Chapter 01:

"What do you mean by –"

Static.

How? I knew those words. Why can't I remember?

"Are you sure she has no other relatives? Uncle, aunt, cousin, sister, brother or so?"

"She does have an aunt living in the European borders of London."

"I see…"

A stagnant pause.

Footsteps coming slowly on the wooden floor.

That sound stopped the moment a pair of uniform black boots reached in front of the girl. She looked up, spotting kind, gentle eyes that matched his midnight black hair, his squared jaw strained despite his gentleness. His blue military uniform, albeit clean, smelt of ashes and fire, spoke and reeked of death.

"Hey," he tried to smile, only giving a wry expression. "Everything will be okay."

The girl looked down on her missing right leg that stopped bleeding a while ago. With a muffled sob, she thought, No, it won't. Not now, not ever.

"Wille."

The girl leaning against the window sill of the train jumped in surprise. She looked around the brown compartment, her eyes landing on her friends.

"You alright?" a girl with bushy brown hair and almond brown eyes asked. "You were moaning in your sleep, muttering something." The said girl pressed the back of her hand against Wille's forehead.

"I'm fine," she insisted.

"Leave her be, Hermione," her other friend, the redheaded Ron, spoke, his blue eyes nonchalantly looking at a stack of cards in his hand. "She's probably still tired from the events coming from the world cup."

"Well, you can't be sure that it's the reason, Ronald," Hermione retorted.

Wille Laire had always been plagued by her memories. They were the things she was trying to forget ever since her aunt decided she wanted nothing to do with her and dropped her off at St. Agnes' House For Orphans. Ever since then, she kept to herself and the mechanical leg that was out of proportion with her body.

Looking around the compartment, she spotted three of the current people whom trusted her and loved her despite her deficiencies.

Harry Potter, the boy who lived, sat with a quiet expression on his face. His unruly black hair stood everywhere as his emerald green eyes stared through his circular glasses. His forehead, which was covered by his bangs, hid the scar that made him a legend. He wore oversized clothes that seem to fit a bull, but she made no comments on that.

Hermione Granger, the brains of the group, sat beside her, a book in her hand. She was quietly reading through her year's current books, absorbing everything by heart. She was the smartest witch in her generation, and one would never cross her unless you want to suffer. She probably read the book for the tenth time.

And then, there was Ron Weasley. He was sitting beside Harry, playing with a little figurine of Bulgaria's number one seeker, Victor Krum, which was animatedly moving on its own.

"Where are we?" Wille asked, noticing the darkening skies.

Hermione responded, "We're almost close to Hogwarts." Closing her book, she stood up and tucked it in her robes.

Wille instantly did the same and sheepishly noticed that everyone was already dressed in their uniforms. Harry and Ron wore their black pants, collared white shirts with red and gold neckties and their dress robes with their house symbol on their left chest in the color of a scarlet and gold lion. Hermione's was almost the same with the difference of a skirt reaching just above her knee and long socks that covered the legs.

"I'll go get changed," she muttered. Limping, she tried to reach the suitcase above their seats. It was always a sad thing being short, but being only four and a half was bad, especially at the age of thirteen.

"Let me help you with that," Harry volunteered.

She thanked him sincerely and managed to acquire her uniform.

While crossing the corridor, she heard a familiar snarky voice telling her, "Watch your step!" as she toppled over through the owner's foot. Tumbling towards the floor, she looked up to see silver and green snake as the crest on the chest while her body felt the pain of landing on a hard surface.

"Isn't it Limping Willey," Draco Malfoy sneered.

He was a boy a year older than her and was the archenemy of Harry. Platinum blonde hair and silver eyes with a pointed chin, he was as good looking as he was kind, for, whatever physical features he has, he was nothing but evil towards her.

"Come to cry to St. Potter?" his fat accomplice sneered back while the fatter one just laughed.

"It is cruel to do something like that, you know," someone said behind her. This person lifted her up gently, helping her with her clothes, too. "I hope you mind, Malfoy, for I'm having half the mind to tell the professors."

Malfoy spat angrily, "Let's go, boys. It looks like Diggory wants to associate with degenerates, too." His lackies not far behind, Malfoy disappeared into another compartment.

"You didn't have to do that, Cedric," she said timidly, looking up at the tall, dark-haired boy of sixteen in front of her whose stark grey eyes made his chiseled features look softer. His black and yellow necktie distinguished him from a different group with a badger on his dress robes, similar to hers. What also distinguished him was the prefect's badge on his right chest, signaling his power to conduct and control the students.

"You are a student under my care," he said, giving her a lopsided grin. "Anyways," his expression shot up, "see you around." She watched him walk pass her and smiled as he cuddled his girlfriend, feeling giddy for him.

The only thing she had that made her feel accepted was the fact that she was accepted into a house – a group, a family, within the walls of her school.

Looking at her mechanical leg, it was the only thing that kept her apart from the people. Automail, it was called. She couldn't really explain it, but, the wires that formed around the intricately woven machine were connected to the nerves, making it react with the commands the brain used.

As she changed into the outfit almost akin to Cedric Diggory sans the skirt, she recalled her first year. She received the letter from Hogwarts, telling her that she was, in fact, a witch. That explained all the weird stuff she could do when her emotions were getting the better of her, like sending rats after a bunch of kids that kept on tripping her and making a badger eat the Mother Superior's shoes when she stopped her from getting seconds, saying that she was 'getting too fat with her grubby hands'. Though it worsened the ostracism from the nuns, it was her first time being happy. She packed instantly, buying everything she needed, even a beautiful pet owl she called Eis, the German for ice, for its white fur reminded her of such. she just didn't expect that she'd be receiving a far worse treatment from people she would be schooling with.

When she lost her leg at nine, she was but a wee thing back then. The Automail itself was expensive, her parents' inheritance going to all of it. Her aunt, realizing she would earn nothing after finding out about the loss of the money, decided to ship her off to an orphanage, where she grew without much confidence in herself, seeing that her constantly dyed long purple hair and onyx brown eyes were too 'normal and rebellious'. So, seeing that she couldn't afford having an Automail made every time she grew, it was already a foot too small for her. That caused her limping. It was even worse when she found out that the technology that ran the cogs of her leg were useless in a magic-ridden school. It was also by luck that the kind yet stern Professor McGonagall managed to cast a spell that repels magic from affecting her leg, so, it became more tolerable and bearable.

A lot of things happened since then. She became Harry's friend after being rescued by a bullying Malfoy, followed by their little excursions in saving Ginny, Ron's sister and her fellow classmate in potions, from the chamber of secrets, and busting out an innocent convict from being killed in her second year who turned out to be Harry's godfather, adding cool points to Harry's standards in her book.

She frowned at seeing how her socks barely cover her disfigured legs. Shrugging it off, it was just in time for her to return to where Ron, Harry and Hermione were. Together, the three went towards the carriages that led them into the great hall, where the feasts were going to take place like every year.

"I'll head off to the Hufflepuff table," she said sadly the moment they arrived.

Hermione hugged her and said, "Take care, Wille. Remember to use the hex I taught you just this summer."

They exchanged conspiratorial looks before separating.

She looked around the great hall, raising her head to the ceiling filled with floating candles that never melt and the enchanted roof that mimicked the outside weather, thinking it was a good day. In front of her, her eyes saw four different tables aligned accordingly; the brave lion-like Gryffindor, the wise raven Ravenclaw, the ever-friendly badger Hufflepuff, and the tricky snake Slytherin before the table up the platform that was reserved for the teachers. She went and looked for her house, the Hufflepuff and saw a girl she tolerated but could never really be friends with.

She scanned the teachers, noticing the familiar faces and an open seat, knowing that the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher was needed, the previous one being sacked for being a werewolf despite his amazing contribution to being the best teacher ever.

Her eyes went to the middle of the hall, though, where an old-tattered brown hat sat on a stool. It was your typical witch's hat, only coated in brown color. There were three rips from this hat, two being the eyes and one being the mouth.

Chuckling to herself, she recalled her own sorting.

"Hmmm…" the hat said on her head, "I see courage in you, resourcefulness…You are also quite a catch in terms of your skills with what you put to practicality, but, your yearning to be a friend to those in need…yes, I see now…better be…" the hat let out a sharp yell, "HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Remembering like it was only yesterday?"

She turned around to see the transparent sight of a fat man with a friar's outfit.

"Hello, Fat Friar," she smiled at her designated house ghost. "How was your summer?"

"Very well, young Laire, thank you," he chortled, moving away to greet the other students.

It was just then that her time was occupied by a few interruptions. "Did you see the blue coats a while ago?" Louisa Barons, the curly-haired brunette whom she tolerated, asked.

"Blue coats?" Wille asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I heard that they're here because of the tournament," Cedric butted in, much to Wille's irritation. But the word tournament peaked her interest even more.

"I'm listening," she said in a sing-song voice.

The doors of the great hall burst open before anyone could share any information.

As tradition, it was the first years that went by the boat. Hagrid, a half-giant friend of hers, was leading them, his thick, bearded face of black and dark eyes focused on heading the group. He wore what seemed to be a thick leather trench coat that would have drowned her if she was wearing it.

She began to zone out. She didn't care for the messages, finding it more important to think of other things as she glanced at the slithering table, her eyes boring into the Slytherin table. Draco Malfoy, as always, was in his ever handsome glory.

She knew her feelings were for naught. Aside from being a disfigured 'degenerate', she was also a Muggleborn, someone with no magic in her blood. That alone was enough for Draco to hate her. He was, of course, from the pureblooded areas, the ones whose family held magic for centuries. Besides, to him, a Muggleborn was nothing more than a mudblood, the most insulting name a person could say about one such as her.

The ringing of an empty glass being hit lightly by a dining utensil was enough to get her out of her reverie. She straightened and behaved herself along with everyone else, clearing her throat and helping in keeping the silence as the headmaster, Professor Dumbledore, spoke of his speech. With his half-moon spectacles and that silvery hair and beard, his crystal blue eyes were like x-rays that saw through everything.

"Fond greetings to you all," he began. "First of all, I would like to address the rules and regulations one must follow. As you are aware," he looked pointedly somewhere, and my guess went to the older Weasley twins, who were well-known pranksters, "the forest is strictly forbidden to everyone, and I'm sure our older students would prove that caution is advisable. There are also some materials that Mr. Filch, our caretaker, has banned within the premises –"

"I don't think anyone cares, right?" Louisa muttered conspiratorially.

I nodded as the headmaster went on, "which is posted against his office door, if anyone would like to take a look.

"Lastly, I'm sure some of you are curious as to who are new staffs members are for this year." At this announcement, an eruption of murmurs filled the once silent hallways.

A man entered the room from one of the sides of the teachers' table. He was normal, for all one could say except perhaps the wooden leg on his left, almost a mirror to Wille's and a big eye that went and swirled around his face on the left. He was almost exactly like Hagrid with the difference in height being of normal size and his balding top head.

"Alastor Moody," a Hufflepuff whispered, but, Wille eased her hearing senses towards the Gryffindor, wondering what Harry and the others thought of this.

"…Dark wizard catcher. My father speaks highly of him," was all she could muster to hear.

He was followed by a man whom Wille recognized instantly.

"Corporal?" she gasped silently.

Cedric and Louisa glanced at her in confusion.

"Corporal?" Cedric inquired.

He was tall with broad shoulders and a well-built physique. His eyes were as black as his hair. A well-formed square jaw encompassed the dark eyes which once gazed at her with worry and sympathy, now filled with a hardness she could somehow decipher. They spoke of war, fire and death

The army does that to you, she thought sadly.

He was dressed in what she recognized as the military outfit of Germany, clad in blue with silver outlines. His stance was that truly of an officer as he surveyed everyone in front of him without even blinking.

"He's Corporal Roy Mustang," she breathe out as Professor Dumbledore introduced the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher as Alastor Moody. "After my parents died, he was the one that looked after me for three months before I moved here, or, at least," she let out hastily, "that was his ranking in the army almost five years ago."

"…and Colonel Roy Mustang and his assistant, Mr. Edward Elric," Dumbledore said proudly, "the new teacher for our new elective called Alchemy."

A lot of students applauded, but she couldn't help but gasp, "Colonel?!"

Before the end of her second year, she received a letter that inquired if one was willing to pick a couple or more electives. She picked Divination and Alchemy, not realizing that she would be facing the past she was actually running away from.

Now, turning her head to the new addition, she was quite happy that she wasn't the only one that didn't grow.

Edward Elric was also one of her few correspondents until her aunt sent her to the orphanage. He was a sporting young lad a few years older than her with golden blonde hair and matching eyes who favored a black pair of pants with matching tank top and a red coat with the sigil of alchemy on the back. He favored white gloves over his hands, and she knew why. She was not the only one who favored Automail as body parts, and Edward Elric has an Automail for a left leg and a right arm.

"And now," Dumbledore smiled, "Let the feast begin!"

Ah, the wonders of magic!

Without much thought, Wille dug in while listening in to Cedric's story about what happened during the world cup.

"Weren't you there, too, Laire?" a sixth year friend of his inquired.

Wille nodded nonchalantly, her mind drifting off.

"Careful, Laire," Malfoy's voice echoed in her mind at the memory of him gripping her wrist to the point in bruised, "Mudbloods are the prey. They might want to poke a little fun at you and Granger."

After the feast, Wille and the rest of the Hufflepuffs followed followed Cedric and the other prefect to their designated dorm rooms. Wille, whose impairment caused such distress, limped as quickly as she could, trying to catch up to the others.

"Here," a voice said. "Let me give you a lift."

"Thanks, um…?" she began, embarrassed at not knowing who this Hufflepuff was.

"Jesse Wingson," he said, showing a dimple on his cheek. "I'm a fifth year. And you are the famous Wille Laire."

She cocked her head to one side. He has the dark shade of brown hair that curled around the edges of his face with piercing green eyes. His face was somewhat elfin, but that did not make her ignore how his hourglass body seemed pretty masculine. He was broad chested, and she could feel the abdominal muscles on his stomach as he helped her.

"How do you know me?" she asked when they reached their dorm room. "I mean," she shook her head, "what do you mean by famous?"

He chuckled. "Everyone knows that you're friends with Harry Potter and the smartest witch in our generation. The Granger girl, am I right?"

"Hermione," she smiled. "Yeah, she's pretty great."

"Oh, I'm sure you're also great as she is," he smiled even more. "I mean, I also heard how you helped Potter and Weasley in saving Ginny Weasley, that pretty sister of his, right?" There was a hint of nervousness in his voice, which she decided to ignore.

"Yeah, she is," she couldn't deny. Ginny did inherit the awesome Weasley genes.

"Anyway," Jesse smiled at her, "See you tomorrow?"

She nodded and headed to her room, where she accepted the warmth of her husband she called bed.