AUTHORS NOTE: Hi everyone! I apologize for waiting so long to update this story. Things have been really busy for my recently so I hadn't had time to keep up with the story. I'm going to have a couple of off days in the coming weeks so you can expect another update very soon. This isn't edited thoroughly so I apologize in advance for any mistakes you may find while reading. I would also like to mention how surprised and excited I was about the quick and positive feedback I received from the last chapter. Hopefully you all will like this one just as much! Thank you guys for reading!

CHAPTER TWO

Lucy was surprised to find herself sitting next to none other than the golden trio themselves at the opening feast that night. During Albus's speech, she could have sworn he winked after noticing where she was sitting. Lucy thought Professor Umrbidge's speech was a complete political fiasco if she'd ever heard one. Apparently she wasn't the only one, noting that Hermione made several comments to the boys after Umbridge finished.

Ron and Harry were busy stuffing their faces with food when Hermione frantically elbowed Harry in the stomach and motioned to Luscinia. Ron's eyes nearly fell out of their sockets and Harry had to double take upon seeing the girl, "Bloody hell, Hermione," Ron said rather bombastically.

Harry's eyes grew wider by the second."She looks a little like-"

"Me," Hermione finished the sentence for him.

Meanwhile, Lucy was trying her best not to react to what they were saying. Ever since a she was a child, Lucy had been gifted with insanely good hearing. Although, sometimes she thought of it more as a curse then blessing. Hearing everything everyone says about you is not, on occasion, a confidence booster.

Desperately avoiding the trio's gaze she looked down at her lap. It was always a known fact to those where she grew up that she had looked somewhat like the Emma Watson, but now seeing the real Hermione in person, Lucy realized just how similar they really were -similar in looks that was. Lucy knew without a doubt that Hermione was much smarter than she, although to a complete stranger, the two could easily pass as sisters. Suddenly Lucy felt a tap on her shoulder.

"Hi, I'm Hermione Granger- and I don't mean to be rude, but are you knew? I can't recall seeing you here before and…. I'd think I'd remember."

"No, I would definitely think we'd remember meeting. I think we could pass for twins," she chuckled. "Luscinia Augustina, it's a pleasure to meet you," Lucy smiled and held out her hand, "I just transferred from America."

Hermione took her hand kindly then eyed Ron and Harry behind her who started over. "Wow, where from in America," Hermione asked attempting to hide the fact she was bit taken back. 'Why would someone move to Britain with all this controversy?' she wondered.

"North Carolina," Luscinia replied and inwardly smiled as Harry Potter walked to stand beside Hermione with Ron right behind him. "I had always lived in the muggle world though before I decided to attend Hogwarts. Well- I came to Britain last year to be tutored and was actually suppose to move back to America at the end of last year, but ended up staying."

"Muggles?," Ron said excitedly, "My family loves muggles!" Harry elbowed him. "Owe! Oh -right. Hi, I'm Ron Weasley." Ron waved shyly.

A quick snort came from Hermione who rolled her eyes at her carrot topped friend.

Luscinia smiled sweetly. "It's nice to meet you… and certainly to know your alright with muggles. I noticed some people aren't too welcoming when it comes to whose has what blood and what not. Frankly, I don't see why any of it matters." Luscinia noticed a hopeful spark in Harry's eyes as she spoke. "If you'd be interested, Ron, I could show you some objects I have from the muggle world in America."

"Would I!" Ron was nearly a shade pink with excitement; a color that closely matched his hair.

Luscinia then turned to Harry who held out his hand. "I'm Harry…," and for a moment he hesitated to continue. A nagging thought somewhere in the back of his mind wanted him to give this girl any name other then his own, one that didn't come with the label 'The Chosen One'. Finding his own voice, he ignored the wish in his mind. "Harry Potter," he said quickly.

"It's nice to meet you Harry," Luscinia replied and accepted the hand. While his voice was unsure, she observed his handshake was confident… or at least trying to be. The rest of him however, appeared incredibly uncomfortable. "Oh! You all can call me Lucy by the way. I've always thought Luscinia was a bit of a mouthful."

Through the crowed of rambunctious children stood Dolores Umbridge, clad in pink, who had been watching the conversation like a hawk. The sought woman's pig like ears perked up when she happened to catch this new young Gryffindor share her opinions on how unimportant a wizard or witches blood was. The girl was charming, charismatic, and seemed to believe what that "insolent" Potter boy was saying about the Dark Lord. Miss Augustina could easily have people believe whatever she wanted, making her Umbridge's first enemy and first goal as to just what- or who needed to be changed at Hogwarts.

"Luscinia…." Hermione muttered, her brows furrowed and eyes stared off into the distance. Lucy could practically see the wheels in her mind turning a mile a minute. "That's latin, isn't it?" Hermione asked although it sounded as though she knew her guess was right.

Lucy smiled at the girl. She had a feeling however, this was just the beginning of many questions Hermione would throw her way. "Oh, yep. It means Nightingale."

"Nightingale, hu?" Ron said.

"So why did you stay?" Hermione blurted out the question excitedly. She was intrigued by this new girl. Luscinia seemed nice enough, but there was something about her that made Hermione want to know more.

In an instant, Dumbledore was behind the trio, placing a hand on Hermione shoulder. She inadvertently jumped and spun around with Harry and Ron to face the Headmaster.

"I do believe that is a question which I must ask you to hold onto for another time and place, Mrs. Granger," Dumbledore said kindly. Lucy caught the knowing smile Dumbledore sent her way and gave him an appreciative look.

"Professor," Harry said cheerfully and shook the Headmasters hand.

"Ah Mr. Potter," his blue eyes twinkling as they always did, "I trust your ready for another busy school year."

"As ready as I'll ever be, sir," Harry replied. Luscinia noted how much Harry seemed to truly admire the Headmaster. He was probably the closest to family Harry had ever had besides Serious Black. Luscinia frowned slightly. Black; that was another issue she longed to discuss with the Headmaster. That, along with the pink toads eyes she felt glaring daggers at the back of her skull.

"If you three would please excuse Miss Augustina, I would like to go over her final class decisions. I find myself a firm believer that in the idea that it never hurts to double check ourselves." The old man chuckled gleefully, "Of course- I find myself needing to more and more often these days…. Never get old children."

The four laughed gleefully at their headmaster. Dumbledore extended an arm motioning Luscinia forward to his office. Luscinia turned back meaning to wave bye to Harry, Ron and Hermione but instead found that her eyes met two obsidians. Snape had been watching the trio and new student's exchange with interest. For some reason he didn't like the idea of Lusicinia being friends with the Potter boy. He then couldn't swallow a sudden possessive feeling that came over him when the potions master had noticed Umbridge's prying eyes stalking over his new student with her interest and rage. It sickened him to say the least, but he was unable to quiet the voice in his head that labeled Umrbidge as a threat and Luscinia as an innocent he needed to protect.

This was why Severus Snape was jolted upon meeting Luscinia's eyes. Not only because they seemed automatically drawn to his the moment he was thinking of her, but that they stayed connected as she refused to look away. Most students would eventually cower in fear, but not this one. No, this one was different- much different. She couldn't be advanced enough to know Occulmency could she? At this thought he was reward with a smile from Luscinia and, what he was frightened he believe to be, a wink. His eyes widened slightly but he held on to his composure. Was that an answer to his question? Had she heard all of that? How could a girl of her age penetrate his mind? Then again, he thought to himself, maybe she's just an insane dunderhead.

In Dumbledores office, the headmaster poured a cream colored tea that overflowed with steam. His office was nice, Luscinia decided, but it wasn't exactly comfortable. It reminded her much of how her Grandmother's house looked. She'd spent hours of the summer there when she was around eight. Each morning before work, Luscinia's mother would shove her out the car door to help the elderly woman, who wasn't fond of her to begin with, clean out the basement. It was there Luscinia found hundreds of her grandfather's own inventions. She never met the man, but heard her grandmother refer to him a lazy rotten scoundrel once before.

"Umbridge was watching," Luscinia stated wearily as she picked up the hot beverage.

Dumbledore threaded his fingers through his beard. "I saw- and this troubles you?"

A quiet snort came with her answer. "To be honest it's Granger who worries me the most. Her incessant questions are going to be a handful." She grew rather quiets alerting Dumbledores attention.

"Miss Granger certainly has a thirst for knowledge, does she not? As for Umbridge, as long as you play nice, I don't see the need for concern." Dumbledore chuckled lightly but quieted to see her so uneasy. "Not that this will grant you much reassurance, but I do not believe Granger nor Umbridge are whom you need be extra careful around."

Luscinia's eyes darted to the headmasters silently willing him to refrain from saying the name on her mind.

Dumbledore cleared his throat then popped in a lemon drop. "Ginerva Weasley," he announced, "will be quite the mouth, ears, and eyes to cover."

At first she felt the great wave of relief lull her fears until confusion came flooding in upon processing the name.

"Ginny?" she asked in disbelief.

"Miss Weasley is your roommate, is she not?"

"Well yes," she protested, "but I don't see how…"

"She is in now way a threat, mind you, but… the child is very observant." Dumbledore smiled at her. "Give it time, and you'll come to understand just how much so."

Luscinia put the mug down on coffee table. Taking a napkin, she wipe the escaping drips of tea before the hit the wooden surface. "Thank you, Albus, for the heads up. I honestly wouldn't have expected that." She retuned his warm smile. "Now, what about Granger's questions and Umbridge- well, being Umbridge?"

"I shouldn't see the need for you to worry. The two certainly are no cause for extra preparation, I would think. After all," he added, "wasn't it you who claimed to be able to create a plausible backstory in an instant."

"I'll admit to that," Luscinia laughed nervously.

Dumbledore's bright eyes twinkled and Luscinia had to admit they seemed to adopt the certain trait when he knew he was right about something.

"If it's alright Albus, I should probably get to bed," she admitted sheepishly. "I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be a long day." Albus nodded at her dismissal and chuckled inwardly to himself. Though the girl did have a flaming spark raging inside her, the slightest criticism or questionable answer from those she respected could dampen it without warning.

The fire crackled as she got up from her seat and the room, she noticed, did have a certain warm welcoming appeal to it. If it wasn't for her experience at her grandmother's house, she probably would enjoy this area a lot better. Albus suddenly called to her just before her hand made contact with the office door. Inwardly cursing, she turned around slowly.

"I just realized," Dumbledore began in his overdramatic and sarcastic tone he'd saved just for her, "you didn't mention anything about Professor Snape?"

"Is that so," she replied in a voice that mimicked his own. She was fond of Albus and respected him greatly, but oh, sometimes he had a way of pushing all the right buttons to drive her insane.

"Miss Augustina," he said quietly. Though the twinkle in his eyes remained, Albus looked to her with a serious sincerity she recognized. Luscinia knew the look to say, I am your friend so please respect my wishes, but I am also your elder so do what I say. "Professor Snape is not only a pivotal player in this war and in incredibly dangerous situations because of it, but he is all this things as well as, and foremost, a very obsessive man." Dumbledore sighed heavily then stared her directly in he eyes. "Do not become a distraction for this man. It might even help to keep your distance with that map James used have just… do not distract my key player Luscinia."

Lucy stared at the headmaster blankly, mostly because she was too dumfounded by his last statement to speak. She respected Albus Dumbledore and would call the man a dear friend and advisor, but it always sickened her the way he talked about Snape. Normally she could stay silent, but something about his words shook loose her composure.

"Professor Snape is not a pawn for you to use at your will, Albus, he's a human being!" Lucy's eyes narrowed slightly as she spoke with a sharp voice that pierced the quiet room. "He is not some toy soldier without feeling; Severus Snape is a human being who is occasionally thrown into his personal hell at night."

Dumbledore's expression grew solemn. He took a few steps towards the young girl with his arms out to her in a friendly gesture. "Lucy…" he spoke softly.

"Don't Lucy me- you know me well enough to know against that." She said quieting down. "Your my friend, Ole' Albus the Wise…. but sometimes it astounds me just how much you overlook people's emotions." Slowly opening the door, which creaked loudly in return, she turned her head to him. "I never do anything without a reason….. I think before doing anything, you know that. So, you should know that I would never do something to put Professor Snape in immediate danger." She gave the headmaster a warm smile but continued talking seriously. "However, that doesn't mean I will not give him a friend when he needs one the most." With one last look, she turned back towards the door. "Goodnight Albus," she said just before the door magically closed shut behind her.