Disclaimer- I sadly do not own anything of the magical world of Harry Potter. Harry Potter is the property of JK Rowling and Warner Bros. I in no way claim ownership of any rights to the Harry Potter Universe. That honor belongs to JK Rowling. Any quotes that I take from JKR will be in bold lettering.

I also do not own the song Don't Know Why by Norah Jones.

AN- So here's the first chapter. Hope you like it! I've been working on this for half a year now, so I hope you love it as much as I do. There's a few chapters down, but I can't promise quick updates, I'll try though. Don't forget to review!

CADY'S POV

Invisibility.

The power to be concealed from public eye.

In some eyes, it would be a gift. In others, a burden. To me, a life style.

I am in all sense an invisible.

Perceived to others as just another face in a crowd of many. Another voice in a jumble of sound. It had always been that way for as long as I could remember. I am ordinary; well as ordinary as a witch can be. I've walked the corridors of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for five years, totally unnoticed by all.

I don't mind it. It's always been like this. I can accept the fact that I'll always be asked if I've always gone to this school, or what my name is. Or – my favorite – did I just appear out of nowhere.

It's not their fault either – they can't help it. It's human nature. We don't see what's hidden beneath the surface; camouflaged to look like its surroundings.

The thing is I like this life style. I like not being noticed. I like who I am. I can do fricking magic (way cool), I've got so much money that I don't know what to do with it, but most of all I've got the BEST friends a girl can have; the Shimmer Girls.

'The Shimmer Girls' is our group name. I know real original right? Well Shellie came up with it in second year. That should explain a lot. We're pretty much Lily Evans' Crew. Though Lily was never actually named official leader; she just happens to be the most popular of us all.

There's four of us; Lily Evans, Evangeline Brooks, Shellie Taylor and me – Cady Berkeley.

Lily is the smart studious one; the perfect student. She's also dead gorgeous without even trying. Her long auburn locks and piercing emerald green eyes give her that natural beauty that every single girl at school envies. Oh, and did I mention James Potter – second hottest male at Hogwarts – is her starker?

Yep, it's kind of creepy.

Evangeline is our very own Barbie doll. She's got all the curly blond hair and sparkling blue eyes. It's as if she was made to reel in the blokes. And of course, she loves the attention – cue eye roll – and almost basks in it. But we love her anyway, because she's our Barbie doll.

Then there's Shellie. Shellie, Shellie, Shellie. Her whole look pretty much explains her personality, with her short messy black hair and giant green eyes that are almost always twinkling with excitement. She's the ultimate crazy. But you can't help but love her and her spunky attitude and her love for art. And I mean every kind of art. That includes hair cutting.

…

Yeah, it's exactly what you think.

And last but not least, there's me. Little Cady Berkeley the quiet one that no one even cares to understand. But in total honesty, I'm quite a complicated girl.

See I come from a very wealthy pureblood family; the Berkeleys. So you could understand that my mother has very high expectations. And it doesn't help that I'm one of the most powerful witches to be born in about a hundred years.

Yep, you heard me right. I'm that powerful.

We found out when I was about three years old and I'd done accidental magic and exploded the kitchen table. A few days after the incident – in which my mother praised me to no end – Professor Dumbledore, the Headmaster of Hogwarts, came to our house.

In pureblood families every child – once they've shown magical abilities – are tested for the strength of their inner core. The inner core is pretty much where all your magic congregates inside of you, like a power source.

Anyways, when Professor Dumbledore tested me, they all were quite shocked. You see, the average level for an adult's inner core is about nine. Mine was ten.

Spooky, huh? Yeah, I'm some super witch or something.

But after they got over the shock they had to start thinking about what would happen in the future; primarily Hogwarts. Professor Dumbledore suggested I stay in the same year with people of my age, but take private lessons with him so I don't become bored.

And it worked too, for the past six years I've been taking private lessons with Dumbledore on whatever he can think of. I've learned advanced Arithmancy, Patronuses (in second year mind you), advanced Transfiguration, how to brew many rare Potions such as Amortentia and Felix Felicis, wandless magic (so cool), Apparation, how to make Portkeyes (without the ministry knowing), and advanced work in almost all my classes.

But my favorite of all is my Animagus abilities. It feels so amazing to run around the Forbidden Forest on all fours and feel the wind whipping my face. Free from the world. What's my form, you ask? Well I think you mean what are my forms.

Yep, I've got multiple Animagus forms. So I guess it's Animagi? Well whatever it is, I've got two of them. A fox and an owl. An Arctic Fox to be exact. I've been told that my fox form is quite startlingly beautiful; graceful almost. My owl form on the other hand, is adorable – their words not mine – and I'm assuming it's because I'm an elf owl. You know, the one's that can practically fit in your palm and can be barely seen when they are in the sky. I guess it can be a good thing, I'm almost inconspicuous.

But I have to say I'm in love with my fox form; or Powder as I've decided to call her. Quite brilliant I know. But I just love the feeling of running through the forest, completely unseen, with the wind rushing past and my vision sharp. It's actually quite weird having night vision, but I've gotten used to it.

So, yeah, I'm a lot more than people care to find out. Of course, I haven't exactly told anyone about my Animagus forms. My friends know how powerful I am and how I'm taking extra classes, but I've never told a single soul – not even my parents – about my forms. Of course, Dumbledore knows since he was the one who taught me, and he's been sworn to secrecy.

Now I'm going into my seventh and final year at Hogwarts, the last year of fun and carelessness. The last year before we'll be forced into the war our parents have been fighting for us. The last year of happiness.

Why, do you ask, am I such a downer? Because I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing after this year. I could do anything I wanted; with my power and knowledge I could be anything from a potions master to an Unspeakable to a librarian. It's totally up to me. And that's my problem. The only thing I know that I love is music. I know, the most powerful witch of our age just wants to sing and play her guitar. But I have other interests too, like maybe being an Auror. Don't ask me why, I'm not sure. I just have this feeling in my gut that it's the right way to go.

Maybe I'll get to the end of the year and end up just flipping a coin. It wouldn't be a totally bad idea. It would take the pressure off of me. Hmmm… decisions, decisions.

Anyways, the gist of it is that I'm powerful. Very powerful.

And this all brings us to where I am now, sitting cross legged on my bed with my guitar gripped in my hands, my notebook and quill sitting beside me.

I strum the first cord and feel the vibration thrill through my body.

'I waited 'til I saw the sun
I don't know why I didn't come
I left you by the house of fun
I don't know why I didn't come
I don't know why I didn't come'

Yep, that should do. Sounds just right.

Quickly, I jotted down the lyrics into my notebook and put my guitar beside my bed. Now I had about two minutes before the house elf came up to lead me to breakfast and I'd have to sit through my mother's constant chatter about her rich friends and their rich lives.

I swear my gag reflexes are only so good, so it's not my fault if I up chuck my dinner right there at the table.

'Miss Berkeley,' I jumped at the sound of my personal house elf Blinky. I'd made sure that when we'd gotten her that she had proper clothes, so now she wore an apron and white dress. 'It's time for dinner Miss.'

''Kay,' I leapt off my bed and grabbed onto the little elf's hand. The dining hall was all the way downstairs you see, so Blinky would just Apparate – or whatever they did – us down so we didn't have to walk the many stairs and hallways. It was quite convenient really.

We disappeared quickly and arrived in front of the large doors that led to the dining hall. I've learned that appearing straight into the hall was a bad idea. My mother has quite the temper, I'll tell you.

Quickly, I entered the hall and was greeted with the familiar grand table, almost as long as the ones at Hogwarts. And speak of the devil, my mother sat in the very center on the far side from the door.

Taking the seat across from her, I grabbed some chicken and mashed potatoes; enough to fill me up but at the same time keep my mother happy.

'How are you dear,' to most people this would be meant as a question, to my mother it was a demand.

'Good, Mum,' I responded shortly, not bothering to elaborate given the fact that she probably doesn't give a flying Bludger as to what I say.

'Did you practice your wandless magic?' she asked this time, probably ready to reprimand me for not being committed or something of the sort.

'Yes, Mum,' I replied daring her to get mad at me.

'And your Arithmancy?'

'Yes, Mum.'

'What about Transfiguration?'

Damn. Well you got me there.

'No, Mum,' I replied as I hung my head, pretending to look ashamed. When really I could couldn't care less what she thought of me, but I've learned she shuts up sooner if I look like I'm taking her seriously.

'What have I told you…'

I know she's talking, and I'm sure I should be listening. But what can you expect from me? I know what she's saying anyways. It's the same thing every time. "You've disappointed me. If only you just took this seriously everything would be that much easier."

Yeah, whatever.

'You know,' my beloved mother continued, oblivious to how I had just tuned out everything she just said. 'You should really make friends with some people of your same status. Like that Potter boy,' I roll my eyes at this. She's been trying to set me up with James Potter since my birth. Of course I've never even spoken a single word to him.

Yep, it was doomed for failure. And plus the whole he's-obsessed-with-my-best-friend thing.

'Right, Mum,' I was trying to hurry this up; it's not my fault I have better things to do than this.

'Do you have everything packed for tomorrow?' she asked.

'Almost, just have a bit more to do,' I said as I stood from my chair. 'May I be excused to do that now?'

'Of course, dear,' she asked in forced sweetness. 'Good night.'

I nodded and ran from that room as fast as I could. But instead of going to my room, I went outside to suck up the remainder of the summer sun.

One more day and she'd be off to Hogwarts.

One more day.

***

Beep, Beep.

Damn alarm clock. Doesn't it know I want to sleep? What's it think is so important that it must wake me up at this ungodly hour?

Hogwarts, dumbarse, the voice inside my head said. Yeah it tends to call me names. It's kind of mean.

Well, your face, was my witty reply. Hey, I was tired!

Once my inner argument was over, I shuffled through my room grabbing random pieces of clothing on my way, calling Blinky after. She appeared in front of me instantly and grabbed my trunk.

'I will take this down to the Floo Miss,' the little elf said. 'Then I'll come back for you.'

'Okay, thanks,' Blinky disappeared without a sound and only moments later appeared again. She grabbed a hold of my hand and we were gone. I only stumbled slightly on the landing, but once I straightened myself I found myself in front of the fireplace in my common room.

'Miss Berkeley,' Blinky said from beside me. 'Blinky got Miss some toast for breakfast,' she handed me two pieces of stacked toast. 'Miss has fifteen minutes before Mrs Berkeley would like Miss to leave.'

'Thank you, Blinky,' with that I plopped down on the couch in front of the fireplace and began eating my breakfast.

Once fifteen minutes passed, I grabbed a handful of Floo Powder from the ceramic bowl on the coffee table and, after yelling Kings Cross, stepped into the green flames with my trunk. I'd become quite skilled at flooing with something with me, like my trunk per se, and not hitting myself with said object.

I came out of the fireplace in the alley beside the station, and without even adjusting my clothes, carried on to the platform.

Finally, I reached the barrier between platforms nine and ten and took off at a run through the brick wall. The minute I came through the other side I was hit with the excitement of new and returning students. Parents were saying quick goodbyes to their children before ushering them onto the train, while muggleborns looked around in curiosity at the big red steam engine. Older students were talking to their friends in small groups and some helped younger ones heave their bags onto the train.

I lugged my trunk behind me as I weaved through the crowd until I found myself in front of the door to the train. Sending magic through my hand and into my trunk, I lightened it to make it easier to haul. I walked down the hall until I finally reached an empty compartment and dragged my trunk up onto the overhead shelf.

I'd only been there a few moments before the compartment door burst open and an over excited Shellie came in almost jumping in joy.

'Cady!' she squealed as she pounced and enveloped me into a hug.

Not particularly one for hugs, I patted her back awkwardly. But when she pulled away my smile was just as big as hers given the fact that we'd spent the last month apart. Out of all my friends, Shellie was the one I spent the most time with. Call me crazy, but her spunk really got me to be myself. We were completely different, but opposites attract right?

'Oh my god!' she squealed again. 'Your hair!'

I rolled my eyes at her reaction. Of course, I secretly loved it. I'd finally convinced my mom to let me cut my hair short. Now my hair reached just under my chin in perfect bright red waves. I'd also made sure that Evangeline had told me exactly how to keep it from going frizzy and bushy like it used to be when it was long.

'It's perfect!' I grinned winningly, knowing for sure that I'd be getting more of these kinds of reactions. Because honestly, it wasn't just my hair that looked different, my whole appearance was changed. I'd replaced my glasses with contacts and went shopping for a complete new wardrobe which included a new set of school robes that fit quite nicely. But the most shocking thing, I think, is the way my body had filled out over the summer. My thin frame from last year had now changed into curves and actual hips! I know! Who would've thunk it, me – Cady Berkeley – had hips! Hips!

Oh yeah, I'm a tad bit dramatic.

I know understatement of the century right?

Just as Shellie opened her mouth for another loud exclamation, the other two Gryffindor Girls entered the compartment both with identical grins.

'Cady! Shellie!' they exclaimed at the same time, only to stop and burst out laughing at their in syncedness (don't care if it's not a word) and buckling over onto the bench. Only a few seconds went before Shellie and I were also on the floor holding our sides in laughter.

It was about ten minutes before we all managed to gather our bearings – by that time the train was already moving - and plopped down in our normal seats. We always sat in the same spot on the train; Shellie was beside the window on the left side with Evangeline across from her, while I sat next to Shellie and Lily across from me.

'Oh, I almost forgot!' Shellie exclaimed, jumping from her seat and reaching to open her trunk. After several minutes of Shellie rummaging through her bag and the rest of us staring at her, she turned around, a camera in her hands.

'See I figured since it's our last year and all,' she turned the camera around and snapped a picture of herself, a cheesy smile plastered to her face. 'We should document the whole thing!'

'That's brilliant!' Eva jumped up from her seat and struck a pose; hand on hip and other thrusted into the air. 'Just get my good side!'

We spent the next hour passing the camera around and snapping ridiculous pictures of each other. After a dozen giggles and even the unveiling of Shellie's new tongue ring – which her muggle father knew nothing about – we finally fell back into our seats, exhausted.

'So Lily,' we all rolled our eyes knowing exactly what Eva was about to say. 'Thought any about Potter?' she waggled her eyebrows for effect.

'As if,' Lily snorted – charming I know. 'Like I'd ever date a prat like Potter.'

'You say that now,' Eva said as she leaned in like she had some deadly gossip. 'But you haven't seen how hot he's looking this year.'

I rolled my eyes; leave it to Eva to be thinking about the hottest guy only five minutes after the train pulled away from the station. 'He's not that hot,' I say this while looking at Lily. I'd seen him over the summer since he was my neighbor, and yeah he was good looking, but nothing too special.

'Whatever,' Lily said. 'It's not like I'd base that sort of thing on his looks anyways. He'd have to be smart and mature…'

Us three groaned as Lily began her monologue on her perfect guy. I tried to contain my laughter as all three of us mouthed the words along with her; she seemed to be off in her own little world and was totally oblivious.

'And he'd have to have a suitable job,' she continued only to be cut off as the compartment door burst open to reveal a very frantic looking James Potter. He looked around and smiled at all of us before turning to Lily.

'Evans,' he started. 'We've got to debrief the prefects,' at Lily's confused look he added, 'I'm Head Boy.'

The compartment fell silent. Shock written on all our faces. No way could this be happening. I snapped out of it as I remembered something, I smirked at Eva.

'Hey Eva,' I called to her also snapping her out of her thoughts. 'You owe me a Galleon.'

She huffed and regretfully dug through her pockets and pulled out a shiny gold coin. I grinned at her before taking the piece of money and putting it into my own pocket. James gave us a weird look before turning back to Lily and waiting for her to break from her trance.

Knowing this might take a while, I jabbed my toe into her shin, successfully bringing her back. She looked around in shock, and then obviously remembering what was going on, stood up from her chair and adjusted her Head Girl badge.

'Okay,' she said to Potter. 'Let's go,' James exited, but before Lily left she turned to us and gave us an apologetic smile. 'I'll see you later.'

We smiled back, but once the door closed, busted out laughing.

Once our laughter died we sat in silence for only a few minutes before Shellie spoke up, 'Want to play some Exploding Snap?'

I smiled at my friends as we got out the cards.

Seventh year, here I come!