A/N: Well, this is a new story that I've decided to start. Of course, I own nothing of Harry Potter or the Potterverse. Anything you recognize is the wonderful work of JK Rowling.

First, I'd like to warn you all by saying that some dialogue or small sections are taken directly from Goblet of Fire, like I said, I don't own these, but they help the story along, so just go with it.

Also, I want to say that I know the main character (an OC girl), seems a bit perfect or too convenient, but as the story progresses, it'll be revealed why she's the way she is or has the abilities that she has. Just bear with it until it's revealed.

Anyways, I hope you lot enjoy the story, and I have loads of chapters already written, so I'll probably post them quite often. So here it is:

Chapter One

The shriek of my alarm pierced the once peaceful silence of early morning and startled me out of my sleep. In a split second, I had my smooth, black wand in my hand and had rolled out of bed into a crouch, ready to blast apart whoever was stupid enough to try to attack. I waited for an attack, but as I blinked the sleep out of my eyes, I realized what had happened and rolled my eyes in annoyance. Waving my wand, my alarm fell silent, once again plunging the room into silence.

Seeing as I was now wide awake, I reached high above my head and stretched, sighing as I felt several pops in my body. Looking around my room, I saw clothes and papers strewn all over the place. A quick wave of my wand, and everything flew back into its rightful place. I eyed my large, queen sized bed with such wonderful, soft, expensive bedding that allowed me to practically melt when I lied down. I longed to climb back into it, and skip the day, but it was the first of term and there was no reason to get on anyone's bad side… yet.

With several quick spells, my bed was made, my outfit for the day was laid out, and I could hear my shower starting in my huge bathroom. I saw that my black leather backpack was ready with everything I'd need for the day, luckily it was weightless and expandable, and so I headed into my bathroom. Every surface, the floor, the walls, the ceiling, even the sink and counters, were made of shiny, black marble, all lined in silver finishing and designs. My bath was three times as large as a normal one with a fully functioning shower, which was billowing out steam at that moment.

Stripping out of my black silk shorts and sports bra that I wore to bed, I stepped beneath the steaming hot spray and I immediately relaxed. The hot water stung but I got use to it quickly enough, and I began to wash thoroughly. Shampooing and conditioning my hair was always the most relaxing part of my showers, I loved lathering both into my scalp and rinsing. I loved taking showers period, I found them relaxing and I valued personal hygiene very highly.

About thirty minutes later I was standing in front of the mirror, brushing my teeth, toweling off, and used a spell to dry my hair. Standing in my fluffy, black towel, I admired myself in the mirror. My dark, fiery blood red hair hung to my mid-back in bright ringlets, my slightly pale skin seemed to glow, and my curves were enough to make anyone dizzy. My features were soft and beautiful, especially my deep, amber eyes, but they were cold and hard, like me. I was extremely beautiful, yes, but I knew perhaps better than anyone, that there was more to life than just beauty.

Walking back into my bedroom, my feet sank into a black carpet just beside my bed. It was a nice change from cold, marble floors, though I loved those as well. I slide into lacy, black boy shorts with a matching bra, and then black stockings. Next, I pulled on a deep, black pleated skirt that still managed to show off my perfect, smooth cream legs. Then, I slipped into a white blouse that showed off my curves, even after I buttoned it. Finally, I pulled on my black, dragon hide boots and red and gold tie, along with my black robe that hung open in the front.

Checking the time, I saw that it was 8:30am exactly; perfect timing, seeing as I had a half hour to eat breakfast. Slinging my backpack over one shoulder, I flicked my wand, causing every light in my rooms to go out before I stepped out into my common room and out from behind the portrait that guarded my hidden home in Hogwarts Castle, in the East Tower. It was a place so out of touch, it had been long forgotten for centuries but I had discovered it the night before during my night explorations after the Welcoming Feast. It had taken a bunch of house-elves to clean it out and renovate it for me, but they had gotten it done in time for me to get a few hours of sleep, which was all I needed. It was guarded by the hidden portrait of a beautiful faery girl by the name of Isavéla, and I called goodbye to her as I left.

Silently, I walked down to main corridors and then staircases along with hundreds of other students in all years. I was a fourth year, and had decided to enroll at Hogwarts instead of my usual self-teaching method. I had excelled and was quite ready to take my NEWTs with flying colors, but where was the fun in that?

The chatter in the corridors was loud, and though my ears were extremely sensitive, I found that it didn't hurt. Rather, it was comforting. I was so use to complete silence back home, that the constant buzz of conversation was very welcome. I caught the appraising glances I got from most of the males I passed, as well as from several females, and fixed a small smirk on my face. It was nice to be appreciated sometimes.

Resisting the urge to snort, I walked confidently into the Great Hall and sat gracefully at the full Gryffindor Table, where a seat had been left for me. I was slightly confused. After being sorted the night before, I hadn't actually talked to anyone at the table during the feast, preferring to collect my thoughts, and I figured they would've thought me a lost cause. It seems that was not the case.

"Good morning Gia!" Hermione Granger said with a warm smile as she buttered a biscuit. She had made an effort last night to talk to me, but had eventually caught the hint.

I smiled easily, "Geez Hermione, it's too early to be that happy." I joked lightly. All within hearing range chuckled and nodded in agreement, though Hermione knew I was joking, so she smiled excitedly.

"Oh, I'm just so excited about starting classes. We're bound to learn something interesting this year!" she gushed. I found her enthusiasm for learning to be endearing, even though I preferred to learn for practical use, rather than for knowledge's sake.

I chuckled softly and began to pile my plate high with food. I was only 4'11 and 115llbs, but I ate as much as a grown man, and never gained any weight. I had a wicked metabolism, something to do with my ancestry, descended from the original lycans, and all… I took a bite out of a sausage and fought to keep the pleasure off my face. I loved meat.

"What have we got Monday mornings?" I asked, after swallowing. I drank deeply from my huge mug of coffee as Hermione consulted her schedule.

"Herbology with the Hufflepuffs," she said with a grin. I snorted and we shared an amused look just as Hermione's two best friends stumbled down the table and plopped down beside us. Ronald Weasley and Harry Potter.

"Morning Mione," both boys greeted with a familiar smile. They immediately turned to the food and dug in ravenously after piling their plates higher than mine. Hermione stared at them with bemusement.

"What's after Herbology with the Puffs?" I asked through a smile. As Hermione studied the schedule, Ron and Harry turned to me and took me in with blank looks before recognizing me. Both of their faces turned bright red, though Harry managed to force his down easier than Ron.

"Good morning," Harry greeted with a lopsided grin. "Err, Gia, right?" he asked. I nodded and shook his hand.

"And you are?" I asked seriously, keeping a smile at bay. His face blanked with shock, as did anyone who heard me ask their savoir for his name.

"You mean you don't know his name?" Ron asked incredulously, a bit of bacon hanging from his mouth. I snorted.

"Of course I know his name, but I imagine he gets sick of never getting to introduce himself." I explain, "Geez, I was trying to give the guy a break." I went back to eating as if most of the table wasn't silently staring at me until Harry broke it with hearty laughter. I could tell that it was an honest laugh, and seeing his emerald eyes so open did a strange thing to my chest.

When he stopped laughing, he gently squeezed my hand before letting go. "Thanks," Harry said honestly. "You're right. Most people look at me and either point, whisper, and stare; or they automatically tell me that I'm Harry Potter." He grimaced, and Hermione shot him a compassionate look, while Ron looked guilty, as did most of the table. How interesting.

I waved away his thanks and turned back to Hermione. "So, what'll it be, Captain Granger of the Schedule?" I said, with mock-seriousness.

Hermione snorted. "After Herbology, we've got a break and then Care of Magical Creatures…" she grimaced. Harry and Ron look at her oddly.

"What's wrong with Care of Magical Creatures?" Harry asked. "We love having class with Hagrid."

Ron nodded. "Except the part where we're almost burned, frozen, bitten, scratched, clawed, maimed, or eaten by one his little pets." He added. I raised an eyebrow but said nothing, focusing on Hermione. I'd find out soon enough.

She sighed. "It's with the Slytherins." She said through clenched teeth. Ah, now I understand. Ron and Harry seemed to be thinking the same thing as they both groaned.

"Whose bright idea was it to put us with those slimy bastards within the same range of a dangerous creature?" Ron growled, stabbing his pancake as if it had personally offended him. Harry nodded darkly.

"That's like begging for an accident to happen." He added.

"I thought you were all for house unity, Hermione?" Ron asked around a mouthful of his ravaged pancake. Hermione, Harry, and I looked a bit green at his horrid table manners, but I suppose they were more use to it than I was.

Hermione glared at her plate, and I'm surprised it didn't burst into flames. If I glared at something with that much heat, it was bound to happen. "I am, but if I have to sit through another lesson with that prat Malfoy calling me a mudblood, I swear I'll personally hex his ponce ass into oblivion!" she spat.

The entire Gryffindor table stared at her in shock, minus me, of course. Until, starting with Ron and Harry, they all applauded her. She blushed and ducked her head, but she had a pleased smile on her face.

"Finally Hermione, you've seen the light!" Ron gushed. He and Harry slapped fives across the table.

"Malfoy had better not mess with you this year, Mione, unless he wants to be punched in the face again." Harry snorted. This caused a round of loud laughter that caught the attention of practically the entire Hall. Some of the professors stared at us suspiciously, though I could've sworn I saw McGonagall and Dumbledore's lips twitch slightly. Ah, life as a Gryffindor would certainly not be as quiet as life on my own. Oh, joy.

"Double Divination this afternoon," Harry groaned. Ron grunted, annoyed.

"Oh honestly, you should've dropped it like I did. Then you wouldn't have to worry about having your death predicted every class." Hermione lectured.

"Death predicted?" I asked.

Harry groaned, and he and Ron launched into a fully detailed account of Professor Trelawney's class. At the end, I was glad I hadn't signed up for that, even with my other gifts.

"Hermione's right." I said, ignoring said girl's smug grin, "Unless you have Seer blood, which I highly doubt, you won't get anything out of that class." I ignored the clench in my gut. My gift was very different from traditional Seers, and Divination was rubbish. It can't be taught.

"Either you have the gift or you don't. Since I'm assuming you don't, I suggest you drop the class. And I've heard that you were raised a Muggle, if that's true, what do you need Muggle Studies class for?" I asked, exasperatedly.

Harry scratched his head. "I don't know, Ron and I thought it would be easy A's." I raised an eyebrow at the two boys, both of whom squirmed under my gaze.

"Boys," I huffed. Hermione nodded in agreement, and we shared a chuckle. Turning back to Harry, "And look where that got you. I say you ask McGonagall about dropping both classes."

Hermione gasped. "But—but that'll leave him with only one elective! He has to take at least two!" she exclaimed.

I shrugged. "Do like I did, and convince her to let it be a self-study period; it counts as a class period, and I can study whatever subject I want, as long as I'm actually studying. She checks that." I explained. This was met with many raised eyebrows.

Harry looked interested, though Ron stated he'd rather have the easy A's, which prompted him and Hermione to get into a bickering match. "What do you study, then?" Harry asked.

"I, personally, use the time to train myself." I said vaguely. Harry raised an eyebrow, silently asking for elaboration. "I've been trained since the age of five in most fighting styles, weapons, gymnastics, physical training, and of course, magic. I just use the free time to continue all of that. It's basically all of the stuff you would expect some weird ninja/assassin hybrid to know." I stated, grinning wryly.

Harry's eyebrows were high. "That sounds so cool. I suppose I could use all the training I can get, what with…" he trailed off.

"Voldemort?" I said in a low tone, so that only he could hear. His eyes widened dramatically, and he glanced at his still bickering friends before nodding.

"Yeah, I can't very well beat him with fourth year spells. I think I'll talk to McGonagall later." Harry said. We smiled at each other and finished up breakfast.

There was a sudden rustling noise above us, and a hundred owls came soaring through the open windows carrying the morning mail. Instinctively, I looked up, but there was no sign of my black owl, Ario, among the mass of brown and gray. The owls circled the tables, looking for the people to whom their letters and packages were addressed.

A large tawny owl soared down to Neville Longbottom and deposited a parcel into his lap. Neville seemed like the type that almost always forgot to pack something. On the other side of the Hall Draco Malfoy's eagle owl had landed on his shoulder, carrying what looked like a supply of sweets and cakes from home.

Harry seemed to be looking for something in particular, perhaps his own owl, but when he didn't see it, he looked rather upset. I distracted him from whatever he had been waiting for, engaging him in a long debate about the usefulness of seekers versus chasers. Needless to say, the simple fact that I was interested in Quidditch, knowledgeable about it, and actually played it, definitely cheered both Harry and Ron up considerably.

Hermione had made a joke about once again being the only person in the group who wasn't obsessed with Quidditch, which made us all laugh though my heart clenched. She had implied that I was now one of them. We were all laughing and in good spirits, even throughout Herbology where Professor Sprout showed the class the ugliest plants we had ever seen. Indeed, they looked less like plants than thick, black, giant slugs, protruding vertically out of the soil.

Each was squirming slightly and had a number of large, shiny swellings upon it, which appeared to be full of liquid. "Bubotubers," Professor Sprout told us briskly. "They need squeezing. You will collect the pus—"

"The what?" said Seamus Finnigan, sounding revolted.

"Pus, Finnigan, pus," said Professor Sprout, "and it's extremely valuable, so don't waste it. You will collect the pus, I say, in these bottles. Wear your dragon-hide gloves; it can do funny things to the skin when undiluted, bubotuber pus."

Squeezing the bubotubers was disgusting, but oddly satisfying. As each swelling was popped, a large amount of thick yellowish-green liquid burst forth which smelled strongly of petrol. We caught it in the bottles as Professor Sprout had indicated, and by the end of the lesson, had collected several pints.

"This'll keep Madam Pomfrey happy," said Professor Sprout, stopping the last bottle with a cork. "An excellent remedy for the more stubborn forms of acne, bubotuber pus… Should stop students resorting to desperate measures to rid themselves of pimples."

"Like poor Eloise Midgen," said Hannah Abbott, a Hufflepuff, in a hushed voice. "She tried to curse hers off."

"Silly girl," said Professor Sprout, shaking her head. "But Madam Pomfrey fixed her nose back on in the end."

A booming bell echoed from the castle across the wet grounds, signaling the end of the lesson, and our classes separated; the Hufflepuffs headed up the stone steps for Transfiguration, while we Lions went in the opposite direction, down the sloping lawns towards the Groundskeeper's cabin, which stood on the edge of the Forbidden Forest.

Hagrid was standing outside his hut, one hand on the collar of his enormous black boarhound, Fang. There were several open wooden crates on the ground at his feet, and Fang was whimpering and straining at his collar, apparently keen to investigate the contents more closely. As we drew nearer, an odd rattling noise reached our ears, punctuated by what sounded like minor explosions.

"Mornin'!" Hagrid said, grinning at Harry, Ron, and Hermione. He looked at me, standing with the trio instead of the other Gryffindors, and he looked slightly puzzled. I guess I was special.

Hermione caught the look and dragged me forward. "Oh Hagrid, this is our new friend Gia Aria Grey. She was sorted into Gryffindor last night. Gia, this is Hagrid, our professor." She said proudly.

Hagrid blushed and smiled down at me, and to my horror, I had taken an immediate liking to his kind, open face. I curtsied so gracefully, it left every single student, including the newly arriving Slytherins who were still quite a ways back, in stunned shock. I gave Hagrid a nearly nonexistent rare smile.

"Hello Professor Hagrid, it's a pleasure to be in your class." I said honestly. Oh Merlin, I was getting soft. Hagrid smiled and we shook hands… or more like he shook my whole arm up to my shoulder. I'm lucky I'm not entirely human or that would've hurt a lot more than it already did. But my smile did not falter.

"Be'er wait fer the Slytherins, they won' want ter miss this-Blast-Ended Skrewts!"

"Come again?" said Ron. Hagrid pointed down into the crates.

"Eurgh!" squealed Lavender Brown, jumping backward.

"Eurgh" just about summed up the Blast-Ended Skrewts in my opinion. They looked like deformed, shell-less lobsters, horribly pale and slimy-looking, with legs sticking out in very odd places and no visible heads. There were about a hundred of them in each crate, each about six inches long, crawling over one another, bumping blindly into the sides of the boxes.

They were giving off a very powerful smell of rotting fish. Every now and then, sparks would fly out of the end of a skrewt, and with a small phut, it would be propelled forward several inches. "Only jus' hatched," said Hagrid proudly, "so yeh'll be able ter raise 'em yerselves! Thought we'd make a bit of a project of it!"

"And why would we want to raise them?" said a cold voice. The Slytherins had arrived. The speaker was Draco Malfoy. Crabbe and Goyle were chuckling appreciatively at his words.

"How about you shut it Blondie, and let Hagrid actually teach us. You might learn that bit of information." I drawled, annoyed. There was just something about Malfoy's pinched face that seriously irked me.

There was stunned silence after I spoke, until there was a sudden snigger from Ron, and soon all of the Gryffindors had burst into side-splitting laughter; partially at the fact that I had addressed Malfoy as 'Blondie', and partially at his affronted, indignant expression at being called such a ridiculous name. As the Lions were laughing, and the Snakes were too busy glaring at them, Malfoy and I had a silent staring match. He glared at me, and I just smiled darkly before I winked at him. He blushed lightly and I snorted. We both knew I won that round, and so he shut it.

Hagrid, along with Ron clapped my shoulders, almost sending me to the ground, with thanks. "Tha's next lesson, Malfoy. Yer jus' feedin' 'em today." Hagrid said, answering Malfoy's question. "Now, yeh'll wan' ter try 'em on a few diff'rent things- I've never had 'em before, not sure what they'll go fer-I got ant eggs an' frog livers an'a bit o' grass snake-just try 'em out with a bit of each."

"First pus and now this," muttered Seamus. Nothing but deep affection for Hagrid could have made Harry, Ron, and Hermione pick up squelchy handfuls of frog liver and lower them into the crates to tempt the Blast-Ended Skrewts. I had loads of respect for them, caring for a friend like that, but I couldn't help agreeing with Blondie. I couldn't suppress the suspicion that the whole thing was entirely pointless, because the skrewts didn't seem to have mouths.

"Ouch!" yelled Dean Thomas after about ten minutes. "It got me."

Hagrid hurried over to him, looking anxious. "Its end exploded!" said Dean angrily, showing Hagrid a burn on his hand.

"Ah, yeah, that can happen when they blast off, " said Hagrid, nodding.

"Eurgh!" said Lavender Brown again. "Eurgh, Hagrid, what's that pointy thing on it?"

"Ah, some of 'em have got stings," said Hagrid enthusiastically (Lavender quickly withdrew her hand from the box). "I reckon they're the males..."

The rest of class was spent rather eventfully, but thankfully none of us were seriously harmed. As the Slytherins and Gryffindors separated outside the Great Hall, I sent Malfoy another wink, causing him to blush angrily. I held in my laugh as the trio and I settled at our Table and helped ourselves to lamb chops and potatoes. Hermione began to eat so fast that Harry, Ron, and I stared at her.

"Err, is this the new stand on elf rights?" said Ron. "You're going to make yourself puke instead?"

"No," said Hermione, with as much dignity as she could muster with her mouth bulging with sprouts. "I just want to get to the library. "

"What?" said Ron in disbelief. "Hermione– it's the first day back! We haven't even got homework yet!"

Hermione shrugged and continued to shovel down her food as though she had not eaten for days. Then she leapt to her feet, said, "See you at dinner!" and departed at high speed. I didn't bother to ask, and I shook my head when Harry looked about to launch into an explanation.

"I'll find out later, besides, the bell is about to ring." I said with a grin. Sure enough, a second later, the bell to signal the start of afternoon classes rang, and the boys looked at me in amazement.

"Are you sure you don't belong in Divination?" Ron asked, as the two gathered their things. I watched them retreat as they headed for the North Tower.

Finally alone, not that I minded the company, I could train again. I hurried up to the East Tower, and changed into small black shorts and a black sports bra, along with plain black trainers. I pulled my hair up into a messy bun, grabbed my wand, and left, going to the other side of the seventh floor and pacing three times in front of the blank stretch of wall. A door appeared.

Opening the door, I stepped inside and closed it behind me, watching as it melded back into stone wall. The room I was in was huge and mimicked an outside racing track, I even felt a breeze on my skin. First, I did a bunch of stretches to warm up, and when I was ready, I took off around the track. At first, I started in a job and after a few laps kicked it up to a run. After a few more laps, I stepped into a full blown sprint, letting loose and going full speed, which was considerably faster than any human, and I hadn't even broke a sweat yet. My heart only went slightly faster than usual by the time I stopped, and I checked the time. I still had an hour and a half to go, seeing as it was a double period.

I went through a bunch of gymnastic stunts and such, flips, balances, etc, and then stepped into things like stealth, concealment, accuracy and aim. I practiced with throwing knives, bow and arrows, and swords of various sort, though I had no idea how the Room provided those. I also sparred fiercely with several practice dummies at once. Of course, I still won those.

I stopped twenty minutes before the bell would ring for dinner, and closed the Room, heading back to the East Tower. I, of course, checked many times on the way, making sure I wasn't being followed or anything, and took a nice, hot shower before changing back into my uniform. I hurried down to the library, and waited outside for Hermione. When the bell would ring in five minutes, I went inside to find her surrounded by a fort of books, all on house-elves and magical creature rights. Oh, sweet Merlin, help this girl.

Despite her protests, I sent all the books back to their rightful places with a spell, and dragged her from the library. We walked amicable silence, until we saw Harry and Ron on the staircase below us. "Harry! Ron! Oi, wait up!" I yelled, attracting loads of attention.

Ignoring them, I pulled Hermione down the steps to where the boys had stopped, and we walked together back to the Great Hall and dinner.

"Miserable old bat," said Ron bitterly. "That'll take all weekend that will..."

"Lots of homework?" said Hermione brightly. "Professor Vector didn't give us any at all!"

"Well, bully for Professor Vector," said Ron moodily. I gently slapped Ron's arm, and high-fived Hermione behind his back as he looked to Harry for help. Harry raised his arms, and told Ron not to involve him. That caused Hermione and me to fall into giggles. We reached the entrance hall, which was packed with people queuing for dinner. We had just joined the end of the line, when a loud voice rang out behind us.

"Weasley! Hey, Weasley!" Harry, Ron, Hermione and I turned. Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle were standing there, each looking thoroughly pleased about something. This would be interesting.