"You've got everything, right? The parchment, the money, and a few bags to carry everything on the list are in your pockets, aren't they?"

I burst out laughing at my own worry, then nod seriously, pulling out the mentioned items to reassure her. She always does this when I head off to Diagon Alley to spend time with Draco and his friends—unless Narcissa, the blond troublemaker's mother, is around. Apparently, she and my mother are good friends, having known each other since their school days.

The funny thing is that my mother can't stand her husband, Lucius, and hasn't been able to since then. I never dared ask her why; I was afraid she would either shut down or say things she might regret. I sigh, smiling at the woman who gave me life, and kiss her on the cheek, assuring her that everything is fine. She waves as I Disapparate from her side, reminding me not to stay out too late.

Being a vampire, I can Apparate before the legal age or take those lessons that wizards are required to take. Plus, the Ministry doesn't intercept my Apparitions; it's a safe way to avoid trouble—who knows when it might come in handy in the future.

I slowly open my eyes, raising an eyebrow as I take in my surroundings. Severus asked me to Apparate into a dilapidated building near Tom's bar so we could enter without any issues. I wrinkle my nose at all the dust around, sneezing as I make my way toward the door with peeling paint—just perfect for the most sinister scenes from horror books. All that was missing was a murderer chasing the protagonist, and we'd have a perfect scenario that would sell like hotcakes.

I push the door hard, not realizing that someone on the other side is trying to enter, so I end up colliding with the person's chest. I groan in pain, holding my nose between my fingers and straightening it back to its normal shape, then look up. I meet a pair of black eyes, like the beads from my mother's necklaces, which fill my soul with joy. I wrap my arms around his waist, hugging him tightly as a sense of safety washes over me.

I hear him take a deep breath, probably controlling himself from giving me a lecture about how much he hates being hugged in public. I couldn't care less; I've missed the man who tries to appear as the coldest person in the world when it's clear as day that he's one of the sweetest and most trustworthy. If his aura wasn't similar to my mother's or if I wasn't familiar with him, I would have kept my distance.

"How many times do I have to tell you, Evans, that I hate it when you do that?" he mutters under his breath, so only I can hear.

"As many times as you want, Sev, you know I'll still do whatever I feel like."

I step back from him with a wide smile on my face. I'm glad he agreed to let me come with him; he could have come up with the lamest excuse, but he didn't.

"I missed you," I say honestly.

"You're making me believe you, troublemaker," he says with amusement, making room for me on his right. "How come I was the only person you turned to?"

"You know Wings can't, and Grandma is busy with something. I could have asked Draco, but I remembered our conversation before the holidays, and that's how I ended up here."

"I'm starting to think Draco is a bad influence on you; otherwise, I don't know where you've inherited all this cunning from," he admits with a small grin.

"It's not his fault; I've always had it. Otherwise, how would I have evaded Filch for so long?"

He nods slowly, opening the door to Tom's bar for me, and I enter, thanking him. It's already crowded; I don't even know how I'll make my way through them to get to the back. I glance over my shoulder at Severus, then nervously grab his arm. This place is filled with both negative and positive energy. Almost everyone has a gray aura, but there are a few with an extremely dark one, which scares me quite a bit.

Sev pushes his way through those blocking our path, hearing a few curses muttered under their breath. I don't like the current situation either, but it's the only safe way to get to Diagon Alley. We could have used Apparition, but we risked being seen by Muggles, which would have brought us a lot of trouble.

At one point, I trip over a chair like the biggest fool and manage to let go of Sev to avoid dragging him down with me. But I grab the first person I can, and we both end up on the floor with a loud thud. The people in the bar step back to stare at us in astonishment, my cheeks starting to burn. Wonderful, the last thing I wanted was to draw attention to myself. Absolutely wonderful!

I hear murmurs around me and don't understand why until I notice that the man who fell with me is staring directly at the ring with a black rose, around which a snake is coiled. It's the crest of the Rovergrood family, the one after which my mother and my grandparents were recognized as members of the Northern Vampires' royal family. Which means I'll become a princess when my mother accepts the throne.

And it also means that I've just made a small mistake by letting the ring show. There goes my cover down the drain!

"By Merlin's beard, it's Catherine's daughter!"

Exactly what I wanted to avoid. Severus is going to kill me for my incompetence, that's for sure. I think he's already contemplating fifteen different ways to strangle me, all of them different and all of them complicated.

"She looks so much like her! Little one, you've inherited your mother's beauty and the same innocence in your eyes," says an old lady to my right, almost giving me a heart attack. When did she get there?

"Martha, take it easy; I think the poor thing doesn't even know what her mother looks like."

Yeah, right, I see her every day for so many years, but that's a detail you don't need to know. I take a deep breath, looking at each face around me, and the fear in my soul grows. Too much negative energy!

I start to say something to save my skin, but I feel myself being pulled by the arm, and Severus's tall figure comes into view in front of me. My breath catches in my throat, my eyes widen like saucers, and my attention focuses on the fury simmering inside him. Merlin, I hope with all my heart that he keeps his cool without causing a scene. He's already looked down upon by most of the wizarding population because of his past.

"Listen to me carefully because I'll only say this once. The girl is just passing through here; we have much more important matters to attend to than sitting around chatting about her mother. Now, if you'll excuse us, we'll be leaving," he says in his calm tone, from which I can sense his irritation, and which manages to silence the entire bar.

Severus Snape's Effect. He gently nudges me, eventually leading me out through the back door where I can finally breathe a sigh of relief. I knew people would react in a certain way when they found out who I am, but not like this! I turn towards Sev, who is tapping a few bricks on the wall in front of us with the tip of his wand.

In a few seconds, they start to move in their characteristic manner, revealing the main road of Diagon Alley, lined with shops, people, and even pets. At this moment, energies explode in all directions, leaving me utterly disoriented. My pulse quickens, and a vague sense of panic sets in. What if I can't do this? What if it's too much for me and my senses give out?

Suddenly, a hand gently clasps mine, with a tenderness I've only ever seen from him. I squeeze it, letting him lend me his courage in this moment, especially since he knows why I've stopped dead in the middle of the street. He lets me take all the time I need, scanning the surroundings for anything that could cause trouble. He's always put my safety above everything else, so his reaction doesn't surprise me.

I take a deep breath and then take a step forward with him. We plunge into the crowd of people, specifically parents with their children, whose auras change frequently, quickly exhausting me. Goodness, I wonder if I should have listened to Minnie and come with her in the last days of August when it's not so crowded.

I pull the list out of my pocket, with the first item being a wand. I glance at Sev, who had leaned in slightly to see what was written on the parchment, and he guides me towards a shop I would recognize anywhere. I've passed by Ollivander's many times, but I've never had a reason to enter until now. Not even when Sasha or Caelin got their wands, which seems rather odd to me now. The energy of the place, however, is positive, which gives me a sense of relief.

We step inside, slightly cautious of the silence in the room. Severus closes the door behind us as I approach the counter to ring the bell. But before I even reach it, a few noises come from the back room, and an elderly man with an extremely bright aura emerges. I can't say he doesn't have something dark within him, but I'm impressed by it, not to mention his smile is quite gentle.

"Mr. Ollivander? You were expecting me, weren't you?"

My question catches him off guard, and then he begins to laugh softly. Merlin, he's just as charming as my mother used to say.

"Indeed, Miss Evans. Don't be so surprised, I've always said that your mother and Lily Evans could be sisters, such a delight," he replies calmly, rounding the counter. "Ah, Severus Snape? Yew wood, thirty-three centimeters, dragon heartstring core, and slightly rigid, isn't it? Extremely good for Transfiguration."

I turn to Sev as he nods in agreement. So, does he remember all the wands he's sold? Including my mother's?

"Do you know what wand my mother had?" I suddenly ask, refocusing on the elderly wandmaker and seller.

"Of course, it was an extremely powerful one that only a witch like her could wield and indeed... unique. Rosewood, thirty-one centimeters, Phoenix feather core, and flexible. It's the only one I made specifically for her; the others didn't cooperate too well."

This is a first—I didn't think wands could be made from rosewood, but I'm not surprised that it happened to my mother. After all, she's a vampire, and a powerful one needs a wand to match. I'm curious to see what will choose me and if I should be worried that nothing will suit me.

He pulls out a measuring tape from his pocket, with silver markings that I find rather cute, and then asks:

"Which hand do you hold your wand in?"

"Right," I reply shortly.

He takes several measurements, from shoulder to fingertip, elbow to wrist, shoulder to floor, knee to underarm, and even the circumference of my head. He talks about the different types of wands, mentioning how each is unique and that no two are the same. I knew these details from my mother, but I enjoy hearing them from an expert.

Then he wanders among the boxes, selecting various models. From beech to oak, then to larch, yew, and even ebony—different lengths and cores. I'm starting to lose hope that I'll find anything today, given how many wands I've tried and none have chosen me. I don't understand why this is happening; my mother said I'd be chosen by one that aligns with my creative side since I told her I'd be sorted into Ravenclaw.

"Hm, a picky customer! We'll find something, don't worry!" he exclaims as our eyes meet.

I hear his pulse quicken as if something in my eyes conveys something he can't quite grasp. He blinks twice, thoughtfully, then looks behind him.

"I think I know what might suit you," he says as he pushes aside a few empty boxes, revealing a dusty one.

He pulls out a wand, and my breath catches in my throat at how beautiful it is. The wood is a deep burgundy, and a silver pattern spirals around it. I take it from his hand, a warm sensation spreading throughout my body. I point it at the mess, murmuring a spell that restores everything to its place.

"Interesting... I didn't expect it to be the one to choose you," Ollivander says, catching my attention.

"Why do you say that?"

"It's one of the first wands I ever made and, at the same time, one of the most powerful. Years have passed without it finding a match, and that match is... someone I didn't expect. It's cherry wood, very rare and peculiar, difficult to master, and the core makes it almost impossible."

"What's the core?" I whisper, thinking it might be dragon heartstring or even Phoenix feather.

"Feathers from a Thunderbird, the very one Newt Scamander released."

My mouth falls open in shock. Thunderbirds are very rare—I can't even remember when someone last mentioned seeing one. But I know they can sense danger approaching and create storms by flapping their wings. I've read that wands with such feathers are nearly impossible to control.

"I was just starting out when I made it; I never thought I wouldn't sell it. The combination is far too powerful and, what's more amazing, is the fact that it chose you."

"What do you mean?"

"You seem fragile, Miss Lyra. You have a lot of knowledge, most likely some creativity, characteristics of a Ravenclaw. It's just that... something in your gaze shows me the opposite of what I expected when you walked into the store. Life might show you that very soon."

I look at the wand in my hands, my breath catching in my throat. Do I not know my true qualities? Or... or do I hope to stay in a safe place for as long as possible and not have to face the same difficulties as my mother? I have a vague sense that all this will happen on the Sorting Day. Now I wish time would stop.

I fear this is the beginning of a long string of disasters. Wonderful...

*******

I take another glance at the list, noting that I still need to get the books, along with ingredients for potions. I know I can get these from Sev or my mother, but I want my own, without having to rely on them each time. I've agreed with the person beside me to leave the textbooks until last because I want to spend more time in the bookstore.

We enter Signs and Codes, one of my favorite stores. Maybe because I'm passionate about books? Or because my mother instilled that in me, among many other things. Anyway, the idea is that I want to discover new volumes from various collections or some readings by the Locked. My mother has several books signed by Locked authors, and so do Severus and Minnie.

As soon as we enter, we are met with a sea of people that makes my head spin. Everything turns black and white for a few seconds, their energies blending together. I can no longer distinguish who has which aura, and Severus seems to notice that the crowd is affecting me quite a bit, so he pulls me among the shelves. He kneels in front of me, genuinely worried when I start to tremble and sweat.

I hate that this happens; at Hogwarts, I'm used to the students' energies, and the first-years aren't numerous enough to make me feel this way. Thankfully, I'm not alone; I wouldn't manage without someone by my side. I inhale and exhale several times, gradually calming down as I open my eyes. The objects around me regain their colors, but the brunette still seems as panicked as before.

"I'm fine." I assure him with a smile. Come on, maybe we'll find something interesting."

I slip past him to one of the shelves, completely excited by all these enticing titles. I wonder if my mother would be upset if I spent the rest of my money on books? I mean, she did it, so why shouldn't I follow in her footsteps? I take a deep breath of the smell emanating from the book pages, forgetting about the crowd around me.

From now on, I will take a book with me to calm down whenever there's a crowd like this. I pick up volumes that I find more interesting, from various fields. I quickly grab one on astronomy and one on potions, thinking about what I will tell my mother when she sees them. They are more advanced than the ones I've read at home. The only reason I wanted to become a student and not be educated as I have been until now is a simple one: friends. I want friends, I want to make mischief like any other child.

These are things my mother or anyone else can't offer me. I think it's better this way; I don't want to be thrust into the company of people whose aura isn't exactly pleasant.

I prick up my ears, realizing that I can't hear Sev behind me anymore. I look back and, indeed, he's gone. I think he found something elsewhere; anyway, he knows where to find me, that is, if I don't get lost in the store like the last lunatic. I sigh, coming across an interesting volume on Transfiguration when I catch a snippet of conversation. I frown, recognizing the voice of one of the two.

I step out from among the shelves, breathing a sigh of relief. There are only two people and the shopkeeper left, and I would recognize one of them out of a thousand. Well, not to mention he's about five meters tall. My eyes settle on the short figure next to him, and my heart starts racing.

I slowly approach them, thrilled beyond measure. I pat my huge friend on the back, making him flinch at the sudden touch and turn toward me. I smile widely at him, especially when he lifts me into his huge arms with great care, so as not to crush me in any way. I place a gentle kiss on his cheek. I've missed Hagrid.

"How's my little troublemaker?" he asks, putting me back down.

"Shopping with Cissy," I reply with a wide smile. "Grandma gave me the letter yesterday!"

He looks at me kindly, gently stroking my hair. He's had this habit since I was little, but it doesn't bother me at all. I've always seen him as a paternal presence in my life, like an uncle or a very good friend. He doesn't seem surprised, which makes me wonder if Minnie might have told him what she intends to do.

"Oh, I almost forgot! exclaims the giant, stepping aside from me. You don't know each other yet, but I have a vague feeling you'll be very good friends!"

My gaze settles on the brunet boy, whose hair is in disarray. His glasses are stuck with some weird thing, holding them somehow. What impresses me the most are his green irises, which could be compared to an emerald. Auntie's eyes...

I'm standing right in front of my cousin, a cousin my mother has struggled and continues to struggle to take under her wing. I study his aura carefully, surprised to find it's a lighter gray. I expected it to be different, maybe something purer, but... this. I have a lot of questions right now.

"I guess you know me like everyone else, right?" he asks, a little awkward.

"Yes, everyone does. Unlike the others, I admired your damn beautiful eyes." I say with a smile, giggling at the redness in his cheeks. "My name is Lyra."

"He grew up at Hogwarts, with the professors and me." Hagrid says as I approach Harry.

I extend my hand to him, still excited. Merlin, if I react like this, I don't even want to know how my mother will react at the beginning of the year. I'll ask Minnie to have some water on hand and maybe a pan to wake her up forcibly.

"I hope we'll get along well, Harry."

"Me too." he says as he takes my hand in his.

Suddenly, I hear crying, sounds that only I can hear. I try with all my might not to tremble or cry at the pain that pierces my soul right now, trying not to collapse and scream at what my own cousin is conveying to me. I grip his hand tighter than I intend, keeping a smile on my face. No one must ever know about this.

I let go, taking a deep breath as I watch him gather his textbooks for the year. He greets me hesitantly, walking past me as I turn back toward him. Damn it all!

"Harry? Do you think I could hug you?" I ask suddenly, surprising even myself.

The brunet looks at me dazed, not knowing how to react to what I just said. Good job, Lyra, now you've scared the boy! I lightly bite my lip, waiting for my cousin's response while I struggle to hold back all the avalanche of suffering I felt. How can something like this happen to an eleven-year-old boy?

My mother needs to find a way to take him with us.

"Sure." he replies more softly.

He opens his arms, and I refrain from throwing myself into them. I let my hands slip around his neck and hold him as if it were the end of the world. I take a deep breath, all the pain slowly draining away. If I could, I'd stop time right now. I never thought a child could suffer as much as he does.

A few seconds later, I pull away from him and smile widely, bringing my index and middle fingers to my temple, a sort of habit that Locked scouts have or something like that.

"Take care of yourself, Harry, and I can't wait to see you on September first!"

He returns my smile and then leaves with Hagrid to collect the rest of his things. I place my palm over my heart, completely shocked by what I felt.

This power appeared when I was three, which I never told my mother or anyone else for fear they would panic. I can feel the pain in a person's soul, I hear screams, roars, or cries in my mind when I touch them for the first time. The thing is, it happens more often with adults, less so with children, and Harry... has suffered a lot.

My dear cousin, what have your uncle and aunt done to make me hear continuous cries? Why did I feel like I was suffocating?

Mother will never forgive herself for not breaking Grandpa Albus's word, and I for not telling her what just happened. I hope she will forgive me...