While she was packing her trunk, preparatory to leaving America once more for her sixth year at Hogwarts, Evie found a small, leather-bound book. Over the summer, she'd almost forgotten about it. A small smile crept onto her face as she opened the first page and began to read.

September 9, 1971

I have decided to keep a diary of all the important things that have, or will have, happened to me here, at Hogwarts. So far, only one thing out of the ordinary has happened to me (unless I were to count Peeves nearly toppling a candelabra onto my head).

It was the first Charms class I'd ever had. I was sitting near the back, waiting for the rest of the class to arrive, since I didn't want to sit in the Great Hall any longer then I had to. That Bella Black, a Slytherin, was being awful to me, so I ran out of the Hall trying not to cry.

If I had any of the courage Gryffindors are supposed to have, I would have stayed and stuck up for myself, but I just couldn't. She was teasing me about being shy, which only made things worse.

Evie could still remember Bellatrix's sneering face as she said those hateful words.

"Poor stupid thing, she's so idiotically shy that the Sorting Hat just called out the first house it could think of when she put it on. If it hadn't been quick, she'd have been out of the Great Hall and running before it could so much as open its mouth. God, you must be as red as a roasted lobster, Quay."

So I was sitting at the back of the Charms room, and all of the other students came in after a while, then Professor Flitwick came out of his office and climbed up his stack of books. He took attendance, then began telling us about what charms are and how they're different from other spells, when Sirius Black and James Potter came in, late.

I have found out since then that Bella Black is Sirius's cousin. When Sirius teases someone (he teases all the other girls. I don't think he even remembers my name. Lily Evans says I'm lucky that he and James leave me alone, and she is probably right. I would only blush and stammer, like I always do). -- when he teases, he isn't hateful like Bellatrix.

Sirius and James managed to smile and charm (they don't need the class) their way out of trouble, and took the only seats left -- James the one farthest from the window and Sirius the one by me.

Professor Flitwick told us some more about charms and what we'd be learning that year, when I began to feel very strange. Its only happened that way twice before. Usually my visions don't even cause me to stumble, but then my eyes seemed to shut of their own accord, and the last thing I remember before I was pulled under was falling sideways out of my chair and landing hard on the classroom floor.

Evie absently rubbed her shoulder, recalling the enormous bruise she'd had the next day in that exact spot.

I Saw into a cottage. 'Hovel' might be a better word actually. The girl, the one I've seen before, was there, and so was the boy who was in my second vision. I couldn't hear anything but a roaring in my ears. I only saw them for a moment. The girl had her long black hair tied back in a braid, like I normally do, and there was a bruise shadowing her cheek. The boy was standing over her, and it looked like she was crying.

Then it was gone again, and I had the most awful prickling sensation all over my skin. When I opened my eyes, there was Professor Flitwick, bending over me with a concerned expression. I think my face went red again.

"I-I'm s-sorr-ry, Prof-fessor," I stuttered, but he waved a hand to stop me.

"Hospital Wing, I think, my dear," he said. "Mr. Black, will you be so kind as to escort her there? I trust you know the way."

Sirius smiled. "I think so, sir," he said in a voice that made me wonder if he'd slept at all last night or gone exploring all over the castle.

I got up and followed Sirius out of the classroom. He really did know the way. As we walked, he asked my name, and for a moment I had the oddest feeling.

Evie could remember that clearly, too. She'd been overwhelmed for a split second by the feeling that she was teetering on the edge of a precipice, and whether she fell or not depended on her answer. Of course it had been stupid, just the aftermath of the vision. But sometimes she wondered, when she lay in bed at night, unable to sleep, what would have happened if she'd answered differently . . .

I told him it was Evangeline Quay. I don't know why I didn't say Evie. I just couldn't seem to get it to come out of my mouth. Father would be pleased, anyway. He says that pet names are for people who don't have the character to live up to the names that they were born with.

Madam Pomfery checked me for anything wrong, but she didn't find anything. If I weren't so Merlin-cursed shy, I might have told her about my visions.

But I am, so I didn't.

October 13, 1971

I got one hundred percent on my Tranfiguration homework. When I owled Father, though, he said I should be getting one hundreds on all my homework.

I will just have to work harder.

October 30, 1971

Today I have learned the Hythriope Hex. Next time Bella Black says something mean to me, I'll prove that I deserve to be in Gryffindor by using it on her.

November 5, 1971

I didn't use the hex. When Bellatrix called me a blood traitor in the History of Magic corridor, I drew my wand and said, "H-hyth-thropus," not 'hythriopeus' like I should have. Sparks shot out of the end of my wand, setting my robes on fire.

I will never live down the humiliation of running away from her. Every time I think of her and her Slytherin friends laughing at me, I stammer worse then ever. Lily says that I aught to just ignore them. I wish I could. No, I wish they'd just ignore me.

November 10, 1971

I had another vision today in Astronomy. Just the girl this time, standing by a well crying again. She looked older. I wonder why she's always so sad.

Professor Sinistra thinks I have weak blood. I think that Flitwick told the rest of the staff what happened that other time.

December 7, 1971

I made a perfect Appetite Elixir in Potions today. Professor Slughorn awarded me ten points to Gryffindor. I've never earned any points before.

January 14, 1972

Christmas was very lonely. I didn't feel like writing then. Father sent me a book on Transfiguration and a note from my aunt.

I don't know which is worse, when the other Gryffindors ignore me or when the don't.

January 27, 1972

I think I'm turning invisible. All I do is watch other people doing things, now, and study hard for my lessons. No one else has such good grades, but no one else is as lonely as I am, either.

You don't have to be lonely to do well in classes, though. Sirius and James are really good, the both of them, and they hardly ever study at all. They and their fiends Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew are the ones I like to watch the best. They call themselves the Marauders, and they get into such trouble. Lily doesn't like them, though. They are always jinxing her friend Severus Snape.

Turning the page, Evie wondered just why Lily had liked Snape so much. His misdeeds were getting darker, and she still turned a blind eye, for all she never spoke to him anymore. Being called 'Mudblood' wasn't something easily forgiven.

February 6, 1972

I had a vision in the common room tonight. It was longer then they've ever been before, though not by much. Towards the end, I thought I could hear something, like steam hissing out of a kettle almost.

March 31, 1972

Alice Bowman got hexed by Augustus Flint, a third year, today. She's still in the Hospital Wing.

May 1, 1972

I think I really must be invisible. Lily is the only person who speaks to me at all, and I can hardly ever bring myself to answer. What's wrong with me? I don't need a nerve like Gilderoy Lockhart's, (or is it just stupidity with him?) just the ability to carry out a normal conversation.

Father owled me to say that my cousin Miranda is ill. I think I'll go to bed now. I finished my homework hours ago. I've just been sitting here, watching the Marauders.

May 24, 1972

It was my birthday five days ago. I've been twelve for five whole days, and I didn't notice. I've been to busy reviewing for final exams to think about anything else.

May 29, 1972

There was the most awful thing today. James and Sirius got into a bit of a fight with Snape, and then a second year Slytherin, I think his name was Malfoy, stepped in, and things got nasty. Sirius is still in the Hospital wing.

June 21, 1972

Today is the last day of term. I don't know if I'm glad or disappointed. I feel so strange. I don't think I've looked any one in the eye for weeks.

I had a vision during the Charms exam. Professor Flitwick very nearly had me finish the test later and go to the Hospital Wing, but I told him (I still don't know how I go the words out, but I'm proud that I did) that it wasn't anything to worry about, because it had happened before.

It was the girl again. She was even older then the last time I Saw her, maybe fifteen. And I'm certain that I heard something this time. Just one word. I think it might be a name. It doesn't sound like an incantation.

The word was 'Merope.'