0. . .oO•.o. Travelling Home .o.•Oo. . .0

Warning: This story might contain mild content, themes, and language which some may find offensive.

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners, JK Rowling and Stephenie Meyer. The original characters and plot are the property of me - the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement intended.

Summary: At just 3 years old, she is taken away from her father to live in America. She is believed by everyone but a few to be dead. Now grown up, after things taking a turn for the worst in America, she has the chance to return home. Will she be able to live the lie in Britain? What dangers will come to her if she reveals all?

A/N: This story is a rewrite of my original story 'Never Too Far Away', but I decided to post it under a different name because otherwise it would have just confused everyone else.

Anyway, here is Chapter One! Please review/follow/favourite, I want to do better than the previous version for this story!

Beta Read by 'emsaduem' - thank you loads!

0. . .oO•.o. Travelling Home .o.•Oo. . .0

CHAPTER 1

•~Annie~•

Timeline for this chapter: August, 1980 - September, 1988 (Most years are spoken from a past tense POV)

My name is Annabelle Black, the only daughter of Sirius Black and Aurora Swan, the mother who I never will know; she had passed away just a few days after my birth. Our safe house was attacked one night when I was only three years old by Voldemort and his death eaters. A house elf named Kreacher managed to rescue me from that fate and handed over to a man named Regulus Black – my uncle. From there he took me to Forks, Washington in America to live with my Uncle Charlie Swan, the chief of the Muggle police in the town, and his wife - my aunt – Renée, the most fun but crazy person I know.

They both agreed in a heartbeat to take me in to live with them. They said that it was a huge delight and honour to be able to care for me because they loved me very much. Both of them knew about the magical world as they both descended from long family lines of squibs. Over time, they came to be like a second pair of parents to me but they knew they could never replace my real parents. Charlie was always all too willing to share his memories and tales about my parents – a blind man could see how much he had adored my mother just by the way he spoke of her. You see, Charlie was my mother's adoptive brother.

As I slowly grew up, Charlie and Renée both were always there to support me. When I got low grades, they scolded me, but that encouraged me to get where I am now. Today, I am in almost all the advanced programs (except for physics; I just can't do it!). Renée's philosophies make her think that I might have a photographic memory, seeing, as I don't really forget anything.

Finally, the day that I had waited for my whole life arrived. On June 19th, my 11th birthday, Professor Amelia Williamson from Salem Witches' Institute came to deliver my acceptance letter to the school.

SALEM WITCHES' INSTITUTE

The American school of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Co-ed since 1633

Headmaster: Damon Alexander Nicolas Michael Holmes.
(Order of Merlin Third Class, Grand Sorcerer)

Dear Miss. Annabelle Swan,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Salem Witches' Institute, the American school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary attire, books, and equipment. The term begins on September 1st. We must receive your owl by no later than July 31st.

Yours sincerely,

Professor Amelia Williamson
Deputy Headmistress

She sat us both down and explained to me all about the school that I had been accepted to attend and that it was a magnificent castle, deep into the mountains. She went over all the expectations that were required of us as students, the opportunities that were on offer, the subjects available within the curriculum. Charlie and Renée were thrilled that I got into the school; it was apparently the one of the best magical schools in the United States. I was told that our house would be hooked up to the floo network so that I could easily travel to the station where the train would take everyone to school as it is all the way in Massachusetts which is to the East of Forks, Washington, on the other side of America.

Three days later Amelia came to visit again, offering to take me to Wizarding New York to purchase my school supplies along with other things I wished to buy. On her previous visit, I was curious as to how I would be able to pay for all of it, as I doubted that Charlie and Renée could manage all of the costs. That was when she went solemn and pulled out a second letter for me. It looked different from my school one, thicker and much older looking. She told me that it had been charmed to be delivered to only her some time ago with strict instructions to deliver it to me by my 11th birthday. Therefore, soon after she had left I retired to my bedroom quickly and took out the letter to read. Carefully opening the worn envelope, I begun to read:

November 29th, 1982

Dear Annabelle,

I'm sure by now - if my instructions had been followed correctly - that if you are reading this you have just discovered of your place in to Salem Witches' Institute. Congratulations, baby girl! Could only want the best education for my favourite niece; and if you haven't already figured it out, this is your Uncle Regulus or Reg.

This next part is proving difficult to put into words because I know it will upset you by the time you have reached the end, but here goes. After Aurors arrested your dad, I went back to the Potter's home with the plan to tell them about what happened. When I got there...your Uncle James and Aunt Lily...I found them dead – peaceful, but no life. I'm so sorry honey; I know how much you loved them. However, your cousin, Harry, survived; I found him just crying in his cot. He now lives with his Muggle relatives on Lily's side of the family.

As you may already know, you were born during a war with Voldemort and his servants known as Death Eaters. If you ever asked, people may tell you that I was one of his followers, but I swear to you now, I was spying on the him for information to help me figure out his secret. This is how I knew to get to you in time. I instructed my house elf, Kreacher, to rescue you and bring you to me where I could keep you safe. Everyone back home believe that you have been kidnapped, which explains your disappearance. When news reached your father, rumour has it that he was crushed with torment and misery, and depression. The only reason that is making him cling to life in prison right now is for the hope that you are still alive somewhere as no body was recovered and also for his godson and your cousin, Harry.

There is one more thing that I must inform you of, Annie, and that is the identity of someone who you can trust completely. This brave man is a spy himself within the Dark Lord's inner circle – a light spy. His name is Severus Snape; he is a Master and Professor for Potions at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in Great Britain – the same school all your family attended to. He has to keep up his appearances so acts like a dark wizard most of the time so, please, if you ever get to meet him, try not to give him a hard time. But, I'm sure you wouldn't anyway. He knew Lily really well; they were best friends as it stands – practically like brother and sister to each other – and he hasn't been the same since she her death. Once he understands you, he will return the same trust and gratitude back to you.

Know that I love you very much, Annie, and that I'm so proud to call you my niece. Also, know that it is okay to call Kreacher now, if you wish, and he will always be honoured to serve his favourite little 'Black-Belle'... (He asked, well begged, me to write that). He is loyal to you as he is to me. If you call him now, he has some things for you to have now.

Good luck, Annabelle,

Love, your Uncle Reg.

I had tears in my eyes that were threatening to fall. James, Lily, and now most likely Reggie too were now all dead. Harry was alive though but, living with non-magic folk. I'm not sure whether to think that's a good thing or not. Uncle Remus was not mentioned – hopefully he is still alive and keeping safe from the full moon. In fact, Uncle Peter hasn't been mentioned either.

I called Kreacher to my bedroom after a while of thinking and processing what was written. There was a sharp crack as he appeared before me. He was so happy and cheerful to see me, calling me 'Mistress Black-Belle' a lot, which caused me to giggle - it was the nickname that he gave me when I was just a little baby.

Kreacher handed over a small leather pouch to me. He explained to me that it was connected to my trust fund in Vault #2013, so if I need any money I would just say the amount into the pouch and it would appear.

~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~

Amelia first took me to purchase a wand. We went in to a quaint shop named Meyer Wands where the wand maker, after many attempted wands, finally found me a wand to bond with well my magic. For the wand itself, it was wood from the branch of a Red Oak Tree – twelve and one-quarter inches long and finely carved – which corresponds with my birth month in the Celtic calendar, making it that little more powerful. For the core, it contained Unicorn Hair, for a consistent flow of magic. Along with my wand, I also bought one wand holster – recommended by Amelia herself – to secure to my right arm.

After paying, we left Meyer Wands and we headed around the corner towards Heart Animal Emporium to get me an animal for school. Without even entering the shop my eyes came across a beautiful midnight-black owl with mysterious crystal-blue eyes whom stood 16 inches tall. Deciding on my pet there and then, the owl surprising flew to my shoulder and begun hooting happily, which caused a small laugh to escape my lips as I raised a hand slowly to stroke its feathers, but as I did this I felt a warm sensation run from the owl and through my hand. Looking back up at the bird, I was met with its intense gaze boring into my eyes as if it had felt the same thing I did. Amelia waited outside as I entered the shop with the owl still perched on my shoulder. However, as I entered I begun to hear what I thought to be very low murmurs mixed with hissing coming towards the back corner of the shop and me being curious had to check it out. Approaching a huge glass container, I realized that within it held a gorgeous infant anaconda, with shiny greenish-brown scales and a double row of black oval spots on its back and smaller white markings on the sides. Looking at the information board just above the container, this snake was a 3-year-old female, measuring at four foot.

~Hate being here...box is too sssmall...no room to move...humansss ssstaring all day...~the snake hissed. I could hear her...must be because I'm magical. I heard every complaint and I didn't blame her at all, as her living conditions were not great at all. She noticed my approach and begun to hiss more violently but as a warning, no speech being formed. I paused in front of the glass as she looked up from below acknowledging my presence.

~Hello?~I greeted warmly but cautiously. It came out more like a question though.

~A ssspeaker, finally! There hasss been no one to talk to around here. Hello, young one.~The snake perked up the moment I had spoken. A speaker? What did that mean? All witches and wizards could speak to snakes, couldn't they?

~I'm Annie, what isss your name?~I asked her, curiously.

~Hello, Annie. My name is Layla.~Layla replied with less shock than last time.

~What did you mean by 'a ssspeaker', Layla?~I queried, my curiosity getting the better of me.

~Why, you can ssspeak the language of sssnakes, Annie. Only a few are graced with the ability.~ Layla answered.

~But, can't mossst witchesss and wizardsss talk to sssnakesss?~I asked, confused by what she meant.

~No, young one, you are what we call a Parssselmouth. You sssee, Annie, Parssseltongue isss the language of ssserpents alike. Most magical folk associate it with Dark Magic and thossse possssessssing the ability to ssspeak it is very rare. But they are wrong, it isss a gift acquired through genetic inheritance or imbedded through the ussse of dark magic. Once you have acknowledged the gift within you, no matter how you got it, you will not lossse the ability.~I listened intently at Layla's explaination. 'I like her,' I decided ~I believe, Annie, that if you have not been exposssed to dark magic, you are a dessscendantsss of Sssalazar Ssslytherin for the natural possssessssion of the gift.~'Wow!' This was my first thought after Layla's speech.

~Layla? Would you like to come away with me today?~I asked her. She was very intelligent and had the loveliest scaled body.

~Really? Yesss! Pleassse, I would love that.~ 'Well...she's eager,' I thought with a grin. But, one problem...

~How do you sssuppossse you'll get around, Layla?~I asked doubtfully. She wasn't exactly small or light enough to carry and I think people would notice a four foot snake slithering beside me. Moreover, I'm positive you cannot have two pets at school.

~Hmm...you could alwaysss ssshrink me down to sssize, sssmall enough to be able to coil around your wrissst, Annie, and then you could apply a feather-light charm to me, ssso I won't be ssso heavy for you.~Layla suggested to me, giving me hope again.

With that, I walked to the shop counter and asked to purchase the owl still perched on my shoulder and the snake from the back of the store. Along with my new friends, I also purchased transportation containers as well as some treats for them. I decided to name my owl Katerina, the perfect name for a proud and sophisticated bird.

Walking out from the pet store, Amelia spotted Katerina and smiled warmly. Her expression changed, however, when she noticed Layla though. I asked her if she knew the two spells that Layla had spoken of, which she did. She complied to perform them for me, but then quickly searched through my new book collection. While she did that, I knelt on the ground allowing Layla to move up and settle around my left arm. Once Amelia found whatever she was looking for, she flipped it open to a particular page, marked it by folding the corner over, only then explaining that the two spells she used were both simple and were on there.

"I knew nothing of this," Amelia had told me with a smirk.

A little while later in the day I had near enough gotten the rest of my school supplies: A self-stirring, standard size two, copper cauldron, crystal phials and a set of brass weighing scales, all from Davenport Potions along with the recommended double of all the ingredients I would need including preservation spells on each of them. In Books Galore, I purchased so many books – I was ecstatic! These included schoolbooks for all of my years at Salem, just because they were there and seemed interesting to read. Also, many additional Defence books; Herbology and Potions books; Healing, Charms and Transfiguration, Magical creatures' books etc. At the counter, after all of my texts had been sent through, I asked the shop assistant for them all to be delivered to me the next day by owl.

~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~

I counted down the days to 1st September and I read all of my school books, including the ones beyond my years – but only because I got slightly bored. I memorized all of the spells and wand movements as best as I could, but just the theory side for now. I could not wait to go to Salem to put to practise everything that I've learnt. I found that I liked all the subjects that would be taught to us in there – they were all just so interesting. I could tell that Charlie and Renée were beaming with how excited I was and damn proud too. The soon day arrived for me to leave and after a tearful goodbye to them both, I flooed to the train station.

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