" Vanessa, Van!! Wake up! " 

         Several things registered at once, Mrs.Figg, the cat lady from The Dursley's neighborhood was kneeling in front of the girl he had seen in front of Flourish and Blotts earlier trying to revive her.  Mrs.Figg? 

Here?  Isn't she a Muggle? 

         " Um, excuse me, would someone like to explain to me what's going on? Sirius, who is this?"  My godfather looked up at me from his gaze on the girl on the floor. 

         " That's an excellent question Harry, but please wait just a few more minutes and we'll explain everything."  And he grinned.  What he was grinning about I really don't know. But I guess I was going to find out

soon.  Suddenly the girl on the floor snapped awake and shook her head, her black hair flying her senses bothered…… she blinked…. And then as if remembering something abruptly she froze.  Then slowly she

raised her head and gaze to me.  I stared back, and my jaw dropped.  Sirius cleared his throat, and Mrs.Figg gave the girl a hand up.  She stood no taller than I, something I noted as Sirius started to speak,

         " Harry,  first of all, I'd like to formally introduce you to Arabella Figg, the guardian and protector of your sister here, Vanessa Lily Potter."  He spoke slowly and clearly and it took me a second to take it in.

         " What—Sister? Mrs.Figg? wha-"  I sputtered to an awed stop, and just continued to stare, and the girl—Vanessa, my sister  stared back.  Emerald locked on emerald. 

         " How ya doing Harry, it's been…. What ?  13 years?"  She said.  I briefly ignored her, I didn't unlock my gaze, but spoke to Sirius and Mrs.Figg.

         " How is it possible that I didn't know about this?" 

         " Well, you also didn't know you were a wizard until you were eleven, we did just that, not tell you."  Mrs.Figg said.   I finally turned to look at my former vacation watcher,

         " And you—" I started, " You are a witch all this time and didn't tell me THAT?" 

         " Of course not –" 

         " WHAT?"  Vanessa exploded out of nowhere, " You knew him? Had CONTACT with him and never told me!?"  She spoke loudly but remained unusually calm. 

         " Don't interrupt me." Mrs.Figg snapped, "  I didn't tell you because it would have jeopardized our plans, you would have fought when I made you go on out on those days… and you were gone all year anyway

so any other time you wouldn't of had a chance to see Harry. Just that one day a year when The Dursley's brought him to me.  We had some close calls once or twice, but I took care of those." 

         Fire erupted from one of the pillows across the room. 

         " Vanessa! " Mrs.Figg snapped.  " Control yourself! Let us explain some things." 

         Wait? Vanessa did that?  My thoughts were whirling, all those years, I not only had a sister, but she was only a few blocks away?  Even I swayed slightly and I grabbed onto the nearest arm chair as Mrs.Figg

And Vanessa rowed over something.  Sirius came up behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder,

         " Why didn't you tell me Sirius?"

         " Harry, I'm sure Dumbledore had reasons he didn't tell any of us, but it was to risky to put your sister out in the world. When we found her at the hospital a few days after Halloween that night, we had to make

the choice just like we did with you.  Hiding her from the public at that time seemed better.  Now that Voldemort is back, Dumbledore decided Vanessa should be back too. " He stopped as he saw that the two others

in the room were also listening.  Mrs.Figg spoke up,

         " Vanessa, Harry,  we're sorry we didn't let you both know…. " I let her voice drift away, I didn't care anymore.  All of the stress that had been momentarily relieved at seeing the Weasley's and Hermione

dissipated and tumbled over me again.  I had had an horrible summer already. Re-living the moments that occurred on that fateful night just drove me insane.  Every night plagued by dreams, so even in my sleep I

couldn't escape.  How shitty is that?  15 and a broken kid.  But , for being broken, I lived pretty well.  The Dursley's were scared shitless by Sirius at the beginning summer, coming of un known by me and telling them

Merlin only knows what, but they left me alone.  Oh well.  My head cleared a bit and I zoned back in, " … thought it was for the best that's it. "  She sighed as if to signal there was nothing else she could do.  And waited.

         I looked up at Vanessa.  I studied her, my sister, the one I never knew I had.  She looked furious, and that scared me a bit because of the pillow.  But I was a little beyond not caring.  I was just numb. 

         " Well, Hello Harry, um… I missed you?"   She grinned, but her eyes filled with tears.  Sirius began to look a bit nervous, it seems that handling Azkaban is nothing compared to a crying 16 year old girl.  He

cleared his throat,

         " Er--- Harry, Nessa, we'll just leave you alone then?"  He gave a look at Mrs.Figg and they turned quickly and walked from the room. 

         " So…. How old are you?"  I asked.

         " 16, last time I checked." 

         " So you're what, a year and a half older than I am? " 

         " If you did the math right." She grinned again and studied me closely,  it was kind of un nerving like what was she looking for?  " You look just like Dad did, but with Mum's eyes." She took a breath, " I remember Mom's

eyes…. Those are hers." 

         I didn't know whether to be happy, or grievous ,  I chose both and smiled.

         "  Everyone tells me that."

         " Well that's cause it's true"  At that she looked a little faint and sank back into one of the couches.  " I'm sorry, this is just a little overwhelming." 

         " Oh, Believe me I know it is."  I took a seat at one of the near by tables.  I was afraid I'd just pass out asleep from exhaustion if I took a chair.  " Where did you go to school if you didn't go to Hogwarts?" 

         " Salem, over there cross the Atlantic. " 

         " That place actually exists? "

         " Well I should hope so considering I went there for five years…. I may be insane but I'm not that insane."

         " Good point. It was just—"

         " I know I was being sarcastic"

         " I can't believe I have a sister"

         " That was a bit off topic, but ok.  I can't believe you're sitting here in front of me."  She said, " I've been keeping an eye peeled for you my entire life.  At school when I went into my second year, I knew you'd be c

coming next, I looked for you then…. I didn't get to go out of the house much but when I did I looked, hoping maybe one of the times you'd stand out. "  She stopped and pondered.  "  Then again there were the times

that I was so angry I didn't even care if you were alive or dead.  I just wanted out of Mrs.Figg's house and get some answers. "  She must have seen the look of horror on my face cause the next thing she said very

quickly, " not that I didn't –"

         " I knew what you meant. " 

         " It really makes me mad that you were like a street and a half away, who did you stay with all that time?  Did you go to Hogwarts?"

         " I lived with Mom's Absolutely horrible sister Petunia.  Her and her husband Vernon, oh yeah, and our cousin…. Dudley, a terrible excuse for a cousin I'm sure."

         " Ooh, I'm jealous I never had any cousins." I gave a dry laugh,

         " These people are not happy Christmas lovely present people, these are ok here's a hanger get the hell out of my house people. They hate magic, I didn't find out I was a wizard till I was eleven.  A shock,

heh—for me and them.  You should have--- yeah, anyway… what was it like knowing your whole life?"

         " I think I would have preferred the horrible relatives, not knowing actually.  I had no friends and no contact with anyone till I was eleven. "

         " I had no friends and virtually no contact till then too."

         " ok, so we both had it rough, but still…. I'm glad you're here.

         I stretched out cat like and yawned, " Yeah, it was a surprise, I never even knew you existed.  You'd have think SOMEONE would have told me, you have to be in a book somewhere, I know I am.  Can you imagine

If they don't know I have a sister? I can see the headlines ' Boy Who Lived Long Lost Live Sister ' oh dear… Let's hope they know. But they again how would I not know if they did.  Hermione knows everything how

Could she not know this? "

         " Hermione? Is that your firend? I met her! "

         " You met her? "  My eye brows flew up.  " When?"

         " umm.. Today in Diagon Alley."

         " Oh!! " recognition hit me, " That must be what she was trying to tell me…" 

         We drifted off onto other topics, like favorite foods, what we liked to do in our spare time… what Mrs.Figg was like when she wasn't completely Muggle….. stuff like that.  We talked until the sky outside was

Pitch black  and the grandfather clock in the corner chimed one o'clock. 

         I yawned again, and so did she.  We grinned at each other and agree it was time to get some sleep.  We both stood and stretched, then stood there awkwardly for a second.  Then she just rushed at me and

Gave me a big, big, hug. 

         " I can't believe you're here." 

         " You either." 

         We released each other and she looked at me straight in the eye and said " Don't ever leave me like that again."

         " I don't plan to Vanessa, I don't plan to."

         " Ever call me Vanessa again….. and I'll kill you." I grinned,

         " Ok…. Vanessa… " And I ran out the door to her chasing me.