Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction using characters from the Harry Potter world, which are trademarked by J. K. Rowling
Dragons at Hogwarts: The Gift
(HP:PoA)
Chapter 1: The Ride to Her Future
"Don't lay on the door, it might open and you'll fly right out of the car," her mother said as she gave her a look of reproach.
"Well if we hadn't woken up so early, I wouldn't be so tired, right? Plus, I am pretty sure that is not likely to happen Mum," Lin said. Still, she took her forehead off the window, feeling a bruise beginning to form.
Lin Arden, was on her way to the Leaky Cauldron to meet with her godparents and their family, thanks to a car provided by the Ministry.
Come tomorrow, I will finally be a student at Hogwarts with all my friends! she thought as she lost herself in the scenery of the car ride. Three years late isn't so bad.
She recalled her three years spent in Spain at the Draconatio Institute for Magical Adolescents, or DIMA for short. The stress, loneliness, and high expectations were finally behind-
"Linda… Lin…. Belinda!" Her father had to borderline yell to snap her out of her thoughts.
"Sorry Dad, lost in my head again. Yes?" she asked a bit ashamed because the driver began to chuckle.
"Did you remember to bring the Special Creature Authorization Forms for your smelly mutt?" he asked in Spanish.
"Hector is not!" She exclaimed at the same time as her mother retorted "He is not just some mutt!"
"But yes, I brought them. Mum needs to sign them though," she told him as she passed her mother the forms. She picked up Hector, the puppy, who started yipping when he heard the insult, and snuggled him. "I gave him a bath this morning by the way."
"Really? Finally," her mother sounded a bit surprised. She shuffled through the papers trying to sign them in the bumpy car ride. Working for the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, her mother was, of course, qualified to sign the "Ministry Representative" portions of the forms. "You know this is a horrible time to give me these forms. Here, you need to sign this one"
"Well I just got these yesterday. We didn't have time then and I have a feeling we won't have much time today or tomorrow."
But still she heard her mother mumble "always leaves things for the last minute" in Spanish.
She grabbed the form and tried to sign it, but some turbulence from a pothole made her signature look borderline illegible. She looked over at her mother's signature, it was almost perfect. She handed the form back to her mother and went back to daydreaming while petting Hector.
No matter how much she tried, she was not the perfect child her family expected her to be. A bit smarter than average and tenacious, yes, but not exceptional. Some of the few things she was proud of, though, was her intuition and good perception of situations. Because of these qualities, she knew there was something her parents hadn't told her.
"So… why did you finally decide to let me go to Hogwarts?" she asked, watching them for signs of mischief.
Her parents glanced each other for a split second, but it was enough for Lin to notice.
"I'm guessing my speech about Hogwarts being flat out better for me than DIMA was not as compelling as I assumed?"
She wanted to work out the real answer before it became an unwelcome surprise.
"Hmmm. Your bit on the linguistics program at Hogwarts being stronger was interesting... That is not the reason though," Her mother stated matter-of-factly.
"Well, what was it then? Losing a boyfriend and "trouble making" friends?" She asked, growing impatient.
"No. And I thought Lesley form Greece was a nice girl, actually," her father said.
"And you left your boyfriend weeks before we said yes," her mother added.
"And having owls swoop in and out almost every day with gossip isn't what I would consider abandoning… Wait you had a boyfriend?" her father got sidetracked, but decided to overlook the revelation and went on. "No, the reason we are letting you go to Hogwarts is because we feel Percy will be a positive role-model for you. He is entering his 7th year and has earned many O.W.L.s you know." He father said, turning around from the front seat to look at her with snub face.
"Percy? Percy Weasley? Are you joking? I am going to Hogwarts because of that snobby, big-headed… Wow Dad, I thought you quit trying to pair me up with him but this, this is a new low. Let me guess, you are going to try and put him into a high position for new applicants at the Ministry once he leaves Hogwarts to reward him?" she ranted, losing any sense of shame.
"If I help Percy get a job at the Ministry, it will be because he is the son of your godparents, not because I am trying to find you a husband. Both your Mother and I researched jobs for Bill, she found a great job for Charlie, and I will help Percy," her father said sternly.
She knew she had insulted him but she kept going anyway to try and make her point.
"I'm sorry, OK? But it's the truth! You are always pushing me to ask Percy for help on homework. Mum is always pushing me to write to Charlie, not even Aunt Molly writes to him this much by the way. I see Charlie as a loving, way older, brother and he sees me like a rowdy little sister, for your information. No chance between us! Ginny wrote to me saying Percy has found himself a girlfriend, sorry guys! Please, just let me figure out my life for myself instead of everybody trying to do it for me!"
She rarely told her family what she was feeling, but once she started, there was no real chance of stopping her until she lost steam. Nobody wanted to date her anyway. Her boyfriend was the one to break up with her because she was 'too plain' and didn't make enough time for him.
The car became quiet for about 5 minutes except for Hector's crying. The driver stopped, and he and her parents got out. She put Hector in his crate picked it up, and also stepped out of car. She saw the Leaky Cauldron, and sighed.
Finally, we're here, she thought walking to the building through the crowd. I don't think I could have lasted more time.
The door opened and she noticed a familiar red-headed family come out. She gave them a wide grin, and ran to hug and greet her second family.
Thank you for reading! I will try to dish out a couple chapters every week.