Ok, Well This is my first Harry Potter Fanfiction. Umm, This beginning part is the prolouge and is actually probably longer than most of the chapter with the exception of the ones that include letter and/or diary entries. That is because my friends are helping me (two of the characters are theirs!J) and they wrote a lot. They are also betaing my story. Yay! J Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, except in my head. Neither do they as much as they want it. (Mad, Riz)

Summary: Introducing two new people to the Harry Potter cast and OMG they're related to who?… Oh Yea Before I forget:

'..' thoughts

".."speaking

..> parseltounge

Maddy how have you been? I know I only saw you last week when school got out, but still it seems a long time to go without hexing little Miss Priss. Mum is doing fine, and insists that if I am so antsy to do some thing I can restock the family supply of Pepper-up. Of course I'm not sure if she has quite figured out yet that I actually like the challenge of making potions. I think sometimes that I take after my father too much for her to take.Of course it just doesn't quite occur to her that if she leaves me in the potions lab unsupervised that I can, and will, play with and make some... interesting concoctions.I can hardly wait until July. After all these years I get to go back to England. Bugger we both do. I wonder how Pops is doing, what he has created in that potions lab in the cellar, if he's moved, if he has kept himself from hexing those abysmal potions students that he always owls me about.I just can't get over it. Bloody hell we are going to Hogwarts! Can you believe it? Honestly I am so glad. Though I will miss Miss Pratt, you know the school mediwitch, and Professor Owens is a marvelous headmistress.I'm really going to miss Salem. We will just have to find a way to come back and visit. I am just amazingly lucky that your guardian decided to move back to Britain this year. I don't know what I would do without you.You have got to let me know when you are going to Diagon Alley. I'lltry to meet you and we can make a day of it. Hope Aconite finds you well (and no I'm never letting my father name a pet again in my natural life).Rizzy

Hey Rizzy,I've been okay, I guess...Monster's been going absolutely crazy getting ready for the move. I think I'm ready to die! I can't wait until we're back at school and I can get rid of her! Okay, I know that's not very nice, but you know what it's like to have a single parent always on your case about every little, bloody, thing!I've been writing a lot lately. Monster won't let me work on anything. I almost hexed her the other day when he back was turned. She drives me crazy! At least you know who your parents are. I have no idea who mine are and I'm hoping moving back with our own people will help me find something out. I know I've never really cared about it, but I think I may have a chance of finding something out about them. Or even my uncle. You know, the one I spent my first year with, after my mum died. I wonder what happened to him...hmmm...I don't know. But maybe you can help me.I can't wait until we move too. It is going to be so awesome! We are going to see everything. And WE'RE GOING TO HOGWARTS! This is so wicked! We are going to have a blast! Yeah, I'm going to miss Miss Pratt and Professor Owens and all the other people...but WE'RE GOING TO HOGWARTS! I never get over saying that!We'll have to set up some summer visits so we can come back here and see people. We can take pictures and show all of our new friends. We'llhave a lot of them. I promise. And no matter what, or who we meet, we'll still be the best of friends, right? I can't believe in like two years we'll be certified adult witches. I still haven't thought more about what I want to be. I want to travel the world. Y'know...see places others haven't seen. We've been holed up here for so long it'll be good to go out and see new places.I have no idea when I'm going to Diagon Alley. But we definitely have to schedule a time where we can go together and have a lot of fun. I was thinking about mid-August. You agree? I wonder if they have any like, joke shops or something. We can stock up right before we...(cough)..."attend" this new school. :-) I wonder if there are any others at this school who are just like us. Maybe some cute boys. (Wink, wink) We can only hope, right?Aconite found me okay. Don't worry. Morgan Le Fay's getting really frisky. She'll pace around my room staring absently at her traveling case. I think I need to get an owl...it's more useful than a cat. Though, I don't know how Morgan Le Fay would agree to that. We can take pets to Hogwarts right? I hope so! I don't think I could leave her all alone at home with Monster. (She's been thinking of getting rid of her!) The castle'll be nice and big, so she can run around and play. You know get into her usual mischief. All right, I have to go. Miss you lots. With Love, Maddy

Mad-Believe it or not, by the time I got your owl I was already at Pops' place. And for the record yup we are allowed pets at Hogwarts, the only thing is that I might not get to have Sanguis. Apparently the European Wizarding world is a little more closed minded when it comes to snakes and parselmouths.But for crying out loud, Fred Washington was a parselmouth and one of the best wizards that America has ever seen. One of the muggles first flags was in tribute to his familiar, don't you remember? That George Washington bloke suggested the "don't tread on me" flag because of his brother's familiar.But then again you know all this and my rant won't exactly help with anything right now will it?Well my dad has promised that if I can't actually have Sanguis as a pet at school he will "adopt" him. Apparently willingly given magical coralsnake venom is a key ingredient in many anti-poisons. As long as I'm there to coax it out of him we may get to experiment with some of these next year. But pops won't let me try any of it now. BUGGER!Oh oh oh solution to our pet problem actually. If pops has to take in Sanguis then you get your owl and I will say that Morgan Le Fay is mycat. That way between the two of us we get to have three pets and two of them are fairly intelligent! Don't look at me in that tone of voice! It could work! Probably.Any way I've got to run. Dad has me making a full stock of the basic healing potions for the Hogwarts supply. Today's task: Pepper up. My favorite.Owl me when you get to the island.Rizz

Rizzy-Wow! I wondered why it had taken so long for you to reply. This should get to you in no time, cause guess what! I'm in ENGLAND! It is so beautiful here! I just absolutely love it. I'm glad you're with your dad. Monster is having some stomach problems. (She doesn't like flying)I think that's ridiculous that people in the European Wizarding World are like that about Parselmouths. What's so wrong with talking to snakes? Will they be that way with Sirens? Oh, gosh, I hope not! I don't see why they wouldn't let you keep Sanguis. Sanguis is the best trained snake I have ever met. (Okay, I haven't met many in my day, but still, you know what I mean.)Yeah, Fred Washington...I read about him somewhere. Slightly less famous than his brother, but hey, we see how muggles treat wizards today; you shouldn't expect them to give any historical wizards any credit.You're dad seems cool. I can't wait to meet him. Magical Coral Snake venom, huh? I never knew that! I hope he caves and lets you try some experiments soon. I know how you are when you are around potion ingredients. You can't keep your hands off them for two seconds.Hmmm...your idea could work...I think. I dunno how Morgan Le Fay would like it though...she's been temperamental lately. Who knows? I guess we'll have to wait and see when we go to Diagon Alley to see if they have any decent owls. And we'll decide then. Intelligent animals are good to have. (Intelligent friends too, for that matter) Remember: Two heads are better than one, especially when one of them is yours! Haha!I have to go soon. I have to make some kind of soup or something for Monster's stomach. (Y'know, a pepper up would probably be nice rightnow...if my cauldron wasn't stored away, locked in some case!) I can't wait until I see you again! Diagon Alley will be a blast!Owl me soon!With Love,MaddyPS: I went to an old library today. It was said to be run by a witch. I looked up old wizarding families in a really old book. I found something on purebloods! I looked in the index and found Black. Stupid book didn't tell me much about anything after 1706. A lot of help that was! And for the record...I don't even think the lady was a witch. She was just a batty old woman with a lot of pigeons. Anyway...I'll write again if I find anything.Miss you. Bye

Mad what have I told you about pepper up potion? Do not brew it! It's a little too complex to brew without a way of getting help if there's an accident, and we both know that you are allergic to some of the ingredients.I asked dad if there was such a thing as a siren to sound him out and what I got back was better than the view on parselmouths: Sirens, while historically known for killing men, are in current times considered among the natural best at magical law enforcement due to your ability to sense if someone is guilty on things. Add that to your affinity for DADA and you might want to look into training as an auror, or something in magical law. Maybe a lawyer. Part sirens aren't viewed as anything other than magical humans with different diet requirements, and a need for wind in their hair and wings. There is even a rumor that one of the quidditch teams prefers to employ only part sirens and part harpies, in particular for their beater positions.Well that babble was a bit better than last letter's rant I suppose but I have a new rant to add: our CD players won't work at Hogwarts. What are we gonna do without music? The worst part is yet to come: THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE A CHOIR! We have to do something about this atrocity. Now before it has dire effects on any other young people!Oh and Sanguis says that he has me trained not the other way around, he is not a pet, and "Le Fay needs to watch where she puts her hairballs" (yes I read your letter to the snake, he is my other best friend)Have you found out a date for Diagon yet? I need to know because dad and I are going to restock our potions supplies soon. Let me know!Rizzy

P.S. I mentioned your quest to find your family to dad and he said and I quote "ask the former headmaster Phineas Nigellus about the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black". Sounds pretty important to me.

Rizzy-I know, I know...I need to listen to you more often. I'm sorry my handwriting is kind of sloppy...your letter didn't arrive soon enough and I went ahead and tried to make it...in a pan...yeah...don't do that. Now my hands are all itchy.Phew. I am so relieved about the Siren thing. I love having the ability to know when people are guilty of something. I was thinking about being an Auror. Fascinating job that would be. And it takes you all over the world, so it's perfect. Now, all I need to do is to find a guy who wouldn't mind me going off fighting some bad, evil...warlock people. Yeah, fat chance right? Quidditch sounds like an awful lot of fun...but I've never been on a broom in my life, and have never flown on anything besides a plane and my wings. But my wings aren't gonna be much help soon...I think I'm gaining some weight...this can be bad. We aren't supposed to carry anything over 100 lbs. I know I'm cutting it close. Monster wants to clip 'em. Tells me that they're causing me to be underweight and it's a 'health issue'. Health issue my ass. I eat just fine thank you very much. I told her she aint getting nowhere near my wings!WHAT! What is a school without a choir? We're gonna die! We have to do something...create a spell that allows us to play CDs...with magic...or something! And maybe we can start our own choir...or a band! This school is going to be turned completely around when we get there. I am planning to make some serious changes, and you're gonna help me!Sanguis is fat-headed! And you can tell him I said that! (I don't really like snakes, as I've told you before...but your choice...) Although, I do agree with him on the hairball thing. She left me a surprise in my slippers. Yeah...I need to buy new ones. I guess Monster's not the only one who didn't agree with the plane ride over here. I still haven't gotten over the whole...you talk to snakes thing...it's weird. But then again, you haven't really gotten over the 'I have wings and have a nasty desire to kill men sometimes' thing...although the latter might just deal with the fact that I'm a woman...and that's typical.I was thinking maybe the 16th of August...which is soon. I really don't want to get my calendar out again to see when it is. If this is good for you and your dad, tell me okay?With Love,MaddyPS: Now...did your dad say this in a good tone or a bad tone? Like...he was interested...or was completely disinterested and kinda didn't want to discuss it? 'The Noble And Most Ancient House of Black'? I have a home? Wow! That's great! And...who the bloody hell is Phineas Nigellus? (Who would name their poor defenseless child Phineas anyway?) Well, thank your dad for me. I'll look up more on that Phineas guy and see what I can find. Thanks a lot.Love ya. Bye.

I thought you had the common sense not to brew with ingredients you are allergic too! The hands serve you right!On other happier notes I still don't understand how I never got you up on a broom. The star beater of SWA and I never got you to even fly without wings. Well at least you cheered for me at games... Oh and Apparently all of the houses except Slytherin have open beater positions, and Slytherin has tryouts for all positions every year, so I'll probably get to play no matter what house I'm in. Dad thinks it'll be Ravenclaw or Gryffindor though. You should see the look of revulsion on his face when he says that. It is the funniest thing in the world.August 16 looks good, Try to meet me at noon in front of Flourish and Blotts. It's the book store, and apparently IT HAS THREE STORIES PACKED WITH BOOKS! We both know that that is my fantasy dream, and what I have been waiting to get at all my life.Oh and I have already gotten permission (I had to get special permission what are they thinking, parseltounge isn't that rare in the population) to bring Sanguis to Hogwarts as my pet. He and I both found it quite condescending as you, I and he all know that Sanguis is a bound familiar, and I can't exactly get rid of him. My magic is kinda tied to him.As to the Auror thing, I believe that it requires a certain proficiency with POTIONS, so if you want your extra help I would play nice. It doesn't exactly sound like a career for me all considered I would rather get my potions and transfigurations mastery and set up shop, maybe a tutoring kinda thing. I dunno. If professional quidditch doesn't work out at least I have a fall back plan am I right?Dad is finally letting me play with something new, so I've gotta run. See you in the Alley.Rizzy

PS. The whole thing was said kinda sarcastically and scornfully if that helps.

Rizzy-Okay...Okay...I get the message. I won't work with potion ingredients I'm allergic to anymore. At least for the time being...I know...but broomsticks scare me sometimes...it's just the thought that there's only this thin stick of wood keeping you in the air. It's kind of unnerving. Anyway, I hope whatever house you're in, you'll be on the Quidditch Team. That'll be so cool! I have no idea what house I'm going to be in. I heard that a lot of pure blood families are in Slytherin, and from what I've read about the Black legacy...we're pretty pure... I mean, I guess Slytherin would be okay...but I think I'd prefer Gryffindor. Then we could be together! That would be a scream! And I'm sure your dad would overjoyed. (sarcasm)A THREE STORY BOOK SHOP! Wow...that is like...heaven! We are definitely going to have to stock up! I was worried at first because I had no idea how I was going to pay for anything, but I spoke with...um...what was his name...Dumbledore? Or something like that...and he said that it was nothing to worry about. Since my uncle was my "legal" guardian, I would use his vault at Gringotts when I got there. He still won't tell me what my uncle's name is...it's really making me mad.I'm happy you get to keep Sanguis. I don't think I've ever seen you without him...I think you'd die if you weren't allowed to keep him. But, I'd probably be the same way with Le Fay. (Hey, that rhymed!)A tutor? Hmm...well you have fun with that! I dunno if I want to be an Auror. It sounds exciting...but also really dangerous. But...thenagain...Danger is my middle name! Well...actually my middle names are Charlotte Elizabeth, but that's beside the point. I think you'd be an excellent professional Quidditch player! That's a good thing to be able to fall back onto.Well, I need to go. I'll see you at Flourish and Blotts!

With Love,Maddy

PS: Hmmm...I take it your dad doesn't have a good past with the Blacks...don't bother asking him...if he has, than that'll just make him mad...anyway...thanks again. Bye!

"Harry are you ready?"

"Yeah, one minute Professor Lupin, bye, Aunt Petunia, Uncle Dursley, Dudley see you next summer."

"……………"

"Well let's go Harry."

"Yeah"

Harry stepped into the yard with Remus. Remus led him to the car in the driveway. It was an old dingy blue color. It looked rather ordinary and as Harry looked at it he realized that was the point. To not be odd so they would blend in easier. "It'll be all right Harry. You know everything will be fine.""Yea sure Professor Lupin." Remus sighed but focused on driving the vehicle through traffic. He had only gotten what muggles called a 'license' in order to be able to pick up Harry inconspicuously. He was still rather new to driving.

"Harry you know you can call me Remus or Lupin as I am no longer your Professor and we are not at school."

Lupin finished with a small smile. "Er.. yes Pro……I mean Lupin." Replied Harry catching in the middle when he recalled what Lupin had just told him. Harry and Lupin sat through the rest of the ride to 12 Grimmauld Place in virtual silence. The only noise was the radio and the occasional question.

27 July