A/N: Okay, here's the second chapter to 'Welcome To My Life'. Like most of my fics, this isn't gonna go quickly. I like to develop the characters slowly so hopefully, they'll be realistic, or as realistic as I'm capable of making them.

Just so you know, this fic is set in Harry's last year of Hogwarts. I'm not sure what age the school goes up to in the book (I think it's 16), but for this fic, it'll be up to 18. Description of Harry and the others will be given in a later chapter. Anyway, here it is, the next chapter.

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Chapter 1: Already Met You

'How does it feel

When you find out you're not gonna be

They give you your image and the things you believe

Open your eyes tell me what do you see

And I just think you thought it surreal'

-The Goo Goo Dolls (What A Scene)

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Previously:

"She wasn't meant to die!" he whispered, his voice breaking as he looked back down at the body in his arms "She wasn't meant to die."

Grey eyes overflowing with pent up emotion looked down at Harry and the girl. Draco Malfoy squeezed Harry's shoulder gently, his face blank but his voice soft "I know."

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6 Months previously:

"Up until now, my life had been about one simple thing- survival. You know, keeping a roof over my head and all that. I got myself some education. I got myself a job, a place to live. It was all I wanted because it was all I needed and I had worked hard for it. I didn't owe my accomplishments to anyone. No family, no friends. As far as I could see, that made it easier. The only person I had to look out for was myself. As I said, all I wanted to do was survive. I should've known that it was about to change. I should've known it was about to get a whole lot complicated…"

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"Our sources say that Voldemort is planning something, something involving Harry. We think it may be an attack of Hogwarts-"

"Again?!" Harry sat back in his chair and threw up his hands in frustration. "Will the guy ever give it up, already? I'm sick of him trying to kill me!"

"Which is precisely why I think it is time for the retrieval" Dumbledore continued as if Harry had not spoken.

McGonagall gasped, Hagrid dropped his giant cup of tea, Tonks gave a loud squeak and everyone else stared in silence.

There were many people in Dumbledore's office. The famous trio, Hagrid, Snape, McGonagall and several members of the Order of the Phoenix. This was not an odd occurrence. They had begun to hold regular meetings since it first became public Voldemort was back when Harry Potter was 15, 3 years ago.

"Do you think that's wise, Professor?" Professor McGonagall was the first to speak, "After all, it's been so long-"

"Which is precisely why we need to do this. Voldemort will not be expecting this. He will not know of our intention until it is too late."

"What's the retrieval? Retrieval of what?" Harry looked between his friends Hermione and Ron, who looked just as blank as he did.

Dumbledore smiled a kind yet sad smile. "Let us just say, that you were not the only child Voldemort has hunted. And you were not the only child I had to take measures to protect; only you were sum what lucky- you had living relatives in this world. The other, well, the other did not."

Harry frowned "But, you said that, in the prophecy-"

"This has nothing to do with prophecy, Harry. This is about birthright; some see it as a gift, some as a curse. A child born with gifts…" Dumbledore trailed off. He looked at the Professors "I know we have left it late, but it is time for us to bring her back where she belongs."

"But she's dangerous" Professor McGonagall had turned pale "Her emotions could kill us all. Her power-"

"She will be eased into her life gently. She will be guided, taught, prepared for what is to come, for what she must do. It's time for us to bring her home. Hogwarts and the lives of all of its students may depend upon her." Dumbledore replied. He'd made up his mind and there was no turning back.

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"Jesse, I'm still waiting for this months rent!" The balding, 40 something fat man, complete with grease stained shirt, jeans and slippers was harassing her again. Why couldn't she meet any nice guys? Hell, one within her age bracket would do.

Jesse Hunter sighed inaudibly and rolled her eyes as the man turned to empty his mail box.

"Yes, My Marner- I know. But you said I could have until Friday to get the money. Friday's when I get paid."

Marner scowled, his little piggy eyes narrowing and almost disappearing into his overly large head. "I want it by Wednesday".

"How am I supposed to get the money?!" Jesse forced her voice to remain polite despite the fact she wanted to ram his head into the wall.

Marner clutched his dirty magazines tightly and fixed her with a cold hearted glare "I don't care how you get it. I want it by Wednesday, Jesse, Wednesday or you're out."

Marner waddled off to his ground floor flat, leaving Jesse alone in the entryway.

She lived on the 2nd floor of the 3 floor building- one of those impersonal apartment buildings that no one liked to live in unless they couldn't afford anything better.

Jesse's flat was barely adequate. It had a bathroom that had seen better days- sometime in the early 60s, a small living room and an even smaller bedroom. The living room consisted of faded, peeling wallpaper, a battered brown couch covered in tape, a coffee table covered with cigarette burns, and a little kitchen nook that was more like the size of a pantry rather than the working kitchen in stated in the lease.

Jesse trudged into the apartment, rummaged though the fridge and pulled out a microwave dinner from the little freezer compartment at the top. She'd go talk to her employer later on.

"Genius invention" she murmured as she took the frozen contents out of its box.

Putting it into the microwave and setting the timer, Jesse kicked off her trainers, slipped off her denim jacket and dumped it on the back of the couch.

She closed her eyes briefly and rubbed her eyes. She was going to have to ask to be paid early. She worked at a shop on the nearby high street and also worked at the local library. On the weekends, she went to the local college, studying English.

This was the 3rd time that Marner had demanded the rent early. Jesse was looking for another place to live but so far, hadn't found anywhere.

The rate her life was going, she'd end up on the streets by the end of the year.

The microwave made that pinging sound that said the food was done and Jesse stood up with a sigh. Microwave meals. How nutritious. She slid the tray onto a plate and walked back around into the living room and that was when it happened.

There was a bang, a deafening explosion of sound, followed by a blinding flash of white light. Jesse, blinded, dropped her plate and let out a yell as it landed on her bare foot. Then, there was simply nothing but blackness. No pain, no feeling of being knocked out. Not even a look at what had exploded in her flat. She was unconscious before she hit the floor.

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"Professor, is the child alright?"

Professor McGonagall walked out of the kitchen and looked down at Jesse on the floor. The professor was wearing her usual travelling outfit- a green tartan cloak and a matching hat with earflaps tied around her head. She knelt down by Jesse and gently turned her head to one side.

"She appears to be unharmed Professor. The spell worked perfectly."

"Apart from apparently blowing up her kitchen appliances." Dumbledore replied, sounding amused. He walked out of the kitchen holding Jesse's now broken toaster.

He put it down on the coffee table and looked down at Jesse.

Professor McGonagall looked down at her affectionately "She has grown, hasn't she, Albus?"

"Yes, she has Minerva. Yes, she has." Dumbledore pulled out his wand "Wingardium Leviousa". Jesse began to slowly rise from the floor and Dumbledore directed her onto the couch.

"She looks just like her mother" Professor McGonagall continued, "if a little skinny. I don't think she's been eating well, and have you seen her living quarters? Barely adequate."

"Then, it's a good job she will not be coming back here, isn't' it?" Dumbledore said, decisively. "Now, let's collect her things and leave before her landlord comes banging on her door, shall we? I think it's very likely that he has called the muggle police."

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Forbidden Forest:

He had been travelling for days, hours on end, only pausing in his journey to eat and rest for an hour at the most before moving onward again.

He was on a sacred quest, and had been preparing for it since the moment he'd been given it not quite 2 decades ago. Like many of the creatures and humans in this world, he'd been waiting for the time to begin his task, for the time when he should leave his family, and journey to a place well known by humans and creatures alike. Now, it was almost time. His eyes scanned the trees as he silently moved through the bushes, making no sound as his feet hit the ground steadily. He was a hunter, a warrior, and he would not fail.

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Jesse groaned and shifted in her bed. Snuggling under the warm covers as she fought against consciousness. Her eyes snapped open and she sat bolt upright.

This was not her bed. Her bed felt like it had more springs than padding. Her bedroom wasn't warm, and she wouldn't have gone to bed in her jeans and t-shirt.

As a matter of fact, Jesse didn't remember going to sleep at all.

All she remembered was a blinding white light and then blackness. Something had happened to her. Maybe she was dead? She checked her pulse.

"No. You're not dead, dear" a voice spoke from across the room and Jesse looked around her quickly. No one was with her.

"I'm going insane!" Jesse launched herself off of the bed and onto the side furthest from the door. She hopped around from one foot to the other as her bare feet touched cold stone. Looking wildly around her, eyes wide, she took in the room.

She was in a large hall. Well, that was what it looked like to her. Large windows through which she could see night outside lined one wall. How long had she been out? Jesse ignored the question for now.

The room was warm, despite being so large. Candles burned in wall sconces, creating a soft atmosphere. Pictures covered the free wall space and Jesse blinked up at them. She could've sworn one of them just moved. Their eyes seemed to focus on her as she continued to look around. Jesse blamed it on the candlelight. The room was lined with beds, just like her own but all empty. Another room was at the other end of the room, furthest from the large double wooden doors. Jesse craned her neck to see through the doorway but saw nobody. It looked like an office. Where the hell was she? What had happened to her? How had she got here?

"Hello Jesse, it's so nice to finally see you in the flesh again." The voice made her jump and spin around, her eyes widened as the figure entered the room.

He was tall, with a long white beard that almost touched the floor as he swept into the room. He wore a long purple cloak with silver stars and moons on it and a tall pointed wizard's hat to match. Despite his appearance, when Jesse looked at his face, he didn't seem the least bit deranged as he silently waited for her to finish taking in his appearance. His eyes, behind little half glasses were kind and held a hint of amusement in them that made them sparkle.

"What the hell d'you mean, again?!" Jesse finally caught up with his words as he sat down in the chair beside the bed she'd been in. She backed away quickly.

"Precisely what it sounds like, my dear girl." He folded his hands across his stomach as he sat back comfortably. He watched her over the rim of his glasses, his eyes following her every movement as she stared at him.

"I've never met you before in my entire life" Jesse quickly changed her opinion of him from eccentric to slightly mad.

"Oh, you won't remember" the man smiled up at her as she continued to watch him through narrowed eyes. "You were only a few hours old when I first laid eyes on you. I was there at your naming. I was the last of this world to see you when you were barely 6 months old."

"Okay mate, I think someone's forgotten to take their medication today. Did you somehow get out of your padded room or summat? Is this place a loony bin or what?"

The man chuckled "I can see how this is all very strange to you, but I'm afraid that I speak the truth. I knew your parents and I was there when you were taken from this world. As a matter of fact, I took you from this world myself."

"Look" Jesse began to edge towards the door "I don't know what little world you're living in and as far as I'm concerned, I don't care. I don't know who you are, but-"

"Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. I thought you might recognise me."

"If you're talking about the Dumbledore impression you've got going on, I think you might need a little more work. You look nothin' like the dude in the film, and, I'm sorry I gotta burst your bubble, but he isn't real."

"Oh, I can assure you, Jessica, Albus Dumbledore is real and I am he. And you, my dear girl" Dumbledore smiled "are in the world of Harry Potter. You've come home."

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A/N: Wow, I'm glad I got so many reviews on the prologue! And no, to the reviewers thinking I'm gonna give up on my other fics. Don't worry; I'll start writing again sometime this month.

Marty: Yeah, sorry about that dude. I just kinda decided to post this at the last minute. Of course you don't know what's going on!!! That's the point!!! The story's meant to show you how it got to that point. Yep, strangely enough, Draco is being nice. That seems to be what people are most intrigued about *grins*

Goldstranger: Well, that's what I figured I'd start it with, gives you a glimpse of what's to come.

VampireBunny1: Please don't hate me!!! It's meant to make you ask questions! Now, if only I knew where I was going with this…. only kidding :P

Mrs Kane: Ah, seeing as I haven't read any of you elusive fics yet, you'll have to wait and see like everyone else. I'm evil like that. However, bribery works wonders J

Ali: Glad you like it so far.