Chapter 2

London has a smell about it. A fresh, pretty smell. Not a smell you can find in New York City thats for sure. Things are very different in London also. I had never been to London or anywhere outside of the U.S.

I stood with Albus Dumbledore who I still was slightly unsure of on the steps of a ratty looking home that had miraculously pushed itself out from between two other homes. It was dark and foreboding to me.

"This is number 12 Grimmauld place, Shawn." Dumbledore said. "There are a number of talented witches and wizards beyond this door who are waiting for you. Do not be afraid, I will let nothing harm you."

Dumbledore pulled his wand from inside his cloak and pointed it at the key hole. The door slid open silently. He nodded with a encouraging smile and I stepped into the long dark hallway.

We were barely a few feet into the house when a man came down the hallway dressed in mostly black with a long flowing cloak. His hair was somewhat long and he looked gaunt and sad.

He stopped dead when he saw me. I stood taller at this. I was my mothers daughter. Strong, intelligent and not easily scared.

His eyes searched me franticly for a minute then he looked at Dumbledore with questions written all over his face. At this I had to figure out what was wrong with me.

I turned to face a large mirror in the corner of the hallway. I was a good 5'5 and slender but curvy with dark brown hair that sat just below my shoulders. It fell in curls at the end when it was well washed, like it was today. My muggle clothes may have been the problem. The stripped sweater and jeans may have been a bit too much for him I decided. I was a beautiful girl and I held on to that with a vengeance, like my mother had before me.

Dumbledore put his hand on my shoulder and steered me into a large room where a number of people were gathered around a large dining table. I could feel my strength wavering as I watched all of the peoples eyes burn into me.

"Oh my dear. You poor thing! When was the last time you ate!" A robust woman with bright red hair cried as she scuttled towards me.

"Molly, we had dinner less than an hour ago. Isn't that right Shawn?" Dumbledore said with a smile at the lady named Molly.

"Yes we did." Aha! I found my voice. I thought I never would again.

"Well aren't you just a pretty little thing?" Said a woman with bright pink hair who couldn't be much older then I was.

I was slowly introduced to everyone one at a time. I knew I would only remember half of their names. After everyone sat down and got comfortable again Remus Lupin Stood and looked directly at me.

"Shawn there is a reason we brought you here. Everyone here knows your past in the states and we all feel greatly sorry that we didn't think to find you sooner." He paused and everyone nodded in agreement, especially Molly who looked very saddened by my past. "But we brought you here now to tell you who you are and why we need you now.

"Your mother, Benedicta, was one of the closest friends to a woman by the name of Narcissa Malfoy. Now I know you don't know any of what is going on here so I was try to simplify it for you as well as I can. Your mother was a follower of a great dark wizard by the name of Voldemort." At this Lupin closed his eyes for a moment then reopened them. "Your mother fled with you after the fall of this dark lord. You both ended up somewhere in the united states I presume. Does any of this sound remotely relevant so far?"

I was stunned already and I knew this conversation was far from over. I shook my head lamely, my eyes wide with fear and confusion.

"Shawn, if this is too much for you dear we can do this when you are more rested." Molly, Mrs. Weasley, said as she placed a warm comforting hand on top of my trembling hands.

"No." I said barely above a whisper. "I'm Okay. I knew there was something all these years that my mother was hiding even then."

Lupin nodded and continued.

"I knew your mother well. She was two years above Sirius and myself in school. A very popular woman, your mother was. Very likable. But she fell in with the wrong crowd after school. I saw a reform in Benedicta after you were born but the power of the dark lord is not easily fought. We all assumed the dark lord was long gone after he fell at the hands of a young boy. We were all very very wrong. He is back and he wants you."

"Me?" I said weakly. "Why me?"

"Because you have power that would be a great weapon against the enemies of the dark lord."

what the? where is this going? ahhh! reviews would be lovely. let me know how you think this is going! thanks!