Notes: 'City of Towers' is the first fanfiction story of any description that I wrote, I found an old notebook whilst moving back from my undergraduate to my postgraduate university over the summer it had both this story and another my first HP story that I will be posting in a few months. I decided to post this story after a little editing I have deliberately not messed with it too much because I wanted to see how my writing has changed and developed. This story is just six chapters which I will be posting at the rate of one a week until about April once you've read this chapter please check out another story particularly if you are a fan of HP fanfiction, as always please review and enjoy.

Chapter One: A birthday gift

Gaetano di Chimi looked over the book in front of him, the words swirled around the page and the pictures practically danced. He placed his head on the page only to be roughly woken awake seconds later.

"Come on Gaetano it's past midnight leave it."

"No I only have two pages left," he yawned.

"Leave it," Luciano pressed sternly. Gaetano did not have the energy to argue so he left the work. Gaetano di Chimi and Luciano Crimatore were good friends, both studying at Padavia's University. It was an unlikely friendship. Luciano was a Bellezan engaged to the city's ruler: the Duchessa. Whilst Gaetano was a di Chimi, a member of the family who was taking over most of northern Talia with only Belleza resisting.

"You work too hard Gaetano." The boys parted and Gaetano could near Luciano's words ringing in his ears.

Violet Lawrence stretched cat-like on her bed. This was the worst time for her, she felt so vulnerable and useless, she fluffed her pillow as her mum entered. Louisa Lawrence put her own arm under Violet's and picked her up placing Violet in her wheelchair.

"Cheers mum," she smiled weakly.

"Come on," Louisa replied "we'll open your presents." Today was Violet's seventeenth birthday. She wasn't expecting much she had only moved to London recently and her father was still living in Manchester with his new girlfriend. Money was tight and as such Violet was appreciative of each of her presents. After the breakdown of her marriage Louisa had moved back to London, where she had grown up. Her gifts were fairly simple books and book tokens from her extended family:something Violet adored. Her father had given her a subscription to a magazine. Her mother's gift was a tiny jewellery box, as she opened it inside was revealed a tiny silver necklace with a beautiful lily so realistic on the end.

"Wow mum it must have cost you so much."

"Actually it's from Portobello Market I thought it was just so unique." A knock on the door indicated to them that Violet's friends were there.

"Well friends is a loose term," Violet thought a little sarcastically. Louisa had asked the only person she had remained in contact with in the city, Vicky Mulholland to help her with Violet's schooling. Vicky had volunteered her foster son Nick to walk Violet to school, Nick usually walked with his girlfriend Georgia O'Grady. In all honesty Violet didn't need much help as she only lived a ten minute journey from the school. Violet usually wheeled herself to school whilst Nick and Georgia walked behind.

Today however Nick appeared stunned as she opened the door.

"What's wrong?" Violet asked.

"Nothing," he replied rapidly going paler by the second.

"Okay," said Violet in a confused manner as she fiddled with her new necklace.

Violet's lessons where fairly monotonous, her history and geography teachers both piled work on her. At lunch she kept getting glances from Nick, Georgia and their friends Sky and Alice. She ignored it and buried herself deeper in thought.

"It's the giglian lily," Nick exclaimed.

"Are you sure?" asked Alice. "It's a simple design not hard to come up with."

"It is exactly the same and silver is a a more precious metal in Talia." Sky added.

"Okay," Georgia cut in between the conversation "even if it is a talisman who's to say Violet is a stravagante?" They all left the argument at that point and changed the topic.

As soon as she was home Violet began her homework immediately. Throwing herself into the world of academia doing everything to a top level. She had been doing this more and more since she had moved to London. After three hours of homework and a rushed dinner she managed to slide herself into bed. She fell asleep dreaming of a city of learning and culture.

When Violet opened her eyes she was sat on the floor.

"No, no," she thought "I have fallen out of bed.

"Mum," she called but the person who appeared through the door Violet didn't know he had a friendly appearance and a crooked smile and was dressed like something from the Middle ages. He grabbed Violet's hand and helped her to her feet. Violet was amazed, she shouldn't be able to stand. She took a step gingerly, then another and then spun on the spot with her arms open.

"I can walk." She thought amazed.

Gaeteno grabbed the girl's hand. She was obviously touched in the head. He led her by the hand and sat her in a chair.

"Welcome to Padavia," he announced "you are from London."

"Well I was born in Italy..." Violet started before Gaeteno cut her off.

"You mean Talia,"

"No Italy in Milan where is Talia. Where am I?"

"You are in Padavia?"

"That sounds like Padua."

"Yes it is a parallel to Padua. This is one world Padua is in the other world and the Italy you are referring is called Talia here."

"What?"

"You are a stravagante. You have travelled through from your world to ours with your talisman." He pointed to the necklace she was wearing. "This is a talisman it transports you from one world to another. This necklace is the symbol of the di Chimi family."

"Oh," Violet said, she had nothing else to say her mind had gone blank after all she still believed she was dreaming. The door of Gaetano's study opened up.

"A stravagante?" Luciano asked excitedly. Gaetano nodded and Violet, who had been looking at the floor looked up. Her mouth hung open in shock, her complexion was turning paler by the second.

"No,you're dead aren't you?"She asked her determination wavering for a second as she reached out to touch Luciano's solid hand.

"Violet?" He smiled her "I haven't seen you in so long? How come you are here? I thought the talisman was placed in London?" He picked her up and spun her around.

"I live in London but you are dead? I went to your funeral."

"I was a stravangante Violet just like you. I came to Talia and was trapped this is my world now."

"My god so you are alive?" She said circling around him as if checking that he was real. "Can't you tell your parents?" All three suddenly heard the sound of footsteps down the corridor."

"Hide," Gaeteno hissed as he opened up a large closet and ushered Violet inside.