Destiny

**IMPORTANT** Harry and company are 17. Destiny is 15 at the moment.

DIAGON ALLEY AND FIRST COLLISIONS

CHAPTER 2

PRESENT

*1997*

Sighing at her mother's hostility, Destiny slid into her chair at the kitchen table. 'I can't wait to get to school. At least there she can't nag me for being who I am,' she thought. "So, what exactly did I do wrong?" Destiny asked.

"I was sitting here at the kitchen table when the flower vase suddenly flew off the table. I know that vases don't fly, so it had to be one of your nasty little ghosts. Which means you helped!" Julia shrieked in anger.

Destiny hurriedly shot a nasty look at James, who grinned and shrugged sheepishly, before turning back to her mother. "It wasn't me; I was asleep. It was James."

"James Potter is dead. You helped him. Go to your room!"

With another sigh, Destiny got up and went to her room. "Nice one, Potter."

"It was an accident! I didn't realize I was even solid. I walked into it... err... or I floated into it! But that's not the point. The point is-"

"Relax, Hun. It's not that big a deal. 'Sides it wouldn't be my life if she wasn't nagging on me."

"Honestly! That has to be someone besides the girl I used to be friends with!" Lily said angrily, "She used to be so sweet!"

"She's gotten even worse since my dad escaped Azkaban- Go Dad!" seeing the looks of amusement she was getting, Destiny shrugged. "What?"

*****

Life remained the same for Destiny until July 31, when her letter from Hogwarts arrived.

Dear Miss Black,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Enclosed is a list of the necessary items, Term begins on September 1^st. We look forward to having you at our school.

Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

With a smile, Destiny folded up her letter and reached into the envelope to see her list. Pulling it out, she realized there was another letter besides the list. Curious, Destiny opened it.

Miss Black,

After reviewing your request to skip your 6^th year and be advanced to your 7^th, we have agreed, pending you first pass a test on ability and knowledge in every class. Please meet with me at the end of your first day of classes to discuss the permanency of your placement.

Sincerely,

Albus Dumbledore,

HeadMaster

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chef. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. Of Wizards)

Giving a little shriek of happiness, Destiny jumped off the bed, grabbed Lily and started dancing around the room screaming, "I'm going to Hogwarts!"

Destiny soon decided that Lily wasn't a very good dance partner when she kept trying to get away from her wild dancing. She quickly let go of Lily, much to Lily's relief, and started to dance with James, who was more than happy to dance like an idiot.

*****

On August 21^st, Destiny headed towards Diagon Alley to get her schools supplies.

Before leaving, James gave her very specific instructions: "Observe but don't intentionally interact."

'Okay, just observe. I can do that,' she thought agreeably.

Destiny understood just how important it was to observe. She knew that she had to learn to act like the other children. At her other schools it hadn't been a problem. If she had been expelled, well... there were always other schools. But this time was different. This time she was going to school with a purpose, a mission so-to-speak.

For the past two years of school, she had done nothing but study and practice Necromancy. In the last two years Destiny had managed to do the near impossible: she had completed four years of work in two. Making it even more difficult was the fact that every year she was forced to switch schools. She never openly flaunted her powers, but somehow people always found out, and the Headmaster or Headmistress was forced to expel her because parents were frightened for their children. Destiny had been working towards the goal of what her purpose at Hogwarts was. She was trying to overcome her age and put herself in the same year as Harry Potter. All of her hard work was because of a prophecy; a prophecy that said she would have to save the world at Harry Potter's side. So, that meant befriending the boy and the easiest way to do that was to be in all of his classes and be able to blend in. She would, of course, later have to tell him all about her unique...talents.

She also practiced Necromancy for hours on end so that if she were to finally have to go up against Voldemort, she would be able to keep her ghost friends solid enough to allow her to escape.

That, of course, was just what she said. Her real reason was knowing that when Voldemort rose to power again, many would die. She wanted to be able to help the souls trapped on Earth move to their final resting-place.

'A lot of good it'll do all the souls and me if Voldemort kills me or the public finds out about my stupid powers. So, no touch, just seeing and hearing time,' Destiny thought. Walking into a dingy pub called The Leaky Cauldron, Destiny immediately wrinkled her nose. 'Yucky! This place needs a good scrubbing... and some of that smell good spray!'

Walking out of the pub and into the courtyard, she poked the brick. Within seconds the entrance to Diagon Alley had been revealed.

Looking around, Destiny was surprised to see so many people. 'So much for not touching! It's like being in a freaking zoo!' she thought disgruntledly.

Taking a deep breath, she started walking towards Gringotts, the wizarding bank, to exchange muggle money into wizarding money. After exchanging the money, Destiny pulled out her list to see what she needed.

~ Course Books ~

The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 7)
By Miranda Goshawk

A History of Magic- Advanced
By Bathilda Bagshot

An Advanced Guide to Transfiguration
By Melanie Himersmith

One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi
By Phyllida Spore

Fighting the Forces of Dark: A Complete Defense Guide
By Arnold Arb

Advanced Potions
By Gregor McGills

The Monster Book of Monsters
By Newt Seamander

Charming Charms
By Jen Jennings

Unfogging the Future
By Cassandra Vablatsky

With a smile, Destiny began to collect her books. Going into the Transfiguration section, Destiny once again found something that annoyed her to no end.

"Oh! That is so not right!" Destiny muttered darkly, jumping up and down trying to reach the book she wanted. "I hate being short!"

"What's the matter midget? Having problems?" James asked laughing.

"Oh, shut-up. Was I talking to you? No, I wasn't," she hissed looking over her shoulder to make sure no one saw her talking to seemingly thin air. "I can't reach!"

"So, go get someone to help," Lily said reasonably.

"I was just going to do that!" Destiny replied. Seeing the disbelieving looks she was getting, she muttered meekly, "I was..." Heading around the shelf, Destiny walked up and tapped the first person she saw on the shoulder. "Excuse me. I was wondering if you could help me get..." Destiny trailed off when she saw the nasty look she was getting from the man, who was obviously the boy she'd tapped on the shoulders father.

"What do you think we are?" the older man snarled, "Your servant? There are people here who are paid to be your server. Go ask them!"

"Geez, sorry. I guess it's to much to hope for, for you to actually be friendly!" Destiny spat before storming off to find someone else to help.

As she turned the corner, she looked away from where she was walking and ran straight into the person who was standing there.

*****

The summer had been miserable for Harry Potter, as every other summer had been. The only difference was that this year, it was worse because Voldemort had gained even more power than before he'd fallen sixteen years ago.

At the beginning of his fifth year, Professor Dumbledore had told him of a secret organization called The Order of the Phoenix. The organization was created to fight the dark forces. It was made up of the most powerful of the magical community in Europe. When Dumbledore had first come to him about it, he hadn't known what to think. After a bit of convincing though, Harry had started to train to be part of the Order. By the end of his sixth year, he had completed his training. He knew that as soon as he got back to Hogwarts, the Order would officially initiate him.

For the moment though, he was at Flourish and Blotts, in Diagon Alley, with his two best friends. Harry had been staying at the Weasleys' for the past two days and Hermione had met them there so they could go together to shop for their seventh year school supplies. He was currently standing in the Divination section of the store, laughing at the books and people who were strange enough to write them.

Harry was trying to balance his new course books, while reaching for a particularly funny book, when a girl ran straight into him and sent his books flying in every direction. He tried to catch his balance by grabbing the girl but ended up knocking them both to the floor.

"I'm sorry!" Harry said and hurriedly got up and helped her stand.

"No it was my fault. I wasn't watching where I was going," the girl said embarrassed. She started to bend down to pick up the fallen books at the same moment as Harry and they're heads collided with a loud smack.

"Ow!" Harry groaned rubbing his forehead.

"Ouch! Geez, we're having all sorts of problems!" the girl said in a laughing voice.

While picking up the books, Harry glanced over at her. She was, without a doubt, one of the prettiest girls he'd seen, even if she was kind of clumsy.

"My names Destiny," she suddenly announced. "What's yours?"

A little startled, he glanced up. It had been a long time since anyone in the wizarding world had failed to recognize him.

"Umm... I'm... uh... I'm Harry," he said turning red when he realized how close his face was to hers. "Harry Potter."

She just smiled and said, "Well, it's nice to meet you Harry Potter." Putting her last book on her pile, she stood up.

Desperate not to let her get away just yet, he asked quickly, "So, where are you from?"

Looking at him curiously, Destiny asked, "What makes you think I'm not from around here?"

"Oh, your accent, it's not English."

Laughing, she smacked herself in the forehead, "Should've thought of that! And no, you're right. I'm not from here. I'm from the US. My mother and I just moved here."

"Really? Are you going to Hogwarts this-"

"Hey, Harry! Come on! My mum wants to go to the Apothecary." Ron shouted from across the shop where him and Hermione had gone and collected the rest of their books.

"Well, I have to be going anyway. It was fun running into you... literally!" Destiny grinned easily. Giving a little wave, she said goodbye, walked away with her books and started trying to find the ones on her list she was missing.

"Yeah," Harry whispered, "See yea." After picking up his books and paying for them, him and his friends headed out of the store.

"So, Harry, who was the cute girl you were talking to?" Ron asked slyly.

"Just a girl. She ran into me as she went around the corner and knocked us both down," Harry replied. "But then you'd know exactly what had happened if you hadn't run off. Where did you go?"

"We saw you and the girl collide and were going to help you but my mum was calling. We just decided you could handle it and went over to talk to her. Besides, you didn't look like you wanted us to help..." Ron said jokingly. Seeing the dirty look Harry was giving him, he laughed and slapped his friend on the back. "Calm down mate. I was just joking. Besides, you need a girlfriend. When was the last time you dated?" Not waiting for a reply, he answered himself. "Over a year Harry! You haven't dated anyone since you broke up with Cho Chang at the end of fifth year! I think-"

"Ron!" Harry yelled, "If I wanted a girlfriend, I'd have one. Stop nagging. Besides, I can't just go out with girls I don't know!"

"So go back in there and ask if you can take her out to get some ice cream," Ron suggested.

Seeing that a fight was brewing, Hermione decided to step in. "Hey guys, come on. Mrs. Wealsey is waiting."

*****

After her run in with Harry, Destiny was decidedly less than happy. Walking down the street, on her way to Madam Malkins for new robes, Destiny was frowning at James. James, though he hadn't wanted her to run into Harry just yet, thought their encounter had been hilarious.

"You should have seen your face! Oh! When Harry grabbed you to keep from falling..." At this, James started laughing to hard to continue. Even Lily was giggling behind her hand- which did nothing to cover the snorts of her laughter.

As the day continued, Destiny saw Harry and his friends several more times, but managed to avoid them each time. That night, when Destiny got home, she happily marked another day off her calendar.

"Only eight more days," she whispered, "Eight more days here and then I'm off to Hogwarts. Only one more year of school and I'm free. Free of parents, free of school and most importantly, free to never have to be someone I'm not again. Only eight more days...