The Gryffindor common room was packed full to the brim of laughing and joking students. Harry checked his watch. 1. 30 Am. A small 1st year that looked exactly like Harry was sat next to him grinning and chatting to Ginny Hermione, a bottle of butterbeer in her hand.
Ron was laughing with Dean, Seamus and another first year called James about the previous event. Harry was glad that Ron had apologised to him, even though Ginny did have to kind of force him.
Sat around him was the greatest Gryffindor quidditch team Harry had ever seen.
Harry, himself, who was the fasted seeker at Hogwarts.
Ginny who could score more points in 5 minutes than Hermione could answer questions.
Ron who was now perfect at his Keeping abilities
The new beaters Robert Sharpe and Jordan Sunerly who where almost as good as the Weasley twins.
His new chaser Charlotte James who, with Ginny, could win an intentional quidditch game by themselves
And another new chaser Sapphire Malfoy. The 1st year sat next to him. She had never flown a broom till Thursday night but both she and Charlotte got 10 goals each in 5 minutes. Charlotte was a 4th year but Sapphire was only in her 1st year at Hogwarts, yet she flew like she'd been training all her life.
Harry could only smile to himself.
What made the evening better was that a girl called Lola who loathes Sapphire when she didn't make the team threw her broom at the ground but it bounced up and hit her in the face. Now she was sat across from Harry with a group of friends looking sour and a huge red mark on her forehead.
"You alright Harry?" Ginny had moved to sit on the other side of him
"Yeah" Harry grinned
"Good call this year" Ginny said gesturing to the team.
"Yeah" Harry said again. Why couldn't he think of anything to say?
"I didn't realise Sapphire was so good at quidditch" Ginny wondered
"She's brilliant. She had never flown a broom until Thursday night" Harry said
"You're joking"
"Nope"
Ginny looked impressed. There was a moment of silence.
"You know Sapphire reminds me a lot of you" She said
"How?" Harry asked quickly
"Well for starters you look nearly identical. Both the families you've been living with have disowned you. You're both related to Sirius and you both love quidditch"
Harry thought for a moment. Sapphire really was like him. The only thing missing was the scar really. And also the fact that Harry was a boy and Sapphire was a girl. Was this some sort of connection between Harry and Sapphire? Maybe there was more Sapphire than meets the eye.

Transfiguration had seemed to become a lot tougher than Harry thought. His next lesson was proving to be difficult and both Harry and Ron just didn't get the hang of it. Last year they had started conjuring objects. Now they were conjuring bigger objects like Wardrobes and large animals
In this particular lesson Professor McGonagall was asking them to conjure Unicorns out of thin air. Because the classroom would be too small they used the Great Hall instead. All the house tables had disappeared and there was a huge space for them to practice.
Harry had his wand gripped in his hand and was concentrating with all his might.
"Cornunus" He cried he waved his wand but nothing just a lot of gold smoke appeared in front of him, wafting it away he looked around the room.
Ron was having a similar problem
"Cornunum – no – cornsumu – "He stuttered he waved his wand wildly and dropped his wand. Ears glowing he picked up his wand mumbling.
Hermione had almost done it but so far could only conjure a horse.
Dean was stamping on Seamus robes that he'd accidentally set fire to apologising over and over again.
Neville had his eyes closed his wand ready concentrating hard.
"Cornunus" He said and waved his wand and with a puff of gleaming silver smoke a brilliant white unicorn was standing before him. Hermione's jaw dropped. No way had Neville just out beaten her in transfiguration?
The class stared speechless at the unicorn with Neville was now patting. A huge smile on his face. Harry and never seen him so happy, or been able to do such advanced magic.
"Well done Mr Longbottom" said Professor McGonagall striding towards him. "I see you have been practicing, well 20 points to Gryffindor and I suggest you should all take a leaf out of Mr Longbottom's book and get practicing". She smiled at Neville and began helping other students.
"Hey Neville do you think you could help us a bit" Harry called to him Neville came over to them. He spotted Hermione's horse.
"Hermione you've almost got it, just concentrate more on the look of the unicorn and you should get it" He advised. He turned away from a glowering Hermione and began on Harry and Ron.
"Harry if it helps close your eyes for a second and visualise a unicorn on your head" He said. "Then you need to concentrate really hard -"
"– That's what we're doing" Ron retorted. Harry shot him a look.
"Ron do you want to be able to do the charm or what" Harry said
"I was just saying" said Ron darkly.
"Sorry Neville carry on"
"Then you have to wave your wand, but not like a windmill like Ron was" –Ron huffed – "But do it gracefully, now give it a go"
Harry closed his eyes and thought clearly of a unicorn. Its shining white coat, it's swishing silver tail, its glittering horn.
"Cornunus" He swished is wand and silver clouds obscured his vision. He wafted the smoke away and stood before him was a glowing unicorn. Shocked at his performance he moved forward to stroke it. He had never really been up-close to a unicorn. Its pure whiteness dazzled his eyes. The bell for next period rang through the school and Professor McGonagall began vanishing the unicorns from the hall. Harry Ron and Hermione collected their bags from the back of the hall and set off for Defence against the dark arts.
"Well that wasn't so bad" said Harry
"At least you actually conjured a unicorn" Hermione snapped.
"Hermione, I didn't even conjure anything" Ron argued. "You actually made some progress. All I did was make green sparks come out of my wand"
Hermione opened her mouth to retort but she closed it again. She new she had been beaten. Ron glanced sideways at her.
They entered their classroom to find Lupin ready and waiting for them.
"Hello Professor" Harry said as they took their seats in the classroom
"Hello Harry" Lupin said cheerfully. "And Hermione and Ron"
"Hi Professor"
Soon the rest of the class joined them and mutters of excitement began to fill the room. Professor Lupin was the best defence against the dark art teacher they had ever had. In their third year He had shown them all sorts of creatures and spells.
"Quite now class" Lupin said" I'm so glad to be back here and to see so many familiar faces." Harry looked around the room all the faces where smiling except the Slytherins who were muttering darkly to each other. Harry could see Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson among them.
"Right I thought we'd tackle a patronus"
A ripple of murmurs went through the class. Harry, who already new how to do a perfect patronus charm, smiled to Hermione and Ron. He had tried to teach some of the DA in his 5th year to do a patronus, but never really got the chance to progress it.
Lupin turned to Harry.
"Harry you already know how to do a patronus so please would you assist me" He said. Harry nodded. "excellent, now the patronus charm is what anyone can tell me?"
Most of the class raised their hand. Harry could see nearly all of them were members of the DA.
"Yes Mr Thomas" Lupin said pointing at Dean.
"It acts as like a shield, it repels dementors" Dean explained winking at Harry.
"Well done 5 points to Gryffindor, yes it is like a shield and it takes the form of an animal that is most like the wizard that has conjured it."
"Take Harry's patronus for instance, his is a stag because of his father, does anyone else now what their patronus was"
Only Hermione raised her hand this time.
"Yes Miss Granger"
"Mine is an otter sir …. I tried it out by myself" She added quickly
"Are you able to perform a proper patronus?" Lupin asked
"No I've only tried the charms once to see if I could really do it"
Lupin smiled, looking impressed then continued talking to the class.
"Well then the word cantation is expo patronum for the patronus charm, but to make the charm work properly you must think of the happiest thought you can think of"
Harry looked around the classroom again most people had there eyes closed. Obviously trying to think of a happy memory, though Neville didn't but when Harry caught his eye he smiled at him. Harry had a good idea what Neville's happy memory would be.

Half an hour later Harry Ron and Hermione where sat in the courtyard at break time discussing the previous lesson.
"Well I definitely know that mine was something big" Ron said. "It might have been a lion or maybe a dragon."
Harry wasn't listing, Ginny had just walked through the courtyard with a gang of her friends, but to Harry's disappointment she didn't notice them. Sapphire and James appeared in the courtyard just as Ginny and her friends left. Harry Ron and Hermione waved at them, and they waved back
"Hi Sapphire, James", Harry said once they were in ear shot.
"Morning guys" James said, He sat down next to Harry. But Sapphire remained standing. She looked rather paranoid and kept glancing at everyone. Once or twice she would touch her left fore arm.
"Are you alright Sapphire?" Harry asked. "You seem at bit jumpy."
"What? Oh... I'm fine" She said not looking at Harry, but glancing over her shoulder. The bell sounded for the end of break and she left without James or saying goodbye.
"She's been like this all say, I don't know what's wrong" James said staring after Sapphire.
"Just keep an eye on her ok?" Hermione said looking concerned.
"I will, see you later" James followed Sapphire's route and disappeared.
"Blimey she looked at little pale" Ron said as they made their way to herbology. "Didn't she".
"I'll have a word with her" Harry said then he had a thought. "I bet its Malfoy, I bet he's said something to her"
"It would explain why she was so nervous; He probably has Crabbe and Goyle watching her" Hermione said
"It is the sort of thing Malfoy would do" Harry said. "Terrorising his younger sister"
"Not to mention he disowned her" Ron said. "I mean, her hole family hates her"
Hermione looked like she was about to cry.
"Poor girl" She said. "We really have to help her"
We sure do Harry thought, Harry some how felt that he had to protect Sapphire. She reminded him of himself so much it was unbelievable. Harry felt there was this amazing connection between the two of them, yet Harry didn't know how. Sapphire was more like a sister to him than a friend.
At the end of the day Harry looked everywhere in the castle for Sapphire, he even asked James but he just said that she left history of magic with out waiting for him. Harry found her in an empty classroom on the second floor. She was sat on a table with her legs crossed. She was looking at something on her left arm but when Harry opened the door she immediately pulled her sleeve down.
"Oh hi I didn't realise anyone would come in here" She said quickly.
Harry closed the door behind him and sat on the table with Sapphire.
"What's been up lately?" He asked
"Nothing" Sapphire said in a clear tone that said it was not nothing.
"Come on Sapphire I know something's up with you"
"Really Harry it's nothing"
Harry raised his eyebrows. Sapphire really was a bad lair.
"You wouldn't understand even if I told you" Sapphire said looking away from him.
"So there is something up with you" Harry said grinning.
"Fine, there is" Sapphire said angrily, glaring at Harry
"Is it Malfoy?"
"What?"
"Has Malfoy been saying to you?"
"Its not about Draco, well not in the way that your think of"
"It isn't?" That was the only thing Harry thought would be wrong with Sapphire. Now he was clueless.
"Well in what way is it to do with Draco?" Harry asked
"I …. Sapphire trailed off. Harry looked at her. She was looking at the window. Her eyes glistened with tears, which silently dropped on to her cheeks. She bowed her head and wiped her tears on her sleeve.
Harry put a hand on her shoulder and she looked up. Her brilliant emerald green eyes shined brightly and Harry pulled her into a hug.
Harry had never had a sister, but Sapphire was as close to one as he could get. Harry would do anything for Sapphire, he respected her and he would not let any harm come her way. Sapphire was almost Harry's family, something he didn't have a lot of, and neither did Sapphire. Both of them had been ripped of their families by Voldemort, it made Harry angry that a girl this young could survive with no family. Yet Harry survived, he was once Sapphires age and Harry had had to live his whole life with out his family. He had to grow up with the Dursleys. Harry felt the sides of his eyes prickle slightly. He had to be strong for Sapphire. Harry pulled himself together and let go of Sapphire.
"Harry I just want you to know …. You're like a brother to me" Sapphire said quietly
"I am?" Harry said. His heart lifted. Sapphire nodded her head.
"Ever since I got here you were the one who looked after me, and you know what I have to go through" She said looking up at Harry. "I mean Hermione looks after me aswel and Hermione is great, but I can really relate to you."
Harry beamed at Sapphire and he was glad that he got a smile in return.
"I sound really cheesy don't I" Sapphire said looking embarrassed
Harry laughed
"Of course you don't, I mean I always think of you like my younger sister" Harry confessed. "I mean look at us, were like twins."
"Good point" Sapphire agreed, Harry was glad she was smiling again. He decided not to question Sapphire anymore about Malfoy, for fear of upsetting her. Harry would leave it for now, but keep a close eye on both of the Malfoy siblings.

Soon the last September sun evaporated from the grounds and replaced it instead with cold gusting winds that blew up leaves from the ground and billowed everybody's cloaks around them.
Quidditch practice began on one Tuesday evening. Harry and the rest of the team were in the changing rooms talking over tactics.
"We have a good chance of winning this year" Harry said standing in front of the team and surveying them. "I mean look at us, this is one of the best teams we've ever had"
"Plus this is mine and Ron's last year at Hogwarts, so you have to make me proud, right let's get on with it"
The team filed out with their brooms in hand and onto the pitch. All of them mounted and kicked off from the ground.
"Right Charlotte can you go get the quaffle and then we'll start with just passing it around" When Charlotte had retrieved the large scarlet ball from the trunk on the ground she paced it to Jordan, who passed it to Robert, who passed it to Harry, who passed it to Sapphire. After 5 minutes of perfect passing Harry decided that everybody should play their positions's and see how they got on. Harry let out the snitch and bludgers. He gave the snitch a head start so he could watch the rest of the team. Sapphire was doing excellent, and Charlotte and Ginny were taking great care of her. Ron was circling his hoops and Jordan and Robert where hitting the bludgers with such force Harry felt a vibration in his ribs every time the bludgers came past him.
After practice they all gathered in the changing rooms once again to here Harry's review.
"Wow" He said. "That's all I can say really, you all flew brilliant" The team cheered and began changing.
"Hey Harry I'll walk up with you" said Ginny
"Sure" Harry smiled at her. As the rest of the team Harry and Ginny walked slowly on purpose back up to the castle.
"In all my quidditch playing, I have never seen a better team" Ginny said walking close to Harry
"We are so going to win that cup this year" Harry said the breeze lifted Ginny's flaming hair back slightly so he could see all her face. She was smiling.
For a moment they didn't talk, rather awkward for the both of them. Soon they reached the castle doors. Harry checked his watch. It was only 6 o'clock they had ages till they were suppose to be in bed.
"You know I feel like we haven't talked for ages" Ginny said
"We talk all the time" Harry said
"You know what I mean Harry"
Harry grinned. The reached the portrait of the fat lady
"Animus"
The portrait sung open to reveal the common room, packed with students. It was too early to go to bed. Ron Hermione Sapphire and James were sat near the fire and they waved as Harry and Ginny approached them. There were limited spaces, Sapphire and James where sharing an arm chair. Ginny and Harry sat on the floor together.
"You took your time" Hermione said from behind her book
"We were just talking" Harry said blushing slightly. He tried to hide his face and stared into the fire. He could see Hermione smile slightly in the corner of his eye.
"Anyway Harry, when's the first match?" James asked. He and Sapphire were rather close together on that arm chair.
"In a couple of weeks actually, Gryffindor verses Slytherin" Harry said with out a trace of fear in his voice. There was no need to be worried.
Harry's scar suddenly prickled painfully, this was happening more frequently now, but at the same time Sapphire held her left and looked frightened. Only Hermione noticed, stealing glances from Sapphire to Harry. Harry nodded his head towards the portrait hole.
"Harry and Ron we need to finish of those essays" Hermione said snapping her book shut and jumping up
"What essays?" Ron asked looking puzzled. Obviously not catching on. Hermione stood on his foot.
"Oh yeah those essays, we'd better go to the library" Harry said through clenched teeth glaring at Ron. "See you later" He grabbed Ron and pulled him out of the common room followed by Hermione.
"Harry what is going -" Ron started
"Not here" Harry hissed. He pulled them into an empty classroom and shut the door. Hermione folded her arms and looked worried.
"What are you thinking Harry?" She asked quietly
"I don't know" Harry said pacing up and down the class room. "I have an idea, but I hope I'm not right"
"I hope I'm not thinking what you're thinking" Hermione said looking shocked
"What are you two on about?" Ron said
"Be quiet Ron" Hermione snapped
Ron folded his arms and looked moody
"Sapphire said she leaked some information on Voldemort didn't she" Harry said ignoring Ron. He wasn't about to explain this to Ron, and he had a good reason.
Hermione nodded her head
"Yes, but why would Voldemort do that?" Hermione asked in horror
"Maybe to scare her, for what she's done" Harry said coming to a stand still. "It would explain why she's been acting strange lately, because my scar keeps hurting aswel"
"Yes it all fits" Hermione said
"This is ridiculous guys what are you talking about" Ron pleaded
Hermione took a deep breath and looked at Harry. He nodded yet he would rather not Ron knew what they were thinking.
"We think Sapphires been branded with the dark mark" Hermione slowly
Ron's jaw dropped
"So I was right all a long then" Ron said angrily
"No we don't mean like that" said Hermione quickly
"We mean that she's been branded with the dark mark so she can be tortured, and scared to show what she's done" Harry said fiercely. This was exactly how Harry had pictured Ron's reaction. Ron fell silent, like Harry, he didn't want another argument between them.
"Sapphire was all ways holding her left arm, the-"Harry said
"- Same arm that the dark mark is on" Hermione whispered
"When I talked to her that day she was acting paranoid, I asked if it was something to do with Malfoy" Harry said resuming his pacing. "She said it was something like that, when I pressed on she got upset, when I walked in she was looking at something at her left arm and -" All of sudden Harry banged his fist on a desk beside him, making Ron and Hermione jump. His temper rose to its highest in days. How could some do this to Sapphire? Then he remembered this was Voldemort they were talking about, he doesn't care how many lives he destroyed, he doesn't care how many people he was to torture and scare for life. Harry was furious, Sapphire was like his sister and she has to go through everything Harry went through. Hermione had sunk into a chair, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"This is horrible" she whispered
Harry dropped into a chair beside her his face buried in his hands.
Just then the door opened and Sapphire and James came in. James had his hand in Sapphires but instantly let go when they realised that the classroom was already occupied. Hermione jumped up and wiped her eyes hastily on her sleeve.
"Sapphire can I ...erm… talk to you for a sec?" Harry said. Nobody moved. "In private". Ron and Hermione scurried out pushing James along with them and they closed the door. Sapphire stood with her arms folded.
"I thought you went to the library" Sapphire said coolly. There was no use lying to her.
"Ok so we didn't" Harry said He drew up a chair for her and gestured for her to take. Sapphire cautiously took the seat opposite Harry and stared at him.
"What's wrong?" she asked sounding slightly worried, Harry didn't say anything. How could he ask her? He was stuck for words.
"Is there anything you want to tell me?" He asked her, finally deciding on good enough question.
"No" sapphire said plainly
"Are you sure there isn't anything you want to share, something you wouldn't really want to share with anybody else?"
Sapphire's beautiful eyes widened slightly but she slowly shook her head. Harry was slightly disappointed that she was lying to him.
"What if I looked at your left arm" Harry said quietly
Sapphire gasped and clapped a trembling hand to her mouth. Tears dropped on to her skin and she closed her eyes. A tiny sob came from behind her hand. She brought her hand away and opened her shinning eyes.
"How did you know" She whispered splattering diamond tears on to her robes
"We guessed" Harry said truthfully. "Your were always holding your left arm, when ever my scar hurt you always would grasp your left arm"
Sapphire breathed in a sob
"It's always haunted me" She said furiously. "I'm always reminded about my messed up life, how I don't have a family" she clenched her fists.
"I've had to hide it from everyone, think about what people might say about me, ill ready get stared at and I don't want more."
"You won't have to worry though" Harry said. "I've gone through everything you've gone through"
"That's why I'm scared"
There was silence between them. Harry could feel his eyes start to prickle slightly. He lowered his head; he did not want Sapphire to see that he was crying. He had to be strong for his sister.
After a few moments Harry thought it was safe to raise his head again. Sapphire was looking at him through her bright emerald green eyes, her long shining black hair draped over her shoulders. She was beautiful, and Harry was proud to call her his sister. He will not let anyone take her away from him
Sapphire breathed and took the hem of her left sleeve and silently pulled up it back to the top of her arm.
There tattooed on her arm, bearing back at Harry was the dark mark.
Harry looked back at Sapphires face. From two pairs of brilliant emerald green eyes tears fell silently down its owners cheeks.