Author’s note: Thank you Inu-midoriko for all your help. I would also like to thank everyone who has reviewed so far. Hope everyone enjoys this chapter and sorry for the long wait! If you would like to read up on which works are in progress and on future updates, please check out my website’s blog. I will reply to all comments you post.

The night was just coming out to play when the students attending the Yule Ball started filing into the ballroom. Everyone looked well dressed, even the teachers that were there to supervise. There was one teacher though, that didn't care about his appearance. Professor Moody stood off to the side, seeming to be looking around at the students when really; he was looking for a certain pair of adults.

Barty Jr, in the form of Moody, had gotten praise from Voldemort for finding valid information about Tammy and her powers. As well as everything else about her. In Voldemort's little way, he had promoted Barty to top spy. Taking a swing of his potion in his flask, he looked around once more before finally spotting Severus Snape and Bellatrix Lestrange enter the ball. To Barty's dismay, they looked quite good together. Both had dark hair, pasty white skin, and both were scowling nastily, indicating they had just gotten into an argument and they certainly weren't happy about having to link arms together. The doorman took them as a 'date' because they entered together and that didn't sit right with them, especially since they were probably arguing a few moments before. Remembering he was in a disguise, Barty made his way over to them. "Well now, don't you two make a lovely couple." he mocked.

Severus gave him a cold stare but he turn up the corner of his lip in an attempt for a smile that failed horribly.

"You look dreadfully ill, as always." retorted Bella. "Don't make me-"

"Enough Bellatrix." hissed Snape.

Bella gave him a pout and talked like a baby to him. "Aww, poor Sevvy upset that he can't contwol his widdle date?" her dark brown eyes sparkled with mischief as her blood red lips curved into a wicked grin. Her hair was down and the frizz was tamed so her hair fell in nice soft curls like it always used to when she was younger.

Before Severus could utter another word, or a threat to make her shut it, Neville and his date came in through the door.

"Well now, looks like Ms. Fear cleans up well." commented Moody and when the two adults turned around to face Neville and Tammy, he made his way back to the corner of the room to watch them from afar. He would report everything he heard, saw and concluded. He was sure to get an award and refused to let himself let down his Master.

Tammy looked pleased in the dark green dress with the bronze sash and piping. She drove calmly by Neville's side, seemingly uncaring that most of the students were giving her a wide berth because Nye coiled around himself around her, his head resting contently on the shoulder of his mistress. Seeing Snape and Bella, Tammy smiled in greeting but did not approach them yet out of respect for Neville.

Snape, dressed in black dress pants, black button down shirt and matching black robes, he smiled slightly when he saw Tammy's smile.

"Come Bellatrix, lets say hi." he said with an amused look in his eyes. Neville was Tammy's date and he knew full well the poor boy was terrified to death of him.

"That's not a good idea Sevvy." replied Bellatrix and stayed where she was.

When Snape was about to argue the matter, he remembered what she had done to Neville's parents and how the boy wanted nothing more than to see her dead. "Right. We'll walk around then." he turn back to Tammy and pointed to Neville and than to Bella and shook his head, indicating them being near one another wouldn't be a good idea.

The redhead nodded very slightly, then smiled at Neville and allowed him to lead her away. A few dances later, she came towards them while Neville was dancing with Ginny, her eyes dancing in amusement. "Check out Malfoy!" She giggled. "Revenge is sweet!"

Snape and Bellatrix had been standing off to the far wall, making sure no one slipped any Butterbeer in the punch or danced too dirty. They had stayed completely silent until Tammy walked over to them.

"Let me tell you something Fear, every man in this room should be bowing down to those of us more beautiful than them. And believe me, that's not hard to do." she looked at Severus as she said the last part, teasing him about his looks.

"Those of you? I only see one beautiful girl here and you are a fool if you think it's you. You're but a skeleton of what your beauty once was."

"Had I my wand, Severus Snape, I'd make you swallow those words." she turned to face him.

"Please, you'd try to make me swallow my words?" he then proceeded to turn towards Tammy. "My apologies, Ms. Fear. As you know Bellatrix has a hard time keeping her mouth shut."

Tammy was shaking her head, still smiling. "I think everyone is beautiful tonight." She watched Neville dance with Hermione now. "I'm glad he is having fun too." After a moment of silence she grinned. "Bella, will you please dance with Snape for me?"

The reaction the two had would have been priceless if it wasn't for their reputation. Their eyes widened and their mouths hung open.

"Me... dance with her?" he asked, making sure he heard right.

"Why?" asked Bella, a look of reluctance marring her features.

She gave them a look of patience. "Because I can't dance, and the two of you are attached to each other, so asking someone else would be pointless." Tammy winked then, stroking Nye's head. "Besides, the night shouldn't pass without a dance or two."

They gave no response to her, only looked at one another. "Well, it could be worse... sort of." said Snape.

"Yes, you could be dancing with yourself." even though their insults never failed to be passed to one another, Severus put a hand around Bellatrix's waist and took one small hand in his. She, in turn, put her free hand on his shoulder.

They stood there, staring for a few moments until Severus started their movement, setting them into a basic waltz.

Bellatrix turned her head to Tammy while Severus refused to look at the woman he was holding. "I hope you're happy now." she muttered darkly and although her voice was drowned out by the slow song that was playing, it was easy to read her lips.

In answer, Tammy beamed in satisfaction and after watching the two of them for a minute, drove over to Professor Moody. "Good Evening Professor." She said politely. "I think you have the best seat in the house." To her, he looked lonely, since he was all alone.

Moody gave her an welcoming smile. "Yeah it's not too bad." he grunted. "What are you doing talking to an old bat like me? Shouldn't you be having fun?"

"I am having fun." She replied. "I like talking to people. Besides, you looked lonely all by yourself." Tammy's smile was a secretive one. "You were born in the magic world, I wasn't, but I think that we still have a lot in common."

"Is that so?" he asked and took a swing of his flask when he started to twitch. "Well I'm glad you're having fun. But don't stay here on my account. I'm quite alright watching the dancing."

Nye stroked Tammy's cheek affectionately, eyeing Moody coldly. Tammy's eyes flickered downward, then she nodded. "Thank you professor. I hope you have fun too, although...." A smirk slightly twitched her lips. "Watching Malfoy is entertainment enough... Do you think somebody slipped him something?"

"No, he's just realized what he's missing." he commented, trying his best to keep up the disguise.

With a laugh at Nye's hiss of impatience, she bade the Professor a 'pleasant evening' and wandered off into the crowd, making her way towards one of the doors that led outside.

Draco Malfoy saw her leave for the open double glass doors that led to the balcony outside. He got up, ignored Pansy's whines for him to sit back down, and walked through the crowd. He walked outside and motioned for the other couples that were out there to go in so he could have a private word with the redhead.

Nye was sliding down her arm when Tammy turned her head "Good evening." Stroking Nye's head, she addressed her snake. "Now behave, don't go far, and please stay outside okay Nye? I don't want you getting stepped on."

Draco merely passed the snake a glance. "Evening. You look... nice tonight." he commented.

"Thank you very much." She watched Nye slither off into the darkness. "Professor Snape was very kind to let me go shopping for this dress."

"Yes, he seems to have a soft spot for redheads." he grinned and came up beside her. He was silent for a moment, just watching the moon settle into the night. When he spoke, he kept his eyes on the moon. "I do hope my Aunt hasn't been too much trouble. She worries my mother, you know."

"Most of the time she just ignores me." Tammy answered with a shrug. "Snape's been wonderful though."

"Yeah, he is a good man. I'm proud to say he's my Godfather." he replied, his ice blue eyes trailed back down to Tammy. "Where's your brother?"

"He didn't want to come; I think he's stolen one of the unused classrooms to use as his studio here." Tammy smiled. "Dances aren't his thing."

"I see. So then he wouldn't mind if I stole a dance from his sister would he?"

She flashed him a quick smile. "I can't dance Draco. He wouldn't mind, it's just a dance." Turning her chair slightly, she cocked her head. "If you were to ask me out on a date... then we'd have a problem."

Draco scrunched his nose. "Fear, I wouldn't ask you on a date if my life depended on it. If anything my aunt would end my life. You also underestimate my powers."

Tammy laughed. "Then there's nothing to be concerned about is there Draco?"

"Your brother hates me. It's a wonder he hasn't tried to knock my teeth out yet."

"He won't hurt you unless I'm hurt. If I'm hurt, all bets are off. Jake is somewhat anti-social, he doesn't really like it here."

"I see." wanting to get off the topic of her brother, he redirected his attention to the dance he wanted. "So, about that dance."

Now she fully turned her wheelchair to face him. "I'm not a good dancer." Tammy warned

Draco grinned. "Don't worry, I'm not going to let you fall."

She unbuckled her seatbelt calmly and let him pick her up.

On the third floor, it was silent and peaceful. With everyone either at the dance or in their common rooms, Jake felt relaxed for the first time since returning to Hogwarts. Like his twin, being around this many people made him feel nervous and closed in. Not for the first time, he thanked whichever deity watching over them for sparing him his sister’s so called ‘gift’. At least when he wanted privacy, all he had to do was shut the door behind him. Humming tunelessly, he swirled his paintbrush in paint as he studied the canvas in front of him.

Hermione swiftly but effectively exited the dance unnoticed. She knew exactly where Jake would be at this hour. Reaching the third floor with a locket in hand, she took a deep breath and entered the first closed door, hoping she found the right door.

Slightly annoyed, but putting on a polite mask, he took a deep breath. "Come in." He was being polite because technically he wasn't supposed to be using that room, so it wasn't like he couldn't just tell the person on the other side to go away. If it was a teacher, being polite could allow him to keep using that room.

"Sorry to bother you Jake," Hermione apologized, once she saw him trying to paint. "I'll leave if you want. I can talk to you later."

Hearing Hermione’s voice, Jake stepped back and smiled at the beautiful brunette. "Is the ball over already?" He asked, putting down his palette and brush.

Hermione shook her head. "No, I... I just needed to talk, you know? Change of scenery." she said, twirling the locket in her hands.

Jake looked at Hermione for a long minute, then gestured to a chair. "Please have a seat." As he spoke, he hooked a chair with his foot and straddled it, resting his arms along the back in a relaxed pose.

"I'm going to sound so stupid," she started once she sat down. "But I would feel better about it if I had your approval." she started down at her hands. "Jake, I have feelings for Tammy. Real feelings."

"You love her?" Jake raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"I wouldn't say love right now, but I know I do like her. A lot."

Jake smiled. "I think you would suit my sister very well Hermione. You understand what it's like to have lived in one world, but thrust into another one."

Hermione smiled. "We would learn alot from each other." she looked down at her locket. "I got this for her, do you think she'll like it?"

Still smiling, Jake gracefully rose from the chair. "It's beautiful. May I have a closer look?"

An overjoyed Hermione handed him the locket, all the while smiling that he approved of her.

Taking the locket him his hand, he studied the stunning white gold locket and smiled when he saw a bronze eagle engraved on it. Suddenly his green eyes went wide with shock and alarm. "Hermione... is there a spell in this locket?" He asked in a tight voice.

"Yes. It's to give her the ability to understand Nye but no other snake but him. As long as she wears it she'll know exactly what he's saying."

Swallowing hard, Jake gently put the locket on the desk. "I see." He was very pale.

"What's wrong?"

"I've seen that locket before. I painted that locket Hermione."

Hermione frowned. "What do you mean you've painted it before?"

Jake strode across the room to where a group of completed paintings was stacked against one wall. Moving a few of them aside, Jake gingerly picked up a covered canvas. He treated it carefully, as though it would bite him if he moved too quickly. Walking back over to Hermione, he carefully unwrapped it and propped it in the chair that he had vacated.

The painting was of Tammy with tears pouring down her face, standing in front of a dead tree wearing a white dress with blue trim on the sleeves and hem. The ground around her was covered in snakes, making it look like she was in the center of a nest. Nye looked small beside her, his hood spread wide as he seemed to be in battle with a larger version of himself. The thing that chilled the blood, however, was a large powerful green snake had wrapped itself around her body, its forked tongue touching her cheek as though licking away a tear. The snake's eyes were burning red with hatred. Around Tammy's throat was the exact same locket that was on the desk next to Hermione, the only bright spot in a painting of darkness.

Hermione's expression was one of horror. "Why...? how...? Jake, why are there snakes everywhere? Why is this very same locket on her neck when I haven't shown it to you until tonight?"

Jake’s eyes were dark with something very close to hatred as he stared at that painting. “It’s a ‘dreamscape’, for lack of a better term. I suppose you could call it a form of Divination, but it’s more precise than that. Unlike my sister, who can’t turn her ‘gift’ off, I can only paint them in my sleep. It only happens when something really bad might happen to one of us. This one was painted while my sister was recovering at home.”

Now Hermione's expression was one of great worry. Her wide chocolate brown eyes studied the images. She held out a hand to the canvas and touched the paint. "This... is going to happen? What does it mean?" she asked, fright evident in her voice.

If looks could kill, the painting would have been a pile of ash by now. "It might, I don't know by who or how, but I know it's really bad." He pointed to the locket. "However, I know enough to know that that locket will be very important to her." He raised an eyebrow. "I know you don't believe in Divination Hermione, I don't either, but when I see this painting..."

"It makes it seem like it will all be real." she shook her head and put her face in her hands. Tears brimmed in her eyes. "I'm so scared for Tammy. If that painting is real..." she choked.

"Your fears match mine, but until I know more, there's nothing either of us can do right now. Forewarned is forearmed Hermione." Jake's lips twitched in a smile that didn't quite make it. "You are the only one who knows about my ability and this dreamscape."

"I feel honored to know about it, really I do, but it's horrifying Jake, how do you deal with it?" she took one more look at the snake wrapped around Tammy's body and glared at it. "We must make sure nothing happens to her. No matter what the cost."

Jake gave Hermione a friendly hug. "I just remind myself that nothing is set in stone and that we choose our own fates. The dreamscapes are just warnings as to what might be, not what will be. As long as you keep your eyes open, it can be avoided."

She returned the hug and asked, "What if it can't be avoided? What if they're one step ahead of us?"

"If it can't be avoided, then at least we will have enough time to try and prepare her as much as we can. Your gift of that locket is the first step. If the painting is right, Nye will be her only ally in the battle ahead." Jake looked sad. "You can't tell Tammy about this Hermione."

"Why not? She has the right to know what's going on."

"Because her knowing may do one of two things: It could either prevent the dreamscape or it could only make it worse."

"Even so, the only way to protect her is to tell her, not keeping her in the dark where she won’t be braced for impact."

"I can do that without alarming her. My ability is the open secret between Tammy and I." Jake paused. "Hermione, think for a minute, how many times in Divination does something happen because you believe it will happen?"

"Far too many."

"Exactly. I don't want to tell her and make her panic." Jake nodded. "I have the warning, and that is enough for now until I get another piece."

Hermione sighed but nodded. "You're right. Should be tell Professor Dumbledore? Maybe he could help."

Drumming his fingers on the desk as he thought, finally shaking his head slowly. "No. If Dumbledore knows he'll tell Tammy. Either that or he'll send her home and alert whoever's working for the big snake that the cover is blown and put her in even more danger."

"No, Dumbledore is more subtle than that. He won't want anything bas to happen to her, therefore he'd have her here under his watch. Plus if I already suspect who's behind it, Dumbledore will suspect the same person."

"I think we have too little information right now, and I don't want to tell Dumbledore until things have calmed down a little. Also, there's Harry to consider too. Dumbledore is only one person after all, if he spreads himself too thin and makes a mistake…"

Hermione sighed. "I know but he could have someone else equally as capable as he to watch over Tammy could he not? He's got so many connections."

Jake rubbed his temples as though his head hurt. "Hermione... Would you be hurt if I said I have my own reasons for not wanting Dumbledore involved?"

"No but I think you're making a terrible mistake by come telling him. He's the most powerful Wizard in the universe. Not telling him would only be opening yourself up from your defenses."

"There is a saying in my world, two can keep a secret, and three is trouble. Even if I trusted Dumbledore, which I'll freely admit that I don't know him well enough to do that, it's who he might tell in his turn that worries me even more. Connections can be useful; on the other hand, they can really bite you in the ass."

"You're right, you don't know him. He would never do that to you or anyone else in this school. If you got to know him you'd see that he's more trust worthy than any other person you've known since your parent's death." Hermione sighed and looked down at her hands.

"And look where that got me. I don't even know who or what my parents were anymore." Jake snapped, then sighed as he ran both hands though his hair, thoroughly messing it up. "I'm sorry Hermione... damn it all to hell."

"It got you here. It got you to a place you can call home and not have to worry about social workers splitting you up. Sure its slightly different because there's magic, but it's no different than someone carrying a gun in their pocket. Here, you have people you can trust. Out there, all you have are each other."

The older boy sat down, pain in his eyes. "True... I know you are right but... damnit my gut does not agree!"

"You're scared and it's a new environment. I understand." Hermione kneeled down on her knees in front of him and placed a hand on his for reassurance. "But you're not alone."

"Tammy said something that keeps bothering me: 'Why did our parents break their wands?' I can't help thinking about that too." Jake squeezed her hand back.

"It was probably because of the dark times."

"Yes, but even so, wouldn't they have wanted us to know about this world? Hermione, they never said a word, not even a hint!"

"Some parents don't want to expose their children to it. You wouldn't believe how many witches and wizards that are out there that don't know of this place. All I know is from what I've read and heard, the dark times were very bad. So bad that it made many magic folk leave for the muggle world and do anything necessary to not be traced by 'You-Know-Who'."

Jake bit his lip hard. "Somehow, I think there is more to it than that. Don't ask me how I know this."

"Look, just trust me. If not Dumbledore, then me."

Finally, Jake nodded. "If I get another dreamscape, I'll tell him."

"Thank you." Hermione gave him a warm smile. "Remember, I'm here. You two don't have to be alone through this." she gave him one last hug.

Jake hugged back. "You better go back."

"Yeah, I'll leave you to paint in peace. Thank you for talking to me about this. You have no idea how important it was to me."

"Don't forget the locket." He held it out.

"Thanks." Hermione smiled and took the locket from him. "See you later, Jake." she made for the door. "Have a good night."

"Goodnight Hermione." He had gotten up and was already moving towards his easel.