The first few chapters will be developing my OC character Selena Davenport and introducing her to the society of the Harry Potter Universe. The story will ultimately be Selena/Sirius but not until a bit later. This story will not be canon. I hope you enjoy.
"SLYTHERIN!" It's always interesting which house each new student will be sorted into at the opening feast of every year, the hat's riddle is always the most curious, but no one ever pays much attention to its words really. I miss the feast of my own sorting, before all the segregation and mild hostility that comes from the other houses once you've been sorted. Sure, most of it is friendly competition, but there's always the knowing looks of those from the older families. The stark difference in emotion shining through their eyes that you just don't get from the muggle borns and almost all the half bloods. The clear hatred some have towards others. The naivety was much more desired to this.
"Selena!" I jump suddenly looking over to my best friend Telula, the girl I've been practically shackled to the hip for the past 5 years, calls me to attention. Her eyes narrow, "You're zoning out again, Jacobson was sorted into Slytherin and you weren't cheering." I just shrug and turn back to view the rest of Great Hall, cheering when appropriate, and she just rolls her eyes at me. "You know, I love your enthusiasm and all, but you'd be much more approachable if you actually paid attention to others instead of getting lost up there some time."
I turn to her aghast, "I'll have you know I play plenty of attention to others I have you to prove that don't I?" I cross my arms and pout waiting for her to answer.
"Yes, and I'm sure the 'attention' you get from Abraxas makes you think so to," She noted nonchalantly and reached for a biscuit as the food appeared.
"Well, it certainly helps, doesn't it?" I smirk at her mischievously and we both break out into laughter.
Accepting this Telula sighs muttering, "What am I going to do with you?"
"Why love me of course dear Looah"
"Oh god not THAT name again sweet Merlin do shut it before someone hears you!" I reach over to hug her effectively blocking the finally buttered biscuit from reaching its home.
"Aww, I knew you loved me Looah."
"Right yes, yes get off me now would you!" Releasing her, I returned to my own meal at hand.
"Plus, you'd be abhorrently bored without my constantly upsetting life to fix and we all know you'd go absolutely bonkers if left to the hands of Chelsea and Karen."
"Alas, your words have never rung truer. Anyway, why aren't you sitting with Abraxas?"
"He has his own friends to impress, and I don't quite see myself as much of an entertainer as I'm sure you'll agree." I quipped giving her a knowing look. "Plus, he has his perfect duties afterwards so I will just wait to see him after he's finished showing all the little firsties around."
"So I'm assuming this contract will fulfilled soon then hm?" Telula's eyes were positively sparkling with this question.
Shuffling in my seat I respond, "Well, its been signed by our fathers and seeing as we've been dating for two or so years we agreed to wait until after I've graduated from Hogwarts before we seal the deal y'know? I suppose he'll propose to me sometime my 7th year if all goes well."
Clapping excitedly Telula nearly jumps in her seat, "AHHH! That's so exciting I'm so happy for you two, it's not often you get to marry the one you love in this day." Sighing dreamily, her eyes glance to another table in the Great Hall.
Pressing my lips together I put my hand on her shoulder, "I know Telula, but maybe in time. The world changes every day." Smiling sadly at me we continue our meals and the night melds into every other night we've had at Hogwarts.
I cuddle up on the couch with a book in the common room by the fire waiting for Abraxas to return with the first years. As time drifts by I lose myself in the writings of the journal of Podric Batworthy. Suddenly hands cover my eyes and the words, "Hello love" are whispered into my ear. The stupidest most cheesiest face splitting smile crossed my face and I turned to gaze at Abraxas. Standing I give him the biggest hug I could causing his breath to escape in a huff. Chuckling he hugged me back, "I missed you too," he spoke lowly as he strokes my hair and gives my head a kiss. Pulling away I couldn't help myself put to peck him quickly on the lips and pull him to sit down next to me on the couch. "Well Miss Davenport, aren't you excited to see me!"
"Not like you didn't miss me equally!"
"Of course not love." Snuggling in to him we caught up with each other over the past couple of weeks that have passed with only letters passing between the two of us. Talking until our lids grew droopy and our exhausted bodies brought us to the doors of our dorms with tender kisses as our goodnights.
The next day came with the usual surprises of schedules and class times. With the end of breakfast saw the start of the first class for 5th years with Hufflepuffs.
"Good morning class. It is well and good to see all your shining faces once more in Herbology. Now, I'll be mixing things up a bit along with most other professors this year. Each of you will partner with a member of the other house." Telula looks at me nervously at this and I nod for her to do as I know for a fact that she wants to do. "Once you find a partner, this will be your partner for all your quarterly projects this year and our yearlong project of growing your own Chinese Chomping Cabbage in the greenhouses this year." Slowly but surely, Telula made her way over to Felix Matthews, a muggle born, who smiled warmly at her before agreeing to be her partner. At this one could see her nervously push her hair behind her ears and smile softly. Proud of her, I turned to the closest person to myself, Daniel MacMillan, and joined up for the year.
The day did progress much like how Professor Sprout insisted it would with the pairing of tables and partners being a mix of houses in both Charms and History of Magic as well with Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws respectively. Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts will be with the Gryffindors tomorrow only separated by Transfiguration with Ravenclaws. Sighing, I can only hope the same people will be in my Arithmancy, and Ancient Runes classes.
As I walk into my Arithmancy class I take note of the still small class size of students only comprising of a few Hufflepuffs, Gryffindors and Slytherins, whilst mostly being Ravenclaws. Of the 23 students who took Arithmancy it looks as only 18 returned for OWLs. Slowly, I made my way to Remus Lupin, nodded at him and sat down. "I hope that after last year we could continue our partnership?" I raised one of my brows at him. He simply nodded. We didn't talk much of last year, but Remus, when not surrounded by that heinous lot he consorts with, was quite intelligent in most subjects bar potions where he seemed to struggle for some reason. So, we were partnered for one project, realized we got on well enough and worked together even better and decided to keep partnering up for all further projects in Arithmancy together, much to the confusion of the muggle born he normally studied with Lily Evans, who was the quite the witch indeed that had a friendship with Severus. The only problem with partnering with Remus was his chronic monthly ailment. I most likely would not have noticed it much if I hadn't sat next to him and partnered with him on every project we did in this class. No one else seemed to comment much on it and the professors were always understanding of it, but he always seemed fit as a fiddle during the remaining month. Suspicious to say the least. It isn't as though he gets his period or something. Snorting, Remus glances at me questionably as Professor Vector lectures on. Shaking his head, he went back to taking his own notes and class was back to normal and boring as ever. Most of this school was mundane with its petty gossip, simple lives of the students, and consistency of the teachers. There were always those secrets whispered between the closest of friends that could ignite a major feud of some kind if ever released to the general public, but it is what it is. Remus and his friends are generally entertaining when they've set their sights on someone. However, their treatment of Severus was usually unnecessary since that Potter boy like Evans so much and couldn't stand how Severus spent so much time with her.
Later, I found myself alone in the library as Abraxas remained busy and Telula was off galivanting with that muggleborn she had a great crush on that she couldn't let the other students know of. It's like one of those secrets that would start an uproar. Oh, her parents would instantly cart her off to another school and expedite her marriage to that twat of a betrothed she's got. As I made my way through the stacks of the ancient tomes and scrolls of this place, I discover Severus and Evans studying with the companionship of Remus. The tension between Severus and Remus could be cut with a knife the way that Severus would glare and Remus and Remus would glance nervously at Snap and quickly look away. Moving towards one of the empty desks nearby I plop my bags down and begin to pull out some of my work for the next week when I hear Remus' voice, "Are you all alone?" Glancing up, I see all three of them looking intently at me. Evans with confusion, Remus with curiosity, and Severus with suspicion.
"I don't plan on anyone else joining me, why?"
Nervously looking around before settling his eyes on me again he spoke, "Well, uh, you could join us? You're pretty good with Arithmancy, you think you're any better with Charms?" Smirking at this, he waited for my response with one questionably raised eyebrow.
"I don't see why you would doubt me." I moved my things from my table to theirs, sitting in between Remus and Severus. "I suppose introductions are in order, I am Selena Davenport, as Slytherin 5th year, and it is a pleasure to meet your acquaintance." I nodded to Evans as she looked on still confused.
Remus nudged her and she was startled into action, "Lily Evans, Gryffindor 5th year."
"Your reputation precedes you Miss Evans it should be quite the honor to study with you." Severus' eyes narrow at this and Lily looks suspicious too.
"What I'm sure she means is that it's common knowledge that you are very intelligent, am I right?" Remus looks at me for confirmation.
"Oh, yes that's what I mean. Please excuse my formality I forget it's much different when it comes to meeting new people when within these walls." Lily seems to accept that and nods continuing with her studies asking questions here and there. Severus keeps his narrowed eyes on me for a while more before turning to answer one of Lily's questions. I hear Remus sigh in relief. I lean over to whisper to him, "I'm not embarrassing you in front of your friends, now am I?" I give him my best look of mischief.
He quickly whispers back, "Oh Merlin no, if anything I'm glad you're here. You can be much more pleasant than Snape over there." We both look at him conspiratorially.
"He is very much the moody brooding type, although Evans seems to make him relax a bit."
"She's a wonder, Lily is."
"You know Lupin, you're not too bad." He looks at me questioningly at this. "I mean, your compatriots can be a bit much, but you're quite reserved when you wish, not nearly as wild." He seemed to stiffen at the word wild.
Recovering quickly he said, "You know you can always call me by my first name?"
"Hmm, I know, but isn't that reserved for close acquaintances and friends?"
"You know after a year of working together in Arithmancy we would at least be close acquaintances?"
"I suppose you're right, Remus."
"I'm so glad you agree with me Selena." Chuckling to each other we get a weird look from Severus before Lily takes his attention again. Everything considered, it was an honor to study with Evans as she had a very peculiar way of looking at magic and the way it works, which in all honesty was refreshing. She still seemed reluctant around me, but nothing the reassuring Remus couldn't assuage. It was also different to acknowledge the small friendship between myself and the half blood. It was nice, but I only wonder how long it'll last when his ever faithful knights in shining armor arrive. And speaking of the devil their voices could be heard approaching the table.
"Mooney! It's the first day for Godric's sake you can't possibly have anything to study?" Potter, boisterous as ever drapes himself across Remus' shoulders from behind. "We know you're extremely studious and first day studying isn't that out of the norm for you, but the snakes?" Evans seemed to fume at this, her face heating up and turning an interesting shade of pink.
"Leave us alone! Just because you guys are incapable of simple pleasantries with someone from another house doesn't mean you have to butt in on Remus' life and interrupt us!"
"My dear Lily flower, I mean no disrespect, but you seriously need to reconsider the company you keep."
"The only one who should be reconsidering anything would be you and your ludicrously immature actions you prat!" With this Lily stormed away with Severus following closely and Potter hot on their heels Pettigrew following meekly. Plopping himself down in the chair next to Remus, Black inclined himself towards me.
"Why, I do not believe we have met before. The name is Sirius Orion Black, but you can call me Sirius sweet thing." He waggled his eyebrows at me.
"I know exactly who you are Black. Much like Miss Evans you have quite the reputation."
"Oh, I'd believe every word if I were you."
Sneering at him I reply, "Oh I'm sure your quite the cretin your mother likes to say you are, I've seen so myself. Walburga has always been the sensible one in that family of yours, what's not to believe?" Glaring at me now he stiffened all manner of friendliness gone. Remus looked very nervous as he watched us interact. "With that, I suppose I'll take my leave. Remus," I nod in his direction and he mutely nods back, "and Black, I suggest you learn to mind your manners when speaking to a lady as you never know as to what will bite you back. Oh, and the name is Selena Davenport, sound familiar?" With a final sneer in his direction, I exit to the sounds of Black's complaining. Making my way to the dungeons a shadow appears scaring me a bit.
"Salazar! Severus, the next time you wish to speak to me you could always approach me in a much nicer manner." He scoffs at this.
"You seemed quite friendly with Lupin back there."
"Yes, and you with Evans, watch what you say Severus."
He scowls at this, "You need to be careful Selena. He isn't like the rest of us."
"Slytherin? Pure blood? It's not like you aren't a half blood too. Please Severus, pointing out the obvious, I never expected you to stoop so low."
Growing frustrated, "I'm serious Selena, he's dangerous! You need to be careful around him Selena."
Sighing I turn to him, "Severus, your relationship with Evans is dangerous, my friendly acquaintance with Remus is purely academic. We were partners all last year in Arithmancy, and if you are worried about what Abraxas will think I'll have you know that he knows better than to try and tell me what to do if he knows what's good for him."
"Whatever Selena do as you wish, see if I care." He stormed away from me then further down the corridor and into the common room. Strange that he would try to warn me like that. Even stranger the names that the self-proclaimed Marauders have for each other. Mooney. Stranger and stranger.