A/N: This is set after HBP- in other words, during Deathly Hallows. Every quote at the beginning of my chapters are usually in reference to something to come, someone to come, or just something funny that ironically fits with the chapter theme. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: J. K. Rowlings owns all.

"For instance, this new idea that You-Know-Who can kill with a single glance from his eyes. That's a basilisk, listeners. One simple test: Check whether the thing that's glaring at you has got legs. If it has, it's safe to look into its eyes, although if it really is You-Know-Who, that's still likely to be the last thing you ever do." - Fred Weasley

September

It was such a quiet autumn day, and I was wasting it (according to my brother) by sitting in the sun, studying the first pages of my history and political science book for an exam. What he didn't know was that I was secretly writing to our younger sister, Hannah, who was presently in her sixth year at Hogwarts. Since I graduated six years ago, and was waiting for a job opportunity, my mother had had the idea of me going to a muggle school, to expand my options. I had found the idea ridiculous at first, but then realized it might be good for me.

So here I was, scratching my signature at the bottom of the letter, adding as a side-note that I would be visiting soon, a little before the Christmas holidays. A loud bang coming from the second floor echoed in my ears. I snapped my head up, to see my brother, grinning widely at me with his perfect smile from my room window.

"I think I broke your telly!" he said, his voice booming.

My cheeks flushed red with frustration. "Heads up would be nice… twat!"

I know, this was undeniably childish of us, but as we were both young adults boring our lives out in an empty house (parents had left for a small vacation in Italy), we usually ended up shouting, breaking things, and as a last resort, hexing the other. Since I was two years older, I was, technically, more experienced in hexes and spells, and not just because I read more. I had studied to become an Auror, but soon realized it wasn't my field of work.

I closed the letter and sealed it with the family crest. I closed my book- studying would have to wait. I got up and ran to the house and up to my room, where my brother was still, lying comfortably on my bed. I saw the television in question; it was entirely burnt.

"Oliver, you couldn't at least have left a few pieces?"

I had managed to modify it with a few spells so it would also get radio stations; I was keeping tab of news, as well as in the magical world as in the muggle world.

He shrugged, glancing at the remains of my proud work. "I wanted to listen to it. It exploded before I could even finish my spell."

I finally smiled. "It has a charm on it, idiot. Only I can activate it. There are some channels on this I am not allowed to listen to; I rather you would not fall on them. If ever you had important information and were caught by Death Eaters, they would easily drag it all out from you with a potion."

"And why can you have access to it?"

I raised my brows. "I did pass my Auror training, didn't I? I know a greater deal more than I used to."

He stared at me, making a face. "And why aren't you an Auror, again?"

I rolled my eyes skywards. "That is none of your business."

He got up and came to stand in front of me, his brows frowned.

"They would need someone like you in their ranks, Julia. Why can't you join the Ministry, or some kind of special squad?"

I shook my head, denying any actual talent. "I can't do that to mum and dad, it would kill them."

He shook his head in turn, explosion and television out of his mind. "But you are brilliant at it! You achieved Oustandings at Hogwarts and passed hands-down the first Auror training. Why didn't you continue? You got it in you!"

I couldn't tell my brother I had stopped because of him. I wanted to be the example of the family, the inspiration. I didn't want him to follow my footsteps. I simply did everything I could so he wouldn't go in that direction, including tampering with his Auror training results and using my influence so he would not be accepted. He had wanted to excel where I had failed.

"I tried out, but I simply was not good enough to be one," he continued bitterly. "I was hoping you would be the Auror, and help me out after. We could have made a team together!"

I bit my lip. "I would have, you know that," I said, to calm him down. "But it's extremely dangerous now, and I can't leave you guys alone while I'm out there fighting, not knowing if you're okay."

He sighed impatiently. "Julia, you're my sister, and I want you to fight. Isn't that some kind of honour, since you're a girl?"

I frowned. "What? We live in the 19th century now?" I raised my brows.

He growled. "You are the most infuriating woman I've the misfortune to know!"

I snorted. "Ah, so you want to send me to my grave, then?"

If he had fangs, I'm sure he would have made a snake-like hiss. "Jesus, Julia, you know I don't wish that at all. I'm saying this because I know you, and I know you have incredible talent and power. You were born to do this kind of thing, and I hate to see you waste your time reading bloody muggle books when you could be saving lives!"

"And what would you do if I was killed?" I replied hastily. "Take my place and avenge my death? You would get killed as well, leaving Hannah alone!"

"She would have mum and dad!" he shouted, as if the statement solved everything.

"What if something happens to them?" I retorted.

He sputtered on a few words, giving me time to put things in order.

"I cannot leave you guys, and nothing you say will make me change my mind," I said on a final tone. He passed a hand through his short hair, a reflex he tended to do when he was anxious.

"Can you think it over, then?"

I cast him a dark look. "What did I just say, Oliver?"

He shrugged, and walked by me, stopping at the door. "Julia…"

I turned towards him, waiting. "What?"

"I'm not giving up."

His brown eyes lingered on me, fierce, and then disappeared from view.

- - - - - -

October

My 2 o'clock class had just finished; I was slowly making my way out of the building, heading to my secret spot where I would be disaparating. A girl from my history class came rushing down the corridor towards me, panicked.

"Julia! Thank god I found you! There's been an- an attack outside, a weird bloke clad in some sort of covers…" she said, panting. "…he's hit some people; Emma is badly hurt; I escaped before he could get to me- do you have a phone? We have to call the police!"

My eyes widened at the description. Of course, Oxford would be a target by some Death Eaters. It was a big place, full of young muggles; a perfect spot to kill.

I grabbed her hand, steadying her so she would calm down.

"Tell me exactly where he is."

She stood still, probably now more scared by my composure.

"He was next to the gate, on the left, he was moving way too fast, I could barely see him; it was like a bizarre magical thing…"

I had started walking, clutching her arm so she would keep up.

"Is he alone? Have you seen anyone else?"

She shook her head frantically.

"How many down?"

She shook her head again, more vividly this time.

"I don't know! I saw Emma and Corey, there were maybe a dozen more…"

I nodded, making mental notes. He was certainly not alone, that much I knew.

"What did he have in his hands? Did he have a mask, of some sort?" I asked shortly.

Her eyes blinked, trying to remember. She was as pale as a sheet.

"I didn't really look… I- I think so- I don't know!"

"And what happened?" I asked briskly, slightly forgetting she was a muggle.

"He took out a weird stick, starting pointing at people, and..."

She trailed off, but I wasn't listening anymore. We had reached the doors leading to the gates. I grabbed my friend by the arms again.

"Shamara, take my bag and go into the office and make your call there. I'll go see if Emma is okay." I pushed her, waiting for her to have entered the office before running outside in the sunlight.

I walked around, peering. When I got close enough to the gate, I took out my wand. I saw on the other side a few students lying on the ground. They seemed unarmed, which was odd. I cautiously got closer, my heart beating. I hated those situations, and even in training, I just wanted to run away.

Suddenly, a flicker of movement made me turn, and I ducked before the spell hit me straight in the face.

Sneaky bastard, I thought viciously.

I ran and took cover on the other side of the gate. I looked back slowly again, and ducked down quickly as another spell past by me with a wheezing wound. Next thing I heard was a loud groan followed by a clunk! and then the fire alarm of the university. Police sirens were soon heard, and suddenly a swarm of people were running around everywhere, screaming and crying. I got up, and looked to where I had seen the spell take off; no one.

I sighed, a headache kicking in. This really wasn't my day.

I walked away from the gate and back into the courtyard, where I met Katy, shrieking my name like I was a godsend.

But I didn't listen to her. My eyes had caught a floating cloak. I searched quickly in the crowd, making sure they weren't playing games on me. And as suddenly, I saw a bright fiery head of red hair, stocky shoulders, and muscular arms taking the cloak off. I barely gave my friend a second glance. I dashed in the crowd, fearless.

If that bloke gets away for what he did…, I thought mercilessly.

Soon enough, I caught up to him. I grabbed his shoulders and made him turn. There was a large shiny burn on one of his arms.

"Hey! Where do you think you're going?" I shouted over the sounds.

He had a beautiful freckled face, so much he looked tanned. His green eyes looked curiously at me, and I knew immediately I had made a mistake.

"Sorry!" I shouted again. "I thought you were someone else!"

He smiled, nodding. I guess he was accepting the apology. I smiled in turn, and without another word, walked back to find my friends.

I glanced behind me once, and saw him walking gracefully through the crowd, his red hair standing out like fire. Another second and he was gone.

I buried my face in my hands. Clearly, I was out of luck.

A/N: Just to clear up (it seems I have confused some), Julia has been raised half her life in the Muggle world, which explains her affinity with it all. Her brother, on the other hand, was not, since their parents thought it was too complicated, which explains how clueless he is when it comes to that. Of course, he knows a lot more than the usual wizards (a.k.a Ron Weasley) because of his sister, but he doesn't really care. So, there.

Sorry for the muggle-born confusion. I didn't realize until now the clumsy mistake I had written before.

And please review! The best is yet to come.