Supper had just finished in the Dursely house, when there was a knock on the door.

"Well?" asked Uncle Vernon. "Go get it, lazy!"

"Yes, Uncle Vernon." Harry walked quickly to the door and opened it.

"Hey, Potter." Nikole was standing there, soaking wet from the rain that was still pouring. "May I come in?"

"Sure, come on." He gestured her in and she walked in.

"Who is it Harry?" A tall, chubby man came in from the living room and looked right at Nikole. "Who the bloody hell are you? Are you from that.that god forsaken school?" he demanded.

"Um, no, sir. I'm Nikole Piper and I'm from the Army."

"Please explain to us why you are in this house." Within seconds of that demand, Dudley and a tall, slender woman appeared from the same place.

"Well, I was walking back to my station when the rain just started to pour right from the sky and I knocked on other houses, even tried to hitchhike, but no one would just let me stay even under their balcony. And I just thought that this place would be different."

"Come on dear," started the woman, walking toward Nikole. "Why don't we go into the kitchen and get you some tea, shall we?"

"No thank you, ma'am. I just needed some form of roof over my head."

"Nonsense. Please, accept our hospitality." The woman pulled her into the kitchen and said to Harry, "Come on then. You need to make and serve the tea." She pushed Nikole into the kitchen and said to Dudley, "Please sweetheart could get a towel from the closet?"

"Sure, mum," responded Dudley, heading upstairs.

Harry followed the women and the chubby man walked on upstairs and shut the door to his bedroom.

"Well? What are you waiting for, Harry? Serve the woman some tea," commanded the woman. She looked at Nikole and said in a kind voice, "Please, make yourself at home and if you need anything, go on and ask Harry. Alright?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Please, call me Mrs. Dursely." She walked out of the kitchen and the two heard steps go up the stairs.

"Here you go," Harry said, pouring her a cup of tea. He placed it on a saucer in front of her.

Nikole just stared at the cup and she was still shivering.

"You're not thirsty are you?" he asked, sitting down in front of her.

"No, but thank you." Nikole looked up and into his eyes. There was a sense of security in them that made her feel that if she looked away, she could feel and be unsafe.

"Here you go, Nikole," Dudley announced when he came in. He placed the towel on her shoulders and said, "If you need anything, I'm here for you." And with that, he left.

"Are you guys actually related?" Nikole asked once she was sure that Dudley was out of earshot range.

"Only genetically." He laughed, his smile once again attracting Nikole.

"That's nice to know." Nikole started to shiver again when she stood. She placed the towel on the back of the chair and walked to the window. "I better go."

"But, you're still soaked," he argued.

"My station is probably looking for me." She pushed a lock of hair from her face. "Please? May I leave from your presence, o great one?"

"I get an actual say in this?"

"No, I've just always wanted to say that." Nikole laughed. The door swung open as the woman Mrs. Dursely appeared.

"Enjoying yourself now?" she asked.

"Yes, ma'am. I am. But, I best be on my way, but thank you so much for you hospitality. It's meant a lot."

"Nonsense!" she exclaimed. "Please, stay. At least for a few more hours, for us to get to know each other better.in case you come around here again."

Nikole looked at Harry, as if waiting his approval. She didn't need an answer out loud she just used her telepathy.

She concentrated and she heard him. Please say yes.

"Yes, ma'am. I'd love to." Nikole re-seated herself and Mrs. Dursely's smile returned.

"Good then. Sandwich? They're in the shape of a triangle." Mrs. Dursely didn't wait for an answer; she placed the plate of sandwiches in front of her. "Go on. Fill that skinny little tummy up."

"Thanks," Nikole said, taking one but not biting out of it.

"Well," Mrs. Dursely began. "How old are you now, deary?"

"Thirteen." Nikole bit the sandwich and swallowed it, not minding its flavor.

"Well, that's the same age as my son, Dudley, and also him," she remarked, poiting to Harry.

Nikole only smiled. "Um, may I use your facilities?"

"Sure, go on right ahead."

"Where is it?" Nikole asked.

"Upstairs, second door on the left." Mrs. Dursely took a bite of the other sandwiches.

Nikole brushed passed them and up the stairs. She could hear the television on at the far end of the hall. Mr. Dursely. She opened the door to the restroom and took a quick glance in the mirror. Her hair was a major mess, all tangled and wet, and her sweatshirt and undershirt were soaked and dirty and her pants were very dirty. She couldn't tell them why she was really outside: slaying vampires.

It had been days since a vamp had left its hiding place and now they were all popping up and out of nowhere. She was just out there taking her usual patrol when a vampire appeared from a tree and pushed her off the sidewalk and into the cemetery. It tried to choke her, but obviously didn't realize the strength of the Slayer. They struggled on the ground until it ended with a stake and big, big pile of bone dust.

Oh, great, I look just great. She left the room and was about to leave the second floor, when something in the room across caught her mind. She took a few steps closer to the room and saw that it was owl in a cage. Someone was coming upstairs and she turned away and started down the steps. I'll investigate later.

"Feeling better?" It was Harry.

"Yeah, I am." Nikole walked passed him down the stairs and walked back into the kitchen.

"Well, are you alright?" asked Mrs. Dursely.

"Yes, ma'am." Nikole sat down. "How long have you lived in this house?"

"Much too long, dear. Much too long." Mrs. Dursely took a drink of tea and stood. "Well, I better get off to bed now. Stay as long as you like, honey."

"Thanks," Nikole replied as Mrs. Dursely left the kitchen and Harry entered.

"Do you want some dry clothes?" Harry asked, clearing the table.

"It would be most preferable, but no thanks." She cleared her throat. "I'm drying off anyway."

"Well, there's more sandwiches in the fridge and TV in the living room. I have to go on outside and sweep the porch."

"Isn't it late for that?" she asked.

"Not for me. Any time is good as long as the job gets done." Harry went outside and Nikole remained in the kitchen. Suddenly, the thought of the owl upstairs brought her attention back. Quietly, she walked upstairs and snuck into the room.

"Wow." The room was plain, but the owl was beautiful. She walked toward it and opened the cage. "Hey there," she cooed. The owl propped itself comfortably on her arm.

"Hello, there," it answered.

"Do you have a name?"

"Sorry, mistress. I don't."

"Well, whose little beauty are you?" Nikole sat on the bed that was placed near the wall.

"Mr. Potter's."

"Who is he? And why does his name sound so familiar?" Nikole asked. She knew about animals and how they knew about the past, but never the future.

"The story of the Boy-Who-Lived, mistress. Remember? Your mother used to read it to you when you were but a wee thing."

"No, I don't. Sorry." Nikole sighed and added, "Does Mr. Potter go to Hogwarts?"

"Yes, mistress. He does."

"How did my mother die?"

The owl didn't answer.

"Please. That's all I wish to know," Nikole begged. "Please."

"Voldemort, mistress. Voldemort."

"I don't remember him." her voice trailed off.

"He's in the story of the Boy-Who-Lived, mistress," it chirped.

"And my father?"

Once again, it didn't answer. Nikole looked at it hard. "He.he left you when you were two months old, mistress. Nothing more and nothing less."

Nikole was silent. She carefully put the owl back in its cage. "Thanks."

The owl nodded. "Mr. Potter's on his way."

"Thanks." Nikole locked his cage and walked out. She wiped her face and had a quick glance in the restroom mirror. She looked okay, soaking wet, but still okay. She ran downstairs and outside where Harry was sweeping the porch as he said he would. "Hey." She sat on the cement baluster and looked up at the sky.

"Hey." Harry continued on sweeping. "Ever heard of the story called the Boy- Who-Lived? It's rather stupid, though."

"The Boy-Who-Lived? Please tell me," she begged with enthusiasm.

"Alright. Well, there once was a baby boy with loving parents, but he lived in a dark age where evil beings roamed the earth. Voldemort was one of them and came to the young baby's house and asked his parents to go on the dark side." He cleared his throat and had finished sweeping. "But his parents refused, so Voldemort had to kill them and he did. But he didn't kill the baby boy, instead, he let him live, but promised him that he would be back for revenge and to finally kill him."

"What was his name?" Nikole asked.

"Coincidence really. Same as mine." He laughed and smiled that smile.

"Wow." Nikole looked up at the sky and at the stars. "They're beautiful, aren't they?"

"Yes, they are." Harry walked toward and sat by her.

"Haven't you ever wondered what it would be like if the stars were really that small and you could hold it in the palm of your hands?" Nikole was caught up the feel of the cool breeze and the warmth of the stars.

She's beautiful. "That's an interesting perspective."

"You think? And should I take that as a complement?" Nikole stood and walked until her roof was the haven of stars above.

"Please do," he laughed.

"Well, I still thank you all for this, but I really must go." Nikole looked around, glad to not see any vampires around the vicinity.

"No, please, stay," replied Harry.

"It's starting to get late, Harry. I need to get to my station."

Harry looked at her. I wish I could tell her my secrets.

Nikole returned his stare with a smile. I wish I could tell him my secrets. "See you." She waved and began to walk away.

"Don't be a stranger 'round here," Harry called after her.

"I wont." Nikole walked slowly, every now and then turning around. When she was sure that she was out of his sight, she ducked behind a tree and fell down on her knees and started to cry. My father left me? Voldemort.who? He killed my mother? Why? What did she do that was so wrong that he had to kill her and to leave me here? She buried her face in her hands and sobbed.

"Aw," a voice started from behind her. "Miss Piper had her feelings hurt. Isn't it beautiful?"

Nikole stood and positioned her body, ready for a good fight. The tears still stung at her cheeks, but that wasn't important. The vampire ready to kick her butt was. And she was ready.

"Whatcha' gonna do, Slayer? Stick a splinter in me?"

"Wanna see?" Nikole gave him a swift kick in the ribs and he fell back.

He stood back up and gave a swing at her, but missed and fell forward. Nikole laughed and backed away. When he stood, Nikole ran and tackled him into a tree and was now on top of him. She grabbed him by the collar and punched his face twice. It roared at her and pushed her off and into a tree. Nikole landed on her hands and knees and saw the vampire coming toward her.

She was scared and he knew it. He ran toward her hard and she crawled quickly out of the way as he ran himself right into the tree. "Duh, idiot," Nikole laughed. She had an opportunity to stake him, and Nikole never turned down any opportunity. She removed the stake and staked him right into the heart. The wind decided to blow on the dust and it flew from the pile.