Chapter 1

Harry and Alex boarded the Hogwarts express as usual, looking for Ron, and Hermione, their fellow Gryffindor friends. Alex dragged her feet behind Harry as they made their way through the crowded train. They found Ron and Hermione near the back and gratefully sat down on the comfortable seats with a thump.

"Hey." Ron said casually.

Alex smiled tiredly and Harry pointed a finger and waved it back and forth.

"What's with you two?" Hermione asked. Alex yawned.

"We didn't get any sleep last night. Stupid Uncle Vernon kept talking to us like we cared."

"Why was he talking to you?" Ron asked curiously. He had always known Uncle Vernon to be evil and not very civil.

Alex and Harry shrugged.

"I think he's finally getting used to the fact that we have to stay there because if we leave it's putting everyone in danger…." Harry said nonchalantly.

Alex nodded in agreement and closed her eyes.

"So, how was your birthday?" Hermione asked brightly, oblivious to the fact that Harry and Alex were trying to sleep. Alex opened her eyes and sighed.

"It was alright, nothing special…as usual. We did get this one card though, we haven't opened it, it was really weird." Ron and Hermione leaned forward eagerly.

"Who was it from?" Ron asked.

Alex's face fell. "That's the weird part, it just…appeared. Just a card out of nowhere, that's why we didn't open it."

Hermione looked pleased. "Well, that's a good thing." She stated happily. "It could have been from Voldemort."

Ron didn't wince, he had steadily gotten used to everyone's straightforwardness when it came to the Dark Lord.

Harry looked at her strangely.

"We hadn't even thought of that."

Hermione smiled smugly. "I didn't think you had."

Alex gave her a sarcastic smile.

"Well, we still have the card, but I suppose there's no use in keeping it if it's evil." Harry laughed.

"It doesn't look evil…it's pink."

Ron laughed, but Hermione didn't.

"Just because it doesn't look dangerous doesn't mean it can't be dangerous." Hermione said smartly. Alex and Harry rolled their green eyes. Hermione looked flustered. "Need I remind you of the diary incident?"

Alex pulled out the card and looked it over. "It's different though. The diary looked ominous. This doesn't…at all."

"It very well could be the death of you!"

"Hermione, it's a pink birthday card…it's probably from Hagrid or something." Alex laughed.

Hermione shrugged. "Maybe, but I still think you should get rid of it."

Alex sighed and held up the pink card in her hands. There were green fancy letters sprawled across the front.

"That doesn't look like Hagrid's writing." Ron observed.

"Yea, that was my thought. It's way too neat." Harry said, looking over at Alex.

Alex turned the card over and looked at it. "I seriously doubt it's dangerous."

Hermione made a 'tut-tut' noise and shook her head.

Alex took the card and held it in front of her. "It's just a birthday card!" She shouted. "See…nothing dangerous about it."

She opened the card and suddenly felt a rush of cold wind flying past her ears. She tried to look around but it felt like she was bolted down to something. She felt a jolt and landed on something hard. Alex got up, shook off her clothes and looked around. She gasped. She was standing in front of Hogwarts. She looked to her feat. Her cat, Pepper, was in his basket on top of her trunk. Strange, she thought. She saw the Hogwarts express leaving; she had to get on a carriage she thought instinctively. She left her trunk and cat near the others and ran for a carriage. She got into one just in time.

"I can't believe they left me!" Alex muttered angrily.

"Who are you?" A blonde haired boy asked her. Alex looked up, noticing the occupants for the first time. The boy looked strangely familiar.

"No one in particular." She answered smartly.

"I suppose you are in Ravenclaw then, only they have smooth comments like that one." Said a small, black haired girl.

"No, Gryffindor. I'm guessing you two are in Slytherin." Alex replied. The two nodded smugly. Alex didn't want to talk to these people anymore.

She looked out into the darkness. What happened with that birthday card, she thought, why was she suddenly at Hogwarts when she was just in broad daylight on the train? So many questions ran through her mind. Where was her brother, why would he leave her with these people? She leaned her head against the window and looked over at the two people. They were talking to one another quietly. She heard only two words, Lily Potter.

Back on the Hogwarts express with Harry and company

"Alex?" Hermione asked fearfully. She had vanished. The minute she opened the card Alex was gone. Harry looked wildly around him, expecting his sister to be right there.

Ron was in shock. "Where did she go?" He asked stupidly.

Hermione trembled. "I…what?...what just happened?"

Ron shook his head. "She disappeared." He stated obviously.

Harry continued to search. "But how? How could she just disappear?"

Ron shrugged. "Maybe she's a magician?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Ron, don't be stupid."

"Maybe she's just proving a point." Harry said nervously. "Ok Alex." He said a little loudly. "We get the point, it's not dangerous…you can come back now."

Nothing happened.

Hermione looked out the window. "What if it was dangerous? Where could she be?"

Harry looked down at his feet. "How could I have lost my sister?" He whispered tragically.

Hermione and Ron looked at each other sadly.

"We have to talk to Dumbledore." Hermione whispered. "He'll know what to do."