A/N: I do not own the characters, plots, worlds, dialogue or more shown in this fanfiction that are not original. They belong to their respective owners. Now, with that being said, I hope you enjoy this new story filled with a new timeline, clean romance, drama and the twists and turns throughout it. Without further ado, I present to you: The Fighter and her Snake.

I sat on the old mattress in Dudley's second bedroom, throwing a tennis ball I had found up in the air and catching it on repeat. The air was humid and the night was dark, I should be asleep really. But sleep hadn't graced my body for several days now, thanks to the nightmares.

It was four days into the summer holidays now and my school things had been locked inside the cupboard under the stairs the minute I stepped inside number 4 Privet Drive. I hadn't expected anything less from the Dursley's.

To be honest, I didn't care either. I had no desire to go back to Hogwarts, or even step a foot inside the Wizarding World after my fourth year.

Catching the tennis ball one last time, I set it on the floor beside my bed and closed my eyes. Hedwig was out hunting and the Dursley's were asleep, so it was just me, myself and I.

The memories quickly began to flood my mind and I could feel the tears build up behind my eyelids. How could they do this to me?

"My dear girl," chuckled Dumbledore as Sirius and Remus stood beside him. "Lord Voldemort died a long time ago, I made sure of it. The one who killed your parents, was me!"

I stood there, clutching my bleeding arm and waiting like a lamb meant for slaughter as they each told me a truth about my life. Hermione, Ron, Remus and Sirius… They were all liars.

"Did you really think we would be your friends?" laughed Ron.

"I've had my name down for your fortune and hand the day your parents dropped dead. That's the only reason I put up with you," he sneered. "I didn't want my family to live in poverty any more, and pretending to be your friend was the best way to escape it."

I turned to Hermione, hoping she would say something to defend me. But she had only smirked, observing her nails like a spoiled brat.

"Oh, please. Her parents aren't even her parents!"

"Hush, children. We're running short on time and we musn't waste it!" Dumbledore pointed his wand at me and I flinched. Suddenly, he lowered his weapon and turned to Sirius with a conniving smile.

"Ah, Sirius… I've changed my mind. I think you should do the honors, my boy! Professor Moody, I expect you'll help him."

I tried hard to avoid being held hostage by my Defence Against The Dark Arts professor, but it was no good. My head was forced to look straight at my Godfather, who I loved dearly. Sirius was silent as he pointed his wand at me, a light mist seeping from it.

It creeped towards me and I was afraid, my heart weeping from their betrayal until suddenly, I felt numb.

"You will speak to nobody of what happened here today. You will be sent to Hogwarts and sob, telling everybody that Voldemort has returned and show your bleeding arm as proof. You will obey the orders that Albus Dumbledore gives you without hesitance."

I felt as if somebody else was speaking, rather than myself as I repeated Sirius' words. I then watched stoic as white lights surrounded them all and I was left in the graveyard alone, controlled by the Imperius curse.

I rubbed the tears from my cheeks furiously, my breathing heavy as I tried my hardest to calm down. The things that they had all said effected me daily, sometimes more than once and for longer than a couple of hours.

My hands fisted the sheets from underneath me as I closed my eyes again. I didn't want to go back to Hogwarts, and I most certainly didn't want to be here, alone and suffering without a clue of who to trust. For all I knew, Dumbledore had convinced the Dursley's to act horrible towards me when he left me on their doorstep that cold autumn evening all those years ago!

I hadn't gotten a letter from Ron or Hermione yet, which I was grateful for. I had nothing to say for them and the thought of them sending an owl put anxiety inside me. I understood now, they hadn't been my friends from the start. I refrained from laughing aloud at the memory of my gullible, younger self.

It had all been a ruse, all of it. My life is based on an entire lie, I thought bitterly as I raked my hand through my brunette locks. Dumbledore had killed my parents, and I desperately wanted to tell somebody. Except, who would believe Mariana Potter over the great and powerful Albus Dumbledore.

I was brought of the darkness in my mind from the persistent tapping on my window. I quickly got off the bed and went to let Hedwig in before Uncle Vernon came in and started screaming at me for waking the household up, only to pause.

Hedwig wasn't at the window. Instead, there was an unfamiliar, dark feathered owl waiting for me instead. I swallowed nervously before I opened the window. The owl wasted no time swooping in and dropping a letter onto the grubby, old desk Aunt Petunia had found me at the dump two years ago.

I quietly put the window on the catch to avoid any flies finding their way into my bedroom, before inching closer towards the beautiful owl that had perched itself gracefully on the back of the chair that accompanied my desk.

"What's your name, then?" I whispered and it hooted quietly, sticking its leg out towards me. My green eyes peered down at the brown leather tag wrapped around its leg. Octavius, it said in glistening golden letters.

"Well Octavius, I'm Mariana. It's a pleasure to meet you, would you like a treat before you go?" I ask. Octavius chirped in response and taking that as a Yes, I pad to my wardrobe by the door, opening it up and reaching for the small tin of owl treats that rested on the top shelf.

I quickly take two treats out of the tin and close the wardrobe before walking back to Octavius, my hand outstretched towards him. He carefully nips the treats from my palm one at a time and begins to break into them. Whilst he's eating, I turn my attention to the cream envelope that lies waiting before me.

With a shaky breath, I turn the letter over and run my finger under one of the loose edges, quickly ripping the envelope open as quietly as I can. I didn't want the Dursley's to find out that I had been receiving post from my freaky 'friends'.

But this letter wasn't from any of my friends and my dark eyebrows continued to furrow as I read its contents.

Dear Mariana Potter,

I hope this letter finds you well, but I am sorry if I have startled you by sending it. We haven't formally met before, but you may have seen me at school with some of my Slytherin housemates.

I promise you no harm, and I would very much like to get to know you. However, I'm afraid before we can get to talking about our favourite subjects at school, I must ask you to meet my Uncle, Cousin and I at Gringrotts Bank tomorrow morning, 9 o'clock sharp.

The Nott account manager wishes to speak to us both about a matter too important to ignore. I have heard whispers about the muggles you live with, and to make the journey easier for you, this letter is a portkey. Simply say my surname and the portkey will send you to the bank should you decide to attend.

Kindest Regards,

Theodore Nott

Heir to the Most Ancient and Noble House of Nott.

"What the heck…" I mumbled, staring down at the letter with confusion. Why would a Slytherin want to write to me? And request to be my friend no less?

It made absolutely no sense to me.

I turned to Octavius, who was now settled on my shoulder comfortably. "Your owner is… odd. Why would he want to be my friend? I'm not exactly a Slytherin's favourite person."

Octavius hooted quietly in response before nudging his head against my neck, perhaps in a comforting manner. I stroke his head in response and pray that Hedwig is still hunting and doesn't see. She tends to have a jealous, protective streak in those speckled, white feathers of hers.

"He's going to keep me up all night now, thinking 'why?'" I sigh to the owl. "And what could his account manager possibly want with me?"

Octavius hoots again, this time slightly louder than before and I quickly hush him. The floorboard creaks from the hallway outside and I hold my breath.

Silence envelops my room once again as I wait to hear the same floorboard creak again. It doesn't. I realize that Dudley has woken up and gone downstairs to watch something on his parents new television whilst they're both asleep.

I sigh as my panic dies down. Even if Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia do hear him, they'd let him off without a slap on the wrist because he's their Dinky Duddykins.

I slowly stroke the beautiful owl on my shoulder one last time as I walk back to the window and open it, using my arm to lead the animal onto the crusty, white window sill below.

"I suppose your owner isn't too bad, if he owns a beautiful and friendly owl like you. Perhaps I will meet him tomorrow and see what this goblin has to say."

Octavius chirps at me one last time and I watch as he flies out of my bedroom window and into the early morning sky. I watch until he becomes a dot and then vanishes into the fluffy, grey clouds.

Sighing, I ignore my temptation to read the letter again and settle myself onto the broken mattress that was my bed. I began envisioning how I would greet the Slytherin boy I was going to meet tomorrow.