The next flew weeks flew by. Harry's hearing was a success, and the kids spent most of their time cleaning the house and talking about Hogwarts and current events. Diana and Mrs. Weasley had made up and left all bad blood behind them, Ron and Hermione were made Prefects (Diana knew it had really irked Harry at the time), and she had finally been registered in the Ministry's Statute of Secrecy so she couldn't use her wand anymore.

Everything had been worked out. When the others were to leave for the train station, she was to use the Floo network to get to Dumbledore's office. Dumbledore had made it very clear that she was not going to be a student; she was too important, too smart, and too valuable to spend her time doing such mundane things as learning (in her opinion) and it helped that she already had more intelligence and wits than most fully-grown wizards.

She was to stay at Hogwarts under watch of Dumbledore. She was to be on call for the Order, fulfilling any needs or purposes that they might have arise. She was to not cause trouble, and to observe students for anything out of the ordinary.

"What about that Umbridge woman? The one that the Ministry sent to invade the school?" she had asked Dumbledore a week before, as she sat fiddling with a bizarre device in his office.

"Leave it to me. You will not have to worry about her as long as I'm around," Dumbledore assured her, watching her intently. He did that a lot: he would watch her, familiarize her movements and try to understand her brain when most others couldn't. When she had first met him, he even tried using Legilimency on her. It didn't work.

The day had finally come; it was September the first. There was much panic and commotion as everyone tried to get all of their things organized and packed, and Mrs. Weasley was heard many times yelling at the twins for nearly killing someone.

Diana sat in the kitchen, watching idly as people filed in and out for various reasons, waving a quick hello to her before exiting once more. Sirius came and sat beside her quickly, stretching his legs beneath the table and sighing loudly. The kitchen was empty for the first time this morning, and he took a moment before speaking.

"I need you to look after Harry," he started quickly, as if she might oppose. "I'm worried about him. He's going to get frustrated from all of the lack of information. I need you to watch him, make sure he doesn't lose his temper."

She nodded. "I was thinking the same thing." She, as Dumbledore had to her, had taken to watching Harry for pure informational purposes. The raven-haired boy intrigued her; to her, he was a case study ready to be observed.

He looked at his hands before he said something else. "He's so much like James that way. He gets so frustrated," he said, chuckling slightly at a memory only he knew of.

Diana smiled slightly. A pained one, one filled with regret and sadness and guilt. After all, her father had been the one who had taken James from his best friend.

"I've seen pictures. Of James and Lily, I mean. Harry looks just like him," she said.

"But he has her eyes," Sirius finished. Diana could sense Sirius just wasn't emotionally capable of continuing the conversation, so she didn't press. They sat in a companionable silence until it was interrupted.

Mrs. Weasley came bustling in, positively distraught with frustration. Diana sensed it was like this every year on September first. "Good morning, dear," she said breathlessly, adding more toast to the existing platter with her wand. "You should probably get ready to leave for Hogwarts. We'll be leaving for the train soon."

Diana smiled lightly and stood up, Sirius following her lead, and they hugged tightly before she left to go find Remus and some of the others so she could say goodbye.

She found Remus by the door. "Are you leaving?" he asked her. She nodded and they hugged. "Don't worry," he said after they pulled away. "We'll be in touch. I'd imagine we'll be seeing you often for Order meetings and whatnot."

"I hope so," she said. "As much as I hate to admit it, I've grown to actually like you people." They both grinned and she set off again, finding Tonks and Mad-Eye near the stairs.

She hugged Tonks and saluted Mad-Eye, who saluted back. As weird as it is, the fierce and neurotic Alastor Moody had grown to actually enjoy the company of the strong girl. She walked back to the kitchen, and straight to the fireplace.

She saw most of the kids were eating at the table. She picked up the powder, and before stepping into the flames, she called out to them. "See you on the flip side, suckers!"

Ever since Diana had been whisked away from the hospital by Dumbledore a few months ago, she had been changing in a way that made her slightly uncomfortable. She had grown to care for people, in ways she had never expected. For the first time in her life, she had a proper family that she enjoyed being around. She had friends.

They were much better than that damned family she had before.

She was not used to being sentimental. She was used to being the cold and emotionless girl everyone had known her as. She was used to being merely her father's daughter.

She was growing soft. She didn't really know if she liked it.

She tossed the powder in the flame, and was taken away to the mighty Hogwarts castle.

••

She arrived in no time, landing in the familiar Headmaster's office and she saw him reading some papers at his desk.

"Good morning, Diana," he said jovially, his eyes twinkling. "I trust you've been well?"

"Of course," she said, stepping out and brushing herself off. Minerva McGonagall stepped into view, her hair in her usual tight bun. She looked much more rigid than the times this summer Diana had seen her. Most likely in anticipation of students later this evening.

"Minerva, will you show Diana to her bedroom?" asked Dumbledore. He was examining papers, and halted quickly and looked up to ask the question.

"Of course," she said, and she gestured for the girl to follow her out of the office and into the corridor.

Diana smiled lightly. She enjoyed the company of Minerva McGonagall.

They reached the corridor and she followed Minerva as she turned to the left. "How have you been, Diana?" she asked politely. That was always one of the reasons Diana liked her so much: Minerva treated her with only respect and kindness, no matter her parentage.

She shrugged. "Alright. I guess as good as you can be during a war."

Minerva nodded in understanding. They turned onto a dark corridor and the Professor stopped in front of a mirror.

It was a nice mirror, with silver edges and a spotless face. She looked at herself through it, noticing for the first time just how much healthier she looked. She looked much better fed, with a fuller face and shinier hair. Her eyes were brighter as well. In her opinion, she looked much less dead than she used to.

McGonagall placed the flat of her palm on the mirror. After a moment, around her hand grew a faint blew light, outlining her palm and fingers and growing brighter by the second. All of a sudden, there was a satisfying click, and the door swung inward to reveal a brightly lit and small corridor. The corridor was no wider than four feet; in fact it was much more of a tiny walkway than a fully-fledged corridor. There was a door at the end, nearly seven feet ahead. Minerva swiftly walked down the hall to the strong oak door, with swirls and inscriptions of unfamiliar hieroglyphs. Minerva turned the brass knob and the door swung open.

Inside was the most wonderful and beautiful room Diana had ever seen. It was large, the size of one of the average House common rooms and single dormitory put together. The walls were covered in brilliant purple cloth, which shined in the firelight from the beautiful stone fireplace on one of the walls. The bed was a large four-poster, with royal purple pillowcases and blankets. There were plushy chairs and a nice sofa before the fireplace. There was a brilliant, thick wooden dresser. Her trunk sat neatly open on the ground at the foot of her bed.

She pulled out her wand from her jacket and waved it once, and the few clothing pieces she had flew to their respective drawers.

After giving Diana a moment to soak it all in, McGonagall started to explain. "This is an old bedroom, one they used for important guests a long time ago. Dumbledore insisted that you come to the feast tonight, but other than that, you have free reign. If you'd like, you may go to any classes any time, but that is only if you wish. He would like you to spend as much time as you can researching and doing Order business."

Diana hesitated, her eyes uneasily trailing over a small carving of a snake on one of the bed posters. It made her apprehensive, seeing things relating to her heritage or family line. Snakes were a painful reminder that she was brought in this world for evil, no matter how much she'd like to wish she wasn't.

"Did my father know about this room when he went to school here?" she asked without thinking, the words slipping out of her lips before she could stop herself. Her eyes widened, wishing to take it back.

Minerva looked over at her, watching the anxiety simmer in Diana's eyes, and the way she gnawed at her fingernails at any mention or thought of her father. She took a moment to speak, picking out the right words. She understood Diana's apprehension towards her father. She knew this must be handled delicately.

"I haven't any idea," McGonagall started lightly, her words echoing slightly in the densely cavernous room. "You have to understand, Diana, that he was a very secretive boy," she set her hand on the girl's shoulder kindly. "Even when he was young, he didn't trust anyone. He was extensively damaged."

Diana tensed in fear. She hated hearing about her father, whether it was of his childhood or reigning power. When she heard of what he used to be like, her head always started throbbing in anxiety and fear.

Hearing about young Tom Riddle always made her think about just how similar they really are.

"You're nothing like him," Minerva said cautiously. She could see the girl was spiraling out of control in her mind, thinking of all the horrible things she's associated with.

Diana merely nodded, not trusting her voice. McGonagall sensed she was not needed here anymore. She turned on her heel to leave, yanking the heavy door open and turning her head to look at the girl again. "Dinner will be at six o'clock, or thereabouts." She took another step but froze again. "Just remember what I said, dear. For what it's worth, you're better now than he will ever be. Trust me."

She walked out and closed the door behind her, and Diana was left in silence.

McGonagall said to trust her on this one, but she wasn't sure if she did.

+++

Diana walked confidently down the silent corridors, her head held high and arms swinging at her sides. She was late for dinner now, for she had been nearly entranced in thought. That happened sometimes: she could get so deep into her mind that hours would pass as if they were minutes. Everyone was already in the Dining Hall, she assumed from the loud chatter coming from the other side of the doors. Light streamed from under the door and the smell of delicious food put Diana's senses on edge.

She got to the door, and she took a moment to gain her bearings. For as strong and confident as she was, she hated being the center of attention in a large crowd. She would grow uncomfortable and fidgety.

But not today. Today, she was going to establish that she was not to be messed with. She was strong and powerful, and she was going to make everyone aware.

She pushed open the huge double doors immediately causing the hall to fall silent. She kept her head forward and high, her eyes trained directly on Dumbledore. He had an amused smile gracing his lined face, his fingers laced together in front of him at the staff table. Diana immediately noticed a toad-like woman adorned in various shades of pink sitting at the staff table. Umbridge, she thought.

"You're late," Dumbledore boomed amusedly in the silence. Diana stood out excessively in the sea of black robes; her regular muggle jeans and white t-shirt stood out like a sore thumb. All eyes were on her as she stood in the middle of the main aisle, facing the staff table directly, with her jaw set and hands balled into fists. She saw Minerva, who smiled at her lightly, and she saw Severus, who gave her a slight nod. She was grateful for Snape; he was the only person who could really understand her feelings about her father.

"Better late than never," she chimed loudly. Dumbledore motioned his hand to an empty seat between McGonagall and Flitwick, and she walked over in large strides and took a seat.

She faced the hall with her usual stoic expression. Now that people had a good view of her face, a chorus of whispers swept over the abnormally still hall. She swept her eyes over the tables, calculating each face and student, taking note of anyone familiar. She saw Harry, Hermione, Fred, George, Ginny, and Ron at the Gryffindor table first.

She recognized many people from around the room from her dreams and the visions she had had ever since she was young. She noticed an odd blonde girl from the Ravenclaw table, who she knew was Luna Lovegood. She recognized Neville Longbottom sitting near Harry, and many other faces scattered throughout the room. It was weird, seeing people from her dreams. It was like she was crossing a barrier between reality and unconsciousness; a line that should often not be breached. It was bizarre, seeing people come to life from her dreams like this. It was surreal, and it made her palms start to sweat and her head start to throb.

Her eyes finally landed on the Slytherin table. She noticed many more of the youngest purebloods in the family line, but what really caught her eye was the frightened faces of a few of them. Most notably, the youngest Malfoy, who she knew was named Draco, peered at her with pure panic and terror, meeting her eyes and immediately looking away. A few other students sitting near him looked at her with fright, but he was by far the most terrified person of the group.

She smiled. She like it when people feared her. She liked the power that came with it.

Just like her father.

Dumbledore's voice sliced through the whispers like a knife, causing the hall to immediately fall into a thick silence. Everyone awaited his explanation of the girl who strode late into the hall and sat at the staff table.

"Ladies, gentlemen, and others, I'd like you to meet Diana," he started, his loud voice echoing lightly. He gestured his hand to her, and her face remained impassive and fearless, her eyes moving over the hall, meeting the eyes of many who would immediately look away. "She will be in the castle for the year. You will see her around and about, so do try to make her feel welcome." He clapped his hands merrily and gestured his hands to the food in front of him. "Proceed!"

She took various foods from the various platters in front of her, stuffing herself with meat and potatoes and other foods. She periodically looked up, sensing eyes on her, to have half the hall looking at her and then immediately looking away when they saw her look up.

She was the topic of conversation among the entire hall of students. They all wondered the same thing: Who is this girl?

Eventually, dinner came to an end and students started filing out of the hall for the night, wanting to get a good night's sleep for classes the next day.

She left as well, stalking past the incessant stares of prying students all the way to her room, where she set her palm on the mirror and walked to her door.

She sat on her bed, fiddling with the little globe necklace she had worn for as long as she could remember. Actually, she had completely forgotten about the necklace around her neck. She had been so preoccupied since she had gotten to Headquarters that the necklace had always remained hidden and unacknowledged beneath her shirt.

She examined it for a moment, then fell back on the bed fully dressed.

She had her first nightmare in months that night. Her dream was littered with snakes and the destroyed castle and fire; images of a pretty crown with beautiful blue gems, and a golden cup, an obscure necklace and a silver ring with a peculiar stone. She dreamed of her father, both now and when he was a teenager.

And more importantly, she dreamed of the familiar boy with raven hair and bright emerald eyes.