A/N- This story takes place in an AU in which James and Lily live, and Petunia has a daughter.

Also, this is my first fan fiction, so it's probably not as great as I think it is, but hey.

I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 1

1988, Number 4 Privet Drive. Evening.

10 year-old Cassandra (Cassie) Dursley sat on her bed, staring at her bookshelf. What was happening? she asked herself. Cassie had always been different from the rest of her family, with her dark red hair and blue eyes, her love of reading, and her fascination with fantastical stories and ideas.

Her younger brother, Dudley, did not have this problem. He looked just like his father, with his mother's eyes. Cassie, however, looked like her grandmother, at least that's what her mum says.

Dudley was her mother's favorite. She knew that. Her mother almost always ignored her, so of course, Dudley and her father did too.

Apart from being different, there had been some incidents. At school mainly. Cassie didn't know how it happened. But if she was upset at someone, she would suddenly be somewhere else, like in the janitors closet. Or something would happen to the person she was upset with.

Once a boy had been pushing her around on the playground, and Cassie had asked him to stop several times, (she had never been one for conflict) but he persisted. Finally she narrowed her eyes at him, and before she knew it the bully was screaming in horror and pain as boils sprouted up all over his arms and legs.

She didn't know how it happened. But when her mother heard about it, Cassie was locked in her room for the rest of the month. Not that she wasn't used to it.

Now, as she stared at the books dancing in midair, she thought of all the stories she had ever read. Was it magic? the young girl thought as she gazed at the books spinning in front of her.

Suddenly the door burst open and Dudley stared at her, and then the books. Before Cassie could react, Dudley was down the stairs, screaming at the top of his lungs.

"MUM! MUM! Come quickly! Cassie is doing something awful again!" She heard these words and paled. She tried to make the books stop, but they wouldn't. Her mother was suddenly in the room, glaring at her.

"What are you doing?!" Petunia screamed. "I don't know mother, please, I don't know!" Cassie pleaded, concentrating on the books to try and make them fall.

"You freak of a child!" Petunia shrieked, hate in her words. She slapped Cassie and the books attacked. They flew around Petunia, each of them hitting her head in turn.

"STOP!" Vernon Dursley stood in the doorway. Cassie froze. Her fathers face was red with rage. The books tumbled to the floor. Petunia turned away from her. "It's time for supper." With that she left, followed by Vernon and Dudley.

Cassie sighed heavily and knelt down to pick up the books. Once they were on the shelf again, she went to the door, only to find it locked. She returned to the bed, not really surprised by the locked door. Suddenly the window flew open behind her. She spun around to see a beautiful brown owl flying inside.

She gaped at the owl, and it dropped a letter in her lap. She looked at the letter, and then at the owl. It flew away with a soft hoot. She stared after it for awhile, then inspected the letter.

It was addressed-

Miss C. Dursley

Number 4 Privet Drive

Little Whinging

Surrey

Cassie opened the letter, and read the words written in green ink very carefully. By the time she had finished reading it, her head was spinning.

Witchcraft and Wizardry? Cauldrons? Hogwarts?

Magic.

This last word echoed in her mind. Was it really true? Was she, well, magical? She knew she had to tell her parents, because she would need to buy supplies and everything, but she wasn't sure how they would react.

When her mother brought in a plate of cold supper, she jumped up. "Wait mum, I need to show you something. It's a letter from a school, and I...I think I'd like to go." she said quietly. Petunia looked at her suspiciously and ripped the paper out of Cassie's hand. Her face darkened as she read the letter.

Cassie shrunk back as her mother looked at her with hatred, and slapped her. "You freak! You have brought shame upon this family! You will not go!"

"But mum, please, I'll be with people like me, and- Petunia cut her off. "You want to go? Fine! Go. Pack your things and leave. I no longer have a daughter." She threw the letter aside.

Cassie stared at her, trying to process what had just happened. "You are a freak and a disgrace." With that, Petunia turned and slammed the door.

Cassie stared at the door. Fifteen minutes later she heard footsteps and her father came into the room. "Start packing." he said through gritted teeth. Cassie found a backpack and tried not to cry as she numbly stuffed some clothes and some of her favorite books into it. She carefully folded the letter and put it in her pocket.

When she was done, her father pushed her out of the room and locked the door. She walked down the stairs, unwilling to believe what was happening. Her mother glared at her with such malice Cassie couldn't look at her.

Her father opened the front door and shoved her out. "Don't come anywhere near this house, do you hear me?" he growled. Cassie nodded, not knowing what else to do. He slammed the door and she heard the lock slide into place.

She walked slowly down the path, and onto the sidewalk. She turned left and walked down the street, her mind racing with thoughts and emotions. Her eyes blurred with tears, but she kept walking.

Where do I go? Grandmothers? No, that's too far away, and I don't have any money.

Wait. Lily. Aunt Lily! Yes, mother always said she was strange and did not really consider Lily as her sister. She must be magical! That's why Mum recognized the letter! Where do they live? Grandmother told me. Godrics Hollow, yes. That's where I'll go. That's my only chance. But how-

Suddenly there was a loud bang and a bus appeared on the street beside her. She jumped back in fright. The doors of the bus opened, and a friendly looking man waved at her. "Welcome to the Knight Bus, where are you headed miss?" he said, smiling.

Cassie just stared, and then her mind cleared.

"Do..do you happen to...to know where Godrics Hollow is?"