Here it is!
I'd like to give a shoutout to Pacco1! I really appreciate the follow and favorite; it's a sinple action, but It felt like a huge vote of confidence, so thank you so much for that!
A Strange Girl: Chapter 1: Past Problems
Atalanta LeStrange was, as her surname suggested, a strange girl, even by wizarding standards. She'd been bounced from school to school, never remaining for more than a year. She'd been to three American schools - Empire State Wizarding Academy in New York City, Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in Eastern North America, and Lincoln Academy for the Magically Gifted in D.C. - and even was homeschooled by a friend's mom, but the two had had a falling out, and the mother decided it was best if she didn't come back.
Now, here was a professor from a school in Scotland, the school her heinous mother had attended, mind you, offering her a chance to attend that school, staying at a house with a man called Sirius Black.
"Uh, I appreciate the offer, Professor McGonagall, but I don't think that'd be a good idea. My mother and father killed and tortured many people, and I'd only be treated with contempt. Plus, isn't Black supposed to be a mass murderer?"
"He was proven innocent by a student named Harry Potter, but the officials still are adamant about him being guilty, even though they had no evidence when throwing him in Azkaban." She sighed. "I cannot say that I am surprised by your decision, Miss LeStrange, but I want you to know that the offer remains." She turned to exit, but Atalanta grasped her forearm.
"If I say yes, will I go now, get to know Black and some others?"
"You would leave as soon as you were ready," she said with a knowing smile.
Lani bit her lip. "Give me ten minutes."
-Line Break-
They apparated to #12 Grimmauld Place and McGonagall opened the door, allowing Lani to see a redheaded woman ushering a boy with black, untidy hair and round, wire-rimmed glasses upstairs.
She turned and saw McGonagall and Lani and smiled. "Ah, Minerva, thank Merlin, you made it. And I take it this is Atalanta?" She looked her up and down. "A beautiful young lady, if I've ever seen one!"
Atalanta smiled pleasantly. "Hello, I'm Atalanta LeStrange."
"Molly Weasley." She yelled up the stairs, "Children, come say hello to someone!"
Lanj had turned her gaze to the floor. "As in the Molly Weasley who used to be Molly Prewett, sister to Gideon and Fabian Prewett? The people whose murders my mother took place in?"
Molly smiled sadly and embraced the girl. "Oh, dearie, it wasn't your fault. I don't blame you in the slightest. Anyone who does can come and talk to me."
The girl smiled. "Thank you, Mrs. Weasley. And, please, call me Lani." The thundering of footsteps alerted them to the approaching children.
McGonagall had told her who she'd be meeting, specifically the one with black hair and glasses that she'd seen earlier. "This is Atalanta, Atalanta this is Fred, George, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and-"
"Harry Potter," she said. "Professor McGonagall said you'd be here. It's nice to meet you all."
Molly then ushered them upstairs. While following them, she heard McGonagall say, "Make sure that Sirius accepts her. She's had it rougher than most witches."
She joined Harry, Hermione, and Ron into one of the spare rooms, but they gave her odd looks, making her feel like they didn't want her there.
"Uh, sorry," she said awkwardly. "I'll... just go."
She turned to leave, but Hermione said, "No, it's alright, we just thought maybe you'd tell us your story. We'll tell you ours."
Atalanta sighed. "Would you guys want to go first?" Her throat suddenly felt extremely dry. She needed some time to prepare herself emotionally.
Harry frowned but nodded, explaining his first year at Hogwarts, fighting the parasitic Voldemort, second year defeating the basilisk and saving Ginny, third year and freeing Sirius, fourth year and the Tri-Wizard Tournament and Voldemort rising again, to the attack by the dementors and his impending trial. Ron and Hermione jumped in every so often, filling in any information Harry had missed.
"So," Ron said expectantly, "what's your story, Atalanta LeStrange? Why haven't you been to Hogwarts, and why do you sound American?"
She sighed and swallowed the lump in her throat. "My mother was Moldy-Voldy's right-hand. She tortured and murdered anyone and everyone she could find who opposed him. She hated me. I was a constant reminder of her weakest moments; when she'd held me in front of the Dark Lord, and he'd taken me and tortured me, making her plead and beg to let me go. He'd hit her, strike her, and basically do anything to punish her, short of killing her. He'd almost killed me. My father wasn't caught for years after my mother, and he would beat me until I passed out. He referred to it as a physical lullaby." She'd broken into tears, but had only let her voice break every so often. She wouldn't be seen as weak in front of them.
She continued, "He was finally caught, and I was sent to an orphanage, but I managed to sneak away and stow myself away on a boat delivering things to the east coast of America. I'd been to three different schools and was homeschooled. I'd never remained at a single school for more than a year. I'd also learned to wear longer-sleeved shirts or even hoodies, along with long jeans or tall socks or boots, otherwise people would ask questions or make fun of me because I was ugly. That is, until I figured out how to charm this necklace," she held up a simple necklace with an anchor charm, "to hide my scars. That's why I've never been to Hogwarts and why I sound American; because, in essence, I am. Now, Professor McGonagall convinced me to come and stay here with Sirius Black."
She looked up from her lap and wiped away her tears, only to see Hermione crying, Harry looking about ready to smack a bitch, and Ron looking horrified.
Hermione rushed over and gave her a tight hug, and Lani felt the tears come back with a vengeance. She realized that maybe she could be seen as weak in front of these three.
She realized that she'd just made her first true friends in her entire life, because they actually cared.
They didn't just apologize and talk about their own problems like her American friends had. They listened, felt for her, and were genuinely friendly with her.
Soon, both Harry and Ron had joined in the hug, and she had calmed down.
"Thanks, guys."
"No worries, Atalanta-"
"Please, it's Lani."
Harry smiled, "Lani. I'm sorry we forced to to tell us that."
"You didn't force me to do anything. I chose to tell you, because you told me your story."
Hermione smiled sadly. "I can't believe you had to go through that."
Molly's voice was heard throughput the house, announcing dinner.
Harry grinned and rushed out of the room, ready to see Sirius again, whereas Ron rushed for food.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Boys." She walked out calmly alongside Lani, who was nervous to meet Sirius Black, her new housemate.
There ya have it! Chapter One of "A Strange Girl"! I hope it's as good if not better than my past story.
-Ravenclaw'sHeir2020
P.S.-I know I said I'd upload tomorrow, but I just couldn't wait!