Hi! I'm terribly sorry for editing this fic, but I guess I was taking the story too fast and there were certain elements that I missed in the original, for example, an insight into the character. I hope the slight changes are acceptable. I promise I'll update soon, with long chapters and would be back to where the story had gone. Please let me know your thoughts.

Be it friendship or more;

Or a spiritual passing of two destined souls

Who love the world so much so as to want so

Much to give of ourselves to that world

Through the gift of ourselves to each other.

-Frederick Douglas Harper

Chapter 1. Strange Beginnings with a Stranger End

Have you ever wondered how strange life was? We're born, pass years trying to "grow up" and in the end, we disappear again. Why even bother being born when we're just supposed to be-uh-dead. If you're referring to the 'experiences' of life, is what makes it special, let me remind you how we 'enjoy' life. I dunno about you, but from these two eyes (which are probably too big for my face), I've seen people nag and nag how tough life is, or how boring it is, or that they're sick of it and need a break. I hope I don't have to face all of that. As an eleven year old, my ponderings over philosophy of life is pretty lame. But let me tell you, my life is not strange, with respect to other lives existing around the globe. The 'strangest' thing in my life is my little sister Susan, who loves to draw out prizes from lucky draw and is all about tarot cards and good luck charms. Jeez, have you ever met a 9 year old with such incorrigible traits?

Alas, Lady Luck seemed to have taken a toll for my words, as I am just going to prove my own self wrong, for things that happened on that fateful summer, was beyond the strange.

27th July, 1971

Like all the great tales (*ahem* *ahem*), my story begins with...It was a fine Tuesday afternoon. My mother, Ella White, was out at work, and I was home alone with Susan who'd somehow tricked me into playing the stupid game of dominos. I mean, what was the use of taking up hours of hard work, only to destroy it in the end? I sighed again for the umpteenth time as my brows furrowed, thinking of designs as I set up the blocks. I looked up at Susan, who really seemed to be enjoying herself. The light smile on her face seemed to give her an almost angelic look, brought together with her golden locks and baby blue eyes. She looked like Mom's doppelganger, albeit a younger one, if not for her eyes. My eyes. And the very same eyes looked up to meet mine, as they widened, and her mouth went 'o', in a mixture of shock and excitement.

The next moment, I almost knew why, for there was something perched at the top of my head, clawing into my scalp. Heart hammering in my chest, I looked up, as an owl-in the freaking daylight- flew over to Susan's side at my movement, as I screamed, waving my hands to shoo it and Lo! The blocks fell over each other dramatically and there lay wasted our two hours of hard-work. But Susan's face had lit up with excitement, as she peered at the owl perched over the ottoman. What was she planning? Roasting it for dinner? Yuck!

"Reyna! Its holding a letter!" Susan said with a delighted giggle. Oh, so that's why she's all excited.

"Why don't you-er-untangle it?" I suggested hopefully. I didn't want to be anywhere near that creature. What if it bit me?

Tentatively, Susan reached out and stroked the owl. The owl extended its leg to her, as if silently asking her to unfasten it. Woah!

"It's addressed to you." Susan said, as she handed me the letter, ignoring my alarmed look. "I'll figure out what to feed this cutie."

"Susan, that's an owl. If you want to feed it, you'll need dead rats or something." I said, as I opened up the letter.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmaster: ALBUS DUMBLEDORE
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Ms. White,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

UNIFORM

First-year students will require:

Sets of plain work robes (black)

Plain pointed hat (black) for day wear

Pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)

Winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings)

Please note that all pupils' clothes should carry name tags.

COURSE BOOKS

All students should have a copy of each of the following:

The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk

A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot

Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling

A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch

One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore

Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander

The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble

OTHER EQUIPMENT

1 wand

1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)

1 set glass or crystal phials

1 telescope

1 set brass scales

Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad.

PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS

I gave a nervous laugh. "It's a joke, right?" I asked in a dazed voice, more to myself, as Susan surveyed the letter.

"It would be the cruellest I know, if it is.." Susan said in the same dazed tone. She looked up to me with glowing admiration. "Wowie, Reyna...you're so lucky..."

I laughed wildly, still trying to let it all sink. "So...what am I? A witch? I always thought all this-hocus-pocus—would be related to you, not quite the other way around!"

"Its Witchcraft and Wizardry." Susan said firmly. "I wish I could go too."

Somebody chuckled. I whirled around, my eyes wide in alarm. A tall dark haired man in long crimson robes was standing near the entrance to the only balcony of our two-roomed flat. I shifted uncomfortably as I got on my feet, Susan in tow. The owl flew towards the man who seemed to talk to the bird in a low voice, and the bird flew out of the window. I glanced at the clock. It was 3:30 pm. There were still two whole hours for Mom to be back.

"Relax. I'm not going to hurt you." The man said, approaching us slowly. Ha! All murderers say the same. I've seen it on the TV. "I'm Septimus Vector, from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I teach Arithmancy, which is an elective subject you'll have from your third year onwards. I apologise for the unannounced entrance though."

"So its true?" Susan was the first to speak up, peeking at him behind my shoulders.

Professor. Vector chuckled. "Yes. As real as you and me."

I narrowed my eyes. My sister could be fooled, but not me. "And how am I to believe you, sir?" I added the honorific as an afterthought.

His smile widened, and he looked around the house. Okay, there's nothing to steal in the living room, and it's creepy to look around that way. He fished into his robes to produce a wooden stick (more like a drumstick) and pointed it at the ottoman, muttering something under his breath. The next moment, I blanched as the ottoman sprang to life as it giggle and it's legs moved in the fashion of a tap dance as it moved around the room, singing "Hallelujah", in a squeaky 'wooden tone'.

Susan clapped and gave a delighted laugh, as the ottoman bowed and then went back to being 'normal'.

"That was amazing, sir! I wish I could do such wonders too! You're sooooo lucky, sis!" Susan chirped, twining her arms with mine.

I still hadn't found my voice as I stared wide eyed at nothing in particular. Thankfully, Susan proved to be a better guest than me, and led him over to the couch as I went into the kitchen to hunt for some ready-made refreshments. My mother had the most astonished look on her face as she entered the room. It took an hour for Mr. Vector-er-Professor. Vector, to explain everything about Hogwarts and related stuffs. Near the end of it, she looked like she'd faint, which only seemed natural. My mother was our little family's only source of income and she often had to do overtime to maintain our lifestyle. She was a nurse by occupation and today, she'd gone for the morning shift and got home two hours late. Poor Professor. Vector had to wait quite for long for her too, but who could blame Mom? I half expected her to refuse the offer if the fees went too high for her to afford, as Professor Vector explained about the Wizarding currencies. Wow, it was like a whole new world, invisible to most.

"A magic school, huh?" Mom asked, as she entered my room, which I shared with Susan. The latter was on the phone, chatting excitedly to her only bff, who could keep with my sister's erratic mind.

I sat up on my bed and closed my journal. A not-too-old habit. "Its okay if you don't want me to, I mean, with the currencies and our situation and-"

Something in her face hardened. "Do you want to?"

I bit my lips, looking at her uncertainly. I couldn't lie to my mother, even for her own good. "Yes, I'm dying to go there." I sighed, and gave her a relaxed smile.

Mom smiled her warm brown eyes full of love. "And you will, my baby. You're far too wise for your age, worrying about money. You'd end up with early wrinkles if you keep stressing about feeble matter." Mom said, pinching my nose affectionately. "And we're not poor, Reyna. I can certainly afford your schoolings, even magical ones, for I believe that true magic lies in there." She pointed to my chest.

"I promise to be the best witch, Mom!" I said, with a determined look. Mom raised her eyebrows at my enthusiasm and I just realised what I'd said and we burst out laughing.

I spent the rest of the week chatting excitedly with Susan, and the possibilities and guesses as to what Hogwarts was going to be like. We'd decided to go shopping on Sunday, after attending the Church. So, on Sunday, to my own surprise, I was up even before the alarm clock. I hopped out of bed to get ready. Even if it was not 1st of September and that we were just shopping, but I was excited. We were going to shop magical artefacts! I stopped to stare at my reflection as I combed my hair. Long, straight honey-brown strands of hair framed my rosy, flushed face, reaching out a bit beyond my waist. I wasn't too thin, or weak, but looked quite a lot more fragile than I actually was. My pale blue eyes gave me a comprehending look as I brushed my long hair.

People always used to make fun of my hair as I could do no quirky hairstyles and simply wore it in braids. I looked pretty geeky, but only, I wasn't. I looked pretty girly too, but alas, I was a downright tomboy. As a five year old, I'd often stop at the club rooms near the park to watch the big boys practice kick-boxing. I idolised the teacher, who was a strong-looking man in his early thirties. He was simply amazing. One day, one of his students caught me spying, and he asked me to bring my mother the next day. Of course, any sane person wouldn't repeat it again, but come on! I was just five! Cut me some slack! And so I dragged my mother to the Shootfighters Club. The trainer, Gordon Yang, offered my mother that he could teach me a few basics. My Mom was shocked, for she never thought her daughter would join a fight club. And so, instead of going to ballet lessons, I went kick-boxing, and saved up for boxing gloves instead of the pretty ballet shoes. I didn't care if I turned up at school with a black eye or a broken nose and once, a broken limb. But alas, I'd to leave the club, as we moved to U.K two years ago, my mother's homeland, after that tragedy.

"Reyna? You still in there?" Susan's groggy voice snapped me out of my reverie, as she knocked again. I hurried out of the bathroom, after braiding my hairs.

If anything, shopping had to be the easiest part of the whole ordeal. After all, with three females together, there had to be fun. Susan begged my mother for an owl as we passed Eyelop's Owl Emporium. I gave the creatures a sceptical look. I wasn't that happy about keeping animals, but to both my and Susan's shock and delight respectively, Mom agreed, with a promise that I had to write to her. Every. Single. Day. Duh! But Susan's puppy-dog look couldn't be answered with a no. I scrunched up my nose and walked out of the shop with a tawny owl sitting pompously in the cage. Come to think of it, he wasn't so bad after all. We didn't live too far from the Leaky Cauldron and throughout the walk home, Susan and Mom kept chattering out all sorts of potential names for the owl. I caught something flashy from the corner of my eyes as I felt someone pass me. I turned around to see nothing but a street full of people walking briskly.

"Reyna?" I heard my Mom call out to me.

"I just thought I—nothing. Let's go." I said, turning around, with a frown. What was that? I was sure I felt someone walk the opposite way. And I could swear that light came from fire. I shook my head. It might all have been in my head seen with all the new magical stuffs.

Right then, someone pushed past me towards the road. What? I saw the familiar flash, but to my horror, that was not a flash, rather flames erupting from a boy's head. He was on FIRE! And he was dashing out to the road. My eyes widened as I saw a double decked bus moving this way. Damn! I gritted my teeth as I made a dash. I couldn't just watch him get himself killed! Everything was happening within seconds, thoughts whizzing through my minds in a blur. Come on, just a bit further! I urged myself to go faster as the bus hadn't yet slowed down. I pushed him roughly to the pedestrian walk on the other side as my vision blurred for a moment. I could hear screams echoing, but it seemed to be coming from the end of a long tunnel.

I shook my head and focused on to the burning boy. "You're on FIRE! And WHAT WERE YOU THINKING? JUMPING ON TO THE STREET LIKE THAT...IT'S DANGEROUS, YOU KNOW! YOU COULD HAVE DIED!"

The boy blinked and gave me a sheepish look. His eyes were burning gold, and I couldn't look into them without my eyes watering. "Oh—err—more importantly..."

His voice suddenly sent waves of warmth through my body. I turned to where he was pointing and a wave of dizziness swept through me again, which felt like being air-driven back to the end of the tunnel as other voices finally registered into my brain. For not more than a feet away, lay my body, in a pool of blood.

"Reyna...REYNA! My baby..." I felt a knot in my throat as my mother wept over my chest. Susan looked just as broken, weeping silently.

"I've called the ambulance." One of the bystanders said. Another one put a comforting hand on Mom's shoulders.

I felt like my life was punched out of my gut. I was dead.

A/N: Its not much of a surprise for those who'd already read the previous versions, but please bear with me. I'm terribly sorry again. I was just a bit unhappy with my writing style. I hope this is better. :)