On a stormy day in mid-September Harriet was sitting in the open stair house, leaning with her back against the wall. Outside the sun was shining while the stormy winds drew circles in the garden as it blew the colourful yellow, red and brown leaves around. Her brother was outside with his two best friends Ron and Neville trying to fly a kite. But an hour ago her parents had received the results of her testing day which had lead to further tests and exams during the week.

She had no idea what these exams had been but they had gradually become more difficult. Countless instructors, teachers and other personnel had tested and prodded her and she had hated it, but it had become increasingly obvious that they had been surprised by her. Her parents had scoffed at the idea that her school had extended their one day of testing into a week. They had even asked her where she had lend her books from and when she had told them they had even controlled the stocks of her closest library who also had school books in store. These had been the books that she had read additionally to those of her family's library. Well, it had been the only distraction from reality and apparently it had helped her progress.

Now she was listening in to what the adults in the house were discussing. Naturally Remus and Sirius were also here but so far the only thing she was able to make out was that her parents believed her to have tricked the Muggles.

"It's impossible." her mother said for the probably hundredth time. "She would do anything to get more attention and those results are just ridiculous. There is no way that she is that advanced. There must have been a mix up."

"Yes, I agree. We certainly haven't told her how to read. There is no way that these are her results."

She heard Remus sigh. "No, you didn't. But I did." he remarked and she could sense her parents surprise and partial anger towards their friend.

"Why would you teach her how to do read? That's what elementary school is for." her mother asked with slightly raised voice.

"When did you teach her?" her father asked tensely and Harriet hoped that they wouldn't shun her favourite uncle for it. He needed their support as the ministry's policies made it harder for him to lead a normal life.

She detected scratching and imagined that Remus was uncomfortably scratching himself.

"On her third birthday. She looked so sad and dejected and I couldn't stand it." he forced out. "You know how much she liked drawing." she heard him smile but knew that her parents had no idea that she liked drawing. "As a joke, I taught her the alphabet as a distraction, but she memorized it immediately and actually tried to adapt it by writing words on her sheet. I spent the whole afternoon writing letters, words and other stuff on the sheet and she just soaked it up like a swamp."

"Really?" her mother asked unconvinced. "Why didn't you tell us?" her father asked accusingly and Remus sighed again.

"I did, but you were … to … ahm… busy with Alexander's birthday. You must have forgotten about it."

"You know, "Sirius threw in "it's possible that she is compensating for her lack of magic."

"Sirius, she has magic." Remus countered. "She is no Squib."

"No, Sirius might be on to something." James insisted. "She has not performed any magic and it would make sense that she compensates for her incapability of doing magic. I, mean it wouldn't be the first time. Many Squibs are like that, because they need to have an alternative for magic."

Harriet sniffed as another tear rolled down her cheeks. So now she was degraded for supposedly not doing magic. She had done plenty of magic, but each time it was credited to her stupid brother. Even Remus had acknowledged that she wouldn't have been able to destroy her brother's birthday cake without magic, but none of the other adults saw it that way.

"Let's ignore those tests." Lily suggested. "She had more than enough attention for one week. It's time that she learnt her place and she will go back to school with Alexander. Harriet could hear her father and Sirius agree, but luckily Remus remained loyal to her.

"Lily, that's the worst thing you could do to her. She is too far along in her education. She will get bored to death and Merlin knows what that will lead to. "

"These kind of tests are not reliable and she must have cheated." her mother insisted angrily and Harriet could hear her stomp. "We are not wasting any money on some fancy public school only for her to drop out after one week."

"What makes you think that she will drop out after just one week?" Remus asked and now it was his turn to raise his voice.

"Have you read the papers her teacher brought at all? They tested her I.Q. and asked some specific questions on the first day. Then they had a pause of one day where they probably set the exams up. Lily, for Merlin's sake. She got her GCSEs this week. You both even signed the paperwork. Do you have any idea how special that is? How much red tape they had to cut through to actually let her write them at this time? Look at the languages." She heard rustling of papers which probably meant that Remus was browsing through them.

"She is able to write, read and understand them perfectly, but they mentioned that she has difficulties pronouncing it. That's why she learned it from books alone."

"That's rubbish. We have books written in Roman languages in the library, but none for actually learning the language." James insisted. "This proves that these are NOT her results."

"It doesn't prove anything, James. The public libraries do." Remus told him "and I know that she has memberships for at least five libraries in a hundred kilometre radius and from two bigger ones in London."

"That sounds nice, Remus, but it's impossible. Borrowing all these books would have been expensive and she does not have money by herself and she has never come with us to Gringotts." her mother rebuked his theory, but Harriet bit her lips.

She had frequently sneaked out of the house to explore the neighbourhood and had dared to actually venture further out and in so she had sneaked out to libraries and had been told that if she read them in the library then she would not have to pay for them. Once or twice she had gone to Gringotts without her parents knowledge to get some money when she wanted to buy a book which she had enjoyed very much. So she had spent some days away from the stifling house and atmosphere. It had been like a sanctuary. She had been able to read undisturbed and nobody had commented on her fast reading. London was further away, but she had dared to use the floo network a few times to get to Sirius house and from there in the huge pulsating metropolis. Due to her young age she had been able to get into the museums for free and had even increased her interest in so many different things. When she had come back late at night her parents had not even noticed her absence. Only Remus had registered that she had disappeared once and he had followed her and found out about her secret "memberships" in libraries. Two years ago her brother had liked hearing stories about Vikings and his birthday had been a Wickie-themed birthday party which she had apparently destroyed when she had told all the guests loudly that Viking helms didn't have horns and that everything in the decorations was wrong and that her brother was definitely not a Wickie. She had even compared him to Snorre. No. She wanted to go to that public school. She would be away from her parents and maybe meet more intelligent people because her brother was getting on her nerves.

"I'm not paying anything for that little Brat." her father said strident, but Harriet had enough. Jumped up from her hiding place, dashed into the living room and shouted at him

"You don't have to pay anything, you thunderhead!"

Her father looked taken aback at her brazen behavior. "What did you just call me?" he almost growled and her neck hair straightened.

"You heard me, father." she answered angrily staring him directly into his eyes.

"You don't have to pay anything except my lodging at the public school. That's called scholarship. But it seems that this definition goes over your head." her parents were angry at her but she had enough. They had never acknowledged her presence, showered her brother with expensive gifts while she had never received anything from them. They had not spent any money on her.

"Have care how you speak to me little lady. I'm your father" her father growled angrily and Remus stepped in between the parents and Harriet to shield her for some reason.

"Then act like one." the six year old girl shot back safely from behind her uncle's back.

"Were you listening in to our conversation?" her mother asked with a tout voice.

"You are talking about my future, mother. So, yes." she answered. "Actually, unlike you I have a solution how you can escape paying my lodging and still let me go to that public school."

"You are not going to that school." her mother insisted but the little black haired fury stood her ground. "Give me one good reason not to, mother." her mother could not retaliate.

"As I was saying. The school which offered me a scholarship is not far from Surrey, so I could stay with aunt Petunia and her family and go to school from there."

"How do you even know about your aunt?" her mother enquired stubbed.

"I have my ways, mother" Harriet quoted her favorite detective omniously, but the reference was naturally lost on her family.

"That's a very good idea." Remus patted her proudly and she smiled at him but was still aware of her fuming parents.

"I rather agree." Sirius nodded and added. "The transition into the Muggle world will certainly be easier if she goes to that school and nobody will ask questions if she doesn't show up in Hogwarts."

Harriet scowled and drew the adults gaze again and she desperately wanted to tell them that she was already invisible in the Wizarding world. Hardly anyone knew that her brother had a twin. Even her parents seemed to forget that sometimes.. As her gaze wandered around the living room she could see countless pictures of her parents with her brother or the three Marauders with her brother, but none of her. Her heart clenched and she fought tears again. Why could her parents not love her as much as her brother? What had she done to be treated like this? They had written prove about her advanced education and they still were unable to say even one praising word. No, instead they found fault in her supposedly not being able to perform magic. Maybe leaving her parents was a better idea. But her aunt had to agree first and she desperately hoped that she would. It couldn't be worse than living here. Maybe her cousin was nicer than her brother. She desperately hoped so.

Great. She had one hour left to her next shift, without actually sleeping because her stupid Ensign, who had ordered her to stay attention in his shared office. He did have time to sleep, but thanks to his orders she had been forced to stay in the office under the watchful eye of the other snickering Ensigns. But now there was only one other in the room and she was aware that he was looking at her quite strangely. She was extremely exhausted. More so after her last shift and the combat training. How she was able to stay straight at the moment was a mystery to her, but it seemed that her body had already adapted in this horrific month of her service.

But the combat training had been enjoyable to her minus the fellow Wizard. Although her muscle had deteriorated through her almost nonexistent training in the last month the muscle memory was still intact and she had therefore stood her ground against her opponents, but there had been a bit too much close calls. Only two others had been able to beat her in training, but the blonde bimbo had not been one of those. So she needed to build up more muscle again, but being stuck with this Ensign was infuriating. Her body ached all over and she wanted to rest and sleep. She could have sworn that her reflexes were weaker and the only thing she could think about at the moment was sleep. But she would not give him the satisfaction. He was already on his shift and he had ordered her to follow his colleagues order's, which meant, that they would order, let her go any minute now.

One of the Ensigns leaned back on his seat and was successively roaming his eyes over her body, but she only mentally rolled her eyes as she stared at the grey wall. They could look for prey somewhere else, because she would not give into that power play.

"You know, Midshipman Potter." she heard the balding man purr. "You could have it so much easier on this ship." She fought back her revulsion and her bit her cheeks to keep her retaliatory answer to herself. But it seemed to show on her face.

"You seem to think otherwise." he stated standing up and edging closer to her. No, she would not become their prey and she straightened her back and kept her hands clasped behind her back. Whatever this menace was trying to do she would not falter. He circled her and she could smell his revolting cologne which seemed to be the latest fashion among the Coruscanti officers. Maybe her nose was wired wrong, but it smelt like old dried sweat to her. Or they just were unable to use their refreshers properly.

He circled her further and suddenly sneaked his sweaty hand from behind over her stomach to her breast and she could feel his warm breath behind her right ear. What the hell was he doing! He was overstepping his authority! If she defended herself then she could endanger her family's life and everything she had endured would be in vain. His other hand roamed upwards her leg. No, she had enough! That was revolting and consequences be damned, but she could not let this continue. She slowly unclasped her hands in the back and stepped slightly to the side.

The oblivious man continued doing it until she pulled her elbows in front of her body and quickly turned slightly and rammed it up behind her where she felt would be the specific weak spot between his breast cage and his stomach. She heard him groan surprised and hurt as she spun around she spotted that he had leaned forward and she kicked her right knee upward into his groin and heard him cry out as he fell down onto the floor. As he writhed in pain he hoarsely cursed her and at hissed at her that she would regret this.

"You just signed your death warrant!"

Her heartbeat started to race as she became aware about the ramifications. She had attacked a higher ranking officer and would be lucky if she was demoted again. Her family would suffer because of her. She had to pull herself together as she felt that she was close to letting her magic slip. But it was possible that the ISB had hidden cameras in this office. She hoped so. Especially as some officers smelled like they were secretly giving in their spice addiction. But what if the ISB did not care about such incidents? She couldn't kill him, but maybe obliviate him, but as she stumbled two steps away she was not sure if she was strong enough to do this and she did not want the ISB to find out that she could do magic.

"At least I die knowing that I've kept my honor from the likes of you." she hissed back hearing the doors open.

Shit! Obliviating was out of the question and she did not have her fast reflexes at the moment to obliviate two officers. Only her shift at the bridge would be able to safe her some time now.

"I have a shift to get to, Sir." she mockingly bowed and raced passed the other officer who took in the scene out of the office but unfortunately stumbled into another officer and murmured an apology.

She needed to reach the bridge. Yes, she had not gotten any food, but it did not matter anyway. She would start her shift earlier to show that she was a reliable person. Maybe it could help with the uncertainties to come, although she doubted it.

I'm doomed! she nearly cried as tears threatened to escape her eyes and she started to hyperventilate. She leaned against the wall and concentrated at breathing. She could not hyperventilate now. As the durasteel lift was slowly winding itself upwards towards the bridge, she took deep breaths and carefully whispered a cleaning spell and hid her newly grown hair in a bun, partially under her cap and glamoured it. She felt dirty, helpless and two tears escaped her.

No! She could not cry know. She would not give them the satisfaction of knowing that they had succeeded in destroying her life and that of her family. She pulled out a caffeine toffee and a small vile out of her hidden pocket and swallowed the revolting contents. This with the caffeine combined would help her get through her shift without falling asleep or feeling tiredness at all. It was a combination that she should not repeat very often or she could force an early heart attack.

But she was quite sure that she would get more than enough sleep in the brick after her shift or eternal sleep if she faced a shooting squad. If she would be able to get through her entire shift without getting arrested, that was. Although it was highly unlikely. Imperial Coruscanti officer against newly discovered planet in unknown region. She knew which person would win in front of a jury.

As she stepped out of the lift she spotted the Chiss Commander and his aide in the command room with a few other officers. His aide shortly looked towards her direction, rose his left eyebrow, picked up a datapad and back to his superior. She shortly lingered at the entrance, took another breath to steady herself and made for her much hated pit, hesitated as she passed the ISB agent at his workstation, but it seemed that he had not been made aware of what she had done. She stepped towards her Ensign who smiled condescendingly.

"Midshipman Potter, reporting for duty, Sir." she said dully, but then anger swept over her as he was just as responsible of what just happened moments ago and it could be possible that he had laid a trap for her with the other Ensigns.

"You are twenty minutes early for your shift. Midshipman. Seems that you are incapable of learning the time." he sneered but she ignored him and realized that there was someone new sitting at her station. What had happened to the conscript normaly working in the shift before. This one seemed like a rookie.

"With all due respect, Sir." she mocked the word 'Sir' and continued. "I'd rather be early then too late and a little bit of warning. Should you or your fellow Ensigns dare to overstep their authority with inappropriate behavior again, then I will not hesitate to defend myself."

"You forget your place, Midshipman." he hissed again taking a threatening step towards her, but she shot back not wavering in her stance.

"So do you and your fellow colleagues in that office. If you and the others can't keep your paws to yourself, then I will snap the wrists the next time something like that happens." she growled lowly and added: "Sir."

"Is that a threat?" he enquired clearly not knowing what to do with her as she had spoken out of tune again. She knew she was in trouble, but at least she knew that she had held herself honorably. Maybe it counted for something.

"No, a promise." she stated staring defiantly at him but he suddenly jumped and stood attention as he looked behind her and she turned around and did the same. Commander Eli Vanto, Thrawn's aide was standing behind them. He almost never came down the pit. Why was he here now? Had he heard the last exchange?

But it didn't appear so.

"Midshipman, Potter. As you are early, might I have a quick word with you?" he enquired but she saw that it was actually a command. She could feel her ensign shift behind her uncomfortably. It couldn't be about the incident earlier, could it be. That was far below his rank and why would Thrawn's aide want to talk with her about it. It didn't make sense. Or the hurt Ensign had spun a much wilder story and she would pay the price now.

"Yes, Sir." she answered steadier than she felt and followed him two steps behind him as he lead her away from the workstations and stopped shortly in front of the steps leading upwards from the pit. She kept her hands behind her back.

"Your weren't at your barracks after your evaluations, yesterday." he looked at her with a questioning face. Harry gulped. So this wasn't about her last incident.

"I was assigned to stand attention in Ensign Mayr's shared office, because of my inability to follow procedure, Sir." she told him and he raised his left eyebrow.

"For how long?" he enquired.

"Until about 45 minutes ago."

"Ensign Mayr appeared punctually for his shift. You mean to tell me that you stood attention in his office alone?" he enquired.

"No, he commanded that in his absence I am to follow Ensign Patterson's orders."

"Well, that's certainly unusual." he commented shaking his head but didn't dwell on it "Grand Admiral Thrawn read your report and that of Ensign Mayr. Yours however, was far more detailed." he informed her. "And the Grand Admiral also detected your slicing for the language courses."

Her heart stopped and heat was rushing over her body and she knew that she just grew red as she had been caught red handed. What had she done to get detected? Did she trigger something? Her breathing accelerated and probably looked like a deer in the headlights. That was it. It was over. Her incidents were staggering, but she couldn't give up. Her family counted on her.

"Sir, I.. I can explain." she started fidging uncomfortably with her hands behind her back.

"No, need. The Grand Admiral deduced the reason and although he does not condone your actions he will give you another chance."

Shit. That chance has sailed when I just attacked the Ensign. she mentally cursed, but the alternative would have been worse. Merlin knew what that bald idiot would have done to her.

Commander Vanto handed her a datapad which she took confused. What's that?

He continued: "Thrawn has noted your interest in languages and your academy records show that you seem to have an aptitude for languages." He tapped on it and she could see several lines of data. He therefore offers you the chance to redeem yourself by learning Sy Bisti. It's an important trade language in Wild Space and the Unknown Regions, yet the empire does not have many people speaking it, the translator droids don't understand it yet and the language is not in the empire's databases."

That would have been a challenge which she would have enjoyed, but unfortunately she had ruined her second chance and visibly cringed.

"You are given the rare chance of redeeming yourself. You won't get another one." the commander told her as he had clearly seen it.

Harry nodded hesitantly and as two additional troopers entered the bridge and spotted the ISB agent jumping up and looking angrily in her direction, she knew that her second chance just had passed.

What do you think? Would love to hear contructive comments.

And, just that you know. I had planned this out before the #metoo movement.