Flaming Beauties

Chapter 1

Harry awoke to a searing pain coming from his forehead. It had been another nightmare. He'd been having the same one for weeks now. It was about his little sister, Nicolette. Crumpled on the Quidditch field, her navy blue robes spread out, her ginger hair fanned out across her face. An evil laugh that sounded in the distance and a green snake that filled the sky.

He rubbed his eyes, clamping his hand to his forehead. He peered around his room, which was the crowded space in the Dursley's basement. The Dursley's were Nicolette and Harry's only remaining relatives. Harry had only been two when they had been brutally murdered by Voldemort, a dark wizard. When he had tried to kill Harry something had happened, something that nobody can really explain. Protected by his mother's love, the curse had backfired, and Voldemort had disappeared.

Thus they had been brought by Hagrid, the Groundskeeper at Hogwarts, to live with the Dursley's. Vernon was a porky man, who was permanently pink in the face, and turned red when angry. He was often angry at either Nicolette or Harry. Aunt Petunia was a thin strict women with oatmeal colored hair. Their son Dudley, who was his age, looked just as beefy as his father, with his mother's oatmeal colored hair.

Nicolette and him had first shared the cupboard under the staircase, even when Nicolette had gotten to big to curl up against his arm, and sleeping had turned into somewhat of a shoving match between the nine and ten year old. But when Harry had received an invitation to Hogwart's school of witchcraft and wizardry the Dursley's had been fearful of magical power's he might have processed, and moved him down into the basement. When Harry was twelve and Nicolette's invitation arrived, she got to move upstairs into the guestroom.

Harry rubbed his eyes and turned over to go back to sleep when I was shaken back into the present by a tiny hand. He wanted to ignore it, as much as he loved his sister. He'd been having this nightmare ever since his godfather Sirius Black had been killed, and he needed sleep.

"Harry, are you awake? Dumbledore has sent mail." Nicolette whispered, shaking him harder for extra effect. Her long hair brushed against his face as she leaned down toward him, peering into his fake sleep expression. Harry sighed inwardly and gave up, Dumbledore's mail might be important and they might not have time later.

He rolled over and groaned, pretending to have been asleep. He had no need to worry her further, after last year when Hogwarts had been taken over by the ministry, who had made Dumbledore (the headmaster, Nicolette's godfather, and greatest man both teenagers had ever met) leave, Nicolette, and Harry himself, were nervous about returning. Nicolette had been just a forth year, but she was aware of what had happened down in secret at the Ministry of Magic, when Harry had fought Voldemort, who had at last returned to kill Harry. Whether Nicolette was in any more danger than the average forth year because she was his sister was unknown, but Harry was not going to take any chances.

"Have you opened it up without me?" he asked sitting up as she tossed me a letter. Harry snatched his glasses and put them on as she shook her head pointing at her letter. Dumbledore often sent Nicolette and him packages and letters, usually about schoolwork and how they were doing. But lately the letters had been holding darker things.

"It's odd, he usually sends us just one letter. But this time he's sent us packages and our school lists as well." she chattered excitedly. Harry sighed relieved, the darker things usually involved him and would be in his letter, leaving Nicolette a night full of rest afterward's.

He rolled his eyes at Nicolette's antics. They both thought Dumbledore was the greatest man alive, but she expressed it much more openly. Harry thought of when Ron's younger sister Ginny had a crush on him when they were younger. It must be a girl thing.

"Listen to this!" she demanded excitedly as she unfolded her letter for the second time to read aloud.

Dear Nicolette Lillian Potter,

Your schedule for your fifth year has been sorted out just as you have requested. I am honored to be the one to tell you that your potions grades were over acceptable, and you will be moving up to six year potions with Professor Snape. He looks forward to seeing you in his class. Hagrid also sends his wishes as he hopes to see you in his Care of Mythical Creature's class. Cho has resigned from the Ravenclaw Quitditch team due to some personal family matters she must attend to, she has asked that you be appointed seeker in her place, and I have honored her requests. Starting this year you will be Ravenclaw's new seeker.

I hope that last year's tragedy's do not register in your mind. You're very safe at your Uncle's and Aunt's, and you will be safe at Hogwarts as well. I do hope you have enjoyed your summer thus far, as being a fifth year will mean lots of work for you to enjoy. I do hope you've given thought to what you might want to pursue after Hogwarts, seeing as your brother has not.

I have arranged for your good friends the Weasley's to take you in for the remainder of the summer, a little vacation if you will. Your good friend Luna will also be staying with you as well. I wish you the best of luck with the rest of your summer, and look forward to seeing you again at Hogwart's this coming school year. Wish your brother a happy birthday for me.

Sincerely,

Albus Dumbledore

Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

"Did you hear that Harry I'm a seeker now just like you! This is so exciting! Just wait till' I tell Luna and Ginny. I bet even Hermione will be excited for me, and you know how she feels about sports before school work!" Nicolette said as she began to tear open the wrapping around her package. A dozen chocolate frogs fell out as she tore off the side. "More cards for my collection!" she shrieked.

I hushed her quickly, and we both listened for the Uncle Vernon's footsteps. I glared at her as she shrugged. If we were caught for with this stuff it would be confiscated immediately, to the cupboard under the stairs. Having a wizard and witch in the house was one thing, but allowing them contact with other witches and wizard's was something the Dursley's didn't even need to think twice about before they banned it.

I tuned out her chattering about the regular mail, letter's from friends, the official Hogwart's school letter, and opened my letter from Dumbledore.

Harry James Potter,

After what has happened at the ministry last year you and I are aware that Lord Voldemort's return is undeniable, as much as everyone else wishes to ignore it. Therefore, when you get back to Hogwarts, serious changes will be made to your routine.

The first Thursday after you get back, promptly at eight o' clock you will be having training lessons with Professor Snape. Due to chances that this owl could be intercepted, the lessons will be explained when you arrive to school on the train.

Your dear godfather Sirius was writing me about pains in your scar and horrible nightmare's you have been having before his tragic death. Therefore, when you return back to Hogwarts you will be going to visit a new teacher Professor Witkin on Thursday mornings at 4 o clock. I urge you to remember that this is all for your safety and wellbeing of you. You will also meet with me on Fridays at 11 o clock, to discuss the prophecy and all the questions you might have about it.

I urge you not to worry and to live your life as normally as possible. Try not to worry your sister to much, she has confided that she already feels a certain burden being in your shadow. I know you love her and will take care of her. I hope you enjoy your sixth year at Hogwarts.

Albus Dumbledore

Headmaster of Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry

I sighed and put down the paper to see Nicolette eating a chocolate frog, watching me intently. She tossed the rest of it into her mouth and her eyes widened.

"So…What'd it say? What did he write to you about that was so important he had to include it in an extra letter?" she asked, leaning back on Harry's lumpy mattress.

"Oh, you know…same stuff as your's. Hopes we win the Quidditch House cup, those sorts of things." Harry lied, gritting his teeth as Nicolette rolled her eyes.

"Uh huh, sure. Tell me Harry, why don't I believe you?" she asked, raising her eyebrows with a frown. If their was one thing that Nicolette demanded, it was honesty. Something that her brother had been running low on these days.

"Just things about Sirius, he didn't think that you could handle it." he half lied. Sirius had been mentioned in the letter, and everybody knew that Nicolette, who was known to keep a picture of him with her in her Ravenclaw robes, probably couldn't handle it.

"Oh. Well. I also got mail from Charlie, Fred and George, Ron, Hermione, Hagrid, Luna, oh and Professor Snape." she told him. "Ginny and I haven't talked since we fought, she's been to involved with all these stupid boys, don't know why she bothers." She snorted. Harry however, ignored that last part about Ginny and guys, and tore at her letters, digging through the ones looking for Snape's.

"I can't believe it Snape actually wrote you!" he shouted, astounded. Professor Snape must be the worst Wizard at Hogwarts, well, teacher that is. He hated Harry for his resemblance to his father, and because his father saved his life once, although it had been his fault in the first place. He played favorites within his own house, Slytherin.

Nicolette,

I am very honored to tell you that due to your grades on your exams last year, you have been moved up to potions with the sixth year students. Perhaps you could teach your brother and his little friends a thing or two for me? Anyways, seeing as Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw potions often is behind, you will be with Gryffindor and Slytherin potions. I don't want anything to happen to you, so you will be seated on the other side of the room, next to Draco Malfoy. I hope you two get along well. I am honored that you enjoy my class and look forward to seeing you this year in Potions and on the Quidditch fields, congratulations on becoming seeker by the way. I see someone is a tad more modest than their brother. Pity he isn't more like you.

Professor Servus Snape

"You have got to be kidding me! He's putting you next to Malfoy! Does he want you to be teased for being Potters sister? Congratulations on becoming seeker, pity he isn't more like you!" Harry exclaimed outraged, outraged that Snape was poisoning his little sister's mind against him.

"Give that back! You're just jealous that I have something over you for a change!" she fumed, snatching her letter back. "Draco doesn't tease me at all, he actually defended me back when everyone thought you were the one opening the chamber of secrets, or when everyone thought that you killed Cedric!" she snapped.

"Defended you? By what, saying it wasn't your fault you had me for a brother?" I asked her.

"It doesn't matter what he said! Just that he did it! Have you ever noticed that all of my friends are your friends too? That I met my friends through you, and that when I'm not around you I spend all my time reading and doing schoolwork? Your right when you say I don't know what it's like to be you. But you have no idea what it's like to be related to you. I survived to, I just don't have a scar to prove it!" she shouted as she gathered her letters and stomped up the stairs back to her bedroom, not caring if she woke up her Uncle along the way.

"Harry, what's wrong with Nicolette dear?" Mrs. Weasley asked the next week while serving Harry some bacon during breakfast.

Nicolette and him hadn't spoken since she'd woken Uncle Vernon, who was just giddy to have a reason to punish Harry, and gave him no dinner until the Weasley's came and picked them up. Nicolette had shut herself up in Ginny's room ,and, much to Ginny's annoyance, wouldn't let anyone in. Luckily another Ravenclaw student, Luna, who was Nicolette's only friend not through Harry, would be arriving this afternoon.

"We got into a fight about a letter." I said, although it had been a tad more bigger than that. More about the fact that most people considered Harry to be a hero of some sort. He felt bad for what she had to live up to. His grades weren't fantastic, but he'd become seeker first year. He'd saved the school twice, his godfather once, himself, and the Ministry of Magic.

"Was it the one I sent?" everyone asked at once, with guilty looking faces, except for Hermione, who had been the only one to talk to Nicolette, who was stabbing her ham as if it was still alive and moving.

"No, it was from Professor Snape." Harry said calmly, and Fred and George burst out in laughter. Ron, Fred, and George had looks of disbelief across their faces. Ginny hung her head, and Hermione continued to stab the life out of her ham.

"Snape wrote to a student?" George laughed. The Weasley Twins were howling with laughter, and banging the table hooting and whooping. The second their mother Molly Weasley glared at them, they stopped the banging, howling, hooting, and whooping.

"Not just any student, a Potter!" Fred exclaimed.

"But I thought Professor Snape disliked you?" Charlie asked, he was an older Weasley boy who was home from Romania, were he worked with dragons. He had already graduated Hogwarts.

"Me yes, her, no. I think she reminds him of my mother so much." Harry added. Everyone couldn't argue their. It was said that Harry looked just like his father, but with his mother's eyes. Nicolette looked just like her mother, but with her father's eyes.

"Yes, Servus was very fond of Lily. She fancied him for awhile as well, she tried not to let herself fall for the popular choice." Mrs. Weasley said. "Hermione dear, is something wrong with your ham?" she asked as Hermione looked up and blushed as she noticed everyone staring at her dismantled ham.

"I just think that perhaps Harry would be better off letting her make her own choices. She doesn't have much of that, her brother is famous, I think she just wants some space. She got accepted into sixth year potions, but when Harry saw the letter from Snape, he kind of shrugged it off, drawing the attention to how she would be sitting next to his enemy, Draco Malfoy." Herminie said, stretching out and putting emphasis on the his.

"Fancied Snape? What in Bloody Hell would your mother have saw in him?!" Ron laughed, seeing Harry's unammused look, the laughter stopped.

"She made Ravenclaw seeker too, but I heard somebody saying it was a pity she was choose as a replacement." Charlie said, shooting his sister Ginny a look. Ever since Ginny had started dating, she'd turned into a bit of a different person. She was always very close with Nicolette, and had even managed to agree with Luna. But Nicolette and her had had a fight about something, Nicolette had needed someone there for her when rumors went around that her brother murdered someone. But Ginny had been busy with some boy, and Nicolette had told her off. Since then rude comments had been passing back and forth between the two about the other one.

"Ginny, Harry. I'm very disappointed in you two. I hope you fix this, especially you Harry, your parents would be ashamed, and Ginny dear, I thought I'd raised you better than that." Molly tutted as she flicked her wand to begin the washing of the breakfast dishes.

"Ready for some Quidditch practice?" Ron asked as Fred and George were already sprinting across the green gardens and backyard towards the shed.

"Not just yet, I'm going to get Nicolette, she's a seeker now." Harry said. Hermione smiled at Harry from where she was sitting with Crookshanks, her orange tabby cat with a squished face.

Harry climbed the winding staircase up to the top floor and rapped on the door on the right at the end of the hallway. The door hinges creaked as the door opened a smidge, and an eye and half a nose could be seen, Just as Harry thought she was about to slam the door in his face, she let the door open widely.

Harry's heart crumpled slightly at the sight of his younger sister, wearing a pair of Ginny's old pajamas. Her socks had holes in the toes and her flaming red hair looked like a bird had nested in it. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying. Before Harry could apologize she flew into his arms.

"I'm sorry Harry, please forgive me, you can't stop talking to me, you're the best older brother ever." she said clutching his shirt.

"I should be the one apologizing. I'm sorry Nicolette, I know what it's like to have trouble making friends. I wish I could take it away from you but I can't. It's rather be selfish, but I'd rather be your older brother, even if it makes you suffer." Harry said as they sat next to each other.

"I'd always want you as my older brother Harry. It's just hard, it seems like your better at me in everything." she told him.

"That is so far from the truth. You're a lot smarter than I am. Advanced courses in potions. Personally I think I need to be taking potions with your class, I'm so bad at it. Having people be nice to you isn't a bad thing either. I wouldn't mind Malfoy defending me for awhile. Also, your much better looking than me." Harry told her, clasping her hand as he grabbed a red album nearby.

She giggled. "I'll never be as good a seeker as you." she whispered.

"Who says? I'm afraid to say I've never even seen you play. Even if you aren't, we can't all be good at everything. Ginny is proud of you too, seeing as you two trained each other." he said with a smile pulling out the album.

He opened the first page and saw a page full of pictures of Harry, James, and Lily. In one on the bottom of the page Harry was touching Lily's stomach. On the next page their was a red haired baby being held by her parents, then by Harry, then Sirius holding both of them.

"I miss him." she said stroking the picture fondly with her pinky finger. The baby was sucking her thumb and Harry was pulling at his godfather's ear, Sirius glancing down at them both, tickling Harry, rocking Nicolette, and grinning and laughing at the camera.

"I do too, but for things to get better, they have to get worse sometimes." he told her, that was the only explanation he had on Sirius's death, he hadn't come to terms with it himself.

"Mom, Dad, and Sirius would be so proud of you, advanced potions, new seeker, all in one school year." he said as they stood up and headed out towards the field, where Nicolette could show Harry just how good she was on broom.

Right before dinner Mr. Weasley had arrived, along with Luna. Luna had sprinted into Nicolette's arms and began to talk about how if Nicolette hadn't wanted to be seeker so bad she could have been on the team first year. Much to Harry's surprise his 16th birthday celebration surprise was held after dinner.

"He's opening mine first Ron, I'm his sister." Nicolette insisted. Shoving a present towards Harry. Hers' Was the size of one of their spell books but not nearly as heavy. It was wrapped neatly, though not as neat as Hermione's, in brown packaging paper, tied with twine.

"He's my best friend!" Ron claimed, everyone knew they were just joking around, even Herminie was laughing at their little show of hitting Harry in the face with their present. Ron's gift was a cylinder shaped hallow sounding thing wrapped in purple tissue paper, which had been left over from Ginny's birthday in early June.

"How about you flip a coin?" Luna suggested in her airy tone.

"Good idea Luna! Anyone have a coin?" Ginny asked, as everyone searched their pockets. While everyone was searching a neat little package the size of a CD case landed in Harry's lap. He scrambled to open it before anyone could say anything. Everyone mock glared at Luna, laughing at her scheme to distract everyone so he would open hers.

The card was decorated with a tree and lights, singing a Christmas carol. A real Muggle holiday card, Luna had told him. Straight from the store itself. Inside the card was the gift. Harry thought about asking Nicolette later if Luna knew that they lived with Muggles.

"Oh…a magazine subscription!" Harry said trying to be convincing in his attempt to be enthusiastic. Everyone else clapped politely except for Nicolette, who was raving on how she would be sure to steal every one to read, making Luna beam with pride as she carried on about her dad's magazine in a whimsical tone. This snapped everyone out of their trances as they went to give gifts.

Hermione had gotten Harry a set of wizard career books, all with careers based within the study of the dark arts. He thanked her gratefully, and glanced at his sister knowing she'd announced to everyone that Dumbledore had told her he hadn't a clue on what happened after Hogwart's. Ron had gotten Harry a poster of their favorite Quidditch team, the Cannons. Fred and George had given him the gift of a gift card to their prank shop, for when it opened. Charlie had given him a remembrance ball, because it was cheap and useful. Ginny had blushed giving him a scrapbook of his years so far at Hogwarts. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley gave him plum pie and wrapped sugar prunes. Nicolette had given him the best gift of all, an empty picture frame.

"See, what you do is you take the little golden boards," she held up some little long rectangles with names scrawled on them "and you put them at the top of the frame like this, then you can see whoever you put up. So far you only have a few, because people have to write their own names for it to work." she exclaimed as he gave her a hug and put her name in, so that it showed them sitting next to each other on the couch. He also had Ron, Herminie, Luna, Neville, and Cho. Ginny blushed furiously when he looked over at her when he saw her name missing. She muttered something about guys and changing under her breath as she and the other girls headed off for bed. Whispering to Ginny and causing her to blush wildly.

"Better get to bed boys, tomorrow Diagon Ally awaits." Mr. Weasley said, as he herded Molly and himself upstairs to their bedroom for some well needed shut eye.

Well that's the first chapter, I hope everyone enjoyed, since I worked really hard on it. So far the pairings may be looking one way, but they could look another. I've never written Harry Potter and I don't know which pairings I would like to do. It may seem as Ginny has a crush on Harry, but things can change my friends.

This is my first Harry Potter but I plan to update as often as I can, which with summer coming up will be a lot. I'm really excited about this story.

Stay tuned for Diagon Alley, Quidditch, School, and Harry's new journeys to find Voldemort and stop him from destroying the world as we know it.

Meredith Jane