Hello dearies!

Yes, I'm uploading the whole story again. I just fixed some heaps of mistakes here and there; since I wrote the first chapters many years ago, there were many things I was not as happy with and many words were mispelled. I'm rewriting the whole story and I'm already on chapter twelve and I'm really happy with my work so far; I'm learning everyday and I think each year I become a little bit better, that's why I keep modifying my work.

Many of the characters in my work are not going to be well liked at the beggining, one of them holding many of the trails I hate about people, but I grew to love them, and I hope you will too. I know Natalia seems a little bit too pretty which alas makes her look like a Mary Sue, but please forgive me! Most of my OC's never fit what society calls beautiful (because I think oddity is beautiful) but I just wanted to play with the idea of a "pretty girl" for once; besides, I'm still trying to give her some touches here and there so she'll be even more perfect (on a non conventional way). By the way, when I mean "what society calls beautiful" yes, I mean a skinny, middle height, white, usually blonde character (which is really beautiful and there are many girls out there who are STUNNING and look like that) but what I mean is that we barely ever get chacters from different ethnics and body types and that kind of stuff so I usually like to write characters who fit that norm (My main OC will have some twists here and there but she'll be mostly traditional pretty)

So basically I vaguely inspired the structure of the first chapter from another fic I read ages ago, and when I say "inspired" I mean the fact that I divide the first chapter in my OC's and Regulus Black's POV like the other fic did; I also add Sirius's POV but that's completely on me. Besides that little similarity, the rest is all mine; I still feel like this first chapter itself lacks of personality of it's own, but I find my writer's "voice" from like the second and so, and I think all of those are more enjoyable and they're also (I hope) pretty original . Having said that, please, do not steal my work; It's not only rude, but it's also a crime.

If you have any suggestions or questions, feel free to hmu, I may not answer straight away because I barely check fanfiction but I'll try to do my best.

Enjoy the read and of course do not forget, the whole wizarding series of Harry Potter belongs to the one and only, J.K Rowling. I'm merely using her characters and playing around with them and the plot.

In the land of gods and monsters,
I was an angel.
Living in the garden of evil,
Screwed up, scared, doing anything that I needed.
Shining like a fiery beacon,

Natalia blew a strand of curly golden hair out of her face and watched skeptically as James Potter swerved into a dive that didn't seem completely right, even she could see that.

Natalia Yaxley disliked school Quidditch, especially Gryffindor's. She could stand to watch world cups whenever her family would attend one and she would cheer if Slytherin scored a goal but still she couldn't understand what was going on half of the time. The only reason she was near the Quidditch field that morning, and the few mornings that preceded that one, was because she knew that it would be the last place people who knew her would look for her. It wasn't that she didn't enjoy the attention of loved ones, but she had had a very good reason to avoid her brother for the last week or so. Besides, it was rather a nice day. It was sunny, quite warm for late October, she guessed the warmest it would be in the whole day, and it would be a shame to ruin such a day with her brother's presence.

"Natalia, I've been looking for you!" a voice said quite short of breath managing to make the other girl jump on her spot.

When the witch looked up she found her best friend.

Jane Abbott was the tallest witch in their year, making her also the skinniest and boniest; both her legs probably making one whole of Natalia's. She had coffee brown eyes which she complained about- too boring, she'd say; a blonde bob full of locks which she believed were alright; milky skin a and tiny face that had nothing out of the ordinary. Natalia believed she was pretty but sometimes Jane tended to disagree.

Before the shorter witch could do or say anything, she heard her best friend's voice once again, frowning and squinting her eyes: "What are you doing? Is that my potions essay?"

Natalia just glued her eyes to the field, slightly embarrassed and very nervous. She definitely wasn't planning on getting caught copying off from the other girl's essay. But honestly, could anyone blame her? Jane just left it there, over her bed while she had gone to study to the library and the it was due to the next day. Besides, Natalia knew fully well that Jane knew that she hadn't done anything yet, so it was the right thing to do to let her copy off hers anyway, it was written on the rules of friendships.

"Sorry" her voice came out almost a groan "Potions' too difficult and I've been so stressed, Janie! You simply wouln't believe me if I told you how much"

The other girl was about to reply but Natalia hurried added: "But don't worry! I swear I'm changing most of the words. Slughorn won't even notice I didn't think of this all by myself"

Jane Abbott rolled her eyes and sat down, still annoyed by the subject, drawing her lower lip between her teeth.

"You could have asked, you know?"

The shortest witch looked heavenward, already getting tired of the conversation. Why did people find so much pleasure from telling her off? It seemed to be everyone's favourite hobby lately, she'd come to find out. Good thing she didn't let the critics get to her.

"Forget about it, Jane. Morgana, you can be annoying sometime!s"

The girl threw a laugh

"I'm the annoying one...? How does that work?"

Natalia rolled her eyes and decided to stop writing, sitting up and getting herself more comfortable next to her best friend, homework could wait. She liked sitting on the grass and her thick stockings were keeping her safe from itching, something that seemed to be bothering Jane. She really knew she should be finishing that essay, but she needed to talk to her best friend or else she'd go crazy.

"Did I mention you how stressed I am?" Natalia asked while raising a perfect, big, golden eyebrow

Jane who was too busy trying to bite an apple didn't answer; instead she just raised her eyebrows. She had been told many times about the matter that was keeping her friend upset, but many years of friendship had taught her to endure moments like that one, because if there was something the Yaxley heiress loved was repeating stories over and over. Besides, to be fair, Jane hadn't heard that much about that problem in particular, being so recent and all.

"Simon wants to set me up for tutoring with Evan Rosier. How disgusting is that?" she complained while hand brushing her own hair without care.

Both friends frowned.

If there was something Jane Abbott wouldn't want for herself or anyone else, it was spending time with Evan Rosier, him being the pig he was. She imagined, however, that her friend may have had it much worse than she or anyone else in the castle would, since the Slytherin boy seemed to… fancy Natalia, to put it on simple terms.

"Is it because of the Transfiguration matter?" she asked while giving a big bite to her apple, getting some juice running through her chin which she quickly cleaned with the back of her hand.

"Yes" she sighed "Mother has been unbearable during the whole summer holidays, as you know. She didn't like the letter of complaint she received from Professor McGonagall; the one where she said I barely made it last year because I'm 'way too out of focus'" she mimicked, exaggerating her gestures "How ridiculous is that?"

"Well…" Jane said slowly, trying no to offend the other witch with her words "You do talk a lot… And you only got an acceptable last year because your father went to school with-

The killer gaze she received made her realize she shouldn't had said nothing at all, so she zipped her mouth after.

"I'm just saying, Jane, that the only reason why I'm still in her class is because mother told me to. And the whole thing it's plain stupid! I don't even have to follow a career after next year's finished! I'll be happily married and those transfigurations classes will be of no help when that happens."

Jane rolled her eyes.

"I'm aware of that. But hey, at least you keep me company. Doesn't that make you feel better?" She smiled charmingly, giving a final bite to her apple and disappearing the core of it with a simple wand shake.

Natalia let some air out of her lounges and shrugged, while lying on the grass again, this time with her face looking to the sky, her eyes matching the colour of it.

"Not really" she replied while adjusting her view to the sky, hands on her stomach "I guess she just wants me to be the best version of myself. And I am. I just don't understand why she has to make Simon my babysitter. He's barely older"

"Yes, I know, but I have noticed he's been more intense about the matter lately"

"That's because my last grade wasn't exactly... well, you know, you saw it yourself"

And Jane nodded, remembering how sad Natalia had been a few days ago when their god their grade back, but there was nothing else she could say to make her friend to feel better, so she lied on the grass as well next to her. She really didn't want to get involve on a Yaxley family kind of discussion, because she knew how they all ended. Besides, she was sure it really wasn't that much of a big deal; as Natalia had voiced out herself, she wasn't even going to follow a career and the worse that could happen to her from failing again was having her brother up her arse for another semester.

"Isn't James Potter looking good today?"

Natalia's features twisted on a playful manner, while bursting into laughs.

"Ugh, you are so disgusting!"

Jane giggled a little too.

"You can't deny James Potter is a sweetheart"

"Yeah, and he's chasing after a mudblood half of the time. How attractive. Definitely husband material! And those glasses he has! Melting for!" her voice laughed, filled with sarcasm.

Jane set her eyes on blank, holding onto just one sentence of all the ones the other witch had let out: "Don't even tell me about it. Lily this, Lily that. Can't he see she's basically a muggle?"

Natalia let out a deep breath

"Jane, you're giving me a headache. Really, I thought you were getting over this; we hadn't talk about him like this in months, I was starting to think you made progress. James Potter is almost a blood traitor. As I already told you, If I were you I would start looking for someone who is really worth your time and not obsessed with a mudblood. Try Tristan Nott or my own bloody brother if you feel like it for all I care"

Jane let out a small scream of frustration while shaking her hands up and down and looking expectantly at Natalia

"Is not that easy, you know? I have liked him since I was like four" She explained with a hurtful look on her face

"I know"

"And I would never date your brother. He is insufferable"

Natalia Yaxley let out a snort while closing her eyes and enjoying some sunlight against her skin. She agreed with her friend about that, Simon could usually be a pain in the arse.

A bludger flew awfully close to the spot where they were hidden and the relaxing moment was over. Natalia's eyes were filled with anger. Thank you a lot, Quidditch.

"Ugh, let's get out of here. This sport is making me sick"

• • •

Sirius Black frowned at the bubbling cauldron in front of him. James Potter cheerfully chopped up some strange herbs neither him nor Sirius knew the name of but they were sure had seen at least once before on a book back in fifth year. He added them to their cauldron and it hissed. Both boys frowned, knowing something was probably wrong, like most things were those days.

"You know we're going to fail, don't you?" Sirius said on a defeated tone. The subject not even bothering him as much as it should have.

James clicked his tongue playfully and smirked.

"Now, don't be so negative, Padfoot. We can't fail; we need this class to be aurors, as you know. Besides, we always manage"

"That if I don't die out of boredom. Or poisoned by this" he said coughing, a look of displeasure on his face "What's even in there, mate?"

James shrugged

"I have no idea. Maybe we should ask Lily; bet she'll know"

Sirius laughed.

"You're truly hilarious, you knew that?" James didn't respond, rolling his eyes instead "Seriously, that girl hates your guts"

"No, she doesn't. She just... doesn't know me that well just yet. But as soon as she does, she'll fall for me just like that, man"

Sirius rolled his eyes and then went silent for a little bit only to open his mouth again two minutes later, a small smile on his lips: "No wonder you're smiling all the time; here in your seat, just in front of Evan's, the only pretty chick around. You didn't think of my necessities when you made me take this class, did you?"

This time, James denied, treating the whole sentence as just absurd.

"Come on, Sirius. There are plenty of hot girls in here. Like... Sam Nicks!" he claimed while with his head pointing at the light haired brunette who was wearing the Gryffindor colours on her tie.

Sirius made a sound full of disgust.

"You know she's crazy mate; that takes any hotness out of the sentence. Don't you remember how she threw a frog at me? And it was alive!"

James laughed off at the memory. The common room had been in shock for days and he and the rest of their mates had teased Sirius about it for even longer than that.

"Well, you saw it coming. You snogged her a couple times and next thing, she sees you doing the same to Marlene for the 100th time the same day you two were supposed to go on a date"

The black haired boy shrugged, taking importance off the matter.

"You know Marlene. She has that something"

Both friends laughed.

"But seriously, mate. There are pretty girls in this class, other than Lily and Samantha."

A sharp and abrupt laugh coming from the boy made some people turn to look at them.

"If you suggest any of the Slytherin chicks, I'll smack you."

James shrugged.

"Nott's a bit creepy, so… no"

"Which leaves us with the worse of the lot" Sirius said bitterly

"Hey! Jane is actually really nice. Our parents are friends, so we always end up spending time together during Yule, you know that" he said "You should see her brother play Quidditch– one of the best chasers out there, I swear, mate. He played for Gryffindor a few years ago, back at when we were first years, do you remember?"

"Ah yes. Pete Abbott. Cool guy. Wonder why his sister ended up in Slytherin"

James raised his shoulders, being incapable of giving his friend an answer. He had wondered that too once or twice.

"She is actually really pretty too. Her hair looks nice" he said while observing her "Not as nice as Lily's but..." he added quickly

Sirius just rolled his eyes. Of course James was going to bring Lily to the conversation...

"And Natalia Yaxley-

"Don't even mention her" Sirius growled.

The boy with the glasses chucked

"Friends, uh?"

"Sort of the same story you just told, but Natalia Yaxley's family is nothing like Jane Abbott's"

"Yeah, so I've heard"

"They are the worst blood supremacist you could ever meet. The mother alone is worse than my own bloody family; seriously, my mother adores that woman; that should tell ya something"

James nodded understandingly

"Right, and her brother is Slytherin's keeper and-

"Simon Yaxley, really a douche. My mother used to make me play with him when I was younger but he was too much of an arsehole for me to like. But I guess he's still better than his sister"

James arched an eye while moving his glasses up with his nose, something typical of James when he was curious.

"Is she really that bad?"

Sirius snorted but it somehow sounded like a barf

"She's the worst, mate. I'm telling you. The fires lit but the cauldron's empty; has the brain of a troll and the only things she ever thinks about are clothes and all those pureblood rubbish. At least you can get some smart sentences from Nott. She only got her OWLs because of her family's connections"

"Sounds a lot like most Slytherin girls" James laughed, and soon Sirius joined.

The bell rang for the end of class, and James hurried to quickly pour his unfinished potion into a vial. They hadn't had enough time to finish it, but a quick glance at Lily Evans's perfect potion told him that they'd clearly gone wrong, somewhere. While James went up to Slughorn's desk to submit the vial, Sirius leaned back casually in his seat and observed Natalia Yaxley.

They'd met when they were very young, before Hogwarts. Sirius remembered her very well, a small chubby girl, tanned skin, big blue eyes and long golden hair perfectly French braided, a few baby curls sticking out here and there. She'd always been noisy, and the few days that she spent at his house with her family consisted of her fighting with Sirius and their younger siblings, Simon and Regulus. He admitted to himself that she was quite fun back then; always up to anything he wanted to do, but that was way before she started thinking just as their parents.

While now older, she still looked really similar to that child he had met many years ago. He could always hear her nasal voice, no matter how far away their desks were from each other's. While she had grown in age she still stood very short, he supposed she was one of the shortest of their year; she had lost most of her baby fat everywhere but her face, her nose was still too big for her face and her hair reached her waist, small curls on the ends; Sirius thought that made her look ridiculous, who needed that much hair?

As they grew up, both of them realized that there was no chance of ever being okay with each other's presence again. Sirius had spoken to her once or twice during their first year, simply because she was a familiar face among many unknown ones. Natalia had seemed eager to offer him her friendship until she realized he was hanging out with Remus and Peter, whom she said were not people worthy of his time, their last names almost unheard of. After that, neither of them had even glanced at the other. They were different people, leading different lives, connected only by the fact that their parents were good friends.

To be honest, he didn't truly believe she was the worse snake in the castle; she just was the most annoying one and the one he actually had to tolerate from time to time when their parents would meet up.

It was his friend's voice what got him to escape his thoughts. He seemed pretty horrified about the fact that he had spent that much time thinking of a Slytherin.

"Oi, Sirius! Come on, I don't want to miss lunch!" James yelled at him. Sirius nodded, quickly gathering his things and rushing out of the Potions classroom.

He was hungry.

• • •

Regulus Black entered the Great Hall still in his Quidditch robes, after a disappointing morning. They had lost their practice because of those stupid Gryffindor's and all the special attentions they got because of Dumbledore. Furious, he sat down besides Parkinson, who was still complaining about it.

Regulus ate quietly with a dark look in his eyes, but the rest of the team seemed to have forgotten about the matter quite quickly. He wouldn't have cared so much if that one hasn't been his first practice as an official member of the team. He had been trying to get in since second year, but it wasn't until fifth that he made it in because Zacharias Doelley from fourth year's grades were too low for him to continue in the team. Two weeks had passed and that Wednesday they were supposed to have their first practice with Regulus as a member, but since dear old Dumbledore was a great fan of both, Gryffindor and Quidditch, he had given their day to the lions's team, as a regard for winning the previous year cup, they would have both, Wednesdays and Thursdays, while Slytherin would be moved to Mondays. It had only been decided recently.

A high pitched laugh came from the other side of the table, so loud that Regulus heard it clearly from his seat. He only had to look up once to know that the loud person was Natalia Yaxley, along with her friend, the Abbott girl.

He really didn't know Natalia Yaxley that well, since she was one year ahead of him, but because their parents were friends he knew her well enough to say that the witch was a pain in the arse. She was loud, dumb and a spoiled brat, all things he despised. He supposed it wasn't really her fault, but 's by encouraging her behavior and seeing no wrong in his daughter, apparently. From what he heard from other members of the house, the witch was an absolute empty cauldron head, but pretty and rich enough to find a good husband once the time came; Regulus felt sorry for the poor bastard who was unlucky enough to marry someone like her. She was completely immature, and exactly the kind of person he wished he would never be associated with.

That was probably the only thing he had in common with his brother–despite they not knowing about it: they both despised Natalia Yaxley and her noisy mouth. The difference was that Sirius could be totally rude to her and that would make no difference to anyone, Regulus on the other hand had to stop himself from speaking out his mind about her, since she was his Quidditch team captain's little sister. So, Natalia Yaxley was indeed a silly girl both Black brothers would just have to tolerate.