A/N: Figured I better get this posted before it becomes AU on July 16th! Just my version of Harry's 6th year at Hogwarts. The PG rating is probably unnecessary,but there are instances of people of the opposite sex sharing a bed - though not doing anything sexual, just sleeping. Didn't want anyone to be offended.

A note of explanation: Deandra Alleyan is a penname. Often I will give it to a character until I come up with the name I want to use. That is what I did here, but then I forgot to go back and change it. Once I had started posting, and was several chapters in, I realized that, and by then I figured it was too late (too confusing) to go back and change it. So, no, the lead character is NOT me!

Harry Potter The Completion of the Circle

Chapter 1

I shifted nervously in my chair and glanced around the room they called 'the Great Hall'. It was a cavernous room with four long tables running the length of it. At the end opposite the entrance was a long table set perpendicular to the other four, where I suspected the 'professors' (as they are called here) ate their meals. There didn't appear to be a ceiling to the room. Looking up, it seemed I was looking at the night sky just as if I were outdoors. Professor McGonagall had brought me in here about five minutes before and then left to go 'collect the First Years'. I wasn't really sure what that meant.

A low rumbling sound caught my attention and I looked up to see long lines of students in black wizarding robes filing into the room. Several glanced curiously at me but then continued their conversations amongst themselves. 'This is it', I thought. I hated that 'having everyone looking at you' feeling and knew it would only get worse when I was introduced. Professor McGonagall had told me I would need to be 'sorted into a house' - whatever that was. It sounded harmless enough...

After the majority of the students were seated, Professor McGonagall entered leading a line of small, young kids. The 'First Years', I presumed. Seeing them, I could now guess what it meant. I recognized the same terrified look on their faces as I had seen when I first attended wizarding school at home. Some things are universal, I guess.

I looked up at the teachers' table. I hadn't noticed them entering since I was distracted by the students coming in. Their clothing clearly indicated they were witches and wizards, no doubt about that. A few stood out more than others. There was a humongous man with wild black hair seated near the end of the table. For all his size, though, there was something warm and gentle about his eyes. There was also one who probably only reached the large man's knees, he was so short. Guess wizards come in all sizes and shapes. There was a rather sinister-looking man with greasy black hair obscuring much of his face. He didn't look very pleasant. Professor Dumbledore sat in the middle. As the headmaster, he was the one who had decided whether or not I would be here at all. Luckily for me, he had agreed to let me attend Hogwarts.

I had always wanted to come here - the school where my mother had trained. She would be pleased that I finally made it, if only for my last two years of study. At home, I actually had three more years to go, but Professor Dumbledore had 'tested' me on my knowledge and abilities, and decided it would be appropriate for me to be, what they call, a Sixth Year. That meant I only had two years more of schooling. I still wasn't sure how I felt about that. I enjoyed school and found learning magic rather exciting. Now I would miss a whole year of it by being advanced during my school change. I hoped Professor Dumbledore's confidence in advancing me wasn't misplaced.

Professor McGonagall had stepped to the front of the room and placed a stool, with a rather grungy hat on it, down in front of the new students. The room quickly fell silent without her even asking. I watched carefully as she explained the sorting ceremony and then listened as the 'hat' suddenly began singing a song. Okay, not your average hat, this one. The song seemed to give a brief history of the founding of Hogwarts and encouraged interaction and harmony between the houses. Though it didn't specifically mention him, no doubt Voldemort was the reason for the prediction of dark times ahead. In America, we were fully aware of Voldemort's rise and fall some fifteen years before. There had been rumors spreading that he had returned, though the British wizarding press kept denying it until just this past June. Still, information seemed sketchy on the subject so there was a lot of fear but little ability to act, just yet.

When the last of the First Years had been sorted, my stomach did a flip-flop as Professor McGonagall turned to me and Professor Dumbledore rose to speak. 'Guess this is it', I thought, trying to breathe normally and forcing what I hoped was a friendly smile on my face.

The noise level had risen as the last of the First Years was seated at their house table, but now silence returned as everyone turned an eager ear to the headmaster. Many seemed torn between looking at him and looking at me. They could probably guess my name was about to come up.

"As most of you have likely noticed," he said, "we have someone else new in our midst." He turned and looked in my direction. Now all eyes WERE on me - 'great!'

"This is Miss Deandra Alleyan. She is transferring to Hogwarts from a school of magic in America. She will be in Sixth Year and will room with the Sixth Year girls in whichever house she is sorted. Professor McGonagall, if you please?"

Professor McGonagall gave me a small smile of reassurance and signalled me forward. 'Okay, deep breath. Didn't kill any of the First Years to do this so it won't kill you,' I thought, moving forward and hoping desperately I wouldn't trip on this robe. At home we just wore regular clothes to school. These robes were going to take some getting used to.

I took my spot on the stool and she lowered the hat onto my head. It began to speak immediately and seemed to be reading my thoughts. As I snuck a look around, I didn't get the impression anyone could hear what it was saying except me. And then suddenly it shouted, "Gryffindor!" One whole table, almost directly in front of me, broke into applause. Apparently they had heard that part, anyway. I stood hesitantly and a wave of her hand from McGonagall directed me to go sit with my house as the First Years had done. 'Now comes the really hard part,' I thought, looking over the students at the table sitting closest to the front. A pretty girl with bushy brown hair and a friendly countenance beamed up at me and motioned me to come sit by her, so I did, grateful for the kind gesture on her part.

Professor Dumbledore had stood again as McGonagall removed the stool and hat to the side. Apparently not one for long speeches, he merely directed us to, "Tuck in!" Immediately food appeared on the plates in front of us and the table became overladen with a wide variety of choices. It was rather impressive, even if I wasn't a novice to the wizarding world.

The friendly girl, seated to my left, who had invited me to join her, promptly introduced herself. "I'm Hermione Granger. This is so exciting having a new student! I'm a Sixth Year also so you'll be rooming with me and four others. I'd be happy to show you round and answer any questions you might have."

I smiled and quietly answered, "Thanks."

It became apparent that her group included the two boys sitting directly across from us. Even though she was speaking to me, her references to 'we' and 'us' were clearly directed at them. It finally occurred to her to take a breath and introduce them as well. "This is Ron Weasley (the redhead smiled and nodded), and this is Harry Potter." Directly opposite me was a boy with unruly black hair and astonishing green eyes. Of course I recognized the name - so this was the famous Harry Potter.

I smiled at both the boys, murmured "Hello" and turned back to my meal. I guess that wasn't the typical reaction they were used to because Ron suddenly blurted out, "You DO know who Harry Potter is, don't you? I mean everyone knows him! He's famous!" I looked up, a little startled at this outburst and glanced at Harry to see his reaction. He didn't look at me but seemed a bit uncomfortable. I wasn't sure I was going to like this fellow, Ron. He was beginning to look like those celebrity hangers-on they have in Hollywood in America.

When I didn't answer Ron's questions right away, I heard Harry say quietly, "Let it go, Ron..."

"But, Harry...I mean...," Ron sputtered.

Harry flushed pink and repeated more firmly, "Just drop it, okay?"

Well, all right...I must say I'm impressed. The guy doesn't seem at all egotistical about his fame. And he had blushed in embarrassment - had to give him points for modesty.

Hermione resumed her chatter as if nothing had happened. She didn't seem at all nonplussed by the exchange that had just taken place. Ron looked puzzled by my response and Harry's reaction, but had obediently turned his attention to the food and was eating with gusto; maybe a little too much gusto. You'd think the poor guy hadn't eaten in months and this might be his last meal. I never before saw anyone put it away so fast! Harry was quiet much of the meal except to respond to questions from Ron or Hermione. He occasionally looked briefly at me but turned quickly away. I think he might have been afraid I had gotten a bad impression of him by what Ron had said. I probably could have reassured him if I wasn't so nervous. It was much easier to just let Hermione carry the conversation and simply respond to her periodic queries.

When everyone seemed to have eaten as much as they were going to - I hadn't eaten all that much and I felt stuffed to the gills

- Dumbledore stood again and made a few announcements. Stay out of the Forbidden Forest and avoid the caretaker, Mr. Filch. Well, he didn't exactly say it like that but that was the general idea. When he waved his hand in the direction of Filch and I saw who he meant, I had no desire to have a run-in with the guy. Pretty scary looking, really.

We were sent off to our dormitories and Hermione happily led me and the boys away. I kind of wondered about them coming to 'our' dormitory. They could do that here? Hermione seemed unaware of anything being 'peculiar' and continued a running monologue of anything anyone could possibly want to know about Hogwarts. After awhile I think my brain just kind of shut down and quit taking it all in, but I was able to keep the 'interested' smile plastered on my face anyway.

We made it through the portrait hole, with me making a mental note of the password - that much I HAD to pay attention to. We entered a large open space they called the common room. Lots of overstuffed chairs, couches and tables scattered about the place. A big warm fire was in the huge fireplace, feeling pleasant against the chill that was trying to settle into the room. Clearly autumn would be a bit nippier here than I was used to back home.

The prefect was loudly giving instructions to the First Years about where their dormitories, and other necessities, were located. It was after 9:00 by now and the room was beginning to clear. Everyone seemed to have had a long day and was ready to turn in. The boys said goodnight to Hermione and me and turned toward the stairs to their dorm; I followed Hermione up our stairs. I did glance back once at the common room and, for just a second, I thought I caught a glimpse of Harry, still on the stairs, looking in our direction. Then he was gone from sight and I continued on up.

The other Sixth Year girls were already there and Hermione introduced me to them. Parvati and Lavender were full of questions about America and what it was like there. I tried to patiently answer everything for them, but truth was, I was rather looking forward to climbing into bed myself. I guess I yawned enough that they finally got the hint so, assuring me that we could 'talk more tomorrow' (oh joy!), they finally retired to their own beds and left me in peace.

Hermione had shown me where I could unpack and put my belongings and I slowly opened my trunk. Right on top was a picture of my best friend Cassandra. Kind of made me homesick to see her smiling and waving at me, knowing I wouldn't see her for almost a year. But I had chosen this and I knew she was rooting for me to do well. And we could always send owls. Maybe she could come visit at Christmas or over a weekend... I yawned again, then reached for my nightgown. I'd wait and unpack tomorrow. Right now I wanted to sleep.

Hermione had been brushing her hair, but set down the brush and turned to me. "I'm headed to the lavatory. Want to come with me?" Thinking it might be best to stick close to someone until the castle was more familiar to me, I nodded gratefully. Nodded. I realized I hadn't spoken much tonight - well, except for answering all those questions Parvati and Lavender were pelting me with. I really don't think I'm all that quiet...guess I'm just feeling a little overwhelmed by it all. This place is so much different than what I am used to, and even than I imagined. A castle. A really HUGE castle somewhere in northern England. In fact, I think we had come so far north we were probably in Scotland now. Sure don't have castles like this in America!

But in a funny sort of way, it felt like home. I guess that's because of my mother. She loved attending Hogwarts...well, according to her sister she did. My mother had died shortly after giving birth to me, and her sister and brother-in-law had adopted me as their own. She was the only witch in the family, so I was raised by non-magicals. Mum and them had moved to America a few months before I was born. I never knew my father. Even my adoptive parents, who I now call Mum and Dad, didn't really know him. They had met him once, briefly, but knew very little about him. I was kind of an accident. They hadn't meant for me to happen until after they were married, but things got out of hand one night and... Mum and Dad say they feel sure he loved my mother, but that it was because of Voldemort that they were separated, and it was because of Voldemort that they all came to America. My father had wanted to get them away from England where Voldemort's influence was being felt most strongly; to keep them safe while I was born. He was going to join my mother there and they were to get married. But something went wrong. She died within a week of my birth, and he never came. Mum and Dad never heard from him. They waited two years before they legally adopted me, in case he showed up and wanted me. They figured maybe Voldemort had killed him before being destroyed himself by Harry Potter. I love Mum and Dad, but I keep feeling a need to make a connection with my mother, and maybe even find out about my father. Is he still alive somewhere? Why didn't he come for me?

I forced myself to stop thinking about these things. They just went round and round in my head but there were never any answers to the questions. Hermione was still talking non-stop, but luckily hadn't asked me anything that required an intelligent response; or if she had, apparently I had grunted a suitable answer and she didn't notice my reverie. We returned to the dormitory and climbed into bed.

Suddenly it occurred to me I didn't know what classes I had the next day. I had been given a book list, but not a class schedule. "Uh, Hermione?

"Yes," she replied.

"I don't know what my classes are tomorrow!" I confessed.

"Oh, don't worry. Professor McGonagall will give us our schedules at breakfast. That's the way they always do it."

"Oh, okay. Goodnight."

"Goodnight," she mumbled sleepily, clearly already beginning to drift off.

But I lay awake awhile longer pondering the day. I looked again at Cassandra's picture, that I had placed on my bedside table. Though she was nearly ten years older than me, we were as close as sisters. Her family, all of whom were part of the wizarding world, had lived next door to us all of my life. My parents were grateful to have them nearby to provide an influence and introduction to the world of magic; something they knew they couldn't do. They just sort of assumed that I would be a witch since both my mother and father had been magical; turned out they were right. Cassandra babysat me when I was young, but as I got older our friendship deepened and now we were as close as if we were blood-related. The smile and wave she was giving me from the picture, which I could just make out in the moonlight, were reassuring. I slipped off to sleep feeling more at ease.

You know how right before you fall asleep you sometimes get random images flashing through your mind? For some reason, I saw the face of a boy with unruly black hair and astonishing green eyes...