To Kailah and Alyssa: wow, did you guys actually read the first chapter?

Yuki and Crystal: See? I am keeping my promise; just carry on bugging me to finish the next chapter, eh?

Alice and Davina: This chapter is for you two ;)

Love y'all always

Dawn

I walked out of school with my heart in my throat, making my mouth dry and hands shaking. Mrs. Cameron, our head, waved merrily at us as we left the school gates, I waited for her to shout for us to come back and give us a detention. Alyssa was the only one of the seven of us that looked at complete ease, as if she did this every day. Maybe she did.

Yuki and Crystal huddled close together, both Asian eyes darting back and forth between the redheaded headmistress and the path that led out of the Convent.

Alice, who seemed more like herself as every step she took further away from the old building, was already muttering to Davina whether Alyssa could hypnotise Tescos to give us some free alcohol. "No," I muttered over at them as we reached the heavenly gates. "I'm mad at my dad, but I'm not giving him an excuse to be mad at me." who ever said I wasn't responsible can shove it up their arse. Alice pouted, brushing passed a few pedestrians along the pavement. "I'm upset. I wanted to spike Alyssa's drink." Alyssa laughed, not looking back at us. "Trap," she muttered back at Alice.

I looked over my shoulder at Kailah, who was staring quietly at the cracked and gum-stained pavement, her long braided strands of hair fell around her face. "Hey," I smiled, stopping so I could walk alongside her. "What's up, hun?" I put my arm around the slim curve of her waist and pulled her closer, so I could rest my head on her should her. "Well?"

I heard Kailah sigh. "Nothing darlin'." She continued to look moodily down at the ground her long lashes brushing her cheeks. I pursed my lips, trying to hold back a smile, trust Kailah to go all moody on us, I swear sometimes she was like a middle-age pregnant woman. We continued to walk in silence along the main street, trying not to look guilty when people eyed our uniform.

"Hey," I called to the rest, stopping, and causing Kailah too as well. Six pairs of eyes turned to me in question, but waited until I said something. "Never mind Tescos," I grinned. "What do you all say to some free Nandos?" Everyone's face brightened at the prospect of chicken, I swear, Kailah looked like she won the lottery.

"Oh, My, Days." She grinned, transforming her face into something that looked quiet angelic. "Nandos and they're bare sexy chicken." She looked around at everyone else with wide eyes. "All we need now is Lil Wayne."

I rolled my eyes along with everyone else; trying not to laugh at the look Alyssa was giving her friend. "That crusty old woman's toe?" She made a disbelieving sound, Alice nodding in agreement. "Just no, Kailah." She said in her high-pitched posh voice. Beside me, Kailah kissed her teeth and looked up to the heavens. "Lil Wayne is sexy. Shett."

"So, Nandos or what?" I demanded.

"Yeah," and "Nandos!" was my answer.

Fifteen minutes later, we were all crowded around a small table in a darkened corner of Nandos, all happily scooping our free frozen banana yogurt, while we waited for our chicken and rice – or in Crystal's case, chips – to arrive.

"So, you believe him then?" Davina asked, taking another scoop. "Snape, I mean." She looked around at us, each in turn, her dark eyes almost pleading with us to say this was a bad dream.

Alice shrugged, looking down at her half-eaten yogurt, uncharacteristically solemn. "How else do you explain it, what we can do?" her soft voice carried to every one of us, with slight foreboding.

Crystal bit her lip, looking nervous. "So we are going to Hog-thingy?"

There was a thick silence for a long moment, while we all mulled over the thought of Hogwarts. "They're uniform has to be better," Alyssa smiled lightly. "I mean, like, it can't get any worse than this." She looked down at the royal blue and yellow garments that we all wore with distaste.

Yuki laughed, nodding. "Yeah, straightjackets are better."

"Huh?" Kailah frowned at Yuki.

"She means, Hogwarts could be a mental hospital," Crystal supplied helpfully; her cheery voice did not match the horrible meaning to her words. I paused, thinking about what Yuki was getting at. Could our parents really send us to a mental hospital for what we could do? I didn't think my daddy could do that to me, but then again, I didn't think he could lie to me all my life.

While I was brooding silently over my personal troubles, the conversation had picked up again, only their voices had become just a white noise as I sulked in my own self pity, because, either way, my dad had betrayed me, I just didn't know which one would hurt less.

A small, warm hand rested on my shoulder, I looked up to see Yuki smile at me, her dark brown eyes seemed to be more eye-catching up close. Our table had gone silent, which made Yuki's soft voice stronger, full of powerful emotions. "Don't worry about it," She smiled, giving my shoulder a little squeeze. "Whatever happens, we're in this together." I heard mumbled agreements and Alyssa grinned at me. "You'll have to divorce me, to get rid of me."

I nodded and smiled, giving Yuki and everyone else grateful looks. "Think happy thoughts," she whispered in my ear, before leaning back in her seat. It took me a moment to understand what she meant. Yuki could read minds, I could talk to animals, Alyssa could hypnotize…

"Hey Crystal," I looked at the small Asian girl, who was carefully applying eyeliner. She looked up, revealing that she only finished one eye. I lowered my voice and leaned forward, so my voice wouldn't carry. "What did you say your…" I searched for a word that could describe it. "Power…was?"

Crystal turned back to her make-up, and replied in a non-chant voice. "I can move stuff with my mind. It's called Telekinesis."

I nodded and turned to Davina, who was fiddling with her half eaten yogurt. "What about you?"

Davina looked up, her dark brown eyes stood out against her golden skin and freckles. Davina was part Portuguese, so her looks were exotic and dark. She shrugged and tried to be as casual as Crystal, but the tenseness she held in her shoulders was there. "Time shifting." I had to raise my brows at that one, I mean, time shifting sounded cool, but the slight haunted look in the depths of her brown eyes. She looked at all of us, who looked back in turn and sighed, biting at her lower lip. "When I was six, I was playing hide and seek with my sister, Tara. I hid under my bed and waited for her to find me. When she didn't, I decided to go find her." Davina's eyes suddenly looked far away, seeing something we couldn't. "My room looked different, all grubby and there was no pictures or TV. All the furniture looked like in those museums that Mr. Knight drags us to. There was this lady in a rocking chair, knitting something, she had a plain blue dress and a while apron over it, her hair was tied into a long braid. She looked at me and screamed. I screamed too and started to cry for my mum. The next thing I knew, I was back in my room, my mum hugging me. When I told her what had happened, she said I must of fell asleep."

Alice, who was sitting beside Davina, hugged her close while Alyssa patted her back. With Davina still in her arms, Alice spoke in a hushed tone. "I was ten when I got my first vision." She shivered from the memory. I looked around, our food should be here soon, turning back to Alice, I leaned closer to hear her low voice. "I saw a man stab his wife to death, about a week later, it was on the news."

An uncomfortable silence settled over that, one that seemed to be screaming for noise to fill it with.

"And on a lighter note…" I smiled softly at Alice and Davina and tried for a more cheery voice. "So, are we or aren't we going to this Hogwarts?"

"I want to go," Alice replied, still holding on to Davina. "I mean, if they can help us. It's better than nothing." Davina nodded, smiling. "Yeah, I'm in."

I sighed, taking a deep breath to steady the sudden frantic beat of my heart. "Me too,"

"Me three," Alyssa nodded, grinning at me, her dark eyes suddenly seemed a lot brighter.

Yuki and Crystal turned to each other in union, their actions almost comical. "We're in." they both said.

All eyes turned to Kailah, who laughed at something that must have shown on our faces. "What?" she asked, grinning.

Alice sighed. "Are you going or not? What is this, can't you just follow one conversation?" Kailah gave Alice a murdering glare before rolling her eyes at us. "Like you guys could leave without moi." She batted her eyelashes and waited us all to agree.

Tumbleweed…

Kailah waved her hand, her warm brown eyes laughing. "I know you guys love me really."

"Good luck with your dad," Kailah squeezed me tight enough to leave a bruise on my abnormally large boobs. She broke away and eyed me worriedly, chewing at her lower lip. "You'll be on msn, right? 'Round seven?" I nodded and hoped I gave her a reassuring smile. "Yeah, I will."

"Just no," Alice muttered loudly and we all turned to look at her. "What? It doesn't take a physic to work out that Dawn's gonna go mental and like, set some next rabid animals on her dad."

"Shut up, tramp." Alyssa warned, her eyes narrowing at the smaller girl.

"Or what?" Alice retorted, hands on hips. "You'll make me?"

There was a sudden glint to Alyssa's dark eyes as she stared at Alice, one I don't think I have ever seen before. "Maybe I will."

The rest of us exchanged worried glances between the two and hurried along with our goodbyes. I waved as they walked to their bus stop, before departing to mine, trying not to look too guilty when people eyed my uniform.

The phone was ringing when I got home, there was annoyed shrill of the phone that suggested that it was ringing for some time and wished to be answered around about now.

Dumping my bag, I hurried towards it and frowned at the unknown number. "Hello?" I asked hesitantly, wondering if I was going to be offered life insurance. "Dawn?" my

Father's voice contained so many emotions, stressed into that one word. Anger, worry, and fear.

"Daddy?" I bit my lip as my voice wobbled from the sob creeping up my throat. "Daddy – what's going on?"

I heard my dad sigh. "Dawn – I'll – I'm on my way. I can't explain on the phone."

And he hung up.

Only to appear right in front of me.

I couldn't help it – I screamed. Only, my suppressed sob came out with it, until I was choking through tears.

My dad looked shocked, his eyes slightly too wide as he held out his hands and took a step towards me.

"No!" I yelled, backing away. I stared at the stranger I'd called my father for so long and felt actual fear. Fear and anger.

I watched as my dad's hands dropped, hurt plain on his face. Funny, but I don't remember him having the right to be hurt. I was the one who had been lied to all this time. "Dawn, I – I was trying to protect you."

I glared through the tears. "Do I look protected?" I demanded, feeling hot, stinging tears fall.

"You look alive."

I shook my head, wiping my cheeks on my blazer. "And what about mum? You had to lie about her to?"

My dad closed his eyes, suddenly looking tired and much older. "Dawn, just sit down and I'll tell you everything."

I opened my mouth, but no words came out, silently I sat down on the couch, staring at my daddy intently.

Rubbing the bridge of his nose, dad took a seat on the other couch, looking down at the floor. There was a long pause before he began to speak.

"When I attended Hogwarts, so did your mother. We were two very different people, the kind that didn't mix. There was always – something – between us, something that we tried to ignore – for everyone's own good." He paused to take a deep breath; his eyes still remained glued to the floor, as if it was offering him some kind of strength.

"There's something you should know Dawn, before you decide to go running off to Hogwarts. There are bad people – dangerous people – people like…" He paused and took in a deep breath and letting it out again. "People like Voldemort." My dad finally met my eyes, and I stared back into those dark, troubled eyes. "After I left school, I joined this order to stop Voldemort. Your mother, she joined Voldemort. A few years after joining, I was asked to retrieve some information and I met your mother. We…" He broke off with a sigh, searching for the words or maybe, the strength. Maybe he should look at the floor again. "We had been dating secretly for six months when she fell pregnant with you. Dawn, you have to understand; we were young and didn't know what to do. Your mother and I went into hiding just before she began to show, but people noticed our disappearance. We promised that no matter what, you would be safe. After you were born, your mother returned to Voldemort saying that she killed me and that our past feelings made things difficult for her." He shrugged. "Everyone though I was dead, so I brought you into hiding, keeping you safe from all that. I did what I thought was best. We all would have been killed if I hadn't took you away from that world."

I felt myself shiver, a tingle down my spine. "What happened to mum?"

His eyes grew very sad and I caught a glimpse at a person would was still in love. It unnerved me to think that my dad felt that way; I've always though of him as this unmovable mountain of strength, the person I could rely on. Why was everything changing?

"I haven't seen her since she left, for her to come here would mean we would have to move and I know how close you are to your friends…" He sighed once more. "Dawn, I understand why your upset, but I don't want you going to Hogwarts to spite me."

I bite my lip, but it felt numb, almost as if I wasn't actually wake. Oh God, please be that this is a bad dream.

"I want to go, dad. I want to be normal." I rose, watching as my dad's mouth opened in protest, but no words came out, and departed for my room.

Bunking off school sounds great, but actually it gets quite boring. I blared some music, read, for Gods sake, I even revised for physics. Time slowly passed and I found myself staring at the ceiling, just for something to do. Giving up, I logged onto facebook, wondering if anyone would be online.

On my homepage were a few updates, but there was only one I really cared about.

Crystal Mieng: Okays, theres this random dude with a long beard in my living room and mums like going ape shitt. Loooool. Weird or what?

The comment was made forty-seven minutes ago. Intrigued, I fished through my blazer, which some how appeared on my bedroom floor, and retrieved my mobile phone. Flipping it open, I scrolled down to Crystal's number and hit call.

It didn't take Crystal long to answer. "Hello?"

"Crystal?" I asked, frowning. Herr voice sounded different, maybe it was the phone, but she sounded horse, like she had been shouting. Knowing Crystal and her mum, which most probably was it.

"Dawn? Hey!" Her voice changed instantly. "Has your dad got back yet? You would not believe what happened when I got home. I was asking my mum about my dad, and she kept snapping at me and saying that she didn't want to talk about it. So I was like, 'what? That he was a wizard?' and she lost it. Shouting, 'who told you?' and 'why was I doing this to her?' and all that. We had this big argument and I couldn't take anymore, so I went up to my room to have a fag and some much needed facebook. About fifteen minutes and two fags later, there was a knock on the door and I looked out of my room to see who it was-"

"Some random dude with a long beard." I finished for her.

"Yeah, how did you know?"

I rolled my eyes, even though she couldn't see me. "Facebook you assshole. Anyway, continue."

There was a slight pause. "Oh yeah. Anyway, he asked my mum if he could have a talk with her and me. I could tell she so did not want to let him in, but you know my mum, doesn't want to seem rude. So this guy – Dumbledore or something – starts saying that how I need to learn how to control my magic and that my dad would have wanted it that way, blah, blah, blah. Yeah and my mum just sat there, nodding. He said that if I wanted to go Hogwarts, I would have to have catch-up lessons, get all the 'appropriate' things and stay with a magical family over the summer so I have a basic knowledge of watch their world would be like and that I would be going there in a week, if I wanted to, of course."

"Jesus," I whispered, "Did you actually breathe at all when you were saying all of that?"

Crystal laughed. "I hope so. What about you and your dad? Is he home yet?"

"Yeah," I sighed, closing my eyes and laying on my bed. "Turns out my parents are some next Romeo and Juliet and that there's some evil guy with some next funky name that would kill them if he found out."

"Wow," Crystal breathed. "You win of the whole I-got-the-most-crazy-problems contest."

"Thanks," I heard the doorbell ring and my dad opening it. "I'll talk to you later, theres someone at the door."

"Oohh, some random dude with a beard?"

I laughed. "I let you know."

"You'd better. Bye."

"Bye." I hung up.

"Dawn?" My dad's head poked around my door. "Can you some down stairs?"

I nodded and rose, following him down to the living room in silence.

The person who sat on the leather couch wasn't some random dude with a beard; in fact, it wasn't a dude at all. The aging woman had her almost all grey hair pulled back in a no-nonsense bun, a pair of small square glasses were perched on the bridge of her nose, and there was a tartan shawl resting on her shoulders.

"You must be Dawn," Her Scottish accent was thick. "I'm professor McGonagall." Her tone was professional and gave me the impression that this wasn't a woman to be messed with. I shook her hand and sat on the opposite couch, my dad hovered, looking worried.

"Well," she began. "It's nice to see that you are well John." My dad fidgeted, shoulders slightly hunched as if he was a small boy being told off.

Her greyish green eyes turned to me. "You are aware of Hogwarts, correct?" I nodded. "Good," she allowed herself a small smile. "Then I'll get to the point. You'll need to learn how to control your magic, it a wonder how you haven't caused any serious damage already," She sent another sharp look at my dad before continuing. "Hogwarts can help you do so." She paused and adjusted her shawl. "The Headmaster of Hogwarts – Professor Dumbledore – has proposed that you begin your studies and take extra classes to catch-up on the four years that you missed. He has also arranged for you to spend the summer with a magical family where you can learn the every day customs and some tutoring can be arranged to cover the basics."

My dad interrupted. "Which family?"

McGonagall raised a brow. "Molly and Arthur Weasley's family."

My dad smiled faintly and nodded like the name meant something to him.

"Because of the unforgiving timing, you have to decide within a week and also retrieve you wand and other essentials."

"Wand?" I found my brows knotting together.

"Yes, wand." She produced a long, thin, smooth, polished stick from inside her emerald robes and handed it to me.

Cautiously, I took it, the wood felt solid and smooth under my skin. The sudden feeling a being whole rose. Well not whole – but almost. It was strange; I had no idea that there was something missing up until now.

Reluctantly, I have McGonagall back her wand and resisted the urge to rub the tingle away from my hand. "I want to go."

My dad sighed. "Dawn,"

"No," I said, hearing the stubbornness in my voice. "I want to go, I have a right to."

McGonagall smiled. "There is much of Isabelle in her."

"That's what I'm afraid of."

The mention of my mother's name was like a wash of ice-cold water being thrown over me. "You knew – know – my mum?"

The older woman nodded. "I taught both her and your father through out their school years."

"I don't want you to go Dawn." My fathers voice held the parental authority that made feel five years old again.

"Yeah, and I don't want to believe that I've been lied to all my life, but I guess we don't always get what we want." I snapped.

"Dawn." He warned.

"If you have any problems, Professor Dumbledore would happily reassure you, John."

I had to smirk at the sudden schoolboy look on my dad's face.

"Daddy, please. You and mum got to go." My voice softened and I did the big brown eyes that normally got me what I wanted. Normally.

Suddenly looked defeated against two women, he sighed and nodded. "We'll go shopping tomorrow."

I grinned. "No school?"

Rolling his eyes, dad nodded. "No work either."

Wow I revised for no reason.

"I shall inform Professor Dumbledore for your decision," McGonagall's voice held a tone of approval. Yep, defo a teacher.

Oh and then she vanished.

"Why does everyone suddenly seem to do that?" I demanded, hand over my racing heart.

"Apparition. You'll learn when you're seventeen." My dad rose and wandered towards the kitchen. "What do you want for dinner? Order pizza? I don't feel like cooking."

"Yeah," I hadn't realised until now how hungry I was. "Please."

I stalked off to my room and opened up my laptop to log on to msn. It was six, but I knew my friends.

I was on for four seconds.

Mrs. Kailah lil wayne. Shett:

OMFG! ARE YOU GOING? I'M GOING! SHITT…

Dawn and cookie dough ice cream. Yum…x:

Yes!

Alyssa-and-b5, Alice: Davina's the other night loool, Crystal the demented Barbie, Yuki-asian-ness, Davina-grr-some-ppl-just-dnt-get-da-hint, HAS JOINED THE CONVERSATION

Davina's the other night loool:

Im going

Crystal the demented Barbie:

So are we

Yuki-asian-ness:

So are we

Alice: Davina's the other night loool:

Oh cut the crap. I foresee that we are all going

.

Davina-grr-some-ppl-just-dnt-get-da-hint:

Yay. Sexiness lol

"Dawn? Order the pizza will you?" My dad's voice called from down stairs.

Dawn and cookie dough ice cream. Yum…x:

G2G BYE ME DARLIN'S

XXX

We said our goodbyes and I signed off.

Today stared out normal and changed into something extraordinary. The very thought of what lay in wait was overwhelming and the best part was that the six people I loved were going to experience it with me. But the niggling feeling of Voldie-whatever and my mum still loomed like a dark cloud just over the horizon.

Well, we'll worried about that another time, now it's all about pepperoni and bacon stuffed crust and ice cream.

You know, sometimes life is truly grand.

Shame it doesn't last long, eh?

Okay, I already started the next so keep your panties on. Hope you like the story so far. Yuki and Crystal, I demand that you write this chapter in you own POV 'kays?

The next chapter should be way more fun. We are all going shopping. Yum.

Xxx

As always, I love you all.

Keep reading.

Lisa