"Are you sure she said 'cousin?''' Hermione was standing on one side of Mina's bed as Harry sat on the other, deep in thought. Ron simply stared at Mina in disbelief, making her feel uncomfortable even in her sleep

"Yes, for the third time, Hermione," said Harry throwing his arms up in frustration, "I'm positive she told me she was my cousin. I am just as confused as you are. And then she had to go and pass out before she could explain."

"Malfoy probably hates her now," Ron smiled as he continued studying Mina," I bet he doesn't 'kinda like her' now that he knows she shares your name, Harry."

"Right. I saw him staring at Mina, very hard during Potions," Hermione said to Ron.

"But, then he didn't hesitate to show his thanks to her in front of the whole class either," Harry said as he stood to go to the window and then raising his finger in the air and stating, "If she really is my cousin, then Malfoy's not laying a finger on her again."

"Or his lips," Ron snickered, and Hermione shot an angry glance towards him, "Now let's not get ahead of ourselves. We won't know she's really your cousin until she awakes."

"What are you going to do if she is your cousin, Harry?" Ron looked over to Harry.

"I dunno. The only relatives I've ever had are the Dursleys and I'm not very fond of them. I dunno how to treat a relative," Harry replied looking down at his feet, when suddenly his head shot up with glee, "I can't wait to meet her parents. If she's my cousin, then that means her parents are also my relatives. Maybe they knew my parents, especially my dad. Our dads must have been brothers since we both have the same last name," Harry looked down at Mina as Ron and Hermione exchanged worried looks.

Harry reached down and gently touched one of Mina's cold hands. Talk to Dumbledore. Harry's hand repelled as he stumbled backwards.

Hermione jumped from her seat, "What happened, Harry?"

"I dunno. I think she talked to me," Harry hesitantly reached down to touch Mina's hand again. He knows more than even I do. Talk to him. I need rest. Harry jumped back again nodding, "Yeah, she's definitely talking to me. I've got to go talk to Dumbledore." Harry left still shaken by the progression of weirdness as the day progressed.

Ron watched Harry leave then slowly came over to Mina and touched her hand as well. Would you please quit staring at me! I'm trying to sleep! Ron yelped and fell into the bed nest to him as he stumbled back.

"What happened," Hermione ran over to Ron's side, giggling.

"Let's get out of here. She's definitely Harry's cousin. Weirdness must run in the family. She's even stranger than him," Ron struggled in his battle with the bed sheets he had fallen into, as Hermione watched him and finally decided to help him. Ron ran out of the room as Hermione followed, giggling.

"Damn, what's the password?" Harry had practically ran to Dumbledore's office and was eager to speak with him before lunch was over and Harry had to go to class. Harry had already tried the password he had heard from his previous visits to the office, but none seemed to work now.

As Harry paced in front of the stone Gargoyle that watched mockingly, Harry suddenly had an image of a lemon candy in his head. Although a little bewildered, Harry looked at the stone Gargoyle and said, "Lemon drop?" The stone gargoyle jumped out of the way in defeat as Harry ran up the stairs.

He reached the giant, oak door and lifted his hand to knock, when he paused to listen to familiar voices coming from inside. "Why didn't you tell me?" The voice was angry yet flustered. "Did you not think to tell me the identity of the girl?"

"You simply never asked, Severus. She is your student and you would eventually have found out," came Dumbledore's reassuring voice. "Would you mind having a guest, Severus? I believe we have a visitor waiting outside."

Harry heard footsteps hurrying towards the door and he suddenly began to panic as realization set in-Dumbledore had detected his presence. The door opened to reveal the disgruntled, pale face of Severus Snape. He scowled at the sight of Harry and was about to say something-no doubt a nasty remark-when Dumbledore kindly invited Harry inside. "Have a seat, Harry. Would you care for a chocolate frog?" Snape was disgusted by the cheery mood of the white wizard and exited without another word.

Harry was too nervous and preoccupied to eat anything and barely managed to sit onto the plush chair. "What seems to be troubling you, Harry?" Dumbledore studied Harry.

"I want to talk about a new student named Mina Jane Potter," Harry said in a rush.

Dumbledore studied Harry through his half-moon spectacles and his eyes twinkled. "So, you have made the acquaintance of your cousin," it was more of a statement than a question.

"So, it's true. She's my cousin? But I never knew my father had any siblings. I've never heard anyone talk about my dad having a brother," Harry whined.

"That may be because James never did have a brother," Dumbledore said, calmly, "he did, however, have a younger sister."

Harry's eyes widened. "But Mina's last name is Potter, shouldn't she have the name of her father?"

"Her mother chose to give Mina her name."

"But, why didn't she have her husband's name," Harry asked curiously, then suddenly his face became sour, "And why didn't I know about Mina and my aunt. And why did I have to live with the Dursleys when I had other relatives? And why has Mina come to Hogwarts so late? And how does she those… those 'powers?'"

Dumbledore arose form his seat and began to examine some books on a nearby shelf. "Before continuing Harry, let me inform you that your Aunt Jane is no longer in this world. She died when Mina was even younger than you." Harry ran into a wall of bricks.

"She's dead? But how, why?"

"Harry it is a very long story. I will only tell you what Mina had willed me to share."

"What do you mean, 'willed you to share'?"

"As you may have come to know, Mina has gift and a curse. She has the power to communicate to others without words."

"So, what has she 'willed' you tell me?" Harry's hands were shaking and his face was flushed.

"Harry, Mina has inherited her gift from her mother. Her mother also had these gifts, however she had less control over them," Dumbledore paused to look at the sun high in the sky, "and Mina is making a great effort to live her life as normally as possible. Mina had not come to school two years ago because she needed more time and training to gain more control her powers. She has come a long way. She lives with a woman, whom she dubbes 'Aunt Kirreth' along with several other young orphans. No one has ever considered adopting Mina and so she is the oldest there. She receives massive support from Kirreth and takes comfort in interacting with the children. She is very kind, intelligent, and sensitive. She has never really interacted with people her own age and is quite shy. She has been schooled by Kirreth, up until now. I am very happy to have her here and hope you two will take comfort in each other's company."

"Where are her parents?"

"This is where the long story begins, Harry," Dumbledore returned to his desk and gazed at Harry, "Mina's mother, your aunt's, name was Jane Ry Potter. She was two years younger than your father, James. What you must understand, Harry, is Jane is one of the first witches to have this gift. Centuries ago, these powers were passed among muggles-"

"Muggles could do those things. But didn't they-"

"Yes, Harry, muggles had these powers. The Wizard population had first speculated that these people were actually unaware wizards, but later discovered that they were indeed muggles. Generations later, Jane displayed those same powers. Each day her powers grew more and more uncontrolable and dangerous to her and others around her. A wizard institute, now demolished, had offered her parents- your grandparents-the option of sending Jane to a facility to be studied and 'treated.'", Dumbledore paused to watch Fawks, then continued without taking his eyes from the phoenix, "with little other options and without knowing the true nature of the facility, your grandparents agreed to send Jane there in hopes of giving her an easier life. Jane and James were both happy that Jane would 'feel better' after going to the facility because they both believed her gift was an illness.

"Jane had been unable to come to Hogwarts because of the danger her powers posed on the other students, while James was here at Hogwarts Jane simply learned everything at home. When Jane was thirteen and James and was fifteen, Jane went to the facility. In the beginning all was well and Jane and her family were excited. In her first year at the facility, Jane was simply observed and was treated well, and was allowed visits from her family. However, as the following year progressed, the facility moved her to another room and took away her wand and lied to her parents saying she was at another facility to be studied by others and visitors weren't allowed there. She was locked away with little food and little contact. As her gift became more powerful and dangerous the facilitators began punishing her. Jane decided to wait the year out and see what would happen. But nothing did. Whenever Mina's parents visited the facilitators confunded her and would simple say she had an "episode' that left her in this state. James told his parents he wanted Jane home but they were convinced with the lies of the facilitators that Jane was progressing," Dumbledore paused to take a deep breath, while Harry continued to hold his.

"So, my dad seemed to know something was wrong," Harry asked, eyes squinted.

"Yes, he sensed something wrong with Jane each time he saw her. When Jane was sixteen, and James almost eighteen (they were a little under two years apart), Jane was finally exhausted and exploded out of the facility. She used her powers, which to her were a curse, and made her way out of the facility. She managed to take back her wand and ran into a forest outside the facility. She did not even consider going home because she had no memory of her parents visiting her and the facilitators claimed her parents had abandoned her."

"Those no good liars," Harry jumped out of his seat, but sat back down as the past headmasters all scowled at Harry from their portraits.

"Indeed. Well, Jane exhaustedly made her way through the forest as it rained when suddenly a bright red light came flashing towards her. She managed to repel the curse. She turned to see a dark figure standing, wand at the ready. The two stood for a moment until the other lowered her wand and kindly asked Jane to follow her. This woman was Kirreth. Kirreth cared for Jane for the next six months until she one day left."

"Left? But, why did she leave. Where could she have gone?"

"You see, Kirreth's cottage is in the center of a forest in the mountains. Jane often ventured off to explore the forest. One day, her exploration was cut short as she was kidnapped by a Deatheater who took her to Voldemort."

"What! He took her to Voldemort!"

"Yes. Voldemort had apparently heard of Jane's awesome powers and planned to use her as a weapon. He promised to help and take care of her if she remained loyal to him. Jane eventually became a part of the Deatheaters-"

"She became a Deatheater!"

"Yes and fell in love with the one who had brought her to Voldemort, "Dumbledore watched Harry's eyes grow wide, " James later learned that Jane escaped from the facility in a rage and was nowhere to be found. James, then married to Lily, was devastated and was able to learn of the damage the facilitators had done to Jane. Your father never was able to locate your sister, but she had once sent him a letter congratulating him on your birth and she also announced in the letter that she was pregnant as well. Three months later, your cousin was born. Her mother took care of her well but then, a year later, she learned that Voldemort was plotting to kill you and your parents-her family. She immediately went to her lover and asked him to help her rescue you. He refused, of course, and turned her in to Voldemort. Voldemort did not wish to lose a valuable weapon. He filled Jane's head with lies about her brother not actually caring and he told her James had never even tried to find her. She acted bitter and immediately begged Voldemort for forgiveness. Very powerful she was. She was even able to fool Voldemort. Jane knew James had always searched for her, she simply did not wish to be found. On the night that Voldemort killed your parents, Jane found out that he had ordered her lover to kill her as well-"

"That bloody-"

"But her lover gave Jane a chance to escape before he changed his mind and killed her and his daughter. Jane left and brought Mina to Kirreth. Jane left Kirreth with Mina as she wept, knowing she may not see Mina again. She also seemed to know that Mina would one day display the same powers she had. Jane then went to help you. She managed to meet James before Voldemort's arrival, but they had a sentimental meeting as Lily and James began questioning Jane and the events of her life. It was when she saw you that she began to panic and began warning your parents of the approaching danger. However, Voldemort arrived at the scene and had a long struggle to kill Jane. Jane used much of her abilities and managed to kill and harm many Deatheaters. In the end, however, she died as she was weak and could do nothing but throw herself in Lily's way as she tried to take you and run when Voldemort's curse hit Jane instead and killed her. Lily was devastated to know that Jane died in her place, especially because she felt horrible for James, who had finally been reunited with his sister. I presume you know the rest, Harry."

Harry stared out the window fixedly. "She tried to save my mum and I."

"Mina had been raised with few stories of her mother, a picture, a simple journal, and a few other artifacts."

Harry's head shot back to Dumbledore in rage. "Who is her father?"

Dumbledore stared at Harry for a minute before he replied, "I'm afraid I do not have that information for you."

"Does Mina know who he is or that he was a Deatheater?"

"She knows what I have told you. She also knows that after the night of the death of your parents and Jane, he turned away from Voldemort and no one knows where he is. He came to see Mina about four months after her mother's death and left some money for her. He talked with Kirreth about Mina's future, but Kirreth was not pleased to have the discussion with him. She was angry and simply told him Jane had left specific directions for Mina's future and she would only follow those. The former Deatheater then left and never came back for Mina. Part of the directions Jane had left, included that Mina have her last name-Potter."

"So, what now?"

"Now, Harry, we simply let the flower unfold. It is up to you whether you choose to befriend and accept you cousin or-"

"Up to me to choose? Of course I accept her. She's my cousin and has felt the same things I have. I want to help her."

Dumbledore smiled and his eyes twinkled. "I believe your next class is about to begin, Harry. Good day."