A/N: Hello, This is only a short intro chapter, I just couldn't bring myself to merge the next chapter with this one, I didn't want to ruin it. I love constructive criticism, anything wrong, spelling, grammar, any ideas for plot, any character ideas, anything and everything is welcomed. Enjoy. :)
Kayla Potter, cousin to the famous James Potter, short, awkward, Beauxbaton student, pure blood and an absolute party animal, sighed as she dropped herself onto the Potters' luxurious red love seat, beside James Potter himself, with the grace of an elephant. He grinned at her while several women standing nearby scowled at her lack of elegance. She tugged at her too-long, Slytherin-green silk dress that fell to her ankles, causing a blond woman to gasp at her showing ankles, glaring at the silver snakes with jade-coloured gems for eyes, one wound around her wrist and another around her finger. She cursed her mother for making her wear the too-high, too-tight, silver heels that she slid from her feet with a smile.
"You poor thing." James eyed the shoes warily, as if they may attack at any second with an 'avada kedavra'. Kayla smiled at her cousin gratefully. He may be a huge prat, but he had his moments and he understood how hard it was for her. The only reason she hadn't put up too much of a fight was she would be staying with her cousin for the rest of summer, and that was worth every second of the dreadful shoes.
Her father had been killed in a 'tragic accident', although no one seemed to be able to do more than hold a small funeral, and not surprisingly, Kayla's mother was devastated at the loss of her husband. Her father was Sebastian Potter, the younger brother of Charlus Potter, although everyone called him 'Bass' or 'The Big Bass'. Charlus Potter was devastated at the loss of his brother, and was doing everything within his power to help Kayla and her mother, Penelope or 'Pen', although no one used the nickname created by her husband anymore. Penelope Potter's life had been going in a downward spiral ever since her husband declined the dark lord, and she feared for Kayla's safety. Kayla had been attacked by student death-eaters during her last week of term, in her school of Bauxbaton and was now transferring to Hogwarts at the request of Headmaster Dumbledore.
She liked the headmaster, he was kind and generous, and he had twinkling blue eyes that drew her to him, drew her to tell him anything. Of course, being a pure-blood, she had learnt occlumency and was able to keep anyone and everyone out, but around the headmaster her walls crumbled, as if she didn't mind if he knew what she was thinking. It was irritating, as he would answer the questions in her head instead of the questions on her lips, but at least she got answers. Kayla and her mother had visited Professor Dumbledore merely two days ago in his office.
Headmaster Dumbledore had the most peculiar office. It was a large, circular room with a large wooden desk in the middle, behind which Albus Dumbledore was seated. He gestured for them to sit on the comfy-looking, padded chairs in front of his desk. Kayla and Penelope sat, both of them crossing their ankles. Kayla tuned out her mother and new headmaster as they discussed the matters of her safety, accommodation, classes and other priorities, instead examining the circular room with interest. The semi-circle of a wall behind the professor was lined with portraits of previous headmasters and headmistresses, many of them peering at her with curiosity. The lower portions of the room was covered in shelves containing books, photographs, quills, inkpots, parchment and many strange devices. The floor was polished wooden floorboards with many cupboards and furniture dotted around, but it was a cage hovering in the corner of the office, near the door which she entered through that caught her eye. The cage itself was strange enough to catch anyone's eye, it was three-quarters mesh and then it stopped, as if someone didn't care about whatever it was escaping. Inside the cage was a tree branch, and perched on that branch was a beautiful phoenix. Dumbledore must have noticed her staring because he whistled lowly and the bird flew over to perch on his desk in front of her.
"Fawkes. Beautiful isn't he?" She stared at the creature in front of her with interest. "Well don't be shy, he doesn't bite." Dumbledore smiled warmly at her and Kayla reached out to touch the bird.
"I've never actually seen one, but I've read heaps about them! Is it true that they die in ash and then are re-born?"
"Yes, of course, dear girl. Now will you be willing to be sorted?"
"Sorted?"
"Yes, you just pop on this hat, and it looks through your mind to see which house you belong in. Gryffindor for the brave, Slytherin for the cunning, Hufflepuff for the loyal and Ravenclaw for the smart. The house is like your family here. You will sleep with the other sixth year girls in your house, you will share a common room with your house, you will eat with your house, points will be awarded to your house for good and deducted for bad, so just put the hat on your head." He gestured to the old and wrinkled hat in front of him. She reached out with her perfectly-manicured hands and carefully placed the hat upon her head, careful not to mess up her hair.
She started as a voice spoke in her ear. "Smart enough for Ravenclaw, but you wouldn't fit. There's loyalty too, so much loyalty, but, no, not Hufflepuff. Cunning, yes you can be a devilish little thing can't you, but Slytherin would turn you evil. So brave, so courageous, Gryffindor it is. GRYFFINDOR!" Kayla grinned as she removed the hat and replaced it on the desk. Professor Dumbledore's eyes sparkled as he watched her thoughtfully. "You will be a brilliant witch someday, Poppy."
With that they left his office, the school, her school, and headed off to prepare for the gathering. She hadn't bothered to protest at her mother's Slytherin choice in clothes, instead choosing to dream about what Hogwarts life would be like.
She grinned at the memory, causing James to raise an eyebrow. "Hey cuz, something good going on in that pretty little head of yours?"
"Nothing you would understand, Jamie."
"Now, Popsicle, I was merely being curious, why hurt me so?" he placed a hand over his chest as though she had hurt him. It might have been convincing, if not for the gigantic smile that took over his handsome face. She leaned into his chest and sighed. "I missed you so much. It's hard, you know? I hate being alone, whenever I close my eyes I get the memories of what happened." Tears threatened to escape and she tried to blink them away.
"I know, chica, I know." He murmured as he held her close and stroked her hair, waiting for the moment to pass. Kayla sat back up straight and scowled with distaste. "You smell terrible."
"Smelling me now are we?" He grinned at her evilly.
"Well I had to breathe, and I think I would have rather suffocated." He grinned at her then looked around, frowning. "What's wrong?"
"Oi Prongs!"
"That. Don't hate me?" She frowned at him but nodded. He put his arm around her shoulders and as if on cue, a tall, masculine, black haired, raven eyed boy stepped through the crowd and stood in front of them. "I've been looking for you everywhere! And who would this be?" He asked, diverting his attention to Kayla.
"Kayla Potter, Jamie's cousin. Nice to meet you." She smiled up at him from the love seat and he bent down to kiss her hand. "Slytherin much?"
"Actually I'm in Gryffindor. I got sorted a few days ago, I just decided to humour my mother for tonight, and then I'm staying here." He nodded as he thought about what that may mean for his summer, and upon seeing no wrong in having a gorgeous Gryffindor who seemed to be nice enough flouncing round the manor, he grinned at her,
"Sirius Black. Permanent resident at Potter Manor. So you guys going to move or make me stand here all night?" James rolled his eyes and pulled Kayla onto his lap, leaving room for the newcomer to sit. As James and Kayla were practically siblings, no one thought anything about her on his lap, but had she been on Sirius' lap, all hell would have broken loose. The boys continued to talk, tease and argue, occasionally asking for Kayla's opinion, but other than that, Kayla sat on James' lap, leaning her head on his shoulder, absentmindedly playing with her hair as she imagined at the things she could do at Hogwarts. As a very mischievous image of Kayla pranking James appeared in her head, she smiled evilly.
"Chica, I do and don't want to know what that look's about."
"What's Hogwarts like?"
"Do not change the subject little missy!"
"I was thinking about Hogwarts."
"Sure, and I was just talking to Sirius about me marrying his mother."
"Really? 'Cause I really was thinking about Hogwarts. What I can do to you there, pink hair, Green robes, tripping over, changing the language of your writing. Positively brilliant. So when's the wedding?" She asked him sweetly as he looked shocked. He thought she was thinking dirty thoughts, and now he is imaginarily engaged to Sirius' mother. Oh, this is going to be good, she thought with a smug smile. Sirius watched their bantering with an amused expression, they really were like siblings!
'No offence, Prongs, but I believe it might be inappropriate to have my best friend as my step-father, and I say you aren't allowed to marry my mother."
"Fine." James pouted and Kayla giggled.
"So Kayla, why does Jamie call you Chica?" He asked, putting more emphasis on the word 'Jamie', knowing James hated the name.
"Um, well actually-"
"We were at a party a few years ago, quite a good party at that," Kayla nodded her head in agreement, "Well then there was this guy who she was fawning over. 'He's so hot!' 'Need with a capital N.E.E.D.!' 'Do you think he'd like me?'" He grinned at Kayla who was shooting him daggers, and continued unaware of the danger he was putting himself into. "Anyway, they ended up doing a S.W.A.P. and-"
"A what?"
"Really Padfoot? You do S.W.A.P.s all the time! Snogging With A Passion." James paused, waiting for Sirius to understand, realisation causing Sirius' mouth to form itself into an 'o' "Oh" he breathed, as if in a trance. He shook his head as if trying to rid thoughts from his mind and he grinned at his best friend. "Well? Continue at will!"
James grinned back and continued the story. "Well when I came to fetch her to come to dinner, they were really going at it and, oof that hurt!"
"I hardly hit you!"
"Still hurt," James grumbled, rubbing his shoulder where Kayla had smacked him.
"Bloody hell, if I did that to Lily she wouldn't even 'oof'."
"Fine. Anyways I got them apart and told her it was time for dinner, he says 'Ciao Chica', I mean, who uses Italian and Spanish in the same sentence? Bloody foreign my ass. So I call her Chica so she won't forget."
"And I call you Jamie so you won't be such an ass, although it doesn't seem to be working." Sirius grinned at her and James pouted. This was going to be a summer to remember.
A/N: It would be greatly appreciated if you review, I have the next chapter ready and I will post it after two reviews. I hate being the one to have to blackmail everyone, but come on, it's two reviews, not that hard! I will update In a week if I havn't got two reviews (Not that haard!) but anyways, THANKYOU FOR READING! COOKIES FOR EVERYONE! 3 :)