Author's note - I appreciate all of the comments that have been left, they make continuing this story worth it. While chronologically, there is much of the school year left, story wise it's pretty far in. While I still have a few details to work out, I pretty much have the first book plotted out. However, if anyone has ideas or things you would like to see on the future, please comment. (I am trying to keep events as close to cannon as possible, and as realistic to the existing world mechanics as possible though.) Now on to the story cause I know that's what you are here for. :)

I'm walking along a trail through the woods. Behind me a man and woman are holding hands. She has long, very curly black hair and violet eyes. I can't make out his face, but he has dark brown wavy hair. I look back at them, and her violet eyes shine happily at me and he has a happy smirk on his face. I'm anxious to get to where we are going so I run ahead. The woman's voice calls out to me but I can't make out what she said. I turn to look at her as I continue running. Her arm is reaching out to me and her face is one of worry. I'm not paying attention to where I'm going and I trip over something on the trail. Now I'm falling. Falling weightless, as all light disappears. I hear a woman call out to me, screaming for me. I try to answer but I can't speak. I feel a rope slither around my legs. I try to get away, but it tightens its grip. It continues to snake its way around and up my body. It's squeezing me tighter and tighter. I try to scream again, but I'm being squeezed so tightly I can barely even breath. I know this is it. There's no escape for me. I feel tears running down my cheeks. Lily steps out from the darkness and into view. Her green eyes shine dimly in the darkness, full of hate and envy. She laughs at me, an evil laugh. James steps from the darkness and stands next to Lily. I can't breathe at all now. My body tingles from lack of oxygen. I hear someone talking, but he remains out of my field of view. Everything fades away, the last thing I see are Lily's green eyes as even her laugh fades into nothingness. I am no more.

I woke up scared and confused and in a cold sweat. I had my recurring dream again. I had stayed up in bed staring at the pictures of my parents for hours, memorizing their faces, seeing what resemblance I had to each of them. I had Lily's eyes and cheeks, and James's hair. So when I saw them in my dream I knew it was them, but I couldn't understand why they were the second couple in my dream. In my dream she was scarry, and slowly smothering the life from me, all while laughing. I curled into a ball with my head in my knees and rocked back and forth crying.

That's how Hannah found me in the morning. I don't know how long I was like that. I wasn't actively crying by that point, my tears had run out long ago, but I was still sad, scared and shaking. She asked what was wrong, and I said it was a nightmare about my parents. I stayed in bed that whole day, Hannah or Mrs. Abbott checked in on me a couple times each hour giving me a hug and words of encouragement, or bringing me food at meal times, but they left me to my melancholy state.

I was a little detached the next few days, which they understood. Hannah told me she was even worse when her dad was killed during the wizarding war, and it wasn't uncommon for her to have nightmares either. Mrs. Abbott just reassured me that things get easier in time, and if I wanted to talk that she would listen. I know they were trying to help, but how do I explain that in my dream it was my mom that was killing me?

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We were back aboard the Hogwarts Express before we knew it. While it was good to be away from school for a while, it was just as good to be heading back. After catching up with the rest of my friends we exchanged our gifts. I got a green puffskein scarf and matching gloves from Pansy, and Tracy gave me an everlasting candle that when lit the flame will change colors based on the moods of people nearby. Lisa, being a Ravenclaw true to their nature, gave everyone books. Mine was a history of the ICW dueling championships 1900 through 1950. Everyone was as happy with their gifts as I was with mine. And after putting things on or stowing them away, we sat and chatted or napped for the several hours more it took to arrive at Hogsmeade.

After the welcome back feast there was another gift giving session with all of the Slytherins. I ended up with chocolate to last me a few months, and a nice array of necklaces, earrings, bracelets and a couple bottles of perfume that neither Pansy nor I liked the smell of.

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School carried on like normal, but our classes have shuffled around. Potions, Charms and Transfiguration are still with the Gryffindors, but Astronomy and History of Magic are with the Ravenclaws, and Herbology and DADA are with the Hufflepuffs. Herbology was met with mixed feelings as I no longer had help from Longbottom during class (he may need help in most of the other classes, but when it comes to Herbology, he certainly has a green thumb and after the incident with his remembrall, he's always made a point to help me when I need it) but at the same time I get to spend a little more time with Susan and Hannah and Professor Sprout doesn't care if we have our own conversations as long as we get our work done and don't distract the rest of the class.

After our time apart over Christmas break Susan and I have pretty much become inseparable. We would stay together late into the evening, and on several occasions we barely made it back before curfew. With Valentine's day just around the corner, and I owl ordered a pink stuffed dragon holding a giant heart and a box of high end chocolates to give to Susan. I also, if everything goes according to plan, want to have my first kiss. I've been thinking about it for ages, and it scares and excites me all at the same time, but I think I'm ready, and I hope she is too.

There is of course a feast planned for dinner that evening and that's when I plan for it to happen. I know I wasn't supposed to be there, but I wanted a place for Susan and me to be alone, so one night I went exploring the third floor and found an unused classroom that I set up for our first date. I placed several candles around the room, and got a small table for the two of us. I also bribed one of the house elf's in having a plate of food there ready for us. It's good to know that there is a half elf that can be bribed with chocolate.

Valentine's day was a Friday, which means we only had flying and her class was done by lunch, which we ate outside next to the lake. When it was time for dinner and we headed for the Great Hall, I grabbed her hand and said, "Follow me."

She looked a little nervous when I checked we weren't being followed, but didn't say anything. It wasn't until we were on the landing of the third floor that she finally said something. 

"We aren't supposed to be here. We're gonna get in trouble." She said in a loud whisper.

"And that's why it's a perfect place to be alone." Looking at the worry on her face I followed that with "Trust me." She nodded, but remained silent as we sneaked down the hall to the room I had set up.

I asked her to close her eyes, which she did, and I opened the door and led her in. "Incendio" I said with a flick of my wand. I had practiced controlling my focus and the power I channel into the spell, so that all of the candles I had set lit simultaneously. The spell however, startled her and she instinctively opened her eyes, and was in silent amazement. 

She turned and hugged me tightly. "It's beautiful." Her words barely audible even given the fact that her mouth was right next to my ear. This was the moment I've been waiting for, my heart beating like a drum, and my mouth suddenly dry. I pulled away from the hug slightly so we could look at each other. "I'm glad you like it. Susan... I like you. And I wanted this to be perfect."

"I like you too. And this is perfect." Her reply was husky, and I could feel her breath just as labored as mine.

"Not yet it's not." My body was barely able to voice the words. Before she could respond I moved my mouth forward and our lips met for the first time. My breath held of its own accord, as did hers. It felt like an eternity of closeness, but in reality it probably was only a handful of seconds, as we both ran out of oxygen.

"Wow!" Was all she said, with the biggest smile I've ever seen. "Come on." she said as she held out her hands to pull me up. "Let's see what we have for dinner."

We ate our food in relative silence, neither of us really knowing what to say. After we finished eating we made our way back to our common rooms as quietly as possible. We were heading down the corridor when we heard a 'meow'.

"Shit. It's Filch's cat. Quick, in here." I grabbed Susan's hand and went to open the nearest door, but it was locked.

"Alohomora." Susan whispered and the lock clicked open.

"Thanks." I said, opening the door, leading us inside then locking the door behind us. We waited by the door for a few minutes and we heard Filch mumbling on the other side. We both held our breaths when the door rattled. The rattling stopped and Filch let out a grunt, more mumbling, then heavy footsteps moving further down the corridor.

We both giggled as we let out the breath we were holding. We decided to stay a few more minutes in case Filch decided to double back, and took the time to look about the room. It was completely empty save for a tall standing mirror with an ornate golden frame. Intrigued, I walked up to it. Looking  into the mirror was me, but it was the different me, with violet eyes and high cheekbones, the one I saw reflected back when I was in the hospital. And then two figures walked up to stand behind me, a woman and a man. The woman was beautiful, long curly black hair, dressed in black leather, with the same violet eyes and cheekbones as the reflected me. You could swear we were related, like mother and daughter given the age difference. The man looked familial too, that piercing stare and serious expression I've seen in my reflection countless times. And his hair had just a bit of natural curl to it. These are the people from my dream, and they made me feel warm and safe… and loved. I reached out my hand to hers, our fingertips touching through the mirror. "I love you, my precious Lyra." The woman mouthed, and in the back of my mind I heard her voice and what she said. Something clicked in my brain, who is Lyra? I suddenly felt cold and alone. I fell to my knees and was crying. 

Susan's hand was on my shoulder, she said something. It took my mind a moment to piece the sound of her voice into words. "What's the matter?" was all I understood.

I couldn't speak and just pointed at the mirror. "I'm the head of the DMLE, just like my aunt." She said happily.

"That's not what I see." I said through my tears. "I think I see my parents… my real parents." 

"What do you mean, your real parents?"

"I can't explain it. It's not Lily and James Potter. It's two other people, but I look like them. And the way I feel when I see them… it just feels right."

"We'll figure this out. Together. But for now, let's get back to our rooms." She helped me up and gave me a kiss, then with her hands on my cheeks, "I mean it. Together. Whatever this all means, we'll figure it out together." She wiped my tears and we headed back downstairs and to our respective common rooms.