(Please read chapter 1 for Disclaimer)

Gryffindor Common room several hours later….

"Potter! A word, if you please?" Startled out of my thoughts, I had been busy watching Ron and Hermione bicker over their animals for the umpteeth time since we had started school a few days ago. The room around us became quiet as our Head of House stood there waiting on me.

"Go….you silly prat." Hermione whispered shoving me off the couch.

Giving her a look, I came to my feet and followed Professor McGonagall out of the common room. I begin to sweat. What had I done this time? We haven't been in school two days and I already had an invisible detention.

"Professor, whatever you think I've done, I haven't." I expressed.

"I know you haven't done anything Potter. Now relax and take a seat." Minerva said taking a seat. Taking a seat, she sat down at her desk. Glancing me over, I couldn't help but to feel the nerves forming. She had that look that could make even the strongest wizards squirm.

"So, why am I here?" the words flew out of my mouth before I could stop them. I watched as she raised an eyebrow at me. "Er, sorry?"

Nodding her head at me, I relaxed but only a fraction. "It seems that something has come to my attention today. SOmething I didn't think was true until today. Something that involves you."

"Professor, excuse me, but you're rambling." I protested clearly confused.

"Yes, well. Tonight you are going to Hogsmeade….."

Hogsmeade! Whatever for? I thought to myself. What was so important that would pull me away from school? I barely acknowledged her until I felt my leg sting.

"Ouch!"

"I expect you to pay attention Mr. Potter." Prof. McGonagall said sternly. I shrank back into my seat. "As I was saying you will be escorted by a teacher to Hogsmeade, the Three Broomsticks to be exact. I'm not supposed to tell you why yet, but you'll find out."

Nodding dumbly, I couldn't come up with an explanation as well. This boggled me, but I'm sure Hermione had an answer. She knew everything. Just the thought of her made me smile.

"You are dismissed Potter." she said. I stood up to leave. As I grasped the handle, "Oh, by the way, your guardian has signed your permission slip to go to Hogsmeade."

"My...my guardian?" I stammered. Surely she wasn't talking about the Dursley's. They couldn't care less about this life.

"Oh yes, that will be cleared up as well tonight." she said with finality. Leaving her room, I rushed back to the Common Room where Ron and Hermione were waiting for me. Crawling through the hole, they were still in the same spots from earlier.

Plopping down on the couch where Hermione had made room for me, they turned and looked at me curiously. It wasn't every day that you were called to your Head of House's office for a secret meeting.

"Well….don't leave us hanging mate." Ron said looking at me warily.

"Yes, Harry. What did she say?" I glanced at Hermione and smiled. Yet, my smile wasn't exactly happy.

"I'm supposed to go to Hogsmeade tonight. I have some sort of meeting. McGonagall didn't say much. Well, she rambled and confused me." I said looking at my mates. "But one thing she did say was curious."

"What's that?" they asked simultaneously.

"She said my guardian had signed my Hogsmeade permission form."

"Oh Harry, you best be careful." Hermione said.

"You told us the muggles didn't sign it!" Ron interjected.

"Yea, I know. That's what I thought, but she seemed so final about it."

"What do you think it means, Harry?" Hermione asked.

"Dunno. Should I be worried? I mean, this seems so top secret." I glanced at my mates worry starting to form in my eyes. My hands started to tremble a little. What in the ruddy hell is wrong with me?

"I don't think so. You're not going alone are you?"

"No, I'll have an escort."

"Then you'll be fine." Ron said happily. "Tell us what it's like, will ya?"

"What's what like?"

"Hogsmeade, you prat. Fred and George won't tell me anything."

"I hardly think that's what he needs to be concerned about, Ronald…." Hermione snapped.

"Yea, well. I think it's neat." he defended himself.

"Only you…." she rolled her eyes at him. Looking back at me, I could feel the worry and sympathy come from her. She was worried about me. Heck, I was worried about me. What would I find out there?

The Three Broomsticks, Hogsmeade

Taking a seat on the stone bench, the lights of the castle behind me glowed brilliantly. It's warmth and security keeping me company. I hadn't been sitting for very long when I heard a voice behind me.

"Potter." I heard my name and my head snapped to see who it was. Blinking, she didn't say she was coming with me. McGonagall stood there in the shadows like she had been watching me this whole time.

"Professor."

"Let's get this done, shall we?"

Nodding, I stood and began to follow her to Hogsmeade. Following her around in the dark wasn't fun but she kept an even brisk walk that I had to jog to keep up with me. We walked through the grounds, down the sloping hills and pass the Great Lake where the Giant Squid flipped us a tentacle. Down to a well traveled pathway, she turned once, only once, to make sure I was keeping up.

The darkness swarmed us and I begin to feel uneasy about this whole situation. I wasn't prepared for what was to come. Up ahead, the blinking lights of Hogsmeade loomed before us. It was small but from what Hermione told me earlier, it was the only full wizarding town in Great Britain. While I didn't care about the fact, it sort of helped out, I think.

Entering the town, McGonagall slowed her walk because we were at the Three Broomsticks. I could tell that they were there because it looked like it was closed. Closed this early? It was barely seven PM. Shaking my head, I followed her inside. It was crowded with lots of booths and a bar that served drinks and food. Unfortunately, it was still quite warm from the fireplace roaring all day. Sweating in my robes, I was hoping I could ease out of them. Looking around, it carried a smoky haze from the fireplace. I immediately liked it. Indeed, the pub was closed and no one, not even the owner was around.

What caught me was there were two people sitting at a table. Both of them looked cozy and must have not realized that we had walked in. The girl was dark haired and her friend was red-headed, but that's all I got.

"Hem-hem" McGonagall cleared her throat loudly. The couple jumped back from each other a bit sheepishly.

"You made it." the girl said softly. To me, she looked frightened. Looking at her companion, he sent her what I assume was a reassuring smile.

"Of course we made it. You requested, nay, demanded this meeting." McGonagall snipped.

The girl had the graces to blush. "I did. I just haven't expected this, you know? It's been a very long time….."

"Well no time like the present girl." McGonagall sighed and stepped aside.

The gasps that surrounded me came from the girl in question. I watched as her hands flew to her mouth and tears began to form. Her companion squeezed her free hand and whispered something to her.

"No, please don't leave me….." I could hear her breath.

"Please come sit down." she motioned for me.

"I'll take my seat over here." McGonagall said taking a seat from a distance. I looked at my Head of House with pleading eyes, but she wasn't having any of it. Whatever I was about to learn, I was going to have to learn on my own.

I watched them scoot over as I sank into the same booth. Looking at the girl, her eyes never strayed from my face. Was it my scar? Was she bewitched that she was sitting with the "boy who lived?"

"If you're not going to talk, I'd rather get back to the castle. I still have homework left." I grumbled.

"Alyssa…." her red haired companion nudged her from her trance.

"I'm sorry. How terribly rude of me." she apologized. "Now where to begin?"

"Probably at the beginning…." her friend commented. She sent him a scowling look and I nearly smiled at them.

"Yea, not the one for that kind of Charles Dickens introductions…."

"It's worth a shot…."

"I'm going to be blunt." she took a breath and looked right back into my eyes. Like it was the first time she had seen them. Or myself.

"Harry, I'm going to tell you something that you're not going to believe. But if you hear me out, I'll answer your questions." She begin. I was immediately intrigued. Oh, I would have questions all right. "See, my name is Alyssa…." she paused and took another breath, "...Potter. I'm your sister."

I told him. Oh my dear sweet Merlin. When he walked into the pub, I immediately knew it was him. I felt his essence as soon as they entered the village and my nerves were flaring. My emotions and powers going awack since then. I was already nervous but now I was like a coiled snake. Ready to strike. Ready to bite.

"You're what?" he asked incredulously. "This is a prank, isn't it?"

"No, I'm sorry Harry. This is far from a prank. I'm really your sister. Well, your half-sister."

"How is this possible? No one ever told me about you! Why didn't I know this?" he cried at me. I cringed at his emotional assault.

"Because, I couldn't find you. OK, I guess I will have to do the Dickens approach…."

"See, told you…." I shot Harry a hateful look. One that he laughed at.

I could tell he was confused, so I tried my best to clear it up. "James Potter is our dad. He and my mum dated in their sixth year at Hogwarts where she became pregnant with me. However, she and dad never married. Which daddy said he would have but mum told him no. So right after she had me, she dumped me on Grandma & Grandpa Potter's door and dad took me to Hogwarts with him. You can ask Professor McGonagall if you wish. …. She was there."

"Dad still married Lily, your mum right after graduation-that story is still true, but in that marriage came me. You were born a few years later and then Voldemort came for us. I...I…." I faltered. I couldn't tell him about that night. The nightmares would return and return with a vengeance they would. "We were split up. My mum moved to America after I was born and I was sent back to her and you were sent,...I don't know where. I've been in America since then and a few weeks ago, I turned seventeen and came here to find you."

I watched him as I told the story. He went from bewildered to angry to finally sad. His emotions were warring with him so badly that I felt the need to block him, but one look from the boyfriend told me otherwise. We sat there for a while in silence to let him process this. It was a lot of information.

"So what now?" he croaked.

"Now...I'm going to Hogwarts to finish up this year. Graduate and hopefully enter Healer school next year." I told him.

"No, I mean about us."

"Oh….I was hoping you might help me there. Even though, I've had ages to think of this night….I didn't know how you would handle it."

"HANDLE IT!" he shouted. I winced. The famous Potter anger turning its ugly head.

"Yea...that."

"How do you think I should handle it?" he sneered. Damn, he was angry.

"Better than you are now. Yea, I come here and drop this on you…."

"Yea, you've had years! YEARS! To come and find me. Why now? Why today?"

"Because I didn't know where you were! If I had known, I would have done something sooner."

"I confess, I live in Britain and I didn't know how to find you…." the boyfriend said.

"But you could have? You could have brought me to America?" his voice was hopeful, yet pleading. I wanted to cry. It was heartbreaking to hear this.

"Harry, my own stepfather didn't want me to live with him. If I had known you were alive, I would have written to you. Don't worry, everyone thinks, well up until today, that I was dead." I told him gently. "I waited as long as I did because now I'm of age. I can fix some wrongs here."

He nodded at me. This was heartbreaking and I was for sure going to need Harry tonight. I was barely holding it together as it is. I couldn't imagine what was going through his head. Here I was. Family. Something I could tell he longed to have. I could see it in his eyes. The hopefulness. The innocence of the situation. I was going to take him away from whomever he was living with. Another reason why I needed weekends free. The air around us was thick as honey and it was making it hard to breath.

"Professor McGonagall…." my brother croaked.

"Yes, Mr. Potter." she said coming back to the table.

"Is what she says is true?" my brother asked. I eyed him carefully. I could understand why he was hesitant to believe me. Yea, I wouldn't believe me either. Harry looked at me and his blue eyes were startled as well.

"Yes, Mr Potter. What Alyssa says is true. I remember James bringing her to Hogwarts. Thankfully, he and Lily were Head Boy and Girl that year. The accommodations were especially nice. Having a baby in the boy's dormitory wouldn't be favorable." she mused looking down at my brother. He sagged in the booth and I could tell he was holding back tears.

"Can we have a few minutes alone?" I asked Harry and Professor McGonagall. They both nodded and Harry left a kiss on my head before following her out. Once the door closed, I was alone with the brother I wish I could have had pestering me all these years staring at me.

I scooted myself out of the booth and came over to his side where he had turned away from me. Crouching down in front of him, I could tell he was holding back tears. Touching his hand gingerly, he reserve collapsed. Tears slipped from his face freely and he launched himself in my arms. Knocking me back on my ass, I arranged us so I was holding him.

I let him cry for several long minutes before he broke our embrace. Looking at me, his tear stained cheeks made his eyes even brighter. I remember those eyes as a baby and I instantly wanted to hug him again.

"You're real or not real."

"I'm real Harry. As real as I can be."

"Good. You're going to be at Hogwarts, right?"

I nodded. "I am. Right there as a seventh year…. I'm sorry I had to drop the bomb like this but I've been waiting for years to come back to you. I've missed you terribly."

"I don't remember you. I wish I did."

"I'm not surprised. You were so little when it happened. I remember that night though…."

"What…"

"I'm not ready to talk about it. Harry doesn't know the full story."

"The guy that was with us? His name is Harry too?"

"Yea. Funny, right?" I smirked and his face lightened a bit.

"McGonagall said something about a guardian signing my Hogsmeade permission form...was that you?"

This time, I really did smile. "Yea, that was me. I'm self-proclaiming until I can get myself a lawyer. Neither she nor Albus can keep me from signing your paperwork, if need be."

"So that means I can live with you?" he asked hopefully, yet rushed. He was getting excited at the thought.

"Woah, woah….let me take care of one thing at a time. And hopefully by Christmas break, we'll have a place to stay."

"No more Dursleys…." he sighed happily

"The who's?"

"My aunt and uncle. My mum's sister and husband." he said.

"Oh, ho! You weren't supposed to go to them. You know that, right?" I asked him incredulously.

"I wasn't? Then who was I supposed to go to?"

"Certainly not them. I didn't have a choice, but you did. You already have an appointed guardian. I'm just a stand in for a minute." I explained. Looking at my watch, I sighed. "It's getting late and you need to get back to school. I'm sure curfew is shortly."

"I don't want you to leave."

"I'll be there tomorrow. I wanted to see you before something is said at school. Secrets aren't secrets in a school. Everyone will know by tomorrow night I'm sure. My classes start Monday. Had I known that the semester started a week ago, I'd been here earlier."

He nodded at me and I silently called for Harry. When they stepped back in, he looked sheepish. Raising my eyebrow at him, he shrug while McGonagall didn't seem quite amused. "What did you do to her?" I asked him.

"Nothing!" he swore a little too quickly. I glared at him. "Ok, I put my glamour up…."

"And then, I knew I recognized him from somewhere. You were a student of mine. As well as your brother." McGonagall eyed him suspiciously.

"Err, yes ma'am. That's right." I almost laughed but didn't. I remember the stories about McGonagall...she could still make you feel like a student even years after you graduated.

"I'm confused. Who is he?" my brother asked.

"In the magical world, I'm known as Harry Welsh." I chuckled and he shot me a dark look. I promptly ignored it. "In the muggle world, I'm known as Harry, Prince of Wales."

I thought my brother was going to stroke out. I couldn't help it. I laughed. Laughed hard. Both of them shot me a dark look while McGonagall gave me a disappointed look. I didn't care. I thought I had it bad telling my brother about me, but now the boyfriend had to confess his secret. He seemed like he was just as flustered as I was earlier.

"You done yet?" he asked irritated.

No-No-Not even close!" I laughed some more taking a seat. Seeing the looks I was getting, I rolled my eyes. "Oh, Merlin you three! Lighten up."

"So you mean to tell me that you're magical?" My brother asked.

"Yes, I am. Muggle-born. So is my brother. Just don't tell anyone. Not yet, at least. It's bad enough we're high profiled people but then add magic on top of it...it gets complicated. Very complicated." he shot me a look. I smirked and took his hand.

"Yes, very complicated." I parroted.

"Well we need to be going. I'm sorry that I can't stay the night but I promise I'll be at Hogwarts before the weekend has closed." I promised my brother. He nodded, but his eyes looked vacant.

"Very well then. Potter, we must be getting along as well." McGonagall said snippily. "It's quite a walk back to the castle."

They turned and left the Three Broomsticks. Letting out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding, I turned to look at Harry. His blue eyes penetrating mine. A small smile curved his face making him seem younger.

"So how do you think it went?"

"Fairly well. You were right about the anger issue. Of course, he's only thirteen. Not quite old enough to make the air cackle with magic like you do…..when you're unleashed." he commented giving me a slight smirk.

"Yea, well. I'd hope for more, but I think I can get away with it during the school year. I've got several questions that I needed to ask him. I'm sure he's not going to like them." I said chewing on my lower lip as I tugged him out of the pub. Turning to him, "Do you think you can have someone run a search on Dursley? It's his aunt and uncle. He didn't give any other names."

I watched as he pursued his lips, thinking over it. "Yea, I could push it off to someone who can run a database for them. Do you suspect anything foul from them?"

I mirrored his expression. "I'm not sure. All I know was that he was incredibly happy that he wouldn't be going back. Something tells me that they aren't the nicest people to live with. Maybe I can snoop when I start school."

Taking my hand, no other words needed to be said. Apparating us back to London, I snuggled close in bed with him that night. Somewhere in the far recesses of my mind, I hoped that our futures were clear and safe.

Outside Hogwarts Grounds….

"You ready to do this?" Harry asked me. He had even come so far as to escort me to the Entrance but kept his distance from going in. If he went in, he knew I wouldn't let him leave me. The day was overcast and I could smell the rain in the air. It was going to be a wicked night of thunderstorms. Great, first night here and it was going to storm. I hated storms. Shuddering inwardly, I glanced up at him.

"Not really. At least….alone." I implied.

"You won't be. Your brother is here and I'm sure you'll make mates…"

"Not interested…"

"You still need someone to talk to besides myself."

"Point taken. If I'm too nice, then I'll have boys chase me."

"Now, I won't have any of that." he said seriously but I could tell he was smiling. Kissing my mouth gently, he let me go and nudged me toward the doors. I hesitated. What was so different now? It wasn't like I was an ickle firstie, I was a seventh year student trying to finish up.

"I'll see you in two weeks. We've spent longer times apart than this." he reminded me.

"Yes, I realize this, but this time you're a country away. Like only a few hours instead an ocean separating us."

"You'll do fine. Now go before you get in trouble Miss Potter." I nodded and watched him leave me alone in the courtyard. Sighing, I turned around and looked through the massive oak door. There wasn't anyone there to greet me but the ghosts of my dad and Lily. Even Harry wasn't aware that I was going to show today. It was early Sunday morning and I knew that breakfast would be over by now. I had planned it that way.

"Gryffindor's forward…" I mumbled to myself. One foot in front of another. Repeat. It was getting easier by the second. Looking toward my left, I caught a glimpse of the Great Hall. It was enormous! Not quite as big as the one at Ilvermorny, but close. Four rows of tables that could hold the entire student population and a long table upon a dais, which I was assuming was for the teachers. Taking the stairs, I jumped and moved as they did.

Magical stairs were the highlight of the trip. We didn't have them at Ilvermorny. It wasn't as old as Hogwarts. I wasn't sure where to go so I followed my instincts and came to the first door I saw. It said Gryffindor Head Office. Might as well as McGonagall where Gryffindor tower was. Harry as well as Will had been Grys but he couldn't, nay, wouldn't tell me how to get there. Said I would have to learn the castle like he did. Prat.

Knocking, I waited patiently. I had sent Poe along. He would be able to find the Owelry without my help. Lucky bird. I didn't hear any noises so I knocked again.

"Enter!" I heard her voice call through the door. Grasping the handle, I pushed the door open. It was a small room with a large fireplace that would definitely keep the area warm. Behind her desk, I saw a small door that I assume led to her quarters.

"Ah, Miss Potter. You've arrived."

"I have. I don't know where the Gryffindor tower is." I confessed.

"Surely you know? Didn't James tell you as a child or your Prince?" she asked astonished.

"That prat told me I would have to learn the castle like he did. The only thing he told me was how to get to the Headmaster's office." I told her still feeling sheepish. I was starting to sweat in my uniform. Her room was awfully warm for this time of year, I noticed.

Getting up from her chair, she shook her head at me. I was aware that she wasn't exasperated with me though. "I'll show you to the tower. You do have all your things, correct?"

I nodded and followed her out of her office. She walked briskly but I kept up with her. Every so often she would point out information that I would need to know. Like where the library was, the kitchens, where the classrooms were. Including heading down to the dungeons for Potions.

"Now we're at the Fat Lady's corridor. You need to remember this because this is entrance to Gryffindor Common room." She told me coming up to a large portrait of a very elegant lady in medieval style clothing.

"Oh Minerva! Who is this?" the lady shrilled. Okay, well not going to be my favorite portrait….

"This is a new student." she told the Fat Lady. Turning back to me, "Every house has a password to gain entrance. I'm sure they had something similar at Ilvermorny, didn't they?" I nodded my head in confirmation. "Good. The password is "Fortuna Major". The portrait swung open revealing a long tunnel. I had to climb through there?

Following McGonagall's lead, she led me through the tunnel and what awaited me was something I had anticipated on. The room was circular, I'm guessing we were in a tower, and it was like a cherry exploded in the room. All the drapes, couches, rugs, tapestries were red fringed with red. There was a huge fireplace with a very cozy couch blocking it. Around the room were plushy chairs and tables for homework or gatherings. Looking up there was a huge fire burning chandelier and behind it I could see a walkway. Must be the way the dorm rooms.

"So this is it. The boys dormitory is on the left. The girls are on the right. Just up the stairs. You will follow the hallway until you find the seventh year dormitory. Once you know the layout of the castle, you will find that it's quite similar to Ilvermorny. At least in schedule and routine." She explained to me. "I'll leave you too it." Turning away from me, I stood there and I could feel the ghosts swarm me.

Not the actual ghosts, but the memories of ghosts. I lived here the first year of my life, but I didn't remember any of it. I was sure if I could break into the Head Boy room, I could catch a whiff. Shrugging, I didn't have long to dwell on thoughts before the door burst open. A small crowd of students milled in. I was actually looking for my brother but didn't see him. It wasn't a Hogsmeade weekend. School had just started a week earlier.

"Alyssa!" I heard my named called. Whirling around, I saw my brother crawl through the tunnel. A smile as wide as the Pacific Ocean crossed his face. Rushing to me, he quickly embraced me. Merlin, he looked like daddy all over. With the exception of Lily's green eyes. Behind him were two more Gryfs standing there looking at me oddly. I suppose he hadn't the chance to tell them about me.

"Harry?" the girl spoke up. "Are you going to introduce us?"

"What? Oh! Yes, Hermione, Ron this is my sister Alyssa." he said introducing us. "Alyssa, these are my best mates, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley."

"Nice to meet you both."

"That's impossible Harry. How can you have a sister?" the one called Hermione asked bewildered.

"Long story, Hermione, is it?" she nodded. "A very long story. Harry here got the short version."

"So what brings you here?" Ron asked.

"Finishing my seventh year….and keeping an eye on this troublemaker." I smirked nudging Harry. A crowd had formed around us and I had to beat back the emotions that were threatening to consume me. Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath. I was back to relying on my own strength to keep me stable now.

"Are you OK?" they asked in unison.

"Yea. Just there's too many people staring at me." I confessed vaguely. No one needed to know what was really going on my head. "So, I need to drop off my stuff. I can meet you back here?" I looked at Harry.

"Sure, sure! I'll be waiting."

"Excellent….I'll be right back." I disappeared through the crowd. I imagine the questions Harry would have as I made my way up the stairs to the girls side. Down the hall, finding the seventh year room was fairly easy. There were two of them but I picked one. Opening the door, it was a tragic mess. You knew girls lived in here and all the beds were taken. Shrugging, I closed it quickly and opened the second one.

There in the far corner, was a lone bed. Must be mine. A simple four poster bed with scarlet bed hangings for privacy. Pulling my trunk out of my pocket, I set it down and enlarged it. I watched it slowly grow until it was done. Throwing a couple of privacy charms on it, I had learned long ago to charm my trunk. Plus, it had my notebook in it. That was something I wasn't easily going to have stolen from me.

Looking around the room, I wondered who my roommates would be. I seriously hoped they were incessant giggly girls. I couldn't hand that again. IT would be me and a silencing charm around my bed for the entire school year. Leaving the room, I slipped down the hallway and down the stairs where I could see people milling around my brother. He looked like he was trying to diffuse a situation. I couldn't leave him there, could I? I smirked hearing Harry's voice in my head to behave. Oh, how I wish I hadn't of promised him that.

Sighing, I finished my trip down the stairs where the room became quiet. Everyone turned their head to stare at me. Goody, I nearly rolled my eyes. Pushing past the students, I clamoured my way to my awaiting brother. Taking his side, I looked at him. He looked harried and relieved to see me.

"Ready to go?" he nodded gratefully and led me out the portrait door with Ron and Hermione on our tails. Stepping out into the corridor, I looked at them.

"Saved by my arrival?"

"You have no idea." he said. "As soon as you walked off, they bombarded me with questions."

"Of course they did Harry!" Hermione exclaimed. "You can't say something like that and not expect people to ask questions."

"She is right Harry." I backed her up. He looked crestfallen, "Sorry kiddo but she's right. I know this is going to be confusing and I'm sure, OK, well I'm hoping things are straightened out tonight."

Around Hogwarts Castle….

She was finally here. My sister. Funny, how the word rolls off my tongue. Since living with the Dursleys I didn't know of any other family. Coming from that night after I found out, I was livid, yet unbearably hopeful. I wish I had been told years ago that she was real. Even she told me that if she knew where I was, she would have at least written to me.

I believed her.

I really did.

Coming from a family life from the Dursleys I hadn't the foggiest idea how family worked and quite frankly that scared the dragon shit out of me. So when she showed up in Gryffindor Common room, I was surprised. Then she left to unpack. Leaving me with an entire tower to explain that I had a sister. Both Ron and Hermione were put out that I never told them about Alyssa. I wasn't sure how to tell them

Hey guys, I have something to tell you! I just found out that I have a long lost sister who is going to be a seventh year student here.

Yea, can't see that going over very well. I was still trying to process myself. Now away from the staring Gryfs, she looked right at me and I could tell that she and I shared similar features. Black hair, same nose and mouth. Except that her features were softer than mine. She had dad's brown eyes and I had mum's emerald ones.

"So you gonna show me around? McGonagall gave me the quick version…"

"Yea. We'll show you around, right guys?" I looked expectantly at my friends.

"Of course we will Harry. Alyssa needs to be shown the library, the infirmary, the classrooms…." Hermione begin.

"The kitchens...don't forget them." Ron added happily. "Might as well show her the Quidditch Pitch too."

I watched Alyssa take all this in. She reminded me of my first few weeks here. Everything seeme huge and overwhelming. Of course she had went to a different school. How much more different could it be?

After showing her around, she finally seemed to grasp the concept of the castle. Every so often she would ask questions but it seemed she fully memorized the layout. Leading her outside, we pointed out various areas. Including where Care of Creatures was at.

"Hagrid is the one that teaches it now…." I felt a tug on my sleeve and I glanced at Hermione who was nodding toward Alyssa. Turning back to my sister, I saw that she had gone white in the face.

"Alyssa, you all right there?"

"Yea…." she said slowly. "You said Hagrid?" I nodded at her. "He's a large man that had a huge beard right?"

"Yea, that's right. Do you know him?"

"I saw him once. The night they split us up." she confessed. An unsettling feeling grew in my stomach. Someone had split us up? Hagrid was in on it? Surely not! I trusted Hagrid. Even though he could never keep a secret for too long.

"Yea, I know Dumbledore told me that he took me to my aunt and uncle's….."

"No, that's not right." she began pacing around the courtyard. "Not right at all. You weren't supposed to go to Muggles."

Hermione nudged me to ask more questions. Here was the girl that could answer a lot of questions that Dumbledore wouldn't answer. Somehow, I knew she didn't care too much for lying to me. "Then who was I supposed to go with?"

"Uncle Siriy….Err… I mean Sirius Black."

My heart stopped in my chest. Cold dread spread throughout my body. The murderer was supposed to take me in all those years ago? He had escaped a few weeks ago and now he was coming to Hogwarts to find me.

"You're lying." I accused.

"Am I now?" she stopped short, her eyes whipped to mine. Her eyes seemed to darken immensely. Quietly, she seethed. "Listen here little brother, I will enlighten you about one thing right now. I may hold a lot of secrets, but I am no liar. Got that?"

"Sirius Black, the murderer. He escaped Azkaban a few weeks ago."

"Woah! Hold up, be kind, rewind here. Start over. What happened to him?"

"You don't know?" sputtered Ron. "You don't get the Daily Prophet in America?"

"If I knew, Ronald, I wouldn't be asking, now would I?" she shot back.

"Please, everyone calm down." Hermione interjected. Looking at Alyssa, who was ready to fight, she calmly looked at her. "Right after your parents died, Sirius Black murdered Peter Pettigrew and twelve Muggles that resulted him going to Azkaban."

"You...you're kidding me right? Uncle Sirius wouldn't do that. He just wouldn't." Alyssa proclaimed.

"Well they said he did." Ron spoke up not liking Alyssa at the moment.

"I'm sorry Alyssa." I said looking at her. She was distraught and had sank down on the ground. Her hands covered her face and I could tell she was trying not to cry. Here was a man that she knew and trusted. Never hearing from him again and now finding out why. Looking at my friends, Hermione looked she was ready to join her. Sinking down to Alyssa's level, "I know this is hard to take. I don't know him like you do... "

"No, no one does." she sobbed in her hands interrupting me. "I have to fix this. Does anyone know where he's at?"

We all shook our heads at her. "Is this why the school has a plentiful of Aurors?"

"Yes, it is. He's after Harry." Hermione said softly.

"Wait! How do you know about Aurors?" Ron asked curiously.

Alyssa looked at each of us carefully. "Another story, another day."

"No, he can't be. Sirius is looking for someone and it's not Harry." Alyssa said.

"It's what the papers keeping saying." Ron interrupted.

"And how reliable is this "Daily Prophet?"

"Not very…."

Alyssa gave us a pointed look. I think I was coming to understand what she was feeling. At least I think I did. She didn't feel delusional or anything. Just sad and vengeful? Yes, that sounded about right.

"You're close Harry. Less on the vengeful, though. More like determined." she said startling me from my thoughts.

"Ho-how did you know that?" I sputtered.

"Yea, another story, another day. I promise I will tell you everything. Just not today. There's way too much going on in my head that I can't deal with anymore."

I nodded at her. It wasn't much, but it was something. "So what now?" I asked her quietly letting her get her bearings.

"Not sure. Ask me mundane questions but no more bomb dropping declarations, please? Merlin, I'm gonna have to talk to Harry about this."

"He's right here." Ron said looking at her like she was an idiot.

"Not him. My, err-boyfriend." she looked at me. "The one you met a couple nights ago."

"Oh, him. How you gonna do that? I didn't think where he lived received owls."

A grin spread across her face. Picking at her nails, "Oh, that. That's easily taken care of. As long as no one breaks in my trunk and steals it."

"We're not allowed to have phones….surely you do know that?" Hermione asked exasperated.

"Ilvermorny didn't allow it either. It was too much of a long journey for Poe to fly so we had to come up with something."

"You went to Ilvermorny?" Hermione exclaimed loudly. "What was that like?"

"What's that?" Ron and I questioned.

"Oh honestly, you two!" Hermione sighed at us shaking her head. I couldn't help notice that Alyssa was covering a smile. "It's the American equivalent of Hogwarts! How else do you think she went to school?"

"Oh." Ron said quietly.

"Truly? There's a school in America like Hogwarts?" I asked her.

"Yup. I even told Dumbledore that if he didn't let me enroll, I was gonna yank you out and place you at Ilvermorny." she said confidently.

"You can do that?" I asked her incredulously.

"Dunno, but I sure tried it. He wasn't too happy about letting me enroll." Alyssa said smirking. Looking at her watch she sighed and turned back to us. "I need to get going. It's time to talk with Harry."

"All right. You remember how to get back to Gryffindor tower?" I asked her carefully. She seemed distant. Like she wasn't really here but she was.

"Yea, I remember. I practically have the whole place mapped out. When's dinner?"

"Six." Ron said proudly.

She nodded and turned to leave. "Harry, we'll talk later. I'm sure we've got a lot to catch up on." With that she disappeared.

Turning back to my friends, I saw them watch her leave. "So what do you think?"

"She seems nice Harry, but I think she's hiding a lot from you. Is there proof she's your sister?" Hermione asked.

"You know, I didn't think to ask her, but I'm sure there is if Dumbledore let her enroll." I said convinced. I was far too happy to realize that I needed proof as well.

"You know that photo book Hagrid gave you on your first Christmas? Do you think she's in it?" Ron asked actually listening for once.

"Dunno, but it's a good start. I only looked at the first page. The one of me, mum and dad." I said lamely.

Turning back to the castle ,I followed them to the Gryffindor Common Room. Leaving them alone for a minute, I rushed to my dorm. Rummaging through my trunk, I found what I was looking for. The leather bound photo book smelled like dirty socks but hey it would do. Grabbing it, I slammed the lid down and raced down the staircase where ron and Hermione were arguing again.

"...that bloody cat better stay away from my rat."

"...It's his nature to hunt, Ronald!"

"Don't bloody care. Keep him away or I'll…"

"...You'll. Do. what? Ronald Weasley?" Hermione seethed. She was prepared to hex him if he tried anything to Crookshanks.

Ron must have noticed her anger because he backed off. Taking a seat on the couch, he shot her a scathing look but turned to ignore her after that. This wasn't nothing unusual. They were constantly fighting over their familiars. Coming toward them, Hermione looked up at me sheepishly.

"So did you find it?"

"Yea, it's right here." I said. The book weighing heavily in my hands. This would be the only way I could tell if Alyssa's story was true. Focing Ron to scoot over, I took a seat beside him. Running my hand over the leather bound book, I opened it. There looking at me was the moving picture was of me, dad and mum. We were all happy. Smiling, even.

Flipping the page, I wasn't the only one to gasp. There was my proof. Alyssa holding me days after I was born. Beside her was dad. His eyes were happy but full of worry that a four year old holding a newborn. She smiled but kept sticking her tongue out at the camera. Flipping furiously, there were several more pictures of me and Alyssa. Some of her and dad or her and mum. Plenty pictures of me, though.

"She was telling the truth…." Hermione wandered off.

"Of course, I was." we jumped hearing a voice behind us. There stood Alyssa. In her hands she carried a leather notebook that glowed every so often. "May I?" she asked me. Handing her the book, she sat her down gently and flipped through the pictures. Faint tears streaked her face. Closing it a minute later, she handed it back to me. "Take care of it that, will you? It's precious few memories that we have that were happy."

"How do you remember all this? I don't."

"I was five when daddy and Lily died. You were just fifteen months old. You aren't expected to remember that." she shrugged and opened her notebook. It had been glowing light blue for several seconds.

"OK, OK…." she muttered. Taking a muggle pen out, she read over what was in the book and quickly scribbled something. We watched her in fascination. What she had was something that could be dead useful.

"What's that?"

"What?" she noticed our eyes were on her book. "This is my notebook. It's a communications device that Harry and I invented one weekend while I was in London." she explained. "Look." she wrote something down

"Harry say hi!"

We waited a second and the ink started to flow off the page.

"Hello everyone….Wait, who is everyone?"

"Harry, Ron and Hermione. I'm giving them a demonstration."

"Now that, is dead useful." Ron commented. "Imagine using it in class! How much easier it would be."

"You'll do no such thing Ronald!" Hermione snipped. "That's cheating." She turned and looked at Alyssa, "You don't use it in class, do you?"

"Never. Harry wouldn't dare give me answers. Plus the coursework is different at Ilvermorny than it is at Hogwarts. Prat wouldn't even tell me how to get to Gryffindor Common Room, what makes you think he would give me answers?" she chuckled lightly.

"Well it's still nice to have. It helps the long distance not feel so long." she added.

"Can you make more?" I asked her curiously. Hermione shot me a death glare. "It's not for homework Hermione. It's a way to communicate. Dead useful, like Ron said."

"Don't rightly know. I'm sure we could. It's just enchanting the object. It's only programmed to me and Harry. Anyone else trying to write in it receives a nasty shock."

"What do you mean 'only programmed'?" Hermione asked.

"Besides enchanting an inanimate object, like this journel. It' requires a drop of blood and a spell that will link the two notebooks. Now, if I added my brother here, he could talk to Harry and vice versa." She kept explaining while writing in the notebook. "Harry has the spell, since he was able to cast it when we made this. I was still underage."

"It's time for dinner. I'm starving!" Ron announced breaking up the conversation.

Vanishing her notebook back to her trunk, she turned and followed us to the Great Hall. It seemed strange to have a seventh year follow around a group of third years, but she didn't know where everything still was.

Entering the Great Hall for dinner, we led her to our table. "Interesting. Ilvermorny has smaller circular tables, not these long ones." She muttered, but sat down anyway. "So the tables are split between Houses?"

"They are." Hermione explained as food appeared. Alyssa looked appreciative at this and slowly loaded her plate. I could tell she wasn't a big eater.

"Not hungry?" I asked eyeing her plate.

"Famished, but I'm used to American food. English food is a lot heavier, so I will have to scale back until I find a happy medium."

"Nosfh foers mes!" Ron sputtered with food in his mouth. Alyssa shuddered and eyed him dangerously.

"He's always like this…." I muttered watching her take a sip of her pumpkin juice.

Dinner was uneventful as expected. There were still people staring at the newcomer, but no one said anything to her. Lest, she wasn't pleasant. The Great Hall buzzed with the sounds of students as well as from the Head Table. A clanging sound ended the noise. Looking up, Dumbledore stood to address the room.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, today I'd like to introduce you to a transfer student. Now Hogwarts rarely receives transfer student, but this one is special. She's all the way from our sister school, Ilvermorny in America." he announced to the crowd. I took a glance at Alyssa and she rolled her eyes.

"Making a bloody spectacle of me…" she muttered.

"Alyssa Potter, sister of our own Harry Potter." A gasp rang out through the crowd. I knew this was a shock. I wasn't supposed to have magical family. "She's a seventh year Gryffindor… " the whole of Gryffindor table exploded in cheers. Another Potter in their house. "But for now, please do not pester her nor Mr. Potter with questions unless they want to answer them."

While everyone cheered, Alyssa waved but never noticed the stunned looks on the professor's. Nor did anyone see Snape nor Malfoy's look her way.