A/N: Hi there. This is my Harry Potter story which has been swirling around my head for quite some time now. I have a feeling this will be one hell of a story as I plan for it to follow all seven books. Don't worry this is not your typical rewrite! It will follow an OC and hopefully many of the events in the books will have a different spin on them, if they are not rewritten completely. Anyway, that's enough natter. On with the story!

DISCLAIMER: All rights to J.K. Rowling, I own nothing but Rhona and some elements of the plot.

"I was there when humanity first stepped out of their caves, blinking in the Sun and I will be there when you have all spread off into the stars. I have lived hundreds of thousands of lives and I remember every single one of them."

Chapter 1

"Avada Kedavra!"

I saw the curse coming at me as if in slow motion and my breath caught in my throat. This was it. The end of this life. The green bolt hit me dead centre and my entire body felt as though sheets of ice cold water were falling on top of me. My eyes closed and I waited.

Behind my closed lids a warm golden light began. From experience I knew to wait until it had subsided before I opened my eyes. Not for the first time I felt the burn of anticipation grow in my stomach as I wondered just where - and more importantly when - I would end up this time. The thing is, I don't die. I simply reappear at the correct time and place where I am needed to fulfil my destiny.

A soft clearing of the throat roused me from my thoughts. Cautiously I opened my eyes and saw none other than Albus Dumbledore standing before me, hands clasped before him, eyes regarding me with that ever present twinkle. I turned my head and saw we were stood in his office at Hogwarts. It had changed little since my last visit but I noticed a new addition - a tall cabinet full of vials. I was puzzled at their appearance as they resembled no potion I knew of.

"Now, there is only one person I know who can do magic like that. Hello again, Rhona."

"Albus! It's been five minutes but Gods I missed you." I chuckled warmly at seeing my old friend.

He laughed, "I'm glad to see you didn't lose your cheer on the way, dear girl."

"Only for you Albus, you know that." I replied with a wink. Albus and myself had quite a bit of history, having known each other since before the days of the Dark Lord Grindelwald. "Tell me how long has it been since I died?"

"Eleven long years."

"Is it over?" I referred of course to the Wizarding War that had been raging at the time of my disappearance.

"For now, but more on that later. Take a look at yourself." He waved his wand at one of the chairs in front of his desk and it transfigured into a long, full length mirror.

I was quite surprised, as always, at the body that had been designed for me. I was tall for my age - eleven by the looks of it - and slim. Long, sweeping black hair fell down my back and blue, startled eyes gazed back at me. I watched detachedly as a hand rose to stroke my face, feeling the unfamiliar lines. It wasn't that bad - it certainly could be worse.

"It's not that different from last time is it?" Albus had walked up behind me and laid a hand on my shoulder.

"It's a nice mirror Albus, I may have to keep it." I said breezily, turning quickly away from my reflection. I would deal with the loss of my past self on my own time. For now, I had some catching up to do. "What's the date?" I asked as I walked over to the remaining chair and Albus settled in behind his desk.

"September 1st, 1991."

"I'm supposed to attend Hogwarts then?"

"It would seem so."

"You said the War was over for now. What did you mean?"

"The Dark Lord is gone but not dead. He fell on October 31st, a year after you left us."

"Who brought him down?" my curiosity was peaked. As far as I knew there was no way to destroy him.

"A baby." Albus replied gravely.

"That's not possible."

"I thought so too but it's true."

"Well who was it?"

Albus seemed hesitant to answer, but with a deep breath he did. "Harry James Potter."

"Potter? But you can't possibly mean Lily and James' son? He wasn't even born when I died."

"Yes, he is their son."

"Did he survive?"

"Yes but… there's something else you must know. I'm afraid it may come as bit of a shock."

"What is it?"

"Lily and James, they...didn't make it."

It took a moment for the words to sink in but once they did the cold of death was nothing compared to what I felt now. Tears pricked at my eyes and soon they were pouring down my cheeks with no sign of stopping. I began fervently shaking my head.

"No, it's not possible. They were safe!" I cried, "We made sure of it!"

"It would seem that Sirius was not as loyal as we had thought."

I froze, "You mean to say that Sirius Black, best friend of James Potter betrayed them?!" I asked incredulously.

"I'm sorry, I know you were close to them."

I laughed, "That's an understatement." I shook my head to rid myself of the onslaught of memories - James and Sirius on the train, sharing a dorm with Lily, full moons with Remus, tutoring Peter. "Who else? Who else did we lose?"

"Are you sure..?" Albus asked uncertainly. He knew that the first few hours after a rebirth were often painful as my mind tried to sort out memories and adjust to my new life. Any added strain could be potentially harmful but I had to know.

"Just tell me Albus, I'll be fine."

"Peter Pettigrew died at the hands of Sirius, Alice and Frank Longbottom were tortured into insanity by Bellatrix Lestrange, Marlene McKinnon died along with her whole family, Fabian and Gideon Prewett, Benjy Fenwick, Dorcas Meadowes, Edgar Bones and his family to name but a few. I'm sorry Rhona."

"I could have helped. If I'd have just dodged that stupid curse I could have saved them." I was so lost. I thought at least some of them would make it. At least Remus was still alive.

"Who was it that got you? Sirius couldn't be sure."

"Bellatrix."

"Ah, of course. That seems only right." I simply nodded absently in response.

Mournful silence stretched on now, each of us lost in memories we would rather forget. We were saved however by the opening of the door to Albus' office.

"Headmaster, I-" I knew only one woman who had that Scottish lilt. I spun on my seat and sure enough there was Minerva McGonagall stood in the doorway, mouth agape as her words died on her lips. "I apologise Albus, I was not aware you had company."

Albus smiled, "Come in Minerva, come in. There is someone here I would like you to get reacquainted with."

The Professor did as asked and slowly walked into the room, staring at me all the while as I met her eyes with a wide grin. "Reacquainted? Do I know you child?"

Albus answered for me, "Surely, you have not forgotten dearest Rhona?"

"Not Rhona Seff?!" Minerva replied, shocked.

"That is indeed me. I trust you told her Albus, as instructed."

"I did indeed."

"Good, good. Well how have you been then, Minnie?" Sirius' old nick-name slipped out before I could stop myself and I watched in despair as a brief stab of pain flitted across the old woman's face. "I'm sorry, I forgot."

"Don't apologise. It will be nice to have some the old Marauder energy about the place. The Weasley Twins aren't quite the same."

"Ah, yes the Weasley's will have all grown up now won't they?" I remembered when the Twins had been born and if memory served me Molly had given birth to another just before my death.

"Yes and they really are trouble. But how are you?"

"I'm… fine. It's strange though because you all talk about this as if it was years and years ago but for me the war is still on."

"You'll get used to it." Albus promised. "In the meantime, we should probably be getting you ready for your Sorting. You'll need all your equipment, but fortunately I had an inkling you would be returning to us this year what with Harry coming to Hogwarts and all-"

"Wait Harry is coming this year?" I closed my eyes briefly, imagining just how painful it would be to attend classes alongside the son of my dead friends.

"Yes." Albus confirmed. "Now here are your things." He once again raised his wand and a trunk full of clothes, a cauldron, a wand and all the equipment I would need appeared beside me, summoned from his own quarters no doubt. My eye caught on the wand.

"Wait, is that..?" I trailed off uncertainly. It couldn't possibly be my wand from my previous life, could it? I surely would have lost it after the battle to some collecting Death Eater.

"It is your wand. It was retrieved after you fell and I kept it safe for you."

"Thank you so much, dear friend."

"Not at all, not at all. Now if you would follow Minerva I think the Express is almost here." Indeed, through the long windows behind Albus' desk I could see the last slice of sun sinking low over the horizon.

It was time.