Disclaimer: I do not own anything of the Harry Potter universe that you recognize. Only several original characters. No infringement of copyright is intended and no money is being made by this work.

Chapter 1: Ordinary Beginnings

"Jon, the Minister did not send dementors to Little Whinging, Surrey."

"That's not what I'm saying Colleen. I said that the Minister probably is involved with the smear campaign against Albus Dumbledore and the Potter boy."

Just another typical dinner, Rebecca thought as her parents were discussing happenings at work, they both worked at the Ministry of Magic. Rebecca Cunningham was an ordinary witch. She had dark brown hair, brown eyes and was a little short for her age. Her parents got along well, at least when not talking about work. Her mother Colleen Cunningham was a member of the Wizengamot and her father, Jonathan, worked in law enforcement as well.

"C-couldn't … um, can't somebody check the Disposal room at the Ministry for an order to send the dementors to wherever this W-winging place is." Rebecca said silencing the argument at least momentarily at the dinner table. "I-i mean--"

"It's Whinging, Rebecca. And don't be absurd nobody in the Ministry would dare send dementors after a presumably helpless little boy." her mother interjected in an authoritative voice. However scary her mother may have been at that moment, she knew that her opinion was always welcome in their debates. Then her father decided to speak up again.

"So you're saying he's lying. Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore are lying. (He tossed his napkin at the table in frustration.) There were witnesses, Col--"

"It all seems a bit woolly to me." her mother said before removing herself from the table.

Jon turned to his daughter," I'll look into it baby. (He turned to meet his wives' questioning glare.) It can't hurt to look, you said it yourself its woolly. I have to be down there anyway looking for possible evidence in the Flannigan trial." And that was that, they all went about doing their own thing. Nothing that was ever said in the "Cunningham Family Debates" was ever taken personally.

Throughout the summer Rebecca did not do much of interest. Homework mostly, but she had been keeping her eye on the paper since her Parents first mentioned the articles. What do they think Potter killed Diggory himself, she pondered. And what was the Minister thinking letting an escaped convict, whom they didn't even realize was gone, get kissed before proper questioning.

"What is the wizarding world coming to?" her father asked nobody in particular while entering her bedroom.

My sentiments exactly, she thought before speaking. "How was work, Dad?"

"As hectic as it always is at the Ministry as of late. What are you reading?" he questioned leisurely, upon noticing it was the newspaper, "Don't read that." he said gently while taking it away from her grasp. "It won't do you any good to believe those lies that are being put in the Prophet lately. That little Potter boy insane… Dumbledore senile." he snorted.

She couldn't help but laugh. "I don't believe it, and how could the Minister not question Barty Crouch Jr at the end of last term?" she asked sheepishly.

He smiled at her as he tucked a bit of her hair behind her right ear. "You noticed that too, did you? So many people at the Ministry have neglected to notice that. One of Fudge's biggest fudges to date." he chuckled, "Pardon the pun, but how are we supposed to find out how he escaped? Why he was at Hogwarts? Or anything for that matter, if he's wandering around soul-less?" her father said exasperated just thinking about the mess that one little act caused.

"We could always ask the dementor to cough it back up!" she laughed.

"We c-cou… we could ask it to cough it up aye." her father mocked jokingly as he started tickling her. "You smart arse! What am I supposed to do with you?"

"I don't know, but let's go get something from the kitchen while you think about it because I'm famished."

"Okay… ask them to spit it up." he chuckled beneath his breath.

"Are you all packed, Becca? Its time to leave, unless you decided you're not going back to school this year."

"I am all ready, Mum."

"Than let's go then or we'll be late."

Soon they were in their black beaten up, old Ford Anglia that they only really used twice a year. "Are you sure we have plenty of petrol, Jon?"

"'F course we have. Becca, did we tell you who'll be the new Defense against the Dark Arts Professor this term. (She shook her head.) No, it's Dolores Umbridge from the Ministry."

"Isn't that that squat woman whom works for Minister Fudge? I don't remember doing exactly what, besides kissin'--"

"You watch it right there young lady." her mother interrupted," And yes she works for Cornelius. She's his Undersecretary, so you best be behaving yourself. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Mum." Rebecca groaned. Great, she thought, one of Fudge's worshippers teaching at Hogwarts. With Dumbledore and Potter there, and they think it's a good idea? Well nobody can say this won't be an interesting year.

It wasn't long till she had her face buried in Basic Hexes for the Busy and Vexed; she kept herself separated from her friends' conversations on their summer happenings as much as possible. It wasn't long after the train departed that her friend Heather had nudged her roughly in the ribs. Upon glancing up at her, Heather nodded her head towards the glass-paneled door of the compartment. So, she thought as she settled back down with her book and pushed her reading glasses up the bridge of her nose, like they did not expect Harry Potter to return back to Hogwarts. I think he would much rather people did not stare though when he was doing ordinary things such as finding a compartment to settle into.

The site of Harry changed the conversation of the compartment instantly.

"I heard he thinks he's above the law."

"I heard he cursed a Muggle."

"Well, I heard--" Rebecca tried her best to tune out the gossip about things that were really none of their concern, until. "I wonder why he did it."

"Did what?" Rebecca questioned.

"Well somebody hasn't been paying attention." Paul, a Ravenclaw fourth year, jostled pointedly. "Timothy was just saying that maybe Potter had hurt Diggory, and I was sa--"

"That's ridiculous!" Rebecca stated firmly. "What do you think we're attending school with a murderer or something?"

"Well, I mean--"

"Because," she cut Timothy off abruptly,"if the Ministry thought he was guilty in the slightest he would not be here, would he?"

"Well, you see--"

"Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, the Saviour of the Wizarding World, a common criminal. No … no not a common criminal but a criminal mastermind, that's utterly preposterous!" she practically bellowed. But they knew she was right, there was no way Harry Potter was a murderer. A nutter, maybe but not Cedric Diggory's killer.

The conversation changed into something less touchy. And Rebecca soon realized, I am turning into my Mother. Barking at my friends without even thinking twice about it, well, something in the back of her mind said, he was most definitely out of line.

Suddenly her concentration, or lack there of in this case, was interrupted by the drawl of "Ten points from both Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw for being so loud that they could possibly be heard in Diagon Alley."

"But we --"

"And a further ten points from Ravenclaw for, Brady here, talking back to his superiors." Malfoy said with his trademark smirk on his face. Rebecca abruptly put her hand firmly over Heather's mouth, the only other Gryffindor in the compartment. He looked at that with an amused look on his face before trying to fish for more points to take away.

"What was that for?" Heather questioned after Rebecca uncovered her mouth not long after Malfoy had left their line of sight.

"If you would have muttered one syllable, Malfoy would not have hesitated taking points from Gryffindor house as well. And I would much rather not starting off the year in negative numbers because with Umbridge teaching this year we may not be able to earn them back." she said all in one big breath.

"Who's Umbridge? Is that the new Defense Professor, and how did you figure that out, if he is?" Paul questioned.

"Yes SHE'S the new Defense against the Dark Arts Professor. She works for the Minister, my parents told me about her."

"What makes you think we'll have problems getting house points from her?" Heather asked quizzically.

"Harry Potter is in our house and she works for the Minister, need I say more?"

Heather groaned as the others snickered. "That's not fair."

Soon Rebecca settled back into her book and wondered what they'd actually be learning this year? Oh, we definitely have an interesting school year ahead of us. I just hope we can actually earn some house points. She snorted, getting her friends' attention, but since she did not say anything after a moment her friends continued on with their conversation. Who am I kidding? She thought grumpily, between Malfoy, Umbridge, and Snape Gryffindor house would be lucky if we could just stay out of negative points. It wasn't long till the train came to a stop at the Hogsmeade platform and the students made their way up to Hogwarts castle.