"I think it's time you make a step outside Ivy, you can't hide away in this house forever".

Dumbledore looked at me with love in his eyes as he perched at the end of my bed. I knew he was right I couldn't live like this forever but I wasn't ready to escape just yet.

"I know but I don't think I'm ready yet, I just feel too weak...too alone." I looked towards Dumbledore with that sadness still in my eyes.

"I understand, but right now your darkest fears are a figment of your imagination. I fear if you refuse to open up to the world these fears may become your reality, your paranoia will take over your mind" He looked outside towards the window as a single robin landed on my windowsill and began hopping up and down. "You know they are still with you Ivy, even if not in body they are always with you inside here". He held his palm over his heart.

"Sometimes I feel like I can't feel them anymore, like I've really lost them." I took a moment to look at the robin moving it's head in sharp motions as if looking straight at me. For a second I let myself believe it was them just to help with the crippling ache inside me.

"I think Professor Tratcorn is ready for you, so get up and get dressed. But Ivy please promise me this, at least think about coming back with me this term." He slowly walked towards the door and with a smile he whispered "you're never alone Ivy" and with a crack he was gone.

I knew that I had to start thinking about Dumbledore's requests. I know this wasn't a long term solution to my problem but right now it was my comfort, the only people I saw were my Professor and Dumbledore and really that's all I wanted to see.

I got myself out of bed and quickly got dressed, brushed my teeth and combed my hair. I took a short moment to look at the mirror to be greeted by two very dark circles under my eyes looking back at me. Not sleeping properly for 8 months was beginning to take its toll on my face not just my energy. I turned away in an instance the moment I started to see her, my whole life I was told how similar I looked to my sister Iris and growing up that was all I wanted. She was beautiful, tall and breathtaking. But now all I saw when I caught a glimpse of her was my heartbreak, my loss and my loneliness. The face I would never see again apart from within myself.

I sheepishly began walking down the stairs where I was greeted by Professor Tratcorn. "Now hurry up dear, breakfast is on the table. I'll meet you in the library to begin classes in 20 minutes."

"Yes Professor" I smiled.

I couldn't complain too much about my homeschool Professor she was actually quite nice. Her and Dumbledore were some what friends, apparently she owed a huge favour to Dumbledore so he employed her to care for me and teach me whilst I got myself back on my feet. The plan was for me to stay here for 3 months but it's now been 8 months and there's been no movement so you could say she was getting a little restless. I felt sorry for her, I wondered what she had going on in her own life, whether she had kids or a partner and if she did did she miss them? She asked me never to speak about her home life so I respected her wishes due to the fact she was having to babysit a stranger for nearly a year.

As I walked into the kitchen I found my usual bowl of cereal with a glass of orange juice on the side, although today there was something that was different. They was no Daily Prophet, I furrowed my eyebrows as I scanned the room but I couldn't see it anywhere. I took it upon myself to complete more of a thorough search but I found myself unsuccessful, my last search spot was the bin and just like that there it was. I took very little time to dwell on why Tratcorn would chuck out a brand new newspaper until I spun to the front and then I found my answer.

'SCENES OF TERROR AT THE QUIDDITCH WORLD CUP'

"There was a reason I threw that out" the paper suddenly very forcefully yanked from between my fingers.

"Wha-what was that? That thing i-in the sky! Was that what I think that is?" My eyes so wide as if I'd seen a ghost. Well maybe I had?

"Oh of course not, it's nonsense it's just Rita Skeeta up to her old tricks. Trying to terrify the life out of the not so academicly gifted." The sound of her heels aggressively hitting the stone of the kitchen floor suddenly stopped as she looked at me. "Don't let you be one of them! Now hurry up we haven't got all day".

The classes flew like every other day and before I knew it I was crawling back into my bed. I had a lot to think about tonight, I knew Dumbledore would be back tomorrow and he would want an answer, but I don't know if I had one to give. I knew that Dumbledore's idea to come with him to Hogwarts rather than carry on with my education at Beauxbatons was a good idea. I couldn't return there knowing my mother wouldn't be there teaching her classes. My mother- Arcadia was a brilliant teacher, she was incredibly intelligent and she utterly oozed confidence, that's why her fit as the defence against the dark arts teacher was such a good one. I had very rarely met a woman like her in fact she had the power to capture a whole room with just her presence and a glare to crumble even the strongest man. Yet she had a soft side but only for us, for the ones she loved she believed showing it to others would make her weak. She tried her best to raise me like her but sadly it never stuck, see I'm far too indecisive and I lead with the heart where as she only ever could lead with the head.

So in that way I was more like my father, Dewin Drayheart. He was courageous and head strong but he was also clumsy and forgetful. He never could see bad in people and all he ever wanted to do was help. My mother and father would argue endlessly at my father helping strangers just because. Mother was more one for help your own and them only, but that made who they were.

I looked out my window towards the night sky, I wonder if there really is someone out there. If our world is turning and with that the night rolled into the day. I saw most of the hours as usual and now I was waiting on Dumbledore's arrival and like he could hear inside my head a soft knock came from my bedroom door.

"Come in"

"Good Morning Ivy, I see from your eyes your sleep made no improvement last night" Dumbledore spoke softly

"I'm afraid not" I tried to smile

"Now I want you to listen to what I've got to say, and this is the final time I'll speak of this matter until you're ready but I need you to think about coming back to Hogwarts with me very hard now Ivy. We cannot say how much truth there is but their is something unsettling roaming in our Wizarding World and for now I would like you to remain somewhere I can keep a watch over you more than I can now. Hogwarts is home to some of the brightest young wizards and is full of people who will care for you and encourage you and if like your father Gryffinfor has some wonderful wizards who I know would befriend you in an instance, for example I know you know little about him but Harry Potter and his friends are always the first to lend a hand to a Gryffindor in need of some guidance and help."

"But what if I'm not like my father...what if I'm like my mother" I looked up to him I raised my eyebrows and tried to hold back my fear.

"There are good hearts in Slytherin, you just have to find them. Just like your mother and sis-.." he trailed off before he could finish his sentence.

"But she wasn't a good person was she" I allowed my chin to fall down to my chest and began to feel the ever so familiar feeling of a tear forming in my eyes.

"She was before him" Dumbledore reached over to grab my hand for support.

"She would never of meant to.....he made her a monster we couldn't control" the lump in my throat was winning as I could feel my lip beginning to tremble.

"I know" Dumbledore patted my hand to comfort me.

I took what felt like the longest pause of my life, I took the time to soak in my reality. Could I live like this forever? Is it time to find out what's really going on out there?

"Okay....I'll go"