The Beginning

(I do not own anything recognizable in the HP series or as J.K.R.'s, only the OCs presented in this story and the situations they are created for.)

I paced my room, thinking horrible thoughts in the general direction of my parent's room. They acted as if they were better. As if they didn't know I existed. As if they had disowned me. Of course I was fine with that. I always knew I was different. My eyes changed colors with my mood. Sometimes glass exploded when I got really mad. Once I shot sparks out of my fingertips. But up until a few weeks ago I had no idea that I was a witch, that I had been saved a spot in a school for magic, or that my mom and dad wouldn't love me if I was anything but the most perfect child they thought I could be. Like little know-it-all Sabrina. "Why don't you get good grades like your sister, Brindle?" "Can't you be nice to people like Sabrina does?" These kinds of questions were asked of me often. And often I didn't want to reply.

"I'm hungry!" I practically screeched through the door. "You can't ground me for something that wasn't even remotely close to being my fault. God would want you to accept me for who I am." Bet that got on their nerves. They would no doubt be calling the priest right now, scheduling an exorcism. According to my super religious father, I was demon possessed and would most definitely NOT be going to any school that practiced witchcraft. His exact words, too.

"B-Brindle? Here's some f-food." My mother pushed a plastic tray through the small mail slot in the door. "You may have some more when your f-father says so." Then, oh so quietly, she murmured. "I still love you..."

I snorted, trying not to laugh in her face. "Sure you did, right after you locked my door with three dead bolts. Ya, I could tell." I rolled my eyes and turned, walking to my bed with the tray of food. As I surveyed the goods the image on the tray failed to slip my attention. It was a church scene (Catholic, of course) and a huge array of words stood out at the top: =REPENT AND HE WILL LOVE YOU=. I kind of figured they would do something like this, so I just emptied the food on my bedspread and tossed the tray out the window.

Long after I had consumed the petty excuse of a meal, I heard a strange noise below my window. It sounded like a gunshot, but muffled. I slipped out onto the balcony, peering over the railing. A pair of oddly dressed girls stood on the lawn under a small oak. A few confusing thoughts ran through my mind, but the taller one cleared any doubts when she reached inside her strange robes for a short stick. A streak of blue, and a blurry Sedan appeared in the driveway. My lips formed a broad smile as it dawned on me: two witches were standing under my window. As the witches knocked on the door, the smaller of the two glanced up. I caught her eye and winked. She looked surprised, so I ran for my bedroom door. I was going to make it down to the living room if it killed me.

I grabbed a bobby pin out of my bangs and started working on the first lock. I heard the door downstairs open, then minutes later, the unending creak of the stairs. I tried to work faster, but before I could get the lock picked, it swung open. I was flung back on my heels, but quickly sprang up to a standstill. Well wasn't this awkward.

The woman that now peered down at me looked amused. "Are you okay?" She smirked a little and gestured forward the girl I saw before. I smiled weakly, hoping that she hadn't seen me fly to the floor.

"Er... Hello? Miss..?" I looked for a name tag or something, but then remembered: this is a witch, not a business professional. "Never mind," I hastily quipped "So... Are you gonna save me? Or...," I trailed off as both of my parent's heads popped through the door.

My dad gave a shuddering hiss as the woman drew her wand and pointed at the rip that had appeared above my knee. "Reparo!" She put the brown rod back into her odd robes. "Hmm, it seems as if you've had your appearances changed." She hitched an eyebrow. I looked at my skin. Nothing looked amiss. When my mother gasped, I turned to look in the small mirror above my desk.

I have never really gasped before in my life, so this was a first. "Wicked!" I exclaimed. My hair had turned purple, my eyes yellow like a cat. The girl who came with wand lady walked over to me and hesitantly reached out a hand. She giggled.

"You're a metamorphmagus! My mom only knows one other. Her name is Nymphadora Tonks, but she just goes by Tonks. She stops by sometimes. You could meet her! Right mo-" She was cut off by the glare my dad was giving her. He stormed out of the room, yelling the whole way down the stairs.

"GO!" He roared," Take that demon spawn! Take her and never bring her back. Keep her for all I care!" The distinct sound of the front door slamming sent my mom to tears.

I tried to comfort her, but she flinched away from my arm. "I'm sorry, Brindle, but he was right. We can't hide you forever." The next word was barely audible. "Bye."

Wand lady grabbed my arm and walked me down the stairs and out onto the lawn. "What-*` I'm about to do might seem painful, but you will be okay after a few moments. It is a simpler way to get to our house." She motioned the girl over and she grabbed her arm, too. We spun and a suffocating pressure squeezed my body. I gasped for air when we landed on a sidewalk.

"Welcome to our humble abode. I'll explain inside." She let go of me and walked to the front door. She used her wand to open the door and sent us to the kitchen. "My name is Birch; you may call me Bee if you want. My daughter's name is Rowan. We are the Willows. We are a wizarding family, and we are going to provide a home for you until start of term." She placed a pot of water on the stove to boil, but instead she waved her wand over the water until it steamed.

I looked around the large kitchen. The walls had moving images on them. They were flat like pictures, but looked like small TVs. Strange. "So I am going to the magic school? For real?" I looked into the warm face that looked back with what I thought was pity. She nodded once then turned back to the tea.

"If you want to. It's completely optional." At those words, Rowan jumped up and down. Repeatedly. "Eeeeh!" She screamed in my ear. "We can start together! And go shopping for books. And get pets. I want an owl, but I guess a cat would be okay. I'm so excited!" Rowan hugged her mom, then me, and finally ran up the stairs, screeching again.

"Maybe you should follow her." Birch smiled and tilted her head towards the staircase.

[A/N] Reviews? Please? I haven't wrote anything lengthy in while and I want to extend this plot. Later chapters will include Fred/George, Angelina, and other characters from their year. Also, possible Ron bashing.