ZANNA POV

I hate being new. I looked at the house my Grandfather had given me and I sighed. The wind whipped my long dark hair into my face and quickly brought me back to the fact that for some reason, my grandfather thought it would be funny to leave Muggle's in charge of delivering everything, and muggles have a nasty habit of asking questions.

"Miss? The movers are almost done, but they want to know where to put the boxes? Oh and we need your parents signature and the deposit."

Damn them. I suppose living alone has its perks but it's at times like these that I really wish I was of age so I could just obliviate him. I bit my lip nervously and tried to come up with a good reason as to why I had no legal guardian available to sign the forms.

"Ummm, okay just put the boxes in the lounge - as for the signatures, unless you want to wait here until 3am in the morning, I suggest you let me sign it." I laughed, hoping he would fall for it.

His face furrowed in confusion. Apparently he was going to be difficult.

"My father is a lawyer and sometimes he gets a little too caught up in his work. So yeah can I just sign it?" I hurriedly explained.

Merlin. I have nothing against muggles, really I don't but it's at times like these that I really want to strangle them. I absently handed over the envelope with the money in it.

"Well what about your mother? Where are you going to school? How old are you? Are you always home alone?"

I tensed. I let out a nervous laugh and prayed that he would just disappear. I signed the form while he was busy looking through the envelope, checking it was all there.

"I go to a boarding school up in Scotland. Now there's your signature, do you need any more convincing?" I had slipped a few pounds into his hand, the way my grandfather taught me. I wasn't very good at being discreet but it did the job nevertheless.

His face widened in shock before comprehension dawned on his face.

He eagerly nodded,

"Uhhh, umm, sure here you go - just sign here and here. Do you want any extra help moving in? I mean I can help unpack boxes if you want...for free of course"

I quickly ushered him out of the house.

"No thank you."

I tried to be polite, I honestly did, but I think I came off a little sharp. I narrowed my eyes coolly and smiled as he recoiled. There was a ringing and I thought at the thought of being saved by a muggle phone. Saved by the bell... literally.

"Well, we better go, that's my boss. But let me know if you need anything ok? Here, this is so you can reach me after hours"

I took the card and grimaced. Ah well give him points for trying at least. The minute he was out of sight I ripped it up.

James POV

"James? Come here" a voice called from downstairs.

I walked downstairs to the kitchen where my mother was holding a fresh batch of cookies – my favourite cookies.

"Those for me?" I asked hopefully running a hand through my messy brown hair while the other reached out to grab a cookie. She slapped my hand away.

"Tsk James! No these are for the neighbours"

"You mean old Tom and Jerry?" She sighed at the use of my 'inappropriate' nicknames for the old couple that lived across the road.

"How many times do I have to tell you not to call them that? Their names are Zelda and Septimus."

"But seriously she looks like a cat and he really does look like a mouse! Plus they fight like all the time! Hence 'Tom and Jerry-"

I was about to say more when she cut me off.

"That's beside the point. No these are not for you or ZELDA and SEPTIMUS-"

"Ha! Zeptimus!"

"James." She glared at me until I shut up.

"This is for the girl that just moved in next door."

I got the feeling that she knew more about this girl than she let on, but then again my mother knew everything about everyone so I let it slide.

Suddenly a thought dawned on me.
"Mum what if she's a muggle?" A muggle in the house? What if she found out?

She waved off my concerns with a wave if her hand.

"Just invite the girl over for dinner. Seems like a neighbourly thing to do."

I was about to argue when my father shoved me out the door, winking as he did so.

Her house was on old Victorian Era mansion like the rest of the houses in the area. I could never understand people's fascination with them. Apart from the fact that they were big and full of secret passageways, that is.

I knocked on the door and was greeted by the sound of a dog barking. I jumped back a little, startled by the abrupt sound.

A girl, about my age answered. She tossed her hair over her shoulders and calmed the dog down muttering in some foreign language that sounded vaguely Eastern European.

"Sorry about Molly, she gets excited when we have visitors." She smiled.

I shook my head. "You're lucky to have a dog. Diana- my little sister- and I both want one but we're not allowed." I paused and handed her the cookies.

"Thanks, come in. What did you say your name was again?" Her eyebrows furrowed in concentration as she tried to imagine my name.

"Ladies first." I grinned and made a sweeping gesture with my hands. I noticed her glare and my grin widened.

"What? Chivalry isn't dead you know." I said innocently.

She snorted. "Chivalry my arse. I asked first."

I laughed but obliged. "I'm James, the neighbour"

"I'm Zanna. Nice to meet you James. Look I need to unpack but you're welcome to play with Molly if you want. Her toys are in that box over there." The bracelets on her arm jangled as she gestured to a box in the corner.

I smiled gratefully and she left the room.

Half an hour later Molly was exhausted from all the running around. Zanna came down the stairs wearing black skinny jeans and a white tank top. Her hair was half braided over one shoulder.

"Oh hey Zan," She raised her eyebrows at the nickname but did not comment "I forgot to tell you, mum wants you to come over for dinner –unless you're busy?"

I gave her my best please-don't-leave-me-with-them-look and she shook her head mockingly. "I'm not busy, saves me a night of packet noodles anyway."

As we walked into my house I saw Sirius sitting at the table. I immediately went over, it wasn't unlike him just to pop up randomly.

Sirius stood up and walked over to where Zanna was standing. He raised an eyebrow at me, but I just shook my head. Zanna narrowed her eyes at our little exchange but thankfully said nothing.

Sirius extended a hand and she took it.

"Hi, I'm Sirius. James, I see your taste in women has certainly improved since the last time I saw you."

I couldn't help but laugh. Trust Sirius's first thought to be that I'd somehow acquired a girlfriend.

"Zanna," She replied. "And I'm curious, what is his taste in girls? I mean it can't possibly be that bad?"

Now it was Sirius turn to snort. I groaned into my hands as he started listing all the girls I'd dated one by one.

"First year, red head. Pretty but more than just a little strange. Second year, he crushed on this blond, who was 3 years his senior, and third year the Potter Curse takes affect again, red head, green eyes."

I groaned again, I hadn't exactly dated them, more like a schoolboy crush. Sirius smirked.

"Sorry mate, it's not my fault that your taste in women is so low."

"Like yours is any better?" I retorted. Sirius was a well know player, he went for attractive, a good snogger and not much more.

He dismissed my accusations with a smirk and a wave of his hands.

"James, my dear, the eternal difference between your girls and mine is that mine are a) attractive and b) Very good snoggers."

Zanna bit her lip to keep from laughing.

"So are you saying that all the girls James has dated are ugly and suck at snogging?" she asked with raised eyebrows.

"In my defence-" I started before once again my mother interrupted.

"James, introduce us please" She said, breaking up the mock argument.

"Zanna, this is my mother Amelia Potter, and my father Adam Charlus Potter, mum, dad this is our new neighbour Zanna."

Zanna smiled

"It's very nice to meet you Mr and Mrs Potter."

"Oh dearie please, that makes us feel old. It's just plain old Adam and Amelia." She replied. "Where are your parents? It's a shame they couldn't make it tonight."

My mother asked, even though she looked as if she already knew the answer.

"My father's at work." Zanna said her smile slightly strained.

"And what of your mother?" Mum asked, still digging for answers.

Zanna tensed a little, it was clearly a sore subject.

"My mother's dead."

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