Hey everyone! Nepe here, just wanted to let you all know that my first story is going to remain in hiatus for as long as necessary. I hit a wall in realizing that I need to practice writing something I'm more comfortable with. Thanks to my mother I grew up with Harry Potter movies and books shoved down my throat.

Even though I make it sound worse than it is I'm fond of those stories. I will continue writing "On the Road Again" in the future, I just need a break.

On another note, I have been planning this story for weeks now and since I'm out of school I can do more of what I love, which is write. Please understand that I'll try and catch as many mistakes as I can in this one, however, I am only one person. I still make mistakes. If you see any please tell me!

Description: Death may come. It can happen at any time, on any day. It cares not for you or how you feel. Death is a mischievous thing, as Nelliel soon realized. But by then It was already too late. Rated M for safety. Slight Dumbledore/Weasley bashing. Mild violence and strong language.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, that belongs to J.K. Rowling. I only own my oc's. (I forgot this oh my goodness, I'm such a clutz! Please forgive me!)

*Parseltongue*

'Thinking'

"Speaking"

=Whispering=

Please Enjoy!

Chapter 1: Unexpected and Untimely Death

I pushed my glasses upwards upon the bridge of my nose when they slipped and turned another page in the book I was reading for study. It was on the history of America. I grimaced. Why was I even trying to study? I absolutely hated it. I put the book down. I was already having trouble concentrating and I knew I wouldn't get very far if I continued. I was a junior in high school so I wasn't quite done with history. Not the hardest subject for me, that was math, but I have always had trouble with names and dates. I stood up from my chair and put the book back on its shelf three aisles away. I didn't want to leave the library empty handed though, the librarian would find that suspicious, I had been here for about four hours already and I was the only one left.

I picked up my bag and walked around for a bit. I picked a random book up from a nonfiction book case and flipped through it. It was about someone who was thrown into another fictional world and changed the fate of the protagonist for the best effectively becoming a protagonist in the process. I snorted in disgust. Too many people wrote about that sort of thing nowadays. It was okay at first, but then I guess everyone wanted to get lost in fictional worlds of their own creation and feel special. People were getting too wrapped up in the fictional process and were caring less and less about real people they cared about, effectively losing interest in leaving the house, getting jobs, supporting the economy and interacting with others around them. School is the only place other than shopping anyone can interact at now but the teachers all hate it and say things like school is a place for learning and they have time to do this on their own time. That's not true, at least not in the kid's eyes, there is only time for imagination and pretend. I'm not saying creativity, imagination, video games and technology should be completely erased, but there is a thing as too much. Too fast. Our race is advancing too fast to be healthy and no one from younger generations understand how to properly use their time.

It's like eating bologna for three weeks because that's all you can afford before you get your next paycheck.

You'll never want to touch it ever again.

I put the book back and almost missed the leather-back journal looking thing behind it. My face scrunched up in confusion. The Librarian wouldn't have missed this and I'm the only one still here. I reached back and picked it up, carefully inspecting it for a name. It looked like there used to be one but it got rubbed off over time. It looked old and the pages appeared yellow. It was just a blank journal, it didn't even have the Library seal on it anywhere. I contemplated bringing it to the librarian's attention but it wasn't library property without the seal. I stuck it in my bag and grabbed a random book before going to the checkout desk to scan my book out. As I walked out of the library onto the sidewalk I shielded my face from the glare of the sun setting behind the building. I immediately put the book in my bag and swapped it out for the leather-back journal and continued examining it. There was a scar on the leather on the inside, I almost didn't notice it but then felt the texture in the middle felt softer. I didn't understand how it had scarred, and the scar looked newer than the leather was... I was so busy examining it I didn't notice someone reach out and try to grab me, nor did I see the truck coming towards me on my right until it was in my peripheral. All I could do was cry out and attempt to move out of the way. It slammed into me and my body, still gripping the leather journal, rag dolled over the hood and several feet into the air. I felt nothing until hitting the ground and I heard snapping sounds all around me. Searing pain erupted everywhere and I blacked out for a moment as my head hit the pavement. I panicked. I don't know why but I tried, hard, to move my head, even a few inches to see where it was. I saw it to my left just by my hand, pages open facing down. I also saw my blood leaking from my left side and staining the pages red, soon to be brown. My hearing suddenly came back and I was assaulted by screaming and sirens and other loud noises and that really hurt. The guy driving the truck jumped out with someone else and ran over to my side. He was all big and tough looking so even in my pain filled state I still found it funny that he looked like someone shot his puppy in front of him. I grimaced and watched him pull his phone out and call an ambulance even after someone else probably did. I knew they wouldn't get here in time and closed my eyes...eye… I didn't notice until now but my glasses had shattered on my left side and had filled my left eye with glass. I could only see out of my right side. I felt tired. Exhausted. I felt darkness close in until I could no longer see the sunlight through my eyelid. I slept.

I grimaced and turned over. Why was the sun right in my face? I didn't have a window near my bed in the room. I shouldn't even be in my room. I should have had all my furniture moved out of my mom's house and in my apartment. I frowned but no matter how I turned there was bright light. I covered my face and cried out in pain when my hand met my left eye. To be more precise the glass that was embedded in it. I let out a moan of frustration as my memories came back and the truck kept flashing behind my eyelids. I felt the anger and determination build in me until suddenly it felt like an explosion of adrenaline and nothing hurt anymore. I flinched back. I felt so confused, where had the glass gone and why was it no longer bright. I crawled back away from the book where it rested in the same position as before, still overturned. My own blood no longer staining the page. Nothing hurt and from what I could see I had no wounds and my left eyesight was perfect… Perfect? I was nearsighted, my eyesight shouldn't be perfect! I covered one eye to see out of my right eye and it was perfect too. I felt something in my gut. A warm feeling pooling there, but I also felt nauseous. I shakily stood up and looked around for my bag and tried to walk to it only to stumble. That's when I realized. I had shrunk. I didn't understand what was happening. I struggled to my bag and pulled out my phone, I looked into it and flinched back at my own reflection. I looked the same as I had when I had turned 10. My face was round and my hair pooled around me on the ground. It hadn't been this long when I turned 10 though, I didn't understand what was going on. My clothes still fit but using my limbs had become awkward.

I stood up and picked my bag up, carefully taking baby steps over to the book which I nudged with my foot. After what seemed like forever and nothing happened I picked it up and shoved it into my bag. I felt mortified. I had been de-aged… or something. More importantly… maybe… maybe not… I didn't know where I was. I looked to be in an alleyway behind some bar or something. The only entrance, or exit, in my case, was the back door. I walked up to it and gently tried to open it. It was unlocked. I looked in and was shocked to find a bar or something like I had thought. I couldn't tell because the smell of breakfast entered my nose and I'm pretty sure I have never heard of a bar that served breakfast. I entered in and almost walked into a man who just nodded to me and left the way I came like it was an everyday occurrence. Maybe it was for them. My stomach growled and I flinched, my hair still trailing behind me just above my ankles. There was dirt on the knees of my wool thigh highs and some on my skirt. I was mostly clean. I hoped they didn't throw me out, I had no money on me before my accident and I doubt some magically appeared in my bag after…. Whatever happened. They might take pity on a hungry lost child if I look sad enough.

I walked forward into the main room which had a big fireplace, a big counter with a kitchen behind it and tables and booths everywhere. Stairs led up somewhere and after seeing some people come down and take their seats I concluded this was an inn of some sort. I saw a handsome looking older man behind the counter wiping off some glasses and glancing around occasionally. I proceeded to look lost as his eyes hovered over my direction. I felt tears pull up in the corners of my eyes and looked around looking as scared as I could while trying to seem brave. I really was upset at the moment so that helped. I needed to know where I was so I could find my way home…. Mom might not believe me seeing as I'd shrunk. Maybe I was dead and it's like that one anime my friend tried to get me to watch where there was this butler guy who decided if you went up or down or something. That would explain why people were going back where I had entered like there was something interesting back there.

I walked further in, uncertain if I should talk directly to the man at the counter or not. I decided I should get this over with. I took a deep breath and went up to the counter in between two guys and tried to scramble up on the stool to better see the man.

He glanced down at me with a patient smile and asked, "What can I do for ya?"

I panicked and looked around me for a minute before turning towards him. "I-I can't find my parents…." He frowned for a second and looked at me.

"Do you remember where you last saw them?" I shook my head.

"I don't know where I am...either." I heard a loud swoosh sound and saw some green light where the fireplace was and my eyes widened when a person walked out of it, green flames whipping around them. The man saw me look at the fire place in confusion and awe and his frown deepened. "How did he do that?" I asked, less scared and more curious.

"It's called the Floo network. Do you know what magic is?" He asked tilting his head in someone's direction as they walked by.

"Uhm...Magic" I looked at him confused as alarms went off in my head. I'd managed to stay calm through all this so far but I'm seriously close to having an emotional breakdown, "Magic is real?" He seemed to panic before asking me to follow him to the back. I followed him even more distressed than when that truck hit me. There was a couch and he motioned for me to sit down. He said he was going to be right back. He was probably going to call the police or something now that I thought about it. Or… whatever the magic? equivalent was. Man am I confused right now. This is all fucked. What do I tell authorities if they come? I reached up and touched my left eye expecting pain again, surprised when none came. I seriously was freaking out. If this was some sort of prank then it's not funny! Then again none of my friends were this elaborate… What was that man's name?

I was distracted from my inner monologue by the nice man coming back leading two other guys with him. I tilted my head curiously. One was a short stout man with a monocle and the other a taller man with smiley eyes and a big smiley. They both wore robes? Someone somewhere was getting a kick out of this… she was not. The first man introduced the two men as, in order, Alfred and Stanley. He then introduced himself as Tom. I nodded and Stanley sat next to me on the couch and held out his hand for me to shake.

"And what would your name be?" He asked with his weird smiley face that freaked me out a little. Maybe I had died and gone to hell. Who knows. Not me. I hesitated before responding.

"Nelliel…I don't remember my last name." I wasn't about to give a bunch of strangers my last name. He smiled even bigger if that was possible.

"How old are you, do you remember anything that happened before you came to the Leaky Cauldron?" Alfred asked. Was that what this place was called? I guess it makes sense with the whole magic being real and all.

"I'm 10, I only remember waking up in the alley in the back. I don't remember anything else…" I reached over and picked up my bag and showed him. "All I have is this." He nodded.

"I see, we'll have to take you to Gringotts then and find out if you have magical inheritance or core then, if you don't we can still find your parents and return you to them." For some reason, it felt like he wasn't mentioning something. I nodded and screamed stranger danger in my head. Stanley stood up and motioned me to follow him and I smiled, the corners of my mouth twitched in my discomfort. I picked up my bag and followed him out. He kept a hand on my shoulder and brought me to Tom's fireplace and realized we were going to do the floo thing. He went in first and directed me to follow. He threw some sort of green powder down and said something with Gringotts in the title and suddenly I was stumbling back out of the fireplace. I took a moment to investigate the room I landed in. The room was huge and looked like everything was made of marble. It all had impeccable detail and was kind of regal looking. I caught myself and dusted some soot off my knees. Stanley waited for me not once losing his smiley face. It was terrifying. I didn't falter though. I looked at everything, even the little creatures that walked by with long noses. They all looked angry, but I wasn't going to say that out loud because even though they were shorter than me they were absolutely intimidating. My awe was genuine.

He guided me up to a pedestal I could just barely see over. There was a short angry looking...person? I guess is the right word for it, Smiley didn't say what they were. He nodded to it and started discussing a test of some sort. I pretended to be more interested in my shoes. When they finished talking Stanley directed me to follow closely behind him. The creature guided us to big round doors that led into an office. Another creature sat there waiting for us and motioned for us to sit down. I smiled at the terrifying creature.

My name is Kroblac, I understand you wish to have an inheritance test done on this child?" He seemed to glare at smiley, who, smiled bigger, believe it or not. Alfred answered this time.

"Indeed, we will cover all expenses, we also need to know if this child has a magical core." The creature nodded and pulled out a piece of paper and a knife.

"The child will have to prick their finger," I noticeably winced," …and place three drops of their blood upon the parchment." He paused, "But you already know that." Smiley accepted the knife and parchment and handed the knife to me, holding out the paper. I hesitated but pricked my finger. It hurt, but not as much as getting hit with a moving vehicle. I squeezed my finger over the paper until the last drop came out and my finger healed. I didn't do that this time so it must have been the knife. Kroblac sent it somewhere with another of those creatures and we waited.

I looked up at Stanley when he was handed something else, it was a concoction of some sort with a lavender color and it smelled like the ocean. Kroblac answered my quiet question.

"That potion will tell us whether you have a magical core and what type it is." Kroblac said, clasping his hands on the huge regal looking desk. The potion was in a small, glass, vial that was round and had a crystal stopper. "You'll need to drink it quickly."

I was handed the potion by Smiley who removed the stopper and I stared down at it. It didn't shimmer and the smell put me off. Nothing that smells this good is likely to taste good. I brought it to my lips and quickly downed it. Once it was down I nearly dropped the vial and Smiley caught it and apparently me as well because the side of the chair seemed suspiciously close. I finally regained control of my senses and heard someone intake a breath. I looked up, confusion showed on my face. Kroblac had stood up and Smiley was… frowning? That was a terrifying thought. I couldn't see Alfred but he probably reacted as well. What was wrong though. I saw something shimmer down by my chest and my eyes widened.

"Oh-"

"This is wonderful!" Smiley said… Smiling again. His frown had only lasted a few moments. "Your magical core is quite large for someone of your age, but that's not the best part!" He sounded like a fanboy who was told he was getting the whole show's merchandise for free.

"What?" I asked, I was still so confused about what was happening.

Alfred and Kroblac spoke almost at once, Alfred quietly and Kroblac no longer looked like he wanted to stab Smiley in the face. "You've been blessed by Lady Magic herself, child."

Smiley knelt in front of her chair and took her hand in his. "We'll try our hardest to find your parents, Nelliel, until then we'll have you live with a foster family so you can learn more about this world." This worried me, a foster family? We had those where I was from and they were usually shit. Jesus Christ what have I gotten myself into?

"Ok…" I mentally grimaced. Mom was going to be pissed. If I ever see her again. I suddenly stilled, tears forming at the corner of my eyes. I felt true fear. I might never see my mother again. I held the tears back and nodded again when he looked at me in concern.

We resumed our previous positions just as the creature with my test came back and they handed it to Kroblac. He looked at it and closed his eyes for a moment before handing it to Smiley. I leaned over to look, as did Alfred. There was a lot of information on it, under parents nothing, not a single name and I trembled as Smiley frowned again. Under age it said the number 10 and it said I was born October 26th. 1980. My name was at the top but it only showed the name I had given them, not my last name. I turned away and didn't want to see the rest. Once they had read everything they took me back to the floo, Smiley had tasked Alfred with telling Tom that I was fine because Tom had requested to know if I was okay. Smiley then took me to a place called Ministry of Magic, I wasn't really listening. He guided me through the huge building through crowds of people walking to and fro, some wearing fancy looking robes, some not. The sign above the door we were entering said something about children or families, I didn't get a good look.

He led me to another door. It was bright magenta and I mentally choked as I saw his name on the plaque. This was his office. He motioned the soft, plush looking chair in front of his desk and I sat my bag down next to it before sitting down. I fidgeted as I waited for him to sit or speak or something. He stood there staring at the portrait behind his desk, seemingly muttering something to it before suddenly it moved across the frame and disappeared. I jumped slightly, my eyes wide. He finally turned to me and looked back at the inheritance test sitting on his desk.

"Well...let's start with finding you a foster home-" I closed my eyes. Reality hit me as I realized not only did I not know where I was but that I had no parents, I was scared and de-aged and I had shrunk. Thank god I went through puberty 7 months after turning nine or I'd be really suffering. "-within the magical community so that they can help you adjust to your changes. Since you're ten already it's likely that you'll attend either Hogwarts, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang as your choice of school. Also, we'll need to register you with the information we have. Quite recently over the years children blessed by lady Magick herself have popped up, unfortunately none of them have lost their memories or have forgotten themselves. You are quite the special case, Nelliel, so I hope you'll forgive me if I make any mistakes." I looked at him and his creepy smiley smile was replaced with a genuine one, which lasted all of 10 seconds before he got excited again. "Let's get started, shall we?" I nodded my head and several hours of paperwork went by. Then, once I had been registered came the task of which school I wished to attend. I decided on Hogwarts as I didn't feel like learning a new language just to attend a school. That and from what he described of the place I thought it sounded pretty cool. He almost constantly smiled the whole time, it was unnerving. Finally came the time to find me a home. I wanted to curl into a ball and sleep I was so exhausted. He gave me several files to look over, I didn't ask him any questions and he constantly looked over at me worried as he finished filing the paperwork. There were seven files here, and I was so engrossed in them I forgot everything that happened. One was a family with the last name Diggory. The others I ruled out because they appeared wealthy and stuck up or just uninteresting. One of the names, Filius Flitwick, was a professor at Hogwarts, he also had a birthday in the same month as mine on 9 days before my own.

He also was really smart, I glossed over the rest. If I became family with a professor it would really help me get adjusted and I would have access to lots of books. Which in turn, would possibly lead me to a way home. I wanted to hold on to that hope for as long as I could and then I remembered I quite literally died several hours ago when a truck hit me. If it wasn't for the fact that Sir Stanley Smiley over here was watching me I would have gone into a fit of hysterics and started crying, I calmed myself down though because his smile was absolutely terrifying. Not in an intimidating way but an unnerving one. I glanced at the date the file was last updated and flinched, I realized how long this guy had been waiting. The other files were new, this one was at least 13 years old.

I looked over the others again before I made my decision. I needed to learn as much as I could about this place and where I was. I handed smiley the lone file, leaving the rest on his desk. He looked at it, smile never leaving his face before he turned to me.

"You're sure?" It was rhetoric but I nodded my head and remained silent. He called for a house elf to bring sandwiches and tea, he also asked for a blanket. At first, I was frightened when it popped into the room. I jumped and remained shaken when it returned with the requested items. It would take a while to finish filing the files. I sat in the chair and watched him work as I ate my sandwiches, careful not to get crumbs on the blanket. I finished and pulled the blanket up around me and tried to sleep. I was exhausted and confused. What in the world was going on?

Well, That's the end of chapter 1, I'm currently working on revising chapter 2 and finishing chapter 3 so more will be out soon.

Reviews are always welcome!

Nepe~