HOLA!
HI THERE!

HEY!
LISTEN TO ME!
Before you get all, "Ew OFC gross", or you dislike it at all, PLEASE, just give it a try, and PLEASE just give it a shot. At least read chapter two also. I'm telling you. Please give it a try :D The first chapters a bit choppy, because it's just introductory. Think of them as like, "flashes". Trust me, it isn't this way all the time. Please just stick with me though!
You good samaritan, you ;D

Anyways, don't own anybody in this story except Vera and her mum and sister.

I LOVE YOU.

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This summer had been hot. The hottest it had been in a very, very long time. The grass on the lawns had grown stiff and shriveled in a manner which many could refer to as dead. School had been let out for some time now, and the heat outside proved daunting to most of the children in the neighborhood. Many sat inside on their tiny bottoms, watching TV for hours on end waiting for their parents to get home, only to watch some more brain-sizzling television until bed. Others went cross country on extended visits to old relatives. A break for their parents. The unlucky ones got sent to camp.

Yes, the sidewalk outside of 1700 Winging Rd. was sizzling hot enough to fry a fish, or the pair of little nine year old toes which scattered quickly down it towards an unknown destiny.

"Judith! Judith! Wait for me!", the owner of these toes shrieked at her older sister, who was meters ahead of the little one. She rolled her eyes at her group of teenage cronies. The lot of them was wearing semi-revealing bikinis in an attempt at being sexy with their fourteen year old summer bodies. The little sister tagging along kind of threw off this look though.

"Christ, Jude, can't you tell her to bugger off or something?? Doesn't she realize the big kids do NOT want her company?" a snotty nosed red haired girl asked impatiently, rolling her eyes at the so-called Jude. The only reply she got was an annoyed and impatient look.

"Hi you guys!" the little girl said happily. Her large, dark brown eyes and dark brown curls bore a stark contrast to her older sister, who was, on the other hand, a blonde haired, blue eyed beauty. Not to mention the little girl wore a lime-green one piece and the elder bore a black two piece.

The group of teenage girls stuck their nose up at the little girl as the cluster continued on, making sure to ignore her on their way to the community swimming pool.

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The clock had struck 5 o'clock when a womanish cry erupted from inside 1700 Winging Rd.

An ambulance was pulled up at the pool entrance, and a bit of soaking wet red curls was all that was seen from the stretcher that was being hauled into the vehicle. A policeman had been assigned to block off the scene from the ever-growing crowd that began to surround the area.

Mrs. Ellis frantically scanned her eyes across the area, looking for her two young girls that had been at the pool at the time. Nobody had given her any insight on the situation, so like any other parent, she was going nutters looking for the little ones.

"Judith?! JUDITH!? Where is my Judith?!" her cries were suddenly stoppered when a pair of little arms flung themselves around Mrs. Ellis's midsection. Mrs. Ellis gasped as she looked down at her youngest, Vera.

"Oh Vera! I've been looking for you and your sister! Where is Judith?! Is she hurt??" the frantic mother asked the little girl. She paid no attention to the shocked look of abandonment on the little brunette's face, as her eyes watered up in despair.

"MAMA!" a shrill voice came from behind Mrs. Ellis. The mother spun around, and her features relaxed at the sight of the eldest. They grasped each other in hugs and Judith was covered in kisses.

"I thought that was you! I was so scared when Ms. Williams phoned me! Oh God I'm so glad you're safe!" She said, pulling her older daughter into another affectionate hug. She had forgotten all about little Vera, standing behind the two of them, looking as though she had just been slapped.

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"Hello.

I know I haven't written anything in here in ages, but I had another one of those dreams.

It was the same place, same time, and same thing all over again. I'm standing at the poolside, staring into the deep end. One of Judith's friends is giggling with Judith, and they're looking at me. It hurts me to see Jude laughing at me like that, but I know she's just doing it because her friends there. Next thing I know, I feel like I'm slipping into the deep end, but I look up and see that mean red head pushing me into the pool. I stare at her face and something inside me clicks, and instead of her laughing like always, she's falling in the pool with me.

I can't swim, and I know she can. I'm scared to death and I hold onto the sides, but she's not holding onto anything. I'm still mad about what happened, and I feel my heart jump into my throat and my mind racing, and I'm hoping she drowns. She looks at me, her eyes wide, and she starts flailing. The gurgling sound I hear coming out of her mouth sickens me, but I do nothing to help her, and I just watch. Judith starts to scream and pulls me out of the pool, all the while staring, horrified at her friend. I feel bad for what happens next... but deep down something that feels like satisfaction and pleasure is boiling inside me.

Her head fully submerges under water, and she looks as though she's being pulled down to the bottom of the three meter deep end. We're the only ones here, and I glare up at Judith. Her eyes go blank as she watches, as if she's mesmerized. The red head stops thrashing.

Next thing I know, I'm watching as the red head is pulled away and Mama is hugging Judith, thankful that she is alive. I guess she just forgets about me."

The once little girl closed her diary, and stared at the ceiling of her small, clustered bedroom. It's been two years since that strange day, and since then, Vera's not quite been the same. She knows something else had happened that day. That red head girl had swam there plenty times before... something else had caused her death. Vera shuddered at the thought of it being her fault, knowing full well she had been hoping for what had happened, then blocked out that thought by claiming she hadn't been within reach of the red head.

Something inside her told her otherwise though. There was something different about her, and she had been so scared of it that she never told anybody about what really happened that day.

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A startling knock the next day on the Ellis's front door woke up the hazy afternoon from its lovely daydream. The knock echoed again, and the bustling housewife Mrs. Ellis called out a 'Hold on!' and made her way to answer. The startling knock reflected a startling looking man smiling kindly at her right in the eyes, through his half-moon spectacles. Mrs. Ellis jumped at such a weird sight. The man had a wizened (HA!) face and a long, startling beard. Let's not forget the purple-shaded "bath robes" also.

"Umm... hello! I take it you're one of those crooked missionaries? The Williams's house is right down there, just the next house over..." she motioned to her neighbors, an awkward smile plastered on her lips. The old man chuckled at her comment, before letting himself in.

"Ah yes. Mrs. Ellis! Just the person I wanted to see!" The old, peculiar man's eyes twinkled as he grinned down at her, and he held out his hand for her to shake. "My name is Albus Dumbledore. Mind calling your daughter down? The three of us have something very spectacular to discuss!"

The older woman stared at the man, down right confused. Something inside her told her she should be afraid that this intruder has entered her household... but something else made her awfully curious at what this odd old man had to say. Something about him made her feel... joyous!

She robotically turned to stare at the old wooden staircase, and opened her mouth to call for Judith. Before she could make a noise, the peculiar old man 'tut tutted' at her.

"No no, Mary! The other one! Little Vera!" he said, chuckling. Little did Mrs. Ellis know, but Vera had been being observed for the past few months (as was with any muggle-born new comer). The mother stared at him, shell shocked. Who honestly in their right mind would call for Vera?

"Um... oh... alright then. VERA!" she hollered up the staircase, a little strangely. The old man rocked in place with the utmost serene look on his face. His eyebrows raised and his wrinkled features broke into a wide, ear-to-ear grin as the dark haired, dark eyed little girl came trampling down the stairs.

"Yes Mama?!" The little girl asking, before abruptly stopping at the bottom step and staring at the curious old man. She took in everything about him, how strange he looked standing in purple star-patterned bath robes, in the middle of her living room.

"Ahhh! Vera!" the man chuckled as he looked at her, "I've got some great news! Some great news for the both of you!" he exclaimed, before beckoning them over to their own couch, to sit and listen. Vera looked from her mother, to the strange man, then back at her mother before taking a seat on the couch. Mrs. Ellis followed suit. The two of them stared intently at Albus Dumbledore, apparently at a loss for words. He broke out into another friendly smile before clearing his voice.

"Vera Ellis, my name is Albus Dumbledore. I've come here today to inform you, and invite, if you will, to something very extraordinary that most people your age," he turned his gaze to Mrs. Ellis, "or yours, have never seen. Vera, have you ever noticed anything different apart from yourself and other kids... have you ever noticed that you could do certain things which other... people could not?"

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Mrs. Ellis, Judith, and eleven year old Vera huddled into their cab after loading bundles of Vera's new "school" supplies, clothing, and belongings, suitcased tightly, into the trunk. It had been a hands-down agreement. Vera was going to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Dumbledore had absolutely no problem persuading Mrs. Ellis into allowing Vera to go to school, to study MAGIC. She merely nodded with the occasional "Of course", and "I agree", as Dumbledore schmoozed her about the importance of expanding the mind of the little one, learning to the extent of her knowledge, and such. Dumbledore had even agreed to show up the following week and tour Vera through Diagon Alley, helping her grab her school supplies as she went along.

"Where are we going now, Mr. Dumbledore?" Vera asked excitedly, looking up at the elder headmaster. Everything that had happened so far had been wonderful. Things could only get better.

"We're going to get your wand, Vera!" the old man replied. The younger girl's eyes widened at the thought. This was it. Her final proof that she was truly special, magical, and that most of all, she fit in perfectly.

Ollivander and Dumbledore chatted quite some time, before the wand-master started giving her wands to try. He would tell her to flick the wand, before shaking his head to himself and hurrying on to grab the next one.

"The wand chooses the witch. Be patient, Vera." Dumbledore reassured her.

Eventually Ollivander brought up a peculiar looking, short light-toned wand.

"Unicorn hair, Mahogany, 8 inches. Plucked the hair myself, Ms. Vera." Ollivander exclaimed cheerfully. The moment she ran her fingers over the slim base, she felt a slight tingle through her body and knew this was it. This was the one. Her mind felt bound to it as well, as she flicked it. Ollivander's expression was pure pleasure.

"Beautiful! Beautiful wand to a beautiful little girl!" His features crinkled happily as he rang them up, and they paid.

"Vera, you are going to grow into an extraordinary witch, I can already tell!" Ollivander hooted as the two left the shop.

Vera smiled to herself as she ran her small fingers over the kneazle kitten, Lior, which slept happily in her lap, purring ever so softly. Dumbledore was nice enough to purchase the small beauty from the pet store the moment Vera's eyes watered at the sight of it. The kitten took to her quickly, and pawed at her through the window, which was a sure sign it was meant to be. Kneazle's were talented felines.

As they entered the train station, the first thought which ran through Vera's mind was the immediate 'Platform 9¾????'. Her, her mother, and her sister slowly pulled their luggage up to platform 9, before looking around for the sign which stated their destination. The only thing in between platform 9 and 10 was a large cement pillar. Otherwise, there was nothing.

"That's very funny, Mama! I don't recall seeing a 9¾! Where do you suppose such a thing would be??" Judith replied haughtily. As a younger girl, Vera had always admired Judith's beauty and popularity, and all the attention she got, but over the past year or so, Vera's older sister had become so utterly sour towards her that they really didn't get along much. Their relationship had grown especially negative after Judith found out about Hogwarts. She claimed she didn't believe it, but when Vera had been trotting towards her room later that night, Judith had cornered her and said some pretty mean things. Some of these things along the lines of "freak", and "failure", and "this was Mum's excuse to get rid of you once and for all." Since then, they hadn't communicated, other than the evil sneer that Vera got almost every moment of being home.

"Now Jude... Dumbledore said it wouldn't be quite noticeable at first... I know it's got to be here somewhere..." Mrs. Ellis's voice trailed off as she watched a large cluster of redhead's line up at the cement pillar. The mother of the bunch glanced around, and after believing nobody was paying much attention, bustled each child into the pillar, each of them disappearing one by one, until she coaxed the smallest ginger of all, a tiny little girl, and then went in herself.

"Well... that's a bit odd... I guess that's how I'd be going on then." Vera replied, before heading off towards the pillar. She paid no notice to the remaining redhead standing by with a dark haired boy beside him, both with a confused look on their faces as they watched her enter. Mrs. Ellis saw her off, without any notion to show that she would say goodbye. She turned back to sixteen year old Judith, before taking her hand and heading back towards the car.

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THANK YOU OH SO VERY MUCH.

I'm singing at the top of my lungs now because you've finished it. Now PLEASE! Just CLICK right down thereVVVVV You see it! Go to the next chapter :D!