A/N: This is it. My first fanfic. It was inspired by My Family for the War by Anne C. Voorhoeve. There's little relation to that book until later chapter, though.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. I only own Francesca Richter.

T for minor languages and child abuse.

A crowd had already formed in front of the shop. A young girl was lying in the middle of the crowd, covered in soot and blood. She opened her eyes and sit up.

'Wo bin ich?' she asked slowly, as if in pain. She is in pain. Her head seemed to be splitting up, and needles shot through her arms and legs. She groaned.

'Child, what happened?' one of the man in the crowd asked. The girl started to cry.

'Wo bin ich? Wo ist Mami?' she cried. 'Was ist passiert?'

'She doesn't speak english,' another said. 'Somebody clean her blood!'

That's where the little girl's life started: confusion. At the young age of 8, she was driven by a man to the nearest hospital, then to the orphanage, where she continued living for years to come.

Francesca Richter, or so she says her name is, was sitting on the windowsill, gazing out.

'Get back to work, lazy girl,' a woman snapped from another room.

'Yes, Mrs. Finch,' Francesca said. She took the ragged cloth on her lap and started to wipe the window panes. The skies are a clear shade of blue, and the sun is shining. A boy with sandy hair was strolling outside, nose deep in his book. Francesca paid little attention to him, until another older boy greeted him, or so she thought. The next moment, the book was out of the boy's arm, and he was held at the collar. Peering curiously, Francesca noticed he doesn't look the least afraid, but... bored.

She doesn't expect what comes next. The boy took hold of his attacker, and with his other hand, punch him right in the nose. Francesca believed if she was outside to see, she would hear a sickening crunch of breaking bones. She almost clapped and cheered as the sandy haired boy picked up his book and left, but Mrs. Finch stuck her head out once again.

'Get back to work, lazy girl! Or must I force you?'

Francesca sat on the bench, rubbing the bruises on her arms and neck. She cursed herself for being so silly. Watching a boy fights isn't worth the stinging pain of Mrs. Finch's whip. But whatever she do, something will always comes along and distract her, giving another reason to Mrs. Finch to drew her dreaded whip.

The last thing she want that day was missing supper and sleeping outside, again. Certainly, some days are worse than the others, but Francesca doesn't expect all of them to be as bad. Each day, another whip another bruise. Each day, another bowl of broth. Each day, another coldness of the night or stuffiness of a room.

Laying on the bench, Francesca pondered on her life, like she always did, as she lack others thought to occupy her mind. Mrs. Finch had told vaguely about her life. It hardly resembles a life! Appearing out of nowhere and start live in an orphanage isn't a life at all. Surely, there's something more to that!

Sighing, she closed her eyes and hoped to dream of murdering Mrs. Finch in the most sadistic way, probably with more explosion and gore...

Francesca was awoken by the sound of door knocking. Sitting up, she saw a woman clad in a dark long dress of some sort, standing facing Mrs. Finch by the doorway. They're discussing about something, then Mrs. Finch pointed toward her. Confused, Francesca walked toward her.

'Is there anything wrong, Mrs. Finch?' I asked as politely as possible.

'No. But I do hope you can be responsible of this woman,' she said as she pointed to the other woman. Her dark long dress turned out to be a dark green cloak.

'Uh, why?' Francesca asked, risking another blow. Flinch glared.

'Don't ask why, young lady! I don't care what it takes, but I'm not having freaks in my household.'

Francesca chuckled once Finch was out of ear reach. 'I'm sorry, Madam, but I must say that she's a scary woman.'

The other woman nodded in understanding. 'I do understand. I've visited even more bitter people than her.'

'Such rarity,' Francesca said. 'You probably had know, but just in case, I'm Francesca Richter.'

'I know,' the woman said. 'And I'm Minerva McGonagall, your future professor. You could call me Professor McGonagall.'

'Professor?' Francesca asked.

'Yes, Ms. Richter,' Professor McGonagall said as she handed Francesca a letter. 'Into a school called Hogwarts.'

'Hogwarts? What kind of school would choose such silly name? And I don't remember applying for any school.'

'Because it's a magical school, where you'll learn to strengthen and control your magic.'

'Magic?'

'Hadn't you realize? Have you ever wondered, why or how could you do something logically impossible to men?'

'No... '

'Do something out of the ordinary?'

'They always said I'm freaky... '

'Blasting or breaking something out of anger?'

'Lots of times,' Francesca admitted. 'So much Mrs. Finch locked me in my room for two whole weeks.'

'That's what we call magic, Ms. Richter.'

'Oh,' Francesca said, speechless. 'So, what must I do next?'

'Here's the list of things you'll need. I'm responsible to take you and some other students to Diagon Alley, where you'll get your things. On 1st September, you'll be on King's Cross station, Platform 9 3/4, before 11 o'clock. Understand?'

Francesca took all of this in before nodding. 'Yes, Professor McGonagall.'

'Another students will get you and deliver you to me tomorrow. Please get ready before 9.'

'Yes, Professor. I will.'

McGonagall suddenly disappear with a loud pop. Francesca could have squealed in excitement, but knowing consequences, she kept quiet and went back to her bench.

Francesca was standing on the platform, shivering. The weather hasn't been very nice, and she had lost her sweater a year ago. But she wasn't shivering from cold. It was from nervousness. Never in her silly life has anyone took children in, feed them and want nothing in return. No, Francesca wasn't afraid of her future classmates. She could take care of them with a few words or slap. But she couldn't take care of adults for sure.

Entering the train, she was relieved from the warm the train gave. Putting her trunk away, she went down the aisle to search an empty compartment.

It was 30 minutes before 11, and the train was mostly empty. Finding a compartment which felt somehow safe to her, Francesca seated herself. She put the books she had been carrying and began to read them one by one, occasionally taking notes from them.

At last, the train whistled and start moving. Her books fall from her lap and she began collecting them, a bit flustered. Just as she was ready to continue reading, she heard a commotion outside her compartment. Francesca tried to listen to whatever they're arguing about, but little did she hard, except...

'Bloody hell, Black. Just get in already!'

The door suddenly opened. Francesca felt rather annoyed by the noise. Not bothering to look up, she continued reading, expecting the strangers to sit immediately and stay silent.

'Well, uh, hi.'

She couldn't help it, so she look up. 'What do you want?'

'Can we sit here?' the taller of the two boys asked.

Francesca was a bit surprised that anyone bothered to ask such trivial question. 'Of course. Suit yourself.'

Francesca began taking notes again, wishing that the two boys will shut up, but just her luck, those two doesn't understand body languages or facial expressions for that matter.

'By the way, my name is James Potter, and this bloody git is Sirius Black.'

'Nice to meet you,' Francesca said. After a period of awkward silences, the same boy speak again. 'What's your name?'

'Francesca Richter,' Francesca said, hoping they get the message that the conversation has ended. But those bloody git keep talking.

'What are you reading?' the boy, Sirius Black if she was not mistaken, asked.

'101 Hexes for Your Enemies by Vindictus Viridian. You know, the same man who wrote Curses and Counter-Curses?'

The sort answers certainly deliver the message now. The two boys stop asking her useless question and start a quiet conversation between the two. Francesca doesn't bother to listen to them, but can't help to when the spectacled boy, James Potter, said aloud.

'Merlin's beard! She's a bloody nerd, Black!'

Francesca quickly look sharply at them. 'Who are you referring to?'

'Nobody,' James said as the other boy, Black, glared at her. Francesca shrugged and continued reading.

The rest of the ride was spent mostly in silence. Although Frances liked silences (noise made her head ache), it was too awkward for her own good. As if a pair - two pairs even - of eyes are watching and glaring at her movement. She could swear she could feel them as she turned the pages of the book, scribbling on the notebook, or taking a dictionary to checked out words. It was... scary.

The ride seemed to go on forever. Francesca would love to stand up, move, or yawn, but the glare seemed to force her back into her seat, frozen. Francesca thought the silence would give her concentration, but the opposite happens. More than once she caught herself stealing a glance at the boys beside her, expecting a seething glare from them. But they're always in the same position, lounging mindlessly, eating chocolate that resembled a figure of a frog, or sitting upside down while discussing silently about Quidditch or something like that.

When the train stopped, Francesca was the first to leap out of the compartment. Her books had somehow stacked neatly on her arm, as if she had prepared for this hours ago (to be honest she had). She quickly exited the train and disappeared into the crowd.

Meanwhile, on Francesca's former compartment, James and Sirius took their time to get ready.

'Come on, Sirius. I don't fancy missing the boat on my first year,' James said in bored tone.

'A second, James. I think that girl earlier left her book here. 101 Hexes for Your Enemies I think.'

'By the title I don't think we'll be using that this year, or in Hogwarts,' James said. 'Let me see. There's probably some spell that would come in handy.'

Sirius opened the book to it's table of contents.

'Pranking Spells, Defensive Spells, Protection Spells, Spells for Your Enemies, my this book is handy!' James said, whistling. Suddenly, the page turned blank and neat, spidery handwritings formed on the page.

'This book belongs to Francesca Richter. If whoever holding this book doesn't return this to its rightful owner in the range of 15 minutes, a curse might send you to shame and nudity.'

James suddenly turned pale. 'I think... I think I've heard that curse somewhere... '

'What!' Sirius exclaimed. 'What does the last line means?'

James was backing off. 'I don't know mate, but we must find that girl quickly!'

'Shame and nudity? I don't get it,' Sirius muttered as James dragged him to where the rest of the first years are. They are boarding the boats, four by four.

'Girl! You left your book!' James screamed. 'Er, Rika something?!'

'Rika? Is it really her name?' Sirius shouted. 'Whoever sat in the same compartment with us, you left your bloody cursed book!'

'There she is!' James pointed to a brunette in the midst of blondes. She was a head shorter than most of them (or the blondes a head taller, whatever), concentrating on arranging her books on a little satchel slung over her shoulder.

'Girl!' The blondes look toward the two boys, but the brunette doesn't even look up.

Sirius reach her first. 'Hey! Here, take you bloody book!'

'My book?' the brunette asked, turning back. She began laughing at the horror pasted across Sirius's face. 'Sorry, but I don't bring any book with me. But that girl does.'

'Oi Sirius! Don't worry! I got her!' James shouted. Sirius breathed in relieve. There are two girls with the same hair. The first girl was covering the second from sight, but the boys still could see the second arranging her books.

'Oh good,' Sirius said as he handed the book. 'That cursed book almost send me to "shame and nudity".'

'This isn't my book,' the girl said. Sirius panicked, and look down to the girl's face. Yes, it was the same girl, but something...

'I believe the book you're referring to was 101 Hexes for Your Enemies. Well, this isn't it. It's your copy of Transfiguration textbook.'

All colors drained from Sirius's face. At the same time, he began to itch all over. 'Uh oh,' he groaned. 'Wait here, don't move.'

Sirius dragged James, who shout after Hagrid to wait for them.

'What!? We brought the wrong book? Bloody hell, how can you be so stupid!' James screamed. They find the book quickly. James still refused to touch it, so Sirius carried it alone, scratching violently.

'Merlin, this is so itchy,' Sirius panted. 'I think I must get out of this robe.'

James shrieked. 'No bloody way, Black! I guess that's what she means by "shame and nudity"!'

By the time they had arrived, the girl was nowhere in sight.

'They had left! Without us!' James said, panicked. He scanned quickly, searching for a boat. 'Quick, Black! Board this!'

The boat move quickly as they jumped in, as if sensing the tense in its passenger (or to catch up with the rest of the fleet).

Sirius are constantly scratching. James began to fantasize how is it if Sirius really took of his robes in front of the whole school.

'Damned... that.. girl,' Sirius said as he keep scratching. 'James... help me!'

James certainly help, because he pushed Sirius into the water, where a giant squid pushed him back into the boat once he was truly soaked.

'James! That barely helps!' Sirius said. 'But it do soothe the itch a bit.'

'Of course it does,' James said. 'Look, we're getting close to the others.

'Argh! I can't bear it anymore!' Sirius said loudly.

'Richter, Francesca,' Professor McGonagall said. Francesca walked toward the stool, face full of confidence.

To be honest, she wasn't feeling really confident. Her stomach was turning and mixing the non-existent food in it. Her feet felt as if it will gave way, and her face was drained of all colors. Knowing the repercussions of showing fear, she put a well-practiced confident smile and walk forward.

McGonagall put the old hat on top of her head. Francesca was relieved to find it covered most of her sight.'

'Hmm, Francesca Richter. You have an interesting life indeed.'

'Really? I wish I could remember them,' Francesca answered inwardly. 'Let me see... Appearing out of nowhere, or so they said, living one hell of a life with that Finch woman, haunted by a head-splitting headache every now and then. So interesting.'

'Yes, it was interesting, although I must admit, not very pleasant. But, if you remember what happens before you "appear out of nowhere", you might find it extremely interesting, although a bit melancholic'

'Care to enlighten me?' Francesca asked, a bit curious.

'How much I wanted to tell you your extremely interesting story, and how much you have the right to know, I won't. Not only that you haven't mature out enough, but it's also not the point of my presence on your head.'

'Fine. Carry on with this sorting then.'

'You doesn't seem to protest much, unlike some children faced with the same opportunity.'

'It's not my place to question. Only God knows what, and you it seems.'

'That's a good philosophy. I must say, a very Ravenclaw trait. You're very wise for your age.'

'Thank you. But I don't really do well in school. I mean, I don't understand anything about algebra.'

'I agree. Although wise in such things, you could make unwise decision when you're angry, and have a hard time cooling your head, which is, the opposite of Ravenclaw entirely. You'll have some struggle to achieve good grades too.'

'Oh,' Francesca said, a bit disappointed. 'I must say that's not very good. So, Ravenclaw isn't right. How about that reptile house?'

'Slytherin you mean? Ah, your tongue certainly fits. You have great sarcasm, which would be a great weapon and way to get into detention. But, you use it too much for your enemy, I think. One day, it'll brought bad things on you.'

'Are you a clairvoyant? You seems to tell a lot of things about the future.'

'No, But same things alway happens to sharp-tongued witches and wizards. Well, although you're as ambitious as any Slytherin, it's impossible to put you there.'

'Is it about financial status? Like they're all bloody rich or famous?' Francesca asked. After all, in muggle schools there's always something like this.

'Yes and no. You hardly qualified as muggle-born, that means you have no relations of magic in any way, not even a squib ancestor. Your power as a witch comes mostly from a large explosion and strong magic someone applied on you. Therefore, putting you in Slytherin would be suicide.'

'That leave the badger and lion,' Francesca said. 'Lion is a hunter. Is that means they're all blood-thirsty? That fits me perfectly.'

The hat seems to chuckled. 'No. Hufflepuff could fits you, loyal, hard-working lady, but I'm afraid your tongue won't. As Gryffindor, it probably suits you the most. You're brave to took great risks all the time.'

'Hell yeah,' Francesca chuckled. 'People always told me to live a steady life.'

'Gryffindor would do, but they're brave enough to show who they really are, which is, unlike you.'

'What do you mean? I never hide, not even to those bullies. I showed them I could kick their arse any time they pick quarrels with me. I showed them every moment I have the chance.'

'That's the point. You showed them what bad-ass you are, although you're not.'

'I am!' Francesca protested.

'No, you don't. You're timid and shy, afraid deep inside. You're driven by your insecurities to hide every moment, behind your bad-girl attitude. That's very un-Gryffindorish.'

'No! I am not insecure! I... I'm never afraid. I hex those who annoys me, separate myself from idiots, and live a full life! Why must I be insecure?'

The hat sighed. 'Just like what I expected from you. I'm confused to where must I put you. You're too afraid to admit that you're afraid. But you're brave to deny me, Richter. I guess I have no choice but GRYFFINDOR!'

'Look at that brat of a girl,' Sirius scowled from the Gryffindor table.. 'Very haughty and prideful! Too full of confidence!'

'You're wrong,' a sandy-haired boy beside him suddenly said. 'Look. Her feet are shaking.'

'Impossible,' Sirius said. 'She's to prideful to shake. I bet if you say that in front of your face, she'll curse you to the end of next month.'

'But she won't because I'm telling the truth,' the boy said, rolling his eyes. 'As for you, she'll really curse you for stating the false fact that she's a brat, haughty and prideful.'

'It's the truth!' Sirius complained.

'How did you know?'

'She made a shame of myself!'

'That's her that cause you to do... that? Remus asked, smirking slightly.

'Yep,' Sirius said. 'But I promise I'll made her pay. I'll made her taste what is shame!'

'Just like she did, with you,' James cut from Sirius's other side, chuckling. 'You really made a show, don't you?'

'Don't you dare laughing,' Sirius threaten. 'Or I'll... I'll hex you! That event has never happened!'

'Hex you? Hex you like what?' the boy said beside Sirius. 'Like this?'

Sirius's head was pushed to hit the table by an invisible force. He groaned while James laughed. The boy just smirked.

'You're not bad,' James said. 'I'm James Potter, and this is Sirius Black.'

'I'm Remus Lupin,' the sandy-haired boy said.

'Bet she will be in Slytherin,' Sirius said as he rubbed his temple. 'God, Lupin, it hurts!'

'That's the whole point, isn't it?'

'You're evil.'

'That's coming from a Black,' Lupin said, rolling his eyes. Suddenly, he realized what he had said. 'Oh God... '

'How dare you call me that! I'm not unlike my family, you... freak! I'm not even a Black! Not anymore! UNDERSTAND?' Sirius shouted to the boy beside him, clearly in rage.

Lupin does't seems angry, or scared, that will definitely anger Sirius even more. Remus just stare at him with guilty eyes. 'Sorry.'

'Ehm,' Headmaster Dumbledore said. 'I'm very sorry to interrupt, , Mr. Lupin. But may we continue the sorting without further interruption?'

Sirius shot a glare at Remus before looking at Dumbledore. 'Yes, Professor.'

Suddenly, the Sorting Hat shouted, 'GRYFFINDOR!'

As Sirius had dreaded, Francesca Richter made her way to the Gryffindor table, not looking so confident anymore. Her face are pale. She looked as if she was about to faint, too deep in thought. All the confidence had been drained from her eyes. She looked afraid, the complete opposite of her former self. For a split second, Sirius almost believed that she was shaking in the beginning of the sorting.

She sat in the end of the table. The other girls just look at her strangely, and sat as far away from her as possible. She doesn't seem to mind that. She just watch the rest of the sorting with vacant eyes, as if she was thinking deeply about something.

As soon as the sorting ended, food appears on the table. Some first years looked perplexed, some other quickly go for the food. Sirius noted the girl looked baffled and surprised, means that she was a muggle-born. She kept gawking when even other first years began enjoying the food. Suddenly, an idea occurred to him.

'Hey Rika!' he shouted as he threw a loaf of bread dipped in soup at her. It hits her right in the face.

'Her name isn't Rika, you fool. And what are you doing?' Remus asked from beside him.

'Just watch, and follow,' Sirius smirked. He threw more food toward her and toward anybody around her. The rest of the table began cheering an threw food (or levitate them) to other students. Most Gryffindors aimed to Slytherins. Even Hufflepuff, the nicest of the lot, join the food fight.

James are throwing all kinds of food at Severus Snape at Slytherin table. Somewhere, a girl with flaming red hair try to prevent her new friends from joining the fight. Sirius stand on the table and made her way to "Rika".

The girl are completely oblivious. She looked around confused, muttering something or two. She tried to use a spell to clean the soup on her head, but instead, it turns into the shade of the tomato soup.

Sirius smirked and proceed to pour another batch of soup on her robes.

'Damned! It's bloody hot,' she cursed silently. Looking up, she met the gray eyes of vengeful Sirius.

'Get the taste of your own medicine,' Sirius said victoriously. Before the girl could say anything else, he had disappear into the battle.

'My name is not Rika!' she screeched loudly. 'Stupid, stupid, stupid Black,' she said.

The professors are all flustered. Professor Dumbledore stood up. 'Students!' he boomed.

His voice have the influence similar to a silencing spell and a stunning spell.

'I know that you're excited to continue your studies in Hogwarts, so carry on.'

This greatly surprises the students and professors. 'But,' Dumbledore continued. 'I must insist that you clean the mess. Yes, all of you, until it was spotless. We doesn't want Mr. Filch to be angry at us all, don't we?'

The students doesn't care anymore. Once Dumbledore finished, the battle continued more hotter than ever!

Francesca crawled under the table, where some students (mostly first years) having senses take refuge.

'Oh God, they're all animals!' a red head first years screamed. The others nodded. Francesca find a bit peace under the table, until food started to enter their territory too.

'To the teacher's desk!' Francesca shouted. The others followed her out and over to the teacher's table.

'Excuse me Professor,' Francesca said, bending down a little. 'Save us!'

The Professor sighed. 'You're the third batch, ya know?' the professor said. 'Huddle with the others.'

Some more students cover under the protection of teacher's desk, although some food also made it's way down there. Francesca felt very tired, and manage to caught a snooze before the red head first year woke her.

'Wake up. It's time to clean up.'

'Us too?' she asked, surprised. 'We hardly participate!'

'That's what I've been complaining about!' the red head said. 'I doesn't even have a good bite!'

Francesca sighed in exasperation. 'There's no choice but one,' she said as she took out her wand. 'You know some cleaning spells? I'm not really good at them.'

Other students groaned with them too. The professors could only watch them with amusements as they cleaned the whole Great Hall.

'My first day, and this is what happens,' Lily groaned. 'I had been waiting for this day forever.'

'Say our thanks to Black,' Francesca grumbled. 'That good-for-nothing boy had caused this much destruction it seems.'

Lily gasped. 'Believe me, I'm angry too, but thats... that's just mean!'

Francesca shrugged. 'I knew worse. By the way, I'm Francesca.'

'I'm Lily. Lily Evans.'

It's 1 o'clock in the morning when they are all finished. Francesca felt drained and tired. Nobody bothers to speak to anybody, because they all felt sore and tired. As much as they wanted to sleep immediately, they knew they must take a bath first.

'This is the... the... ' Frank Longbottom trailed off. His friends nudged him. 'What... oh, uh, this is the Gryffindor common room. The password is... weed... something with water thing.'

'Gillyweed?' Lily asked. The Fat Lady nodded silently and swung open.

'Boys... takes what's left,' Frank dozed. The first years look at each other inquiringly. 'Girls... is always... right.'

'He means boy's dorms to the left stairway, the girl's dorm on the right,' Francesca speak up. If Sirius have the energy, he would cheered 'Nerd!'. But since he haven't, he just stayed silent.

Francesca are too tired to notice her dorm mates. Just a dash of blonde, mixed with brown and red, a trunk full of something that resembled stuff animals, an green and yellow trunk. She just wished Hogwarts have a good batch of coffee at breakfast as she went to sleep.

A/N: Pairings won't be until later chapters. For now, I'll put it as OC X Sirius as they share dislike toward each other (and I hope it could pass as relationships, although not romantic ones), but just warning, it might change.

I hope readers could follow with the stories and understand. Feel free to ask me if some of it doesn't make sense, and I'll answer/ fix it. Thank you for reading the first chapter.

(By the way, I don't live in UK, so please forgive me if it's to American, or the characters doesn't speak UK's English. I'll try and do my best though)