Butterfly In Reverse

Part One of Her First Year

Harry was at the Burrow. He had been rescued by Ron, Fred, and George. Sydny woke up to her Aunt Molly giving the boys a good scolding. Ginny came running into their room to inform her of Harry's appearance.

"Come on Syd! You have to get up! He's here."

"Who's here? I was trying to sleep you know. But all I can hear is your mum yelling at your brothers," Sydny said groggily.

"She's yelling at them because they went out with dad's car last night. And guess who they brought back with them?!"

"I haven't the faintest idea."

"HARRY POTTER!!! I went downstairs when I heard the boys walking in through the door. I saw him."

"So why did you come running back up stairs? You know I'm not really fascinated by Harry."

"Because he saw me," Ginny blushed at this. She had always wanted to meet Harry and now was her chance. She just had to get cold feet.

"Well if you want, we can go downstairs together. That way you wont be so shy this time. But first let me get dressed."

Sydny took a quick shower, then put on jeans and a tee-shirt. She pulled her hair back into a pony-tail and that was it. She never really paid much attention to what she was wearing. After all, she was only eleven years old. Which also made her think about Ginny.

Ginny was also eleven years old. She didn't really understand why she was so love struck over Harry Potter. Sydny of course would never say anything unless asked. She didn't want to ruin Ginny's dream. After what she experienced, that was the last she really wanted. In the back of her mind though, things were thinking a little differently. It wasn't fair that her dream of her life with her parents was ruined.

When Ginny and she got down to breakfast, they saw that the boys were already starting. Ginny was as quiet as possible taking her seat. Sydny, on the other hand said good morning to everyone. Harry looked over her way. He hadn't known about her. Dobby had been blocking the letters his friends her sending him. He read only a few, and those had not the information on Sydny.

"Hello. I'm Harry. Are you one of Ginny's friends?"

"I suppose you could say that. I'm Sydny Nidet. I'm her cousin. Which would make me everyone else's cousin in this household. You don't really have to introduce yourself. Ginny and I have heard all about you. Then again so has the rest of the Wizarding world."

"Err... yes. You're right on that."

The children all ate their breakfast with little talk going on. Then the boys and Harry went out to de-gnome the garden. Sydny and Ginny went out to watch after they had finished their meals. After, they gathered their brooms and practiced Quidditch. By far Harry was the best with his Nimbus 2000. Fred and George weren't that bad either. But what was surprising was Sydny. Even though she was on a not so superior broom (a Shooting Star 2000), she managed fairly well. She kept up with the boys. All those years playing with muggle boys really paid off.

The next day, The Weasley's and Harry and Sydny were to meet up with Hermione Granger. She was Harry's and Ron's friend. She was a muggle born, becoming a witch. Very brilliant, she was on top of everything, especially school work.

They were going to travel by Floo Powder. But first they had to teach Harry how to use it. After Harry went, Sydny and Ginny followed. When they got out, Harry was not there. So of course when Mrs.. Weasley got there she panicked. She split everyone up, to go search for him. Ginny and Sydny were to stay with Mr. Weasley while they looked. Mrs. Weasley would stay by the grate they had come out of, just incase he came back to the right one. They would meet right outside of Gringotts, where they were supposed to meet Hermione and her parents at ten o'clock.

Luckily though, Hagrid, the Keeper of the Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts, found him trying to get out of Knockturn Alley. That was a dark place where the darker items of the Wizarding world were. Definitely not a place for such people as Harry Potter.

All of the Weasley Clan was thrilled to see Harry safe. They were outside of Gringotts by now. Hermione was coming over to them. Arthur Weasley went to go talk to her parents, since they were muggles and he was completely fascinated by them.

"Hello. I'm Hermione Granger. You must be Sydny. Ron has told me all about you. And you of course are Ginny. I've also been told about you," Hermione said to each girl.

"Hello Hermione. If you will excuse me, I have to go get some money out of my personal vault. I will catch up with you in a little bit," Sydny said. To her Aunt , "If you don't mind Aunt Molly, I would like to go get a little bit of money out of my vault. You have already done so much for me, talking me in and all. I know it's not easy for you. Please let me make it easier for you Aunt Molly."

"Alright dear. But don't you take too much. That money should be saved up for when you are out of school."

"Thank you Aunt Molly."

Sydny went down to her vault, 422, and took out a bag full of Galleons, Knuts, and Sickles. She had enough to get the books she needed, school robes, and a wand. With any luck, she would have a little left over.

When she got out side of the bank, she saw Harry, Ron and Hermione walking off. Her cousins, Percy, Fred, and George, were no where to be found. Ginny was with her mum, and her Uncle was still talking to the Grangers.

She approached her uncle, waiting for the time to talk to him. "Uncle Arthur. Can I ask you something?" she said timidly. Sydny would rather appear timid around her Aunt and Uncle. They didn't think a girl could be so bold. They had no experience with that since they had only had shy Ginny.

"Sure thing sweetie," he said with a smile. Out of all her relatives, Sydny definitely liked her Uncle Arthur the best. He reminded her a little bit of her dad.

"Since everyone has gone off with out me, may I go shop for what I need by myself? I don't want to interrupt your conversation. I promise that if I see anyone I'll join up with them."

"It's fine by me. Just be very careful. And be at Flourish and Blotts by one o'clock. If I happen to see your aunt, I'll inform her of my decision. Please be careful Sydny."

Sydny waved and was off. It had been a long time since she was left to do anything by herself. Her parents would leave her alone sometimes. Let her have the house to herself for an hour or so. They trusted her. But the thoughts pf her parents were bringing tears to her eyes. She looked up to the sky to stop them. She looked up to see the sign for the wand shop. Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C.

She walked into the shop. It was silent, dark and musky. She felt very calm in there. A voice from the shadows called out to her.

"I would say you are yet another Weasley to enter my shop. But the Weasleys have only one daughter. You must the niece, Sydny Nidet. I remember your father and mother. Then again I remember everyone I've sold a wand to and their wand."

"Good day Mr. Ollivander. I'm here to find my wand."

"As I have told others, the wand chooses the wizard or witch in your case. We will start with this. Willow, Unicorn Hair center, twelve inches."

Sydny waved it, but nothing happened. She was given another and another. She went through five before the right wand was found for her. It was Ebony, nine and three quarters inches, and had a Dragon Heartstring core. Mr. Ollivander had said it was a rare mixture, but one of his favorite wands he had made. He had always wanted to find its owner before he died. Sydny paid ten gold Galleons for the wand.

She got her robes, equipment and just finished buying her books when the whole Weasley family, Harry and Hermione came into Flourish and Blotts. They were in time to see Mr. Gilderoy Lockhart start his presentation. Most of the women and girls swooned over him, but Sydny was indifferent. She cared not about him, but the silver haired boy towards the back of the store.

She hardly noticed the fight between her uncle and who appeared to be, the silver haired boy's father. She watched, as the father gave Ginny's book back, him slip something else into her cauldron, but she wasn't sure what it was. She also heard the name of the boy. Draco Malfoy.

Back at the Burrow, she decided to ask Ron who Draco was. He seemed to now him, but in an unfriendly way. When she did ask, Ron almost yelled at her. He told her to never interact with Draco, saying he was in the Slytherin House and was very evil. Harry and Hermione seemed to agree. Sydny shrugged it off, thinking that maybe they were over reacting. But then rethinking about it, considering that even her Uncle didn't seem to like the Malfoy family. Maybe she would avoid him...

About a week later, the whole family was off to Hogwarts. They were behind schedule, so Ginny and Sydny just barely made it onto the train. They found themselves an empty compartment, then went to look for Ron and Harry. They bumped into Hermione on the way, who was looking for a compartment of her own. They said she could share with them and went back to their compartment. By the time they were all settled down, it was about 12:30 and the witch pushing the cart was coming around with snacks, drinks, and lunch foods. Ginny and Sydny both had sandwiches made for them, but Hermione was kind and bought everyone a couple Chocolate Frogs.

After lunch they were feeling a little tired from all of the food. They thought about looking for the guys, but never put their thoughts into actions. Hermione and Ginny dozed off after a bit. Sydny took this time to look around the train. Not that there was much to see, but she needed to stretch her legs.

She left the compartment, closing the door quietly so she wouldn't disturb the other two. As she walked down the train, she had no intention of finding Harry and Ron. To be honest, she found them to be annoying sometimes. She passed by other students who would smile at her and she would smile back. She came across Fred, George, and their friend Lee. They invited her to play some Exploding Snap. She did that for an hour or so before she decided to head back to her compartment. She needed to check on Ginny and Hermione.

As she walked back, she ran into Percy. He said hello to her but wasn't really concentrating on her. He seemed to have a glazed over look in his eyes, string at something behind her. She paid no attention to it. She chatted for a minute or two before she couldn't stand the glazed look any more. She excused herself and continued back to her compartment.

She was stopped one more time. This time, by the silver haired boy.

"Watch where you're going! You nearly knocked me over!"

"I'm sorry. What a shame it is that I didn't"

"Who are you? You look sort of familiar..."

"My name is Sydny-" she was cut off.

"Oh yes! You're the Weasley's cousin or something. It figures. All that red hair of yours. Watch where you're going from now on. I don't want to have your filthy hands touching me."

"So because I am related to a family, I am considered vile. How wonderful. I'll be sure to bump into you more often."

With that she left him. He just stared blankly at her as she left. Draco could not believe that someone would dare go against him.

When Sydny got back to Hermione and Ginny, they were both awake. They had been about to go look for her when she walked in. They asked her if she had seen Ron or Harry, but she said it had slipped her mind to look. They talked a little longer, liking the fact that the boys weren't around. As it was getting dark, they changed into their school robes. About twenty minutes later, the Hogwarts Express pulled into its station. Hagrid was there to take the first years across the lake. Hermione would meet up with Ginny and Sydny later.

When the first years finally got to the castle, they were relieved, for a little bit. Then they were told they had to be sorted. Ginny and Sydny had heard all about this, so they weren't really nervous. Ginny was more so than Sydny because she really wanted to be put into Gryffindor. That's the house all her brothers had been in. Sydny, on the other hand, wasn't sure what house she wanted to be in. She supposed that Gryffindor wouldn't be so bad. At least she knew people in that house.

They were led into the Great Hall. Ginny and Sydny could see Hermione, but there was no sign of Harry or Ron. What had happened to them?

Students were called up as usual in alphabetical order. Sydny, went before Ginny. As she walked up to the stool, she felt everyone staring at her. Unlike most children her age, this did not unnerve her. It made her feel like she had to be over that. The Sorting Hat was placed on her head and it covered her eyes.

A voice in her head was trying to figure out where to put her. But she got annoyed with the little voice. She made up her own mind of where to be put. In her head she said, "Do not put me in Hufflepuff, for as you can tell, I am not patient and have a hard time telling the truth all the time. I do not want to be in Ravenclaw, though I am sure I would fair well, because there is too much effort in that group. Slytherin would be good, I think I'd fit in somehow, but my relations would destroy me from both sides. I might as well be put with people I know, and where my bravery will show. So put me in... GRYFFINDOR!"

The Sorting Hat shouted this out to the crowed. It had taken a whole four minutes for her to be sorted. Just a little longer than when Harry was sorted. But it matted not. The Sorting was already moving on with the next people. When Ginny was called up, the Hat was on her head for about one minute tops, before she was sorted to Gryffindor. Hermione and her present brothers cheered for her as she walked over to her seat next to Sydny.

The meal was wonderful. Harry and Ron never did show up, but only Ginny really noticed this. Announcements were made, then the school song was sung. After, all students fallowed their prefects up o the House common rooms. as they were making their way up to the Gryffindor common room, Harry and Ron still had not joined them. When they got to the Portrait of the Fat Lady and found out their password ('wattlebird'), Hermione told the girls she was going to go look for Harry and Ron.

Upon entering the common room of the Gryffindor Tower, Ginny and Sydny were met with warmth and noise from all around. The common room seemed all to comfy, but it was a very nice place to sit and read, Sydny mused. Apparently Hermione didn't have to look hard for Harry and Ron because about fifteen minutes later, Harry and Ron walked in by a very annoyed looking Hermione. The common room burst into more noise. It was then that Sydny wanted to really get away. Luckily, Percy came over at that time to First year students to their dormitories, girls being up the stairs and to the left. Sydny and Ginny shared their room with three other girls.

Ginny started to talk to them, but Sydny went to pick her bed out and go to sleep. Her day had been fulfilling enough for her. She would get to know her other roommates in the morning. She picked the bed closest to one of the windows, liking that the moon would shine down upon her. She changed and closed the gold drapes around her bed. Sydny would have to get used to the gold, red she could deal with. Gold was not her favorite color, but red was one of them. As she drifted off to sleep, listening to the other girls talking, she thought of her parents. She thought of how she wished they were still around. But that was a lost caused. They would never be around to see her again.

Sydny woke the next morning at 5:30. Everyone in her room was still asleep. Good she thought to herself. She liked being the only one awake and in the quiet. But the quiet had to be broken at some point. She took a long, hot shower. Then she brushed her hair and pulled it back with a silver and green ribbon her mother had used to tie her hair up when she was little. When she finally stepped out of the bathroom, full dressed in her school uniform, the other girls were just waking up.

"When did you get up Syd?" Ginny asked sleepily.

"About an hour ago. I didn't want to wake all of you then. I know how you like to sleep."

"That's alright," a girl to Sydny's left said. Sydny believed her name to be Cassandra Something-or-other. "It wouldn't have bothered us much."

"Ok then."

"You never did stay up to talk with us last night. You missed out on some lovely information on Harry Potter. Though you would probably know about it since you and Ginny have been with him for at least two weeks now," a girl named Margaret said.

"I'm really sorry. I was just so tiered. You know, the food was so good and it just put me right to sleep."

"That's fine. I know what you mean. I can't wait for breakfast. Which reminds me. We have to be down in the Great Hall by 7:30! We have to hurry up!" a very anxious Amy said. Sydny felt that she would not like Margaret and Amy the most. Margaret talked too much and Amy seemed to be very punctual and worrisome.

They walked down to the Great Hall half an hour later, with Sydny remaining quiet for the most part. She watched as the other Houses came up from their common rooms. She watched as the silver haired boy, "Draco," giving herself a mental check, came up from the Dungeons. He almost appeared, sad, as he walked up the stairs to the Great Hall surrounded by two thick boys. It almost seemed to rip Sydny's...

"Hello? Sydny? Are you there?" Margaret called out to her.

"Huh? Yes, I'm hear. I was just, lost in my thoughts."

"Oh. You sure you weren't looking at some guy? Maybe, Harry?"

"Of course not Margaret. I do not like Harry that way. I was just thinking."

"If you say so. We were just wondering where we should sit at breakfast."

"How about right here," Sydny said this as she sat down at a spot where she could view Draco. He didn't appear sad anymore. Now he appeared as if he owned the world. His eyes were scoffing at those people below him. They seemed to be scoffing at her.

Sydny ignored Draco for the rest of breakfast. It wasn't like he was paying attention to her anyway. They highlight of breakfast was when Ron got a Howler from his mum. That seemed to stir things up quit a bit. But Sydny couldn't help but stifle her laughter at the situation. She wished she could have been with a group of people who wouldn't mind her laughing. Perhaps Slytherin. But no. She told that stupid hat to put her in Gryffindor. And so far, she was stuck on whether it was the right choice.

All the students received their schedules, (Hermione looked like she was going to wet herself with excitement over it), and went off to their classes around 8:30.

As they walked to their classes, Ginny and Sydny talked quietly with each other.

"So what do you think of our roommates Ginny?"

"They are ok I suppose. I'm not sure I like Margaret much."

"The same with me. But at least we can still talk to each other. That wont be bad."

"Nope. And to be honest, I'm glad you were sorted into Gryffindor."

"Me too Ginny," she said. And for the most part, that was the truth.

Classes went well the first few days. Potions for Ginny was horrible. Professor Snape seemed to Pick on her the most. All because she was related to Ron. He picked on Sydny too. But she never let him get to her. And had she not been brought up properly, she would have retorted to some of his comments.

This was how the year started. And always in Snape's class, Sydny could feel that Ginny would burst into tears when she didn't get something right. Ginny really seemed to do well with Herbology. Sydny felt her radiate then. As for herself, she found all her classes a little easy at times.

There were some challenging things, but nothing should couldn't work her way out of. She loved Transfiguration a lot. She did exceptionally well with it. And surprising enough, Sydny found Potions easy too. When Snape tried to find things wrong with her work, he couldn't. Essays and such were a little different, but she still got high marks.

Defense Against the Dark Arts (DADA) was the worst for her. And all the other boys. The girls just drooled over Professor Gilderoy Lockhart. The class was a complete joke. Everyone loved flying lessons. Sydny probably the most. Though would never be sure of that. She just knew that flying was an escape from reality. It was her escape from the everyday life at Hogwarts.

Sydny noted that Ginny didn't really have that sort of escape. She liked flying, but was happier on the ground. She often times saw her with a little black diary. "That must be her escape," she thought. "A perfect escape for Ginny. I just hope her brothers don't find it." She also wondered when Ginny had begun to write in her diary. She had never seen her with one till after they went to Diagon Alley but assumed her mother bought it for her. She would have to ask her about it one day.

So, everyone had their lives to live. Hermione had school. Harry had Quidditch. Ron had Hermione and Harry to keep him in line. Sydny her flying and classes. Ginny had her diary. School was school and nothing more. Then as Halloween rolled around, things began to change.