Summary: A new girl enrolls at Hogwarts but she has a secret past. Who is her father and will the ghosts come back to haunt her when she finds out the truth? (I know, this summary sucks but it's the best I've got so far).
Disclaimer: I own nothing but Angelique Wood. I bow down to the wonderful world and mind of J. K. Rowling. Without her, we wouldn't have fuel for our imaginations.
A/N: Please read and review. Also, read my other stories Nightmare Seduction and In the Midsts of Snakes. Thank you.
IntroThe young girl stepped off the Knight Bus feeling very queasy and shaken up a little. She brushed her long raven hair away from her face and gazed up at the enormous foreboding structure in front of her. The evening breeze gently rustled her black robes around her feet as she felt her heart beating within her throat. Her hand trembled as she reached for the huge iron gates.
She jumped at the loud bang as the Knight Bus disappeared from behind her. Calm yourself, Angelique, she told herself. Everything will be all right. They know you're coming. She pushed open the gates and made her way to the castle… where she would call home and meet the family she only ever heard about.
Chapter OneOf Houses and Friends
Angelique sat in a cushy, oversized chair staring into a fire as Dumbledore looked through some papers. What's taking so long? She wondered. I'm cold, hungry, and tired.
Finally, Dumbledore looked up and smiled. "Well, Ms. Wood, I hope your travels to Hogwarts was tolerable."
Angelique rolled her dark brown, almost black, eyes. "That dreaded bus is anything but tolerable, Sir. I almost lost my stomach."
"Yes, that does tend to happen, but it is the quickest way to travel long distances. It seems that everything is in order for the start of your sixth year here at Hogwarts. You did very well in all your classes at Beauxbaton," he stated looking at the papers again. After a few more minutes, Dumbledore put the papers down, stood up, and walked over to a wall of shelves. Angelique noticed that he took down a very old and tattered-looking hat.
He saw the look of confusion on her face… a look he was used to seeing on a daily basis but not on such an innocent face. He smiled again and tried his best to ease the young girl's discomfort. "This is the Sorting Hat. Hogwarts uses it at the beginning of every school year to determine where each new student will live during his or her years here. It's seldom used during the year as we rarely have students join us after September. But seeing as you are transferring and it is only the middle of October…"
Dumbledore sat down right next to her in a chair she hadn't noticed before. She took a deep breath to try and calm her nerves. "What do I have to do?" she asked… a question every new student probably had on his or her mind.
"Just put it on," he replied as he handed Angelique the hat.
Angelique felt ridiculous as she took the frayed hat. What would putting on this particular hat accomplish? She placed it on her head and closed her eyes. Nothing happened for several seconds and Angelique wondered if this was some kind of joke the professors liked to play on unsuspecting children. If it was, she was going to start screaming. She was about to take the hat off when she felt it start to move. She closed her eyes so tight, she could see stars.
"Well," the hat spoke into her ear. "It seems I've seen this mind before."
What? Angelique thought. I've never been here before.
"Well, no… not you, dear girl, but your mind is familiar. I should put you in the house of your father…"
My father? She interrupted. You know who my father is?
"You will know in time. I'm not the one to tell you. Although I don't think that house would suit you very well. Yes… I know exactly where to put you." Out loud, the Sorting Hat said, "GRYFFINDOR."
Angelique only opened her eyes when she felt the hat taken from her head. She saw Dumbledore's smiling blue eyes. "Gryffindor is a fine house," he stated. "Only the bravest are chosen." Dumbledore put the hat back on the shelf then sat down at his desk once more. He took out a parchment and started writing. "Professor McGonagall is head of Gryffindor house and will see to your room assignment."
Dumbledore rolled up the parchment and handed it to Angelique. Just like that, she was enrolled at Hogwarts. "Um… Headmaster… can I ask you one question?"
"You may," he replied.
"The hat said something about my father." Angelique noticed that Dumbledore didn't look up from his hands. She continued. "Um… do you know who he is or where he might be?"
Dumbledore sighed and finally met her eyes. "It's late Ms. Wood. I suggest you head on up to Gryffindor Tower, settle in, and get a good night's sleep."
"But, Sir… I have never known my father. I think after sixteen years, I have a right to know."
"Yes… you do have that right. But not tonight. See me tomorrow after dinner. I'll answer all your questions then."
After getting directions, Angelique made her way to Gryffindor Tower. While trekking through the dark deserted corridors, thoughts of her father ran through her mind. What was he like? What did he look like? Where was he living? She arrived at the place where Dumbledore had instructed her to go. A portrait of a fat lady in a pink dress stood before her.
"Password?" the portrait asked.
No fucking way, she thought. The Headmaster didn't give me a stupid password. "Um…"
The portrait looked down at Angelique and realization set into her eyes. "Oh, you're the new Gryffindor. Stay right here and I'll go and inform the professor that you have arrived."
Angelique watched the lady disappear from the picture. She waited a few minutes, shifting from foot to foot for what felt like a long time. Suddenly, the portrait swung open. Angelique squinted from the bright light and warmth coming from within and tried to adjust her eyes to the shadow that stood before her. She saw, after a few seconds, an older woman in a plaid dressing gown and matching hat. It seemed that this woman had never smiled a day in her life.
Angelique uncomfortably held out her hand and gave the professor the parchment. The professor read it. "Ms. Wood?" she asked.
"Um… Yeah… uh… yes. I'm Angelique Wood. The headmaster said…," she started.
"The Headmaster has written it all here," she interrupted. "I am Professor McGonagall, Head of Gryffindor. Please, come inside and I will show you around." McGonagall stepped out of the way, but only after looking at Angelique for a little longer than was comfortable.
Angelique, feeling awkward, stepped through the portrait hole. She entered a great big room full of warmth. Overstuffed chairs scattered the room with tables here and there. A huge red tapestry with a golden lion adorned one wall. She also noticed three people (two boys and one girl) seated by a roaring fire.
"This is the common room," McGonagall stated, bringing Angelique back from her musings. "Here, you can do your school work or just talk with your house mates." McGonagall looked over at the other students, seeming to only just realize that they were there. "Why are you three still up?" she inquired. "It's way past lights out."
"We were…," the dark haired boy with glasses started.
"We were just finishing up some homework, Professor," she girl finished, with what looked like a warning stare to the boy.
"Well, then… off to bed," McGonagall said. They stood up and Angelique noticed that all they had with them was an old piece of parchment… no books. McGonagall placed her hand on the girl's shoulder. "Wait one minute."
"What is it, Professor?" she asked, a little lilt of fear in her voice.
"This is Angelique Wood," McGonagall said, indicating the other. "She is a new student and a sixth year like yourself. Angelique, this is Hermione Granger."
Hermione stared at Angelique, just as McGonagall had done earlier. Am I a freak show or do I have something in my teeth? Angelique wondered. "Um… hi," Angelique said, trying to get the other girl to stop staring at her.
Hermione blinked. "Hi… welcome to Hogwarts."
"Hermione, I would like you to show our new student around the school. She will be using the spare bed in your dorm and she'll be in most of your classes. Tomorrow, you can compare schedules. Maybe Harry and Ronald could be of assistance as well."
"Of course, Professor. It would be my pleasure."
Angelique thought she heard a hint of sarcasm, but somehow knew that this girl was being serious.
"Wonderful. Now… off to bed. Angelique has a big day ahead of her." McGonagall left the common room.
"Well, let me show you where you'll be sleeping," Hermione said, trying to stifle a yawn.
Angelique laughed a little. "Looks like I'm not the only one who's tired."
"I rarely get any sleep anymore these days." Angelique followed Hermione up a set of stairs to get some sleep so she could be ready to face the challenges of a new school… and hopefully get some answers to the burning question about who her father was.
A/N Well… that's the first part. I've had this story in my files for years now. No spoilers for any of the books because this is a product of my delusional little mind. Please… read and review. And don't worry… my other stories will be updated soon. I'm currently working on the next chapter to Nightmare Seduction and trying to find the missing pages to continue In the Midst of Snakes. Love to all who review…