Chapter 1

"I am Eliza Potter; I am Eliza Potter..." Eliza continued her declaration in the quietest voice she could, it had become a daily occurrence this summer. Compared the previous one, this summer was marginally better; she was still in the garden shed but she had no injuries to cope with. The decision to give her Moonstone blanket to Hermione to look after had been a difficult one. Hermione had argued at first but Eliza persisted until she had simply forced her friend into accepting it.

Harry had been very angry when he found out what she had done, but by that time they were already at Privet Drive, so there was nothing he could do about it. He understood that Eliza didn't want to risk the blanket being destroyed but thought that they could had hidden it from the Dursley's. Eliza would never have taken the chance.

As with every other summer Harry and Eliza's school trunks had been emptied of all magical items (which were now redundant in the cupboard under the stairs) and the twins had been separated. The summer was much drier this year and Eliza had found her time in the shed much more comfortable. Aunt Petunia had put a camp bed in the corner and Uncle Vernon had begrudgingly extended the house's electricity supply so that Eliza had a lamp. Eliza felt that Aunt Petunia's attitude towards her had changed from last year and Eliza thought that it may have something to do with the fact that puberty had finally hit the young girl and she was looking more and more like her mother - except for her eyes.

Eliza had whiled away the hours reading a small selection of books that Aunt Petunia had brought to her one evening while Uncle Vernon was working late. Shakespeare, Jane Austin and the Bronte sister's worn away classics had provided a welcome escape from reality.

The young witch silenced her repetitions when she heard footsteps outside; she wasn't ready to speak in front of someone. The door opened quickly and Harry was pushed in by a frazzled looking Petunia.

"You've got half an hour, no more!" She shut the door quickly and Eliza heard the lock slip back into place. Eliza looked across at her brother waiting for an explanation and was surprised to see him loaded down with boxes and parcels, and even more surprised to see a wide smile on his face.

"Happy Birthday, Eliza!"

Eliza started, she had completely forgotten. It was so easy to lose track of the days. To cover her confusion she nodded towards the door which Aunt Petunia had just locked.

"I know, turn up for the books, isn't it! I was in my room surrounded by all this lot." He said placing the items on Eliza's bed, "and she came in and asked what it all was. So I said that it was birthday cards and presents from our friends. Then she asked if we had one from our godfathers and I said we did and that they might be a bit upset if you don't get to see them. So then she dragged me down here."

Eliza smiled, Harry telling the Dursley's that his godfather was a murderer and that Eliza's godfather was a werewolf was a stroke of genius. It probably prompted Aunt Petunia to provide the bed and books.

"So anyway, these are yours." Harry said dividing the pile into two, "We better start on the cake now, just in case Dudley finds it!" The siblings sat in silence for a few moments before Harry asked Eliza how her summer was going; she nodded with a forced smile but indicated the books that she had received,

"Aunt Petunia has been a bit strange this summer, don't you think?"

Eliza nodded before looking at her pile of cards and feeling her heart swell with the sight of them. They opened their cards and letters together, each reading each the others as well as their own. Lupin had sent her a beautiful quill and Sirius had sent a voucher for a clothing shop in Diagon Alley; he had also sent a voucher for Harry - clearly thinking that their wardrobes must need updating. Eliza glanced down at her rapidly growing chest and silently agreed with his intentions.

She had also received a new homework planner from Hermione, some chocolate frogs from Ron, a knitted cardigan from the Weasley's and some Rock cakes from Hagrid (she put the cakes straight under her bed to be eaten only in situations of imminent starvation).

"Ron has written something about us going to stay at some point; he thinks his dad can get tickets to the Quidditch World Cup! How cool would that be?"

Eliza sighed and shook her head, she just didn't get everyone's obsession with Quidditch!

"Well, I'm sure you don't have to go to the cup, you could probably just stay with Mrs Weasley." Eliza nodded and looked back down at her cards. The allotted half an hour was slipping away quickly, Aunt Petunia would arrive any minute.

"There's another letter for you, it's from Hogwarts." Harry passed over the envelope in a nervous manner. Eliza looked down at the letter; it must be her OWL result. She looked up at Harry and bit her lip.

"Just open it quickly, like ripping off a plaster." He said, holding her left hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze.

Eliza hesitated, with her thumb under the flap of the parchment envelope.

"Come on, Eliza!" Said Harry in an exasperated manner, clearly he had been worrying about her exam too.

Eliza nodded and ripped open the envelope. She pulled out the parchment and read quickly;

ORDINARY WIZARDING LEVEL RESULTS

Pass Grades: Outstanding (O) Fail Grades: Poor (P)

Exceeds Expectations (E) Dreadful (D)

Acceptable (A) Troll (T)

ELIZABETH LILLIAN POTTER HAS ACHIEVED:

Transfiguration: O

A huge smile spread across Eliza's face, Harry looked down at the results and then pulled her into a tight hug.

"I'm so proud of you, Eliza! You're amazing; McGonagall's going to be over the moon!" Eliza nodded in relief and agreement and the letter fell out of her hand revealing another piece of parchment underneath it.

Dear Miss Potter,

Congratulations on your achievement. Professor Dumbledore extends his hearty congratulations. The result is a great achievement for any student but is especially extraordinary considering your age. We will begin the NEWT syllabus when you return to Hogwarts. Enjoy the rest of your summer.

Best wishes,

Professor M. McGonagall

Eliza smiled at the letter feeling proud. She had worked very hard so as to not let Professor McGonagall down, and she knew that if she had got anything less than an O, she would have been bitterly disappointed with herself.

The happy atmosphere was interrupted by the footsteps of Aunt Petunia. Harry stood up in anticipation as the locked door was opened.

"Come on then - Vernon will be home soon. Not a word of this to him, you hear!"

"Yes, Aunt Petunia, thanks." Said Harry walking towards her, she did not meet his eyes.

"You make sure you write to your godfather and the werewolf."

"I will Aunt Petunia; I'll write to both of them. Bye Eliza." Eliza smiled back at him and watched them leave with a happy feeling inside. This had been the best birthday ever, even though it had only lasted half an hour.

A/N Eliza talking to herself does not count as her first words, I promise. She does talk during Goblet of Fire though so you don't have too long to wait.