A/N- This is my first Harry Potter fic. Those of you who already read the first three chapters, will need to read it again because I changed some major details. Also, I'd like to thank Geanie for being my awesome beta reader and helping me making this fic a grammar mistake-free. Other than Tolkien and Rowling you're my writing idol :)

Reviews- I'll be more than glad to get ones. Flames are also accepted, as a writer should know how to accept criticism in order to improve his/her writing. Just try to be nice.

Disclaimer: No, I don't own anything you recognize here, but all the rest belongs to me. Please don't sue me...

Chapter One: The Truth

Ann Parker was a normal, ordinary girl. Normal of course, as far as a young British witch in the wizardry world could be. But something about her wasn't quite ordinary. Something of which you could only see if your gaze lingered on her more than three seconds, though it was by no means certain you would see it even then. The problem was, no one bothered to look at her. It was Ann's biggest problem, but a problem she had to deal with ever since she got her Hogwarts letter. Her aunt and uncle, Emma and Owen Parker, whom she had been living with as long as she could remember, made her promise them one thing. She still remembered their worried faces as they talked to her.

It was a bright Monday morning when she woken up. Ann stretched out and went to look through the window, lost in her own thoughts. It was yet another sunny, peaceful day in Warrington.

Her aunt's voice brought her back to reality. 'Ann, are you up yet? Get down quickly, breakfast's getting cold!'

Soon enough, she was down in the kitchen, greeted with a warm "good morning" and a smile. Uncle Owen was reading the newspaper as usual, and Aunt Emma was just about to serve breakfast. 'I thought you said breakfast was getting cold,' she asked. 'Well someone needs to hurry you up, otherwise you would stay in bed all day. Now, would you please go get the mail? I'm a bit busy at the moment as you can see.'

'Yeah sure, no problem,' she replied.

Ann went to the doorstep, to pick up the letters. 'Bill, bill…another bill…' she muttered to herself. She knew all the letters are probably boring, as nothing special ever happens in the godforsaken hole she'd like to call home. But that day, she was wrong. 'What's this?' she asked herself rather surprised, looking at a letter addressed to her. There was no stamp, and the writing on it was in green ink. When she turned it to the other side, she saw a seal carrying a symbol of a lion, an eagle, a badger and a snake, all surrounded by a big H. She suddenly remembered the other letters and hurried back to the kitchen, unfolding her own. 'What do you have there? Another bill? God, those bloody companies know nothing better than take all your money away…' Uncle Owen started his complains. 'Don't they have enough for themselves already?' he sighed.

'Actually, it's a letter for me. I was just about to open it. Do you have any idea who wrote it?'

'A letter? For you? Can I…Can I see it?'

Ann gave the letter to her uncle. Before he even opened it, he had a worried look on his face. She, from the other hand, didn't understand what could possibly be wrong, and got even more curious than she already was. As if just to make sure, Uncle Owen opened the letter and began to read. Soon enough, he put it down with a heavy sigh. 'Emma,' he called, 'I think you better see this.'

'See what?' her head popped out of the laundry room. Ann had never realised how someone can be as fast as her aunt, doing all that exhausting housework.

'Just come and see,' He said in a somewhat serious tone. Realising something had probably gone wrong, Aunt Emma hurried back to the kitchen, and the first thing that caught her eye was the unfolded letter. She stared at it for a few seconds, as if she was letting the full meaning of it sink into her mind. After what seemed to Ann like forever, her aunt finally spoke again. 'I think it's about time to tell her the truth.'

Uncle Owen nodded. 'Ann, I think you better sit down. Your aunt and I have something important to tell you.'

'Alright,' she said, and sat down on one of the chairs.

'Well?' she asked, after none of them said a word.

'I suppose we should start with your parents,' her uncle said eventually.

Ann couldn't be more surprised if her uncle told her he was an escaping serial killer. If there was one thing her aunt and uncle had never talked about, it was her parents. The only thing that she was told about them, was that they were both lawyers, and died in a car crash. Every time she tried to ask a question about them, they would either change the subject or ignore it. Ann figured it was too painful for them to talk about, and gave up her hope of getting answers a long time ago.

'My parents?'

'Yes,.' her uncle replied. 'I believe everything we have to tell you start with your parents. You see, your aunt's brother and his wife weren't like any other people. They weren't…ordinary.'

'What do you mean 'ordinary'? What were they?' she asked, not knowing what he was talking about.

'They were…'

'Wizards,' her aunt interrupted. It seemed like it wasn't something which was easy for her to say.

'Wizards?' Ann asked, more surprised and amazed than she already was, if possible. 'Yes, wizards. They were capable of doing magic, and they passed the same capability to you, Ann. You are a witch,' Aunt Emma said.

'What? A witch? But that's…impossible! There must be some kind of mistake! My mum and dad…You told me they were lawyers! Was that a lie?' she asked, furious and confused, almost yelling.

'Calm down for a moment, you need to hear our side of the story before you judge us. The night your parents died we took you to our house and raised you. We never told you the truth about your parents because it was too dangerous. In fact, it's still dangerous, but you need to know more about your heritage, especially now when you're about to go to the best school of witchcraft and wizardry. This letter you got, is from Hogwarts. You will study there for the next seven years.'

It was all too shocking and weird for her to take. 'Wait a minute…Dangerous? What's so dangerous about letting me know?' she asked.

'It is dangerous, because…In the time when you were born, there was a bad wizard. You need to understand this first, Ann- not all wizards are good, and this wizard was the most evil and powerful in our century. His name was Voldemort. Most wizards are afraid to say his name, but I'm what they call a muggle. Therefore, I'm not afraid to say it."

'What's a muggle?' asked Ann.

'A muggle is a person with no magic powers.' Her uncle replied. 'Now,' he continued, 'Your parents took part in the fight against Voldemort, and he didn't know about your existence. About a year later, he was defeated. Some said he died, some said he's still out there. In fact, no one knows for sure where he is. That's why we didn't tell you anything. Voldemort wanted to kill every good wizard, and we were afraid he'd come after you. Now that you know the truth, we need you to promise us something,' he said, taking his niece's hand.

'Promise you what?' she asked.

'We want you to promise us that no matter what, you will stay away from people. I know it's not fair, but your life is constantly in danger. As long as nobody knows who you are, you're safe. So please, as painful as it sounds, don't make any friends and don't talk to people you don't know. That might be the only thing that can save your life. We don't want to lose you, you know that,' he said with concern in his eyes.

A single tear dropped from Ann's eye as she realised it was all true. She would have to sacrifice a lot in order to stay alive. She wouldn't disappoint her aunt and uncle.

'I promise,' she said.

Five years have passed since then, and Ann was sitting in her room, thinking about her next year at Hogwarts. Why would my sixth year be different? she asked herself. After all, she had no friends and absolutely no one to talk to. Even the teachers seemed to forget her existence. Even Professor Snape didn't find an excuse taking off points from her house, which was a miracle due to the fact she was a Gryffindor. But even that didn't make her happy. She was alive, yes, but what kind of life did she have without someone to talk to, someone she could trust, someone who would be her friend?

Ann Parker was going to have a lonely life, and she knew it.