4 July 1971

A cool salty breeze cut through the warm humid air, lifting the heavy miasma and bringing evening's relief to the stifling South Carolinian summer. Two children sat with their toes in the sand, licking ice creams and watching the sky darken over the ocean. The boy's untidy black hair was wet with salt water and sprinkled with sand. The breeze lifted the girl's long black hair off her pale golden face. Her dark eyes sparkled.

"Hogwarts, Jimmy?" Roseberry asked her cousin, "Oh, I wish I didn't have to wait a whole 'nother year before I start school! I wonder if I could talk Daddy into sending me to Hogwarts too. Momma went there, after all. I don't think they would care too much for me going all the way to Britain for school, though. I'll probably be going to Magnolia Hall instead."

James grinned, "It'll be loads of fun. I wish you could go too, Rose. To tell you the truth, I'm a little nervous, but I can't wait to study Defense Against the Dark Arts. I'm going to be the greatest Auror the world has ever known!"

Roseberry giggled as a sudden burst of noise made James jump. The children lay back on the sand and watched the bright red and gold sparks streak across a black sky.

5 September 1975

The Gryffindor common room was ablaze with excitement over the first Hogsmeade weekend of the year. James Potter lounged on a sofa by the fire, ruffling his untidy black hair and flipping absently through his Potions book before tossing it into his bag, "I don't see how you are managing to write Slughorn's essay on a Friday before a Hogsmeade weekend, Moony."

The quiet boy stopped his furious writing and raised his shaggy brown head, "At least I won't be thinking about it all day tomorrow. I'll be able to enjoy myself."

"I won't be thinking about it all day tomorrow," declared a handsome boy perched recklessly on two legs of a chair. He pushed his long black hair out of his face to reveal strikingly chiseled features. Sirius Black grinned mischievously, "We've got better things to worry about, haven't we, Prongs?"

James sat up, "I wonder if Zonko's has anything new to terrorize old Filch with."

A giggle issued from a small awkward-looking boy sitting nervously on the end of the sofa, "We'll have great fun, James, great fun."

The door to the Gryffindor common room opened. "You'll find that your trunk has been taken to your room," said Professor McGonagall, "Try to rest, dear. You've had a long journey. Your uncle has given you permission to visit Hogsmeade Village. The first visit is tomorrow if you feel up to it in the morning. It may be a good opportunity for you to meet some of your new classmates. Good night, dear."

As she turned to leave the common room, Professor McGonagall patted the shoulder of a tall girl, buxom and shapely beyond her years, impeccably dressed in a black suit and clutching a large black valise. Her dark hair was pinned up into a low chignon under a large fashionable black hat. Large black sunglasses hid her eyes, but the blush of red on her nose betrayed her mourning. She removed her sunglasses to look around, revealing an exquisite face with skin of the palest gold. Her red-rimmed almond-shaped dark brown eyes were framed with long thick lashes moist with tears. Though her square jaw was set in firm determination and her highly arched eyebrows and high cheekbones gave a natural air of haughty indifference, the slight quiver in her full red lips gave her away.

The common room fell silent as all eyes turned on this striking young woman, save for a loud crash as Sirius Black and his chair clattered to the floor. "Bloody hell, Prongs," he whispered to his best friend. "Look at her! I don't think I've ever seen anyone so beautiful."

But James Potter paid no attention. He had leapt to his feet in surprise.

"Jimmy!" cried the girl, losing her composure, "Oh, Jimmy!"

James caught the running girl in his arms. Sirius, still sitting on the floor, looked up at the pair and his face darkened with jealousy.

"Rose! What's happened? What are you doing here?" James asked as he led the girl to the sofa by the fire.

Roseberry looked warily around at the other three boys.

"Oh, these are just my friends. Anything you say is safe with them," said James, nonchalantly, looking around at the others. "This is my American cousin, Roseberry Abbott. I believe I've mentioned her."

Relief flooded Sirius Black's face as he stood and brought his chair around to sit near the beautiful girl. He smiled as he gallantly took her hand and kissed it, "A pleasure."

Roseberry politely smiled up at him, "The infamous Sirius Black, no doubt? And you must be Peter Pettigrew." She proffered her hand to the small boy sitting on the other side of James on the couch. "And the studious Remus Lupin, I suppose," she said in the honeyed tones of her native American South to the quiet boy by the fire. "I am infinitely thankful for your keeping Jimmy out of trouble…well, as much as can be expected."

"You could use a Remus Lupin yourself, as I recall," said James, indignantly. His tone softened, "Now tell us, what happened?"

"It's him," said Roseberry, her face paling, "The one they call Lord Voldemort. He's becoming powerful. Increasingly so. Daddy is—was—President of the American Magical Society, as you know—"

"What do you mean by 'was'?" cried James, "What's happened to Uncle George?"

"I'm getting to it," said Roseberry testily, "Voldemort was trying to bully Daddy into turning control of the Society over to him. But you know Daddy. There was no way he'd put up with that…. It happened this summer. Voldemort himself showed up at our house. It—it was terrible. I—I can't even begin to describe it. Voldemort—he doesn't even look human. He murdered our house elf when she barred his entry into the dining room while we were at dinner. Daddy was quick to draw his wand and they dueled for a bit, but Voldemort was too fast, too powerful. Momma had rushed to Daddy's side when Voldemort killed her. Murdered her. With a mere flick of the wrist! Then he turned on me."

She burst into tears and buried her face in her hands. James put an arm around her shoulders as she gasped for breath. Peter Pettigrew squeaked nervously. Remus and Sirius exchanged concerned looks. Roseberry struggled to steady her breathing before speaking again, "I didn't know what to do. He—he killed Momma and Daddy. Murdered them. He's so strong, Jimmy…so fast…. I fought him for a bit—well, mostly I just dodged his curses, but I managed to stun him and then I ran up the stairs and locked myself into my room. I panicked. I didn't know what to do. He was coming, so I took a risk. I grabbed my school trunk and disapparated into the Appalachians." The boys raised their eyebrows at this.

"I've been practicing for a while now. Anyway, I came out near Cherokee and hid out, trying to decide what to do next. I was afraid to use magic because of the Trace, so I camped out in the woods and roughed it. About a month later, I fell ill and I had to go into town to find medicine. It was there that I ran into a friend from Magnolia Hall. She told me that Voldemort had taken over everything. All communication out of the country had come to a complete halt. Her family opened their home to me and helped me get in touch with the deposed headmaster of Magnolia Hall. Professor McDaniel contacted Professor Dumbledore and arranged for an escort by broom to Hogwarts." Roseberry buried her head in her hands, "So I suppose I'll be going to school with you after all, Jimmy, although I wish the circumstances were different."

"That's unbelievable," breathed James.

"I can hardly believe it myself," said Roseberry shakily. "I don't want to believe it. I think I'm going to bed now. I'm exhausted. I'm glad I got to talk to you, Jimmy. I don't think I could have born the burden by myself much longer." Roseberry stood to take her leave, "It was a pleasure meeting y'all."

Sirius rose and retrieved her valise, which was lying on the floor where she'd dropped it by the common room entrance.

"Thank you, Sirius," she said, taking the bag.

"I hope you will join us in Hogsmeade tomorrow. If you are feeling up to it, of course," said Sirius softly.

"I think I might just take y'all up on that offer," said Roseberry with a wistful smile, "I could use a bit of fun."

James gave his cousin a hug before walking her to the entrance of the girls' dormitory. "Good night," he whispered. "You'll be safe here."

Roseberry gave him a shaky smile as the tears began to stream down her face. She turned and ran up the steps.