The following weeks seemed to pass by quickly, most of my subjects were fairly easy for me. The one subject that offered the most difficulty was Transfiguration. By the time I transfigured a match for the third time, something seemed to click, and I was able to transform a match on command. Seeing my progress Professor McGonagall moved me onto larger objects.

I began spending a lot of my spare time, in the room of requirement. Rather than hunt through the endless library of Hogwarts. It was much more convenient to have a room that would provide the books on subjects I wanted to learn about.

It also made a good place to practice spells, I don't know why but casting charms, was as easy as breathing to me. I was leagues ahead of my fellow first year, the only thing I really needed to work on was being able to modify the strength I used in my spells, which required endless practice.

A few weeks into term, upon entering my room, I noticed Athena becoming listless. I knew it was hard on her being cooped up in my dorm when I was in class, not to mention having her wings and horns magical folded away. Scooping her up into my arms, I whispered, "Why don't we go outside, and find a place for you to stretch your wings bit."

Hearing my words Athena piped up and bleated in a cheerful tone. Making my way through the grounds, with Athena on my shoulder vibrating in anticipation. I saw a small wooden hut near the forbidden forest out of the corner of my eye. That must be Hagrid's hut, I had seen him a few times on the grounds, but hadn't had the chance to introduce myself to him.

Passing the hut, I made my way to the lake, once I had put some distance between me and the castle, I reached up and grabbed Athena off my shoulder. "Hold still, silly," I told her, as she moved with excitement as I tried to remove her collar.

Once I got it off her, her wings and horns shot out and back into place. After giving herself a shake, Athena launched herself into the sky with a happy bleat. I watched her sail off into the sky, I sighed, wishing that first year were allowed brooms, I missed flying through the sky with Athena next to me as we soared over our family property.

As I sat by the lake with the forbidden forest to my back watching Athena aerial antics, I smiled. I jumped in surprise after a deep rumbling voice intoned, "It isn't very often that I get to see a Lamassu."

Jumping in surprise, what greeted me was a giant of a man. Standing over 11 feet tall I had to crane my neck back to see his bearded face. How can someone so big move so silently? Next to him was a huge black boarhound with drool leaking out of his mouth.

"Your Hagrid, right?" I asked

Nodding his head in affirmation, He rumbled "Yes and this big guy is fang, now, you know my name, but I don't know yours."

"Alexander Fawley, but most people just call me Alex," I replied.

Setting down a huge rope he had slung over his shoulder he sat down next to me and asked, "Well, Alex what are you doing out here all by yourself? Shouldn't you be out with some friends, it's not good to be so near the Forbidden Forest all by yourself."

Motioning towards Athena, with her midnight blue wings tipped with silver, flashing as she dove down toward the lake, trying to catch a fish, I replied, "Athena was getting restless in my house dorm, She has to wear a collar that forces her to assume the shape of a normal cat. So I brought her out to stretch her wings"

Cupping my hands to my face I shouted, "Athena!"

Athena's head rotated towards me in a strange manner, seeing me wave towards her, a look of joy appeared on her face, and she flapped her wings madly, propelling her through the air. Bracing myself for impact, I let out an "oomph." As she nearly bowled me over. I held her out so Hagrid could take her and get a better look.

Running his enormous hand down Athena's back, a tender look appeared on Hagrid's face and he crooned, "Oh, she little more than a baby."

Protesting, I argued, "She is seven years old."

Hagrid smiled and said, "Lamassu's often live up to well over a thousand years old, in her lifespan, she is still really young. That's why she is so small, a Lamassu like her will end up growing to the size of a leopard or tiger."

As I tried to wrap my mind over Athena getting that big, I rubbed her head and I warned her, "If you get that big, you aren't sleeping on my bed anymore."

Rubbing her golden stripes, he asked eagerly, "Has she ever warned you of anything, Lamassu's are supposed to be able to sense the future? As well as being able to see the true nature of people."

Slightly taken aback at his question, I replied, "I've never been in danger don't think I have ever been in danger before, so she has never had the opportunity to do so."

Nodding his understanding, He replied, I feel sorry for anyone who tries to attack you around Athena, Lamassu's are fiercely protective and have strong magical attacks."

Confused I asked, "What kind of magical attacking abilities? I have never heard about any."

Scratching Athena's horns that curved slightly he said, "What do you think these horns are for, trust me they day you see her cut loose you will be impressed."

A large sigh escaped Hagrid, and he grumbled, "I wish I could have a magical creature of my own, every time I get one, something inevitable happens and I'm forced to release into the forest."

Rolling my eyes at Hagrid's sigh, and giving the forest a nervous look, I wondered, just how many creatures Hagrid had released in the Forbidden the years. He should have a new title, Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Ground at Hogwarts, Supplying Monster to the Forbidden Forest since 1967

Sensing an opportunity to get on Hagrid's good side, I hesitantly said, "You know, Athena was a gift from my uncle. He has been known to… locate certain creatures and… relocate them discretely to people who like them."

Sensing my tone, Hagrid lowered his voice and carefully replied, "That's tricky, the ministry loves to put add regulations on what can and can not be brought into the country. Grubby bastards, the lot of them, always declaring magical creature a danger to the public and the Statute of Secrecy. They just don't understand the instincts of the creatures they label dangerous, most creatures wouldn't hurt a fly."

Thinking to myself, Hagrid, you can't use your personal experience to describe creatures personalities, your bigger and more dangerous than most creatures. I would bet the see your size and recognize that if they attacked you they would get squashed so they play nice, everyone else though is fair game.

Clearing my throat I continued, "Ya, my uncle doesn't like to get tied down in the Ministry's red tape, he believes that wizards can manage their own affairs and that the Ministry has begun pushing their power into areas that they don't belong in. So he has… back channels, that he uses to conduct… business without the ministry poking its nose into."

He grinned at me and waggled his eyebrows, "Why don't you have your uncle write to me, it sounds like we…. Both appreciate that sometimes creatures need to be able to travel to new places and meet people who would care for them."

A couple of hours later, I put Athena's collar back on her and headed back to the castle. As we headed back Athena's ears went flat and she growled in a manner I have never heard before. Thinking that she was upset about heading back inside I tried to comfort her, "Don't worry, we will come out to stretch your wings more often."

Right as we were about to go through the entrance, Michael Whithorn strode out the door, wand in hand, blocking my way forward. He sneered at me and said, "Looks like the little Fawley brat is all by himself." Coming up behind him were three of his friends backing him up.

Rolling my eyes at his childish display of intimidation I drawled, "Well if it isn't the shoe."

Upon hearing my words, Michael's face turned red in anger. He savagely responded, "I warned you, that you would pay for the other day."

Knowing that I wouldn't be able to reach my wand before Michael was able to get off a spell. I tensed preparing to dodge whatever spell he sent my way. However, before I could make a move, Athena began hissing loudly, I could feel her hiss deep within my bones. From the wary look on Michael's face, I could see he could feel it too.

Eyes narrowing, he hissed, "What is that."

Scratching Athena's ears, "This is Athena, and she doesn't seem to like the look of you," Deciding to bluff my way out of this, I drawled, "Go on do something, I dare you, just don't blame me what happens next."

With a final sneer, Michael threatened, "Whatever she is, she can't be with you all the time." As he turned and backed away, he tried to get the final word in, he taunted, "Shame, about your little Slytherin friend, we just caught up with her on the third floor, where she was all by her lonesome. I sure hope she is able to get back to normal before dinner. I sure her little Slytherin friends will be surprised when they see her."

Hearing his words sent a wave of hot anger through my stomach, Blood pounding in my ears as I tore through the castle. Making my way to the third floor, I started searching empty classrooms for Anna. Not finding her, I told Athena, "Go find Anna, she needs our help."

Launching herself out of my arms, she began moving with a purpose. Athena seemed to hone in on a door at the end of the third corridor. As I got closer, I could hear sobbing coming from within. Twisting the door handle I found it refusing to move, so I banged on the door, and said, "Anna let me in."

The sobbing paused for a second and Anna hysterically cried, "GO AWAY! I'll be fine in a few minutes."

Pulling out my wand I declared "Not a chance, one way or another I am coming in there." Not hearing a response I tapped the door handle and chanted "Alohomora." A loud click came from the handle and I swung the door open to see Anna crouched in a broom closet.

Anna was trying to hide her face with her hands I noticed her hands were solid green. "Go away" she moaned.

Consoling her, I said, "Anna, I don't care if they turned you green or blue, now come out of there and let me take a look at what they did to you."

Slowly she pulled her hands down her big lavender eyes peeking at me, I hissed when I saw what had been scribbled on her green face. Written with silver on her forehead, were the words, Squib Spawn. I sighed knowing that there was a stigma attached to squibs, some wizards believed that if you were descended from a squib made your bloodline more likely to produce squibs in the future. This unfounded belief was one of the reasons that I thought Anna was ashamed of her mother.

Deciding that she needed some tough love, I barked, "So what if your mom is a squib, she clawed her way up in a society that looked down on her, that expected her to shuffle off into the shadows not to be seen. She couldn't even attend a proper school, but did she let that stop her. No, she went on to run the biggest apothecary in Brittan. You should be proud to have her as your mom.

Anna's refused to meet my eyes and muttered, "You don't understand, my whole life, I have been looked down on for having a mom who is a squib, that's all anyone saw me as the squibs daughter, who probably would have no magic of my own. Is it so bad, not to want to be seen as a squib's daughter? I want people to see me for who I am, not who my mom is."

I sighed, "Let's get you to the hospital wing, I'm sure Madam Pomfrey can sort you outright quick, then we'll meet up with Cedric and Alicia. If Michael and his friends want a war, we sure as hell will give them one."