Title: Jade Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Author: Queen Serenity

Fandom: Harry Potter

Chapter: Two – The Beloved Niece

It had been about ten years since Petunia had found Jade on the steps, and the family was not even close to knowing how much of a blessing the child was to them. If Lily had been a boy, or had never even showed, Dudley would have remained spoiled, and grown even more so, and Vernon would have kept his harshness, and Petunia never would have realized how wrong she had been about her sister.

But she was there, and so everything was as wonderful as could be. The photos on the mantelpiece started out showing pictures of what looked like a beach ball wearing bonnets of all sorts, but, soon after, it showed a little girl, too, in many of the pictures with the beach ball. The little girl, too, was wearing bonnets. As the pictures changed throughout the years, showing the two children at Christmas, one of the later Christmases showed the kids each happily opening up a present containing a computer. The one for the girl was a laptop, though, unlike the boy's. The pictures showed that both of the kids were well-loved, Jade especially so by Petunia, and anyone looking at the pictures would have thought that the girl was a daughter that had just turned out with genes that skipped a generation, and that was perhaps why she looked different.

But one thing remained the same; the girl's startling green eyes. If you were to look closely, you would notice that, while they did look happy, they often seemed to be hiding a sort of… 'haunted' look.

Right now, Petunia went upstairs to Jade's room and tapped on the door. "Jade, dear, it's time to get up! You need to try and hurry to get ready… it's Duddy's birthday, remember? We've got a lot of fun planned today!"

The door opened and Jade stood there, already dressed. "I'm already ready, Aunt Petunia. Come on, you get the others up and I'll finish cooking the breakfast."

Aunt Petunia hurried off to wake the others, and Jade went downstairs to the kitchen to tend to the bacon. Seeing the presents almost covering the table, Jade rolled her eyes. Looked like Dudley had gotten the new computer he'd wanted (he always had to have the newest one), and also a bigger television, and a racing bike. Jade couldn't help but feel a bit excited about this last present… she knew that Dudley'd probably let her use it. In fact, she'd probably use it more than him. Dudley was a bit overweight, and he hated exercise unless he had to do it. She'd been trying for years to get him to come out walking with her and stuff, but to no avail. The main exercise he got was when the two of them wrestled, as youngsters often do. In that area, she was a tomboy, and was much tougher than she looked. That, and he got exercise also when he was chasing down Jade because she'd said something to tease him. The girl didn't look it, but she was very fast.

Jade was always out, wandering around (which would cause great worry often to Petunia and Vernon), so she was a bit tanned, which made her bright green eyes stand out all the more. She was small and a bit skinny for her age, though Petunia always made sure she ate enough. She was also slightly toned, though, because of the martial arts classes she'd been taking since she was eight, when she'd requested to be sent to them by her aunt and uncle. She had a sweet, nicely shaped face like Lily had had, but, unlike Lily, her hair was black instead of red, falling in ebony waves to her waist, though it always looked a little tousled, for some reason. You couldn't see them, but she wore contacts. Her favorite thing about her appearance, though, was the scar on her forehead, standing out against her tan, shaped a bit like a bolt of lightning. It always reminded her of the fact that, happy though she was here, she belonged somewhere else. The first question she'd ever asked of Aunt Petunia was where it had come from. A strange look had come over Petunia's face, and she had replied that she'd tell her when she was older.

And so she had. When Jade had reached the age of seven, Petunia had decided she was ready and sat her down, giving her the letter that had been with her when she'd been left with the Dursleys. And so she'd read it, and knew what had happened to her parents. And she knew that, one of these days, she would be called on to join her kind.

She looked up from turning the bacon as Uncle Vernon came into the kitchen. "Good morning, Uncle Vernon," she greeted. "I'll have breakfast ready in just a tick."

Vernon nodded, replying, "Good morning, Jade." Aunt Petunia and Dudley came in soon after, each greeting Jade, too.

Setting the food onto plates, Jade frowned slightly at the presents on the table. "Dud, could you move a couple of your presents, please? There needs to be a little room for breakfast. Unless, of course, you're not hungry?" Dudley, obviously hungry, hastened to comply, then Jade set everyone's plates down in the proper place then seated herself to eat.

As Jade ate, she poked her head around a stack of presents to look at Dudley. "Looks like ya got quite a haul of presents this year, Diddykins." She purposely exaggerated her use of one of Petunia's nicknames for Dudley to tease him. "I already counted them. You've got thirty-five presents."

Dudley's face fell at the number. "That's not as many as last year…" He sighed exaggeratedly, and it was clear he was just joking; he knew his parents always got him awesome gifts, more than most kids would, and he was happy with what he got. As long as he'd gotten all the big things he'd wanted.

Jade smiled mischievously, then spoke. "Well, if you're disappointed over the number, Dudley, I can always head to the bathroom. Give me a few minutes in there and I'll make you a few more presents. They'll be wrapped in nice soft white paper." She stuck out her tongue at Dudley so there'd be no doubt as to what she'd meant, then bolted from her chair, knowing what would be coming next. The sound like an elephant stomping through the house confirmed that Dudley was chasing her. She dashed through the door and they continued like that, running circles around the house, Jade purposely staying just beyond his reach, until Aunt Petunia came to call them back inside.

She pulled Jade aside. "Jade, Mrs. Figg called. She didn't know whether or not you were coming to visit her today while we were gone, but wanted you to know you can't. She's really sorry, but it seems she's broken her leg. Would you like to come with us instead?"

"Sure, Aunt Petunia." She made a mental note to go see later whether or not the elderly woman needed any help, what with her leg and all.

Usually, on Dudley's birthday, Jade was welcome to come with them wherever they were going, but she chose not to, for some of Dudley's friends were just not all that likable to her, and usually at least one came. Instead, she usually visited with an elderly woman whom lived nearby, Mrs. Figg, who never seemed to have any company but that of her cats. She felt sorry for the woman, and liked to cuddle with the cats, anyway.

She went over to where Dudley was unwrapping the last of his presents. "Hey, Duds, looks like I'm coming, too… poor old Figgy broke her leg. So, who'll be joining us today?"

Dudley answered, looking happy that she was actually coming for once; she hadn't told him that she didn't like his friends, and it probably wasn't that obvious, since she tried to be civil (usually) to them. "Piers is coming." He turned away from her when the doorbell rang, announcing his friend's arrival, and he didn't notice Jade make a face when he wasn't looking. Ratface is coming? Oh, great… One of the less likable things about Dudley was that he liked to fight. Sometimes Jade could get him to leave certain kids alone, but she couldn't protect everyone, and Piers was usually the one who'd hold whoever was lucky enough to be Dudley's current punching bag so that they couldn't hit back, and to kick the kids when they were down helpless on the ground.

A while later, they were all loaded into the car, Jade with one of the window seats. Ignoring the two boys talking to next to her, Jade gazed out of the window, a faraway look in her eyes as they traveled to the zoo for what would be Jade's first time, by her own choice. There was a reason that she didn't like going on the birthday trips of Dudley's, usually; she didn't like crowded places much. Sometimes, strange things happened around her, which she knew was probably a side effect of what she was, and she was afraid that one of these days she would accidentally do something that would hurt someone.

Jade wasn't very popular at school, being 'that eerie girl'. In fact, she was why Dudley got into fights a quarter of the time… he didn't like hearing people make fun of his cousin. Once, when she'd been dozing in class, she woke to find the teacher admonishing the girl behind her, a snob who'd maliciously cut away several chunks of her long beautiful hair as she'd dozed. The teacher'd been about to admonish Jade, too, for sleeping in class, but didn't have time as the girl ran tearfully from the room and also from the school. She'd run home, where she cried in Aunt Petunia's arms at the meanness of how some people could be.

That night, she fell to sleep dreading returning to school the next day and having to see that girl's gloating face and, as she slept, she had nightmares about it. In the middle of the night, however, she awoke with a peculiar tingling feeling running throughout her body, then fell back to sleep. The next morning she woke to a surprise: her hair was all back to its glorious self, not a single piece missing! And what's more, at school, the snobby girl's face wasn't among the staring faces as her classmates saw her hair. A few days later, the girl was back in class, wearing a wig and refusing to meet Jade's gaze; it seemed that the girl's hair had mysteriously fallen out the night after she'd cut Jade's hair, leaving her head bald as an egg in the morning.

And then, there was another time when Jade had been preparing to go down the slide, having just climbed up the slide's ladder. However, one of the other kids had nastily decided to surprise her and had climbed up the slide itself, surprising her when she got to the top by pushing her off the wrong side. The kid had obviously been hoping she'd at least break something, but, instead of falling, she'd sort of floated down, as though she were connected to a parachute, to land roughly on her feet.

By then, the kids were starting to just avoid her, but, on a day that Dudley was sick and not there to watch out for her, she'd been chased down by a gang of girls who'd been intent on beating her up, proving that she was just some ordinary kid, but, as she'd been looking for a place to hide, she'd jumped behind some trashcans only to find herself perched on the school's chimney. The headmistress had sent an angry letter home to the Dursleys for this, and Petunia, a worried look on her face, had told Jade that she would need to try to keep herself under control, lest they had to pull her out of school, which they would prefer not to.

Today, though, nothing would go wrong, she was sure of it. She wanted to be sure that Dudley had a nice birthday, as usual, and that she didn't do anything to mess it up.

Uncle Vernon griped to Aunt Petunia as he drove, one of his favorite habits. When motorcycles were brought up, Jade remembered a dream she'd had about a motorcycle. A flying one, to be precise… she wondered if it meant something.

When they got to the zoo, they proceeded to have a really good time, and Jade let go of her fear that something weird would happen. First thing they did was stop for ice cream and, while the boys got huge chocolate ice cream cones, she ordered herself a chocolate chip shake to sip from as they walked.

They walked around, looking at the assorted animals, including wolves, which were one of Jade's favorites (she loved how noble the predators looked), and a gorilla that Jade found to look like it could have been Dudley's long lost brother, though she never would've told him that.

They stopped in the zoo restaurant for lunch, where Jade ordered a grilled garlic chicken sandwich with lettuce and mayo.

Afterwards, they headed to the reptile house, where Dudley found a large boa constrictor, the largest snake in the place. It appeared to be asleep, though, and wasn't doing anything exciting. Dudley scrunched up his face, looking ready to throw a little tantrum, and started tapping on the glass to try and wake it, but Jade placed her hand on his fat wrist and gave him a sharp look. "Don't, Dud. I'm sure there're snakes around here willing to move on their own… I heard there's a King Cobra here, and they're pretty dangerous… why don't you go check it out?"

Dudley sort of pouted, but obligingly wandered over to where the King Cobra was, the others trailing behind him. Except for Jade… she stayed to watch the snake.

She pressed her forehead to the glass, relishing the cool touch of it to her skin, and gazed at the snake. She felt sorry for it, as she had the wolves… it, like them, was a noble and majestic predator, and yet it was forced to live out its life here, in this cage, until it died of old age, or neglect, or perhaps even boredom. All it could do was lay there all day, perhaps move around a little, and watch people it could never reach staring at it, thumping the glass, never allowing it peace except for when the zoo would mercifully shut down at night. It was a life she'd never want… she'd give anything to be able to help it…

Out of nowhere, the snake suddenly opened its eyes, and its tongue flicked the air. Slowly, but surely, it raised its head until it was on the same level as Jade's, staring into her eyes. And then…

It winked.

It winked at her! As though it were the most ordinary thing for it to do! Jade blinked disbelievingly, wondering if she'd been imagining things, then looked around to see if she was the only one who'd seen it. No one was near her so, unsure, she winked back at the snake.

The snake jerked its head towards Dudley and the others, then sort of rolled its eyes. It gave Jade a look that told her plainly: "I get that all the time."

"I know," Jade murmured through the glass. And she did know. At school, now, she was practically an exhibit to the other kids, a freak. Too dangerous to mess with so much, but sometimes 'poked' to see what would happen. "It must be really annoying. Frustrating, too, for someone as big as you to be cooped up here."

The snake seemed to have heard her thoughts as well as her words, and nodded vigorously.

"Where are you from?" Jade asked, curious.

The snake jabbed its tail at a sign by the exhibit, and she read that it was from Brazil. She was about to speak, but then noticed what it said on the rest of the sign… bred in captivity. She felt a rush of sympathy for the snake, feeling the wish to help it more than ever, and anger at the people who would keep it here. But there was nothing she could do…

"So you've never even been outside a cage, have you?"

As the snake shook its head, a shout sounded out from just behind Jade, making her jump. "EVERYONE! COME LOOK AT THIS SNAKE! YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHAT IT'S DOING!" The source of the shouting, Piers, shoved Jade roughly out of the way then. "Get out of the way, freak!" She landed hard on the cold concrete floor, winced, and glared at Piers as Dudley came waddling over. Next thing she knew, there was that strange rush of energy again, and then the glass that Piers and Dudley was now leaning against was gone!

The boys fell in, onto the boa constrictor, even as it was unwinding itself to leave the cage. As it slid past her, Jade could hear a sibilant, hissing voice from it. "Freedom and Brazil, here I come… Thanksss, mi amiga."

Later, after time with the zoo director, they were finally back in Uncle Vernon's car, Piers jabbering on and on about how he'd almost died, and how the snake had tried to crush him to death, etcetera. Dudley was just freaked, period. Finally, Piers calmed down enough and said it… "It was you, wasn't it, freak! You tried to sic it on me!"

The next Piers heard and saw before darkness was a fat fist heading towards his face and Dudley's voice snarling, "I told you not to bloody call her that!"

After they dropped the unconscious Piers off (saying he passed out from shock), and had got home, Uncle Vernon's face was purple. It was clear he was trying to keep from getting mad. His voice could barely come out, he was so angry. "Jade – go – room – please – talk later," he then collapsed in his chair, and Aunt Petunia ran to get him a brandy.

Dudley followed Jade upstairs, bugging her to explain to him what happened, but she said she'd talk to him tomorrow. She just wanted left alone with her guilt.

And guilt it was, she thought as she flopped down on her bed and buried her face in her pillow. Piers she didn't care so much about, he'd deserved a good scare, but both he and her cousin could have gotten severely hurt, even killed today! And it was all her fault!

She cried till the tears dried up then hiccupped once before falling asleep, resolving just before she did that she had to get stronger, to better control herself. She wasn't a freak, but she wasn't like the Dursleys or ordinary folk, either. She was just… Jade.

Later that night, Jade awoke, feeling drained. She just lay there, thinking.

It'd been almost ten years now that she'd lived with the Dursleys. Ten happy, but empty years. This just wasn't her place.

Even at school, she'd tried to bury herself before into her studying, but even that proved useless… as easy as the work came to her, it felt as though what she learned held no use for her; there was no challenge, no nothing!

She could remember nothing before the Dursleys… except…

Sometimes, if she tried really really hard, she saw a sort of strange vision: a flash of searing green light and then a burning pain on her forehead, where her scar was now. She figured that the green light was probably when her parents were killed, or perhaps when that evil wizard, Voldemort, made an attempt on her life. After all, that light couldn't be natural, she just knew it.

She had no photos of her father, but one of her mother. It was a very old, tattered picture of a young version of her mother and Petunia, their arms around each others' shoulders as they smiled for the camera. Petunia had said that this had been just before Lily had received her letter from Hogwarts.

In her earlier years, Jade has sometimes met strange strangers whom had seemed to know her, bowing to her, shaking her hand, etc. Now she knew that they must have been witches and wizards, but she didn't know why they made such a big deal over meeting her.

Although her family tried to be there for her, they just weren't what she needed. She loved them, but when it came right down to it, Jade felt utterly stranded and…

…alone…

QS: You may hate me for making the Dursleys friendly with her. Really, you may. But I have my reason for this, and I'm telling you now, though, that while she loves them, she does not view her aunt and uncle as parents. K?