"Father! Look, I got a letter!" I squealed with delight, running to my father who was sitting at the breakfast table. He was my adopted father but I still thought of him as my own. And he smiled happily down at my delight. I always wanted to receive mail ever since I was a child. Since my father and I, lived by ourselves in the woods and rarely saw other humans, I never had human friends to write to. I brought the letter to the table then looked at the seal, my smile disappearing fast. "Father, this letter is from Hogwarts. Do I have to go?"

I handed it to him and he examined it. "Well, Natalie, I have been meaning to discuss this with you. But I need you to go there for a mission."

"A mission?" my eyes widened. "What kind of mission?"

"Well, there is this boy named Harry Potter. And he, as you might know is the sworn enemy of the Dark Lord. I need you to watch him very closely and wait for the Dark Lord to approach him. And when he does, you must get me as fast as possible so that we may put an end to his evil." Unlike most people in the wizarding world, Father never believed that Voldemort was completely gone from this world but merely biding his time. "Will you do this for me?"

"Yes, Father."

"All right, we'll got to Diagon Alley soon so you could get your requirements. But this is important, Natalie. The students at Hogwarts, and not even the teachers, must know about your powers just yet. So give them a show in class with the wands and chants. Understood?"

"Yes Father."

"That's my girl. Now let's eat."

Father and I appeared in the middle of Diagon Alley to pick up my school supplies a few days after the letter appeared. I has never seen a place so crowded, dirty, and loud. Everywhere I looked, there were store fronts: ice cream parlors, book stores, potion supplies. Anything that could be sold was in Diagon Alley. At a quick pace, Father and I went to Madame Malkin's for robes. As we were leaving, I spotted a pale boy with his father.

"Fredrick, how good to see you," the father greeted.

"Lucius," Father nodded. "Is your son going to Hogwarts as well?"

"Yes, this is Draco." placing a hand on the boy's shoulder proudly. "Most likely to be put into Slytherin as both I and his mother were both put into Slytherin, I expect nothing else. And who might this enchanting young lady be?" He said taking notice of me.

"This is Natalie."

"I never thought you to be the marrying type, Fredrick."

"No, she is my adopted daughter. But I treat her as I would've my own. Well, Lucius, as good as it is to see you, Natalie and I must be getting back to our shopping. Have a good day."

As we parted, my constant curiosity got hold of me. "Father, who was that?"

"Do you remember those memories with Bellatrix Lestrange?" I nodded with a shudder. "This is her brother-in-law. Beware of his son. He may try to be your friend, but he is bound to want to be part of the Dark Lord's circle the minute he comes into power, just like his father and then return to the other side when the Dark Lord starts to lose. Well enough lecturing. Should we get ice cream or a wand?"

I smiled. "Ice cream, of course. The wands will still be there when were done."

After we finished our ice cream, we entered Olivander's. It was ill lit with boxes and dust everywhere. I had a hard time determining if it was a second-hand book store or a shoe store. Out of nowhere, an old man appeared from the shelves.

"Greetings, Mr. Ogoticks! I assume you will be getting a wand for your daughter. I still remember when you came in for your wand, Rowan, thirteen inches with a phoenix feather. Rather powerful wand that was. And I'm glad to see that you use it for good rather than for evil. Now for Miss Ogoticks, hold out your wand arm, please." he browsed the shelves and brought back a wand. "Oak wood, Unicorn hair, nice and supple, good for charms, ten inches. Well go ahead, give it a wave." as quick as he gave it to her, he took it back. Maybe maple and phoenix fathers, seven inches. Or not." I tried wand after wand. "This is curious, Holly and dragon heartstring. Eleven and three-quarter inches." As I did, sparks flew out of her wand. "Well you know what they say, the wand chooses the owner, just be careful with that one. You will be able to accomplish a lot with that wand, but at the same time, destroy."

Father paid for the wand and they left the store and finished all of their shopping.

On the first of September, all of my school stuff was packed and ready to go. Instead of taking the "normal" way by going through the gate on platform nine-and-three-quarters, Father and I apperated directly onto the platform. My immediate reaction was to put my hands over ears since there was so much noise: people walking, whistles blowing, owls screeching. It was too much for me to deal with since I grew up in the quiet countryside. Seeing my pain, Father quickly performed a spell to turn down the volume of the noises around me enough that I could uncover my ears. I hugged Gather goodbye and went onto the train to look for a quiet place to sit and read. While in the middle of my book, some third-year girls came to join my compartment. They were friendly, every once in a while they tried to include me in the conversation, but i told them that I needed finish the book. The things they talked about didn't interest me in the slightest, simple things like who was dating who and what people did on vacation. But one of the girls was talking about that she overheard someone saying that Harry Potter was on the train. I already knew he was on the train, that is the main reason Father made her go to school. Even though I am so advanced in magic skills, I need to "dumb-down" in order that I can spy on Harry in classes and possibly be his "friend".

When we got to the Hogwarts, a giant named Hagrid directed the first-years in to boats so they could enter in "style". A stern woman took charge after we entered the a large hallway. She introduced us to our new home and told us about the houses. Natalie glanced over at Harry's direction, and met his eye. I didn't know what to do afterward, so I looked straight ahead. There was an annoying girl standing near me telling someone about different things she read about Hogwarts. Useless facts were no match for true understanding of things, she needs to know when to apply theirs knowledge, I thought. The woman, Professor McGonagall, then led us into the Great Hall where we were going to place us into the different houses. I listened to the several names called, then I just got bored, feeling like a slave being weighed to sell. If you had brains, you were sent to Ravenclaw; if you were a pathetic and would die for bravery, in you went to Gryffindor; if you were the one likely to want to escape and be the master, you went to Slytherin; and if you were both pathetic and stupid but loyal, you went to Hufflepuff and you would be their most trusted slave. I really didn't like how this would turn out at all.

"Ogoticks, Natalie!" Professor McGonagall announced my name. I stepped forward and sat on the chair and closed my eyes, not wanting to see an old hat, that could have lice, on my head. The hat talked to me, discussing why I should be placed in each house

"You contain the loyalty of a Hufflepuff, hmm, maybe not, your powers are too much for them to handle… But you are very bright, maybe Ravenclaw…. Slytherin will help you with your ambitions and to be great…. On the other hand, your courage isn't to be compared…" It went like that for a whole minute, I felt everyone staring at me like I was a freak. I wondered what would happen if I couldn't be sorted? Would they decline me? Or make a new house for myself. Before I could anymore, my thoughts were interrupted by the shouts of hat's final decision, "SLYTHERIN! " Everyone clapped, especially those at my table as I walked to the Slytherin table. They didn't know that I wasn't one of them, yet, but I could fake it in the mean time. After all, I am not that much out of the loop about the Wizarding world, and I did contain some magical powers of Salazar Slytherin himself.

Now I sit in my dormitory with four other shrieking first-year girls. They were alright and mostly left me alone, but now I enchant all of my belongings that I find of importance to me, such as my books.

I just learned that I may never trust these girls. In the middle of the night, someone actually went through my belongings. I knew because the enchantment I placed would cause any person's hands to grow warts. This girl woke our entire dorm with her screams. Her hands grew three times the original size with ugly gray warts. She went to the hospital wing, and from that moment, the girls in the dorm stopped speaking to me almost completely.

I am currently in Transfiguration, reading. What I'm supposed to do is change a match into a needle. I accomplished it on my first try, without any sign of struggle. I almost forgot to say the words and to use my wand. Professor McGonagall awarded me ten points for being the first in the class to accomplish this. Afterward, I got bored of doing the stupid spell, so I decided to read this book that father gave me. It was a Muggle dragon series, I love reading them because it's so interesting to see their ideas and thoughts f the world besides their mundane one.

So far, the only class I find challenging is potions. Father refused to teach me potions as a child, he told me to wait for school or until I was older. I have no idea what the difference is, but I am in a class where I'm on almost the same level as everyone else. However, I do find it much easier than others as well. In he beginning of class, Professor Snipe took role. When he came to the name "Harry Potter" he paused and recognized his name in a rather despiteful way. He gave Harry a short oral quiz of things that he wouldn't know since he grew up with Muggles, however, the girl sitting near knew the answers and shot her hand up desperate to answer the question. I refrain from drawing attention to myself unless everyone in the class didn't know an answer to a question. In potions I didn't even have to waste the energy to answer the question, the little miss know-it-all answered every question in the class. If she was in more of my classes, I wouldn't even have to bother with talking at all.

Then we were put in pairs to complete a simple potion to cure boils. I was paired with a girl from my house whose name I haven't bothered to learn. She was lazy and was completely fine with me taking control over the potion and not risking her to make mistakes with it.

"Miss Ogoticks," Snape hissed, appearing from behind me. "Why does it appear that you won't let Miss Batrink do any of the work?"

I came up with a good story, as long as my partner didn't sep in and mess it up. "Well, sir, the reason is because she told me her hand was cramped from doing her transfiguration homework during breakfast so I offered to do the cutting."

"Is this correct?" He turned to my partner.

She looked to me for guidance and I did a fast nod. "Yes, sir, that is correct." when he was out of earshot, she hissed to me, "How did you think of lie that fast under pressure?" Strange, I was expecting more of a question like 'Why did you lie?' but no she worried more about me covering for her.

"It's a gift," I answered. Then I quickly went back to my potion.

"Well, I like your gift. I don't think I properly introduced myself, I'm Hillary Batrink." She said extending her hand.

"Natalie Ogoticks." I shook the outstretched hand.

"Oh, your that girl that gave Andrea warts."

"Sure." I didn't even bother learning the names of those in my dorm.

"You know, if you want we could be good friends. There is only so many people you can actually trust to be your friend."

"All right."

"Sweet, so come eat lunch with me today and I'll introduce you to my other friends." I never knew that Hillary would soon be my most trusted friend from that point on. Nor that I would change dormitories since I have found the person that I know that isn't out there to get me.

Since poti9ons was my last class of the week, I have officially completed my first week of school. After potions, I decided to go down to the Forbidden Forest to see what creatures were in their. As I was entering, the giant I met on the first caught me.

"What are ya think' of doin'?"

" I wanted to go into the forest."

"Ya know you aren't allowed to. It's out o' bounds."

"I know. But I heard there were wonderful creatures in the forest. And I know how to escape from the creatures that will hurt me."

"Ya like magical creatures." his eyes seemed to lit up at the topic. "Yes. I live in a forest myself so I know a lot about them. But I think the school's forest will hold rarer creatures than the one I live in because there aren't any hunters here."

"Yer got that right. But I can show ya around if you'd like. Show ya some of the safer paths and such. I might even have a book if yad like. By the way. What's yer name?"

"Natalie."

"And what's yer surname?"

"Ogoticks."

Ogoticks… Ogoticks," he said stroking his beard as if trying to think of the name. "Was he in this school?"

"Yes. I believe he was two years your junior."

"Oh, then I don't think I'd have known him since I was expelled in me third year. Well never mind. Come, I'll show you some creatures."

After showing me some pathways, he gave me some books about different creatures, they were rather big and old so I gingerly took hold of the books. I returned back to the grounds, but I was bored, so I took a trip to the lake even though it was way past curfew. It was rather different during the day than at night. I loved how the moonlight hit the water to make it shine. I looked around to see if anyone was watching, no one was. I murmured some words and jumped into the water. The words I murmured allowed me to breathe underwater, it was magnificent. After an hour, I emerged from the water and performed a spell to make me dry.

I have no homework to do since I did it all in History class. So I decided to find Hillary and meet her friends since I didn't meet with her for lunch.

Tomorrow, I have to find Harry and see if has any progressions of being in sight of the Dark Lord. One in while I will visit his dormitory, apperating to his window, hidden by an invisibility charm. He and his friends never talked about anything spectacular, mainly homework, quiditch, normal things. But I knew that eventually that he would reveal something soon, the question is only when.

The following week, I and the rest of my house went outside for their first flying lesson with the Gryffindors. This was my chance to talk to Harry, if i felt the courage to approach him. I was about to when I was interrupted by a whistle.

"Well, What are you all waiting for?" the teacher, Madame Hooch, barked. "Everyone stand by a broomstick. Come on, hurry up."

I went next to an old broom, on the right side of it since I'm a lefty.

"Miss Ogoticks, left side of your broom."

"I'm left-handed."

"Oh all right. Now hold out your right hand over your broom, lefties, left hand. And say 'Up!'"

"UP!" Everyone shouted.

There were some people, like me that had our broom in our hands on the first try. Others just moved on the ground. And some peoples didn't even twitch. After five minutes, and everyone had their brooms in their hands. Madame Hooch showed us how to mount our brooms.

"Okay now when I blow my whistle, stamp hard on the ground. Three…..two…" but before she could say one, Neville Longbottom was already in the air and couldn't figure a way to get down. Madame Hooch tried uselessly to yell at him to come down. But it didn't seem like he has ever been on a broom ever in his life. He fell and broke his wrist and Madame Hooch took him to the Hospital Wing, threatening anyone who is off the ground will be expelled.

But I couldn't believe what happened next. Malfoy and Potter both went into the air all because of a stupid rememberball. Potter got caught, but he was not expelled. No he was rewarded, he was on the Quiditch team. I bet if Malfoy was caught he would be expelled, but not Harry who got rewarded for breaking rules. The system was for sure messed up.

Soon, Halloween neared. I was never a big fan of this holiday, but with all the festivities going on, I couldn't but be excited of what would happen on the day of the feast. The feast turned out to be awesome. There were live bats flying in every direction. The largest pumpkins I have ever seen in my life were placed in the Great Hall and there was so much food, I have no idea who could eat this much. I also found it funny that some of the seventh-years dressed up in costumes just like Muggles do. I put on my rare smiles and had a good time being a normal person, talking to my friends and just enjoying the holiday. But soon the happiness was interrupted by Professor Quirrell.

He ran into the Great Hall, screaming, "Troll! In the dungeons! Just thought you out to know." then he just collapsed. If his job is to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts, then he should be able to fight a troll. But no.

What followed was just chaos, until Dumbledore was able to restore order. Then he directed the Prefects to take us calmly back to our dormitories. I went, but then I saw Ron and Harry wander away from the other Gryffindors. I followed them, keeping as invisible as it was possible. Then they just did the strangest thing possible, they went into the girls' bathroom. I didn't question it, but I followed. Turns out they wanted to save Hermione, but they had no idea how to do that without killing themselves. I decided that I needed to help him. I closed my eyes, and had him think to jump on to the troll. He did it, and was able to hold the troll off long enough for Ron to knock him unconscious. That was about the time the teachers showed up. I had already disappeared, but they were caught in the middle of the scene.

During Christmas, I didn't come home since Harry planned to stay with his friend, so something interesting might happen. It did, he received an invisibility cloak from someone which he used to go into the restricted section in the library. He was looking for a person named Nicolas Flamel. I knew who he was, he worked with Father countless of times, and his wife was very sweet with me. But they think that there is something hidden in the castle and it ahs something to do with him. I could hint to him, but then it would make it too easy for him, so I just watched him and his friends struggle. Afterwards, he went into a shabby room with only a mirror. Harry stood in the mirror, whispering inaudible words and then racing out of the room. I was curious, so I also stood in front of the mirror. I saw absolutely nothing but my reflection. I have no idea why Harry got so excited about seeing his reflection, that is what mirrors are meant to do.

A few nights later, I learned about the mirror from Dumbledore talking to Harry. Turns out it is the Mirror of Erised and it would show a person's deepest desires and those who are completely happy see only their reflection. Then he said that it was going to be moved to a new home. I didn't understand why anyone would want a mirror that showed your deepest desires. What could a person accomplish from it? It seemed like a pointless invention. But if Dumbledore found it important enough to keep it in the castle, there must have been a purpose for it.

After the holidays and a few weeks before the big quiditch game: Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff, Harry and his friends found out who Nicolas Flamel is. That got them excited, now they knew what Fluffy was guarding, but now they need to find out when the supposed 'evil' Snape would take it.

During the game, I went down to Hagrid's, but he went to the game, rather disappointing. I could go watch, but I never found a purpose to watching sports. Playing I understand, but not watching. I just sat by the lake, watching time fly by. I heard the cheers from the stands, hearing them getting louder and louder until they died completely, that probably meant that the game was over. I stood up and started to make my way back to the castle when I heard Snape threatening Quirrell. I couldn't really make out what it was about, but I saw Harry and his friends and they came to the conclusion that Snape was trying to get information out of Quirrell about the stone. As if Quirrell really knew how to get Snape inside. Quirrell passed me as an idiot, But Snape was clever and could get in by himself with no help needed.

A few weeks later, I visited Hagrid and he had the biggest surprise for me yet. After handing me a cup of tea and a hard cake, he showed a black egg that was sitting in a cauldron.

"Hagrid, how did you get one?"

"I won it in a card game. But never ye mind. It's gonna be beauty when it's hatched. It'll be a Norwegian Ridgeback. They're rare, them."

"Wow, I was once in Romania with my Father watching Dragons. It was amazing. But a baby, won't that be hard to keep?"

"Yeah. But I've been reading' about 'em. Learin' what they eat, how to take care of 'em. Loads of useful stuff."

"Let me know when it will hatch. I have never seen one hatch before."

"I'll try to. But I don't when exactly it'll do that."

"All right, thank you for the tea, but I have to run."

"okay, bye now."

A while later, the egg did hatch, but I didn't come because I knew Harry and his friends would be there. I felt it would be a little strange for them. But I did visit Hagrid very frequently just so I could play with it. But sadly, Hagrid got talked into sending him into the wild. It would be better for him, but it still made me sad, he was like my pet. Hagrid didn't take it well at all. He was crying while packing all of Norbert's, the dragon's, things. I found that he would be going to Romania with some of Ron's friends. That would be good for Norbert, plenty of air and freedom there. Unfortunately for Harry and Hermione, they got caught and received detention along with Neville and Draco. The story pretty much spread that there were four stupid first years wandering the halls and got caught. All of the Slytherins suddenly loved Harry since he and the other two Gryffindors last one hundred fifty points in one night. No one really cared that Malfoy lost fifty since Slytherin is now in the lead for the House Cup.

I have no idea how Hillary knew, but she came into our dormitory telling me how Malfoy and the Gryffindors were going to the Forbidden Forest for detention. I knew that this is the very thing that the Dark Lord would be waiting for. I followed those in detention down to Hagrid's hut. Turns out they were hunting for a unicorn killer. I didn't think anyone would be that desperate for their blood. I had the pleasure of watching Malfoy act like an idiot of scream in terror. But what he ran from was the Dark Lord himself drinking from a silver pool of unicorn blood. I was about to inform Father when a centaur appeared scaring away the Dark Lord and saving Harry. Despite my disappointment, I apperated home and told Father what happened. He told me to go back to the castle while he searched the forest for an idea of how the Dark Lord managed to get on the school grounds.

He couldn't find a trace of evidence, so I just went back to school mode. I listened to Hillary endlessly tell me information that is on the tests. I already know it, but she likes to study out loud and it helps her when she's talking to someone else, so I agreed. Final exams were soon complete, but I had a week left of school until I found the results of the tests. Hillary and I frequently went to the Lake and she kept stressing over the results.

"Hillary, stop it, you're driving me crazy! You will get amazing scores."

"Easy for you to say. You've always been the best of our year."

"You can't compare yourself to other people. You need to compare yourself with yourself. I have talents in some things and you have in another."

"Name one thing that I'm better at than you."

That is a hard question but I can think of some things no matter how pointless they may seem. "Making friends. That has to be the easiest thing for you. You also are way better than me at sleeping seven hours straight."

"What good is that?"

"Making friends is very valuable. It's something that I seriously need to work on. But you have that in the bag."

"All right. Wanna go back to the castle?"

"Sure."

While we were walking we passed by Harry, Hermione, and Ron. They were talking about the Sorcerer's Stone. They are actually planning to go into the trapdoor and take it before the supposed Snape will.

"Hey, Hillary, I'm not feeling to good. I'm going to go to the Hospital Wing, but I'll catch up with you later. Okay?"

"Yeah sure. Feel better." And we parted. When she disappeared and I saw no one in the hall, I apperated home.

"Father?" I called. That was weird, he was usually home at this time. I went up the stairs and looked in all of the rooms, then I went to the basement to see if he was working. Where could he be? I left the house and went into the garden, but he wasn't their. Maybe had an emergency meeting to go to. I scribbled him a note telling him what I found out and then retuned to the castle.

I had no idea where Father was, but I needed to try and stop the Dark Lord before he had a chance to stop Harry. I always stayed to steps behind Harry trying to help him as much as possible. But he didn't need much help, he and his friends knew exactly how to get passed every challenge. But then it was down to Harry. He alone would try to retrieve the stone, but the one he was protecting it from was a major surprise to him. It was Quirrell. Scared, timid Quirrell, no one would think to suspect it. I couldn't make out everything from where I was hiding, but I heard that the Dark Lord was hiding under Quirell's turban. Harry needed help, his wand was useless, but maybe his hands. An idea popped into my head that I think would do the trick. concentrating very hard, I used a spell that would cause Quirrell to burn at the very touch of Harry. It worked, pretty soon, Harry had defeated Quirrell and saved the Stone. Someone else appeared in the room, but I didn't wait to find out who it is, I apperated back to my dorm, safe in my bed.

Harry was unconscious in the Hospital Wing for several days, but woke just in time for the end of the year feast. I was very annoyed that Neville, Harry, Hermione, and Ron all received points for things they did that night the Stone was saved since I didn't get points. Sure no one knew that I was down there in the first place, but should they get all the glory? After the feast, all of our belongings were taken out of the wardrobe and put into our suitcases since the next day we would be going home.

"Write to me as often as can. And maybe we'll be able to get together during the holidays." Hillary said on the train back to Hogwarts.

"Yeah, that'll be fun." Father met at the station and we went home.

"Father, where were you that night I left you a note?"

"I had a meeting with some people about a very difficult matter."

"Oh." a year of Hogwarts finished, I didn't even think I would be able to finish one month there. But now I know I can survive another six years there.