. . .Harry watched for Miranda's reaction. Her face broke out into a bright grin.

"Wow!" she breathed, "I'm actually here! It's just hitting me."

She turned to Hermione eagerly, "OK, so while I'm here I want to just soak up the whole London experience. I plan to fill up three memory cards for my camera through this trip. Buckingham Palace, The Tower of London, Hyde Park. . .the works!"

She spoke animatedly waving her hands in wild gestures. . .she was practically vibrating.

"AND," She continued with a sly smile, "If it's not much trouble I had hoped I might also get a little. . .Wizarding World Backlot tour?"

Both Harry and Ron looked up at her in shock at that. But then shrugged. Hermione probably would tell her cousin she was a witch before bringing her out here.

Hermione smiled at her cousin in amusement, "I was thinking we would start all that tomorrow. You must be tired from that long flight?"

Miranda started to shake her head but then against her will let out a bit of a yawn, she smiled softly and rolled her eyes,

"Tired, yeah that rings a bell."

They headed back to the underground and only when they were seated did they speak again,

"So," Miranda piped up, "Where exactly am I staying?"

Harry, who hadn't really thought past picking up this American cousin was interested as well.

Hermione straightened up, business like, and smiled, "With us, at number 12 Grimmauld Place."

Ron jerked up, either at the thought of living in such close proximatey with this little American girl with the high pitched voice or the problem that had just occured to him, Harry wasn't sure.

"Hermione," Ron began tentatively, "How exactly is that going to work? The house is cloaked against muggle's sight and. . ." He trailed off and gestured toward Hermione's obviously muggle cousin.

Hermione grinned in triumph, "I thought of that." She quickly glanced around to make sure they were alone in the car and pulled out her wand,

"Miranda, this is a spell that can be applied directly to the eye. . .or your glasses if you prefer?"

Miranda stared warily at the wand and looked into her cousin's eyes,

"Glasses,"She stated automatically, "Definately glasses."

She pulled them off and handed them to her cousin.

Hermione took them and grinned, "I was rather surprised to see these. . .it does make the spell easier. When did you get glasses?"

Harry realized the glasses must have been a recent addition.

Miranda smiled, "January. . .It turns out I'm near-sighted. Kind of a shock really when I put them on, it was like, 'I can see! It's BEAUTIFUL!'"

She said this with an exaggerated tone like someone who's been healed of blindness, and waved her hands in the air. Harry couldn't contain his laughter and Ron seemed to be suppressing a smirk.

Hermione, laughing as well, looked fondly at Miranda, who seemed to be enjoying their reactions, "I see you're as much of a drama-queen as ever!"

Miranda grinned, "Proud of it babe!" Pumping her fist in the air.

Hermione supressed a chuckle and turned back to the forgotten glasses and raised her wand,

"Occulo magica!"

She touched the lens with the tip of her wand and they glowed a strange purple-gold color before returning to their normal transparency.

Miranda took them back in awe, "Wow. . .magic. . .too cool!"

Later that evening Miranda had been introduced to all the Weasleys and several Order members. They all liked her. Mrs. Weasley fell in love with her as soon as she smiled and thanked her for letting her stay. Mr. Weasley as soon as he found out she was a muggle, and Fred and George as soon as they watched her bend over to pick up her jacket from behind.

The only frosty welcome she received was from Kreacher.

The old elf had looked up at her in horror and went into convulsions of disgust as he whispered,

"Worse than the mudblood! Worse than scum! They let a muggle into the most venerable house of Black! Muggle. . .scum!"

He walked away twitching and muttering. Miranda watched with raised eyebrows as she turned to Hermione,

"Looks like I've made a new friend!" She drawled with casual irritation.

Harry laughed and predicted many SPEW pamphlets shoved at Miranda in the future.

The only human who didn't seem to like Miranda was, to Harry's surprise, Ginny. As soon as Miranda opened her mouth Ginny seemed to lose any miniscule respect for her. Harry didn't realize she and Ron were so alike. But then again Ginny never seemed to like pretty blonde girls. . .just look at her and Fleur.

Her oppinion of her seemed to fall even further when Malfoy came downstairs and paused before sitting down to looked Miranda up and down severals times slowly and give an appreciative nod of approval. Ginny turned a deep red and muttered something about 'going to get . . .work. . .finished.' before making a swift exit.

The evening was spent in friendly conversation and lots of catching up between Hermione and Miranda. At points it was like they were speaking a different language. Sometimes Miranda would cut off mid sentence, give Harry and Ron a sidelong glance, whisper something to Hermione and they would both burst out laughing. MIranda had a very unusual laugh. It may have been the bright resonance of her voice but it seemed to trumpet out three octaves higher and every other squeak was accompanied by a shrill gasp for air. He got used to it after a while but every time she laughed he could see Ron cringe.

Over the next few hours they learned that Miranda was interested in reading, drama, drawing, poetry, and, to both boys' horror. . . singing.

"Jacquie, My vocal teacher, says if I work at it I could get a three octave range," She said this with evident pride, "I just need to excercise the upper part of my voice."

Harry's mind reeled at the thought of Miranda's voice getting any higher.

Soon Mrs. Weasley entered with a tray full of tea and sandwiches. Miranda watched the steaming tea-pot with a look of concern growing in her eyes.

"Here you go Miranda dear." Mrs. Weasley gushed offering Miranda a warm cup.

Miranda looked very uncomfortable for a moment before speaking up, "Erm. . .Thank you Mrs. weasley but I um. . .I don't drink tea."

There was an audible gasp from everyone within ear-shot.

Mrs. Weasley look both amazed and hurt, "Well. . .I'll just get you something else then." She gave her another astonished look before exiting the room.

Miranda looked guilty but turned to all the surprised faces with a challenging glare,

"What? It's an addictive stimulant, OK!"

The rest of the evening flew by without further tensions until Miranda pulled out a strange device. It was a very small pink rectangle with a square screen and circular pad of some sort. A long wire came from it and divided into two ends with little round. . .things. these she stuck in her ears and pressed the white circle. She smiled and leaned back in her chair surveying them all.

Harry quickly looked down embarassed to realise he had been staring. But looked up again in time to see Fred and George slowly come towards the blonde with interest.

"What's that?" Fred asked, a simple question but Harry could tell they just wanted an excuse to possibly flirt with this pretty American girl.

Miranda looked up at them and pulled one of the little things out of her ear,

"It's an iPod, err. . .I guess you wouldn't have them in the wizarding world. It sort of holds all the songs I like and I can listen to them anytime I want. It's a pretty nifty little invention that I highly recommend." She smiled and stuck the little round thing back in her ear.

Well she wasn't losing fred and george that easily.