Sorry that I'm a day late! I had a migraine yesterday and I couldn't wear my glasses. So I couldn't see anything, which includes my computer screen. XD Enjoy the chapter.

Chapter 1

And so it begins again...

October 31, 1982

Order Headquarters

A large group of tired and worn out faces stared down at the map laid down on a table in front of them. The dimly lit room set the mood. It had been a year since the hope of the wizarding world had died, or so Dumbledore claimed. Severus Snape thought otherwise, why would a powerful wizard like Dumbledore put all of his faith in a prophecy about an infant. He knew that they weren't accurate.

Young Harry James Potter was killed by Voldemort after they had left him with Peter Pettigrew on Halloween the year before, leaving the Potter's with no heir and Dumbledore without much hope. He had miscalculated and lost his greatest weapon.

They had moved the Order headquarters to the Potter's Manor home, where the distraught couple spent their free time helping the group fight. The ancient wards were legendary and the secret keeper was James Potter himself. Despite everything Severus said about James Potter, the man was loyal. He wasn't going to betray the Order and Dumbledore knew it.

The old man then went to protecting the Longbottom family, but the Dark Lord didn't seem to be targeting them any longer. There had been one attempt, but it hadn't worked. But, in a game of chess, one always had to have a back up plan. From what Severus had heard, the headmaster was going to train young Neville Longbottom to be the savior the wizarding world needed. If he could find a way to slow down Voldemort.

The Order of the Phoenix was getting desperate. They had been fighting this war for twelve years. They had lost many of their members, including Peter Pettigrew, who betrayed his friends to the Dark Lord. Severus had joined shortly after his betrayal, he wanted to be Lily Potter's silent protector. He was more important to the Order than most of the members. He was their spy in the main circle of Death Eaters.

"We need to counter Voldemort, Dumbledore. The passive approach isn't working," A young man with shaggy black hair stated, slamming his hand down on the table, staring at the map in front of him. His grey eyes were flashing in anger. Severus tried not to sneer at the man just on principle. Sirius Black was notorious for his temper and what annoyed the potions master the most was that he agreed with the man. Dumbledore was getting nowhere just waiting for the next attack.

"Sirius, my boy, we would be no better than the Death Eaters if we attacked them first. We can't be seen as a vigilante group, it isn't ethical."

The sole Black heir stood up from the table and glared the self proclaimed leader of the light. It had been a year since he lost his godson to this man's plans and it showed in his personality. He wasn't nearly as carefree as he used to be and wasn't nearly as trusting. The merry band of Marauders had been betrayed. If Lily's child hadn't been killed by that betrayal, Severus might have laughed at the irony. Despite his surly demeanor he didn't approve of the murder of infants...even if it was Potter's child.

"Well, what do you propose we do? Wait for them to ask us to fight them? This isn't a school dueling club!" He argued, it was visible that he was loosing the fragile control on his anger.

"Sirius, that's enough. As much as I agree with you, we can't just jump in head first. We need a plan," Potter said with an aggravated frown.

Suddenly, a pulse went through the house, nearly knocking everyone down. A murmur of confusion went through the Order. Potter stood up, knocking his chair over. It clattered to the floor as he sprinted out of the room. Lily following closely behind shouting, "James, what's going on?"

Dumbledore nodded to Severus, motioning him to follow the young couple out. The spy grimaced, he hated owing his life to the old man. He left the room without being noticed and followed the young couple deeper into the house. He was lead to a study. "The family wards activated. Something's happened," he replied, laying his right hand on back wall. His family ring lit up on his right hand and the wall slid away opening to a backdoor. Severus slid out behind them just as the door shut.

They were in a small garden covered in runes. This was no doubt where all the wards for the manor were located and it seemed that one of them in the middle had activated. They were headed to a mosaic of ancient rune work. From what Severus remembered, when the Death Eaters were trying to recruit Potter, he a powerful family, a small one, but a strong one. He only had an Aunt, Uncle and younger cousin. The Dark Lord was interested in the cousin until he found out that she was sickly.

As they approached the area he saw a body lying motionlessly on the ground her long midnight black hair spread out around her. Severus pulled his wand out, ready for a fight, but Potter just ran over to her without a second thought. Potter pulled out his wand and did a quick scan of her with his wand. She was clutching a book and her wand, but what caught Severus' attention was the Potter crest on her robes.

"Iris?" Potter gasped as he approached the girl. She definitely looked like a Potter. She had the same facial structure and hair color that ran in the family of his most hated enemy, but she her lips and eye shape were completely different. She didn't have glasses on her, so maybe she was lucky enough not to need to wear them.

The elder Potter looked her over and saw various cuts and burns on her body. Unconscious tears were running down her face and the moment Potter's hand touched her shoulder she curled away from him, as if expecting to be harmed. There was no doubt in Severs' mind that this she needed help.

"James, who is she?" Lily asked, gently lifting the younger witch with a levitation charm. She seemed young, maybe sixteen.

"She's my cousin. She lives in Whales with my Aunt and Uncle. They were no doubt attacked. She used the blood rune portkey. It would send her away from her home and to the nearest inhabited Potter home, which is here," he replied, running a hand through his hair in a manner that made the spy sick.

Lily's eyes narrowed when she realized that he was here, but she didn't say anything to her husband, who was completely absorbed in getting his cousin out of the room without hurting her. It was going to be hard to explain her sudden appearance to the Order.

The Order didn't agree with Potter's decision to let the witch in their home, but he wasn't about to turn a blind eye to his family. Severus didn't argue with him, much to the surprise his old headmaster.

"She might not even be your cousin. She needs to be bound and interrogated!" Moody hissed, glaring at Lily as she levitated the young witch to the sitting room. Her husband had gone to get some burn paste.

"Only a Potter can use the portkey. That's my cousin," Potter snapped, coming back with a jar in his hand that was filled with green paste.

It took nearly an hour of arguing, but Dumbledore allowed Madam Pomfrey to come and examine the girl. Madam Pomfrey had come to see what kind medical attention she would need. The healer had given Severus strict instructions for what potions the girl needed. She was weak as he expected a sickly child to be. Surprisingly, she only needed basic potions to help her. Apparently she was just in shock from the rune travel and would need time to sleep it off.

Their guest was currently asleep on the couch. Severus was watching her. From what Pomfrey had told him, she didn't have a strong immune system, since there were still some potions in her system. He wondered if her magical core was even developed properly. He was supposed to be watching her for hostility. Though, he doubted she could do much to him without a wand and since she was a Potter there was even less that she could do.

A quiet groan greeted his ears. He saw the young woman's eyes and they were a startling grey. "Where am I?" She asked curiously, grey eyes looking around the room, searching for something familiar. She had a Welsh accent, making the sourly man's lip curl in distain.

Severus wanted to snap at her, but something about the innocent tone of her voice stopped him. "She's awake!" Severus called to the rest of the Order members that stayed, many had left to spend time with their family. The potions master had his wand pointed at the pale girl, watching her warily.

James Potter came running in and skidded to a halt and knelt next to his cousin. "Iris, what happened to you?" He asked, pulling her frail hands in his.

She took a deep breath before replying. "Death Eaters attacked. My parents were killed... We always knew their was a chance that Death Eaters would come after us. My father had me redesign the wards to destroy the house if intruders entered. He wanted his only heir to live, especially after what happened to Harry," Potter flinched at the mention of his dead son. Severus almost felt bad for him. "If someone were to attack the house I was to portkey to you. I had to fight my way to the portkey though. I must have passed out when I landed."

Potter sighed, carding a hand through his younger cousin's hair, completely ignoring Severus behind him. "Aunt Kara and Uncle Ignatius are dead. Iris, Are you going to be alright?"

This was what the potions master had been waiting for, the breakdown. He saw tears well up in her eyes, but she rubbed them away, not letting them fall. He could see burns healing up her pale arms as she did that. Apparently, her home had burned to the ground with everyone but Iris Potter inside.

It was rare for people to survive attacks by the Death Eaters and live. This girl shouldn't have been an exception to the rule, but it seemed like the Potters just loved to break all of the rules that Severus had set.

"I'll be fine, James. How are you Lily? I know you've both had a horrible year yourself," she said, full of concern, it made Severus nauseous, all this family love. If Dumbledore wasn't ordering him to watch her, he'd be long gone.

"We're alright, trying to win an impossible war. You should get some more rest, you were burned," Potter urged, but she didn't seem to want to listen to him.

"James, I'm not made of glass. I can feel the burn salve on them. Now, why am I being watched like some kind of prisoner?" She asked, looking warily at Severus.

So, I hope you liked the chapter and I'm so sorry for this being a day late, but I didn't expect to be sick. I know that this is a slow start, but the plot will pick up very soon.

Thank you for the reviews, favorites and alters on the last chapter! They made me smile. Review for the next one as well! If you have someone that you want to see, don't be afraid to ask! I love having my readers input when I'm writing these kinds of stories.

I should have the next chapter up next week.

~Animerocker

PS
I don't own Harry Potter