Disclaimer: I had a dreamed I owned Harry Potter once...It didn't turn out very well.

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It's the second morning in a row that Theo and I eat breakfast without Father. he left yesterday with Prynne very early in the morning so that he could secure a contract with an American company, possibly even recruiting some employees. Admittedly, it's calmer than when Father is around, mostly because we're able to read at the table.

Although, there was that one time that we were so frustrated and gave each other migraines that were so bad we had to knock each other out. The worst part of it was that we could still hear each other. The argument only continued.

"Anything good in the paper?" Theo asks, looking up from his book in order to butter his toast.

"What kind of question is that?" I ask, pursing my lips at a particular story about the disasterly deeds some minor Pureblood family is getting themselves up to. Then, of course there is an article all excited about perhaps spotting Potter in Diagon Alley now that it's time for him to start Hogwarts. "This newspaper only reports trash. I should really subscribe to The Sentinel."

"Then why are you reading it?" He rolls his eyes and brushes the crumbs off the pages in front of him.

"Because I wanted a break from the lively conversation we're having." I deadpan, gesturing towards the book with a wave. "Ever since we got our supplies, you've buried yourself in those books. You don't even want to practice anymore. Tired of me kicking your arse?"

"We only have a couple of more weeks until Hogwarts starts." He lets the insult roll off of him and reaches for a napkin to wipe his face with. "I want to make sure that I know everything so I don't forget anything when a professor questions me."

"That's an excellent goal." I agree with him. I've been afraid of that, too. "Or, it would be if you hadn't already gone through the course book with me again. Don't you think that Hogwarts should be reviewing this stuff with us? I don't think there's a need to memorize everything in the text. No one likes a know-it-all."

Theo closes the Potions book as calmly as he can and folds his arms in front of me, staring me down and reminding me of Father in a way that makes me wince. "In a hypothetical world, what if a professor calls on me to answer something, and I embarrass myself - and, by extension, you - by not properly answering a question? I'd bring shame upon our family."

I hum under my breath, pretending to mull this over. After letting him hold that position for a while, I stand up just enough to open the book back up again and shove it towards him. "Don't do that. We have the same face. It would be impossible for me to deny that I'm related to you."

"Shouldn't you be studying too?" He asks dryly, shifting his attention back down.

"I would be, normally, but I'm going to Diagon Alley today." I sigh. "Neville's forgotten a lot of the school supplies when we were running through that last check up, so I'm going with him to ensure that he doesn't forget anything else."

"No Lady Longbottom?" Theo sounds surprised, but I shake my head in response. "Great, I'll go with, then. There's this book I want to pick up."

I snap my fingers. "Vaniel! Come here with our cloaks. We're ready to leave!"

I hate the floo.


"You have your work robes, right?" Thea asks Neville, crossing the item off of the checklist she made. My sister was too organized sometimes. "And a pointed hat?"

"Yes." Neville nods.

"How about gloves?" I ask. "I'm partial to protecting my hands."

"Very wise." Thea nods her head seriously. "You'll need gloves to handle things in Herbology and Potions."

I snicker at the pun, but it seems to go over Neville's head. "And a winter cloak. Or, in Thea's case, six."

"That's cause Parkinson will make fun of her if she doesn't have loads of them." Bless him, he actually looks proud of the insult.

I can tell by the way Thea's nose wrinkles that she isn't as amused as the two of us.

"Uh, yeah." He fixes the smile on his face. She smiles at him like he's done nothing wrong, but fixes me with a sneer. "I have all of that. The course books too, I think."

"You have them." Thea waves her list around. "I made sure to check with Lady Longbottom before Vaniel brought us."

"What's missing then?" I snatch the list out of her hand. "A cauldron, phials, and scales?"

"I have a cauldron!" Neville reaches for the list, but I hold it out of his grasp with a raised eyebrow.

"It's the wrong size." Thea rolls her eyes and directs us both in the direction of the apothecary. "I think they might have some here, and you're going to need a new wand, too. The one you have does not work for you."

"But-"

"No." She cuts him off quickly, rolling the parchment up and sticking it in her bag. "You're terrible with that wand. You couldn't even cast the easiest charm. You need another one."

I can't even argue with her. Thea's utter rubbish when it comes to learning a spell. It takes her forever to finally be able to understand it, but, when she does, they come out far more powerful than mine. I'm more of a teacher than she is, and even I've tried teaching Neville some of the simpler stuff we've gone over. I've even asked Josce to look over some lesson plans I have for him. She always approves them, but it's a painfully slow process.

He needs a new wand. His grandmother obviously isn't aware of the damage she's causing him by holding him back, but he does. I just don't want to be around when they go and get it.

After all, Pappous hates that half-blood, and I don't want him to find out his grandchildren have been there.

"Right." I clear my throat. "I'll catch up with you later then. I'll be in Flourish and Blotts or Scribbulus Writing Instruments. I'll let you know when I switch stores."

Thea shrugs and prods Neville forward, ignoring the confused look on his face. That probably means she hasn't told him she can hear me in her head. All the better, he'd think we were crazy. "Pick me up some more of those ink-quills and after we've stopped by at Potage's, I'll nab you some new gloves from Twilfitt and Tatting's."

"Deal." I grin and squeeze her wrist once before disappearing into the crowd.

Lady Malfoy takes Thea out shopping from time to time, probably feeling terrible that my poor little sister doesn't have a mum of her own to take her. I find it hilarious because she comes back with this haunted look on her face from the amount of time she has spent at Twilfitt and Tatting's. Lady Malfoy picks her up in the morning right after breakfast, and then she doesn't get back until after dinner. Vaniel always has to keep something warm for her. In comparison, she spends maybe two or three hours shopping with Alaya and her Mama when they go to the boutiques in Athens.

Father and I don't spend roughly that amount of time getting me what I need.

I could live in Flourish and Blotts. That isn't to say that I don't have an impressive library back at the Villa, but there are more publications here than I could go through in a while. Thea might laugh at my enthusiasm, but I have no doubt in my mind she'll be asking me questions about classes later. We'll probably sit in the common room at Hogwarts and work on our homework together, as we always have.

"But, Mum!"

I know that voice anywhere. I may have only spent a day with her, but Lavender Brown's voice is easy to recognize, high-pitched and grating on my ears. I nab the closest paperback to me and hold it up to block my face as I try to sneak across the store.

So I owled him. 'Tell me you read it.'

'Well, I haven't finished it. It's six hundred fifty-one pages long, and I've had twenty four hours.'

'How far are you'

'Four fifty-three.'

'And?'

'I will withhold judgement until I finish. However, I will say that I'm feeling a bit embarrassed to have given you-'

I'm not sure what I'm reading, but I'm almost thankful to bump into someone. Or, I am until I look at her. It only takes one look to know. She has to be a mudblood. No one respectable would let their hair look like that.

I think I've been spending too much time around Thea and Celena.

"Sorry." I try my hardest not to sound too disgusted. I almost back away entirely until I catch sight of what she has in her arms. "Merlin, tell me you're not about to get the Harry Potter Adventure books."

I'm a little proud of the scandalized look that overtakes her features. I almost grin, but instead turn on my heel and look through the books that we're by. I set down 'The Fault In Our Blood' without another thought to it and pick up 'Modern Magical History' and 'Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century.'

"There - this way you can read all about Potter and not get misguided by events that someone our age couldn't possibly do." I don't hand her the books. I merely set them down on one of the small tables and stare at her flatly. "Theodore Nott."

"I'm Hermione Granger." She smiles brightly and sticks her front hand out. Merlin, does she have a big set of front teeth. The poor skoupídia probably doesn't realize there is a spell to fix that. "I'll be sure to look at those. I was looking for a few extra books do so some background reading. Nobody in my family's magic at all. I was so surprised when I got my letter," she says in a rush. "But I was ever so pleased as well. I know it's the best school of witchcraft there is - I mean, I've read up a couple on some of the others. I've already learned all of our course books by heart, I'm just hoping it will be enough."

"Listen." I stress, gritting my teeth and trying very hard not to reach for my wand to silence her. "What a fascinating life story, really. I'd love to hear more about how surprised and pleased you are, but I'm afraid I have to go." I hold up my hand when she opens her mouth. "No, don't say anything. You'll ruin it."

"Ruin what?" Hermione asks, seemingly confused.

"Say, you wouldn't happen to be related to Hector Dagworth-Granger, would you?" I take the look of confusion on her face to mean no. "That's a shame. You might have actually been interesting."

"Might have been?" She trails off, eyes wide.

"We could have had a great friendship." I'm not at all wistful. I'm not. "Unfortunately, we're from two entirely different social circles, and I imagine you're every bit of a know-it-all I am. It could never work. No, Hermione Granger." I refocus my attention. "I'm afraid this is where I go off to Scribbulus Writing Instruments lamentably without a book. Antío."


"Ah, Theo left for Scribbulus." I tilt my head at the news and smile at Neville. "That took him longer than I expected. We've already gotten everything we needed."

Neville grunts, but that's what he gets for holding on to everything. I warned him this would happen if we sent Vaniel away, so I don't feel too terribly. "Remind me never to go shopping with you."

"Nonsense." I wave him off, grabbing onto his sleeve and dragging him towards the ice cream shop. "I'll buy us some. I'm in the mood for strawberry."

"You don't have to buy me anything." He doesn't stop following me. "You've helped me enough."

"Neville - we're really going to have to do something about your confidence. Besides, tack this on as another birthday presen-" I stop abruptly, staring at the very large man also headed for the small shop. "What is he wearing?"

"Looks like moleskin." Neville inches closer.

"Looks like it should be thrown out." I correct him, but do keep moving. Nothing's going to keep me from getting that strawberry ice cream, least of all being distracted by some giant man. We stand behind him in line for five minutes before Neville pulls me to the side to make sure he doesn't bump into me. "Actually, that doesn't look too bad."

I end up getting strawberry and raspberry with chopped nuts.

'Where are you?' I can feel Theo frowning.

'Following a giant man - heading towards Madam Malkin, I think.'

'Great, I see you. Have my gloves?'

"Yes." I say out loud instead, waving at Theo.

"Yes what?" Neville blinks at the two of us.

We ignore him in favor of listening to the colorful commentary that Theo provides.

"Is that Malfoy?" Neville gestures towards the blond. We promptly forget about the tall man and turn our attention to the blond.

"Does Lady Malfoy know he's shopping there?" I wrinkle my nose. "This is definitely not her style."

"It was probably Lord Malfoy's idea. Father and I go here, too." Theo rolls his eyes, but shifts his attention somewhere else. "You're going to use this as an opportunity to make fun of him, aren't you?"

"What kind of 'friend' would I be if I didn't?" I ask him cheerfully, waving at Draco and offering my twin my cone.

"A good one?" Neville tries.

I freeze and turn around to stare at him with a hurt expression on my face. "Why would you ever suggest I was friends with Draco Malfoy - that prat?"

He opens and closes his mouth without an option, and I snicker at his response. He's heard me complain enough times that I brighten when he doesn't have anything to say.

"Oh." Theo blinks slowly. "I forgot to get your pen."

"Seriously?" I shove him and give him a reproachful glare. "I'll get it. You two stay here. I'll be faster on my own."

Neville looks at Malfoy out of the corner of his eye before protesting. "I'll stay with you if it's all the same."

"That's okay. You have too much stuff in your arms, unless you're volunteering to pick up some more?"

"He'll stay with me. I'm not going in there." Theo says, shooing me away.

I leave Theo with the rest of my ice cream, and I do see the giant man again. He's familiar, but I can't place my finger on it. He's at Scribbulus, standing just outside the door. I pause at the door and stare at him briefly. When he smiles at me, I dart inside the store.

I do meet Harry Potter. He's not at all what I expected; small and skinny with knees that look like they would give out if I so much as poked them as hard as I do Neville.

"Are you with that man?" I ask him, looking over my shoulder.

"Erm." He stares at me suspiciously. His hands tighten around the ink well.

"I've been trying to figure out his name." I continue, ignoring him as if he hadn't tried to chime into the conversation. "It starts with an H, right?"

"That's Hagrid." Harry says slowly.

"There you go!" I snap my fingers and grin at him, trying to keep from looking devious. "He's the groundskeeper, isn't he? Stays on the grounds and looks after the animals; that sort of thing."

"Yes." At least his grip isn't about to destroy that ink well anymore. It would get everywhere if he did, probably ruin my robes. "He's brilliant."

I don't agree with him, but I don't disagree outloud. I try to think of something he would do. He hasn't been raised as a pureblood, so bowing or curtsying would look odd to him. I stick out my hand, albeit awkwardly. This isn't proper. "I'm Dorothea Nott."

"Harry Potter." He looks at my hand and shakes it.

"Are you really?" I try to act surprised, but it falls a little flat. "Happy Birthday, right?"

He drops my hand, and the cautious look is back on his face. He reminds me of Neville when we first met.

"That's a fun bottle of ink, although not very practical for classes." I reach out and take it from him, peering at it. "It changes color when you write. It's more for fun, casual letters to friends."

"Oh." Yes, just like Neville when we first met. No matter, I managed to make a friend out of Neville. I can at least make an acquaintance out of Potter or undo the damage Draco's probably done.

"How about this?" I lean forward and grab his wrist, turning on my heel and heading towards the ink filled quills. "I'll buy you this for your birthday - and throw in some ink filled quills. They're incredibly useful - and you use this to owl me or Neville Longbottom, okay? I think the Longbottoms and Potters are old family friends. Neville's really sweet and not at all like that bugger you met at Madam Malkin's."

"I - you - uh." He stutters, ducking his head down.

"I didn't hear anything." I say this as gently as I can, handing off the items to the shopkeeper. "I know how he is. I'd be willing to bet you he was being a berk, wasn't he?" I take his silence as confirmation.

"Do you also," his voice is so low I have to lean in to hear him. "think that people from Muggle families shouldn't be allowed into Hogwarts?"

I feel my mouth press into a line, and I know that I'm going to be having a lot of mixed words for Draco the next time I see him. Better yet, I'll probably have a lot to say to Theo in regards to choosing who he befriends and the social damage a young "Lord" can create.

"I believe that purebloods and half-bloods, which is what you are, have the potential and means to be better than mud-muggleborns." I say this slowly. "This potential is often...squandered with ideals of superiority. But, if they don't work and keep at it, then it's obvious the muggleborns are going to do better. It's all about maintaining and cultivating what you have."

"I'm a half-blood?" Bless his heart, I just want to hug him. Unfortunately, that would be an unseeming thing to do in public to someone of the opposite gender and not family. Instead, I pat his arm and gesture towards Hagrid.

"I'm sure he'll answer any questions you have. I have to get back to my brother. It was very nice to meet you, Harry Potter. I'm certain we'll see each other again."


Funny, those words, because they are exactly what I tell Alaya and Celena when I meet up with them two weeks later. I was here last year, outside the gates of Plato Academy wishing them a good school year. Unlike Hogwarts and many other magical schools, Plato's Academy of Magic hides in plain sight. It looks like a University from the outside, but is known to be a 'private' boarding school that's exceedingly expensive and exceptionally exclusive. I'm not so lucky as to be able to wish them good-bye at the gates this year, since I'll be leaving for Hogwarts the same day their term starts.

"You'll be fine, Celena." I pat her back as comfortingly as I can.

We've just spent the night at Alaya's together, and Celena's Mama has come for her sooner than Pappous has for me. It was a nice night. We read the latest Witch Weekly, Flourish, and TWitch magazines, acknowledging how terrible they are (Alaya) and arguing that the boys on the cover are worth it (Celena.)

"We'll write each other all the time." She sniffs. "You'll tell us all about Hogwarts, and I'll tell you how Socratis Fourlis won't leave Alaya alone."

"You'll do no such thing." Alaya deadpans, shooing her off. "I'll meet you at the gate, Remes."

She hugs me again before her Mama calls for her again.

"Enjoy your schooling, néa." Lady Remes smiles at me from the door before taking Celena and disappearing with a pop.

"Are you nervous?" Alaya asks, reaching into the closet and pulling out a chess board with a knowing smile. She's going to win. I'm rubbish at chess.

"What's there to be nervous about? I'll be in Slytherin with Theo and probably Malfoy. The only thing is that I'll have to be sharing a room with Parkinson."

"You're not afraid something terrible is going to happen?" She moves a piece forward expertly, and clicks her tongue when I move a pawn.

"It's Hogwarts." I laugh. "The best defended school. What could possibly go wrong?"

AN: So, there you have it! A meeting with Potter, some light-hearted Draco bashing (all in good fun, not actual bashing~) Now, there is a poll up in my profile that I would be super grateful if y'all took it. I'll be taken down at the next update. It's sort of to see where you guys want to see the twins, Neville and Harry sorted. I have a good idea of where I want them to go, but I'm welcome to opinions.

Also, please review! It's a little disheartening to see so many of you follow and favorite and not review. (That being said, thank you guest reviewer!) I would never be the author that withheld posting for an x amount of reviews, but it would let my muse know you guys like what it comes up with.

Conventibus Inopinatus - Unexpected Meetings
skoupídia - trash
Antío - goodbye or bye
I̱míaimos - half-blood
néa - young one