Hello Readers!

I just wanted to leave a note because I didn't manage to get one in on the prologue. Sorry the prologue had to have its own chapter, it turned out longer than I had anticipated. I am open to any suggestions you have to offer but please don't act like you're better than me and be rude about my writing. I could be worse. I don't plan to focus a lot on the first 5 years but I should have at least 1 Chapter for each year as a brief run down. It is also going to be a developing relationship between Remus and the OC so please be patient if you do want to read this story for that reason. I am not entirely sure if this story will reach past Hogwarts, but I am thinking about up until Lily and James die. Everything will stay as true as possible up until the whole Remus/Tonks thing. Maybe. If that happens. I'm winging it. Happy reading!

WitchWol6470

DISCLAIMER: Anything Harry Potter is not mine, this much is clear.

Chapter 1 Diagon Alley and Platform 9 ¾

Saying goodbye to my parents wasn't as hard as I was anticipating. It was short, and they promised that I would see them again. I was to attend Albus Dumbledore's school, which was called Hogwarts. I was given a wand crafted by my great-grandmother, who had taught wand lore to few, but studied it for many years. It was elder, twelve and a half inches, with a unicorn hair core. We did not use wands as a whole, very few elves even practiced with them, but if properly used we could channel our power well. I would not need a wand to learn the wizarding spells, but it was required to keep up appearances. I would be in great danger if this 'Dark Lord' were to hear Dumbledore was teaching someone of my kind.

The potion I had drank made me look much duller, I had to admit. My skin was still pale but did not have the light glow, and my hair was still thick and brown but not as shiny. My eyes remained purple but my ears rounded out more, barely leaving any sign of being pointed. I was so enthralled by what laid ahead of me that this mattered little, though I noticed it was harder to tuck my hair behind my ears and have it stay put.

I kept the wand tucked in a ribbon around my waste, constantly adjusting it and wishing I didn't have to carry it everywhere I went. This was the third place I had tried to store it by the fifth day away from my home-land. My parent's presence was already fading, but I hoped that they felt how happy I was to be on my path. Of course I was sad, but being sad was not going to help me get through this time in a different world.

I was staying in a pub called The Leaky Cauldron, and each day I would take a little leather pouch my mother had given me, filled with a few coins of the wizarding money I had to exchange for, and wander around Diagon Ally.

The first thing I noticed about these people was how clumsy they were. It was all I could do to not bump into them jostling up and down the crowded street, some shoving their way into shops. It only took three days for me to learn how to quickly move through the crowds without coming into contact with any of them.

The second thing I noticed was how quirky they all seemed to be. Some overtly crazy, others jolly and dressed brightly in extravagant cloaks. I found my way to the robe shop my second day to get fitted for my school robes, and noticed how I already seemed to be taller than the other first years being fitted for their own. I was short for an elf at my age, but I guessed seeing the wizarding kids that this was a good thing. I didn't want to seem out of place.

The third thing was the most magnificent and delicious- Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor. I had never had anything like it. It was cold and sweet- creamy. I found myself trying a new flavor every day that I waited for Albus to return. I slowly acquired my school books, made small talk with the book keepers at Flourish and Blotts, and watched the wizard community bustle around busily, trying to familiarize myself with their behavior.

It was my seventh day when Albus returned to find me lying on my stomach flipping through 'A Standard Book of Spells: Grade 1'. He had knocked and entered, a smile already in place on his kind face. When we had left together he seemed upset, I assumed because he was taking me from my parents, his old friends. He seemed more upset than I had been, but he had asked for help, and there was no turning me down. It was my fate.

"Hello Vermilliah." I sat up and smiled kindly at him. "Have you found your way around easily? I am sorry that I had to leave you, I had other matters to attend to…"

"It's okay Albus. I needed to lose fear of interacting with others, I face a world full of nothing but strangers. I found the most wonderful place- have you ever had ice cream? They gave me a free chocolate blast ice cream cone yesterday for being such a loyal customer! The owner is really nice!" He listened to me talk and nodded when I had finished, his blue eyes sparkling.

"It is quite amazing, ice cream. I am glad you've adjusted so well and found new things to enjoy. Have you gotten everything from your school list?" I nodded and closed the book on my bed, walking over to a desk in the corner and putting it on top of a pile of books on the floor beside it. My wand lay on the desk, along with the box holding my new robes and a set of brass scales with a cauldron for Potions class. I had gotten a Potions starter kit that came with the ingredients I may need, and the only thing I really needed now was a trunk to put it all in.

As if reading my mind the old wizard waved his wand and a trunk appeared beside me, set open and empty. The initials at the end read 'V.A. Dumbledore'.

"You will have to call me Professor Dumbledore at school, but the story will be that you are my niece, and your parents asked me to care for you and watch after you at Hogwarts. It will be the only excuse I think will be plausible with you seeming to know me so well." I started to neatly put things in the trunk as I listened to him, glad that I would have an excuse if I needed to speak to the only person I would know at school.

"Thank you… Professor" I grinned at him and closed the top, clasping it shut before standing straight to look at him. "I leave tomorrow?"

"Certainly. I will be staying here tonight, and I will escort you to the train station first thing in the morning- After a good breakfast anyway." He winked at me with a chuckle, and told me his room number if I needed anything. I felt fairly confident that I would make it through the night alone.

I woke from my first dream since leaving home with a start. I had been wandering the forest- lost. I could not find my home and I could hear the busy noise of Diagon Alley just past the trees. Every time I thought I was getting close I would turn and run away- calling out for my mother. I was scared- what was I going to do? How was I supposed to know the right way to go? I needed guidance- but it never came. I jumped up as there was a bang on my door.

"Meet Dumbledore for breakfast downstairs in an hour! Bring your trunk!" It was the lady that kept the rooms, I could tell even over the hammering of my heart.

"Okay!" I called back, sliding out of bed and forcing myself to put on a dress I had laid out the night before. I suddenly felt nervous- what if these witches and wizards didn't like me? What if they knew I was different?

I met with Dumbledore, greeting him as 'Professor' with a playful smile that he returned. We did not attend school, more so we were born into a fate and may follow an elder's instruction… I realized how lucky I was to be so young and learning a whole new way of life. When we had finished our breakfast I followed him towards the door leading back to the small space that opened into Diagon Alley. We did not tap any bricks though.

"I am sure your mother has flitted with you before, but this will be much more unpleasant, I assure you." He told me, holding his arm out and gesturing for me to take it.

I thought I might puke. The sensation was completely unexpected and I had been pulled forward at the naval on an outward breath, so I struggled to catch a breath but it was futile. When my feet hit solid ground again I coughed and my eyes watered, holding tightly onto the elder wizards arm to steady myself before I stumbled forward.

I blinked the tears from my eyes and let go of his arm, straightening and rubbing my uneasy stomach. I never wanted to do that again. We were on a busy platform surrounded by- these were not wizards. They seemed so busy hurrying along that they did not see us appear out of thin air. I had the feeling that they couldn't see us for a moment, until people started to stare wildly at Dumbledore's deep blue robes and tall hat.

"I cannot accompany you any further my dear. I will see you at Hogwarts. Run straight at the barrier between 9 and 10" He said this in a hushed voice, and I thought it was absurd. No one was paying attention to what he was saying. They were far too distracted by his appearance. He motioned to the trunk he had been holding onto with his free hand, and I loaded it onto a trolley.

I bid him farewell and wondered off to find the platform, weaving easily in and out of these people. They must be the non-wizard humans. No magic, probably the most defenseless of the thinking creatures, yet we hid from them. I always wondered why, my father said that it was a matter of scaring them, and that we need not have the world know of things they would only want to possess themselves.

When I found the brick barrier with the signs for platforms 9 and 10 I looked it over, circling it and looking it up and down. How odd. Did he expect me to walk into this wall? I looked around after a moment to find a boy watching me laughing, his parents standing behind him with amused expressions.

"Hello" I said politely, and looked back at the wall for a moment. "Do you know what this is?" I asked, motioning towards the bricks before me.

"Yes dear" The mother said and patted her son on the shoulder. "Show her James, Richard, go with him."

The boy grinned and positioned himself for a straight shot at the wall, his father standing behind him. I watched as they started towards it, raising their walks to a fast stride, but I could tell that James was eager to run full speed at the wall- and then they were gone.

I blinked, having been standing right at the spot they should have collided. I looked back at the mother who motioned for me to come to her, and I complied, rolling my trolley up and positioning it towards the wall as her son had.

"Now if you're nervous we should go a little faster, but a quick walk will manage just fine." She placed her hand on my shoulder and smiled down at me. "Are you ready?"

I nodded and turned my eyes forward, taking a steady breath and clearing my mind. I followed her pressure on my shoulder and we were almost at a jog when the wall was right in front of us- I had to resist the urge to close my eyes- and then we were surrounded by different people on an outside platform, the sun beating down on us. The giant red steam engine was before us, and I felt my heart race. I felt like every day that passed I was forced to do something unfamiliar- mostly I liked it, but why couldn't we just have popped up at the school instead of here?

"Come here dear, I'll have the boys load your trunk for you" Though I could load it myself she reminded me of my mother, and I followed her to find her family for the extra moments of comfort. "I'm Laura Potter dear, Ms. Potter to you of course, where are you parents?"

I couldn't keep my eyes from jumping to all the different people on the platform, catching glimpses of the animals other students had atop their trunks and friends being reunited after a summer apart. Most families were still together, mothers reminding their children to be good and brush their teeth, fathers looking on happily.

"I… I am Dumbledore's niece. My parents sent me to be under his protection at school." She nodded kindly and waved her husband over when he came into view. "My name is Vermilliah."

"What a lovely name. Richard this is Albus Dumbledore's niece! I would be nice to her if I were you James!" James just stuck his tongue out at her and looked me over doubtfully.

"Doesn't look like a Dumbledore." He stated in a bored tone, looking around the platform absently.

"Well of course she doesn't." Richard Potter laughed, and held his hand out to me. I stared at it, unsure of what this meant, and I hesitantly put my own hand out. How funny of a gesture to clasp hands and shake them up and down. I smiled at Mr. Potter and took my hand back.

I thanked them after they had placed my trunk on the train and I waved goodbye, dragging the trunk down the hall behind me to find a compartment that was not already packed full. I found one with only two students, but they sneered at me and told me no first years allowed. How rude. I decided to find an empty car and settle down, I put my robes on when I wasn't sure what else to do and decided to read through my A History of Magic school book.

It took so long for the train to start moving, and I got bored quickly reading the dates when there was so much going on outside of the car. I was extremely thankful when another first year entered the compartment with an irritated look on her face, dragging her trunk in loudly.

"Can I sit here?" She asked a bit aggressively, and I assumed she had noticed because her facial features softened. "Sorry. Today isn't going as planned, that doesn't mean I should take it out of you."

I just nodded and pulled my feet up and crossed my legs, my eyes wandering back to the door where a boy stood wearing clothes that were far too big for him, with a curtain of black hair hanging partly in his face. I waved and smiled at him and he took this as an okay to enter, helping the girl put her trunk on a rack before pulling his own in.

"I'm Lily by the way, Lily Evans." She held her hand out and I took it confidently this time, letting her do the shaking because I didn't want to exaggerate the movement. "This is Severus."

The boy didn't speak but nodded her way, sitting beside Lily and looking out the window.

"I'm Vermilliah Dumbledore" I replied as our hands separated, tossing my book into my trunk.

"Like Albus Dumbledore? The head master?" Lily asked, her eyes wide and curious now. Even Severus looked over at this, not looking so uninterested now.

"I'm his niece." I explained, tucking my hair back behind my ears and blushing slightly under their gazes. Was he super famous or something? How am I supposed to go unnoticed if he is? "My parents wanted me to go to his school so… here I am. I don't know much about Hogwarts though. "

Lily quickly went on a long explanation of her hopes for the following year and how amazing a school Hogwarts was. She explained that Severus was going to be a Slytherin, and that there were four houses that we could be placed in. I secretly hoped I was put in whatever house she went to, because she was being so nice to me already. She pulled out a book titled 'Hogwarts, A History' and held it out for me to take.

"Here you can borrow this! It's fascinating stuff. Of course Sev has taught me a lot that isn't in there- so if you have any questions I bet he could help you… His family is magical so he grew up learning it all but I'm a muggle born. You must have a magical family too if you're a Dumbledore." She was talking so fast she barely had time to breathe in between sentences. She was very excited to be going to Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry… but was I?