The Harry Potter books, and all things related to them, belong to awesome and talented JK Rowling.
Fifteen years previously. . . .

"Liz, hurry! Honeyduke's is this way, and we only have any hour before we have to go back!" Hollered Veda Baragon to Elizabeth Potter as she raced along the path from the school to Hogsmeade.

"Coming Veda!" The fifteen year old yelled back cheerfully, her wild raven hair flying behind her as she caught up to her friend and the two raced forward. The two fifth years were grabbing a rare break from studying for OWL's to go to Hogsmeade and get some sweets. Plus there was a new joke shop that they wanted to check out, called Zonko's.

The two slowed their pace as soon as they entered the village, to avoid any embarrassing scenes of the two crashing into strangers. They took a moment to breath and then made their way to Zonko's first. It took one look around to make Liz grateful that her brother and his friends were done with school, because if they had managed to have the joke shop as a resource, she doubted that even Hogwarts, forget her students, would still be standing.

The two stopped off and the Three Broomsticks for some Butterbeer before going to get their sweets. It was packed with friends who all wanted to borrow Liz and Veda for a bit. However, time was precious to the two thanks to schoolwork so they had to refuse.

Despite the heavy burden of the looming exams and the piles of schoolwork that came with being a fifth year, this was the most exciting year of Liz's young life It was the first year she'd be completely alone. No parents, no big brother to terrify all the boys from her, and a new sister-in-law who was possibly pregnant.

Liz had to admit to herself as she and Veda paid for their drinks and hurried out of the Three Broomsticks, it was going to be tough to go back home where her movements would be restricted and monitored closely by her slightly paranoid parents.

Thank you James you git for always causing trouble, she snarled internally as she and Veda slide into Honeyduke's. But there wasn't much choice for her, and her parents really did have her best interest at heart.

With her and James sharing so much of their physical and certain personality characteristics, and her corresponding with Severus Snape, it was hard for anybody not to believe Liz a mischief-maker, much less her parents.

As she and Veda looked over Sugarquills and Chocolate Snitches, very useful for that time of the month, Liz began to have the peculiar sensation of being watched.

At first she just dismissed it as paranoia, but it seemed to follow her everywhere, like some annoying bee that wouldn't shoo. Then, when she and Veda went to buy the aforementioned sweets, her feelings were affirmed when Veda leaned over and whispered, "Liz that man over there is looking at you."

Liz whirled around and found herself staring into a very fine pair of grey eyes. . . .


A Note from the Chica:
Okay, I want to here and now give credit to the character of Veda to my friend, Vega Sailor! VedaNOT MINE! Read The Filth in Purity for more!