Willow gasped as she woke up, panting hard. She clutched her chest as tears ran down her cheeks. It was yet another unproductive night full of nightmares and terror, as devoid of sleep as it was full of screams. Willow wiped her eyes, willing herself to be calm.

Summer was never fun for Willow. Throughout the school year, she at least had a lot of distraction to keep her occupied. But when summer set in, she had nothing to keep her from reminiscing over memories long buried. Nightmares rushed in one after the other until she could barely hold herself together anymore. Willow normally loved running around her father's mansion, but ever since what happened two years ago, her heart had frozen into an icicle that could only be melted by the most familiar and skilled people in her life.

A knock sounded on her door. "Willow, are you alright, dear?"

"Yes, father," Willow replied. "Are you off to work so soon?"

"I'm sorry, sweetheart," was all her father said. "I love you. I'll be back tonight, okay?"

"I'll be alright. Love you too."

A second later, Willow heard her father whisk himself off to wherever he was needed these days. His work required him to travel all over the world, which would have been fine had he been allowed to let Willow tag along. Whenever Willow asked why she couldn't accompany him on his ventures, it would always result in the same answer: "It's too dangerous, pumpkin."

To make it up to her, Willow's father took her on vacation every summer to a new grand and wonderful destination he had discovered on his travels. Last year, she relaxed in the Amazon among thousands of vibrantly colored birds. Willow loved those times. It was just her and her dad, nothing was wrong with the world, and they could receive each other's full attention without any disruptions. To Willow, that was paradise.

Willow rubbed her eyes and walked out of her room. The early morning sunlight streamed in through the glass windows that stretched across the back of her grand house, giving everything in it an inviting glow. Willow made her way to the kitchen and made herself a bowl of cereal, then sat down at her long table.

The mansion wasn't anything super impressive. It had a everything a normal house had, but at a much greater scale, and came with a few extra rooms. The library and garden were Willow's favorite part of the entire house. She had played in those areas for hours when she was younger, running until her legs wouldn't run any more. Now, she mainly used the library for actual reading, and the garden for a nice stroll before school. Unlike most mansions, hers was decorated simply and more on the rustic side. Wooden beams crisscrossed high ceilings that opened up to glass roofing, polished wooden furniture could be found in every room, and there were few lights, as Willow's father, Carlos, chose to light the house with natural light and installed many, many windows. Willow loved to sleep in the living room at times, simply staring at the constellations until sleep made her eyelids heavy with exhaustion. She spent a great deal of her life outdoors, thriving on challenge, and fresh air to supplement it. Her life was constantly on the move. Anything that couldn't keep up was left behind.

Willow crunched on her cereal pensively, thinking about last night's bout of harsh reality. She hated having to relive all of those events from so long ago. It wasn't fair; why did she have to be a part of it?

Suddenly, the front door burst open. Willow smiled ear to ear when she recognized the visitors.

"Abeula! Abuelo!" Willow cried, clambering off her chair and practically jumping into her grandma's arms.

"Nieta! How have you been?" Willow's grandma asked.

"Pretty good," Willow mumbled into her chest. She pried herself off and tackled her grandfather in turn. A small bark sounded from the front hall.

"Perrito! You brought him!" Willow exclaimed, scooping up the small dog in her hands.

Willow's grandparents immigrated from Mexico the the U.S. to search for work after they got married. They successfully went to college and got degrees there, securing careers as veterinarians with a side job of dog breeding. It was there that they had Willow's father and his two brothers. Then, when Willow's father grew up and married her mother, the whole family moved to Great Britain.

"Are you excited?" Willow's grandfather asked.

"More than I've ever been in my life! And to think it all started with a letter!"

"You're off to Hogwarts in a month!" Abuela said. "Do you have your list prepared?"

"Yes, I do. It's in my room."

"Good! Go and fetch it. We're here today to help you get to Diagon Alley. You'll be surprised how many textbooks you'll need, and it might take a while to get your wand."

Willow's eyes widened. "Really?"

"Go! Hurry up and get your list!"

Willow dashed up the stairs, excitement bubbling in her stomach. Her surprising Hogwarts letter had come only the day before, informing her about this fantastic school for children of magical abilities to go and harness their skills. She had never been told about this school before, even though magical blood was all around her family. Willow barely had been told that magic existed, let alone that there was a whole world of it out there. Abuela and Abuelo were of pureblood families, but weren't very happy with their relatives parading it around in others' faces. That's the main reason why they left and immigrated the the United States- to get rid of that scar on their morals. All three of their boys attended Ilvermorny and were successful in their studies. Her mum's side was also pureblood, but her mum was the only one in that wretched family that didn't flaunt her status...until a few years ago. It was odd for Willow to not have been told much about magic, but with her family being scattered and all, it was expected. Willow had spent her entire afternoon the day before questioning her father about the wizarding world. Her head was spinning even when she went to bed, she was so swamped with the overload of information. Magic is a lot more complicated than she had been led on to believe.

Willow skidded to a halt in front of her grandparents, Perrito on her heals. "Here it is!"

"Perfect! Have you been taught about Apparation yet, dear?" Abuelo asked.

"Not yet..." Willow admitted.

"Curse our thick-headed son for being so dense," he muttered before smiling again and pulling out his wand. "In your sixth year of schooling, you'll get a chance to receive your Apparation license. Apparation is what your father does every morning to travel to work."

"Oh, that's what that is!" Willow gasped.

"You have a strong stomach, correct?" Abuela raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, why?"

"You'll need it."

Before she knew what was happening, Willow found herself holding back a scream as everything suddenly became twisted and insane. She felt like she was being randomly whipped around in a ping-pong game. The sensation only lasted a few seconds, though, and when she opened her eyes at last, a whole new scenery was laid out before her.

"Welcome to Diagon Alley!"

Willow's jaw dropped. There were shops as far as the eye could see. Witches and wizards in long, flowing robes hustled and bustled among the many shops lining either side of the cobbled street. The sun shone brightly overhead, casting a friendly glow about the place. Several children chased each other or stared excitedly into shop windows. Magic was evident in every corner, from hovering items on display to the self-propelled brooms that swept the streets. Willow smiled and jumped up and down, unable to contain her giddiness.

"Where do we go first! Where do we go first!"

"Easy, there!" Abuela soothed, shushing Willow. "Since we already have our galleons, we don't need to stop by Gringotts. Let's go to the bookstore first and get your textbooks for the year."

Willow followed her grandparents in a daze as she marveled at all around her. She had never imagined, not even in her wildest dreams, that the world of magic was so big, so...real. It had always seemed a far away, out-of-reach type thing that only a select few greats could take advantage of. Now, it was Willow's whole world. There were so many others like her, roaming the shops, gathering supplies for the new school year, daydreaming about the newest and greatest broomsticks, and meeting up with old friends for a snack or two. Willow could barely believe her eyes each time she saw a witch or wizard wave their wand and have something actually happen. It was all so new, but she didn't care. She couldn't wait to get familiar with it all.

The three stopped in front of a store called Flourish and Blotts. They entered, and Willow was immediately hit with her favorite smell: new book pages and parchment. The store wasn't nearly as large as others she'd seen before, but it contained enough books for her to get lost in. One in particular caught her eye (that probably shouldn't have, for she had no business with that kind of magic).

"Look here!" Willow said. "Bewitch Your Friends and Befuddle Your Enemies with the Latest Revenges: Hair Loss, Jelly-Legs, Tongue-Tying and Much, Much More by Professor Vindictus Viridian. Interesting."

"Why would you take any interest at all in something like that?" Abeulo chided.

"I don't know why you would, but I'd use it on my dreadful Cousin, Dudley," said a voice behind them.

Willow turned around to see a young boy around her age with black messy hair and glasses staring at her. "Really? Is he that horrible?" she asked.

"Absolutely. Although I couldn't say that around my aunt and uncle. Don't tell them I said that!"

"I won't." Willow winked. "Are you a first year too?"

"Yes, but I didn't have a clue that any of this even existed until today."

"That's pretty much what happened to me too," Willow sighed. "I'm sorry, I didn't introduce myself. My name is Willow."

"I'm Harry," the boy said, shaking hands with her.

Willow tensed up as her grandmother gasped. "Harry? As in the Harry?"

Willow furrowed her eyebrows. "What do you mean?"

Abuelo struggled to keep his jaw from dropping to the floor. "Harry...Potter? The Boy Who Lived?"

"Yes, that's me, Harry Potter," Harry shrugged.

"It's wonderful to meet you, sir," Abeulo said, shaking hands with Harry as if he were meeting an idol from his childhood.

"I can't believe this! Willow, you get to go to school with Harry Potter! The Chosen One! The Boy Who Lived! Do you have any idea who you are speaking with?"

"No," Willow said.

"Quite honestly, I don't understand all this racket about me, either," Harry whispered to her.

"Come, Willow, we'll explain later," Abuela said. "Let's get your textbooks. It was a pleasure to meet you, Harry Potter!"

"You too!" Harry replied. "See you at Hogwarts, Willow."

"See you there!" Willow said, turning away. Had she already made a friend? She hoped so.

Willow found her textbooks and paid for them, then continued to get everything on her list until only two items were left.

"So we can bring a pet to Hogwarts?" Willow questioned.

"Yes, and I'd suggest an owl. They're quite majestic and useful creatures," Abuelo suggested.

"Which kind of owl should I get?"

"Either Snowy or Tawny."

One shopping trip later saw Willow with a Tawny owl hooting quietly as she skipped to Olivander's, her last stop. Willow raced up the steps, excited now more than ever. She was about to get the very tool that would change her life forever!

A little bell rang deep within the store when Willow stepped through the door and held it open for her grandparents. She found herself pacing back and forth across the waiting area, goggling at all the old artifacts and displays. This magical world was very interesting to her.

All kinds of thoughts, feelings, and questions stewed inside her as she impatiently waited for this Olivander man. What kind of wand would she get? Would she get to choose it? Did she design it? She didn't know anything about wands, so she couldn't do that. Oh no, what if she didn't get a wand at all? No, she would get a wand, all witches and wizards do. She hoped that Olivander would guide her to the right one.

"Hello, young one!" an old voice croaked.

Willow turned to see an old man at the front of a long hallway to went deep into the store. It contained boxes upon boxes of what Willow assumed were wands waiting to be purchased. Olivander's face was slightly wrinkled and his eyes had that twinkle of either madness or humor; it was up to the viewer to decide which. She smiled and voted for the later.

"I'm here for my wand?" Willow said uncertainly.

"Of course, of course!" Olivander laughed. "Let me see...let's try...this one!"

Willow was handed a rather short, light colored wand with a slight bend in the center. She waved it slightly, but nothing happened. Willow fought hard to keep her nerves down. Just because this wand didn't do anything didn't mean she had no magical abilities, she reassured herself. Maybe certain wands worked for certain people?

"Let's try a different one, then..." Olivander said as he took back the wand and searched for another. He returned to Willow with a completely different one. "This wand should fit you better."

Willow took out the darker, sleeker wand and tried again, with the same result. Olivander grinned and shook his head, taking the wand back to the hallway.

"Now I know...aha! This one should do the trick."

Olivander held out a third wand to Willow. This time, she felt something in her longing for this one, unlike the other two. She gently took it in her right hand, then waved it.

Gold light shimmered around her, and all of her nerves faded away. It was as if the Heavens had opened up and showered her with praise and music. Willow felt...peaceful, understood. She beamed from ear to ear and glanced at Olivander.

"I think this one will work."

"I believe I must agree with you, Miss Willow. The irony of the whole thing is that this wand's wood is made of willow."

Willow laughed. "I guess it was meant to be!"

"Now, you can rest assured that this is a very good wand for you," Olivander explained. "This wand is not easily won, as it forms a strong bond with its master. It has a great deal of power and learns rather quickly. I'd advise you to be wise in how you go about your schooling, Miss Willow. With great power comes great risks, as this wand is the easiest to turn to the Dark Arts."

Olivander's tone took a grave turn as the warning sunk into Willow. "Be careful, young first year, and I assure you that everything will be fine. You seem to be one of those people that is hard to quake."

Willow straightened her posture. "Don't worry, sir. I'm not easily swayed. I'll study hard and stay on track, I promise!"

"That's the spirit! Have fun at school! Good day to you, ladies and gentleman!"

Willow and her grandparents thanked Olivander, then exited quickly. She turned to her grandparents the moment the door closed.

"I can't believe it! This is amazing! Do you know the exacts of my wand?"

"I think I overheard him saying Dragon Heartstring and willow wood, which you already know, but it's also 13" in length and unyielding flexibility," Abuelo replied.

"That's awesome! I can't wait to use it!"

"I'll tell you what: if you're good tonight, we'll teach you a few spells before we leave. How about that?"

"Wonderful!"

"Ready to Apparate?" Abuela asked.

"Sure!"

Several seconds of agonizing twisting, turning, and wringing out later, the three arrived back in the living room of the mansion. Willow flopped down on the couch.

"Who knew a day of shopping for school supplies could be so exhausting?" she panted.

"I certainly didn't know, but you better make sure your stuff is ready for tomorrow," Abuela said.

"What's tomorrow?"

"Your soccer game?"

"Oh, I almost forgot! I'll go get that done real quick." Willow disappeared into her room.

Abuelo laughed. "One day of magic and she's already overwhelmed."

"Do you think she'll make it through the school year?"

"She's tough; she could make it through a brick wall by just walking through it."

Perrito flew into the living room, landing on the couch and tumbling head over heels into Abuelo. He laughed and picked up the little dog.

"Did you miss us, little guy?" he cooed in between kisses.

"I missed him!" Willow chirped, running down the stairs. Perrito bolted across the room again and crashed head first into her legs. Willow scooped him up, letting him cover her in kisses.

Perrito refused to leave Willow's side the rest of night. The three ordered pizza, and after teaching Willow a successful defense spell, Willow's dad appeared in the front hall.

"Willow? Are you home yet?"

"Dad!" Willow sprang to her feet and nearly tackled her father in a hug. "I had the most amazing day!"

"Really?"

"I went to Diagon Alley and got all my stuff for Hogwarts! Do you want to meet my pet owl? I named her Iris!"

"Why Iris?"

"Because that's the messenger goddess in Greek mythology! I couldn't come up with anything else, really, not knowing about messenger owls until yesterday and all."

Willow's dad bit back his guilt. "Oh, I get it now. Let's see the animal!"

Willow whistled and Iris came flying down from the wooden beams above the living room. She landed perfectly on Willow's outstretched arm, accepting gentle petting on her head from Willow.

"You've been practicing, I see!" Willow's dad exclaimed.

The family sat down and chatted about the day's exciting events until Willow began to yawn. Then, the grandparents left with Perrito, and the house was quiet once more. Willow got ready for bed and was asleep before her head hit the pillow.

The next morning, Willow was up at her usual time: 6:00am. She groggily threw on her uniform before nearly tripping down the stairs to eat a light breakfast. Her father was no where to be found. Willow bit her lip and looked at the clock, hoping that he would remember to wake up in time. She marched up the stairs again and prepared the rest of her bag. Iris helped her find a mysteriously missing shinguard, and she gave her extra treats for it.

The time was 6:30am when Willow sauntered into the garden, allowing Iris to follow and spread her wings for a bit. It was quite humid in there, which was precisely her reasoning for being there before the soccer game; Willow suffered from exercise induced asthma, and practicing breathing in the conditions that caused her the most suffering helped it not feel so bad when the game started. She began breathing in for several counts and exhaling the same amount. Though her lungs felt like they were trying to constrict themselves, she had a sensation of relief and peacefulness wash over has as it slowly got better.

"There you are!" a jolly voice called.

Willow paused in her exercises and glanced back to see her father standing in the doorway. She giggled at the sight of his bedhead.

"Dad, you have hair sticking up everywhere!" Willow said. "You're going to embarrass me!"

"You better be paying more attention to the soccer field than me, or you're never going to get any playing time!"

Willow sighed. "Alright, fine. I get it. We're leaving at 6:50, right?"

Fifteen minutes later, Willow was in the car staring dejectedly at the rows of houses passing by. She never truly felt at home in this bustling city. It always smelled like car exhaust and factory fumes. Her only consolation was the occasional park visit, where there were enough trees and wildlife to make up for it.

They arrived at the soccer fields, and shortly after, Willow jumped out of the car, sprinting over to where her team was gathering to warm up.

"Have fun! Work hard!" her father called.

"I will!" Willow shouted over her shoulder.

Willow's father got out of the car and hauled a chair to the sidelines. Only a few parents were out of their cars yet, since most of them were still sipping on ridiculous amounts of coffee to wake themselves up. He sat down and began playing with the wand in his pocket. It was a rare occasion for Carlos to have time off of work, and when he did have time off, he spent every second of it with his daughter. He spoiled her from time to time, but he had taught Willow from an early age not to think too much of her rich heritage. She was a very down-to-Earth kid, and he couldn't be prouder of his successful parenting. It meant a lot to him that Willow was already following in his footsteps in loving magical creatures and animals.

The soccer game started, and Carlos clapped loudly for Willow and her team, cheering them on. They easily scored the first goal, giving Willow an assist. Her team began to struggle after that, though, as the opponents were quick and strong. Carlos started getting into the game as it got rougher and more fouls were called. He was one of those odd wizards- he and Willow both- that took a lot of interest in Muggle sports, especially soccer. Willow would never give up soccer just because she was going off to Hogwarts. Carlos chuckled to himself, imagining Willow dragging some unknowing purebloods into the grassy fields of the Hogwarts campus, then forcing them to play soccer. He wouldn't put it past his daughter to do something like that.

Suddenly, someone tapped him on the shoulder. He thought it was a parent from the other team asking him to leave because he was being to vocal and riling up the kids.

"What do you want?" he growled.

"I think you know what I want," a voice said coolly.

Carlos's heart skipped a beat. He remembered that voice from the last time he had heard it- in an alley, during a confrontation with a magical creature smuggler. It became even harder to control his anger when he remembered the details of the fight.

"I'm trying to watch my daughter's soccer game. Leave us alone."

"Let's try this again. If you don't come with me peacefully right now, someone's going to get hurt."

Willow's dad could barely contain his frustration. He turned to look at the dark-haired low life of a man behind him. His crooked teeth and greasy hair completed the picture perfectly. Carlos sighed. He couldn't chance Willow getting hurt. Folding up his chair, he followed the man behind the maintenance shed for the fields. The man prompted him to give up his wand, and he complied without fighting, hoping that it would convince him to leave his daughter alone. Carlos cast a glance at Willow just as she scored a goal for her team. A little spark of hope lit in his chest as they celebrated together, smiling and cheering as a team.

"Let's go, Carlos."

Willow's dad grabbed the man's wrist, and in a blink, they were gone, leaving no trace of themselves.

Willow bade goodbye to her friends and began walking towards the opposite sideline where the cars were parked. She squinted her eyes, trying to find her dad, but with no such luck. Willow became confused when she realized that her dad's car was no where in sight. Her heart began to pick up the pace with worry. Did he forget her here? It was possible, but he had never forgotten anything as far as Willow could remember, even when she was a toddler. Where had he gone?

"Willow, are your parents here?" Coach asked as she walked up behind Willow.

"My dad brought me here and stayed to watch the game, as far as I know, but he and the car are gone now," Willow replied, fighting the panic rising in her system.

"Hm, let's wait a few more minutes for him to show up."

Willow frantically searched the horizon for any sign of her dad. He never just left. He always said something first, even if it was an emergency. She felt a lump form in her throat. This was becoming too much too fast. Where was her dad?

Just then, a familiar car turned into the complex. Willow breathed a sigh of relief and ran towards the car.

"Thank you, Coach!" she shouted.

"You're welcome, Willow!"

The driver's window rolled down and her father's face was smiling at her. "Sorry, Willow! I had an urgent call to attend to."

"That's okay!" Willow said as she got into the passenger seat.

Her father simply smiled at her for a good while, letting the car run. Willow suppressed an unexplained shiver. This was so unlike her father. He never stared at her, and was always in a hurry to get home. What was up with him today?

Suddenly, a cackling laughter that was most definitely not her father's burst from the driver's seat. "Little girl, you have so much to learn."

Willow's blood boiled. Of course. It's because this wasn't her father.

"Obviously. I'm only a first year," Willow seethed. "What do you want?"

"I'm taking you home, to your real home, you ungrateful brat."

Willow froze. "My mum's?"

"Why would you think anywhere else is worthy of purebloods like us?"

"Because I didn't realize that certain geographical locations had anything to do with the 'worthiness' of someone's family," Willow snapped. "Pureblood mania is the reason you're such a scum."

The man in the seat next to her growled. "You better watch your tongue, girl. You'll be without it sooner than you'd like."

That shut her up real quick.

Willow watched in despair as her oblivious coach drove away, leaving her alone with this maniac from the despised half of her family. After a few minutes, the man barked at her to get out of the car. Willow opened the door and dropped to the ground.

Suddenly, an idea formed in Willow's head. She slipped her hand into the side pocket of her soccer bag where she kept emergency supplies. Willow found what she needed and stuffed it into her pocket. Before she could change her mind, she sprinted away from the car.

"Hey! Get back here! Hey!"

A burst of color whizzed past Willow's ear. Fear coursed through her veins, encouraging her legs to go faster. Footsteps pounded after her. Willow imagined the man breathing down her neck, and her legs were moved to go even faster than they've ever run before.

She had almost reached the busy intersection when Willow suddenly lost control of her legs. Willow fell face-first into the ground, knocking the air out of her as she did so. She desperately tried to move them but to no avail. Her mind went into super overdrive as the footsteps slowed. Willow shoved her hand into her pocket, gripping the item she had brought.

"You insolent child! What made you think running would help you? Petri-"

"Stupefy!" Willow shouted, revealing her wand as she did so.

"What- Agh!"

Willow nearly dropped her wand in shock when the man was knocked hard onto his back, but she recovered quickly when he started firing spells at her. She took off again towards her goal. There were at least ten cars passing by on that part of the road. If she could make it there, she could get help, and-

Willow's entire body went numb. She froze mid-stride and fell forward from her momentum. A cry managed to escape her lips as her face was painfully smashed into the asphalt road, leaving a nice bruise for later. Willow heard laughter from several feet away.

"Stupid girl! You don't know nearly enough yet!"

Willow truly wanted to cry as she was stripped of her wand and stood up on her feet. A few seconds later, completely unaffected by Apparation this time, Willow found herself in a sickeningly familiar house.

"Willow, darling!" an overly boisterous woman cooed.

"Hi, Auntie," Willow mumbled.

"Oh, I haven't seen you in ages! Do tell of your trip to gather you Hogwarts supplies?"

"Margret, not now," the man growled. "This brat needs to learn some respect for her superiors. Where is she?"

Margret sniffed indignantly. "Waiting for you in the dungeons. Try to be patient, Alex. She's in one of her moods."

So mum's new friend- or boyfriend, for all she knew- was Alex, the person her dad had dealt with not too long ago. Great. Willow recalled how terrible the story was that her father had told. Alex was dark, unfriendly, and certainly not allowed to touch a living creature ever again.

The counter-curse was cast, and Willow was free to move again. But she wasn't going anywhere fast. Alex snickered as he shoved her forward. Willow was poked harshly in the back before being guided through the long, wide hallways of her mother's estate. The whole place was dark and dreary. Wallpaper peeled off the walls; portraits of ancient relatives glowered as they passed. Every once in a while, Willow heard a house elf whimpering behind closed doors. Willow shivered when a far-off scream reached her ears. She had never liked the vibes her mother's house produced, and the leering decor didn't help one bit. The family artifacts were kept and displayed for all to see in spotless glass cases around the house, but most meant nothing to Willow. She didn't care for anything that belonged to such a disgusting family.

Willow cried out in pain when Alex jabbed her in the back again. "Turn left!"

Seething with anger, Willow stomped down the adjacent hallway until she reached the end, where a door materialized. Alex opened it with a key and shoved her through it. Willow wrinkled her nose as the overpowering smell of must and dampness smacked her in the face. All she could hear was the drip, drip, drip of an unknown leak and the pounding of her own heart. Her eyes struggled to adjust to the sudden darkness. With everything wreathed in blackness, it gave the rusty cell doors and even more menacing look.

"Willow!"

"Dad!" Willow cried, breaking free from Alex's grasp and running to her father, who was stuck behind bars.

"What happened to you?" he asked, worry etched into his face as he stood up.

"I could ask the same question!"

"You were both kidnapped. What else would you expect?" Alex sighed dramatically, his voice laced with sarcasm. He flashed his silver eyes at Willow. "Don't get any ideas. You aren't trusted enough to roam around free, princess. You'll have your cell shortly."

"No! Why can't I stay with my father?" Willow yelled as Alex grabbed her from behind.

"Get your hands off my daughter!" Willow's dad yelled, shaking his cell door.

"Stop-touching-me!" Willow screamed.

Willow bit down hard on Alex's hand. He yowled in pain and dropped her, allowing her the time to put space between them. She faced up to her opponent as he glared at her.

"You will never be part of this family!" he shouted.

"When did I ever want to be a part of it?" Willow shot back.

Alex sprang onto her before she had time to react. The two slammed into the ground, all of the air suddenly escaping Willow. She coughed as she rolled over, kicking Alex off of her. He was back on his victim in seconds, repeatedly swinging his fists at her while Willow barely dodged the blows.

"Alex!" Willow's dad roared, pounding his cell door.

Willow saw an opportunity when Alex hesitated for half a second. She drew her hand back, then swung up with all her might and connected with Alex's jaw. A satisfying crack echoed through the chamber followed by the agonizing cries of Alex. Willow once again kicked him off of her, this time jumping to her feet. She pulled her foot back, pretended she was kicking a soccer ball through the goal netting, and hit Alex right where it hurts. His voice slipped to an octave higher when he screamed, then began squirming in pain.

"That's my girl, Willow!" her dad cheered.

"Think next time before you decide to attack little girls, you son of a- !"

"Silencio!"

Willow was cut short when a loud voice bounced from stone to stone in the dungeon, ringing in her ears. Her voice box shut down and she lost the ability to speak. She flipped herself around to find three women smiling patronizingly at her.

"Well done, Willow!" the woman who cast the spell mockingly applauded. "I did hope you had amounted to something over the past few years, but quite frankly, you have surprised me for once!"

"I missed you too," Willow mumbled.

"Speak louder when speaking to your mother!" she barked. Willow's mother resumed her falseness once more. "Now then, will you be a dear for me and have a seat? I think it's quite time we have a mother-daughter chat."

"Be careful Willow, she can- " Willow's dad warned.

"Silencio!" Willow's mother shouted again. "God, Carlos, you really are an annoying little prat."

Willow's dad glared daggers at the woman he once loved, appearing to Willow as if he wanted to bash her over the head. Instead, he looked on, trapped behind the rusty bars of his cell, unable to speak.

"Willow, dear, please take a seat."

Obeying, Willow lowered herself onto the wet cobblestone, ensuring that she was as far away from Alex as possible. Her mother stood towering above her, her purple hair giving Willow the impression of a punk rock star.

"How have you been?" Willow's mom asked.

"I could be worse."

"Soccer been okay?" She twirled her wand playfully, seeming to taunt Willow. The rage in her stomach spilled over.

"Look, just get to the point!" Willow exploded. "I know you don't care about me. You don't give a damn about Dad and I's well being, let alone what's happening in our daily lives. You were too coward to show your face with me in public, so you sent your new boyfriend here to do your dirty work for you! I've been kidnapped and held prisoner within my own family! What do you want with me?"

Willow's mother blinked several times before saying, "I love you, Willow! You're my only daughter! That's why I want you to come live with me."

Willow felt like she had just been run over by a truck. She blinked a few times, wondering if she'd heard her mother wrong. "Wait, wait, wait, you want me to come live with you?"

Her mother's eyes watered like she was genuinely hurt. "Why don't you want to come live with your mum? I never see you anymore!"

Willow's heart dropped like a stone. Whenever her mum did this, it made her remember what she was like before the incident: fun, happy, caring, and filled with all the love in the world. Willow bit her tongue as she pressed down those memories, her eyes threatening tears. She fumbled for words for a second before managing to speak again. "What about dad?"

The glimpse of tenderness was gone nearly as fast as it came. "Because he's an awful blood traitor that should never have come into this privileged family!"

Willow groaned. "I've heard this speech too many times, mom. And you're wrong. There's no such thing as a blood traitor. The only traitor in this house is you."

Willow's mother straightened herself and stiffened, a deadly fire in her eyes. "I see I have much work to do with you before you go off to Hogwarts. Put her in a cell! I'll see if she's learned her lesson by tomorrow."

Willow tried to run but was caught between two very strong womens' arms. She struggled and kicked against them, but in the end she was simply thrown into a wall and shut inside the cell adjacent to her father's. Her mother laughed when Willow struggled to get up.

"See, she's getting better already!" she observed in mock impressiveness. "Have a good evening, darling!"

Willow shot to her feet in anger but weakly fell against the bars of her cell, black dots dancing before her eyes.

"You coward!" Willow screamed.

The only response was distant laughter, the slam of a door, and a key turning in the lock. Willow hit the rusty cell door one last time before slumping against the wall.

"It's no use, Willow," her father said.

Willow huffed. "I just can't stand her! What did you ever see in her?"

"We've already talked about this, Will-"

"I know, I know, 'You can't see everything that happens in the future.' Still, how could you not notice that?"

Carlos sighed. "You and I both know it's not her fault."

Willow pulled her knees up to her chest. "I know, it's just hard to wrap my head around it. Here I had the best mother I could ever ask for, then she gets snatched away by some- some-" Willow paused as her voice shook. "I wish that she didn't have such a horrible family. I'll bet you a million pounds that they played some part in this."

"They probably did, but what have I always told you since you were little?"

"You've told me a lot since I was little."

Carlos laughed as the corners of Willow's mouth twitched in a slight smile. "No one is born good or evil. We decide as we get older which we are. It's the people around us that drive us to madness, or save us and teach us wrong and right, good and bad. Only you can succumb to darkness or defeat it with light."

Willow tried to swallow the lump in her throat. "Mom was so brave- growing up with all these horrible, fake people, yet becoming the most incredible, considerate, caring woman in the world because of it."

Carlos wistfully recalled, "She was an angel when I first met her. I saw the good and bad in her, but chose to help her goodness shine brighter. It worked quite well until a few years ago."

Willow could hardly contain her tears. "I want Mum back."

Carlos sighed. "Me too, pumpkin. Me too."

Wiping her eyes, Willow said, "Well, I'd go get her myself, but I'm not sure I want to anymore after the bomb she just dropped."

"What do you mean?"

Willow drew his wand out of her pocket and tapped on the cell doors. Carlos grabbed it in astonishment, turning it over in his hands to make sure it was real.

"How did you get this?"

"Alex guards his pockets nearly as well as his groins in a fight."

Carlos bellowed with laughter again, unable to control himself. "That was absolutely textbook. You kicked his butt!"

Willow beamed proudly. "Alright, that's your wand. I have mine. If you can unlock yourself and get me out, I think I know where we can go to escape their Apparation spells."

Carlos stepped out his cell the second she finished her sentence. A few moments later, Willow was hugging her dad, welcoming his warmth and confidence. Carlos pulled away and glanced around, looking for possible exits.

"Where were you thinking?"

"Follow me," Willow said, striding quickly to the edge of the dungeon. A small window sat just below the ceiling here, allowing a few beams of light to pierce the darkness.

"There's water leaking a few meters to the right of this window," Willow observed. "I think there might be a body of water right up against this side of the house. Can you see through the window?"

Willow's dad stood on his tiptoes (he wasn't the tallest of people), squinting his eyes as he peered through the dirty glass. "Yes, good news! I think there's a small pond nearby."

"Perfect! If we could just weaken this wall and cause water to flood this dungeon, we might be able to swim outside and get out of their range."

Carlos suddenly furrowed his brow in thought. "Do you think Alex has figured out that we have our wands yet?"

"CARLOS!" a far off voice screamed at the top of his lungs.

"I think that answers your question," Willow said hurriedly. "Can you- ?"

"Reducto!"

Willow covered her ears just as the brick exploded. Water poured in, instantly soaking her shoes and sweeping her off her feet.

"Willow!" Carlos shouted.

Willow felt herself being yanked upright and pressed against the solid part of the wall. Water continued to gush into the basement, but thankfully didn't fill it up due to its massive size. Running footsteps sprinted across the flooring above their heads. Carlos whipped out his wand and sent a jet of light towards the door, right before the handle began being clicking.

"Carlos! Open this door!" Alex roared.

More voices began shouting but were drowned out by the onset of water rushing into the cavern. Carlos shifted his grip on Willow.

"Get ready to swim!" he yelled above the deafening sound.

Willow shoved her wand deep in her pocket, hoping that it wouldn't float away. Shocking shivers rippled down Willow's spine with every bang on the door.

"1...2...3!"

Willow was shoved into the waves just as the door exploded off its hinges. She instantly began paddling as fast as she could, adrenaline pumping through her veins. Her father's reassuring strokes fueled her will to keep going against the impossible current. Willow was quickly tiring, her soccer game having taken a toll on her energy level.

Her lungs burned. Her legs ached. Her arms were jelly. Darkness deepened around her eyes and drug her down, slowing her efforts. She was so close, yet so far...

Suddenly, Willow burst through the surface. She gasped for air as she tread water, struggling to stay afloat. Her mind was scattered. Willow almost called out for help when her father grabbed her in his strong arms and towed her to the nearby shore.

"Hang on, pumpkin," her father encouraged. "We're almost there."

Willow thought her arms must have weighed a ton each. It was a struggle to even remove herself from the water. Coughing and spluttering, she hacked up all the water that invaded her lungs as she drug herself across the small, sandy beach.

"Thank God I'm a swimmer, or you'd be sleeping with the fishes."

"Shut- up," Willow wheezed.

"I know, 'Dad, I hate water!' You'll get plenty of practice in the lake at Hogwarts."

For once, Willow felt a match light a spark of hope in her chest. Hogwarts would rescue her from this ridiculous reality. She could stay there all year, escape it all...

"But...you'll still be stuck out here, dodging them," Willow said, gesturing towards the dark house looming to their right.

Carlos straightened up. "Don't worry about me, Willow. Speaking of dodging, let's get out of range before they start firing at us."

Willow stood up with help from her dad, then began the long run to the edge of the property. The fence that marked the boundary also marked the edge of the spells that protected and helped monitor the home. Willow had paid close attention when her mother would take her here while she was younger, and that information was about to save her life. She vowed to count her lucky stars every night for this.

"Almost there," Willow panted. "As soon as we get beyond the fence, we can Apparate out of this place."

"Good. I'm looking forward to a nice, long nap."

"Me to- "

"There they are!"

The two runaways froze for a second when Alex's chilling voice carried over the fields. They glanced back and saw several witches and wizards on broomsticks, scouring the property. Carlos grabbed Willow and violently shoved her forward.

"Run!" he ordered.

Willow tried her best not to stumble as she sprinted for her life. Her blood roared in her ears, heart pounding like a drum. She struggled to control her breathing as panic threatened to take over.

They were going to be overtaken within the minute. Flying on broomsticks is a much quicker method of transportation than running, and with skilled witches and wizards on them, the pursuants closed in even faster. Willow began falling behind her dad when she heard the evil cackling of her mother high above the ground, sending fear rocketing through her every vein.

"Come on, Willow! We're almost there!" Carlos yelled. "We can make it!"

The fence was only two football fields away now. They were so close, it was agonizing. Willow felt as if her lungs would collapse at any moment, followed closely by her legs.

Breathe, a voice echoed in Willow's head.

Willow nearly stopped short in her tracks. She was reminded to keep running, however, when a spell smashed into the ground a few inches from her feet. Yelping, Willow shot off again, faster than ever before.

Control yourself.

Willow gave up all of her last efforts to controlling her breathing. Though black dots began to dance before her eyes, she obeyed; in four counts, out four counts; in four counts, out four counts.

You are wild. You are free. No one can tame you.

Confidence surged through Willow from an unknown source. She closed her eyes, keeping her inhaling and exhaling steady.

You are a magnificent creature, a rarity among the masses. No one can harm you.

Willow no longer heard her dad's screaming. She did not pay the slightest attention to jets of color creating craters in the earth all around her, missing by inches. Willow did not even hear her own heart beating anymore; all she knew was her breath on the wind, untamable, intangible.

You are as strong as an ox, as free as the wind, as restless as a newborn foul.

No one can be you.

Willow didn't even register the transformation as it occurred. One moment she was an eleven-year-old girl running for her life, the next she was a beautiful mare, hooves pounding the ground, galloping at speeds unfathomable towards the fence. She opened her eyes and saw herself catch up to her father in a matter of seconds.

Willow tried to speak, but failed. Instead, a loud whiny followed by a neigh alerted her father to her presence. He almost tripped in shock, eyes widening farther than humanely possible. But his survival instincts prevailed. He grabbed Willow's mane in his strong hands and swung himself onto her back. Willow tossed her head and willed herself into a full gallop towards the edge of the property. Her new body and lungs allowed her to stretch herself farther beyond her human abilities than she ever could have imagined. Not in her wildest dreams had Willow thought that she would be able to run nearly forty kilometers per hour.

Willow didn't run away in fear from the hundreds of spells that tossed up the earth around her. She didn't feel the pain in her lungs. She didn't think about anything except reaching that wooden fence now merely meters away.

Fifty meters...forty meters...

The witches and wizards cursed and hexed and jinxed with everything they had, outraged at this sudden turn in events.

Thirty meters...twenty meters...

A spell showered rocks and dirt in Willow's eyes, but she ignored the pain and blinked it out. Her long, slender legs rippled with muscle as she rocketed towards her goal.

Ten meters...

She was so close to the fence. Just a few more strides, and...

"Willow, jump!" Carlos shouted frantically.

Willow gathered herself, tensed her muscles, and launched herself far over the fence. She soared several meters before hitting the ground running. Carlos suddenly lost his grip and began bumping up and down on Willow's back. Then, he cried out as he flew off, hitting the grass with a sickening thud.

Willow immediately skidded to a stop and turned herself around. By the time she was back at her father's side, she had made the transition from horse to witch again. Willow barely noticed.

"Dad!" she shouted, shaking his limp body.

Willow frantically glanced up at the sky, horrified to see her family flying merely a half football field away. They fired spells at them with increasing fury and accuracy.

"Dad! We need to get out of here! Now!"

Carlos's eyes flew open. He took one look at the sky before whipping his wand out and transporting them kilometers away instantaneously.

Willow gasped when she found herself back in a familiar setting. She collapsed in a heap on her living room floor, her father already on his feet. He made eye contact with his daughter, a mix of emotions swimming in them.

"Willow, I'm so sorry, pumpkin," he apologized.

"It's not- your...fault," Willow choked out between heaving breaths.

"We can't stay here. Your mother will find us if we do."

"I figured," Willow coughed, her chest tightening. Apparently, all that work she had done as a horse was taking its toll. She struggled to breathe at all, but stayed strong and listened to her father.

"We have to pack our stuff and go. I know a place where we can hide for the remainder of the summer."

"Where?"

"I can't tell you yet. Just shove as much stuff into your suitcase as you can. I'll enchant it for you."

Willow painfully rose to her feet, then rushed upstairs. She hurriedly began opening up her drawers and shoving every article of clothing in sight into her suitcase. Her father was in shortly and placed a strong spell on the suitcase that apparently made its storage capacity increase so that she could fit in it. Willow didn't hesitate for a second until all of her clothes had disappeared into the depths of her suitcase. Then, she grabbed her cosmetic bag, thankful that she kept all of her essentials in one place.

"Willow, are you ready?" Carlos feverishly asked.

"One second!" she insisted.

Willow dragged her suitcase over to her nightstand where she kept the few items that she held close to her heart: her writing kit, her camera, and her photo album. She stuffed all of it into her suitcase, then dragged it with surprisingly little difficulty onto the landing outside of her room.

"Alright, we're going to Apparate one more time, pumpkin, then we'll be safe. Okay?" her dad promised.

"Let's go."

Carlos took Willow's free hand in his, and in a flash, they were gone.

Willow stumbled and fell into her father when they reappeared. She was met with soft grass tickling her nose and a gentle breeze caressing her sore back. When she picked her head up, Willow saw a wonderful sight.

A tall, teetering house that seemed to be a patchwork of mismatched rooms stacked on top of one another stood in the distance, strangely fitting together in a backwards kind of way. The chimney pumped out puffs of smoke that drifted lazily into the atmosphere. A long gravel driveway connected it to an old country road that pried a path through kilometers upon kilometers of cornfields. There was a single old, blue car sitting in front of the house. Willow wondered how the whole family could fit in there if there were indeed as many people living in that house as the structure suggested.

"Come on, Willow," her father urged. "We just have to make it into the house, and we're in the clear."

Willow shakily stood up and trudged slowly towards the house, exhaustion creeping in now that the adrenaline was wearing off. Every step felt like moving a cement block. Her mind was cloudy and full of fuzz; she couldn't even begin to process the events that lead up to her arrival here. Everything had happened too quickly. She would have plenty of time after a good night's sleep to catch herself up.

After what seemed like an eternity, Willow and her father reached the front doorstep. Carlos rang the doorbell. A pleasant chime was sent throughout the house, answered by footsteps running towards them. Willow wanted to cry with relief when a middle-aged woman answered the door, her eyes widening with shock.

"Carlos? What are you doing here?" she asked. The woman caught sight of Willow. "And with your daughter!"

"My wife decided to have us pay a visit," Willow's dad replied, his tone wreathed in acid.

"Oh, dear God!" the woman exclaimed, covering her mouth with her hand. "Come in, come in!"

The woman ushered Willow and Carlos inside, making them sit down on the couch. She took the pair's bags and set them aside for the time being.

"Arthur, get down here this instant!" the woman called upstairs.

A man came stomping down the stairs. "Jeez, Molly, what could possibly- !" He stopped short when he saw Willow's dad. "Carlos?"

"Arthur, I couldn't be more glad to see your face," Willow's dad said, cracking a painful smile.

"Carlos! What on Earth happened to you? You look terrible!"

Indeed, both Willow and her dad had the appearance of two homeless persons that got into a street fight. Their eyes had heavy bags under them from strain; their faces were covered with dirt and scratches; their breathing was rather ragged and heavy.

"Not now, Arthur," the woman named Molly chided. "They need food and rest, not chatter. Where are Fred and George?"

"Upstairs. Should I- "

"Call them! I need their help."

Arthur walked over to the stairs. "Fred! George! Your mother requires your assistance."

"Aw, dad!"

"We were just playing with- "

"Boys, now!" Molly shouted.

More footsteps cascaded down the stairs.

"Blimey, Mum."

"We were coming, you know."

Willow turned as two red-headed boys hit the ground floor. They looked like exact copies of each other, and Willow- who could normally tell apart any set of twins- found no indication of a difference between them. Both wore the same goofy smile on their face, giving Willow the impression that they were troublemakers.

"Boys, I would like you to meet Carlos and Willow, some friends of your father from the Ministry."

Fred and George turned their gazes to the newcomers. Willow shyly smiled in return, wanting to shrink under all the sudden attention.

"They need to stay here for a little while before school begins. Take their bags upstairs to the guest bedroom, please."

"Yes, Mum," they said in unison before taking the bags and flying up the stairs again. Molly and Arthur took this chance to sit down with their guests.

"Willow, are you alright, dear?" Molly asked.

"I think so," Willow replied uncertainly. Her chest hurt worse than it had ever hurt before, but that was probably because of the whole horse thing. Willow's brain began firing again as that memory shot to the surface.

"Dad, what in the heck did I do?" Willow asked.

"I'm not exactly sure myself, but I'll give you my best crack at it later, Willow," Carlos promised.

Molly and Arthur didn't seem bothered by this small side conversation in the least. "Well, you can tell your story later," Molly said. "For now, you both need food and rest. I'll fix something for you real quick."

Molly and Arthur worked together to prepare a small meal while Fred and George returned from their trip upstairs, bickering with each other.

"Oi, Freddy, I beat you to the door!"

"No, I got you by at least half a meter, George."

"You're a lier!"

"You're a cheat!"

"Boys! Stop it!" Molly ordered. The boys instantly ceased their petty argument. Willow marveled at how well the entire household listened to Mrs. Weasley, as if it revolved around her leadership. "Entertain our guests in the meantime, will you?"

Fred and George happily complied and plopped down on the couch across from Willow and Carlos.

"So, are you a first year, Willow?" George asked.

"Yes."

"You're in the same year as ickle Ronniekins, then!" Fred said.

"Is that your brother?"

"Yes, and he's quite something, you'll see," George added, winking jokingly at Willow.

"Oh, he's something, alright," Fred said sarcastically.

"I think any friend I can make before school begins will make my life a thousand times easier," Willow admitted.

"That's true, I suppose."

"Unless that friend is your twin."

"Oh, shut up, George!"

"I speak the truth, Freddy!"

Willow laughed. "If I had a sibling, I don't know what I'd do."

"You're an only child?"

"Yes, actually."

"Blimey, that's- Hang on a second, what happened to your face?" Fred asked. "I know it's got a lot of cuts and scratches on it, God knows Mum won't ever tell us why, but you've got an awful bruise."

"I do?" Willow asked, estimating that her face was probably all one shade of purple with the attention she was receiving. "That might be when Alex put me on my face. I really hate that man..."

"We better not ask, then," Gorge said. "But I can make Fred get some ice for you."

"That would be great," Willow admitted.

Fred got up and went into the kitchen, sneaking around Mrs. Weasley, and grabbed an ice pack from the freezer. He threw it to Willow, who caught it with no problem.

"Even exhausted she's got better hands than Ron!" Fred said.

"I'm not that good, really," Willow promised, pressing the ice pack against her cheek bone. "I just have really good focus for some reason."

"Wish I had that..." George trailed off.

"Here we go! Eat up!" Molly exclaimed, setting plates full of food in front of Willow and Carlos.

Both ate in silence for a while. Mrs. Weasley sent the twins upstairs to get out of their hair. When they were finished with their food, Arthur helped them find the guest bedroom. Carlos went to the bathroom while Willow jumped straight into one of the two beds. She was asleep before her head hit the pillow.