A/N: Alright... this is my first real fic (unless you count that one chapter of wolf's call... ) and I'm really putting in a lot of effort... I really welcome criticism, even harsh criticism - I want to know what I have to do in order to make people believe that this story is worth their time!!! As a note: The first few chapters focus entirely on my OC - Aileen. Please, PLEASE don't be discouraged by this, I will have chapters concentrating more on the canon characters later. Basically, while writing this story, I consider the first four Harry Potter books. I am NOT going by the events of OotP... it would mess up all of my ideas. The story starts at the end of Harry's fourth year, shortly before he and Cedric come face to face with Voldemort etc, etc. This means, that, in the beginning, if you want to have a clear view of what's hapening to the canon characters, you could re-read the last few chapters of GoF... that is why, initially, the canon characters don't appear. Another reason is that I'm trying to establish Aileen and give some background on her. Alright, now that is said... (I don't know how it ever got this long.... I'm just asking you to give my story a chance)... get r & r-ing!!! - WoLf -

///Plays during Harry's fifth year at Hogwarts ///

Slowly, she got out of bed, looking at her alarm clock. Seven she groaned mentally. After dragging herself to the bathroom, she took a cold shower, which woke her up a little. She finished getting ready and checked her face in the mirror one last time, just to make sure that everything was as it should be. Large grey eyes looked back at her from a face framed by long, sleek, black hair.

Good Morning, Aileen Maeve O'Connor she thought to herself as she examined her face in the mirror. She stuck her tongue out at herself, no longer wanting to have to meet her own solemn stare.

With a sigh, Aileen gathered up her school things and put them in her bag. Silently, she sneaked down the stairs; trying not to wake her grandmother. Once safely outside the house, she grabbed her bike and headed towards school.

Though Aileen was smart and even enjoyed learning, she hated going to school. The thing that bothered her most were the other students. Most did not like school, and expressed that opinion openly. Yet she did not mind them as much as those who pretended to like school, getting on the good side of the teachers, while they really didn't care.

Aileen herself was not well liked by the teachers. Though they knew she was smart, she was often rebellious and did not hesitate from speaking her mind. She did not have many friends - those who would have considered it soon left her alone after their attempts at friendship had been continuously rebuffed. Aileen did not think any of the other students worthy of her friendship.

This was partly due to Aileen's secret lessons. Her grandmother, she knew, had been a powerful witch when she was younger. Aileen also knew she carried traces of that same power in her own blood. And it was not merely the power of her grandmother, but of generations before her. The O'Connor family prided themselves as being pure-blooded. Though Aileen's attitude towards wizards of muggle heritage was not as condescending as that of some other pure-bloods, she would not lower herself to the level of being friends with simple muggles who did not have a trace magic inside them.

Longingly, Aileen thought of the upcoming summer holidays - only two weeks of school left! No more cumbersome hours to be spent studying at school among those pitiful muggles - that was definitely something to look forward to! And she would finally be able to devote more of her time to her grandmother's lessons. Aileen knew that her grandmother's vitality was fading. She did not have very long left to live. Though the thought saddened Aileen, the feeling of worry about what would happen to her after that was greater. She did not know of any living relatives or anyone else who would take her in. I will not go to any filthy muggle orphanage! she resolved.

Just then, Aileen was startled out of her thoughts by the sound of something hitting metal. Oh no, here we go again . . . it was those stupid muggle boys waiting for the bus throwing rocks at her. How childish to be doing something like this at their age. . . muggles really are pitiful. . . Aileen pedalled harder, trying to get away from the troublemakers.

By the time she reached school, she was exhausted. At least I'm not late for once she thought grimly to herself, not looking forward to her classes. She spent the last few minutes before the bell rang in the bathroom, staring at the mirror, concentrating on it with all her might. Slowly, ripples started spreading across the glass, as if the surface of something liquid had been disturbed. At that moment, the door opened, jerking Aileen from her trance. Angry, she swished around in order to face the intruder.

"What are you doing here?!?" she snapped at the girl, who was at least 3 years younger than her.

The girl gave a little cry of fright and ran away as she saw Aileen approaching. Aileen exited the bathroom after her taking long strides. I have to find a less public spot. . . like at home. she thought to herself. But I already tried and it doesn't work there. Perhaps my mirror doesn't have enough emotions and drama locked up in it. The school mirror would be almost perfect for my use. I wonder how many of those pathetic little muggle girls went running in there, crying. . . Aileen smirked at the thought. She turned the corner, not watching where she was going and collided with someone. Thinking it was the girl who had returned, Aileen uttered some impolite curses.

"What have we got here? A student wandering the hallway after the start of class. . .and using inappropriate language at that! O'Connor! In my office now!"

Of all the people she could have run into. . . it just had to be the headmaster. Aileen groaned inwardly.

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