AND THAT FIRST DETENTION SET the scale for many more to come. At least one a week, Drea had found herself spending an evening in Filch's office, fulfilling whatever duties he wanted her to do. To be fair, she put it on herself a lot of the time, but she just didn't know how to bite her tongue, especially when it came to Snape. Most Gryffindor students were shocked that McGonagall didn't have her on a behavioural report yet. Drea felt like the teacher had a soft spot for her.

By the time everyone had settled down in their new school, solid friendships had been made and things were a lot more laidback. It was nice. Professor McGonagall was right at the beginning of the year, when she said your house would be your family. Other than Hagrid, Andrea had never had a family before, and now she had a huge one.

"Eye of rabbit, harp string hum, turn this water into rum." Once again, Seamus Finnigan, another first year Gryffindor, was using his meal times to practice his magic, which didn't always go so well. When nothing happened, he continued to do it again.

On their side of the table, Harry looked at his friends. "What's Seamus trying to do to the water?" He asked curiously.

Drea snickered. "He's been reading the transfiguration books again," she answered, not so helpfully. Her eyes were focused on Seamus, anticipating the moment it all went wrong, as it always did.

Harry still looked puzzled.

"Turn it to rum," Ron said, lifting his head up. "Actually managed a weak tea yesterday, before —"

On cue, there was an explosion at their table, leaving Seamus's face covered in smokey ashes. Drea's eyes lit up and she let out a small laugh.

Opposite them, Hermione Granger, whose head was previously invisible, thanks to the large book she'd been invested with over the course of their morning meal, waved her hand to get away the smell of the smoke. A displeased expression sat across her face, whilst everybody else chuckled. Her eyes met with a giggling Andrea McKinnon, making her shake her head.

Above them all, owls began to cry, making Ron stare up in awe. "Mail's here," he said with a smile.

Everybody in the hall watched as one owl turned into a hundred, and they all carried parcels and letters from home. They'd drop them above the heads' of their owners, who caught their mail with joy.

With a grin, Andrea caught her weekly letter from Hagrid. It was her favourite time of the week, as it filled her soul with happiness to see that he was still thinking of her. They went back and forth all the time, as he'd fill her in on what was happening with the animals in the forest and she'd tell him all about school.

To Drea,

Hope your having a nise time. Don't let those detenchons let you down. I miss you lots and so do all the pets too. Come and visit us in the hut one day. Bring your friends. Your making me so proud even if your causing trouble. It's very weerd here without you kid.

Love, Hagrid

Andrea smiled at his letter, able to get past his appalling spelling and know that all his words came straight from the heart. Being in Hogwarts was beyond fun, but it was still strange to be around so many people every day, when all she was used to was herself and Hagrid. She hated the idea that she'd left him all alone there.

Beside her, Ron was reading his letter from his mum, while Harry was skimming the newspaper Mrs Weasley had dropped off for her children. Harry had never received a letter or parcel from home before, and it made her feel sorry for him. While everyone else raved about their families and talked about how much they missed their home, he was the only one who never did. If anything, being at Hogwarts saved him. Hogwarts was home to him.

"Hey, someone broke into Gringotts. Listen," Harry announced, causing his friends to turn to him. "Believed to be the work of Dark Wizards or witches, Gringotts goblins acknowledge the breach but insist nothing was taken. The vault in question, number 714, had been emptied earlier that same day."

Drea furrowed her eyebrows at what he said, confusing the people around her. Usually, she didn't care for this stuff. But something clicked in her mind when he mentioned the number of the vault. "714," she repeated to herself, crossing her eyebrows again. "I swear, I've heard Hagrid say something about that before. In summer. Before he went to pick you up."

Harry nodded. "That's odd," he admitted. "That's the vault Hagrid and I went to."

Across the table, Ron, Harry, Drea and Hermione all looked at each other suspiciously. Something was weird about that. There was something off. And Hagrid knew what it was.

"Miss McKinnon," Professor McGonagall announced from behind them, cutting their conversation short. She handed her a slip of parchment. "4pm tonight. Do not be late," she told her sternly.

Drea nodded, taking the slip and sighing.

"Another one?" Hermione questioned with raised eyebrows.

Andrea shrugged. "Snape said he didn't appreciate my drawing of a lizard's eye, so I said I didn't appreciate the amount of grease falling out his hair."

Harry and Ron each laughed. Hermione sighed.

ꨄ

LATER THAT NIGHT, AS SHE returned to her dorm room after another uneventful evening in Filch's office, Andrea McKinnon sat on her bed with her box on her lap. Today was one of the craziest days so far in Hogwarts, and all she wanted to do was settle down with her mother's things. Being here really did bring her closer to the woman.

M.M, D.M, L.E, M.M, S.B, J.P, R.L, ₱.₱.

Dear Diary,

today, was the first day of the school's annual Autumn Quidditch tournament. Me and R.L sat on the bleachers and screamed with excitement.

As usual, J.P caught the golden snitch and led Gryffindor to another victory. Take that, Ravenclaw, you arrogant bastards! (I got in trouble for shouting that, but I was so lost in the moment that I forgot I was at school).

Anyways, I saw her again. Sitting behind me, she was. She looked so beautiful with her red scarf and orange earmuffs...

Yawning, Drea skimmed over the page, but something caught her eye. The initials, J.P.

As said before, today was crazy, because Harry learnt how to fly a broomstick and he was a natural. Whilst any other student would've been expelled for doing this without their teacher around to supervise, Harry was put straight on the Quidditch team, which was completely unheard of for a first year.

Turns out, he wasn't just a natural — his talent seemed to run in the family. Jame's Potter. J.P. Quidditch. Harry Potter.

Her mum was friends with Harry's dad!

"Oh, my God!" She squealed, mouth wide open in shock.

Beside her, a small light went on, signalling that she'd awoken one of the girls by accident. She turned to the side in embarrassment to see Hermione rubbing her eyes tiredly.

"What are you doing?" The girl asked quietly.

"Sorry," Drea apologised in a whisper. "Just reading."

When Hermione's eyebrows perked up, she could've face planted. Why did she say that?

"Oh, really?" Hermione asked curiously, peering over. "I don't think I've ever seen that book before. What is it?"

Andrea shook her head. "It's from home," she told her. "You wouldn't like it."

"Oh, okay." Hermione yawned. "Try and get some sleep soon. We've got a long day tomorrow."

Drea nodded. "Yeah."

As she turned over in her bed once again, Hermione whispered, "Night."

"Night."

But Andrea McKinnon was far from sleeping tonight, as this new discovery put everything into perspective. As she read more entries, she was able to translate one of the initials, and it just felt so much more real to be able to picture J.P as Harry. Her best friend, Harry!

But if James was Harry's dad, would that mean L.E was his mum?

"Shit," the eleven year old cursed under her breath. "Lily Evans."

A/N : short, filler chapter, but the plot is finally sinking in.

hope you're enjoying the story so far !!

love, tay </3