Prologue: An Unexpected Twist

In an antebellum mansion on the outskirts of Royale Street, a beautiful woman sits in her art studio, painting a scene from a movie. A.J. glides the paintbrush over the image, mixing and blending the colors until she got the perfect shading for the characters' skin tone, scenery, and physical structure. She smiled at how life has dealt her with everything she wanted. Has a stable job drawing for book and comic book publishing companies, movie studios, and art galleries. A comfy home inherited through generations in New Orleans, and an excellent life she got to experience with her family, exploring different cultures, meeting different kinds of people, and seeing the world for all its beauty as well as discovering the type of person you want to be.

However, there were some downsides to her happy life. Like, for instance, finding out that her boyfriend of four years had been seeing Audrey, A.J.'s ex-best friend, behind her back for the past two years. When A.J. found out about it - by visiting his apartment - she got so mad to the point where she punched Audrey in the nose, hearing the bone crack, and cut off all ties with both of them. Also, the weather has been kind of dark and gloomy (even if she does like it). It has been raining in New Orleans, nonstop, for the past four months, nine weeks, and fifteen days...but who's counting? Seeing the rain splatter on the ground gives her a sense of peace, but a feeling of dread and nervousness; a sixth sense, per se: a sense that has never let her down before. But, the one downside she had in her life was three years to the day her parents passed away and left her alone and in despair.

Flashback (Three Years Ago)

A.J. was at the art store buying more supplies for her studio when her cell phone rang. What she didn't expect was the most heartbreaking conversation she would ever have to hear.

"Hello?"

"Is this A.J. Hernandez?" A man spoke on the other side.

"Yes, this is she. May I ask who is this?"

"This is Detective O'Connell from the New Orleans PD. Marcel told me I could contact you through this number," he explained himself to her. A.J. gave an 'ahh' to the Detective on the other side.

"What can I help you with Detective?" The next words out of his mouth became the day she lost her entire world as well as her whole heart.

"It's about your parents, Ms. Hernandez." Her heart stopped beating and went to her throat. A shiver of fear and unease racked up her spine.

"What about them, Detective? Are they alright? Please tell me!" A.J's voice turned hysterical.

"It pains me to say this...but your parents were in a car crash. A drunk driver swerved into their lane and headed straight towards them."

"Did they...are they - um - dead?" There was silence on the other side of this conversation. He didn't want to say it to crush this daughter's heart, but she deserved to know the truth about all of it. Detective O'Connell took a deep breath and spoke the one answer that changed her life forever.

"Yes." A.J. dropped everything in her hands and began to scream. A terrible, heart wrenching, gut-twisting, banshee scream that made everyone turn around and stare at this girl. A random stranger picked her up and tried to calm her down. "They are at Tulane Medical Center, waiting for you to release them." After that, it was all a blur. A.J. couldn't remember anything else other than the stranger driving her to the hospital, to say goodbye to her parents one more time. Both of them were released the next day, and A.J. began the preparations for the funeral. A quiet, small ceremony with family, friends, and trusted advisors from the family company, she spoke her eulogy, played a haunting, beautiful song in respect, and watched as the two people that loved her more than life itself, were lowered into the ground, together.

It's been hard to bury them, but even more so to go on through life without them being there to see what might happen in the distant future. The pain hasn't lessened or dissipated, but someday it will begin to heal. Drawing - in general - is the only thing that gives her a sense of peace. Coming from the wealthiest family in the world, A.J. had all these opportunities at her fingertips not a lot of people could have in their lifetime. From the first day she wanted to draw a butterfly, her parents enrolled her in art classes, teaching her how to shade, sketch, mix, blend, combine, and learn the craft of art. A.J. adored being able to create something just for artistic expression and to make other people happy. After all, art helped her heal her and put her life back together again...slowly.

Today is the first day of summer vacation, and she's finishing her theme painting for her Tumblr, Instagram, and Facebook followers: Harry Potter Mania. Sketching, painting, and creating anything and everything Harry Potter. From book covers and chapter scenes to movie posters, promotional pictures, movie scenes, logos, House crests, etc. You name it; she can draw it. An art, violin, martial arts, and gymnastics prodigy with an eidetic memory has become very rare in itself. Nevertheless, A.J. enjoys being set apart from the standard statistic. A knock on the door echoed throughout the house. Getting up from her desk and heads towards the door, she sees the UPS guy holding a package. Signing for it while thanking the delivery man, A.J. closes the door, holding the box in one arm, and proceeds towards the kitchen where a large knife was on the cutting board.

With a loud THUD! The box was placed - unceremoniously - on top of the dining room table, waiting to open. The knife in her hand, A.J. sliced open the tape barrier around the seal until the flaps were free. She placed the blade next to her, then pulled the folds open, revealing a small notecard in neat, black, handwriting.

A.J.,

I know this is all too surreal for anyone to comprehend for placing a lot of pressure on your shoulders; not to mention the responsibility of carrying this burden forever, but please listen to what I have to say. Inside this box is a watch that has been passed down to your family since the beginning. A waterproof watch with black, leather straps holds the most powerful magic I can give you: Time. Although it may seem unassuming, I assure you, it's valuable. Coveted by everyone for centuries, this watch is powerful beyond your imagination: Good, Evil, and Neutral. The sacrifices it will take to make sure it is protected and well cared for, but this is your Destiny.

To find yourself - as your mother did before you and your grandmother, and so forth - is a perilous journey that will require unearthing painful memories you kept locked away, discover things buried deep within your soul, and question everything you were taught long ago. Your parents said you would never give up and never stop doing what you think is right. They loved you very much and are incredibly proud of you whatever decision you make. Along with the watch, there is a messenger bag with the entire Harry Potter saga (in paperback), the movies and soundtrack already uploaded to your laptop and iTouch, a sketchbook to keep track of all you have seen, and a journal to write down your stories for future generations. Wear the watch at all time and Good Luck.

Yours Truly,

A Friend.

Prying it further, all seven Harry Potter books in the bag neatly in a row. Taking one out, I saw the essential events highlighted and underlined as well. The journal, on the other hand, had every single thing that was going to happen in bullet point format.

"Well...at least I know what's going to happen." Making sure her possessions would be safe, she placed her bag near her bed, along with the laptop and phone/MP3 charger, another journal, and her sketch pencils inside. The watch was impressive but straightforward to look at from a fashion perspective. A.J. put it on her wrist, put her pajamas on, and turned off the light where she proceeded to fall into a deep, dreamless, sleep. By the next morning, her journey would finally begin.

Disclaimer: I do not - by any means necessary - own Harry Potter. The characters, movies, books, original plot lines, and dialogue all belong to J.K. Rowling...which she is still totally awesome, by the way. The only thing I have any say in is my OFC, A.J. Hernandez. Also, I won't tolerate people being rude or mean to me about my stories. I'm still a little bit new at writing FanFiction (in general), and this is my first HP FanFic. If you don't like it, then don't read it. However, if you do like, please leave a comment, and I'll try to get back to you (unless people decide to use that as an opportunity to write their own chapters on the comment board, which I will delete immediately).

I apologize in advance that it may have some editing mistakes, but this is all un-BETA'd, so bear with me and hope you like it :)

Also, I'd like to apologize for not updating this story in so long and keeping this story in an extended hiatus. I can assure you - the people who read my story - that I have no intention of quitting my stories for any reason. When I began writing this, I was still in school, working part-time, and trying to find a full-time job. On top of that, paying back student loans and needing to save up money for a new laptop, became the top priority. Then, it turned into a very, long, Writer's Block and Hiatus for all of my stories. I ask that you remain patient as I finish them, one at a time. I want to make sure that the details are exactly right, so as to not mess up the franchise and the story. I hope you'll forgive me and enjoy this updated chapter.

I would like to add though, that I had some outfits made for my OFC and this story on Polyvore. However, now that Polyvore is being owned and controlled by SSENSE (bastards that store and online retailer), I'm going to try and publish my stuff on different fashion editing websites. In the meantime, go to Pinterest and type in 'andyarana polyvore.' There, you'll have to find the Harry Potter sets, but hope they do some justice for my character...and your imagination.