This is my first story. I have at least ten other chapters that I will publish after this one, Please review and give me an idea of what you think is good or is bad or needs improvement. Thank you!
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Melody Narssica Lestrange was NOT looking forward to her first year at Hogwarts. In fact, she was dreading it with all her heart and soul and was seriously thinking of running away. Everything just didn't feel real, especially with the End of the war only a year ago. Her mother's death only a year ago. Her father's body found dead in Azkaban just a week ago.
No, nothing was going according to plan. At all.
Her wand wasn't even a new one; it was her mother's wand that felt uncomfortable and unpredictable in her hands. It was unyielding even to her own daughter.
Now everything was wrong, the war would leave deep gashes in the trustworthiness of any pureblood family, and Melody's anxious and nervous disposition wouldn't do her any good. The world crumbled around her when the war started and now it was finally demolished.
"Hey, Melonhead! It's time for breakfast!" Her cousin Veronica shouted from the bottom stairs. Melonhead was just another in a long line of "creative" names her cousins had come up for her. Melody ignored the name and slipped off her bed to go join them in the dining hall.
The Astric manor wasn't the nicest or the largest manor her cousins had, but it could uncomfortably fit seven kids and three adults. The newly formed Ministry of Magic was inspecting their other two manors for dark magic and progress was slow. Melody's Aunt and Uncle Astric had six children to deal with so they were on edge. Melody just learned to avoid them.
She put this knowledge to work as she slipped into the dining room unnoticed by anyone. This morning they were having fresh fruit so it must have been a special occasion. After the war, they were nearly broke because all of their money went to the dark lord. They were an old pureblood family so the Dark Lord's name was still not spoken aloud even though he had been dead for a while now.
I wonder how long it will take for someone to point out the fruit? Melody asked herself, and as if on cue a small boy stopped eating and stood up from his chair.
"Hey... wait a minute!" Bogs, the youngest, had caught on to the fruit.
"We never get fresh fruit. What are you playing at?!" He pointed his spoon directly at his parents as if he was trying to torture a confession out of them.
"Sit down boy! We are going to Diagon Ally to get you and Melody new school supplies," the gruff man barked at his son.
But at the mention of Diagon Ally and new school supplies, Melody nearly choked on her pear.
"School *cough* supplies *cough* already?" She hacked out.
"Oh, Melody I didn't see you there," Mrs. Astric noted before answering, "Yes, you need new robes and new school books. The ones Gavich has are outdated now."
At this Melody sunk a little, she had been secretly hoping for a new wand but beggars can't be choosers.
"We'll be leaving tomorrow morning. Don't forget your money," Mr. Astric glared at Melody as he added the last part. Even though the Lestrange fault had been nearly emptied during an attempt at theft, leaving nothing but Bellatrix's wand, Melody was still expected to scrape the last remaining gallons of her heritage into her pocket to pay for new robes and new books.
Melody sighed and left to go to her room.
After she climbed up the endless wooden staircase and flopped on to her bed she thought of her mother. It wasn't a very nice thought, just a fleeting seen from the war. Melody pushed it back and started to nervously chew on her fingernails. Then after they had been bitten down to stubs she unconsciously started twirling her curly untamed black hair.
"Hey, little Bella,"
Melody jumped as she turned around to see Veronica smiling slyly in the doorway.
"W-what?"
"She used to do that too, you know. Play with a little strand like that,"
"S-so,"
"So? Oh Little Bella, so... ignorant. You don't want to walk around school looking like the Death Eater that murdered their families."
"I didn't murder anybody!" Melody's voice shook as Veronica advanced slowly to the bed.
"Oh yeah, take a good look in the mirror Bella," Veronica shoved a picture of Bellatrix's Azkaban picture from The Daily Profit into her face, "Your the spitting image."
Melody had to admit she had her mother's hair and facial structure, but she had her father's eyes. They were soft, round, and grey like an oncoming storm.
"Get that out of my face," Melody pushed Veronica aside and walked to the door, "I am not my mother," she whispered to herself.
The gardens were a great place to hide if one needs to be alone. And at that moment Melody desperately needed to be alone. She snuck off to a private area underneath an old willow tree and lay down underneath it's swaying branches.
"I am not my mother," Melody repeated trying to reassure herself but the images kept coming back to haunt her.
"ARGH! I am NOT my mother!" But no matter how hard she tried, Melody couldn't ride herself of the confirmation that Veronica brought.
"Stupid Veronica, stupid school, stupid feelings,"
Melody sighed, she seemed to be doing a lot of that recently, and took out a book that she had hidden in her robe before leaving the bedroom.
"Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander," she proudly announced to no one in particular. This was her favorite book of all time seen by the warn cover. It was given to Melody by her father before he was taken to Azkaban.
She poured over the book even though she knew everything in it by heart. It comforted her in a way that nothing else could; it even enticed her first bits of accidental magic.
After a few hours, she finished and felt better. The looming threat of school still terrified her but it felt more manageable.
"I'm going to be ok. It's going to be ok," she whispered to herself before going inside to avoid everyone again.
The next morning Melody got up and woke Bogs with much struggling from both of them. She finally dragged him downstairs to politely refuse a lumpy blow of oatmeal that her queasy stomach couldn't take. Bogs finished his and went first up the Floo, then Aunt Astric, uncle Astric, and finally, Melody who was very thankful she didn't eat anything. They landed in Diagon Ally and the street was bustling with young witches and wizards. The school year was going to start in a few days so everyone was getting in their last minute shopping.
With all the chaos and her hood Melody was ignored as she made her way to Gringotts.
Her small steps echoed down the pristine hall as she looks up to the Goblin.
"Um, I wish to enter my fault." She squeaked.
The Goblin looked down at the little girl and did a double take.
"Madam Lestrange, your key,"
Melody took out her golden key and handed it to the Goblin.
"Very well Madam Lestrange, follow me."
The ride down to the darkest part of Gringotts was terrifying and for the second time, that day Melody was glad she didn't eat breakfast.
It was even worse then she expected. Barely anything remained a goblet, a ring, and ten gallons.
"This is all that's left of my family?"
"Yes, during the break in other thieves took the heritage of your family. We were outnumbered and could not find the missing pieces. We are truly sorry."
Melody closed her eyes and opened them again slowly. The empty vault remained. She scooped ten gallons into a pouch and left the rest to rot.
"Ok. I'm done here," she said bitterly.
The ride back wasn't as bad but Melody still felt weird after seeing that vault.
The gallons shifted in her pouch and they made her cringe: blood money.
As she walked to Madam Malkins Robes she stopped cold. Many eyes were staring at her; she forgot to put on her hood. Embarrassed and terrified Melody shoved her hood on her head as the whispers began. They engulfed her and became louder and louder until she swore they were shouting things in her ears. A hand grabbed Melody's wrist and pulled her into Madam Malkins Robes.
The shouting had stopped but the hand was still grasped around her arm.
"Let go!" Melody pulled her arm away from the boy who had taken it.
"Gee I was trying to do you a favor and get you out of there."
"I was doing fine."
"You were paralyzed."
Melody looked up in defiance of this new boy and saw what he looked like.
The boy's hair was a gingery color with sparkling green eyes. He was her age and about the same height. If she wasn't so mad she might even say he was cute.
"You didn't have to do that."
"Well, I did. Your welcome," he added.
"Thank you," she hissed through clenched teeth.
An awkward silence passed between them before he held out his hand.
"My names Ennis. What's yours?"
Melody cautiously took his hand and shook it.
"Melody,"
"Do you need new robes?"
"Yeah, my first year,"
"Me too. But I got to go so will I see you on the train?"
"Sure, I'll save you a seat."
"Thanks, I'll see you soon Melody!" Ennis shouted as he ran out the door.
"Bye." She whispered long after he left.
Thank you for reading!