(A/N: All thought speech will be seen written in italic.

Things pronounced or spoken in a different language with be in a different font and bolded.)

DISCLAIMER: Any recognizable works in this story is obviously not owned by me but the great J.K herself. I only own Clare O'Hare and maybe her marriage to Neville...sorry Hannah...not sorry Hannah.

Chapter 1

Leroy, the family cat, was laying down in a sunny spot on the window sill watching the outside. His dull grey fur fluffed up and stuck out, lightening the tips to an almost invisible glowing halo about him. Yowling and stretching, he turned an unamused gaze at the approach of the family's youngest. "What do you want?" He asked in a grumbly purr as he flopped over onto his back.

"Morning Leroy going to have a cat nap now?" Clare smiled and tried to pet him on the belly.

He rolled his eyes,obviously annoyed, and turned over to avoid her hand. "Is there always a need to imply cat naps are any different from regular naps?" He flicked his tail with growing annoyance but allowed her a small scratching to his head and ear.

"Nah, I just know it bothers you." She said before quickly kissing his head. Then she skipped off to have lunch. "Have a nice cat nap Leroy!"

Sun was setting after a usual day. Clare was drying her eyes quietly in her room after having been teased and chased about by some of the other children. Thinking her a freak or odd for saying she could talk to animals was getting to be a usual happening for her and try as she might to explain people either didn't believe her or became very upset. Her mother for example, scolded her more frequently now. "Nonsense" she'd call it or say Clare was being over imaginative. "There is no such things as animals talking dear and the more you go on like this the worse others will think of you, please give it a rest." was the last thing her mother had said to her before sending her to her room.

"But I can," she sniffled. "I can talk to them." Leroy stood outside the crack to her room.

Humans are dull beings. They only see and hear what they want to.

But I can!

Yes. Yes you can. And that's what's going to get you into trouble. He sat a cleaned his paw.

The birds, dogs, fish, you… I can talk to all of you, why is it only me? Don't you talk to mommy?

Leroy scoffed at her giving her a stern look Of course I do what do I look like? Animals always talk, it's HUMANS that never listen. It's like their ears are useless.

You're always so mean Leroy. Go away! Clare turned to shoo him from her door but went quiet. "Uh oh," she mumbled softly to herself as she saw her mother and father standing there with her door pushed open a bit more. Her father had a fallen look to his face and he walked away back down the hallway leaving her mother still standing there with a seriously stern look to her face.

"I've asked you nicely. You'll outgrow this, one way or the other," she said with finality. Clare knew what that meant...no supper.

"Clare dear where are the dishes I asked you to wash?" her mother called from inside. Clare turned her head back to their home, feet kicking against the stone wall she sat on, "I put them up!" she yelled back. Turning back to her lap she continued to pet the small squirrels in her lap.

What's a dishes? Do you eat them?

Can we eat them?

Do they taste good?

Clare giggled at them as they chattered all at once. No sillies its what you eat off of. She chatted there for a bit when a man walked by the other side of the road, "Ello dearie."

"Hello Mr. Rager. G'bye Mr. Rager," she waved vigorously. He was a nice man always said hello and wasn't ever mean to her or her friends.

"CLARE," her mother called louder, "YOU COME FIND ME THOSE DISHES YOU HEAR. WE'LL BE EATING SOON."

I've gotta go you guys see you tomorrow!

She stood with her head hung low in the kitchen sniffling, "B-but I did. I put them right here."

Her mother sighed yanking open the drawer to show not only was it void of silverware but that it was entirely empty altogether. "Baby girl," her father knelt to meet her face and held her chin up. "I know it's difficult… you want to play and play games. If you had some friends to play with you wouldn't need to hide things-"

"But I do have friends!" She looked at him teary eyed. He closed the drawer and her mother pinched the bridge of her nose.

"You put them in the drawer then, you're quite sure?" he asked.

"Yes," her eyes stung a bit. She turned to the drawer, "I washed them and put them straight away in there like that," she motioned with her hands emphasizing her point. "The little spoons there and forks too all like how they go," she pulled open the drawer. Shiney silver forks, knives, and spoons shook and tinked against each other and her eyes went big. "I didn't do it!" she cried looking at her mom who had gasped and now was sporting an angry shocked look. "I didn't do it. They were there!"

"Clare what did you do?" her mother asked getting that hysterical pitch to her voice. "They weren't there and now they are!"

"It wasn't me, I didn't do it please?" she started to cry.

"This isn't a game Clare," her father added sternly.

"I wasn't playing, I didn't mean to!"

"What is the meaning of this?!" her mother's voice rose higher. "Clare? Clare."

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Many of Clare's dreams were like this, visions of her mother and father in hysterics over the magical things she would make happen, her mother's voice taking on a most shrill of notes. Their faces twisted with concern, hurt, rage, shame and countless other emotions all just as jarring as the next that would leave her waking in sweats or tears. This was no dream however, her name really was being called and thankfully it woke her from this nightmare.

"Clare! Clare!" she recognized Lily yelling from down below. She woke with a start, "Bluh, who's...huh?" she blinked adjusting to the bright early morning light. She held a hand over her eyes and looked down from out of the apple tree she napped in.

"Wake up! You're such a sleepy head! I got it! I GOT IT! And you did too!" Lily smiled big and bounced in place.

"Got a what?" she yawned instinctively rubbing the small coils around her neck with one hand, the other wiping a small tear.

"Our Hogwarts letters! Eeee," she cried. "Well come on then! Come and see come and see!" she exclaimed running back up to the house.

Mr. Moon handed Clare her letter grinning while Mrs. Moon clapped her hands together, "Oh we're going to have a ball going shopping this week!"

The front of Clare's letter read 'Ms. A O'Hare Attic bedroom 26 Rosecommon Road. Old Town, Ballinasloe' in a beautiful emerald green ink. Lily twirled about the room holding her letter to her chest and giggling, "Oooooh I want to be sorted into Gryffindor just. like. you. mommy!"

Cecile Moon patted her husband's shoulder and gave a soft smile. He picked Lily up and tossed her, "Ravenclaw is a perfectly fine house too!"

"I still don't know too much about the houses at Hogwarts, they all sound wonderful." Clare said eyes still reading over the letter.

Jacob Moon stood holding Lily, "And of course they are! And any one of them would be all the more better for having you," he poked Lily's nose lightly, "and you to grace them." He gave Clare a smile and she smiled back.

"Plus it seems I already have some of the books," Clare said after opening hers. "A Standard Book of Spells, Magical Theory, A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration, and Magical Beasts and Where to Find Them. This is great!" Clare trailed off and the Moons looked a bit confused. "And I'll be….getting my wand?"

"Well of course dear, you've got to have one of those," Cecile gave a small smile.

"What if it -doesn't like me either...What if it doesn't pick me?" she added changing her mind. Any time she brought up her parents it was always awkward with the Moons.

Lily protested til she was put down then she threw her arms around Clare hugging her tight. "You're silly. A wand would be daft to NOT pick you."

"Well, c'mon then that's enough excitement for now." Jacob said taking Lily's letter and placing it up on the mantle. "First we deal with today, then tomorrow-"

"Tomorrow we shop!" chimed in Cecile clapping.

After lunch Clare stole away to the shed to find the old broom. It was Jacob's old broom from his younger years and had found renewed use once Clare had come to stay with them. She was soon soaring over trees letting the wind and sun force out the awful fears she had. Whenever she flew it was like her steed. Making her a knight and knights aren't afraid of anything. Hogwarts… now that's a big step. Somewhere near the center of the orchard she landed and let Maokai slither about while she took to her usual nervous pacing. Who would she be in this new place? Would she have any friends?

You sshould sssit. Clare huffed and fell over throwing her arm over her face.

Oh Maokai, do you really think I have the stuff for this? Maybe I should just run away… She sneaked a peek at him and saw him shake his head. He took his time and slithered over her. It was amazing how fast he had grown. It was only four years ago when she got him and he had hatched. He used to fit in her pocket and now he was about three or so feet long and almost two inches wide.

He stopped just in front of her face You would be needing a wand yesss? Before leaving ssso no I do not advisse you leaving jussst yet. He settled down to nap on her chest. I think you will make a few good friendsss ...yess. The white of his scales rippled but showed only blurred images and faint outlines since no one was looking into them.

Before too long Lilly found her and they talked about school, she even took time to listen to some of Clare's worries before they headed back home. Lily held on to Clare tight on the account she inherited her mother's fear of flying and didn't want to fall off.

"D-don't do go fast this time," Lily said a bit shaky clinging ever tighter.

Clare gave a small smile, "Ok I won't."

That night they sat and talked excitedly about school, kids, classes, and fun but when it was bed time Clare lay awake in her bed. She lazily scratched Maokai's head and listened about the room at the various sleeping sounds her pets made. He lifted his head and blinked one eye at her I know sssomething troubless you. Are you not happy?

It's not that I'm not excited to go to Hogwarts or to get our supplies...it's just that...what if I don't make it? What if I'm not good enough? What IF a wand doesn't pick me? What about if-

Two warm bodies shuffled their way up from her feet, poked their noses out from under the covers, and crawled up to her chest. Merry and Berry her rabbits bounced around her head Having a wand doesn't make the witch Berry started. And you have us added Merry cheerfully as they snuggled up close.

Lulu jumped down from her tissue paper nest to crawl on her face And me, lovely.

And me, me. Me too mommy! barked Jasper her short terroir as he tried to jump up on the bed. She picked him up and hugged them all to her. Maokai rubbed his face against her cheek wiping off a tear.

We'll ssstay with you alwaysss.

Diagon alley was the same as always, bright and stuffed with people. Of course Mrs. Moon loved to shop so usually when they came it was for sales and crowds of people were in the streets and shops. Not too much the same as always though, was the excitement in the air, everything was almost electric. Almost like magic, Clare grinned to herself at the silly thought and yet couldn't think of anything else to describe it. She clutched her hogwarts letter tighter, eyes searching for the first shop they would visit. Never in all their trips had Clare been this eager to go shopping, Cecile usually had to remind her to hurry up and not fall behind. But not this day, this day she had swiftness to her feet and welling up in her chest that she just knew meant great things. Lily had towed her parents inside Madam Malkin's, each of them getting a few brand new robes for school. Madam Malkin had measured and fitted the girls perfectly into matching outfits down to the house seal and everything. Well mostly everything, the girls stood with their arms our beaming at their new robes, spinning in the mirrors and it could be seen Clare's was almost a foot shorter in every length. Jacob and his wife smiled continuously as the girls brightened after each shop. On their way to pick out more robes and break for lunch Clare gasped loudly and ran to press her face against the window. It read Magical Menagerie and had loads of small children inside picking out this pet or that pet. It wasn't the children Clare concerned herself with however.

"Doris and Lo got a new shipment in!" she exclaimed, her wide eyes surveying the shop of all its new fluffy faces.

Mr. Moon tugged on her robe and chuckled, "I think you have enough pets for now dear!"

But Clare was already chittering away to a tiny blue green bird closest to the window. It tilted its head back and forth rapidly peeping and flapping its barely feathered wings at her, "But it NEEDS me!" she complained.

"No no no no no," chimed in Mrs. Moon hurriedly scooting her away from the window and on down the road.

Clare looked back sadly and waved g'byyye.

They stopped for a bit of lunch and the Moon's treated the girls to ample amounts of candies and sweets. Soon they were running around on a sugar high stopping here for books, then like a flash over there for cauldrons or telescopes. Even more excited was Lily when she took Clare by the sleeve and led her to Eeylops owl emporium. They whispered about the post that would come via these magical birds while they were at hogwarts. The family had Braum but soon Clare would have her own Lily whispered and giggled. Many owls were beautiful, some light others dark, some big and others so tiny it seemed hardly plausable for them to carry mail at all. With a wave Jacob motioned for the girls to catch up and they obliged pulling and tripping each other along the way.

Clare looked up at the dark wood frame of Ollivander's and felt her happiness drain a little. Lily started in after her parents then looked around to Clare, she gave her a little smile and motioned for her to follow. She swallowed hard and her feet felt rooted to the cobblestone. What if there's not a wand that would want me? My parents didn't want me. What if I can't have a wand, what'll I do, what'll I be?

Maokai slithered around her neck til his head hid behind her ear. Go inssside and sssee. Remember you have me and I'm much better than a wand he added lightly, flicking his tongue to tickle her ear. Clare reached up and gently scratched his chin, took a deep breath and marched forward.

Late that night while everyone was full and sleeping, Clare lay comfly sprawled in her bed. Lulu snoozed lightly in her nest, Merry and Berry snuggled by her feet, Jasper snored and gruffed occasionally by her bedside leg twitching with sleep, and Maokai was burrowed in her neck and shoulder. All over the bed was strown half open school books, some wrappings from hidden candy she'd eaten, and a robe or two half laying over her. Much of her loot from the days shopping had been looked through, tried on, and pranced around in until she had tuckered out. One hand still sleepily held on to a copy of A Standard Book of Spells. And there under the blankets snuggled up to her face was a tan and red colored stick, her very own wand. It was made of cedar and measured 11 inches with a dragon's heartstring as its core. The wood was oiled and shiny twisted about itself down to the handle and was covered in small carvings that looked like scales. Resting on top of where the hand would go was a small dragon wrapped around and looked as though it was sleeping.

Laying in bed her dreams whirled about in her head of school and studies, of adventure with fighting dragons, and all sorts of magical spells. She stirred in her sleep, wiggling her wand just enough for a few small light sparks to pop out as she mumbled some incantation under her breath, then back off she drifted to her dreams.