A/N: I know I shouldn't be starting another story at the moment, but I just couldn't resist!  I got bit by the Harry Potter bug, it also doesn't help that I'm reading the 5th book for the 2nd time now does it?? Umm, I was toying with this idea before and had it written out until the computers at my school decided to be cruel and eat my disk ( similar to a VCR eating a tape) and I lost everything.  And of course I didn't think to back it up on my zip drive or write it down!

Disclaimer: No, of course I don't own Harry Potter or else Sirius wouldn't have died.  Anyhow, I do own Anya Rousse, Steve Mayer, Nan Rousse (Syth) and any characterizations of any non original characters.  Also the plotline belongs to me.  I also don't own the lyrics to "All or Nothing" by Athena Cage; written by John Rhone & Ontario Haynes produced by Whole 9.  You take what is mine, I take you down at the kneecaps.

What About Now?

Prologue: All or Nothing

"Whoa, Steve come check this out!" Anya cried to her best friend, as yet another object came whizzing into her hand unaided. 

"What did you do that thing again?" he asked as he sat down beside her.

"Yeah, look," she said as she made another object from his room come into her hands, this time his basketball travel team championship trophy.

"That's wicked cool though.  How do you do that though?"

"I don't know, I just do." Anya shrugged and pulled her short blonde hair behind her ears.  "Let's go outside, I'm bored.  I betcha I could beat you at a game of horse!"

Steve's grey eyes smirked back at her, "What don't want to show your weirdness anymore?" He pushed her playfully.

"I'm not weird, you're weird, you weirdo!"

                This is how it has always been for Anya and Steve; ever since he had told off some kids that were bullying her in class.  They were inseparable from that moment on.   Always together.  They were due to start middle school together in the fall.  Anya had raced down the hall and out the door to beat Steve to the basketball.  Steve jumped down the stairs two at a time to catch up to Anya; calling as he went; "Ma, Anya and I will be outside 'kay?"

                "'Kay, just be back inside this house before dark!"

                Steve raced outside and slammed the screen door, only to find Anya staring at a letter in her hand.  "What is it?" he asked.

                "It's a letter, Steve I gotta go home.  I'll talk to you tomorrow."

                Steve looked puzzled, Anya never wanted to go home during the summer, in fact she slept over his house more than he at her house!

                She raced home, and burst through her screen door.  "Ma? Ma!"  Anya walked quickly through the seemingly empty house to the kitchen, maybe there was a note.  She walked into the kitchen…

                Anya sat up in her bed, breathing hard.  She looked around her room, eyes frantically darting; her heart pounding in her chest.  'Just a dream; never mind dream; it was a nightmare!'   She buried her head in her hands as she remembered what she saw next :  her mother and her father lying on the kitchen floor; murdered by the greatest wizard of all time.  She was still clutching the envelope and screaming when a neighbor came in and found her.  She hadn't even realized she was a witch or that her mother was, she had just gotten her letter to Hogwarts that day.  Anya dry washed her face; as music floated softly from her stereo speakers. 

          Live your dreams,
          It's not as hard as it may seem.
          You gotta work to get the cream,
          On your hopes you must lean.
          From your fears
          You have to win yourself.
          It's all or nothing,
          Give your everything.

          My heart is still recovering,
          From the heartbreak of another kind,
          I'm still drying my tears.
          Getting over my own fears

          In my life
          So I wanna make sure this time
          That I'm strong enough
          To give it my all

                She took a deep breath.  This summer would be it, she finally convinced her grandmother to let her go to Hogwarts.  Her grandmother hadn't let Anya out of her sight since her mother had died.  She was in correspondence to Hogwarts and Anya was taught through her grandmother all the arts of wizardry.  She sighed heavily. 

                Anya had moved to England years ago, when her parents had died.  Leaving behind everything she knew, her friends, her home, Steve.  She  shrugged at the attempt at letter writing when she first moved out to England, but they had grown their separate ways.  Now the only thing that remained of her past, was her memories and her still prominent New England accent, for which she was extremely proud of. 

                This was it.  Today was the day.  Anya was to be going to Hogwarts today.  She looked about nervously on Platform 9 ¾ feeling extremely out of place in her jeans that flared out and a cute tee.  

                "Grams? Are you sure this is the right place?"

                "Yes, Anya darling, your mother said the same exact thing when she first went off to Hogwarts.  Now you're luggage is already on the train. You're not having doubts are you?" Her grandmother looked at her square in the eye with such an intense gaze that Anya had to burst out laughing.

                "No, well, yeah….Grams.  Just a little butterflies is all."

                Anya's grandmother smiled; "Its okay, child, now get on to the train with you, before you miss it!  You'll do just fine, remember I've taught you well!"

                Anya hopped on to the nearest car, "Of course, grams, I'll have a wicked awesome time!"

                Anya wasn't aware at the time, but she was being watched by two groups of people.  One of course being Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger were watching her with avid interest.  The three exchanged looks and thought instantaneously; 'New girl.'  But Harry puzzled a bit more, she looked to be his age, how can this girl be new and yet be his age?  He would have to find out. 

                Alas, there was another person that was observing Anya from afar, and that was Draco Malfoy.  He observed her nearly falling out of her window waving to what looked to be her guardian.  He, too came to the same conclusion as Harry, Ron and Hermione did.  'New girl.'  Something about the girl, however was drawing Draco to her.  Even from where he was standing, he could tell that she omitted great amounts of self confidence and poise.  Too much, in fact to be a first year.  Just by the way she smiled and the way her eyes sparkled he knew he would have to make her his.