Chapter 1: In Diagon Alley

Alecta:

I was feeling extremely annoyed by the time I had nearly finished all my "school shopping." Sure, it was what my two closest friends wanted, and yes, it was what the Council (the group of people who had originally given me the immortality) wanted, but I could've passed any N.E.W.T. thrown at me, for crying out loud. Personally, I saw no reason to go back to Hogwarts, except for maybe the problem of the immortality spell ending.

But I argued the point anyway. Nothing ever felt done until I had argued it with someone. Even if they had been dead for a thousand years. Finally, the two ghosts told me that if I didn't stop they'd make sure I didn't live to get on the Hogwarts Express.

I told them that a) I had a year left of immortality, so they couldn't kill me, and b) I didn't want to get on the Hogwarts Express anyway, because then I'd have to go to Hogwarts. Unless I snuck out. Hmm…

I walked into Flourish and Blotts, not even paying attention to the boy in front of me. I noticed the manager walking over to the Monster Book of Monsters, and followed suit.

"Hang on," said the boy. He had messy black hair, and looked surprisingly familiar. "I've already got one of those."

"But I haven't," I broke in, pushing to stand with the boy. He was a few inches taller than me. Where had I seen him before?

The manager's look of relief slid off his face. "Really?" He looked so bad, I felt sorry for him.

"Here, I'll get it," I said, striding over to the cage. I'd worked with those kinds of books before. I opened the door to the cage and stroked its' spine. It immediately calmed down, and I picked it up like a normal book and closed the door. I walked back over to the manager and the boy, who were both staring at me like I had dropped from the sky.

"Hello? Are you alright?" I asked, waving my hand in front of their faces.

"How — did — you — do — that?" The manager looked incredulous.

"Just stroke their spines," I grinned at them. "Like this." I demonstrated.

"Just…stroke their spines?" The manager looked at me as if he was seeing me in a whole new light. There were a few moments of awkward silence.

"So, I also need Unfogging the Future by Cassandra Vablatsky."

"Oh! I need that too," said the boy. I looked at him and finally recognized him. It was Harry Potter, James and Lily Potter's son. The Boy-Who-Lived and all that.

Honestly, I knew what it was like to be an unwanted superhero. It was lonely and boring and often hurtful.

"I feel bad for you," I commented as we waited for the manager to get our books. "Isn't it awful being the superhero?"

He looked at me in surprise. "Well, sometimes, I guess." I think I'd shocked him into answering honestly. "I suppose it's hard to deal with sometimes, but it's always worth it."

"I'm Nicci Lonsen," I said. "I think I'm going to be in your year at Hogwarts."

"You're going to Hogwarts?"

"No, I just bought The Monster Book of Monsters so I'd have something to read before I went to bed. And reading about signs of the future is fascinating too," I snickered, rolling my eyes. He started laughing with me.

"I got tested by all the teachers at Hogwarts to see if I was capable of third year material. And I passed," I stated obviously.

The manager returned. "Here you two are. Unfogging the Future. Very good guide to all your basic fortune-telling methods—palmistry, crystal balls, bird entrails—"

I noticed that Harry wasn't listening. He was looking at a book, that, as I craned my neck to see, was called Death Omens: What to Do When—

"Oh, I wouldn't read that if I were you," the manager was saying to Harry. "You'll start seeing death omens everywhere…"

On the front of the cover, the picture was a big, black dog, with almost a bear-like quality to him. "Hey," I said, remembering something from my week and a half in Azkaban. "That looks like…" Sirius. Oh my gosh, Sirius! Hadn't he escaped from Azkaban a week or two ago? He was a friend of mine, but I knew if I said anything, I'd be dead. Harry looked at me curiously, so I said, "Oh. Never mind."

"Anything else you two need?"

Partly to distract myself from Harry's stare, I said, "Yeah, we need Intermediate Transfiguration and The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 3."

Ten minutes later, I was walking out of Flourish and Blotts, talking to Harry about Hogwarts and his friends and Quidditch and classes.

"I'm staying at the Leaky Cauldron," I told him. "How about you?"

"Same," he said tiredly.

"Really?" I looked him over. "You know, you should get some sleep or something. You look like…well, let's just say you look pretty sleep deprived."

Harry laughed again. "Thanks, Nicci. Just what I needed."

"Seriously Harry, you've been looking like that ever since you were in Flourish and Blotts and you're starting to creep me out."

He smirked. "You know, you sound like we've known each other for months instead of minutes. And it's surprisingly comforting."

"I know. I've always had that kind of effect on people. I'm like a personal spilling-out-secrets potion."

This time we both laughed. "I'm going to have to watch out for you at Hogwarts," said Harry.

"Not likely. I'm completely irresistible," I snickered.

Harry rolled his eyes.

The next few days slipped by quickly. I spent most of my time with Harry, walking around Diagon Alley. We looked at the Firebolt, a kind of broomstick all the boys were fawning over. I could have bought it easy; my father had left me an endless fortune of money and priceless artifacts and books full of old and powerful spells, but it looked so pointless. It was really just a broomstick.

Easily the most awkward part was when Harry attempted to introduce me to his friends. Some boys called Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas at the Quidditch place and a boy named Neville Longbottom. I knew the story of Neville's parents, so I tried to be extremely kind to him. But all three boys stared at me the entire time and stammered out reasons to get away.

"What am I doing wrong?" I asked Harry in frustration as Neville ran away from us.

"I don't know. Maybe they think you're pretty or something." He turned to examine some Seeker's gloves.

Was I pretty? Sure, I was pretty slender, and I had a form and not a stick figure. I supposed my face was pretty enough; pale and thin, but still open and excited. And my eyes were a pretty shade of turquoise. And my silky black hair that fell to my stomach was curly and kind of nice.

Oh. Maybe I was pretty. Well, whatever; I didn't really care, and obviously, neither did Harry.

I put the thought out of my mind, and literally dragged Harry away from the Quidditch store.

I woke on the last day of holidays and quickly packed up all of my things. I probably wouldn't have time later, so why not do it now?

I met Harry at breakfast, and we talked about Hermione and Ron, Harry's best friends, who apparently couldn't be found anywhere. We searched the streets for an hour before Harry saw the Firebolt and stared at it until I threatened to hex him. So we walked back to the Leaky Cauldron and argued over whether Dean or Seamus had looked more longingly at the broomstick for at least five minutes before I ended it by saying "Well, you were worse than both of them, so it doesn't really matter, does it?"

Harry scowled at me and I laughed. It wasn't until I finally stopped laughing that we heard someone calling Harry's name.

"Harry! HARRY!"

Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger were sitting in front of Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor, and suddenly, I felt like going back to the Leaky Cauldron. I'd rather have been anywhere but here, where I seemed to be intruding.

"Er, see you back at the Leaky Cauldron, Harry."

"What? No, you're coming."

"I'm sure they want to spend some time with you without me there, Harry. They don't even know me," I had never been nervous about these sorts of things; it was just that I felt like I was intruding on something private.

"Nicci, you're coming. I don't care if I have to drag you by the hair, like you did with me."

I pulled my long ponytail away from him. "Fine. But if they don't like me, I am holding you personally responsible."

"You'll hold me responsible even if they do like you," Harry muttered.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Alright, I'm going!"

I stalked over to them, all the while shooting murderous glares at Harry, who was trying (and failing miserably, I might add) not to laugh.

"Finally!" said Ron, as Harry sat down. I sat down next to him, in between Harry and Hermione. "Er—who's this?"

"Nicci Lonsen," I said brightly. "I'm starting Hogwarts tomorrow as a third year."

"You're skipping two years of school?" Hermione looked scandalized.

"Well, I was tested in every subject I'll be taking this year, and I got full marks on every one, so they decided to let me in. But I am thirteen," I added hastily.

"Oh," said Hermione. "Full marks? On every one?"

"Yes," I said impatiently.

Hermione had a quill and parchment at the ready before I could blink. "What were your study habits? How long did you study for? If in doubt between two books on the same subject, which book do you choose?"

Harry and Ron threw me sympathetic looks. "Er, well…" I thought back to when I took those passing exams. "I really…didn't study at all, Hermione," I said. "I knew all that stuff. It was like second nature, I guess. I know too much about magic to have a problem with tests like that."

"How? I studied for weeks…"

"I don't know. Comes from having too many ghosts and portraits as friends. I haven't had a human friend in a year and a half."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione gasped. "What? But which ghosts? I don't know any ghosts that don't live at Hogwarts."

"Two ghost friends of mine were at Hogwarts last year. I think you saw them; their names are Hailey and Benjamin."

Hermione looked excited. "What's it like having ghosts as friends?"

"Don't know. Helped with the History of Magic parts though. As for the Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, and Defense Against the Dart Arts…well…" I knew perfectly well why I knew the spells. I'd been practicing half of them for nearly five hundred years. But I couldn't say that, so I said, "I learn fast. I usually need an hour to learn a spell, so I just spend about a day learning them." This was somewhat true, at least.

"That's not fair," muttered Ron. "Why do girls get all the talent?"

"Because we apply ourselves," I said at the same time as Hermione, who said, "Because you don't try, Ronald."

I laughed.

Ron ignored me and said, "So where were you this morning? We went to the Leaky Cauldron, but they said you'd left, and we went to Flourish and Blotts, and Madam Malkins, and—"

"I got all my school stuff last week," Harry explained. "And how come you knew I'm staying at the Leaky Cauldron?"

"Dad," Ron said.

"Excuse me?" I asked curiously. "How is your father involved in this? He's not the Ministry of Magic, is he?" My eyes widened in horror. "Because if he is, then I'm really sorry—"

"No, he's no the Minister," said Ron, flushing scarlet. "And why are you sorry?"

"Oh, well…" I stalled, playing with my hair. "Three years ago, I was part of a group that tried kill Lucius Malfoy," I said. "Unfortunately, we didn't actually kill him. On the way, however, I cursed three Ministry officials." I sniggered.

"You cursed…but you were ten! How did you know curses?" Hermione practically shrieked. "Who taught you curses?"

"I taught myself," I said calmly. "But I stayed behind and got caught. Cornelius put me in Azkaban." Of course, I'd really been in my non-aging thirteen state, but I'd Transfigured myself to look like I was ten.

"What?" Ron and Hermione cried together. Harry looked a bit confused.

I snorted. "Well, I did the most damaging thing I could. See, my father had always been good at training dragons. So—"

"It was you?" Ron jumped out of his seat. "The Ministry declared it was an extremely old, dark, powerful wizard!"

"I know," I laughed. " I set dragons on them. Four of them, in fact. So, after about two weeks, the Ministry came running to me and told me they'd release me if I'd let up on the dragons. I agreed, but as we were leaving Azkaban, I used a skill that a friend of mine insisted I learn. I stunned the Aurors without a wand."

Hermione gasped. "But that's—that's really advanced magic."

"I can only do the one spell," I said ruefully, "and it took me a week of continuous practice to do it. Anyway, I returned after a month, and demanded my wand back in exchange for the dragons leaving. They'd been saving it as a bargaining chip."

"That's amazing Nicci!" Ron said. "But why'd you apologize?"

"Well, my favorite dragon, Espen, left a huge scar on the Minister." I winced. "He was in the hospital for a few weeks after that one."

Silence.

Harry:

I reeled at Nicci's story. But she didn't seem to have been affected by Azkaban at all. In fact, if she hadn't told us, I never would have guessed. But dragons? Just who was Nicci Lonsen?

"What about your parents? What did your parents do?" Hermione asked.

"My parents?" Nicci looked thoughtful. "Well, my mother's been dead since I was eight and my dad's been dead for three and a half years, so I doubt they could do much."

Hermione looked horrified. "I'm so sorry—"

"Don't," said Nicci, smiling. "I've never been the teary type. I've gotten over it, and I really don't need pity."

"Sorry," said Hermione. Then she looked as though she had remembered something. "Harry, did you really blow up your aunt?"

"I didn't mean to," I said, as Ron roared with laughter and Nicci looked surprised and then amused. "I just—lost control."

"It's not funny, Ron," said Hermione sharply. "Stop smirking Nicci. Honestly, I'm amazed Harry wasn't expelled."

"So am I," I admitted. "Forget expelled, I thought I was going to be arrested. Your dad doesn't know why they let me off, does he?"

"Probably 'cause it's you, isn't it?" shrugged Ron, still laughing. "Famous Harry Potter and all that…I'd hate to see what the Ministry'd do to me if I blew up my aunt. Mind you, they'd have to dig e up first, because Mum would've killed me. Anyway, you can ask Dad yourself this evening. We're staying at the Leaky Cauldron tonight too! So you two—" He nodded at Nicci, "—can come with us to King's Cross tomorrow! Hermione's there as well!"

Hermione nodded, beaming. Nicci looked a little less optimistic. "Er, did Mr. Weasley get badly hurt by the dragons? 'Cause if he did, I'm pretty sure I'm not—"

"He didn't," said Ron. "He was left alone. Course, he was against you being sent to Azkaban in the first place. Thought they were fascinating, anyway."

"Excellent!" I said happily. "So, have you got all your new books and stuff?"

"Look at this," said Ron, pulling out a box. "Brand-new wand. Fourteen inches, willow, containing one unicorn hair."

"Ron, what happened to your last one?" Nicci looked a bit apprehensive.

"Broke when we drove a flying car into the Whomping Willow."

"The Whomping Willow? Why on earth were you driving a car into the Whomping Willow?"

"How d'you know about the Whomping Willow?"

"Sirius Black told me about it," Nicci shrugged.

The reaction was instantaneous. "How do you know Sirius Black?" I demanded, while Ron and Hermione both looked at Nicci like she was poisonous and backed away.

"I was in the cell next to him in Azkaban three years ago," said Nicci, looking confused. I relaxed, and Ron and Hermione scooted their chairs back over to her. There was a long pause.

"How about those Monster Books, eh? The assistant nearly cried when we said we wanted two," said Ron.

"What's all that, Hermione?" I asked, pointing at not one, but three bulging bags in the chair on the other side of her.

"Well, I'm taking more new subjects than you, aren't I?" said Hermione. "These are my books for Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creatures, Divination, Study of Ancient Runes, Muggle Studies—"

"What are you taking Muggle Studies for?" Ron asked. "You're Muggle-born! Your mum and dad are Muggles! You know all about Muggles!"

"You're Muggle-born?" Nicci asked in interest. She muttered something indistinguishable. (A/N: For any of you who are interested, she said "Salazar Slytherin really was an idiot.")

"But it'll be fascinating to study them from the wizarding point of view," said Hermione earnestly.

Alecta:

"Are you planning to eat of sleep at all this year, Hermione?" asked Harry, while Ron sniggered. Hermione effectively ignored them.

"I've still got ten galleons," she said, checking her purse. "My birthday's in September and I think I'll get myself an early birthday present."

"How about a book?" asked Ron innocently.

I glared at him.

"No, I don't think so," said Hermione. "I really want an owl. I mean, Harry's got Hedwig and you've got Errol—Do you have an animal, Nicci?"

I smiled mischievously. "Ghosts may be terrible company, but they get amazing presents." I called, "Thaniel!"

Almost immediately the large, black puppy came bounding out of nowhere. "Thaniel; owl."

The air seemed to bend around Thaniel and he started to mist over until—pop! A fierce, black owl was flying where the dog had once stood.

Hermione drew in a gasp. "They got you a shape-shifter for your birthday?"

I nodded.

Ron's jaw dropped. "Wow, Nicci! And Hermione," he said, tearing his gaze away from the owl, "Errol isn't mine. He's a family owl." He pulled a rat out from his pocket. "I've got Scabbers. And I want him checked over. I don't think Egypt agreed with him."

I looked at the rat. To be honest, it looked like crap. It was pale and thin and really ugly. It was drooping and slightly yellow. "Oh. Lovely," I choked out.

"There's a magical creature shop just over there," said Harry. We had gone there just a day before.

"Nicci! Do you think you could help me pick out an owl?" Hermione asked earnestly as we paid and left for the Magical Menagerie.

"Sure," I said. "What kind of owl do you want?"

"I don't know, but a tawny owl sounds strong, and…"

We kept this up as we walked into the store. It looked exactly the same as it had yesterday. So Hermione and I set off to the owl section as Harry and Ron walked up to the register.

"Oh, that's an adorable owl," sighed Hermione, pointing to a sleek, light-brown owl.

"It's also twenty-five galleons," I said, nodding at the sign.

We walked around a few more minutes with Hermione muttering "Oh, that's pretty!" and "Poor thing…" before there was a commotion out front. I peeked around the corner to see Harry and Ron rushing out of the store, chasing after Ron's rat.

"What on earth…?"

"Oh, what a gorgeous cat!" Hermione rushed to the witch at the front, looking at the enormous ginger cat she was holding. "What's his name?"

"Hm? Oh, Crookshanks," the witch said. "He's ten galleons. He's been here forever, poor dear. Nobody wanted him."

Hermione was beaming. "Oh, I'll take him. He's so adorable."

I thought this was really a matter of opinion, but Hermione wanted him and so she could get him.

We left three minutes later to find Ron and Harry waiting outside the shop. Hermione was practically glowing, while I felt a bit pessimistic about the relationship between Crookshanks and Scabbers.

"You bought that monster?" Ah. There was the fight I was waiting for. Ron was standing there with his mouth hanging open. I scooted to the other side of Harry.

"He's georgeous, isn't he?" Hermione was still glowing.

"Two Sickles Crookshanks saves our lives once this year," I muttered to Harry.

Harry grinned. "You're on." We shook and I drifted in and out of the argument. What was I going to say to Mr. Weasley? What would he say? Would he be furious at me? Or would he have forgotten me?

"I wonder why," Ron was saying sarcastically as we reached the Leaky Cauldron.

Mr. Weasley was sitting the bar, reading the Daily Prophet. I shifted so I was nearly obscured by Harry and Hermione.

"Harry! How are you?" he said, looking up from the paper. "Who's that you've got with you, Harry, Hermione?"

Harry, Hermione, and Ron turned to look at me. Hermione muttered "Go!" and shoved me forward.

"Er, hi Mr. Weasley," I said, feeling very awkward. "Long time, no see."

"Merlin's beard!" he breathed. "Nicci Lonsen! It's been years! How've you been? What're you doing in the Leaky Cauldron?"

"I'm fine, Mr. Weasley," I said. "And I'm going to Hogwarts tomorrow."

"Hogwarts? Really? Without your first two years?"

"I was tested by the professors and they think I can handle it."

"Really," said Mr. Weasley, putting down his paper. I saw the picture of Sirius Black staring up at me, laughing manically.

"They still haven't caught him, then?" Harry asked.

"No," said Mr. Weasley, looking extremely grave. "They've pulled us off our regular jobs to try and find him, but no luck so far."

"And you're not going to have any luck because you don't know the first thing about him," I said unexpectedly. "It's like trying to find a needle in a haystack because you don't know what he looks like, what he's doing, how he's getting where he's going, and who his allies are."

Mr. Weasley, Harry, Ron, and Hermione all stared at me.

At that moment, five new people entered the bar. Mr. Weasley's wife was easy to spot, laden down with shopping bags. Behind her strode a pompous-looking seventeen-year-old, two identical twins who seemed to be mocking the other boy's steps, and a girl, who looked to be about a year younger than me.

"Nicci, this is my wife, Molly Weasley. And these are my children; Percy," the seventeen-year-old, "Fred and George," the two twins swept their imaginary hats off their heads and bowed low, "and Ginny." The girl smiled.

"Who's this, Dad?" One of the twins asked.

"Nicci Lonsen," said Mr. Weasley.

Ginny was blushing; she seemed to be very taken with Harry. She murmured a quiet "hello" while looking at the floor. The boy Percy took Harry's hand and said "I hope you're well?" in a very professional, condescending tone. It felt like Harry was being introduced to a mayor.

Fred and George elbowed back Percy and took Harry's hand. "Harry!" Fred was saying, pushing to the front, "Simply splendid to see you, old boy…"

"Marvelous," cried George, seizing Harry's hand. "Absolutely spiffing."

Percy scowled at Fred and George, then turned to me as I bit my hand to keep from laughing.

"That's enough," said Mrs. Weasley.

"Mum!" said Fred, looking as though he'd just seen her. "How really corking to see you…"

"Fred, that's enough."

"Where've I heard your name before?" Percy was asking me.

"Have you ever been in the Ministry?" I replied.

"Well yes, I'm hoping to get a job there," Percy said.

I laughed lightly. "Then you've heard my name before. They probably use as a curse word or something…Wonder what they'd say if they found I was "contaminating" Hogwarts…"

Mr. Weasley looked anxious. "They don't all hate you," he said. "Most of them think what Fudge did to you was cruel."

"Someone doing something cruel to me," I said sarcastically. "There's a new one."

"He just hates that he lost support because of what he did to you," said Mrs. Weasley comfortingly.

"No, he hates that I overpowered two Aurors and fifty Dementors when I was ten without a wand. Ah, well, I don't give a damn what he thinks."

Pop! "You didn't tell me that!" came a voice out of the blue

I hit myself in the head with the closest book I could find. I knew that voice. Hailey.

"Ooh, Nicci, you're gonna have a real job on your hands. Who knew going to school could be so stressful?"

"Go die, Hailey."

"Been there, done that." Ben's voice joined her.

I spun around. "Are you here simply to mock me? Because I'm not in the mood to put up with your crap."

"Ouch. You know, Hailey, I think she might actually hate us this time."

"Doubt it. She should be used to it by now."

I looked at the Weasleys, Ron, and Hermione. They were all staring at the ghosts in fascination. "You guys, these are two friends of mine. This is Hailey and this is Ben."

"Wow!" Hermione's excited voice said. "You weren't kidding. They're incredible."

"Smart girl."

"Leave." My voice was clear.

"But the party's just started!" Ben sounded mockingly excited.

I grabbed a dagger from under my shirt and threw it at Ben. It went precisely through the spot where he'd been stabbed and he gasped in pain.

"You know, Nicci, I hate it when you do that."

"I know," I said cheerfully, sitting down. "That's why I do it."

"Alright, alright, we're leaving!"

"Good-bye."

"Wait!" I swiveled in my chair to look at her and she glided over. "Dementors," Hailey muttered to me so no one else could hear. "Guarding the school from Sirius Black. I know he's innocent, and you know he's innocent, but you've got to help him. He's coming to Hogwarts for Pettigrew."

"But he's—"

"Been Ron's rat as an Animagus for twelve years. Black's coming to kill him."

"What?" I shrieked, falling off the chair.

"See you, Nicci," said Hailey. "Let's go, Ben."

They disappeared.

"What was that about?" asked Mrs. Weasley.

"It was a warning," I said. "They were telling me something important." Another silence. There seemed to be a lot of those when I was around.

Mr. Weasley broke the silence. "Harry, have you seen Percy's badge? Second Head-Boy in the family."

"And the last," muttered Fred.

"I don't doubt that," said Mrs. Weasley, frowning. "I see they haven't made you prefects."

"What do we want to be prefects for?" said George, looking revolted. "It'd take all the fun out of life."

Ginny and I laughed.

"You want to set a better example for your sister!" snapped Mrs. Weasley, looking very scary.

"Ginny's got other brothers to set an example, Mother," said Percy loftily. "I'm going up to change for dinner…"

He disappeared up the stairs. George let out a sigh.

"We tried to lock him in a pyramid, but Mum saw us."

"I think I'd rather have Ginny be like you two than him," I said, looking slightly revolted.