Teen Spirit.

[Lia Allman]

"Sweet Nickie..."

Vadellia's voice dripped like honey from her tongue as she Hufflepuff wandered up the pathway and into the secluded cave they had grown used to meeting in. His bright smile never failed to melt the witch's heart of stone a bit and as he reached for her, she pulled him into an endearing hug.

I've missed you!

V smiled and nodded.

"I've missed you too...I'm sorry it's been so long since our last meeting."

Nico, like the angel he was, shook it off and motioned to a small basket of food he had brought with him. Of course...a picnic. The dark witch smiled fondly. He was always so giving and caring. He reminded her...quite a bit of the people in her early life.

The Darwin's...the family who was willing to claim her and save her from the orphanage she'd grown up in.

Steven...her first love. Looking past all of her crazy and accepting her as she was...loving her through her darkness.

He even reminded her of the good parts of Draco...not the parts that had abandoned her...but the part that had tried to do his best for her.

Nico was a rare kind. He didn't see the bad in her, despite it all being right in front of his face. He saw the small glimmer of good and he clung to it. He nurtured it. He willed it to grow. And though Vadellia fought it...she couldn't help but let that warmth take over a bit when it was just the two of them.

"You're graduating soon...are you excited?" she asked with a smile.

As Nico spoke, she thought back to her days. She had never had a chance. Right out of school, she was thrust into Voldemort's world. She was groomed to be his killing machine...and gods, had she delivered on that title. There had been very few who had been able to stand up to the sheer brutality of her elemental gift.

Their time together, as always was too brief...and as Vadellia prepared Nico for her having to leave, she melted a little more at the pout that took over his face.

"I will be back soon, my sunshine," she promised.

This seemed to placate the Puff and she watched fondly as he wandered away and back to his life.

The short hours she spent with him never seemed like enough. But in that moment, she knew...if she were going to try and bring back the elemental line by infusing her genetics with another...Nico was the best option. He was so open and receptive...and he would do anything for her.

Gifting him the chance at a power like her own was the most gracious thing she could do...right?