"So... have you put any thought on what you may do after school? I know you told Flitwick you wanted to be a Healer, but I know you better than that."

Artemis had started up a conversation near the end of their prefect duties. The two of them were on their way back to the Ravenclaw dormitories on the second night of the term, and the last thing on Vanessa's mind was what she wanted to do nearly two years from then. Admittedly, the girl had lied to her Head of House last year during their career consultations; Vanessa had no interest in healing people. With what she had experienced, she just didn't want to help people anymore; no one was able to help her family when they needed it most, and she was still bitter over it.

"I don't know Artemis," she finally replied. "At the time, I thought about it. Now... I dunno."

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a frown form on her friend's face. "I would think after what happened to your mother you would want to become a Healer even more so than you did then," he stated. "If anyone has the ability to do it, it's you. That way what happened to your mother doesn't happen to anyone else."

Vanessa didn't respond to him for a few minutes. "I just don't think it is my thing," she eventually retorted. "I can't. Every time I would help someone out, I would remember her and get depressed all over again, especially if they have dragonpox. I mean... seriously. There are cures for it. I just don't understand how it wasn't enough to save her."

As the two of them finally arrived back at the door to the common room, Artemis placed his hand on her shoulder. "I know it's a terrible feeling. I mean... both of my parents are alive, but there were times I thought for sure I had lost one or the other- my father when he went missing in the arctic, my mother when she had lost her mind, not to mention the time we thought she had contracted Spelltropy. I know it's not the same as what you went through, Vanessa, but I want you to know I'm here for you."

A small smile crept over the girl's face. "Thanks Artemis," she replied quietly.

"You're welcome," Artemis answered. He removed his hand from his friend's shoulder, and then turned to face the common room door. He waited patiently for a moment for the brass door knocker to pose the riddle for him to answer.

"Where do Vanished objects go?" it asked.

Artemis didn't even blink at the question. "Into nonbeing, which is to say, everything."

The door creaked open, and Artemis held it open for a moment before looking at Vanessa. "Are you coming?"

The girl shook her head. "I'm going to take a short walk, and I'll be back, mmkay?"

"Alright," her friend responded. "I'll let Alex know you'll be back, if she's still awake. Be careful, and stay out of trouble."

Vanessa rolled her eyes, although a smile was all too apparent on her face. She slid off her robes, tossing them to her friend, who barely caught them. "I will Artemis. See you in a bit," she assured before turning on her heel and walking away.

It was only the second day, and already she wanted to be away from everyone. She knew her friend meant well, but sometimes she wished he wouldn't bring up what happened. It had been only a year since her mother had passed away, and it was something that still plagued her on a daily basis. Her mother had been the one who had taught Vanessa all she knew about her wizarding heritage, her basic knowledge of all the subjects she would learn. Vanessa remembered the day her mother had told her she was a witch, and that she was part Veela as well. At first the girl didn't know how to take it, but soon after she was ecstatic. But since she had been gone, Vanessa constantly tried to remind her Muggle father about how very different the two worlds were. Of course he remained oblivious to that fact, and drove Vanessa into wanting to be back at school where she somewhat fit in, or over to Alex's house next door.

Alas, there was nothing Vanessa could do about it now. The past year had changed her; it had made her cold. The girl had once been much kinder, and more well-liked than she was now. Vanessa once had many friends, but now she could only rely on her small group. They were the only ones who understood her and all she had been through in recent times. Even then, there were often times where she still felt alone.

After walking aimlessly for what seemed like an eternity, the girl found a small crevice near a window to sit down in. Vanessa rested her head against the stone wall, closing her eyes as she attempted to empty her thoughts. It was a trick Artemis had taught her soon after her mother passed. Vanessa tried not to do it all the time, but sometimes when she was just feeling overwhelmed she would hide away and forget about everything. Today was one of those days.

A few minutes later, the girl opened her eyes, feeling quite a bit better. However, out of the corner of her eye, Vanessa noticed someone sneaking down the hallway. Vanessa smirked; someone was about to lose some House points. She stood, straightening out her skirt before walking quietly to the intersection with the hall the other student had been walking down. She peered around the corner, immediately spotting the student in question. Vanessa was all too pleased to see it was just the person she wanted to talk to.

Vanessa stepped around the corner completely before speaking. "You know, Draco, I could deduct points from you for being out of your dorm at this time of night," she began coolly.

The blond boy stopped in his tracks, turning to face Vanessa. "I could ask you why you're out of bed as well," he spat.

Vanessa approached the boy, stopping when she was within three feet of him. She raised an eyebrow. "I am a prefect, in case you forgot, and I am merely doing my duty," she replied. "You, on the other hand, gave up your title and power." She paused for a moment, letting that sink in. "So... would you care to tell me what you are doing out of bed?"

"A guy can't use the bathroom?" Draco asked, clearly irritated he was interrupted.

"There is a bathroom in the dungeons, so that doesn't explain what you're doing up here," Vanessa retorted. "If I didn't know any better, I would say you were up to something." And then she remembered what she wanted to ask him. "And why do you keep staring at me?"

"Don't flatter yourself, Avery," Draco hissed. "I have better things to be doing than looking at you."

"Of course you do," Vanessa mused, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. "Now if I were you, I would go back to my dormitory before the prefect who caught me out of bed loses her patience and deducts points from Slytherin."

Draco pushed past her with a huff, making his way towards his proper dorm. Vanessa kept her eyes on him until he was out of sight. She honestly didn't care if he went back to his dormitory or not; she just didn't want him snooping around. Once she could no longer see the so-called Slytherin Prince, Vanessa decided it was time for her to head back to her room as well. It was getting late and she had enough alone time. She walked back to the Ravenclaw common room in silence. Upon answering the riddle posed to her, she finally was back inside the now empty common room. Everyone else had gone to bed, just as she had suspected.

Vanessa went into the girls' dormitories, using her wand as a light to see in the incredibly dark room. After a few minutes of stumbling around in the dark room, she had changed into her pajamas, and climbed into bed. The girl adjusted her pillow before laying down, trying to get comfortable. As she finally started to doze off, Vanessa wondered about the strange encounter she had just had with Draco Malfoy, and what it was to mean for the rest of the school year.