A/n Okay here's the next installment. Sorry its so late, I've been all over the place the last couple of weeks, hopefully I'll update again in about a week. About this chapter, it's kind of boring, it's a transition and necessary for character development, issue intro, and all that good stuff, but it's not exactly action packed, please bear (bare? which use is this) with me. Oh yeah, the song, this one doesn't work perfectly but if you use your imagination you can make it fit.

iThis is just a test. I think I've figured out how to do italics (yay!). Hopefully after this chapter you won't have to put up with annoying '' marks anymore. Hoorah! END OF TESTi

Disclaimer: I don't own anything from HP and never will unless I win it on ebay for less than $20 bucks which seems unlikely cause I never go on ebay. The song belongs to Nelly Furtado.

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Powerless

Cuz this life is too short to live it just for you

But when you feel so powerless what are you gonna do

So say what you want

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"So, what are you guys doing for Christmas?" Rusty asked, as they rode the train the next morning. He had been surly all morning, still brooding over Betty, and it was the first time he had spoken in over an hour.

"My parents are taking us to Spain. They say it'll be a good cultural experience for us spoiled children," replied Millie. The others grinned. Millie came from a very rich family. She and her younger sisters, Allison and Margaret, were rather pampered.

"We're off to Egypt to visit Bill," said Charlie glumly. "I'll be seeing loads of sand this Christmas."

"But there are all the pyramids and things," Millie pointed out. "Those should be interesting."

"I suppose. There are still other places I'd rather be."

"You've got it better than me," said Dora. "I reckon I'd love Egypt compared to where I'm going.'

Her friends laughed. "Dora you're going home," said Millie.

"Yup, it's back to the nuthouse for me."

Rusty rolled his eyes, "It can't be that bad."

"Oh yes it can. Andromeda's forever crying over the holidays. Must remind her of her Christmases when she was kid. I know they were pretty bad, but Merlin it's been sixteen years. Isn't it about time she moved on? So that's what I tell her and then Ted gets all mad and tells me that that's not my place and I have no idea what she went through. It gets so old. I mean just because she was screwed up doesn't mean she can mess up my life. It's like she's jealous that I've had a chance at a normal life. And she takes out everything on me. Tells me how she never caused any trouble or smashed into things. She just needs to get over herself..." Realizing how awkwardly her friends were looking at her Dora quieted herself. After long silence she put on a smile and attempted to restart the conversation.

"Anyway, what are you doing Rusty?" she asked.

"Probably just hanging out, trying to stay out of the way of all my crazy cousins who ask me obnoxious questions about magic and try to get me to curse their parents."

The others laughed, grateful for the tension relief. They spent the rest of the trip playing Exploding Snap and Wizard Chess. The train pulled up at Kings Cross station in mid-afternoon. Parents stood in groups around the platform, waiting for their children. Dora leaned past Rusty to check for her parents. "Yup, Andie and Ted, three o'clock."

"I still don't get how you can call your parents by their first names," said Millie incredulously as she gathered her things.

Dora shrugged, "I don't do it to their faces."

The others pushed her aside to look for their families. The Weasleys stood a little ways away from the Tonks's. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were peering into the crowd looking for their four sons that went to Hogwarts. Charlie in his sixth year was the oldest of the four of them, Percy was in his third year and, and the twins, Fred and George were in their first year. The youngest Weasley children, Ron and Ginny, who were not yet at school, were running up to the train. The oldest, Bill, had already graduated and was working at Gringott's in Egypt.

Edward and Lucy Grant, Rusty's parents, were standing nervously by the entrance to the platform with their five-year-old daughter, Michelle. They looked as though they didn't quite know what to do, surrounded by so many witches and wizards. Their other son, Mike had gone to an ordinary Muggle school and was now at a Muggle university. Needless to say they had been very surprised when Rusty got his first Hogwarts letter.

Millie's family was talking to a couple who Dora didn't recognize. Unlike the Daniels's, they were perfectly at ease. They had both gone to Hogwarts although they were both Muggle-born. Margaret and Allison were standing on tiptoe to get a look of their sister.

The four friends clambered off the train. Ginny instantly threw her arms around Charlie who hugged her back. Millie ran to hug her parents and sisters as Rusty grabbed his parents and lead them toward his friends and their families. Dora sighed and made her way toward her own parents. They each embraced her, her mother more stiffly than Dora thought completely necessary. They didn't have a particularly warm relationship. In fact, Dora preferred to say they had no relationship at all. 'I don't know what I did,' she thought as she broke away from Andie's hold. She wasn't even sure when her mother had stopped being a mother and started being so resentful and depressed, but she could guess. 'When Sirius was arrested. I guess she figures no one of her blood can be any good; except her perfect self. And Ted's crazy about her. Won't hear a word against her. Merlin! Why does she have to be like this? I suppose she's sort of jealous that I didn't have to live with her parents and sisters and all that darkness.' Shaking her head, Dora stopped trying to figure out the way her mother's head working (the exercise was giving her a headache) and turned her attention to her friends

"Bye guys, see you after break. Send good presents!" she said attempting to hug them all at one time. They squeezed her back and after exchanging final good-byes ands wishing each other happy holidays they left the stations with their families, carrying trunks and chatting happily.

"Shall we be off then," asked Ted, hesitantly.

"Yeah," murmured Dora vaguely. She was watching her friends leave. More and more each year they were her family and Hogwarts, her home. She knew Ted loved her but she hardly saw him anymore. It was like he wasn't even her father. Andie love her too, sort of. 'It's a love/hate thing with me and Andie,' she decided as she followed her parents through the barrier and into the main train station. The family's one, rarely used car sat in the station parking lot. Ted had bought it for them to use when Dora was home and the Flu Network wasn't convenient.

"So, Nympie how's school?" Ted asked.

'He barely knows me. I've been Dora for years, ever since I went to school. But at least he's trying; Andie hasn't said a word since I got here, unless you can count 'Hi'.' "It's been pretty good. A lot of work."

She climbed into the back of the car. 'Oh well, it's only a couple of weeks. Maybe we'll all get along this time.' She listened to the silence that stretched between her self and her parents and smiled ironically. 'Fat chance.'

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A/n: Hope this is all cool and I didn't make any huge mistakes, I'm running out the door here. Review, you have no idea how much I value your opinions Love to all!