Jian chose not to let the reference to Shinrei and the "way he saw things" be discussed further. So he would focus on the safest issue, though what he would be saying was only half of the entire truth.

"I was sent here by my Shaolin Order, the Mian-Ju-Tao, to study the ways of other magical peoples, Miss," he explained. "My great-uncle was a student here, too, fifty years ago."

Niki gave Jian the sort of glance that implied he was definitely included in the list of Gryffindor boys she would not like to see in their pyjamas, and nodded in return. In the past weeks, she had grown increasingly frustrated with several of the new students--and some of the old ones. If there was one thing Niki hated, it was people who acted like they knew more than she did, whether it was true or not, and Jian had quickly joined Marvo in this category.

"The grass is very slippery this morning," she commented. "Doesn't it make you cold, Sarah?"

"There's a definite nip in the air. Plus I am sure that grass did that on purpose!" said Sarah with a wink to Niki. "I guess we should start heading in for another fascinating ninety minutes of Professor Binns. Did China have Goblin Rebellions Jian or more exotic history?"

"I swear, Bathilda Bagshot purposely chose the hardest paper for her book...the Care of Magical Creatures textbook has such lovely pillowy pages, but I suppose when you have Hagrid, it's not a good idea to doze off. Wasted, completely wasted. Shall we stroll back to the castle? Maybe walking in there like Edwardian ladies will give us some extra credit points on an essay..."

"Good idea - I bet ole Binns was alive during Edwardian times and he'd probably think we were the creme-de-la-creme of lady-like behaviour...." giggled Sarah. "We should go in..."

Niki, grinning, hooked her arm through Sarah's. "Shall we continue in, then, fair lady? Do me the honour of this...err...walk?" She began to giggle. "Come on, Jian...we'll be late, and Professor Binns will give you detention. Not us, though. We're far too..." she stopped talking and began to giggle again, "too... too...ladylike!"

Jian, although a little overwhelmed by the girls' discussion, nodded and began to follow them into the castle. He did not understand more than half of what they were saying, but he certainly did not show this.

His face was serious as usual as he spoke while they walked. "In China, we have demons and animal creatures who sought to overthrow human rule. At times, they are much more powerful than even the strongest wizards, so our legends state the dragons and lions became our allies and protectors and were important in preserving our country the way it is now."

Jian shrugged. "Most of our fighting techniques are based on the nature of dragons, lions and other animal-protectors in our legends. We try to be as strong, pure and honourable as them."

As he spoke, he had never felt such great pride in his heritage. But, as usual, Jian humbly kept his head down as he trailed a half-step behind the two girls.

"Dragons?" Sarah talked as she walked with Jian and Niki. "Now see there's a major difference between East and West. In the East dragons like snakes are considered positive symbols but in the West we still have to contend with a predominant cultural mind-set that perceives snakes as evil and dragons as symbols of chaos and destruction."

She sighed, "Of course, there are enlightened muggles and the wizarding world values dragons but they are still seen as magical creatures and highly dangerous ones. Sentient dragons.. well if they still exist in the West or anywhere would be hard-pressed to survive. Nice to think they helped China out though."

She shrugged, "I don't know if in our magical history such things as demons ever tried to overthrow human rule. I would expect Binns would probably make it sound tedious if they had. I mean if that Aidan Smyth chap was teaching magical history I guess we'd get some more interesting stuff. All we seem to get is Goblin Rebellions and now they look after the banking for wizarding kind - how bizarre is that."

"Pretty bizarre," Niki agreed. "Still, I suppose Binns bored himself to death...it's the least we can do to stay awake. And DEAR Bathilda Bagshot has made it so much easier with rock-hard books..." She grinned. "But dragons? Sentient dragons? Do they exist? I mean, I know snakes are sentient, even un-magical ones, because Parselmouths can talk to them...they can have interesting conversations, or so I've heard. But is there really that much difference between Europe and Asia in the sort of magic? There really isn't very much different between North Africa and Britain...but maybe there is, because North Africa had so much more exposure to Europe. Sub-Sahara...I actually don't know."

"There are also fighting techniques inspired by snakes, Miss," Jian piped in with more enthusiasm than before. "Most popular is the serpent. A stillness-and-pounce manoeuvre is taught to all Mian-Ju-Tao. In English, it would be 'The Sleeping Serpent,' yes."

"I am not certain how different magical cultures are between the East and West, but in Asia itself there are plenty of differences."

He turned to Sarah with understanding on her statements about dragons. "We have very great faith in dragons in China, Miss. They bring good luck and protection, and that is why they symbolise our people's best hopes, be they sentient or not."

He reached into his robes and pulled out his wand. He would have preferred using a tessen, an iron fan, but his Uncle said in Hogwarts people used wands.

"This wand was made by Chamka Xi of Hong Kong," he explained. "The core is made from the claw or nail of the mythical Lung-ryu, a dragon of heaven and courage, but some argue he has the form of a higher heavenly creature, or a lion."

Sarah addressed Niki first, "I guess if snakes have interesting things to say even the non-magical ones then it's to be expected that dragons, who are after all magical creatures, might also have interesting things to say. Or some of them maybe." she shrugged, "I guess few people would speak dragon though - I mean there's enough prejudice against Parselmouths and snakes in general even among wizardkind."

As they walked she turned back to Jian, "I guess that is something we in the West forget, Jian that there are cultural differences within Asia as well. I mean consider the differences between France and the British Isles or Scotland and England. We are aware of them but at a distance the similarities are more evident than the differences."

They were now approaching the History of Magic classroom.

"That is a very cool core to have in a wand, Jian. Of course, unicorns, dragons and phoenixes are considered mythical as well to muggles. We just know that they aren't really." she said this with a bright smile to both her companions.

"Take a deep breath," Niki cautioned Sarah, "and steel your nerves against sleep...'cause in we go!" With that, she pushed open the door to the classroom, and, her arm still hooked through Sarah's, strolled through. Unfortunately, at the look of surprise on Professor Binns's face, she burst out laughing so hard she had to drop Sarah's arm and cling to a desk for support, oblivious to the strange looks the Hufflepuffs were giving her.

"Sorry...professor...I don't mean any disrespect, honestly..."

Jian was grateful for the distraction Niki's laughter had caused. It made him practically invisible to everyone else in the room, their attention so caught by the Slytherin girl. The three of them went through the door at almost the same time, but he was a few steps behind and was half-hidden by the two girls from Professor Binns' eyes.

True to his fleet-footed kung-fu-artist nature, Jian darted very quickly to his usual seat beside Dylan and settled down.

Sarah didn't think they were late given that quite a few seats were empty. She also wondered whether Professor Binns with being a ghost and all was that concerned with her and Niki's rather flamboyant entrance.

She sat down and opened her book at what appeared to be a less boring section than usual and waited for the class to start.

**********

Mahou watched in utter confusion as Zidane ran off. She picked up her bag and walked to HoM.

Stepping into the classroom, Mahou took a seat by herself, her mood dark.. and her expression mimicking it rather well.

"Hey!" said Sarah waved to Mahou and beckoned her over. The elf-girl had looked a lot more jolly earlier and now seemed gloomy again.

Mahou had been fiddling with her quill when Sarah spoke. Looking up, the half-elf tucked some hair behind her ear and stood, gathering her things and walking over. Finding a seat beside Sarah, Mahou plunked down, muttering a soft hello.

Nathaniel meandered into class a minute shy of being late, his arms full of books and the mostly black kitten trotting diligently at his heels. Stalks by Night hardly ever missed a class.

He caught sight of Sarah and Mahou sitting close together, looked around for Niki, and then found a seat near Sarah and Mahou.

Sarah smiled at seeing Nathaniel and Stalks. Professor Binns was still looking for the register and hadn't called them to order yet.

A Hufflepuff had arrived and advised him that there had been a freak blizzard in the Great Hall and that some students were snowed in.

"Hey, Nathaniel I see we beat you here after all. Niki and I made such a grande entrance you'd have laughed. Didn't we Niki?"

Niki nodded, finally able to keep a straight face. "We were very ladylike, until I started to laugh. We were trying to impress Binns with our...ladylikeness? That's not a word, I can tell, but English is confusing. Sorry, Sarah--I think I elbowed you at some point in there."

**********

Nimue spoke quietly to Anders as they walked to the History of Magic class. She explained to him about the conversation that she and Mahou had over breakfast and that the elven girl had apologised to her.

"She's a sweet thing though and I'd hate us not to get on. She needs to get over this whole human vs elf thing though for her own sake. I mean it's like if someone had one muggle parent but hated muggles - they'd be hating themselves and a big part of their heritage."

She then explained the letter that had appeared to have brightened Mahou's spirits.

"She's got a bit of a crush on Uiliam Sparkstone though he's hardly the boy she described him as. I guess with being a full-blooded elf he's probably still an adolescent in their society.."

She smiled, "Anyway, Mahou said he had written to the Headmaster and I guess it was about this visit. I wonder if he'll try to talk her out of being here. I mean if he's that snobbish though obviously it is up to her parents where she goes to school. I just hope he doesn't make her more unhappy. She had problems at her old school in Ireland and it would be nice if she felt not only more welcomed here but happy to be here."

Anders rubbed his nose thoughtfully. "She seems nice to me, that's for sure," he said. "I know I've not had much to do with her, but...well, you know. I have something of an affinity for those who feel different. That's what you get for growing up as the only 'Mudblood' in Slytherin house. I mean...I know I'm not a full Muggle-born...but I grew up believing I was."

He shuddered involuntarily remembering those days, days of which he never spoke if he could possibly help it.

They came to a halt outside the History of Magic class and Anders ran a hand through his hair, grinning shyly. "Enjoy the lesson...well, as much as anyone can enjoy one of Professor Binns' lessons, and I'll maybe see you at lunch. I might just go home though. I don't know if Dumbledore will want me hanging around like some lost puppy."

Nimue gave him a semi-stern look, "Better that I think than you exhausting yourself on your studies when you are suppose to be resting. Kat I am sure would agree 100%."

She looked at her watch, "I have a free period this afternoon and you can perhaps work with Madame Hooch this morning. With Nathan and Tish gone you'll need to re-look at your teams. Sarah Taverner was saying yesterday that she didn't see anyway that Shinrei would be well enough for training either. Then this afternoon we can work on some time management strategies...."

Having thus organised Anders day to her satisfaction Nimue smiled, gave his hand a quick squeeze and entered the HoM classroom.

Anders grinned broadly at Nimue as she disappeared into class. For some reason, he found being organised by her great entertainment. If left to his own devices for too long, his world would simply disappear in a quagmire of chaos.

He mooched off down the corridor and ran a hand over his stubbled chin. He DID have to go home for a brief time, if only to shave, change and feed the kitten, but maybe Nimue was right. Maybe he should spend his free time up at the castle. But he needed to clear that with the Headmaster first.

He wandered down the corridors, lost in his own private little world.

Spotting Mahou Nimue went over and sat next to her. "I have a huge surprise for you.." she whispered.

Mahou looked up from her quill as Nimue came in, offering her a half-smile. "News? Wha' news?" she asked uncertainly. She didn't think she could take much more news.. not after the sudden disappearance of Zidane.

Piotr slouched into the classroom, his shades firmly in place and a look of strain on his pale face. He glanced furtively around, then slid into a corner where he was most likely to be ignored. History of Magic was not one of his stronger subjects, therefore he did not enjoy it.

He unpacked his quill and buried his head in his textbook.

Occasionally, he would shiver, almost convulsively. His hand slid regularly to his pocket as though feeling for his potion, but every time he seemed to hesitate and take his hand away again. Inasmuch he could look more unwell than he did already - he looked terrible.

Sitting up straight, Mahou noticed Piotr come in. She saw the shades and the horrid condition he seemed to be in. Throwing him a concerned look, Mahou looked back at Nimue, awaiting her news.

Needless to say.. she hoped it was good.

Nimue also noted Piotr's condition with some sympathy then turned her attention to Mahou and delivering the news.

"Well, you have a visitor. A rather beautiful young elf by the name of Uiliam Sparkstone is waiting to see the Headmaster and then will be seeing you. Isn't that amazing! He seems to want to see you very much. Just not at all interested in anything or anyone else at the school just leannan."

Nimue hoped that the news of Uiliam's visit would cheer Mahou up.

Mahou dropped her quill, causing it to land with a puff on her papers. Slowly, deliberately, she turned her head to look at Nimue, her eyes wide. Suddenly, she launched herself over her desk, latching onto the most-likely stunned girl bearing the news, hugging her tightly.

"Uiliam? Here to see me!" she cried, happier than she'd been in a long time. She didn't care if Binns heard her. She was thrilled beyond capacity to hear that Uiliam Sparkstone was here to see her! Her of all people!! "Ach, Nim," she said, releasing the girl, "thank ye so much! Ye donnae ken how much this means ta me. But now, I ken, History o' Magic is gonna take a lot longer than it would ha'e..." She sighed, still smiling, and sat back in her seat, that grin plastered there with superglue.

*********

Dylan had been caught quite off-guard by the sudden snow-fall. He had been, after all, more interested in his breakfast and trying to remember into which book he'd stuffed his comic. However, the snowflakes that swiftly covered the Great Hall brought him back to reality with two realisations--1, it doesn't snow inside and 2, he was going to be late for History of Magic if he didn't hurry.

Determined, he waded through the snowdrifts that were starting to pile up in the corners, and as soon as he was outside of the hall, he ran like a madman for the History of Magic classroom, still considerably snowy.

Right on the wire, he darted in and made a beeline for his seat in the back, melting snow dripping off of him as he went.

Niki brightened considerably when Dylan entered, then did a double take. "You're wet," she exclaimed, louder than necessary, and then clapped her hands over her mouth. Cringing a little and nodding at Sarah and Nathaniel to indicate she wasn't running away from them, she grabbed her bag and took a seat beside Dylan. "What happened? Did Peeves catch you?"

Dylan smiled at her, shaking the water and snow out of his longish hair. "It's snowin' in th' Great Hall," he told her. "I didn't think th' ceiling would do tha'." Noticing the puddle on his desk, he tried to wipe up the water with his sleeve.

"Snowing? As is...snow? Cold, wet? White? Flaky? And...in the Great Hall?" Niki looked a little bit shocked. "Err...that's...interesting. Why? And, Dylan...your hair is sopping wet. Do you want something to dry it off with?"

"No, no, it's all right," Dylan said, pushing the wet bangs away from his face. "I don't know why it's snowin', jus' is. Cold, wet, white an' e'erythin'." He was grinning. Snow, especially odd, unexpected snow made him happy. Niki coming to sit next to him didn't hurt one bit, either. Even History of Magic could be bearable given certain circumstances.

Niki shook her head, laughing a little to herself. "Well, I suppose the freak blizzard made you late...you missed Sarah and me coming in and me falling over and laughing my head off like a hyena. It was interesting. Professor Binns looked scandalised! But now we'd better try really, really hard to look interested in the goblin rebellions, hadn't we?"

She grinned, and pulled out her notes. Instead of starting a new page with the date, title of the lecture, or other important facts, however, she drew a wavery stick-figure poking out of a blackboard, and saying, "Blah, blah, blah." In her sharp, angular handwriting, Niki labelled it "Professor Binns" and flicked it across the desk towards Dylan.

Dylan chuckled softly, and with the stub of his pencil--he hated quills--he added to the drawing, fleshing out the little details in a very comic book fashion, including students dropping dead from boredom. After appropriately labelling the dead and dying in his own block print, he sent it back to her, and returned to his own doodles.

Raphael and Jacob soon reached the History of Magic room. It certainly wasn't a long walk, not by anyone's standards, a nice walk up a few steps (well, on some days they had a habit of being steps down, which still somehow managed to get them up to the second floor, but who's looking at detail?) and through the corridors until the little door to Professor Binns old (and still occupied) teaching room.

But by the time they'd got there, Raphael had gone a strange mix of ashen grey and bruised purple. The shoulder was playing up again, and the other couldn't cope with all the strain. Raphael made hardly a sound as they walked but by the time he fell into a chair not to far from Sarah and Nathaniel he was blinking spots out of his eyes. All he could do was grunt a hello.

Jacob sat down into the seat behind Raphael. This allowed him to examine the other boy carefully, from the sudden lack of strength to the awkward colour he had turned.

"Are you alright?" He asked in some alarm. He was a good student, true, and had turned an odd shade of red as he whispered the question hoarsely. This was one of his favourite classes, and he -liked- paying attention in it. Still, if the other Ravenclaw was about to keel over and die...

Nathaniel swivelled in his seat a little as people started arriving, talking about the freak snowstorm in the Great Hall.

Snow.

Nathaniel ... liked snow. Nathaniel ... remembered snow. He closed his eyes as a rush of part memory slid through his mind. Snow.

Snow feathers.

Snow feathers blood.

A cascade of snowy feathers, as soft as sin and as white as a shriven soul, onto the pristine snow, followed by a sudden spray of warm blood that stained snow and feathers alike.

Feathers. Snow.

He jerked his eyes open, and the memory was gone again. He smiled at Niki to show that he didn't take offence at her changing seats to sit with Dylan, and then turned to look around the rest of the classroom.

*******

Uiliam dusted his hands off from the snow, as well as his shoulders. Trudging out of the Great Hall, he decided it would be best to wait out in the hallway for the Headmaster. After all, there *was* a lot of snow in there. Not that Uiliam didn't like snow..

He heard Marvo nag on, and he didn't care a whiff of what he said. The opinions of humans didn't matter to him. They were merely the buzz of an insect's wings. And Uiliam had more respect for the bug than he did for humans. At least bugs were useful.

Standing in the hallway, Uiliam looked around again, pursing his lips and clasping his hands behind his back. His wavy blonde hair moved with each gesture the pretty boy made. Hanging to his waist, the man made sure to always have it in best condition. No glamour for his hair. No way.

~*I wonder if anyone would bother me out here,*~ he mused to himself in Elfin. Of course, now that he said it, Uiliam knew it would happen. All he wanted to do was see Mahou for a time. And then he would leave this gods-forsaken place.

So the elf continued to wait.

Muttering about how unreliable the weather was in here, Alpha went sliding and slipping out of the Great Hall, on her way to the Greenhouse where she had her Herbology lesson. She slipped and swayed...and to her embarrassment, she fell on her behind, her legs up in the air, just in front of the handsome man, who stood in the hallway. She blushed furiously and tried to scramble back upon her feet...but failed. Now she really would be late in Herbology....

Uiliam watched as the students trudged and waded out of the Great Hall, dripping wet and covered in snow. He could hardly keep a straight face.

When Alpha came tumbling out, Uiliam didn't smile or anything. Rather, he put on his best concerned look, and the majority of that look was quite sincere.

Bending down a bit, Uiliam smiled reassuringly at Alpha, his steely eyes glittering strangely, as Mahou's tended to do. His wavy blonde hair caressed his cheek as he held out a hand to assist her up.

"You must be a bit more careful, there, miss," he said. He tended to be kind to those who fell and whatnot. But he still had his predisposition of humans. "It is a little wet here on the floor." His smile was like a warm ray of sunshine, and his gaze like a bubbling creek.

Alpha blushed a very deep red when the handsome man helped her up. "Thank you... sir" she managed to whisper. "The soles of my .. shoes, were... a bit slippery..." She managed to take control of her voice. "I did not expect snow indoors." With that last remark, she flashed a shy smile at him. It was obvious to hear now that she was not British. When she looked at him, she was almost hypnotised by his beautiful eyes. She kept staring at him, while her cat meowed loudly to get her attention.

Uiliam smiled a little more at the blush, allowing his blonde hair to tumble over his shoulder (in front of the shoulder now), cascading down his front. His hair carried the scent of honeysuckle and a fresh summer breeze. Slipping a slender, athletic arm under one of hers, Uiliam steadied the poor clumsy student.

"My name is Uiliam Sparkstone," he told her, his voice musical with the Elfin accent. "I am of Mahou Amberstone's people. I do not suppose she has spoken of me." Smiling gently, he released the girl as she steadied herself. Tucking some hair behind one of her ears, Uiliam gazed into her eyes. "I suppose you had better go off to your class now, dearling," he told her with another smile. "I will try to find you later. Be sure of that." With a flick of his wrist, Uiliam created a small, glittering, white rose, half-bloomed. There were no thorns. Uiliam tucked it behind her ear.

"Class?" Alpha looked startled. "Oh, my....I'll be late for Herbology!" She glanced at her watch, picked up her bag and then her manners came back. She smiled back at Uiliam, saying: I'm Alpha Rich, 5th year Slytherin, nice to meet you and very nice of you to help me."

She picked up her cat, Miss Eezy, who was still meowing loudly. "I'll have to go now, mister...eh Uiliam" she said. While she went, he could hear her talking to her cat. Sometimes she turned around, as if to make sure that he was still standing there. While she did that, her fingers lingered a bit by the rose behind her ear. She still looked a bit dazed.