Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. This work is merely for leisure and not for any profit whatsoever.

A/N: Here's my contribution to the HP fandom. I do hope you enjoy it. Please if you do, or if you don't, leave a review. Reviews are much loved and appreciated! :D

Summary: London is a big city. In cities of such size, many small details pass by unnoticed by most of the crowd. Homes become invisible, shops are glanced over and ignored, strange events and people are written off as one-time occurrences, and anomalies are unknowingly brushed aside. OC /Self-Insert.

Stars in the Silence

And the Wheel Begins to Turn

Life occurs and then Death. But what happens after Death?

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"A mission for you, Agent; Operation Gemini. Long-term, Class 5 Political. Standard protocols apply. Your cover story is inside the file."

A small stack of documents was placed on her desk.

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"Good morning, Mr Holt," a warm, easy-going smile was sent to the Ministers' way. She handed over a stack of files and a cup of coffee, blue eyes kind and inviting, "Here's the paperwork for the private yacht you wanted to buy. Also, your meeting with the Town Council is in an hour, would you like some more coffee then?"

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"You are Jane Yates, I presume?" Alice Ross, Minister Holt's newest secretary, asked brusquely.

Starring at a pair of icy blue eyes, said woman's eyes flickered nervously as she replied, "Y-yes, I was informed that I was to be an attendant for Minister Holt's private yacht trip."

"Indeed, here are the details. Not to worry, you just need to bring a bag and turn up at the dock at 6 a.m. sharp on the day. Everything else has been taken care of," Ms Ross said, before giving a wry smile, "And do be at your best, wouldn't want to give us blondes a bad reputation now do we?"

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Life.

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"Here is your room. You are free to roam the lower deck, but only come to the upper decks when either the Minister or I call for you. Am I clear?"

"Yes Miss Ross."

"Well, I do hope you'll enjoy the trip, it's expected to be quite lively." Miss Ross' smile may have been a tad too sharp, but Jane paid no heed to it.

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Ivan Holt froze as he felt the barrel of the gun pressed against his back, just above his heart, and a saccharine sweet voice whispered into his ear, "No hard feelings, Mr Holt."

"A-Alice!? Why-"

A muffled click of a gun with a silencer echoed deceptively loud in the enclosed lounge room.

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"Miss Yates, please bring a bottle of champagne and two glasses to the lounge room."

"Coming Miss Ross!"

She hung up. Dragging Holt's body onto the sofa, she angled it so that he would appear to be resting from anyone who enters the room, careful not to let the blood spill onto the floor. Seating herself on the other end of the sofa, she reclined with her back to the door as she mentally counted down the seconds till the last player of her game would enter.

A soft knock on the door and she called for the attendant to enter, "Put the bucket and glasses over here." She gestured with her head to the coffee table, hands wiping the gun on her lap, "Enjoy the trip so far?"

"Yes indeed Miss," Jane beamed, "Oh! Is the Minister asleep? I hope I didn't disturb-"

"Not to worry, he's rather dead to the world. I'm glad you've enjoyed yourself, I think you've deserved a promotion," she hummed to herself, "Yes, a promotion to secretary sounds good, no?"

"I'm sorry?"

A second click echoed.

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She ducked her head as she exited the room. The guards paid no heed to her, dressed in an attendant's uniform and her hair obscuring her more prominent features. A pity Jane Yates and she looked so alike, killing an innocent left a foul taste in her mouth, but Alice Ross needed to be accounted for.

She hurried to the lower deck where she slipped into the engine room, located directly below the lounge. Rigging an engine to malfunction, she slipped out again, ghosting up the stairs and onto the upper deck. Just as she stepped onto the deck, shouts echoed from above her. She flattened herself against the wall, eyes trailing the long shadows ahead and next to her. They stopped, glancing around and checking the area for her and as soon as it tilted away from her, she burst from her hiding position.

The guards opened fire as soon as they saw her, shots peppering the floor beneath her and some grazing her in the arms and shoulder as she ran towards the edge of the yacht. Just as she vaulted over the handrail and dropped into the sea, a bullet tore through her chest, piercing her lung. She gasped as the saltwater surrounded her. Struggling to keep afloat, she let the strong waves carry her away from the yacht. Water poured into her lungs. Her vision swam and her movements weakened. In the distance, she saw the yacht explode in a torrent of fire, wood and blood.

And then blackness.

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Death.

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Labored breathing echoed throughout the bedchamber. Words meant to be soothing flowed out from the mid-wife's mouth, though the Lady paid no heed to them. It had been an exhausting, painful birth so far. Her first son had already been born and she could feel that it was time for her second child to enter the world.

A wave of pain surged through her and, following the mid-wife's urging, she pushed.

A baby wailed.

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Rebirth.

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"L-let me see my child," the Lady rasped. In a flurry, her husband stood by her, arms carrying their elder son, and the midwife passed her younger child to her, bundled in silk blankets.

"A girl, my Lady," the mid-wife murmured and the Lady clutched her daughter, beautiful and already calm, close to her.

"Aquila Eris," the Lady said softly, "My Aquila, I can tell that you are special. You will make a fine Lady Black."

In that moment, Walburga Black née Black gave a rare, genuine smile as she watched her daughter slumber.

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And the Wheel of Reincarnation turns once again.

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