Mudblood

by Cynical-Smile01

It's been 9 years since the battle of Hogwarts. Old prejudices are still rife at Hogwarts on both sides and post-Voldemort magical Britain is on the verge of collapse if nothing is done. This is the story of one girl wanting to change things for good.

1. Meeting Your Destiny

Chapter 1: Meeting your Destiny

If I was JK Rowling I would be selling this for shed loads of money, not posting it as fan fiction. You can therefore assume I am not, infact, JK Rowling nor do I own the rights to Harry Potter or anything associated with it. I am also not Shakespeare, as he is dead, or the inventor of memory sticks because I wasn't even able to use a computer when they were released. So I basically own nothing you recognise. Neville's title is borrowed from justanothermuggle and I claim no rights over it. Thank you very much to my wonderful beta Lady Twi, who has put up with many idiotic sentences and poorly thought out dialogue on my part.

The short walk to the local secondary school wasn't my idea of fun. We were heading there so we could use their field for tag rugby. I mean what is the point of tag rugby. I would so much rather play contact rugby. At least then I can injure the stupid morons who get in my way. For some reason the other children were talking on the way there about football teams. No-one appreciates rugby it seems. Even if it is Tag Rugby.

"Yeah, Manchester United is the best team in the league" Constant talking was being rammed down my ear.

"Nah, Liverpool is so much better"

"What about you Amber?" The only person who was slightly nice to me actually decided to include me.

"Well, I don't really support a club. I mean, I have no need. It's a stupid sport anyway. Just like you, Louise, I guess." I wasn't prepared to take what I knew was coming without getting something in first.

"What? You freak," Here she goes, snarling about me, I was right, I could tell something was coming. "How can you not like football? It's, like, the best game in the world! Anyway, I'm not stupid. Honestly, my mum says I'm really smart."

"Yeah, compared to your mother I'm sure you are. Just tell me, was it an accident when she lost all those brain cells, or did she never possess them?" I thought it best to get the last word it. No way was I taking anything lying down. Stupid bitch. Honestly some people could be so insulting sometimes! Not everyone likes football. Not to mention she was incredibly thick. I really hated when people were thick. But…but I was hurt. All I wanted at first was to be friends. That was before she slammed me down. It wasn't the first time I had a comment about how I wasn't normal. I stared straight at her. Tried to imagine her on fire or something. Something delightfully satisfying, so she could feel physically what I felt on the inside. And then it happened. What I wanted happened. Just like every time I wanted revenge. Smoke started billowing from her cardigan. Other students started screaming and crying, yelling that Louise was on fire. Teachers came running as Louise struggled out of her burning garment. More of them screeched "It was Amber!", "Saw it with my own eyes!"

"Don't be silly. I know she tells tales about you guys but how could she…" She was silenced. I was beginning to shake from expending too much energy. All I could do was to stare at the cardigan, smouldering away on the tarmac. Someone knocked me, breaking my concentration. I looked up, and now I could see the fear in her eyes. Just like every teacher who saw me when I was hurting someone. They never come back the next day. Medical leave, we're told. They wouldn't ever tell the truth. No, nothing to ruin the image of their nice, friendly school.

At home that night I stared into the mirror in front of me as I ran the comb through burning locks. A pair of vivid green eyes stared back at me, but never seemed like they were really mine. Pretty, they are. And I am a freak. Freaks don't look pretty. They told me so, the other children. I'd known I was different from the other kids at my school since I was in reception. Nobody got on with me when I was little. I was the most darling of 5 year olds; all the parents wanted a child like me. So they, the other children, disliked me. What 5 year old would be so cruel? I have been left with the worst colouring pencils and I am bit upset no-one would share the better ones they had got first when there is a small light that no-one noticed and the pencils were immaculate, better than anyone else's. I had been told all my life: But Amber, honey, you can't be magical - only fairies and Father Christmas and people like that can do magic. How could I have done this? No-one can do magic, it doesn't exist. My parents may play along with Father Christmas, but I don't. So how can this have happened? It shouldn't have. It's impossible. I don't have a fairy godmother. I must have done this. But I couldn't have. Now I had made the fatal mistake of getting distracted. The class bully, a boy called Justin, who sits at my table notices they're nicer than his but when he tries to grab them (personally, I think he only tried because he was much bigger than me) they are stuck like they are super-glued to my hand. I hated how he tried to take advantage of people weaker than him and stare daggers at him. All I can think of was I wanted to make him stop. Justin then starts to choke. His jumper begins to shrink. I realise I have done it and I am terrified. Then it stops. Justin only pauses to call me a freak and run. He leaves the school the next day. And all the other children know is that the last words he uttered in our school was "Get away from me you freak." And he had said that to me. Why should they think differently? I was too absorbed in my own memories to even notice the single tear that stole down my cheek. But I noticed the flood as I cried myself to sleep that night.

DotDotDot

The next day I woke with a renewed vigour. It was time to reconsider my position. SATs were over, it was June. One more month until I was free from that hell hole and on my way to secondary school. I hoped that everyone would be more accepting there, but I knew in my heart of hearts that wasn't something I should even think, because it would be getting my hopes up too much. I jumped as I heard the bell ring.

"Good morning, my name is Pomona Sprout; please may I come in and discuss something with you?"

Some strange person was at the door. I heard the door slam and the adults went into the living room. I went back to my room to read my book. Why should I care about someone wanting to speak to my parents? Being a "freak" hadn't served me well in terms of friendships so I was well read in terms of literature. Of course, this labelled me as a weirdo as well as a freak. I hadn't even reached my room at the top of the house when my mum called my name. I slowly walked downstairs. It wasn't that I was shy, just that I had wanted to read. There she was, some batty old witch sitting on the couch, taking me away from my precious books.

"I take it this is your daughter?" The strange lady looked right at me. How odd? I wasn't used to being centre of attention. 7 years was enough to teach me to stay in the background when possible.

"Yes, this is Amber" My mum was as uncomfortable as I was. Why shouldn't she be? A strange person invites themselves into your house, and you aren't uncomfortable. And they refer to your 11 year old daughter. Very odd.

"Well, let's start then. My name is Pomona Sprout. I'm a professor at a school, a school I have come to offer Amber a place at.-"

"But she's already been allocated a school," My dad, ever on top of things. "Why would she be given a place elsewhere?"

"I understand, but she's been down for this school since she was born. Have you ever noticed her do something strange or abnormal...?"

I thought back to the lad who started choking and the girl who cornered me and passed out, then most recently Louise and the burning cardigan. I nodded, ever so slightly, indicating I hadn't even told my parents, for fear of ridicule.

"Magic exists. What you have seen was the result of your magic exploding out of you, Amber." She paused. "Amber…you are a witch."

My parents spluttered in unison: "You mean…magic…how did that happen?"

"There are thousands of witches and wizards that live all over the country in hiding. Sometimes the ability to do magic appears in those of non magical heritage. Research in the Department of Mysteries has revealed these people tend to have a squib, a non-magical person from a magical family, ancestor. They married muggles, non-magical people, and their history died with them." She said it oh-so-matter-of-factly, as if this was common knowledge. Well, I guess it was in the magical world.

"So all those people in history who were burned at the stake for being witches, they actually were witches? You mean, they weren't making it all up?" Now this piqued my curiosity.

"Well, no. You'll learn about it in History of Magic, but basically, a witch or wizard couldn't be burnt. They'd freeze the flames so they weren't harmed."

Well, this surely explained a lot of things. Nevertheless, I was still suspicious. How could I know that it wasn't a cruel trick played by the teachers, conspiring with my parents to send me away? They could think I was crazy. Try to trick me by saying they are going to send me somewhere that understands me.

"Please can you show me some magic?" Well, you can't blame me for being wary.

"Sure, why not?"

The coffee table started to float. The professor, Sprout I think she said her name was, hadn't said a word.

"Wow!"

"Do I take it you want to accept a place at the school?"

I didn't need to think about it long. After all, what else did I have to live for in this world? To live for the days of being tormented and isolated? "Of course!" Then as an after thought added "What's it called?"

"Hogwarts."

"What a funny name." I had to stifle my giggles at this point. I hope I wasn't too impolite. "When would I start? I mean, I don't know, would I start immediately…"

"Term begins on September 1st. However you will need to by some supplies before you go. The easiest way to explain is to give you your letter."

She handed me an envelope made of thick, yellow parchment with cursive writing in beautiful green ink. The letter seal appeared to be the crest of the school. There were 4 sections: A badger, a snake, an eagle and a lion. I peeled the seal and opened this heavy, old fashioned envelope. There was two pieces of the same, thick paper inside. It read:

HOGWARTS SCHOOL
of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmistress: Minerva McGonagall
(Order of Merlin, First Class)

Dear Miss Darrow,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,

Pomona Sprout
Deputy Headmistress

HOGWARTS SCHOOL
of WHICHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

UNIFORM
First-year students will require:
sets of plain work robes (black)
plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupil's clothes should carry name tags.

COURSE BOOKS
All students should have a copy of each of the following:

The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1)
by Miranda Goshawk

A Revised History of Magic by Hermione Weasley

Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling

A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch

One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi
by Phyllidia Spore

Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger

Defensive Magic by William Weasley and Harry Potter

A Study of British Muggles in the 21st Century by Alison O'Byrne

OTHER EQUIPMENT

1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
1 basic potion ingredient pack

1 trunk

1 school bag

Students may also bring and owl OR a cat OR a toad.

PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS

I began contemplating what this meant. A new life, a new start, where I wouldn't be judged because of something I couldn't control. Hang on… "Are…are there many students like me?" My voice went lower and I started to worry I'd stick out like a sore thumb at Hogwarts. I mean, everyone else would know loads of magic. I wanted to fit in; I wanted a life where I had friends.

"Of course, don't worry my dear, muggle born students make up approximately 25% of our intake." At least I wasn't alone as a newbie in the Wizarding World.

"That's good. Where can you buy all this stuff? I mean it's not like I could go to the local high street to get it."

"I might as well show you. Do you have anything planned to do for the rest of the day?"

"No," my dad answered "Just another point, how much would it cost to send Amber to this school. You make it sound like a private school, and even if it isn't, I have no idea how much the supply list will cost."

"Well, because you didn't know about magic until today you haven't been preparing to pay for a magical education and, as such, our ministry gets the money your government would have spent on her and uses that to cover our costs. All you are responsible for is the supply list. You will have to exchange some muggle money into Galleons but the goblins have a quite reasonable exchange rate currently and you'll find some things are a lot cheaper comparatively. If money is a problem we can give you a fund to help pay for the equipment."

"Oh no, it's not a problem I was just wondering."

"Very well, do you have some money on you now?

My dad pulled out his wallet and counted "Will £200 pounds be enough? I can withdraw some more if needs be."

"Let me think, at the moment it is 1 Galleon to £5 so that's…"

"40 Galleons," She looked back at me "Maths has always been my strong point."

"Well, I'm sure our Arithmancy teacher will look forward to teaching you in a few years…"

"You have magic to do with maths! Wicked!"

"Yes, quite. Personally I've never really got it but I'm sure you'll enjoy it. I tend to stick to my plants in the greenhouses but there you go. And no, I'm afraid not. You have to get 8 textbooks and those cost roughly 7 galleons each as well as everything else. I would exchange…£700 pounds so you have enough for equipment and some left over so Amber can buy some sweets on the train to Hogwarts and anything else she may wish to buy this year so you don't have to keep coming back to Gringotts. The muggle studies teacher told me to tell you that Gringotts now has something called an ATM machine for muggle customers. " She then pulled out a memory stick "Now I don't remember what it is but our muggle studies professor also told me it wouldn't look suspicious if I had it on me…"

"It's a memory stick, professor." I told her, trying to suppress yet another giggle. Sprout is so funny, what with all of her questioning household objects.

"That's it, personally I don't get the point of it, I mean it looks nothing like a stick and why on earth would you want to put your memory in it but, your choice."

This only made me want to laugh harder. "You use it to save information. Instead of having to write something up many times you can save it on a COMPUTER. A memory stick, or as some call it a DATA STICK, can move this information between computers. They taught us that in ICT, but I already knew how because I've used computers since I was three."

"That sounds more logical but it's so much easier just to charm quills to write it again and again. Anyway, let's get back to the point; this…data stick has been charmed to be a portkey. A portkey will, when activated, transport the person or persons holding it to anywhere in the world. This is a special one because I can activate it when necessary. It will take us to Diagon Alley which is the magical shopping place of choice for most witches and wizards. It sells all of the resources required for Hogwarts. Please place a finger on the object."

When my dad had got his card and we all had done as she had asked she took out her wand and tapped it. I felt a jerk in my gut that I can only describe as similar to the punch I got from another kid whose jumper throttled her - by accident, of course. My finger was stuck to the memory stick like it was held there by super glue and I kept spinning round and round like this was some warped rollercoaster ride that was sped up. I felt sick from the dizziness and I wanted solid ground beneath my feet. And then it stopped. I'd landed in what looked like the back room of an ancient, but spotless, pub. Professor Sprout led us out the door and into the bar. A lady who had long blond hair and had a notepad floating in the air above her head was serving the tables. She heard the door close and turned round, face breaking into a broad smile.

"Professor, it's been ages since you were last here. What can the Leaky get you today? The usual?"

"No thanks Hannah, I'm helping Amber get her Hogwarts equipment. And honestly, you're not a student anymore. You can call me Pomona!"

"Of course, Pomona. And sorry Amber I didn't see you there. So, you must be a muggle born?"

"Don't worry and yes, I only found out about magic…an hour ago. Everything is amazing, and, and, well magical!" For some reason I felt comfortable around her, even though I had only met her a few seconds previously. Shall we call it 'Witches Intuition'? I would have to watch my words though. I had no inclination to start of on the wrong foot.

"Well, dear, this is a magical world. You can do magic, remember?" She tweaked my cheek. I really hated that normally, but honestly it was a nice gesture. "You'll learn quickly enough. I mean the brightest witch I've ever known is a muggle born, no offence Pomona, not to put down your abilities."

"None taken. Hannah, none at all! I know Hermione Weasley is an incredibly talented witch. I have very little skill outside my greenhouses. Is Neville about? I thought I'd introduce him to Amber?"

"Sure, I'll just go and get him." She turned around and disappeared through a door behind the bar.

"Sorry Amber, Mr. and Mrs. Darrow, that was Hannah Abbott-Longbottom. She was in my house when she was at Hogwarts. She's the landlady of this pub and married to my Associate Professor of Herbology and Gardener, Neville Longbottom. He is quite famous for his role in a war that we had 9 years ago, when he was 17." A WAR! They had a war not a decade ago, and they expect me to be comfortable with it thrown in like that!

A man followed behind Hannah as she re-entered. His appearance shocked me a little. It seemed he had more scar tissue than flesh. Most noticeable were the scars on his wrists and two scabs running down his cheeks, on either side, that looked as though it must have been a curse that never healed or something. I'd have to read up on it. About 6 feet and very muscular, I have to say I wouldn't want to meet him in a dark alley. He stuck out his hand and I shook it.

"I'm very pleased to meet you sir."

Professor Sprout introduced us: "Amber, I'd like you to meet Professor Longbottom who will be your Herbology teacher. Neville, this is Amber Darrow a muggle born student who is getting her supplies today."

"And a pleasure it is to meet you too Miss Darrow. I must say you are the only student I've met who when introduced doesn't start shaking under my glaze. I'm glad. It really doesn't do well having my students terrified of me. I remember being terrified of my potions professor," He shivered involuntarily. "Yes, thank Merlin he's dead. I wouldn't cope being at Hogwarts if he was still there. I know I'm quite intimidating but let's just say I gave as good as I got in the end. The Death Eaters had it coming to them. If you want to know more read your history text or just wait for the lecture you get about the war in history of magic. I help with the section on the Hogwarts resistance. You're very lucky Professor Binns decided to spend the rest of eternity writing more books about goblin revolutions or I doubt you would be interested. And you get to spend a few hours listening to me regale my youthful days. I even considered calling the ghost busters in. Surely that would be worthy of an award for services to the school Pomona?"

"And I'm quite sure generations of students would be thanking you! We need to be getting on now but I'll see you next month for the team planning session if not before. Goodbye then."

"Goodbye Professor." I called. He was nice.

"See you Pomona, Miss Darrow." Professor Longbottom bid us farewell. Sprout led us off to the side.

"Professor Binns was the only ghost professor Hogwarts has ever had and most people tended to doze off in his lessons." Professor Sprout explained.

"Cool! It almost sounds like something out of a film!"

"It honestly isn't."

Yes, yes; I know Amber looks like Lily (Evans) Potter but that's only because they used to think Red hair and Green eyes were the mark of a witch, and I wanted to give Amber these attributes too. I can't say how long it will be until the next chapter is up because it needs to be edited, but I can say I have 9 chapters currently written.