(Disclaimer: I do not own anything of Harry Potter )

Chapter 1: Back at Hogwarts

June 20th, 1996

The bone-chilling wind swept across her smooth skin sending a tight prickling sensation through her crossed arms and down her bare legs. Her long black hair sailed across her neck as it fought to fall behind her shoulders. Her feet planted on the only elevated ground of the hill, pointing towards Hagrid's hut that released a plume of thick grey smoke into the air. She'd been holding it in all this time, caging away what was fighting to break out; finally, letting it loose, hiding away the lock forever as a tear traveled down her pale face. Warmth cupped at her shoulders as a hand steadily made it presence on her stiffened frame. Her grey eyes, despite knowing the very owner of that hand- she'd recognize the feeling of that touch anywhere- rolled back with her neck. A light, momentary grin played on her face as if it wasn't enough to just cast a view.

"It's weird how it all works, isn't it? I hadn't even known the man for most of my life, and there he was- just out of reach." Her chest fell as her breath became heavy- maybe she should've kept it locked up.

In one swift movement his fingers became lost in her hair, as his arm found its way around her neck. Her arms locked around his waist as she buried her head in his chest.

"I know exactly how you feel."

"Bye, bye sweetheart. Don't forget to send an owl when you arrive."

"I know, same as every year."

"She'd be proud of you; you know…"

"Yea… alright I've got to go." A tall, rather skinny girl hurried towards the Hogwarts Express, hopping onto the open platform just before turning on her heel, her long wavy black hair spiraling behind her as she waved to an older woman, with short blonde hair who waved on back.

The loud whistle sounded from the front of the train, signaling the sudden movement and turn of its large wheels shaking the girl in surprise. Quickly, she hurried inside the train, squeezing between passing students who were trying to find compartments just the same. Just as she reached the last section of the Gryffindor compartments, she swung the door wide and was greeted by three shocked expressions as she stood by the doorway.

"Oh- sorry… everywhere else is full. Do you mind?" She said, clutching her bag closely by her side.

"Erm… not at all." A tall redheaded boy replied, shifting in his seat to form room.

The girl entered the compartment, closing the door gently as she walked between the pairs of legs that made it an obstacle to get to the window seat. Upon resting herself down, she placed her bag on her legs and looked out the window. "Is that your dog?" She asked, as she looked through the glass and noticed a black shaggy dog running after the train.

"What?" A boy with short brown hair and glasses asked, "Mm… no- no I don't see a dog."

The girl pressed her eyebrows together suspiciously, yet shrugged it off. A few moments went by of complete silence till the red headed boy beside her cleared his throat in an awkward way and reluctantly began to speak. "So… erm… who're you?"

The girl looked up from her bag, darting her hazel eyes around the compartment to the three people sitting around her. Tucking a strand of black hair behind her ears and nervously answering; "Uhm… Victoria McKinnon. You?"

"Ron Weasely." The boy answered, tapping uncomfortably on his leg. "This is Hermione and-"

"Harry." The boy across from her said, her reflection shining through his round spectacles.

"Pleasure." Victoria said, giving a small grin to the three.

Hermione, the girl who sat across from Ron, had long brown wavy hair and a worried expression plastered on her face. "Fifth year, right?"

"Right." Victoria thought it was an odd question; they'd been living in the same dormitory for years now and she had noticed Hermione a few times, but their cliques were different so they never necessarily talked beside the one time Hermione asked Victoria to clasp her bra before the yule ball.

The ride to Hogwarts made Victoria feel most uncomfortable; as if she wasn't wanted in the compartment. The three tried to keep a conversation, yet every now and then would nudge each other on a subject and whisper, giving glares to her as if whatever they were talking about she shouldn't hear. About an hour later, Hermione stood up from her chair, wrapping herself in her Gryffindor robes and opening the compartment door before pushing Ron's shoulder. "Get up! C'mon Ron."

Ron's weary eyes blinked slowly as a blow to his shoulder that connected with Hermione's history book spiked his attention leaving him fully awake. "Oi! What'chu do that for!"

"C'mon Ron, we've got prefect duty!" Hermione said, throwing her history book beside Harry.

Ron rolled his eyes before getting up and following Hermione out of the compartment, "See you in the dorm, mate." He nodded off Harry and gave a look to Victoria before closing the door behind him.

Victoria looked at Harry who was tapping on his legs and looking down by his feet.

"Are they always like that?" Victoria said, making conversation.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you it's normally ten times worse." Harry said, grinning.

"Do you mind if I ask- you're Harry Potter aren't you?" She said, holding her lips tight in a hardline, hoping she hadn't asked the wrong question.

Harry roughed up his untidy hair anxiously. "Er, yea."

Victoria had heard about Harry Potter, of course. Famous Harry Potter, how could she not have? He was only on the front page of the Daily Prophet for nearly a year. 'Boy who lived, tri-wizard champion,' 'Harry Potter wins tri-wizard cup,' 'The boy who lies,'… She knows he's been hammered with questions, and other odd statements about… well his existence… so instead she snapped her lips shut and smiled; which caught him by surprise as he stared at her- as if he was waiting for an upcoming question, yet never got any.

"Looking forward to any classes this year?" Harry asked, fixing his glasses up the bridge of this nose.

Victoria looked out the window in thought, watching as the large green hills rolled by slowly from her perspective. "Defense Against the Dark Arts, of course. I hear we'll be learning about the real stuff this year- can't wait."

Harry blinked widely at her, "Really? Me too… I wonder who'll be the new teacher."

"Dunno. If it was my choice, I'd bring back Professor Lupin. Definitely my favourite teacher thus far."

Victoria watched as Harry tried to hide a grin that crept up the corners of his lips. He raised his hand up to his mouth, stroking his chin as he tried to hide his expression; then the train came to a sudden halt, jolting him forward.

Victoria watched as Harry tried to clumsily put his expression on check, rising from her seat and opening the compartment door. "Guess I'll… see you around?"

"Right, see you around."

She whirled around, closing the compartment door behind her and headed out the train with a large group of eager Hogwarts students.

Squeezing her way through the bodies that continued to hurry inside the castle, she grabbed onto an arm and pulled on a girl with long strawberry blonde curly hair and dragged her aside.

"Hey! Oh- Vicki what's going on?" The girl asked as she looked anxiously around her.

"C'mon, let's head up for the common room before a teacher see's." Victoria said impishly; and with that, the two girls slinked up the stairs and hurried into the Gryffindor tower. The portraits they passed were all attentive and chipper, smiling and waving as they ascended the revolving staircases and entered through the portrait hole. They were greeted by a roaring fire that spilled heat throughout the common room, and their favourite maroon sofa sitting in the center.

Victoria moved to the corner of the room, kneeling on the cushion of a small arm chair and leaning over the back-part to open the small window half way. The breeze rolled in, blowing her hair behind her as she searched through her bag for her pack, taking out a smoke and placing it between her dry lips and lighting it with her wand. She inhaled deeply and coughed upon release. "Lavender, how was your summer?"

Lavender trailed around towards the sofa, where she laid sprawled on the thick maroon cushions. "Wow, sounds like you're dying over there. Is that what no-smoking for three months does to you? My summer was the usual, you?"

Victoria shrugged, resting her head in her hand and taking another hit from her smoke. "It seems like each year she gets more and more worried about what goes on at Hogwarts. Always asking me to check in, and not get myself mixed up with this and that." She rolled her eyes.

"Can you blame her though? After what Harry said about… you know…"

"Voldemort?"

Lavender lifted her head from the cushion, wincing at the sound of his name being spoken out loud. "Er… yea… who knows if he's telling the truth."

"Do you not believe him?"

"I don't know. You know me Vicki, I try not to think about that sort of stuff. Why, do you?"

Truthfully, the entire picture creates an ambivalent feeling in the pit of her stomach. "Honestly, I think I do. We have no reason not to trust him… besides, you only do yourself more harm not thinking about it… you should prepare yourself while you can, Lav." Victoria said sincerely before taking one last inhale of her cig and putting it out on the windowsill before walking over to her mate and lunging beside her.

Lavender grinned looking up at her best mate, "That's why you're becoming an Auror… and I'll be the nurse."

Victoria rolled her eyes, reaching down to her bag that rested on the carpet and pulling out an old burnt picture. She caressed the corner of the photo, smiling dolefully.

"She'd be proud of you." Lavender said, looking over Victoria's shoulder at the picture between her fingers.

"So I've heard."

"Who else could produce a corporeal patronus at thirteen?"

"Lupin was an excellent teacher."

"Reminds me, I wonder who is the new D.A teacher this year…" Lavender wondered.

"I guess we'll find out tomorrow."

Suddenly, a loud creaking sounded from behind the two as the portrait hole swung open and welcomed a group of Gryffindor students inside the common room. The students began to disperse entering their respective dormitories.

Lavender shot up from the couch, waving out at someone in the group. "Pavarti! Hold up!" She stretched out her arms and wrapped them around Victoria's neck, "See you tomorrow!" Just like that, Lavender rushed out the common room and into the dormitory. After a few moments, Victoria turned at the sound of the portrait hole opening once more, instead welcoming two familiar faces. Harry and Ron entered through the common room, an odd eerie feeling filled the room as everybody looked and whispered about Harry. She looked around the room, not a single eye was anywhere else but Harry's presence. She decided to look at him too, catching his gaze as he stood before the stairs to the boy's dormitory, looking at the students practically enraged. To her surprise, Seamus, a fellow fifth year stood up and mocked Harry about his sightings of Voldemort. Victoria kept her eyes wide as the two spat back and forth before Ron intervened.

"So, you sayin' you believe this rubbish?" Seamus said, throwing his hands in the air.

Ron nodded, standing beside Harry. "Yea… I do. Does anyone else have a problem with Harry?"

The entire room went still, and to her surprise, Harry's eyes met hers once more. She wasn't sure if this was her que to stand up and agree, or an odd chance of catching one's eye… but within a second, he darted out of the room and into the boy's dormitory. Releasing a deep breath of air, she hadn't realized she was holding in, she quickly put her photograph away and headed for the girl's dormitory.

The next morning, Victoria woke up with Lavender hanging over her bed looking down at her with beady eyes. "You up yet?"

Victoria rubbed her eyes and pushed Lavender away, "Yes, I'm up. What're you doin?" She sat up in her bed, throwing her bed covers off and swinging her body so her feet were planted on the ground.

"Waitin' for you to get up… everybody else already left. We have later classes." Lavender said, throwing herself back on her bed.

Victoria stood up, throwing a pillow at Lavender before changing into her Gryffindor uniform and preparing her hair in a half-up fashion with a black bow tying the look together.

The two walked down the corridor to the dungeons where they spent their first lesson in Professor Snape's potions class. Victoria didn't know what it was, but she had this odd dislike for Snape. She had always knew he was unfair, especially towards Gryffindor's- but something about him hit a nerve for her that she just could not explain. Though, the class was fairly easy today- the entire lesson consisted of O.W.L's and how they integrated with the potions course. Like normally in this class, Victoria rolled her eyes and packed her things and left. She wasn't the best potions maker, and she definitely wasn't one who enjoyed the class as much as the next student. Her classes seemed to follow the same uneventful pattern… O.W.L's…

Though, for her last class she was eager and on the balls of her feet to finally attend. Defense Against the Dark Arts. A grin showing from her lips, she opened the classroom door, and took her spot on the right hand side of the classroom, with Lavender taking her spot next to her. Victoria took out her D.A book, wrapping her hands around the object as it laid on her desk. She also prepared her wand and placed it beside the bind of her book. The classroom began to fill with students taking their seats, and loud chatter that filled the room. Suddenly a familiar boy sat at the table beside her, taking out his D.A book and wand just the same as Victoria. She turned towards the boy and looked at him; he glanced over and nodded.

"Hey!" She mouthed quietly, giving a small wave, and a small wave was returned.

Suddenly a loud cough sounded from the front of the room; Victoria snapped her neck forward to notice an older woman with short brown hair wearing a pink skirt and cardigan standing by a blackboard.

"Eh-hem…" The woman said, clearing her throat as she clutched on to her wand with both hands. Victoria looked around as the class continued to speak in loud voices, feeling uncomfortable with the look on the woman's face. Suddenly a loud whipping sound came from the woman's wand being snapped against the desk as she silenced the room immediately. "Good… I suppose this isn't a rule enforced here, but for here on out whenever you enter my classroom you will cease all discussion and remain silent till the end of class is that clear?" The woman said in a snappy, yet oddly calming voice. "I said, is that clear? I expect to hear feedback."

"Yes, Professor." The class said in unison.

Victoria didn't notice it, but her mouth was wide open and she barely blinked till Lavender gave her a light shove.

"Excellent. Put your books away, you won't be needing them…"

Victoria looked around, and with the class, they all reluctantly put their books away.

"Also, wands as well. You won't be needing those either."

The entire class murmured in question.

"Sorry, Professor… did you say, we won't be needing wands?" Hermione asked from the front of the classroom.

"Correct, Miss…"

"Granger."

"Only for today though right?" A boy asked from the back of the room.

"You will not be needing to perform any sort of magic in this classroom. I have devised an ideal learning agenda for this class, which I believe will be more effective than what previous teachers have given you poor students in the past years… dear Merlin, how did any of you get by…" The woman flicked her wand at the blackboard of which her name, and the class's learning agenda and O.W.L's appeared. "For those of you who do not know, I am your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Umbridge."

"Professor… you haven't listed anything about defensive spells." Hermione said perturbed.

"We won't be needing them."

"Needing them? What are we to do when someone is trying to attack us?" Harry yelled eagerly.

"My dear boy, who on earth would want to hurt a bunch of children?"

"Oh, I don't know- let's see… Lord Voldemort." Harry shouted matter-of-factly.

Once again, all eyes were on Harry Potter. Victoria cupped her mouth at the outburst, and watched as Professor Umbridge stood at the front of the classroom, menacingly twitching at the sound of the name. "I see. The use of defensive magic, yes, would be very helpful against he-who-whatever- and definitely a practical use of your time- yet fortunately we're living in a time where he-is-dead."

"He's not dead, I saw him! He's returned!"

"ENOUGH!" Umbridge swatted her wand again at the desk, her eyes piercing through Harry's. "Detention. Every night this week."

After class, Victoria headed off towards the owlery where she began to write her letter she promised to send.

'Dear Elise,

Here is my per-usual letter, like every year… Nothing much has changed besides getting a new Defense Against the Dark Art's teacher; and she seems a bit nutty. You might actually approve of her teachings; no defensive magic this year. Before you ask, no, I have not gotten into any trouble yet. I've met a boy on the express this year, I'm sure you've heard of him. His name is Harry Potter; quite an interesting guy, I'll give him that. Had a bit of a brawl with the new D.A teacher, though it was quite entertaining to watch. Now I'm rambling… anyways, talk to you again soon.

Love you, Victoria'

She folded the parchment and placed it inside a blue envelope. Just as she opened the door, wings began to loudly flutter around, owls were perched at every angle, most of them were awake. She walked over to the end of the owlery, raising her arm till a brown barn-owl perched itself on her robe. Victoria grabbed her envelope and tied it to the creature's leg, stroking its head before resting it down on the ledge. "Alright, Belle. Safe flight okay?" Her owl nudged her arm in an affectionate gesture just before setting off outside the owlery and gliding through the sky. She then began searching in her bag and took out a smoke placing it in the corner between her lips.

She whirled around, stretching her arm out towards the door and placing a hand on the golden handle, while her other hand was occupied looking for her wand. Just as she began to push, the door swung open, nearly causing her to lose balance. She took a step back, looking up at the figure in the doorway. A tall, skinny boy with short white blond hair and gray eyes wearing a green Slytherin uniform smirked down at her.

"Well, I thought it interesting we haven't had any run-ins yet." He said, crossing his arms and leaning against the doorway. "Miss me?"

Victoria raised an eyebrow, "As in- do I miss disarming you across the corridors? Then yes." She taunted.

The boy scoffed, "Come now, McKinnon," he said as he placed his fingers around the smoke on her lips and putting it on his, "Hadn't anyone told you cigarettes are bad for your health? Might as well start nailing the coffin now."

Victoria rolled her eyes as the boy took out his wand to light the smoke, taking a long drag from her cigarette. "I think we both know who'll be around longer."

"So you think you've won, then?"

"Please, this isn't a game of Wizards Chess Malfoy. Besides…" Victoria said in an airy contemptuous tone as she passed by Draco and exited the owlery, "The good guys always win. Hasn't anyone told you that?"

"I must say, McKinnon, that I can't wait to prove your theories wrong." Draco gave Victoria a subtle black look before closing the door between them. She rolled her eyes as she descended the owlery steps back towards Hogwarts.

During dinner Victoria slowly picked at her food, her head rested on her hand as her mind went wild with the upcoming events of the year. New D.A teacher, and she seemed psycho, Harry Potter and he's acting rebellious, Voldemort had apparently returned, Malfoy is still lurking the halls and Elise is probably standing by her window waiting for Belle's delivery.

"Isn't he cute?" Lavender said, shoving on Victoria's arm for attention.

"Who?"

"The boy over there." Lavender said nodding over to the open doorway of the Great Hall.

Victoria glanced over and noticed Harry, Ron, and Hermione standing by the doorway for a moment before walking off.

Lavender let out a deep sigh as she gazed dreamily at the empty spot where the three stood. "Do you think he's with that Granger girl?"

"What? Who?"

"The boy of course!"

"If you're talking about Harry, I don't think so."

"No – no, I meant the other one- the red head… Honestly, I would've thought Harry and Hermione would most likely be together, don't you think?"

"Why do you say that?" Victoria said, continuing to stab her chicken as she acted interested in the subject.

"Well, they're always together right? And that photo during the tri-wizard tournament…"

"Honestly, Lavender I have no idea. I don't necessarily keep up with Harry and his affairs."

"What's got your wand in a knot?" Lavender said, raising an eyebrow.

Victoria shrugged, "Nothing… I just- erm… his name is Ron. Ron Weasely." At that Victoria took one last drink out of her pumpkin juice and left the Great Hall.

Reaching behind her ears as she descended a flight of stairs, she tied her long dark hair up with a black ribbon, shuffling down the corridor till a body restricted her moving any further. Nearly knocking herself over, she reached for support on the person's robe forcing them to take a few steps closer to her, till they were nearly inches from each other's body.

"I see you've finally come around then aye?"

Victoria looked up to see a short blonde hair boy with blue eyes wearing Hufflepuff robes looking down at her, so close she could feel his hot breath down her face. Instantly blushing red, she let go of his robes and pushed him back. "Ernest, dammit… watch it!"

"Woah, Ms. McKinnon, I was just walking 'round the corner like you were." Ernest said, leaning against the corner of the wall smirking down at Victoria's reddened face.

"I don't have time for this right now." She said as she began to walk past Ernest but he stepped aside and blocked her.

"Can't we talk?"

"'Bout what?"

"How was your summer?"

Victoria rolled her eyes, "Let's see, three months without you stopping me in the hallways constantly trying to make a move? I'd say excellent."

"Bit harsh don't you think? Didn't miss me at least a tad?" Ernest pressed on teasingly.

"Don't make me laugh, Macmillan. Can I get by now?"

Ernest sighed deeply, shifting aside and stretching out his arm to allow Victoria's passageway clear.

"Mimbulus mimbletonia."

The portrait swung open, and Victoria walked on through to the Gryffindor common room. Upon entering Victoria could already hear loud shouts coming from inside.

"-You are NOT allowed to be selling these to younger students!" A girl's voice shouted determinedly from inside the common room.

"Come on!" Two familiar boy's voices said in unison.

Victoria continued through the small entry way then noticed Fred and George Weasely standing in a corner; Fred holding a clipboard and quill, and George with an opened box of odd objects.

"Loosen up, Granger." Fred said, throwing the clipboard to his side as George lowered the box down for a third year boy to look at the objects.

Hermione threw her fists to her side, turning red as she stomped between the boy and George, closing the box and grabbing it in her hold. "I am prefect, and as such, I have to confiscate these."

"Hermione, come on… don't you think you're being a bit… irrational." Ron said as he peered above his potions book timorously.

Hermione shot him a deadly look causing him to duck back out of sight, then continued to waltz upstairs into the girl's dormitory with the box of objects.

Victoria laughed silently as she approached the twins. "Rough day for business, aye?"

"We knew Granger was passionate, but merlin does she scare us sometimes." Fred said raising his eyebrows as George nodded in agreement.

"And ickle-prefect-Ron over there stood behind a book the entire time." George shouted.

Ron put his book down upon noticing the coast was clear, "What do you expect me to do? She's worse than mum!"

"What are you selling?" Victoria asked, peaking at the clipboard in Fred's hand.

"We-"

"Ms. McKinnon-"

"Are selling homemade hex-candy."

The twins both said.

"Homemade hex-candy? What on earth?" Victoria asked with a perturbed expression.

"Show her George."

"Right, Fred."

George shuffled through his pants pocket, taking out two small balls one red and one yellow.

"This, McKinnon will get you out of any class-" George began.

"With no questions asked." Fred finished.

"What do they do?"

"Well, the red one will give you a nose bleed. Though it gushes out quite fast, so it's messy…" George said. "And once you're out of class, pop the yellow one in your mouth, and the bleeding ceases. Free period!"

"Excellent, have you gotten it to work?"

"Well…" Fred said, as the two twins turned their bodies revealing a second year sitting on a chair behind them holding a large towel under their nose. "The yellow one isn't perfected yet… he's been bleeding for half an hour now."

"Am I going to pass out from blood loss?" The boy said, as blood dripped down and reached the cracks in his lips. Victoria winced, revolted at the scene.

"You'll be okay, just keep quiet around Granger." George said handing the boy another towel.

"Anyways, do you two have any new fireworks? Stink pellets, something I can work with." Victoria asked.

The boys pondered for a moment, before Fred grabbed his pack and began shuffling through it. He took out two small brown balls and a larger red ball. "Complimentary, my dear prankster."

"Are you serious?" Victoria said, grabbing the objects out of Fred's hand.

"From one trouble maker to another." George said, and the twins smiled.

"What am I going to do next year when you're gone?" Victoria said whimsically as she shoved the objects in her pack.

"Continue the legendary pranks we have taught you since first year." George suggested

"Then find a successor." Fred said laughing.

Victoria grinned and waved the two off, heading for the girl's dormitory. The room was dark with what Victoria can assume four beds already filled with presumably sleeping girls. She slinked over to her bed in the corner, throwing her pack down as she heavily fell to her bed. Reaching up for her ribbon and letting her hair fall, she proceeded to kick off her shoes and change into her sleepwear. As she laid down on her bed, throwing the covers over her body she turned to her side and pulled on the thin chain that connected to a very dim light. She reached over on the nightstand's drawer and opened it up, grabbing a small, thin notebook. She pulled back the ribbon that closed the notebook, and opened it. Inside she grabbed the photograph she had looked at the previous day. Like most pictures in the wizarding world, this one moved. Victoria watched as a young girl with long blonde curly hair smiled through the picture. She assumed the photo was much larger, because it was torn and burnt in areas. The other people around the woman were hard to make out or impossible due to the burns and tears. Yet, that didn't matter to Victoria, she had this one photo with the one person she loved the most completely decipherable. Though she couldn't help but wonder, if any of the other people in the photograph were the other people that went missing from her life… like possibly her father.

Footsteps creaked their way up the staircase, causing her heart to pound in surprise as she quickly shoved the picture back into the notebook, placing it inside the nightstand and turning off the dim light as she rolled over and closed her eyes. It wasn't long till she eventually drifted into a deep night's sleep.