A/N:

Thankyou to The Great and Almighty Po, Nat, Ally, Linding, Aidyl, Angela and HGDM lova for reviewing! Reviews are fun and happiful-making!


Beginnings


A few months earlier...

A scarlet train steamed by the platform crowded with many children and adults. Amid the farewells and the hooting of many owls, a small girl with long brown hair stood with her mother.

"I'll miss you, mum," she said, hugging her mother tightly.

The woman laughed. "You'll be fine, Verity. You say that every year."

"But this year I'm in my last... the NEWTs are coming now." she winced, then caught a glance at the tall man standing behind her mother. "What's HE doing here?" Verity snapped.

Her mother frowned. "Come now, Verity. Patrick is a lovely man. Plus now, that's we've decided to get married..." she broke off, looking cross with herself.

"What?"

The man stepped forward and put his arm around her mother's waist. "Leanne and I have decided to get married, sweetheart."

The girl's head was swimming. "Don't call me sweetheart," she growled at him. She turned to her mother. "And when were you going to tell me?"

Leanne went red. "Soon..."

"You weren't going to tell me," Verity accused. "I can't believe you!" she shouted. Many turned to look at her. "First, you have to go out with scum like this, then you plan to marry him without even telling me!"

She swung around and ran for the train, heaving her trunk behind her.

"Verity!" her mother called, but she ignored her.

She jumped onto the train, and flew into the first empty compartment she found, slamming the door shut behind her. She leant against the hard wood, breathing heavily. She couldn't believe her mother was marrying that horrible person. She hated Patrick, even from the first time she saw him, walking through the front door with a bundle of roses.

He seemed nice. But she could see right through him. There was just something about him; that air of arrogance. How could her mother do this?

Peering out the window at the platform, she caught sight of her mother standing there, shaking her head with Patrick holding her. How could she be so blind? That man was no good for her.

But that wasn't half of why she was so upset. What made her her so angry was the fact that her mother wasn't even going to tell her. Verity gritted her teeth in frustration.

The compartment door opened, startling Verity. A girl with flaming red hair came through the door.

"Verity!" she cried, holding out her arms.

Verity half-smiled. "Hi Lily."

Lily dropped her arms. "What's wrong?"

"Mum's getting married again."

Lily looked confused. "But isn't that good? I thought you said you wanted her to get out there and find someone?"

"Yea... someone..." she muttered. "Patrick's horrible. He acts nice around everybody but I can see right through him. He's such a sweet talker and mum's gone for it hook, line and sinker. And to think she wasn't going to even tell me..."

"Oh..." Lily looked apologetic. "Well, let's go find some of the others, and buys lots of chocolate! I can guarantee chocolate will make you feel better! Emily Apylbie swears by it in times of stress."

She grabbed Verity and hauled her out into the corridor, crashing into a group of boys.

"Watch it!" Sirius yelled.

"Sirius, don't tell the good lady to watch it!" James grinned at Lily, who returned it with a glare.

"Pompous git," Verity heard her mutter.

Sirius burst out laughing. "Bad luck mate," he slapped James on the back of the head. James punched him.

Lily and Verity escaped down the corridor, with shouts yells from behind them as James and Sirius entered a brawl.

"Why are boys so violent?" Lily wondered aloud. Verity shrugged half-heartedly, and looked out the windows. She couldn't see her mother, but she could see Patrick, standing aimlessly on the station. She pointed him out to Lily.

"Hey, who's that?" Lily ducked down and stared out the window.

"Patrick?"

"No, the guy next to him." Lily pointed.

He was a tall, thin, proud looking man standing next to Verity's future step-father. Verity had a strong feeling she had seen him somewhere before... but that was impossible. He looked annoyed as he talked to Patrick.

"I wonder who's that?" Verity murmured. She tried to shake the feeling, but it wouldn't go.

"His brother, perhaps?" Lily suggested.

Verity shook her head. "He doesn't have any family; at least, that's what he says..."

"Let's spy on them!" Lily's eyes were alight. Verity started to protest, but Lily cut in. "You don't want him to marry your mother, right? So lets get some dirt on him! And the train's not leaving for another ten minutes." she snapped, as Verity eyed her watch.

She sighed. "Fine."

Lily ran back up the corridor with Verity close behind, past Sirius and James (who were still fighting) and the small crowd that had gathered to watch.

They crept outside and knelt behind a bin located next to the conversing pair.

"You idiot!" The tall man hissed.

"It's not my fault if the brat doesn't like me.." Patrick sulked.

Lily raised her eyebrows at Verity.

"...not to plan," the man was saying.

"What did he say?" Lily whispered. Verity shrugged, straining her ears to catch the words.

"...good side, and you better do it soon!" the man said sharply. He turned on his heel and left before Patrick could say a word.

Patrick groaned loudly, then swung around, crashing into the bin, revealing Lily and Verity. He gaped at them for a moment, then growled and lunged for them. Lily squeaked, stumbled backwards and started to run for the train, but Verity wasn't a quick. He seized her and pulled her close. He smiled horribly.

"Hello dearie, how are you?"

"Err... I'm fine thankyou..." Verity whispered.

"Well, just be careful... you wouldn't want anything... bad to happen now, would you?" Verity shook her head, speechless. "Good." he dropped her to the ground and walked off into the crowds of people on the station.

Shaken, she got up and walked to the train. Lily was waiting inside. "Omigod Verity I'm so sorry I left you I thought you were right behind me and he was really scary and I'm really sorry I left you behind what did he do to you?" she gabbled.

"Err... nothing. Just asked... how I was..."

The train's whistle blew fiercely. Verity shook her head. "Let's talk about this later, ok?" Lily nodded and disappeared into their compartment.


Verity sat on the rain, staring out the window as she dimly listened to the other girls in the compartment chatter on about their holidays. It was starting to rain, and the drops were spattering against the window, blurring the view of the grey sky outside. She sighed and shifted in her seat.

What had Patrick and the creepy thin man been talking about? And who was the creepy tall guy?

She'd felt before that Patrick was no good... now she was sure of it. Should she tell her mother what she heard? No... Patrick had practically threatened her, plus she was sure her mother wouldn't believe her in any case. She was so naive.

"So what did you do?" Crystal Shore asked, cutting into her thoughts.

"Wha..?"

"What did you do in the holidays?" Crystal repeated.

"Err... nothing." Verity shrugged. "Mostly did homework."

"I can't believe we're going through the NEWTs this year! Oh my gosh, I'm so going to fail!" Lyla Sapientia sighed, flopping back on her seat.

A chorus of groans echoed through the compartment. "You always get top marks!" Emily Apylbie cried.

"Yea!" the other girls chorused.

Verity stretched like a cat and yawned. "I'm going to go find the lolly cart thing...forgot what's it called," she murmured. "Lunch trolley! That's it.." She stood up and staggered to the door.

"I'll come with you," Lily offered.

The two walked out into the corridor. "Are you going to tell your mother what we heard?" Lily asked.

"I might... but I don't think she'll believe me. She's so damn infatuated with Patrick! I hope he trips and falls down a flight of stairs and dies," she decided savagely.

Lily gaped at her in shock. "You really hate him..."

"He's a creep."

They continued down the corridor and saw the lunch trolley ahead. They approached it.

The plump witch behind the cart smiled broadly. "Hello girls. What would you like to buy?"

Lily chose several Chocolate Frogs and a packet of Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans, whilst Verity favoured some of Drooble's Best Blowing Gum.

"Better not eat to much, or you'll get fat," Sirius commented from suddenly behind Verity. She shrieked, dropping her packet of lollies.

"Dammit," she muttered crossly, crouching down to pick up the scattered treats. "Seven-second rule! Seven-second rule!" she shouted.

Sirius was confused. "What's that?"

"If you drop food but pick it up within seven seconds, it's good to eat still," Lily explained.

"Ah... just wondering Lily, why won't you go out with James?" Sirius asked suddenly.

"Because he's a git," she replied nonchanantly. "He's head is so inflated it's a wonder he doesn't just float off the ground towards the sky."

James, who was standing out of sight came out and stood next to Sirius. "I am not inflated!" he said indignantly. "And if I ever were, I am deflated now."

Lily scoffed.

"Please, just give me one chance, ONE!" he pleaded. "I'll be good. I'll buy you flowers and chocolate and whatever else you want. And I promise I won't curse Snivellus."

Lily sighed and started to walk up the corridor again with Verity.

"Lily?" he called.

"Fine! Maybe!" she cried out over her shoulder.

James exploded. Well, not literally. But he was happy.

Verity laughed as she listened to the shouts and calls echoing from down the corridor. "You said yes!' she giggled. "I don't think I would have imagined the day that Lily Evans said she'd go out with James Potter!"

"I didn't say yes, I said maybe."

Verity shrugged. "Same thing."

"Ha!"


That evening, the group of girls sat in the Great Hall, stuffing themselves with the delicious food from their Griffindor Table. Verity piled her plate with many chicken drumsticks and helped herself to some of the noodles as she listened in to the people around her discussing their NEWTs. Lyla was arguing with Crystal about how bad she was going to fail, and Margaret Hadfield was telling Emily Apylbie about her new kitten as she listened in awe. Emily was a great lover of cats.

Verity was staring over at the other side of the room, at the Ravenclaw Table, where a girl sat glaring at those around her. Miranda Cerritus wasn't one for conversation and mainly kept to herself. But it was no secret of why that was so. Ever since her first day at Hogwarts, she hadn't been one to try and make friends.

Flashback

A littler Verity stood in line and stared out at the sorting hat, wondering which house she was going to be sorted into. She was standing next to a rather tall girl standing disdainfully by the wall, inspecting her nails.

"What house do you think you'll get into?" Verity asked her, trying to make some light conversation. The girl glanced up.

"What's it to you?" she snapped rudely.

"Cerritus, Miranda!" the teacher up front called.

The girl strode forward and sat primly on the stool, and lowered the hat onto her head. A minute passed in silence. "Ravenclaw!" the hat bellowed.

At which point Miranda jumped off the stool, screaming, and chucked the stool halfway across the room. Verity guessed it wasn't quite the house she'd wanted to be in.

End of flashback

Verity gave a short laugh, remembering the look on Miranda's face when she found out she was in Ravenclaw. It was really quite funny, actually.

The food vanished from the plates, and everyone stood up to leave the hall. Verity followed Lily out into the corridors and wove her way through the students before crashing into someone for the second time that day.

"Get off me!" a girl shrieked. Oh no... of all the people to fall on top of, it had to be Miranda. "Get off me!" she cried again.

Verity stumbled back off the girl as she stood up, brushing herself off. "Watch where you're going, freak." she turned and strolled back along the corridor.

Verity snorted and ran after Lily to Griffindor Tower. Miranda had always hated Verity, but she didn't know why. It wasn't as if she'd done anything to her. Sirius Black had gone out with her once... but then they broke up because she was acting so stupid and having hissy fits every time he talked to another girl.

Miranda thought that because he father was rich and important, she could do what she wanted. Ha... what an idiot.

Catching up to Lily, she told her what had happened. Lily laughed. "She really is a git," she sighed, coming to the portrait of the Fat Lady. Someone up the back shouted the password and they continued into the common room.

Verity nodded in agreement.

A brown owl sailed through the window of the common room, struggling to carry a painted metal cage. The owl dropped the cage clumsily on the floor and fluttered to Verity, a note tied to its leg.

She hastily untied it and read the message.

Sweetheart Verity,

I'm sorry I didn't tell you about myself and Patrick. I would have done so sooner, but I knew you weren't fond of him and was worried of your reaction.

Patrick sent you an owl for an early birthday present. Her name is May, and I sent a cage with her in case you need it.

Your Mother,

Leanne.

Verity glared at the letter. Lily, who was reading in a chair by the fire looked up. "Who's owl is that?"

"Mine. Mum's trying to bribe me into liking Patrick." she scoffed.

"So will you keep it?"

"Yeah! I've always wanted an owl... so why shouldn't I keep it?" she demanded. Lily shrugged.

Verity wandered up to her dorm, May fluttering behind her. She dumped the cage on the floor beside her bed and flopped backwards onto the soft mattress, think back to that morning, and the man she had seen talking to Patrick.

She knew she'd seen him somewhere before... she was positive.

Was he good? Was he bad? What did Patrick have to do with him?

She didn't know.


A/N:

Hello everybody! I made it extra long to make up for the shortness of chapter one!

Sorry if that was a bit weird... I was trying to introduce most of the characters whilst attempting to maintain a bit of mystery PLUS I'm trying to establish a plot. I don't know if that worked or not. Lol. If it didn't, please don't forget my story! I always seem to muddle the first chapters, but then it gets better!

Thanks to Lydia and Carmen for checking this for me before I posted!

I'll try and get Chapter 3 up really soon, but it might take a bit longer than normal coz it's assessment period at school (grr) and there are tests flying all over the place.

Please review! Reviews are good and make me happiful :)

Little-Kitty