very precious and sweet, he thought with a sneer. Still, it was always useful to pick up snippets of information about people, and it appeared that Little Miss Prim had a weakness where this Anders Grimalkin was concerned.

He filed it away for future reference.

Piotr was a creature of the night by dint of what he was. He inhaled the scents of the evening air, the faint aroma of leafmould, the pungent smell of wild garlic and the overwhelming scents that emanated from the castle itself. He put a hand out to touch one of the stones. It wasn't just his imagination. This castle had a life all of its own. It had probably absorbed enough magic over the years to become almost sentient, he reasoned.

The stone on which his hand lay seemed to grow unbearably hot to the touch and he snatched it back, glowering at the building. "I don't like you much, either," he said, immediately feeling stupid for speaking to a pile of stone.

He began to investigate his surroundings. He'd given himself the guided tour of the interior when he'd visited before. Now to find out what it was like outside. What the hunting prospects were. Piotr knew that when the Thirst got unbearable, he WOULD have to kill. But he would not kill people.

Blending effortlessly into the shadows, he prowled the exterior of Hogwarts, stealthy, silent and very, very deadly.

*********

Arcadia looked Carina up and now. She was prettier close up. That might be a problem. Imagining how she would look bald, Arcadia smiled. "I'd watch that tongue of yours 'little Nicola' unless you want to lose it!"

Arcadia put out an extremely well manicured hand to Carina. "My Brother is always brooding. He should have been a Gryffindor. I'm Arcadia. Darnell? Any relation to Darius Darnell?"

Pantalaimon gave Carina a single look up and down and turned back to watching (and listening) to the others.

Carina took the hand and shook it matter of factly. Arcadia seemed to her to be a Slytherin to the bone. Such people were worth knowing, on past experience.

"Fighting talk. I assume, of course, that you are The Minister's daughter. And yes, Darius Darnell is a relation. He's my father in fact."

She looked down at the wolf, and raised one blonde eyebrow. "I didn't notice 'wolf' on the pet list."

"Father? Interesting. Have you inherited his gift for potions?" Arcadia had not made her mind up about this girl yet. "Pan is NOT a pet. He's my... Companion."

That was two strikes against this girl, and two for. She better choose her next words carefully.

Niki went very pink at the mention of her height, and looked as if she wanted to say something, but thought better of it. She hoped that Carina wouldn't make Arcadia angry, but, on the other hand, it would be nice to have another friend. One whose brother she wasn't dating.

Carina didn't make any further comment about Arcadia's wolf. She unanimously decided that there was every reason not to infuriate it.

"Potions. No, not my forte. Charms, on the other hand, are. That's where my mother's, well, what could be called talent lies. Mother never was the greatest of witches. But she was good at Charms."

Unseen by most (as they are usually engorged) A house elf, looking slightly more worried than usual, very quickly runs up to the Slytherin table while Niki is talking to Carina and picks up a few unused or dirty plates. Then runs off again.

Nobody notices its hand waver for a moment over Niki's goblet, or saw it's face look over to Arcadia in fear, or hear the slight 'plink' noise as 'something' falls from it's tiny hand into the half full goblet.

Niki had been staring across the Great Hall in the general direction of the Gryffindor table (who, me? Never!), and totally ignored the house-elf. She took a few bites of dinner and then reached for her goblet, taking a long drink.

Almost immediately, a strange expression came over her face. Her mouth twisted, and she swallowed hard several times.

"Now, now, dear," she whispered.
"There's nothing to fear.

"My, this is bizarre!
"Things have gone too far!

"I speak all in verse
"It must be a curse!"

Arcadia smiles. "Oh look" She says, to anyone wishing to hear. "Looks like our Little Nicola has gone mad! poor thing. Runs in the family I hear"

Niki glared. "You're a terrible person, I don't think I know a worse'un."

Her face went pale, then, and her eyes filled with tears.

Without another word (or rhyme) she pushed back her chair and scurried out into the entrance hall.

Arcadia smiles, crossed her arms then gave a 'shocked' look to her face

"Nothing to do with me!" She said, with a 'hurt' sound to her voice "Why does she blame me! I never touched her!"

Carina had to bite back laughter as Niki started talking in riddle like rhymes. When the girl had left the table, she let a sneer out. "An amusing kind of madness though, you must admit Arcadia."

Arcadia decided she liked Carina. For now at least. "Very amusing. And I have a feeling Miss Pheidippides will be giving us a lot of amusement this year" Arcadia winked at her.

"Charms can be very useful, I'm more a potions person myself. Perhaps we can swap notes sometime. Would you like to sit down?"

Pantalaimon shifted slightly, but continued to watch the hall. "So why are you starting at Hogwarts this year? What happened at your old school?"

Carina bit her lip. *Tact, Darnell, Tact* she told herself. *Don't let anything slip.*

Smiling, she shifted up the bench to where Arcadia indicated, careful to give Pan a wide berth, before replying.

"Oh, I haven't been to a school before. My family travels a lot. Only just settled really. Home-tutoring...you know the like I'm sure."

She hastily changed the subject. "So, tell me, is Hogwarts the social haven my mother called it or the muggle and Mudblood-loving hell my father says. Or neither?"

She hoped silently that she'd got away with it.

"Far too many Mudblood and half bloods about for my liking. But it's okay I guess." She smiled, aware that Carina had 'change the subject' "So why come to Hogwarts now?"

Carina thought quickly on her feet. "My father has just finished researching a new potion that meant he had to travelled a lot. And we had to travel with him. Now he's finished, we've settled, which means I can come here."

She turned her eyes to the task of looking round the hall. It was safer not to meet those amber eyes, that felt to her like they saw through her pretence. "So, tell me a bit more about people in our year. Gryffindors especially. Best to know your enemy."

Arcadia decided she had teased Carina enough for now. Obviously there was something she was hiding, but it would wait, a little while.

" Well, lets see…." She looked down at Pantalaimon who looked back up at her Amber eyes to Amber eyes.

" There's Hawkwood of course, She's one to watch. A prefect and her nose is so up in the air about how posh and important her family is it's a wonder she can see where she's going. And she gets high marks 'cos she flirts with the older teachers! Then there's Jonathan Sinclair. He's the other prefect. He is so Gryffindor it's a wonder he hasn't got a beak and wings! Warden. I don't know much about him. He disappeared last year, but there's something very odd about the way he smell…. Looks"

She paused to look at Pantalaimon again "Rhydderch. He's just a Mudblood dumb welsh boy. And Magnus Prutz…."

Again she paused and looked over to Magnus "Leave him alone for now. I have plans for him. Oh yes. And 'The Magnificent' Malcolm Ward. Be very very careful around him. He works for the Ministry. Sent here to spy on us. He's got a magic eye and a nose he pokes in everywhere. He even sneaks into the girls' dorms and sniffs around things, so don't leave anything… incriminating about. Other than that they're just a bunch of boring muggle lovers who deserve everything they get!"

She looked back to Carina " But if you stay with me, I'm sure you won't have any trouble"

Oriana decided to introduce herself to Carina. "Hello Carina," she said. "My name is Oriana. I am also in Slytherin. It's very nice to meet you."

She had a feeling Arcadia was giving her an 'evil eye'.