Chapter 2- 3 Years later.

"Please can we play ball again Vinnie?"

"No Jo. I'm too busy with my homework. Go ask Violet."

Josephine Samuels walked away from her older sister Lavinia.

Ever since they came to live with grandpa Harry, Vinnie and Phil had become meaner.

She turned the corner into her sister Violet's room. She stopped just as she did; there was some whispering coming from outside the door. Grandpa Harry was talking to daddy.

"She's getting weaker by the day Harry, it's a wonder she's lived this long."

"I know dad, but what am I supposed to do? We have no alternative. Isn't there anything you could do to help her?"

"No Harry. I've tried everything." He sighed and put a consoling hand on his son's shoulder "I think we both know what needs to be done. Harry you must-"

"No! I will not. If you won't help us then we will find another way." Daddy shuffled on his walking stick a little. His bandages must have been loose.

"There is no other way. This shield, the necklace, it's all killing her."

"No it's not. You're wrong."

"In a year she will be dead, guaranteed."

"I will not let them take her. You remember what happened to mother, they are all foul. I couldn't even tell Vivian what really happened, it made me that sick."

"Just let her go Harry. The fight has been lost."

"Never. I will dis-own her if she ever becomes a freak like them."

"I'm tired Harry, physically and emotionally. I have tried to fight this fight for as long as possible, I know now that it was a lost cause. You should enjoy your time here until the war is over then return home."

He walked away.

"You come back here right now! I demand you do something!" Daddy followed him.

When they were out of sight Josephine made her way into her sister's room.

Violet stood in a shaft of light that emanated from the window.

She looked so pale and weak. Her once curly, black hair was now collapsed. Black eye bags circled her tear filled blue eyes.

Her eyes were fixed on the necklace dad gave her.

"Violet, will you play with me?"

She looked at Josephine and sniffed. She lifted her hand agonizingly and wiped the tears away. She put on a painful smile.

"I can't sweetie." She walked towards her. "I can't play with you anymore."

"I'm sorry Violet I didn't mean to ask you, Vinnie told me too and I did. Please don't say that I'm-"

"No Jojo, it's not because of you. I'm going to be leaving. I just want you to know that I'm really going to miss you."

"Where are you going?"

"To school." Violet put her hand out and handed the locket to her.

She grabbed a bag that sat on the bed and began to climb out of the window. Her movements were slow and arduous.

Josephine stood there watching her sister curiously. Violet was going to go to school; she would come back when she was done. She skipped out of the room, she would ask Gary to play with her instead.

"Any news?"

"No Professor. It has been three years Albus. Surely if she was alive we would have found her by now. "

"I assure she is alive. Her family have taken her into hiding. Just as they left Professor Ellmsworth tracked them in owl form. He lost the car when the muggle father began to speed up. He managed to spell the daughter and the minute she steps out of hiding a signal will flare up to alert us."

Galatea Merrythought sighed and looked out the window.

"I doubt we will find anything. She is gone for good Professor."

"In my many years, I have come to understand one thing Galatea; Anything can happen." The old man had a wise twinkle in his eyes.

"Why are you so determined to find this one little girl? She must be fourteen by now Albus. She would need to work twice as hard to catch up to her classmates. There is no point in pursuing her."

"She is our kind, which is reason enough."

Galatea Merrythought made her way from Dumbledore's office and walked down the dark hallway. She did not, however, make her way to her living quarters. For tonight she was on hall monitor duties. She would walk up and down for half an hour, then after that she would go to bed. The students were all well behaved and she doubted any of them would get out of bed. If they did, what harm could they do? Besides, the portraits would always snitch on them if necessary.

Merrythought was so wrapped up in her analogy she didn't notice when a eerie light came from under Dumbledore's closed door. She only turned her attention to him when he stood in the doorway gasping.

"My goodness," Albus exclaimed "we've found her."

I walked for miles and miles through the forest. The surroundings were getting duller as I went on. When I left the chain of flowers I felt a little stronger than I did before. But is still felt weak.

"Okay," I assured myself "you can do this."

The horrible truth was I didn't know what I was doing. I heard dad and grandpa talking and decided I had leave. These past three years were a total lie.

That was what hurt me the most.

Every time we laughed, every time we joked, every time we acted like a family, it was all fake.

I tried not to think about it, otherwise I would cry. And now was not the time or place for me to start blubbering like a baby.

Too late.

My face began to rise in temperature and tears began flowing from my eyes.

The tears made my vision go blurry and I stumbled around, trying to find my way to sit on a log.

I shuffled my feet along to find my way. It wasn't working so I wiped the tears from my eyes. That blocked my vision more and I tripped on some timber.

"Shit!"

My ankle was excruciatingly painful. I didn't move. I was lying on the ground, crying. This had to be the lowest point of my life. I turned over onto my back so I could see the sky.

There was a light summer breeze in the air. It was evening so the sky was becoming dimmer.

I might die here. I could actually die from misery.

I lifted my wrist and examined it. The bone was sticking out a little and it was a faded colour.

That was a huge improvement from before; lots of bone sticking out and no colour at all.

It made me sick to think of how my parents stood by, they stood by and did nothing as the shield killed me.

They didn't want to lose me, but the minute they took me here, they already had.

I lied there, in the middle of the forest, and cried. I had always been a firm believer in god. I still was. But was this really what he wanted. Looked at the sky through my tear filled eyes.

"Is this really what you want?" I yelled up at the sky. "I have no home! I'm alone in the middle of some forest and my ankle is killing me! Not to mention I'm a freak!" There was no reply, just the chirping of the birds. "You know what? Forget I asked. I'm off. I'm going to go back to grandpa's and die."

"Well I certainly hope not."

The girl lifted her head to see Galatea Merrythought standing next to a tree. When the phoenix flew through the window, Albus had sent her to follow the trail and bring the girl back.

"Who are you?" She asked.

"I am, Professor Merrythought, Professor of Defence against the Dark arts at Hogwarts school for Witch craft and Wizardry. And you my dear are a witch."

The girl attempted to get up but she was weak. Merrythought pitied her and took out her wand.

"What are you doing?"

"I am helping you. Once you are able to walk I shall take you to Hogwarts and get you settled. It's best to do that as soon as possible. You have missed three years of important education."

She pointed her wand at the girl then cast a healing spell.

Immediately her cheeks began to regain colour. She gained a healthy glow and her bones no longer stuck out.

The girl wiggled her foot and her eyes widened in disbelief when she realised she was able too.

She got up. Minerva expected useless questions such as 'how did you do that?' But the girl said no such thing. A part of her was a little disappointed and a part was impressed.

Minerva turned her wand to the clump of trees.

"Accio Nimbus." A broom came flying out of the dark forest.

"Do you plan on cleaning the forest?" The girl said.

"Very amusing (!) No, we use brooms to fly."

"Brooms? Can't you just fly or teleport?"

"Flying cannot be achieved by a witch or wizard alone. Teleportation is an art reserved for the greatest of sorcers. We use brooms because they are incredibly streamlined and sorcers can only channel their magic through wood."

The girl paced a little around the grass floor, she was either in deep thought or just exercising her leg. A smile approached Minerva's lips, Albus would also pace when he was thinking.

Finally the girl turned to the Professor.

"Can all sorcers only channel magic through wood?"

"Yes. I'm afraid it's the main restriction."

"But Professor..." She paused before speaking, as if re-thinking what she was going to say. "I can channel magic without using wood."

At that, Galatea Merrythought let out a little laugh.

"Oh my dear, I doubt that. It's impossible."

The girl frowned at the laughing woman.

She wandered over to a patch of dry earth. It was too dry for anything to grow on and it was deserted by all wildlife. She hovered her hand above the space.

At once a large violet flower sprang from the soil.

"Oh my word!"

"Is that normal in your world?"

Merrythought looked at the girl. She was very young and fragile, but she deserved the truth.

"No," she replied "it's not normal."