Summary: a girl with an interesting family history transfers to Hogwarts in the trio's sixth year. Yeah, the summary sucks, I know. But the story isn't half bad, I don't think.

Disclaimer: All recognizable Harry Potter characters aren't mine (unfortunately). I'm just playing with them for a bit!

Author's Notes: this is my first posted HP fic. Go easy on me! Also, constructed criticism would be nice.

I sat on the pleasantly over-stuffed couch finishing my last homework essay for the summer, constantly having to brush my long, dark hair out of my eyes. My mother, Amara, had run out to the store quickly to pick up a book she would need on her upcoming visit to Japan as the American Ambassador, leaving me home to finish up my potions essay. My mom was the highest ranking Auror of the American Ministry of Magic and often was sent on errands around the world.

I wrote my last several sentences happily; I now had all summer to fool around with my friends before I left for England and my new school, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Sighing contentedly, I laid my essay on the coffee table and shifted to a more comfortable position on the couch. I closed my eyes and relaxed into the soft leather, waiting for my mother to come home and the two of us would make dinner together.

I was just slipping off into sleep and beginning another of my strange and bizarre dreams about a rather large snake-like man when I jerked awake with a start.

There was a crash from downstairs in the kitchen and I thought maybe my mother was home, but then I heard voices.

"Damn it, Nott! Warn the whole bloody neighborhood why don't you?" came the low angry voice of a frustrated male, clearly from somewhere European. "C'mon, let's just get the girl and get out of here. The Dark Lord is waiting."

My eyes widened and I looked around for a way out. The windows, being three stories above ground, were not an option and I would be cornered on the balcony. The steps and voices of the men with British accents were closer now, and I had to force down my panic. I grabbed my wand, ran to the balcony and pushed open the arcadia door before going quickly back to hide under the table, praying they wouldn't look too hard.

The men had reached the third floor and I knew it wouldn't be long before they were searching the room in which I was currently hiding. I ran through a list of curses in my head, silently preparing myself to use them, just in case.

Three pairs of big, black boots under the billowing immerged from the doorway and spread out among the room.

"Check the windows," came the order of the same man who had chastised Nott in the kitchen.

"No luck, Malfoy. All locked from the inside."

"Then check the balcony, the closet, everywhere!" snapped Malfoy. "The Dark Lord wants her and we shall deliver."

The Dark Lord?! They can't mean He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, can they? Wait! Malfoy? Nott? DUH! I know where I've heard those names. They were a couple of the Death Eaters that escaped Azkaban over in Europe! What on earth are they doing in America? I didn't expect them to come for us so soon

Two more black-clad figures entered the room. "The rest of the house has been checked thoroughly. This is the last room," said one of the new ones in a dark, scratchy voice. "She's in here somewhere."

Without a word, the men spread themselves out around the large room to search. I pressed myself to the wall that the table was against. I couldn't see much around the long over-hanging tablecloth, but I could here the dark-cloaked figures making their way closer to my makeshift hiding spot.

Suddenly, a pair of boots stopped just on the edge of my limited view and turned towards where I sat crouched and nervous against the wall. I tensed. This is it. They won't kill me without a fight! The man came closer and I could see him stoop down to lift the tablecloth and I sprang into action.

"PETRIFICUS TOTALUS!" I yelled as she bolted out of her hiding place and ran towards the door and the only exit.

"NO!!! After her!!" thundered Malfoy, obviously one of the leaders. The five Death Eaters hastened after me, but I dared not look back. I shot a few curses over my shoulder while dodging streams of red light that flew past my head. One of the men gasped and fell, but the others kept coming. I had made it to the stairs and jumped as quickly as I could down the steps, mindful of the shortening distance between me and my dark pursuers. Halfway down the stairs, my honed Chaser skills missed a beat and a Stunning Curse hit me straight in the chest and sent me sprawling down the remainder of the flight of stairs as my world plunged into darkness.