Hi everyone and welcome to the sequel of The Sister Who Lived. To those who haven't read the first story please do. It's not necessarily essential but it would make a whole lot more sense if you did. Sorry if this chapter is short and doesn't include much. It's just a leading up chapter.

Also I wrote a one-shot about Draco Malfoy set in the Deathly Hallows called Some Nights.

I don't own Harry Potter. All rights go to Joanne Rowling.

Edited: 22/1/2014

Chapter One- Cold as You

The leather handbag slung over Grace's shoulder jangled with coins as she shimmied her way down the ivy plants right outside her window. Right when the strong vines veered off to the side, she stepped lightly onto the shade of a window and leapt to the ground.

It was five' o'clock in the morning at Privet Drive. Today was Harry's birthday and Grace was sneaking out of the house to buy his present. She had gathered up all the notes and change that was left in the laundry for two weeks saving up.

Normally Grace would be able to walk down to the shops during the day since the Dursleys didn't care where she was but Uncle Vernon had grounded her. Something about punching a couple of Dudley's friends. Now was the only time she would get to buy Harry's present. All she had to do was go to the shops and be back when the Dursleys woke up at six.

The summer holidays had been torture for Grace. As soon as she and Harry arrived back at Privet Drive their belongings had been taken away and locked in the cupboard under the stairs. Within a week Grace was grounded for protecting Harry against Dudley and was locked inside her room.

Grace set off at a brisk pace down the streets of Little Whinging. Crickets chirped in the still morning air. The sky was a purpling orange. Grace's mouth stretched wide in a huge yawn.

The occupants of Little Whinging were all still in bed when Grace walked past. Not a soul could be seen in the park. Ignoring the chills running down her spine, Grace kept hurrying on for another twenty minutes until she reached the shops.

Just like the rest of Little Whinging the shops were pristinely clean. Early morning joggers stopped to stretch on benches and corporate workers in crisp suits purchased their morning coffee.

Not even thinking of any of the other expensive stores Grace went straight to her favourite ship. The hidden-away second-hand store. It was a sunny place with a cheerful owner and shelves of forgotten treasures. There were figurines, jewellery, old movies, records, books, vintage magazines and anything else that was handed in for money. Immediately a glint of gold caught Grace's eye in the box of watches. She remembered how much Harry wanted a new watch. His current one was a hand-me-down of Dudley's that constantly fell off his wrist from stretched straps.

"Need any help, there?"

Grace jumped as she realized the store owner had moved to stand beside her. The name on his blue mechanic's shirt read Seely.

"No, thank you, Seely," Grace smiled. "I'm just buying my brother's birthday present."

"At this hour?" he said, shaking his head. "Blimey, he must be one special brother."

"Yeah, he is," Grace murmured. "I'll take this one."

The watch Grace had chosen was silver with chain links. Carved into the face of the watch was a beautiful owl. It was perfect.

"Nice one, that is," Seely remarked. "It was handed in 'bout eleven years ago by a strange fella in a cloak. That'll be twenty dollars."

Grace had a slight suspicion that the fella was a wizard.

"And just something extra for your dear brother," he added with a wink as he handed over a small brown paper bag. Upon peeking in the bag Grace saw a packet of Starbursts.

"Thanks, Seely," she called over her shoulder and left the shop with a grin on her face.

The grin soon faded from her Grace's face at the sight of the sunny sky. At least an hour had passed since she left Privet Drive.

It took Grace half the time it had taken her to walk there to get home in her slightly panicky state. She still wasn't quick enough. Curtains were wide open in the Dursley's windows and talking could be heard from the kitchen. From what she could hear from outside it sounded like Uncle Vernon was giving them a speech on how to behave when his dinner guests were here.

Grace made her way around the side of the house, ducked from sight under the living room window and stopped dead.

Someone had cut off the ivy vines that had trailed up to her window since she had climbed down it.

To make sure Uncle Vernon didn't take away Harry's present she stuffed it in her bag. Grace walked through the front door into the main hallway with only a tiny bit of trepidation to find Uncle Vernon waiting for her.

"Hi Uncle Vernon," Grace greeted in an overly cheerful voice. "Lovely day, don't you think? I'm just going to go have my breakfast then."

Grace attempted to make her way to the kitchen but was blocked by her uncle's large body.

"No you don't girl," he growled. "Where have you been?"

"I went for a walk."

"Just decided to go for a walk then?" His moustache was starting to quiver. That was always a bad sign. "Thought you'd forget the fact that we had grounded you? Your aunt and I have placed a roof over your head, provided you with food and clothing but you still think that you can ignore the rules of this house!"

His face became steadily redder and his voice louder with every word.

"So I'm just supposed to stand by while Dudley and his friends are bullying my younger brother?" Grace shouted back at him, beyond caring whether Harry heard or not. "I think you forget how much of a fat, arrogant jerk your son is."

"Don't you talk about your cousin like that," he yelled back. He took a deep breath and continued in a lower tone. "Today is very important for me. It could be the biggest deal of my career and I won't have you ruining it."

"Why don't you stop thinking about your bloody career and remember that it's your nephew's birthday today?"

Uncle Vernon stood, spluttering for a moment. She could almost see the clogs slowly clicking together in his brain. Finally something clicked and he grabbed her arm tightly.

"Right, in your room, now," he ordered. "This time you're staying there."

He dragged Grace up the stairs. She got one look at Harry sitting at the kitchen table before she was whisked away and shoved into her room.

Thanks for reading! I hope you like. The next chapter won't be up for at least a week because I'm without internet but I'll get it up as soon as I'm back.