• 13 YEARS AGO


    The little girl sniffled under the rubble that used to be a bed. She started moving the broken pieces of wood and slashed matress aside. Everything was silent now, except for the whistling wind and a baby’s cry that belonged to her little brother.
    There had been a lot of noise before. Screaming, yelling, and an explosion…the last thing the girl remembered was her mother telling her to hide under the bed and then a flash of green light…
    She finally dug herself out and crawled out into the room. It was completely destroyed, with a big gaping hole in the wall, letting in the freezing now November air in. Her brother’s crying destracted her, but it didn’t prevent her from seeing what now lay in front of her. A woman with long red hair was laying face-down in the rubble, covered in dust. “Mummy?” the little girl asked softy, on the verg of tears. Lily Potter did not stir, and now her daughter broke down into almost hystarical sobs. “Mum!!!”
    But then, something unexpected happened. A giant man on a motorcycle landed on the roof, and he pulled himself down into the broken room. The little girl was so startled and scared she couldn’t move. But the giant merely smiled at her. “Hallo Jennifer, I’ve come ter take you ‘nd yer brother to saftey,” he said in a gruff voice. The girl couldn’t explain it, but she felt without a doubt that she could trust him. Before she knew it, she was sitting in front of the giant on his motorcycle while he held her brother, flying above England.
    She was almost asleep when they landed on a pitch black street. She didn’t get off when the giant did and handed her brother to an elderly man and woman. They talked for a moment, and then the man left her brother on the doorstep of a house and walked over to her. He picked her up, his silver beard tickling her. She tried to say something, but her words got lost in a yawn before she finally fell asleep.

    That man was Albus Dumbledore. The woman, Minerva McGonagall, now moved back over to him. “Where will Jennifer be going?” she asked, cusious.
    “We have a safe house arranged. She’ll be going to a Muggle orphanage,” Dumbledore replied, amazed at how fast the little girl had fallen asleep.
    “What? Why?” asked McGonagall, caught off guard.
    “Because her and Harry together would be too dangerous, at least for now. Once Harry starts Hogwarts, she’ll probably want to move back in with him. I wouldn’t stop her.”
    McGonagall looked as if she wanted to ask more questions, but merely sighed, “Well, goodnight Albus, Hagrid.” She then turned back into a cat and slinked away into the darkness.
    “G’night, Professor Dumbledore sir,” said the giant Hagrid, who then slung himself back onto the motorcycle and took off into the night. Dumbledore pulled out a silved lighter and clicked it twelve times, lighting the street. Then he spun on the spot and disappeared with a little pop.
    Dumbledore ended up on the doorstep of a shabby orphanage on the outskirts of London. He stepped inside and stood at the counter where a woman with frizzy hair was seated, half-asleep. Dumbledore cleared his throat to get her attention.
    “Yessur, can I help you?” she asked, eyeing Dumbledore and the girl wearily.
    “Good evening madame. This girl is to live here now, her parents are dead,” Dumbledore explained gently. The woman started digging for paperwork and a pen.
    “Alright, well, what’ser name?” she asked as she continued searching.
    “Jennifer LilyAnne Potter,” Dumbledore said simply, setting Jennifer on the counter.
    “Ok, well, I’ll need you to – hello?” asked the woman, but Dumbledore had vanished.

    5 YEARS AGO

    People didn’t think she remembered, but she did. Jennifer remembered everything.
    She remembered her home, her life, her pet cat, and her little brother. But most importantly, she remembered magic.
    She remembered her mother cooking with just a wave of her wand, her father shooting up sparks to entertain her, and flying just off the ground on a broomstick.

    Still, no one believed her. Everyone told her it was just her imagination, but it couldn’t have been. She remembered almost every detail. At least, that’s what she thought.

    So Jennifer Potter sat on a windowsill by herself on that hot July day, watching the other kids play outside. The creak of the door made her jump, but it was only the crazy lady from the front desk.
    “Jennifer? Someone’s here to see you,” she said before backing out. And in came a tall, elderly man with a long silver beard. He jogged Jennifer’s memory, and she froze.
    “I know you,” she whispered. She felt both frightened and amazed.
    “Yes,” said the familiar man with a chuckle, “You ought to know me. I’m the one who brought you here.”
    Jennifer’s jaw dropped slightly. “So, it’s all real? Magic…my parents?”
    He simply handed her a thick parchment letter, adressed in green ink; “Miss Jennifer Potter. The Highest Room, Rockwell Orphanage, London.” Curious, she ripped it open and read.
    Dear Miss Potter,
    We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry…

    ON THE HOGWARTS EXPRESS


    Jennifer had been looking forward to Hogwarts ever since her visit to Diagon Ally in August. She had even taught herself a few spells out of her books in secret. Now she walked down the train, short red hair bouncing and looking for a seat. Not knowing anyone was certainly putting a damper on her spirits. She had never felt more nervous in her life. She had never really had friends at the orphanage, but this was worse. She felt so…disconnected from everyone here. Like she was the only one who wasn’t sure magic existed until 2 months ago.

    She bumped into a few people as she tried to find a seat to herself. The first was a slightly stringy boy with brown hair and who was shorter than her. “Ah, I’m sorry! Totally my fault,” he said as they nearly stumbled to the ground.
    Jennifer blushed complete red, and stuttered, “No, mine. Sorry,” and rushed away. He gazed after her with a questioning look.

    The second person she ran into almost immediately was a girl of her own age who was much prettier, with long ringlets of shiney brown hair. The girl scoffed in disgust when Jennifer bounced off her. “Watch where you’re going,” she snapped nastily before sweeping around Jennifer, followed by a gaggle of giggling girls, who pushed Jennifer against the aisle wall and out of their way. Jennifer stood shaking until she noticed someone else in the hallway.

    It was another boy her age, and he had the most curious expression on his face. He was smiling, but he also seemed intrigued by her. His dirty blonde hair almost fell in his cold gray eyes, and he was tall. “They giving you a hard time?” he asked in a kind voice, but his eyes were looking over every inch of her, trying to figure out what to make of her.
    “Uh…erm, yeah, I guess,” Jennifer stuttered, unsure of anything. He made her so nervous.
    “Do you have a compartment?” he asked, raising his eyebrows at her.
    “N-no, not yet.”
    “Well then, you’ll just have to come with me then. My sister and I’s isn’t that far down,” he stated, and swished off down the corridor. She followed him, having no desire to disobay.

    The boy slid open a compartment door and led Jennifer inside. There was a girl sitting on a seat with long, dark brown hair, and she took her gaze away from the window as they entered. She had the same eyes as the boy. “Who’s this Lance?” she asked in a quiet and cold voice. She seemed to want nothing to do with anyone at the moment.
    “I don’t know, she didn’t have a compartment. Calm down Sarlanda,” he replied, flopping himself down on the seat opposite his sister. Jennifer sat down near the door hesitantly.
    “What year are you, first?” asked Sarlanda suddenly. Jennifer nodded slowly. “Us too.”
    “Except, we’re not idiots like the rest of the year. We’re purebloods,” added Lance. Sarlanda shot him a look.
    “Anyways, what’s your name?”
    “Jennifer Potter.”
    The siblings exchanged looks with wide eyes each. “Are you really?” Sarlanda asked. “Like, Potter as in…related to Harry Potter?”
    “I think so,” Jennifer replied, biting her lip slightly. “I mean, I remember having a little brother, and I think his name was Harry…I can’t remember everything, I haven’t seen him since I was about 3 they tell me.”
    “Who’s they?” Lance asked.
    “The ladies in the orphanage where I grew up. They said an old man named Dumbledore dropped me off there on November 1st right after my 3rd birthday.”
    They exchanged looks again, but didn’t say anything until Sarlanda smiled and said, “Well, I’m glad you’re friends with us, Jennifer. We’ll help you out. We’re Lance and Sarlanda Malfoy, by the way. Twins, although we don’t look it.” Jennifer smiled. She was greatful for her new friends.

    AT HOGWARTS


    Jennifer stood in a crowded hall among the other first years. All around them were the other, older students of Hogwarts, and in front of them were the teachers. Jennifer’s knees shook as the older, stern-looking Professor McGonagall stood before them holding the Sorting Hat in one hand and a scroll with all their names on it in the other. Sarlanda and Lance had told her about Hogwarts on the train, and all about Sorting, but Jennifer was still scared. Lance wanted Slytherin, and Sarlanda wasn’t so sure, but they both agreed it was probably the best house. What if she wasn’t with them?

    “Katie Bell!” A girl with blonde pigtails went up, the hat slipping over her eyes.
    “GRYFFINDOR!”
    "Brittany Chang!" The girl who had shoved Jennifer on the train went up. Jennifer’s eyes narrowed into a glare with dislike.
    "RAVENCLAW!"
    “Rodger Davis!” This boy was good-looking, for being only eleven.
    “RAVENCLAW!”
    “Cedric Diggory!”
    ‘And that’s the first boy from before…’ Jennifer thought as the shaky, stringy boy sat on the stool.
    “HUFFLEPUFF!”

    "Stacy Fires!" Another blonde girl went up, but she had no fear. She just had a grin slapped on her face.
    "HUFFLEPUFF!"
    “Jared Hood!” A smirking boy now sat on the stood, and Jennifer could practically feel the drool dripping off the girls around her’s lips.
    “HUFFLEPUFF!”
    “Lee Jordan!” A boy with dark skin and dreadlocks went up, looking rather annoyed with the whole situation.
    “GRYFFINDOR!”
    "Lance Malfoy!" Lance left Jennifer’s side after giving her hand the slightest squeeze. It sent the blood rushing into her face as he sat on the stool.
    "SLYTHEREIN!" the hat yelled after bearly touching his head.
    "Sarlanda Malfoy!"
    "Well, here goes..." Sarlanda mumbled, and she went to accept the hat. It took a while for it to decide.
    “SLYTHERIN!” She went off to join Lance. Now it was just Jennifer to get into Slytherin, and they’d all be together.
    "Ophilia McLaggen!"
    "Oh, bloody hell..." said the girl just behind Jennifer. She had short hair that stuck up everywhere and was dyed a shocking bright purple. The hat sat at an odd angle on her head.
    "GRYFFINDOR!" Ophilia beamed and went off to the Gryffindor table to join the boy with dreadlocks.
    “Colin Parker!” A slightly plump boy went up to the hat, looking terrifyed of it. The hat took a while with deciding him as well. Jennifer hoped it wouldn’t be like that for her.
    “HUFFLEPUFF!”

    "Jennifer Potter!" The hall went deadly silent and Jennifer felt every pair of eyes in the hall zero in on her echoing footsteps as she walked up to the hat, trying to look brave. She let it slip over her eyes when she set it on her head.
    'Well well, you ARE an interesting one...I would say Ravenclaw, but there's something else here, something greater...' "GRYFFINDOR!"
    Jennifer was thunderstruck. In a daze, she walked over to the Gryffindor table and sat down. Looking over at Sarlanda and Lance, they were as shocked as she was. Jennifer was about to cry when the girl with purple hair scooted over next to her. “Hey, aren’t you Jennifer Potter? That’s really cool, I’m Ophilia McLaggen. I’m not NEAR as cool, but hey, so yeah, you should so sit with me, and it’s so cool you’re a Gryffindor!” Ophilia said really fast. Jennifer only got like half of it. Apparently she was “cool,” whatever that was supposed to mean. Jennifer was used to being the second-rate dorky kid.

    "Sophia Warbeck!" A girl with dark skin and curly black hair trembled as she set the Hat on her.
    "GRYFFINDOR!" She sat down next to Jennifer and Ophilia, looking relieved.
    "Hi!" Ophilia said happily, shaking her hand. Jennifer managed a weak smile as she looked longingly over at the Slytherin table.
    “Fred Weasley!"
    "GRYFFINDOR!"
    "George Weasley!"
    "GRYFFINDOR!"
    The two identical ginger twins sat across from the three girls. Someone farther down the table who looked like he could be related was congradulating them.

    Jennifer ate her dinner quietly as everyone around her chatted happily. Whilst everyone else was thrilled to be in Gryffindor, she was not. She wanted nothing more than to be over at the Slytherin table, listening to Lance’s smooth voice and sharing a slight smile with Sarlanda.
    “So, Jennifer Potter, right?” asked one of the twins. “George Weasley. What’s up? You’re not sick, are you?” he asked, grinning. Apparently that was a joke.
    “No, I’d just much rather be in Slytherin,” Jennifer said quietly.
    George’s fork clattered to the table. “What?” he practically yelled. “Are you kidding me? SLYTHERIN?”
    “Yes. My friends Lance and Sarlanda are over there,” Jennifer replied meekly, unaware that she had just pretty much outcasted herself.
    “Malfoy?” asked the other twin, Fred. “Lance and Sarlanda Malfoy are your friends?”
    “Yes. They’re really nice.”
    Fred merely laughed. “You’ve got to be kidding me…Jennifer, a girl like yourself shouldn’t be associating with the Malfoys. They’re bad news.”

    Jennifer spent the rest of the night in confusion. Sarlanda and Lance had been so nice to her on the train, yet every single one of her fellow Gryffindors were telling her they were awful. She fell asleep quickly, not knowing that Ophilia, Fred and George would quickly become her best friends, not knowing that her friendship with Sarlanda would soon become the biggest test of her life, and not even having an inkling that Lance would one day be her worst enemy.