"For the last bloody time, I said LEAVE ME ALONE"A young girl's voice cut through the chatter of the students, as a few moved away from the three Slytherins and a Gryffindor. The girl had black hair and brown eyes, and a few bracelets on both wrists.The girl's name? Merciline Tioro Shivak, Well, that wasn't her real name. Her real name was Merciline Tioro Riddle. Yes, she was the niece of He-who must not be named. That was the reason that her parents were dead. Her own uncle had killed her parents,but before he could kill the then six month old Merciline, who else but Albus Dumbledore seemenly appeared out of nowhere, and saved the infant. With no family left, she was sent to her parents old school friends in Japan, the Shivaks. The wife was English, her name was Mikoto Frostfield, an old friend of Laura Seawood,Mercy's mother.

"Harry, let's go we need to find a seat"Hermione Granger told her friend Harry Potter, as she and Ron Weasly walked through the train. "This is the only one left.."Ron said, as they approached a room. "Guess we;'ll have to sit here"Hermione said, putting her stuff in the racks above them. "Hey, I thought I heard Draco aruging with someone earlier" Hermione said as Ron scuffed. "He always argues with people Hermione.." The girl shot him a death look. "'Scuse me.."Mercy panted as she reached the room. "Is.. there room left.."she asked as Hermione nodded. "There's plenty"she said moving over so Mercy could sit down. "Thanks.. all the others are full," she commented.

Crookshanks hissed at a small grey ball that was sitting on Mercy's... head. "Crookshanks'Hermione said softly, as the ball of fur purred at them. "Oh.. that's Twilight, my kitten"Mercy said, taking the ball from her head, and cradling it in her arms. Around her neck was a locket, that had a photo of her mother, father and her when she was a baby. Inscribed on the front were the initials M. T. R in cursive. "I almost forgot, I;m Hermione, and this is Crookshanks"She said, as the cat curled up in her lap. "Ron.. Ron Weasly"he said, as Mercy nodded. "Merciline, Merciline Shivak, my friends call me Mercy"she smiled.

"and i'm Harry." he said avoiding to say his full name since he hated the gasping and pointing he got everytime he did so. He noticed the locket. "What does the M.T.R. stand for?" he asked trying to avoid an awkward silence. Before Mercy could answer Lupin opened the door then stopped when he saw four pairs of eyes not including the cats turn to him

"Oh, i'm sorry i didn't think this one would be full to." he apologized. "It just keeps getting harder and harder to find a place to sit with more new students coming every year than students leaving and graduating."

"It's ok, i think we can all squeeze in together." Harry said a little doubtfully. he felt sorry for Lupin, he looked even shabbier than usual and he looked so down hearted when he saw how full their compartment was already. 

Mercy blinked, as she watched Lupin. The man seemed so familiar,yet she couldn't put her finger on where she'd seen him before. Sighing, she glanced at the other three students. "So, I guess you're a first year?" Hermione asked, as Mercy shook her head.

"NOt really,I;m actually third year.. transfered from Hokisha's School for witches and wizards in Japan.. the headmaster was a demon.. and I'm not kidding. He was a real demon.."She said, shuddering. Hokisha's was a well known,and respected school,that had a history of turning out very good quidditch players, and a few.. dark wizards. She'd had a nasty experience with a dragon..but they didn't need to know that.. or her past right now..

Lupin seemed to ponder as he squeezed in next to Harry. "Hokisha's Wizarding school huh, that sounds familiar. I heard it is a pretty good school but i don't know too much about it. Anyways i'd be a little skeptical about a demon teaching." Harry had to nod in agreemnt.

"What kind of demon was he...her..it," Harry struggeled to find the right word. He gave up and let his question rest.

She shrugged, "I never asked...all I know..is that our headmaster was a huge fan of the dark arts.. and things that were very very dangerous... "she sighed, "I hope he gets taken away before someone else gets hurt"She trailed off. Hermine frowned,"someone else...?" Mercy didn't answer, as the train started from the station.


Both Lupin and Harry were looking at Mercy a little doubtfully. Harry knew better than the press the other girl if she didn't want to say what she meant by that someone else got hurt. "I've had more than enough trouble with the dark arts." Harry sighed. Lupin laughed

Mercy shook her head,"It's no laughing matter sir...My experience with the dark arts.. was no picnic... I lost my family because of it.."She explained.

"I'm sorry." Lupin said turning serious. "I'm sorry you lost your familiy." Harry could tell the older man was embarassed at his little outburst.

"A lot of people have lost families due to the dark arts." Harry said sympathetically to Mercy. He looked down at his hands. He would never know what fun times he would have had with his parents if they coudl have been here now to see him off to school or congratulate him on a quidditch game well played...

"I only fear..for the safety of my foster family.."she said softly. "There've been..a few death eaters targeting us.."Mercy sighed. Hermione blinked,"why would death eaters target you.. if you don't mind me asking"

Mercy looked at her locket,then her wrist. "It's.. a long story"she said softly,sadly.

Harry's eyes widdened when he heard Death Eaters. "I bet we have a while before we get to Hogwarts." Harry pressed. Lupin elbowed him in the ribs for his rudeness.

Mercy blinked,"if we just pulled out.. why are we stopping"She asked half stupidly, as the train came to a lurching stop. Mercy managed to keep herself fromm landing on her face, as her cat hissed at the door. Ice crystals were forming on the train windows. "Ron.. that was my foot"HErmione said,after the lights went out.

Lupin looked around. "I wonder what's going on." Harry said nothing as he clenched his jaws together in effort not to be sick. it was a familiar feeling and his hands gripped his wand.

Mercy stood,setting Twilight on the seat, as she took her wand from her pocket. She knew a good shielding spell,and hoped it would work,against whatever was coming towards the door.

A dark figure could be seen outlined in the compartment window. It was skinny, almost too skinny and the cold seemed to be seaping from its form through the gap under the door. slowly very slowly it raised a skeletal arm and drew the door back. screams could be heard down the train carts but the dementor was focused on only one thing, it was focused only on Mercy.

Mercy backed up a bit,as she felt the creature almost.. draining her life away.. She felt, cold.. sad..As her vision started to become blurry, she could hear screams in her head. It was her parents, the night her uncle had killed them, and nearly killed her. "PLEASE, NOT MERCY..TOM I BEG YOU DON'T HURT HER' "Please.. Tom.. spare her'she heard her father then her mother scream, as she felt herself hit the floor, as she blacked out. "Mercy.. Mercy.."A voice said,as it shook her shoulder. Twilight was sitting on Harry's lap purring. The cat seemed to keep the dementor's effects away from Harry. Mercy groaned,"what.. the hell..."she muttered,blinking a few times.

The lights were back on,and the train was moving again. Ron and Hermione looked scared to death. And Crookshanks was sitting on MErcy's lap,purring.

Harry could feel the cold sweat on his forehead and his shock made his mouth feel dry. He asbsently stroked Twilight and he stared at the compartment door in shock. "What was that about?" Harry said breathlessly.

"I don't know.."Hermione said,as she managed to get MErcy onto the seat. "You ok"She asked, as the other girl nodded weakly. "You guys.. didn't hear someone screaming did you?" "mercy.... no one.. no one was screaming"Hermione said gently. "I heard.. a man.. and a woman screaming.."Mercy mumbled,gazing at the floor.

Harry bit his lip. "It's ok Mercy, nobody else heard them screaming but i can guess it's your family you're hearing, the moments...the moment before they..they..." he stopped. "I heard my parents everytime a dementor gets near me too."

"I heard it once before...but..that was when..he was near me..."She said softly. Hermione blinked,where was that man..Lupin, she thought to herself.

Lupin was digging around inside his cloak pockets and grinned when he found what he was looking for. It was a large block of choclate and he broke off a piece for everyone though Mercy's was bigger since she felt the effects of the dementor more than anyone else had in the compartment.

"If you don't mind me asking.. what position are you filling?"Mercy asked, as Hermione almost snickered. "I think I have a hunch"she said with a grin. Mercy blinked, a confused look on her face.

Lupin chuckled and stratched at his graying hair. "Defense AGainst the Dark Arts." he smiled "and i'll try not to be as evil as the others." he winked at Mercy and Harry.

Mercy blinked, "I'm.. really confused.." "You see.. it's rumoured that the position of DADA,Defense Against the Dark Arts is cursed, since the teachers only last for one year.. the first one.. I think turned to dust.. and last year, our teacher lost his memory.."Hermione sighed. "I had a defense teacher who was a centaur. She was actually nice."Mercy said wtih a grin.

"Yes, there is such a rumor going around but i hope that it does not reach me." lupin said. "I'd rather not travel around in a jar in the form of little dust particles."

Mercy giggled,as she ate her chocolate. "Lets see... we've had in two years... two defense teachers, three care of magical creatures teachers... and two headmasters.. the magical creatures teachers kinda got eaten.."She said, as HErmione blinked. "By..what?"she asked.

"Probably something illegal." Harry said not wanting to think about it. It sounded almost like something that would happen to Hagrid. He'd go up to pet a dragon and it'd roast him without a second thought. he grimmaced.

"Actually.. dragons aren't illegal in Japan..at least.. not the native breeds.. and yes.. it was a dragon that ate three of our teachers...'she said softly. She didn't mention that in stopping the rampaging dragon, she'd been burned on her face,hands and arms.

"You'd think with that much bad luck with dragon's they'd make them illegal." Harry said wonderingly. "Do they breed them in Japan too? It's illegal here as far as i know."

She nodded,"they do... but it's mostly for research,and to help protect a couple of breeds that are endangered"she said,as the train pulled into the station at Hogwarts.

It was then that Harry almost forgot to ask. "Hey Mercy, what house are you in?"

"Uhh.. Gryffindor.."She said,as Hermione grinned. "Come with us then"she said,half dragging the new student to the Gryffindor table.

Harry laughed. "Dont rip her arm off Hermione!" he turned to lupin as the older man left to meet the other staff.

Mercy chuckled,as the feast began. "So, who is that teacher..the one sitting beside Professor Lupin.."MErcy asked, shuddering a bit when she made eye contact with Snape.

"who snape?" Harry spat not hiding his disgust and hatrid for the professor. "He's a stupid git is who he is." he thrusted the end of his fork into his pie.

"He's the potions teacher..and doesn't take kindly to anyone from Gryffindor.."Hermione sighed,as Ron nodded."Yeah..he hates all Gryffindors...favors his own house"THe teen growled.

"I wish McGonagal would favor the Gryffindors as much as snape favors slytherin. If that happened we could jinx them in front of her nose and she would jsut tell us how good our form was and tellthe slytherins that they will each loose five house points for having to go to the hospital wing and miss her class." Harry grinned at his idea.

"But it will never happen,not when she's our head of house,and while Dumbledore's headmaster"Hermione pointed out,as Mercy sighed,and finished her dinner. She was quiet through dessert, and on the way to the common room.

"I can dream cant i?" he asked Hermione finishing off the rest of his chocolate pudding.

"WHich will never come true..."Hermione said,as she showed Mercy where the common room was. "You ok.."she asked the girl softly. "Yeah..I.. just need to talk to Professor Dumbledore tomorow.."she said softly.

Harry shrugged. "good night Hermione, Mercy." he said stiffling a yawn. As soon as he pulled the covers right around him he fell asleep.

The next morning on the way to Transfuguration Hermione pulled Harry aside, "Harry, have you seen Mercy this morning? She wasn't in the common room when I got up. After her mood last night, I'm kinda worried," she asked in a whisper.

"er," said Harry just as clueless about picking up different girls' emotions as Ron. "I thought she was fine." he coughed. "No i haven't seen her, she has TRansfigurations this period?"

"Yes. I think she does. Oh no, wait she's a third year, she may not have class with us." Hermione replied.

Said student was taking a deep breath as she stood outside of the headmaster's office. Knocking on the door,she rubbed her wrist,as it throbbed fainntly. She sighed,pulling her sleeve down,and shuddered at the dark mark that was on her arm. It was as if.,. she was a death eater, which she wasn't.

"You know.. I saw her heading for the headmaster's office after breakfast..."Ron said,as he walked beside them. "That's probably where she is"

"Who do you think she was talking about after the dementors left the train. She said 'he'. Something obviously bad has happened to her in her past though. She acted like you did when you first encountered a dementor, Harry," said Hermione quietly.

"I wonder why she wasn't enrolled in Hogwarts from the start... you think she moved to Japan to get away from..You know who?"Ron wondered aloud.

"Could be. But why did she run?" Hermione asked.
Professor McGonagall passed by the trio, "Care to share with the class what seems to be so important you three?" the three shake their heads, "Ok, then will you kindly open your books to page 697 like the rest of the class then?"

Ron gulped,and opened his book,shrugging to Hermione. "Probably has to do with whatever happened when she was little.."He whispered, so McGongall couldn't hear.

Mercy sighed,as she knocked on the door again,and put a hand to her face,as a half mask appeared on the right side of her face.

The door swung open but there was nobody there to open the door. Dumbledore was out of sight but his voice was heard from somewhere to the right behind a shelf of books. "Come in Mercy." he said.

She walked in,as she looked around the room. "You must be Fawkes"she said softly,as she pet the bird gently. "Professor?"she said,blinking.

"Yes my dear? How may I help you?" asked Dumbledore in that quiet manner of his.

Fawkes ruffled his feathers and cocked his head to one side, staring at Mercy with a clear black eye. his talons shifted on his perch.

"Don't mind Fawkes my dear. He won't hurt you," Dumbledore told Mercy as she glanced at the phoenix.

She sighed,pulling her sleeve up."This.. it's been there since the attack when I was a baby..."She said softly,as she reached her other hand up,and let the mask fall into her hand. Her face had been burned by the dragon a year earlier. So had her arms, and hands. She'd never shown anyone what was under the mask.

Fawkes let out a soft trill and opened his wings as if he were about to take off but he folded them again with a look at Dumbeldor.

Dumbledore appeared to have nodded his head, then Fawkes took off and landed on Mercy's shoulder. Mercy looked at Fawkes and he rested his head on her cheek with tears in his eyes.

"Professor,I need to know..three years ago...did.. did my uncle actually come back?"She asked,stroking Fawkes head. "I don't know if your tears could heal this wound..it's deep...and "She sighed,"Full of hatred.."she said softly. She'd been trying to save a friend, when the dragon who was enraged had attacked her.

"Yes, he did in a way. But not in the way you are thinking. He came back as a parasite, feeding off one of Hogwarts own teachers. I believe that Harry can tell you more about it. You know Harry right?" Dumbledore sat at his desk and the tips of his fingers together in front of his face.

She nodded,"Yes,I met him on the train"She said softly,as she sat down,still holding the mask. "It's just.. I'm afraid.. he'll find some way to use me..to make me hurt others.."She said softly,tears forming in her dark brown eyes.

"I do not believe that will happen." he said studying Mercy through halfmoon specticles. "you have friends, cherish them. They are the key to your survival but you must look after them to. If you love them then that is all that matter right now."

"Yes, I understand sir," Mercy said quietly.

"Ok then, why don't you return to class and talk to Harry later. He knows more than you might give him credit to." Dumbledore told her.

"What happened to him sir?" she asked with curiosity.

"Let him and his friends tell you that." he said as he peered at her with crystal blue eyes."

"Yes sir," and she rose from her seat and left the office.

"there you are!" a voice sounded behind Mercy as she left the headmaster's office. "Hermione was worried about you because she thought you were in a weird mood last night so i came to find you. Transfiguration class is over now." Harry said catching up to her.

She sighed,"I know..I had to talk to the headmaster about something..."she said,pulling her sleeve down,hiding both the burns and the mark. She set the mask, so it would gain the spell she kept on it,as she appeared normal.

"c'mon let's go find Hermione she'll want to know you're ok." Harry said taking her hand and dragging her down the hall.

They reached Defense Against the Dark Arts soon after and Harry dragged Mercy to the table with Ron and Hermione.

"Are you ok Mercy? Where were you? I took extra notes for you," Hermione said as soon as Mercy sat down.

"Yeah,I'm fine,don't worry"she said,looking over the notes Hermione handed her. "Oh great..I missed a lot today.."she groaned,putting her head in her hands.

"Not really, Hermione just like taking notes that's all," Ron told her, Hermione shot him a glare. At that moment Professor Lupin came in the door.

"I'll..explain what happened later"Mercy whispered,as the students stopped talking. Mercy pulled out her wand from her bag,and tucked it into her pocket.

"Good after noon student's, please put away your books." Lupin said as he walked to the front of the room.

Harry obeyed and replaced the book he had just taken out inside his book bag.

"Today we will be going to the teacher's lounge, will you please follow me." All the students got up and followed Lupin out the door.

Harry looked to his friends. "Do you guys know what is going to happen?" this was an odd class.

Mercy shrugged,"I have no idea.."She said,as she followed Harry and Hermione. She gulped,when she saw an old wardrobe shaking.

"Does anyone know what might be in this wardrobe?" Lupin asked the class after they all filed into the room, as always Hermione's hand shot in the air.

Mercy raised her hand,she'd delt with a boggart only once,and hadn;t had a good experience.

Harry stood silent, as confused as ever.

Lupin spotted Hermione's hand in the air but decided to give mercy a chance. "Yes Mercy?" he said pointing to her.

"A boggart"she said,as a few of the students turned,and chatted softly about her. She ignored the chatter,and stood there. She wasn't sure if Lupin would give her a chance. Seeing..that he was her godfather, he'd know the thing she feared the most. Was her uncle,Vol...sorry... You know-who.

"That's correct. Now does anybody know what a boggart does?" once again Hermione's hand shot into the air.

Mercy raised her hand,clearly this was going to be her best class. Well,seeing as she had learned to defend herself against the dark arts.. and learn a few dark spells, she thought she was good.

"Hermione?" asked Lupin. He didn't want the class to get nervous again if Mercy anwsered. They weren't going to like what she was afraid of anyway.

"A boggart turns into the first person it sees greatest fear."

"Correct. Now I would like all of you to line up in a single file line," Lupin informed the class.

Mercy sighed,as she stood behind Hermione. She was in the middle, and prayed class would end before it was her turn. Of course, that wouldn't happen, but, would Lupin let her have a turn at the boggart...since her greatest fear was Voldemort...

"I would like Neville to go first please. Now I want you all to remember the word Riddikulus. It will repel the boggart. When you repel the boggart think of something funny and say Riddikulus, you must laugh to throw the boggart off. Now please come forward Mr. Longbottom, everyone else please step back so that the boggart won't get confused. Remember, laughter is the key.

Mercy watched as Neville went first. She sighed,as the other students went. Then it was Hermione's turn. Once she went,Mercy gulped,stepping forward.

"Miss Patil would you please step forward." Lupin stopped Mercy as she came walking up.

Parvati stepped forward,as the boggart turned into a spider,she gulped,and managed to take care of the boggart,as it flew back into the wardrobe.Mercy sighed,as she stayed back at the end of the line.

Three more people went to fight the boggart then the bell rang, "Class dissmissed," Lupin informed everyone.

"Ok, time to go," Hermion said to Harry, Ron, and Mercy.

"You guys go on ahead, I'll catch up in a minute"Mercy said,she wanted to talk to Lupin for a moment.

"Ok, see you class, I'll take notes for you," Hermione told her.

"Professor Lupin?"she said,walking over to him,as she slung her bag across her shoulder. Shhe sighed,as the mask fell from her face onto the ground. I have to strengthen that spell..she thought to herself.

"Oh my god! What happened my dear?!" Lupin asked alarmed.

"Hmm? oh this..remember how I said I'd had a run in with a dragon?"she said,picking the mask up,as she held it,staring at her wrist.

"Yes? Go on," Lupin encouraged her.

She sighed,"I just wanted to know..why you didn't let me face the boggart..."She asked,sitting down in a chair,as she held the mask, which glowed,as she set it back on her face, and in moments the burn scar vanished as the mask and spell took hold.

"Well i figured that your fear was directed towards You-Know-Who." Lupin sighed. "I didn't want ot take that chance. A lot of people here have had dealings with the him and seeing him would be a painful reminder. Fearing You-Know-Who is nothing to fool around with. It's something serious." He patted Mercy on the shoulder. "I did not stop you from fighting the boggart becuase i thought you were weak, i just felt nobody would appreciate it much if he materialized right in front of the hwole class." he rubbed his eye slooking tired.

She sighed,nodding. "He... is the one thing I fear most. Not because he's the dark lord..but..."she trailed off. "Because he's my uncle...and... because of what he did, I can never call him family.I'm ashamed to call him my uncle"She said softly, as she stood, starting for the door. "I should go..I'll be late for Transfiguration..again"she sighed.

"Alright Mercy but remember to live in the moment and have fun with your friends and you might forget your fears for alittle while." Lupin tried to smile yet the girl's story was filled with grief and fear, he just wanted Mercy's life to take a turn for the best.

She nodded,as she scurried to class. Slipping into the classroom,she took her seat beside Hermione and sighed, her head on her arms.

Harry noticed Mercy's composure. "What's wrong?" he whispered trying not to let the proffessor hear him.

"I'll explain later"She said,knowing she'd have to explain to McGongal why she was late again to class. This was not her week she thought to herself.

"Miss Shivak, why are you late to my class?" McGonagall said as she passed behind Mercy.

"I had to talk to Professor Lupin after class," Mercy said quietly.

She sighed, I know I'm late again...it's not my fault stuff keeps happening..she thought to herself,as she took down notes.

"Well, I would appreciate it if you would put in the effort to come to my class and get here on time," McGonagall told her sternly.

"Yes Professor," Mercy whispered.

Mercy sighed as she started for the Great hall when it was lunch time. She sat there,eating her lunch,staring into space.

"Are you ok Mercy?" Hermione asked her.

She blinked,"Huh..oh just thinking about things.."she said, as she checked her bag. She sighed, she had turned in her form so she'd be able to go on the next Hogsmeade trip.

"Are you sure you're alright?" Ron asked.

Harry shared Hermione's and Ron's concern but decided that whatever Mercy was feeling or hiding she didn't want to tell them just yet so he changed the subject. "I hear a new girl just transfered from Durmstrang she'll be here sometime next week. I heard Lupin talking ot Mcgonagal about it."

"Really? Durmstrang? I wonder who it could be." Hermione windered out loud.

"We'll just wait and find out. I heard she'd just sent in her transfer papers." HArry Finished his lunch.

"Wow." said Ron around a mouth full of mashed potatoes.

Harry Laughed. "Ron you've got to stop talking with your mouth full!"

"Orry, Arry," Ron said around a mouthful a chocolate pudding.

Mercy was quiet,pouring over what appeared to be an old book,as she sighed.

"Oooh... what are you reading?" asked Hermione, curious as ever the book worm always was.

"It's actually not a book"she said,closing it,as a man and woman waved up at them. The woman was holding an infant girl,who had a locket around her neck. "My mum and dad..and me when I was an infant"She said softly. It was an old family photo album she had been given by her foster family a few years earlier. It had been sent to her foster family by Dumbledore.

"Harry has an old photo album from when he was an infant too, back when his parents were still alive." Hermione informed her.

Harry pretended not to hear Mercy or Hermione talking and turned to Ron instead. "How much homework did you start on so far?"

"None of course. We have all weekend," Ron replied.

"Better get started on it soon so Hermione doesn't bother us about it later." Harry joked.

Mercy sighed,as she finshed her meal, and gathered her things. "I'm..gonna head up for the night"she said,as she left the great hall, and started for the Gryffindor Common room. Once she had put her things in a corner, she started out of the room,and down a secret staircase she'd found, that lead out to the grounds near Hagrid's hut. The girl sighed,as she sat in the shadows,as a pair of golden eyes was soon watching the night life.

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