Disclaimer: Ugh, do I have to put these in every chapter? It's the second chapter and I'm already tired of them! Cammie's mine, although the name isn't. The names in this story that aren't from Harry Potter (or Laura) are from the book Rock My World by Liza Conrad. Great book; you should all read it.

Thank you all so much for the reviews… I'm afraid that the rest of the story won't meet up with your expectations. The first few chapters don't have much to do with anything with the wizarding world, but there are links… I promise. The wizarding world DOES come into play, very much so, and there WILL be more original characters.

To clear up a few things: Livy is Ginny's name in the Muggle world. You can't expect her to go with her real name, can you? Her name is Livy James and that's how I refer to her for the next couple chapters. Get used to it. Second, she isn't just any writer; she is a famous, J.K. Rowling-like writer with that kind of international fame. Yes, I'm exaggerating a little bit on the publicity and stuff, but I needed to get the point across with how, well, famous she was. OK, that's all. Enjoy.

----FIVE YEARS LATER----

"Livy!"

A brown-haired, grey-eyed woman turned around to face the speaker. The speaker was a beautiful (in many guys' opinions), blonde-haired, blue-eyed woman. A classic beauty.

"Livy, the plane's leaving in five. Are you alright?"

"Yeah," Livy sighed. "I just don't want to go. London was my hometown, or close enough, and I had bad experiences there."

"Come on, Livy, I'll be there. How bad can it be?"

"Bad."

"Chin up, Liv. Your best friend is coming with! We'll have loads of fun hitting clubs and strip bars-"

"I'm NOT going into any strip bars, Cammie, no matter what you say."

"You will, but there's no time to persuade you. C'mon, we have a plane to catch."

Livy allowed herself to be dragged onto the plane without too much complaining, ignoring the stares and whispers she got from the people on the plane, particularly the children and teens.

When they got to their seat (economy class; Livy wouldn't use her money on something as frivolous as first-class seating on a plane), Cammie immediately pulled out a book and smirked as Livy rolled her eyes.

"Gods, Cammie, do you have to read my book every bloody time we go anywhere?"

Cammie cackled. "Livy, you just spoke… British! I thought you hated England!" As an afterthought, she added, "And yes. It's good publicity, and it's a really good book."

"Shut up."

"Fine," Cammie said, mock-offended. "Fine then. If you don't want me talking, you can be quiet too!"

She and Livy looked at each other and started laughing. After they got a few glares from nearby passengers, they stopped and Cammie turned back to her book. Livy rummaged around in her carry-on bag and finally came up with a golden locket with a single tiny diamond sparkling in the center of the heart. She flipped it over and read, for the gazillionth time, the tiny engraving on the back.

To Ginny Weasley, for our one-year-anniversary. Your smile sparkles like this diamond. Love, Harry.

Livy smiled sadly and then stowed it away in its case and pulled out a photo album.

There were pictures of a red-haired family: six boys of varying ages, a girl, and a father and a mother. There were also pictures of a bushy-haired girl and a boy with messy black hair and green eyes. The boy was most often pictured with the red-haired girl, his arms frequently around her.

Livy pulled the last picture out of the clear pages protecting it and studied it. It was the only Muggle picture, Muggle only in case a non-magic person spotted it. On the back was written in an elegant script, Ginny and Harry, Ron and Hermione's wedding. Could a wedding be coming up for them?

Livy bit her lip, feeling her eyes get hot and wet. Five years had gone by, five years too long… but she wouldn't go back now, no, not when she had all this built up.

"Livy?" Cammie's voice shocked her back into reality. "Livy, are you OK?"

Livy swiped at her eyes and tried to hide the picture, but Cammie was too quick. She snatched the picture and looked at it. She then turned it over and read the back.

"Livy, what's this? Who's Ginny and Harry? And why was it making you cry?"

"It's a photograph, Cammie. Ginny was… my sister, and Harry was her boyfriend, my best friend."

"And why does it make you cry?" Cammie asked in a soft voice; people were staring.

"They died," Livy lied. It wasn't a full lie; she had no idea if Harry was still alive (Voldemort wasn't big in America yet, so Livy had no idea if Harry had killed him or had died, or was still in hiding and planning), or if Ron and Hermione were still alive. Cammie gasped.

"I'm so sorry, Livy… here," Cammie gave the photo back. "Oh my God, I'm so sorry."

"It's OK," Livy said, giving a small smile while tucking the photo album, plus the photo, back into the drawstring bag. "It just hurts to see them; they died only five years ago."

The same time that the Ginny had died and become Livy James.

"How did they die?" Cammie asked in a horrified whisper. Livy smiled wanly.

"They were killed, murdered by a serial killer. He's still at large, I think, but I haven't been to England since then." Truth.

"Oh my God… that's horrible," Cammie gasped.

"That's why I had to leave. I couldn't deal with it right then, and I'm still not sure if I can deal with it now."

"I'll be there for you, hun," Cammie said. "You can always talk to me about anything."

Yeah, right, anything, Livy thought. Everything except what really matters.

Which, of course, was the fact that they were going into a war zone where it was possible, but not probable, that she would meet some of her old friends and colleagues.

The remaining eight hours of the flight passed by rather well. Cammie read her book and Livy read a book, slept, and sleepily signed a copy of her book for a giggling teenage girl.

At long last, the plane landed and Livy and Cammie exited the plane with the rest of the crowd.

Livy took a look around, getting used to the fact that she was back in London, in Heathrow Airport. She had never actually been to Heathrow, but just being in London was scary enough.

She didn't have much time to reflect, though, as a group of teenage girls behind Livy and Cammie suddenly swarmed them, shoving pieces of paper into Livy's hands and asking for autographs.

With a resigned sigh, Livy signed the girls' papers and took a picture with the whole group of them before sending them off to show off and brag to their friends. Cammie was smirking when Livy turned to her again.

"What?" Livy asked. Cammie shook her head amusedly.

"You should've seen the look on your face, Livy. It was priceless. Anyway, you'd better get used to attention. The main reason for this tour is publicity. You're going to sign books at six different locations. Your hand is going to be sore as hell, and your cheeks will hurt from smiling incessantly. It's gonna be tough out there, so get used to the fame."

Livy rolled her eyes. "Can we go now? We're going to hit rush hour at customs."

Just as Livy predicted, the customs line was extremely long. By the time they had picked up the luggage and caught a cab, it was twelve and a half hours since they had left the O'Hare Airport in Chicago

When they got to the hotel, Livy could only stare. Although it probably wasn't the grandest in the city, it was still pretty darn nice, especially compared to what Livy was used to, with her tiny apartment and shabby (but cozy) childhood house. Cammie laughed.

"It's only a hotel, Liv. C'mon, let's go to our room."

Livy followed her, ignoring all the whispers as she passed people in the lobby, as Cammie got their keys and led Livy up to their shared penthouse. The penthouse, in Livy's opinion, was the most spectacular room she had ever seen. It was done in red and gold, and it immediately calmed Livy's nerves. Red and gold had been Gryffindor colors back at Hogwarts, and although it reminded her of the argument, it also reminded her of all the good times she spent at Hogwarts. As Ginny Weasley, Auror-in-training and member of the Order of the Pheonix.

Cammie nudged Livy. "Livy, snap out of it."

"Huh? Oh. Yes'm."

"Good. Come on, put your things away. We're going clubbing."

"What! The first night?"

"Yep. Hurry up; it's late enough already and we have to find a good club."

"…"

"Come ON or I'll put away your clothes FOR you!"

"You do that," Livy smirked. "Go ahead."

Cammie rolled her eyes and rummaged through Livy's suitcase, eventually pulling out a halter top and jeans decorated with rhinestones. "This is what you're wearing. Come on, put it on; we can put the rest away later."

"But-"

"Now, Livy."

"Then go away for a bit; I want privacy while I change."

Cammie obediently stepped into the bathroom and closed the door, whistling while Livy reluctantly pulled on the jeans and the halter top. When Livy was done, she knocked on the bathroom door and got Cammie out, and fixed her hair in front of the mirror. When they were both ready, they exited the hotel, deciding to walk to the nearest club.

When they reached it, they went to the front of the line. The bouncer let them in after one look at Livy and asking for her autograph. Livy, rolling her eyes, signed a piece of paper he had in his pocket.

Once they were inside, Livy clung to Cammie's arm. "Cam, I've never been to any of these before…" Only one wizarding bar in Diagon Alley, and that didn't count.

Cammie raised an eyebrow. "You're telling me that, despite the fact that you're 23 years old, you've never been to a club?"

"Yep. Never been to one of these."

"Well, then, I'll have to introduce you to the good life," Cammie said, smirking as she pulled Livy towards the bar.

"Two martinis, please," Cammie said to the bartender who nodded and turned away to make the drinks. Cammie pulled a ten dollar bill out of her purse before scowling and searching deeper into her wallet. "Crap, Liv, I don't have any English money."

Livy sighed and pulled out some money. She shoved it towards the bartender, who raised an eyebrow but took it. He returned a few seconds later with change, which Livy pocketed.

The two stayed at the bar for a while, finishing their drinks, until Cammie tried to pull Livy to the dance floor.

"I don't dance!" Livy protested. "I'd make a fool of myself in front of everyone here."

"Hmm, you're right… just kidding!" Cammie said, laughing at Livy's mock-offended glare. "Seriously, though, I'm going to find a nice guy for you to dance with."

"You will do no such thing!" Livy exclaimed. "You're going to go dance, and I'll order another drink for me."

"What, I'm going to let the world-famous author of a bestselling book get drunk and make a fool of herself that way? I'm supposed to be watching out for you, Liv, and I can't do that if you're not dancing."

"I wouldn't get drunk. Besides, I asked you to come with me because you're my best friend."

"Yeah, right. Why didn't you invite Nick Hoffman, then? He's more your friend than I am."

Livy blushed, rolled her eyes and smacked Cammie. "He's not my boyfriend."

"Suuuuure he's not."

"Oh, shut up. I don't have to justify myself to you."

"OK, well, if you don't have a boyfriend, you shouldn't mind dancing with a guy."

"Well, I do mind. Deal with it."

"Please?"

"No! Next thing you know you'll be asking me to do a strip tease on the table!"

"Well…" Cammie said mischievously.

Livy smacked her again. "Cammie Wilson! Stop it!"

"Okay, okay! Just don't hit me again."

"Deal."

The two stood there for a few minutes when Cammie broke the silence in between the two. "So what do you want to do?"

"Really? I'd like to go home." Livy was looking around at all the people with uneasiness. "I really don't like being around people in London."

"Why not?"

Because," Livy said, turning to face Cammie, "I am from here, I left on not very good terms, and I would really prefer not to run into anyone that I know."

"Come on, live a little! What are the chances that someone you know will be here and recognize you?"

Livy, who had been scanning the crowd, suddenly gasped. There was no mistaking the platinum blond hair and the black robe and mask. She grabbed Cammie's arm. "We've got to go."

"Why?" Cammie asked lazily, squinting into the crowd. "And why is that guy wearing a robe and a mask?"

"That's why we have to go. He's got a… gun, and he's murdered before." Well, it was true. He was a Death Eater, as everyone in the wizarding world knew. And why would he be there other than to kill?

Cammie stared at Livy. "How do you know? What's his name?"

"His name's Draco Malfoy and I went to school with him. He was a year ahead of me. Now run!"

What disturbed Livy most was that, when she looked at Malfoy for the last time, she saw that his head had snapped up at the sound of his name and he was looking directly at her. She looked around to see (and hear) other people in black cloaks and masks. Her eyes widened.

"Come on, Cammie!" she hissed, yanking her friend to a run. Cammie tripped a few yards out of the club. Livy groaned and started to pull Cammie up, but then dropped to the ground as a red light shot inches above her head.

Stunning spell… Livy thought distractedly. "Come ON, Cam! Get up! We have to go, NOW!"

Cammie stumbled to her feet, looking terrified, and the two friends ran off in the direction of the hotel, dodging one green beam of light.

When they got back to their room in the hotel, Cammie turned to Livy. "Explain."

"I can't. Really. Suffice it to say that they would have killed us if we had stayed, and that they'll have killed plenty of people in that club. It'll be on the news tomorrow."

Cammie glared at her, but took her pajamas to the bathroom and closed the door. Two minutes later, she emerged from the bathroom, pajama-clad and makeup-less. "I'm going to bed."

"Go ahead," Livy said, going into the bathroom and changing into her black pajamas. When she came out, Cammie was asleep in her bed. Livy climbed into her bed and turned out the lamp attached to the wall above her nightstand, but she didn't fall asleep for a long time. When she finally let go of her thoughts and worries about being in London again, it was for one reason only:

The first book signing was the next day.

OK, from now on updating might be a bit spotty. It takes time to update (for me anyway; I'm slow at everything) and school starts tomorrow. I do have it all written, but I have to edit the chapters and add author's notes and stuff like that. I'm working on the sequel, though. I even wrote through an Imax film for it! (I had seen it before, and I had the notebook with me, so I wrote.) Sorry.