An Odd First Year.

I don't own Harry Potter and this is my first Harry Potter fanfic so go easy.

Chapter 1: My letter.

Rakel pov

Hey, My name is Rakel, I'm eleven years old and a girl. Not that you can tell by my name and appearance. I hated the idea of looking like a girly girl so much I looked like a boy. I had short choppy brown hair and you would never catch me dead in a skirt. I would always wear jeans and a long sleeved black shirt. I am an orphan, my mom died when I was a baby and my father died shortly after her. I guess you could say I was a black sheep, because unlike the other kids at the orphanage, I always stood up for myself, that and I believe in magic. I have experienced lots of things that prove it too. I can make thing happen. It's a bit hard to control, but still handy when the owners of the orphanage got drunk and abusive. I have tried to get away many times, but was always caught. But, I had a plan for tonight. I would wait until light out, then make my move.

I sat on my bed and waited. The light always were off by ten. I watched my clock and waited. Finally, the hand hit ten and right on cue the light went out. I quickly stood and got under my bed. I pulled out all out my most prized objects. A book on how to find real magic, a real sword that I happened to find, and half of an old silver locket, I don't know where the other half is.

I slid my window open and crawled out. My room was two stories from the ground, but I knew how to climb. I climbed down a drain pipe and to the ground. I hit the ground running and found my way to the fence. Two days ago, I found a weak link and you know what they say. I pulled out my sword and easily cut the link then the one above it until there was a whole big enough for me, but no one bigger. I crawled through and smiled as I felt so free. I turned and saw the drunken men stumbling toward me. I tossed my make shift bag over my shoulder and stuck my tongue out at them before running away. I was practically skipping with joy. Those idiots wouldn't think to call the cops till they got out over their hangover. By that time, I would be in half way to New York, or so I thought.

I heard an owl screech from right over my head. I look up and could help but raise my arm. The creature landed on my arm and offered me a letter that was held tightly in his beak. I took it and stroked him as I read it:

Dear Miss. Rakel Shade,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been excepted at Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry. Inclosed is a list of things you will need for this term. If you plan to attend then send your reply with this owl.

Thank you,

Professor Mcgonagall

Deputy Headmistress.

I blinked in shock and looked at the owl. I pulled out a pen and wrote on the back of the letter:

Dear Professor,

I would love to come to your school, but I am currently lacking a way to get there. If you could assist me in this I would greatly appreciate it.

Hoping to hear from you,

Rakel Shade.

I nodded and returned the letter to the owl. It flew into the air and I watched him vanish. Then, turned to return to my journey. A few miles ahead, I found a baseball cap. It was black a red symbol on it. I tucked it on to my head and looked in a puddle. I smiled at the fact that the hat made me even more like a boy. I found my way to a city and decided to sleep in an ally. I figure anywhere is better than that orphanage.

I sat down and stretched. There was and old man next to me. He looked at me and smiled and toothless grin "Hello, there. What your name, young man?" I smiled as well and made my voice a bit deeper to imitate one of the boys at the orphanage "Rakel, and you?" he shrugged "Don't really remember. Ask me later." I giggled internally "Okay." he took of his trench coat "Here, you look like you need it more then me." I smiled and took it. "Thank you." he nodded and then just left. I watched him and wrapped the coat around myself. I fell asleep like that.

Snape pov

I appropriated into an ally way. Dumbledore had sent me here to find the Shade girl and bring her to Hogwarts. I looked around and spotted an eleven year old boy asleep not far from me. I don't know why but I felt this was my target. I pulled out my wand and used a locator spell to find the girl and it pointed at the boy. I knelt down and more closely examined him and found that it was indeed a her. I shook her awake and she started. She looked around trying to get her barrings then looked at me.

There was no doubt she was the last member of the Shade family. She had the same deep red eyes as her mother and father. I expect that like them, she will end up in Gryphidor. She rubbed her eyes sleepily "Can I help you?" she asked. "I am here to help you, or did your mind about coming to Hogwarts." she blinked and seemed to sit up straighter "Your from the school?" I nodded and helped her to her feet. She picked up the trench coat she had covered herself in and looked around. "Where'd that old guy go?" she asked before shrugging and folding the coat and placing it back in the place she had been sleeping in. "There, now he can find it." she stretched her arms over her head and pulled her cap tighter on her head. "Ready?" I asked and she nodded.

I appropriated us to the hog's head and we walked the rest of the way to Hogwarts. I took us up to Dumbledore and we waited for the professor. "Aw, Severus, I see you found Miss. Shade." I nodded and left the two alone to talk, but not before giving the girl one final look. I got a sense I would be seeing a lot more of her then just my classes.

Rakel pov

I was still recovering from the weird warp through space. I barely noticed the man from before leave and a new person come in. That is until he walked over and got my attention. "Hello, Miss. Shade, I am Professor Dumbledore, headmaster at this school." I didn't say anything. I was afraid if I opened my mouth I would puke. He smiled and patted my shoulder "It's alright, appropriation is always rough on first timers. Here, this will help." he handed me a pack that read Chocolate Frog. I was so hungry I didn't care if it was a real frog or not, I just ate it. The Professor was right, it did help.

"Well, now that you are settled. Let's get to business. We were told you were sent to a muggle orphanage. So why did Professor Snape find you in an ally." I swallow and spoke "I ran away, couldn't take being beaten anymore." I took another bite of my frog "Beaten?" he said shocked and I nodded "Usally when they are drunk, but they like to do it sober, too." I held the frog in my teeth and showed him my scar. I got it last week, when one of the owners pulled a knife on me. It was one of the few times I actually had to use my secret sword to defend myself.

"Got that fighting them off. A nasty bunch those guys." I said rolling down my sleeve. Dumbledore thought for a moment then walked over to his fireplace. "Severus, please come back and bring Madam Pomfrey." moments later the man from before came in with another lady. "Albus?" asked the lady looking at me. "Poppy, please take Miss. Shade down stairs and make sure she has no serious injuries." I blinked as the lady walked over to me. "Come on, dear. Let's get you down to the hospital wing." I stood and walked after her.

Snape pov

I watched as Madam Pomfrey took the girl away, then turned to Dumbledore. "May I ask what is going on? Why wasn't she at the orphanage?" Dumbledore rubbed his aged eyes and groaned. He suddenly looked age two hundred years "Remind me why we chose that orphanage." I thought, but had no reason. "Why?" I asked. He told me about the girl's abuse. This was going to be a difficult student.