A/N: Been a while since the last update. Another odd twist but I know you'll keep up - hope you likes x

Thursday 23rd July 1992

I'm sorry I didn't write yesterday. I was far too busy for it. Luna was right, it would all make sense in the end and it did! I'm still confused and Mum is still being difficult about it but I think we're getting somewhere. I just don't know why she won't tell me anything - it's my life I'm asking about and my past not her's. Though that'd be useful to know something about too.

I lie in the grass in Luna's field wearing the same clothes as yesterday, rumpled, my hair matted from sleeping in a tree and my face slightly grubby and tear-stained. I didn't sleep here all night but in the garden at my Aunt's. I was hiding in the tree house and fell asleep. Luckily it was a warm night. This morning when it was only just light I ran and ran to Luna's but stopped before I got to her garden and went to sleep for a few more hours, my letter clutched tightly in my hands. I've rescued it once from my mum and I don't want her stealing it again even if she has no idea where I am.

I've left my watch at home so I've no idea what time it is when Luna comes running towards me, her white-blonde hair streaming out behind her. She twirls around a few times before leaping and landing right next to me. Today she doesn't manage to make me smile and being her outward self she asks me why I'm sad and look disgusting.

I turn away from her. I know she's just trying to help but I don't want her to see me crying. After a while Luna warps her arms around me and I hold onto her and cry until there are no tears left to fall.

Eventually Luna can't contain herself anymore. "What's wrong?"

I take a deep breath, "Mum won't let me go" I hand her my now slightly bent letter.

She doesn't have to open it to know what it is. Luna puts it down on the grass, reaches into the overly large pocket of her sunshine yellow pinafore dress and pulls out an identical letter - just as crumpled, just as folded - and places it next to mine. She grins, her smile reaching all the way to her eyes and takes my hands in hers'.

"You are going. I promise."

"You can't promise something like that!" I protest.

"Of course I can! Why won't she let you go anyway?" Luna asks.

"She doesn't want me ending up like my Dad." I huff pulling up fistfuls of grass.

"What happened to your Dad?" she asks.

I bite my lip. My eyes sting with fresh tears as I whisper the terrible truth. "He's dead."

Luna again flings her arms around me. "It's okay; he's in a better place now. He's happy and safe - that's what Daddy says about Mum."

"Your Mum died?" I ask.

She nods.

"I'm so sorry!" I say, "I'm always going on about how annoying my Mum is while you don't even have- I'm sorry, Luna."

She shakes her head with a cheeky grin. "Don't be. Anyway, loads of kids at Hogwarts only have one parent."

"Why?"

"Because they died either in Battle of were murdered by Death Eaters. Some really great witches and wizards were killed by You-Know-Who himself!"

"Death Eaters? You-know-who?" I ask.

Luna just nods as if these are things I should know.

"Doesn't matter, does it? I'm not a Hogwarts person anyway."

"Yes you are!" she says.

"No I'm not!"

"Yes you are!"

"No I'm not, Luna, I don't understand! What is Hogwarts? Who is this Dumbledore man and what the heck is a bloody supreme mugwump?!" I find it hard to breathe and scared of the truth I cover my ears so I won't have to hear it.

"It's not my place to tell you all of that. You need to talk about this to your mother." she says calmly.

"No..." I whisper. "NO! I won't you can't make me. I hate her and she hates me!"

"She loves you."

"She doesn't"

"Speak to her"

"I'm not going to. There's no way on earth!" I say through gritted teeth.

"But Victoria! You need to understand!"

"Understand what?" I snap.

"Isn't it obvious? Don't you see? You're a witch!" Luna notices my expression and smiles. "Oh, don't worry it's not bad thing. You're just like me and there are loads of us."

Finally I get the "just like me" thing - ish.

"No." I say. "I'm not a 'witch'! This 'Hogwarts' is all a joke. You made it up! You and your father, the sick man! All this crap about 'nargles' and 'wraspurts' - oh, why'd I believe a word of it? I came here upset and confused just to see that it was all a joke!"

"It wasn't" she grins.

"It was! It is! You- you're a joke! You're crazy, messed up in the head! I thought I'd found a true friend in you but it was a lie!"

I stare at her and she just smiles dreamily back at me.

"What?" I ask. "Why aren't you upset with me? Angry? Bummed that I caught you out? STOP SMILING!" I yell then pick up my letter and run and run non-stop until I reach my favourite tree, the old oak I haven't sat under since I ran away on Monday and became friends with Luna. At least I thought we were friends.