Chapter 1: Then && Now

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Please go easy on me, this is my first Harry Potter Fanfic. I admit the prologue does suck, but I thought that you need to know that stuff...If you feel the need to not be bored ...please, by all means, skip the prologue...but some of that information is important!

Disclaimer: Trust me...I don't own Oliver Woods or Hogwarts, some of the spells too. I do however own Amaura-Drew Michelangeli in joint custody...lol

Please Enjoy!

Prologue

"Grams told me that you were going too." I whispered shyly to him . I was sitting on my favorite purple swing in the park where I'd met my first best friend.

"I am. It's gonna be fun." He told me. I felt his hands move the chains of the swing where I chose to mope back and forth slowly.

"Do you promise?" I asked looking up at the blue-eyed boys face.

He simply nodded with a smile.

"Will...will you.." I started but then I stopped myself. I didn't want to ask him something that would make him feel guilt. You see, me and Oliver have been best friends since before I can even remember. My Grams and his parents were very good friends and close residents of the same small town.

I didn't get along with many other kids my own age. They thought I was...well they thought I was...weird. But he never did. We got along and never fought once...well maybe a few times but nothing serious ever. I always told him everything. And I think he always told me everything too...I think. Anyhow, he knew me a bit too well, which wasn't always the greatest thing.

"Will I ..." He repeated urging me to continue.

I sighed and looked down at the sand that I found my feet were making nervously perfect traced circles in. "Will you, still be my best friend?" The moment I said the words, I realized how pathetic they sounded. Geez I'm a dork.

"Of course Drew, don't worry about that." he laughed away my worries. I smiled up at him.

"Promise?"

"Knot my my tie and hope to choke." he smiled.

"Uh...Don't you mean cross my heart and hope to die?" I asked him, covering up a chuckle that rose in my throat as I small cough.

"What?" he looked so confused I couldn't help but laugh a little.

"Nevermind Oliver."

7 years later...

I sat down in the shade of an oak tree close to the lake on school grounds. The breeze was light and warm. The sun was shinning brilliantly, birds were chirping, and some students were running around casting charms and spells at each other as they laughed and ran playfully. I looked up at the clear blue sky, taking a deep breath , appreciating the atmosphere of my surroundings.

I couldn’t believe that seven years had seriously already passed. It seemed like just the other day that I was taking my place on the stool in front of the entire school in the Great Hall, and the Sorting Hat had called out Ravenclaw. And it was not too long after that was when I found out that my talents were a bit more you unique than most others.

I remember the first meltdown I’d ever had. I kept hearing an overwhelming amount of voices in my head. It was worse whenever I was around more people. I was watching my first quidditch match from the stands of my house. I believe it was Ravanclaw versus Gryffindor. I remember that even though I did belong to the Ravenclaw house, I was actually rooting for Gryffindor to win. I never did get to see the end of that game. I ended up in the Hospital Wing, Professor Dumbledore was at my side.

I remember the first time he told me that what I was. I was more than just a simple witch, he told me. I had a unique power that only a few souls on the planet possessed. He called it the Whispered Effect. He explained to me that the voices I was hearing in my head were actually the thoughts of others around me. He helped me to control the power and pretty soon I was able to completely lock away the thoughts of others completely.

As time passed on I realized that spells and charms of the utmost difficulty even for the most advanced in wizards of our world, came to me with immense ease. A wand was not a necessity for me either I realized in the late of my 3rd year. And in the beginning of my 4th year I learned that words were not as well.

Though magic had always been a factor surrounding my life, I realized that it has too much of dangerous pull on my life as well. My powers were dangerous; too powerful to for my own body to handle. They were too dangerous not only for myself but for everyone around me.

Whenever I performed a spell , no matter how insignificant, I noticed that anyone who was in the same room as me looked paler or weaker too. Professor Dumbledore had explained to me that since my powers were so ‘brilliant’ , was the word he’d used, they needed an outlet as well as a source. Their source was the energy of those around me, their outlet, me.

I vowed since I learned of the potential my magic had to effect those around me as well as myself, that I would never use them. Never. Of course I wasn’t planning on giving up the wizarding world as well so I found a way to stay connected without the obligation of magical use. It seemed to suit me well too, I believe.

I would be interning at a local magic press center, writing articles for their gazette. I can’t say that writing was my first passion, but I was satisfied with my career choice. I knew full well that I’d be very capable of it as well, so it only made sense.

--

I closed my eyes slowly and I hugged my knees to my chest. Soon the entire Hogwarts experience would be behind me and my life would really begin. It was only a matter of time…..Time.

“What are you thinking about?” came a deep familiar voice. My eyes shot open and my head flew up.

Even though I knew all too well who the voice belonged to, I couldn’t help but let out the shocked gasp that came to my lips. “Oliver…” I sighed in relief. “Don’t sneak up on me like that.” I looked up at a rather tall Oliver Woods, my best friend from childhood and boyfriend of 2 years.

“Orchideous.” He produced a beautiful bouquet of exotic flowers and handed them to me.

“You shouldn’t use your magic like that all the time, you know. It’s wasteful.” I beamed at him taking the gorgeous flowers into my hands. They smelled delightful.

“I’m sorry I startled you.” He smiled as he slid down, sitting beside me. I loved his smile, it was so contagious. I couldn’t help but return it .

“It’s alright.” I sighed as I looked away from him and looked back up into the sky.

“You looked like you were really concentrating a second ago. What’s on your mind?” he asked as he turned his head in the direction of mine.

I glanced sideways at his confused expression for a moment, and then resettled my gaze on to the sky. I sighed deeply. “I’m gonna miss this place.” I told him, though it wasn’t the complete truth.

“Me too.” He admitted. He had his wand out, sticking into the dirt, and pulling it back out, then tapping it and repeating the pattern.

“I bet you are. “ I sarcastically replied as I smiled at him. “Oliver, we both know you can’t wait till you get to leave here and start playing pro. “

He looked at me, and I was surprised to see something in his eyes that slightly resembled … fear?”Sure. You must be too, I mean, you have a dozen job offers around the entire globe.”

I looked away from him. We rarely did this. We both had pretty busy schedules and barely got to see each other. And when we did, I’m not sure we really spoke too deeply about things that were too difficult to say. We were generally comfortable around each other, but not always with everything.

“What is it?” he asked, concern dripping in his voice. Great! Now he would read too deeply into this. It wasn’t even that big of a deal. I guess I would just tell him.

“I-I’m…I’m scared.” I said in a voice that was barely audible. The second the words made it out of my lips, I wished they didn’t. They made me feel weak and almost too vulnerable.

“Drew,” he sighed.

I felt his body shift next to me. I kept my face hidden from his view as I felt my face warm; an inevitable moisture gathered in inside my closed eyes. I felt his cool hand reach and embrace the side of my face farthest from him. He used it to gently turn my head towards him. He put his other hand to my face and kept them there, on both sides. I kept my eyes shut in fear that a stubborn tear would betray me and drop down from one of them.

“Drew, look at me please.” He spoke patiently and gently.

I took a deep breath and let a tear roll down my face as I opened my eyes and met his gaze. He was look at me with such a strange intensity that it almost made me feel intimidated.

“There’s nothing to be afraid of. Believe me.” He told me. Looking into his gorgeous mahogany and blue eyes like that, I couldn’t help but trust him.

“I do.” I sighed, letting down more of a guard than I ever had around anybody else, ever.

He let my face go and wrapped his arms around the back of my waist and held one hand behind my head as he hugged me.I wrapped my arms around his torso. I felt his fingers play in my hair, as I let the tears I was holding back stream down my face and onto his red cotton shirt. I couldn’t even believe I was being so emotional. It was so not me at all.

“You know Drew, heh, there’s something about you…” he chuckled a bit. “ I’m not sure exactly what, but I feel really comfortable when I’m with you.”His words were soothing to me. I felt the exact same way to be honest. I’m not sure I was more comfortable around anyone else.

“It’s like, a weird but strong feeling I get whenever I see you or I’m near you, even just thinking about you.” He continued.

I opened my eyes. I think I knew where he was going with this…I don’t think I was really ready this talk. Not yet. I gently pulled back from his embrace. I saw him beaming at me and it was sort of a confirmation to my suspicions.

“Amaura-Drew, I think I’m in love with you.” He finished looking at me directly in the eye.

A strange mixture of excitement, shock, and another surge of fear ran through my body. I froze. I couldn’t think properly, my mouth wouldn’t move, my limbs were all locked in place. Oh no, he was looking at me almost expectantly. I had to tell him something. Did I love him? I knew he was the best friend I ever had, he knew me almost as well as I knew myself and vice versa, we’d known each other for so long….but l..l…love? I looked at his smiling eyes. I searched for any hint of doubt in them. I found nothing but honesty and warmth. I couldn’t…. couldn’t say anything. I made an attempt to open my mouth, and closed it again. I must’ve looked like a fish out of water.

“It’s okay Drew. You don’t have to say it back. I understand.” He said as he pulled me closer to him once again. As he rubbed the small of my back to soothe me limp. Even as he said these words, and as convincing as they were, I knew I was breaking his heart with my silence.

“Thank you.” I mumbled as I let him embrace me.

“Hey, I don’t mean to run away or anything, I have to go choose next year’s team captain. There’s gonna be a little ceremony thing pretty soon. Can I see you later?” he asked gently pulling away.

I looked at his face but not exactly in his eyes, I was afraid he’d be able to easily read the doubt in mine. “Sure.” I nodded.

He smiled at me and got up and walked away, but not before kissing me sweetly on the cheek.

I let go a deep sigh, a sign of the breath I was not aware I had been holding. Taking one last glance at the sky that had slowly begun to cloud over I stood up and picked up the bouquet, and headed back to the castle.

I made my way up the spiral staircase that lead to a door with no doorknob or keyhole but a bronze eagle shaped knocker.

“What plant has the effect, when eaten, to provide the consumer with webbed feet and a pair of gills?” asked the monotone voice that came from the golden knocker.

“Gillyweed.” I answered at once.

I entered the wide, circular room with a midnight blue carpet, arched windows hung with blue and bronze silks, and a domed ceiling painted with stars. Walking past the marble statue of Rowena Ravenclaw, I climbed up the staircase that led to the girl’s dormitories.

Once I was in the privacy of the room I shared with two other girls, who practically lived in the library anyhow, I began rummaging around my things. I was in the mood to write. Write anything, anything at all. I easily found a piece of parchment and a quill.

Now what to write?...hmm...

Just as I was beginning to decide what inspired me to write the most, there was a cracking sound at my window. I looked up to find Immangi , my owl, fluttering her wings at the closed window. I giggled at her attempt to stay up at the height of my window. As soon as the window opened, she fluttered over and collapsed on my bed. She had a white envelope in her hands.

I took it from her beak. The letters read Amaura in a neat script I recognized as Dumbledore’s. Without even needing to open the envelope I knew he would want to meet me to talk about my future and my powers and how I would need to maintain control.

I slipped the unopened envelope into the front pocket of the school robes I had on. After slipping my shoes back on, I took the familiar path to Dumbledore’s office.

--

FAST FORWARD 3 hours (AFTER DUMBLEDORE MEETING.)

--

It was just as I expected. Dumbledore talked to me about how I would need to remember that control was necessary. He helped me to shut down some telepathic walls so that the power of my telepathy wouldn’t overwhelm me in the future. He let me know that he would keep in contact and that we would continue or sessions even beyond graduation.

I was kind of anxious to leave his office tonight, and he noticed that I was way more jumpy than usual. I had another ….rendezvous... later. He suspected as much and let me go a bit earlier than he would’ve liked.

I remembered the events of earlier today. Oliver had told me he loved me….and he also said that he would wait. He wouldn’t rush me to say something I didn’t completely mean. I would have to go thank him and let him know that I did really really like him, and that I did care for him. I sighed and made my way to the school grounds where I had been sitting earlier. I knew that’s where Oliver would meet me because that was our spot.

That’s where we first admitted we had feelings for each other, where we spent our first Valentine’s, where we first kissed, and now, where Oliver first told me he loved me. I smiled again at the thought.

The night was beautiful. There was a bright full moon surrounded by the brightest I’ve ever seen the stars. The lake was glimmering gorgeously from the reflection of the moonlight. It looked so beautiful and natural that it almost didn’t look real.

I made it about 5 yards away from the tree. Turned out that some random couple had already beat me to the punch at my spot.

The young couple was so engrossed in their lovey-dovey make out fest they hadn’t even realized that I had discovered them. I looked around carefully in the dark, searching for some indication of Oliver’s figure.

He was no where to be found. I figured that I better just leave and owl him when I got to my room. It would be awkward to just wait for him here in the presence of this duo over here who seemed to be having a rather revolting war of the tongues. I smiled at the scene once more and then turned on my heel and began to make my way back to the Hogwarts castle.

“Oh Oliver…” you heard the female’s voice moan.

I stopped right on my traces, I froze. Did she just say …well…maybe she did? But I mean how many Oliver’s in this school were there? Definitely more than one. Right? No reason to panic. Just calm down Drew.

But something was telling me not to believe my gut this time. So against my better judgment I turned around the spot.

I knew I shouldn’t have but I wouldn’t overdo anything.

I would simply tap into a bit of my telepathic magic and get a little peek into girly's mind over here, and see who she called Oliver. And then that would be it! The doors of my mind would be locked again.

Concentrating on the girls figure, I attempted to break through her mind psychically.

A few images flashed before my eyes all too quick for me to even realize I saw anything before it started... But it was all I needed.

I opened my eyes, never realizing that I had shut them. I was lying on my back on the cold and wet ground. I rose from my position on the ground and felt the blood rush from my face. There was whispering.

“Are you okay?” the his voice asked the girl who appeared limp in his arms. This might have been the first time since I met him, that I ever I'd wished it wasn't that voice I heard instead of any other sound in the world.

Flashes of disgust and almost hatred surged through every part of me. It was him!

“Oliver?!” I shouted,my tone dripped with anger.

“Drew? You did this? You’re not supposed to use your magic.” He exclaimed, trying to shake the girl back into consciousness.

“Don’t tell me what I am and what I am not allowed to do.” I warned him in a low and dark voice.

“You now what Drew, get off your high horse will you?” he bit back.

“Excuse me?” I couldn’t believe any of this. Not at all.

“You don’t get to act like some noble here!” he said. He walked right up to where my feet had recently planted themselves, carrying the 3rd year in his arms.

“And why not Oliver?” I asked back, my voice unexpectedly cracked.

“Stop the innocent act. Seriously drew, it was only an hour after I poured my heart out to you and you go around snogging Flint? Of all people, of all times.” He exclaimed , anger shaking through his entire body.

What is he talking about? I didn’t make out with anyone. “You’re lying. I catch you cheating on me and then you blame me for the crime?”

“Oh am I really Drew? I saw you with my own eyes!Hurts doesn't it? Payback does that to ya.”

“I don’t have to take this from anybody, and especially not some hormonal freak cheat like you Oliver. Good bye. Hope you have a nice life!” I turned my heel for the third time that night and ran toward the castle, non-stop back to the Ravenclaw common room, up the to the girl’s dormitory, and plopped onto my bed.

It didn’t take too long for the tears and raging headache to catch up to me.

4 years later………………..

“Incendio! ”, a voice that did not belong to me purred. Flames grew from the fire place that was located behind my office desk. I reflexively looked up from the piece of parchment I had been scribbling notes on. I hadn’t even realized when the petite brunette walked in.

“Bella?!” I gasped in shock. “Don’t sneak up at me like that.”

She smiled apologetically tucking her long wand into the pocket of her business skirt. “ I’m sorry Ms. Angeli, but I promise I did come through the door.”

I sighed as I put my quill down and looked up at her. I knew that I was so caught up anyhow in my notes that I probably wouldn’t have realized it if a group of hexed giants had entered the room and stole all my prized possessions right before me. “Ahem…,” I gestured my free right hand behind me just a bit to the now crisp and blazing fireplace behind me. I could tell Bella understood.

“Oh, I’m sorry in here, but it was freezing in here.”

“You know I don’t like the unnecessary magic,” I frowned her way, as I threw around the papers on my desk and tried to stack them into neat piles.

“It’s not very healthy to stay in closed and dark spaces for such long times, and on top of that its so cold your whole desk was beginning to frost over.” Some how she managed to rush all that out in one breath.

I couldn’t argue with anything she had said. Looking briefly at my surroundings, for the first time since the glow and charm of landing a job at the Daily Prophet had faded, I realized she was actually right. The room wasn’t as large as I remembered, and it was pretty dark in here too. If that fire hadn’t been lit it probably would’ve been pitch black. I must’ve forgotten to open the shades.

Bella walked over to my desk and began to help me out with the mess that covered it. I was usually a neat freak, but when I got wrapped in finding and writing a good story, all my organizational skills went down the drains.

“Yea but-“ I began but Bella quickly cut me off.

“Understood, no unnecessary magic,” She repeated looking slightly crestfallen, “Mr. Cuffe, would like to speak with you by the way. He says he has a story he’d like you to cover.”

“Oh thanks, is he in his office then?” I asked, rising from my seat and heading towards the office door that was a whole 7 steps from my desk.

“Sure, sure.” She replied as she busied herself with organizing my desk for me without her magic.

“Thanks.” I walked out of the stuffy room and made my way down 24B hall and towards the elevator.

I walked into the almost empty elevator and smiled at those who were exiting and remaining. The elevator had the fresh scent of jasmine oil incense; it was well kept with light peach walls and gold railing. I reached for the button that read 50C, just as I did, another finger beat me to the punch. I looked up at see the face that the slightly tanned finger belonged to.

“Good morning Amaura.” Ben smiled down at me.

I felt myself blush. “Good morning Ben, how are you?”

“Perfect actually. I haven’t heard from you in a while. What have you been up to?” he asked casually as he placed his left hand on my shoulder. A relatively friendly gesture that made me react more than it should’ve.

“Oh , you know, stuff.” I mumbled as I readjusted myself so that his hand slid off my shoulder, and down my arm in a way that was a bit too intimate for my liking. My vocabulary always became restricted to primary words whenever I was around him.

Ben was the one of the best writers in our department, or so I used to think. Last year I went on a date with the gent, though he did technically do nothing wrong, the evening wasn’t short of a disaster. It turned out that his charm was all face and there wasn’t really much beneath it. Sure the man was a genius reporter; he was even more passionate about it than I was, but all he ever really talked about was himself. That was sort of a turn off point. But he was still pretty gorgeous. With black hair, hazel eyes and nice tan complexion, not many could resist his handsomeness.

“That’s great, have you read my bit about the Trolls escaping the DCO facility?” he asked flashing his pearly white teeth.

“Yes I did. Terrifying and shocking it was, really.” I complimented trying to maintain all composure.

“Thank you. I thought that I really caught onto something, so I went after the story, I had no idea that even went so far that the muggles even found out about that run-down bar .” he rambled on giving himself more praise as he did.

Ahh yes, this whole conceited thing, that’s why it didn’t work out I thought to myself as I looked up to the floor indicator to see why we weren’t getting their faster than this….floor 46A…great. Almost there

Just as the thought crossed my mind the doors of the elevator flew open as a few people got off and some others boarded. Soon enough the doors for Hall 50C opened and both Ben and I stepped out of the elevator. The only office on this floor belonged to Mr. Cuff, the editor in chief of the Daily Prophet. There wasn’t much of a line to his door either.

“You may speak to him first if you wish.” Ben insisted.

“Thank you.” I knocked twice on the fiberglass door that read Chief Editor Barnabas Cuffe.

“Come in.” a female voice boomed from the keyhole on the silver door handle.

You opened it and walked into the magnificently animated room. It was a thousand times bigger than my small office, and brighter at that. There were paintings covering the walls along with articles which, I assume, were his favorites. There must’ve been a thousand enchanted quills hovering above loads of parchments moving back and forth in scribbling motions. Stacks of paper s were everywhere…some of the stacks even emitted strange sounds and smells.

“Hard Candy?” came Mr. Cuff’s from behind his desk. He was an old, beer bellied man. His face was round and had a sense of friendliness to them...His nose and ears were always red. He wore bright green suspenders over a white dress shirt, and a black top hate. He spoke with a cigar in his mouth all the while also.

“No thank you. I was told you called for me?” I took a seat in front of his cluttered yet strangely neat desk. I did wonder how he accomplished that.

“I got a story I want you to cover.” He told me nonchalantly as he continued to look over some papers, and sign some while he was at it too.

“On?” I urged him to continue.

“A Sports division. I want an article on the Quidditch Cup Champions. An outstanding one. Juicy too, not Rita juicy , but get what you can. Understand?” he rambled quickly.

“Uh, sure…when do I start?” I asked trying to mentally rearrange plans on my schedule.

“Uh, Today. I let the coach know that I was sending a reporter and photographer in during practice today.” he responded nonchalantly.

“Uhm, Today? Isn’t that a bit soon?” I mumbled nervously. And Sports? That wasn't really my forte of expertise.

“You don’t want it?" he questioned. And before I had any time to respond.. "BEN!” he hollered.

At the sound of his name, Ben entered the room, “Yes Mr. Cuffe?”

“I got a story for you….how does Qu…” “I’ll take it!”

Surprisingly, I found that the voice that had cut him off belonged to me. I wasn’t about to give that ego maniac a chance to pull one over on me. Not willingly anyway. I was on my feet smiling confidently as I took the tickets Mr. Cuffe held in his hand and strut out of the room.

“She’s something ain’t she?” I heard Mr.Cuffe’s voice say just before the door slammed shut behind me.

I smiled.

What was that about my rule of never wearing sneakers to work again?

WELL I GUESS THAT WAS THE FIRST PART OF THIS STORY…

PLEASE REVIEW…

I APPRECIATE CONSTRUCTIVE CRITISM AS WELL AS COMPLIMENTS…

TRUST ME IT WILL GET BETTER! I PROMISE

xoxo

DEENA