Chapter One: A Wild Flower Among Roses
I had always been an outsider. I mean, my family was, as well. We were all different from the rest. But even within my own family. I mean, of course my family wasn't normal - heck, they weren't even human. But I wasn't even like them. I was like an outsider in a family of outsiders of a group of outsiders who weren't even human.
On one hand, I was relieved to find out a little bit about my parentage. On the other hand, I knew my adoptive family had smudged the truth. They had known my mother, at least, a bit more than they had told me about.
Carlisle settled in his seat beside me at the kitchen table, sighing slightly. I didn't look at him, feeling betrayed, as I sat, reading my book. Carlisle Cullen - my father for all intents and purposes - grasped my hand, his cold one resting atop my warm one.
"Grace, please look at me," he begged, his warm, honey eyes settling on me, burning holes in the side of my head, begging me to look at him.
"I won't," I answered resolutely, "not until you tell me why you never told me about it. Surely my mother was strong enough to live through my birth, then. I could have grown up to know her… shouldn't her magic have been able to save her?"
"You would think," Carlisle admitted, "but if you would just listen to what Albus has to say, he may be able to explain things to you. He would be able to explain things far easier than I could."
I took a deep breath; it wasn't Carlisle's or Esme's fault. They hadn't known too much about my mother - they had only known what my father was, not her. It wasn't like they had kept me from knowing on purpose.
Edward, with his gorgeous features and rust-colored hair sat across from me, taking my hands up in his and smiling his amazing, crooked smile, "This Dumbledore person just wants to do what's best for you. If you went to his school, you could learn how to be a witch."
"She already knows how to be a witch, that she proves day-in-day-out."
I gave Emmett a playfully dirty look, before standing and stating - most likely thanks to Jasper's calming waves, "All right; I'll talk to him and perhaps he can give me some idea of what's going on." The others all smiled encouragingly and nodded for me to go on into the living room.
Alice patted me on the shoulder, smiling brightly, "I've seen you going to this Hogwarts; you'll have a lot of fun." She had one of her mysterious knowing looks on her face and I promised myself I would have to question it later.
I headed into the spacious living room, where the tall, oddly dressed, elderly man sat at the piano, running his fingers over the keys, playing the beginnings of a rather pretty, light melody. He looked over at me and smiled, patting the piano bench.
"Your sisters tell me that you can play the piano quite well," he stated, smiling, his bright blue eyes twinkling I the roaring fire's light, "would you play something for me?"
I nodded slightly, acquiescing, not even looking at the keys as I played Greensleeves on the piano. Despite all of these new songs, especially Elton John's songs, I preferred the older, more classical things.
"So, you knew my mother, then?" I inquired, looking up at the old man. I immediately felt at ease with him, feeling calm and warm, almost like when Jasper set about manipulating my emotions.
"I did," he answered with a slight, sad smile on his wizened face, "Janice Hoppard was one of the brightest witches I've ever taught. I believe, when she met your father, he told her things, many splendid, false things."
"I've heard a bit about him," I stated, a scowl forming on my cream, shining face, my onyx eyes hardening, "if it weren't for him, perhaps she could have survived. But enough about him; you said that she was a witch. And I take it I am, too, since you're here. Why haven't I heard anything about this before?"
"With your… condition," Dumbledore began carefully, "it was harder to trace you. Primarily, the Ministry of Magic can locate all witches and wizards. I send out their letters for Hogwarts when they are eleven years of age. For you, however, Grace, eleven came and went in a matter of months. Therefore, by the time you reached the age, you were well past entering."
"And now?" I inquired, one eyebrow raised in curiosity.
"Well, you have been at a point where you will not age any longer for quite some time, have you not?" At my nod, Dumbledore continued, "You have come under control of both your advantages and disadvantages quite well now. And I believe you have quite enough capabilities to catch up with the rest of our sixth years and enter for your second to last and final years at the school. If you wish, that is."
I sighed slightly, pondering the situation. It's not every day that you're told you're a witch, you know. It would give me the opportunity to be around people "my own age". Humans that is. But, the Cullens were my family; I could never just abandon them and head off to England.
"If you're worried about your family," Dumbledore began, his eyes twinkling as he took in my surprised look - as far as I knew, only Edward could read minds, "Carlisle and Esme have graciously offered to move to Scotland. I know they've been there before and quite enjoyed themselves. As for your siblings, they would greatly enjoy the opportunity, I think."
As long as my family came to Scotland with me, I would go. I smiled up at Dumbledore, playing the last few notes of my song, and stated, "I'll go."
"Splendid, Grace," Dumbledore smiled slightly, standing and clapping his hands together. I stood with him and shook his hand, "Ah; your hands are warm. I was almost expecting them to be cold, like the rest of the Cullens'."
I smiled slightly, shrugging, "Well, I guess it will keep my identity under cover for a while."
When Dumbledore departed, the rest of the Cullens congratulated me on being accepted there. Carlisle even informed me that Hogwarts was the best school for learning magic (courtesy of Dumbledore - I guess he and Carlisle went way back…).
"Alice," I smiled brightly, grabbing her arm, "I promise we'll go shopping if you tell me what you meant by that look earlier." I knew Alice; she couldn't resist shopping, that was for certain.
"I knew you'd say that," Alice sighed, feigning disappointment, before bouncing on the balls of her feet and grabbing my hands, "let's go!"
As reluctant as I was at the beginning to go to this Hogwarts place, I was beginning to get very excited about the prospect. Dumbledore had given me dozens of books that I had to catch up on for the five years I would be missing when I started in September.
Thankfully, one of my lovely gifts, being what I was, was the ability to look at something and have it completely memorized, for life, that is. So, page after page of book after book, my mind committed every page, every drop of information, to memory. Edward once said that if I had ever taken an IQ test, I would well surpass genius level.
Speaking of Edward, I was a lot like him in many ways. I mean, I'm sure I was like my mother, but never having the chance to know her - and none of the Cullens did very well either - I couldn't say whether I was like her in the least.
But Edward and I, we could both be serious and calm. We were both smart and controlled, sharing a love of piano and reading. And, for as much as I mimicked Edward, I did the same with Emmett and Alice. I could get loud and crazy like Emmett - we once had a sword fight after watching an Errol Flynn movie that resulted in Carlisle having to rebuild the house - and yet I also loved shopping and could be as bubbly as Alice with a temper to match Rosalie's. I think I was like each individual Cullen in a way. There was always something in me that resembled one of them or another.
Anywho, I must say, we made quite the entrance to Platform 9 and ¾ on September 1st. I had my shoulder-length, layered auburn hair swept up into a ponytail and I was wearing knee-length, light blue sundress. I had a hold of my kitten, Tucker (Jasper had bought him for me,), as we reached the pillar. Dumbledore had specifically told me that I had to walk through it. Of course, my family all came with me, hoping to catch a glimpse of the magical, scarlet steam engine.
I had braced myself in order to make it through the wall, but nothing happened. It was like walking through water, really. When we all emerged on the other side, we marveled at the enormous train and the vast amount of people crowding around it, waving good-bye to their families and greeting their good friends.
I felt uneasy about boarding alone, knowing that, for once in my life, I would be away from my family, my lifeline. But they had all reassured me that I would be fine before we left and weren't afraid to do so now.
"Enjoy yourself, Gracie," Esme smiled, hugging me tightly. Carlisle was next, wishing me good luck, giving me a warm smile. Emmett lunged at me, picking me up and swinging me around, letting out his booming laugh. He tossed me to Jasper, causing me to shriek, startled, who then tossed me to Edward. They were all laughing my the time Edward set me to my feet. I shoved them all, scowling, but laughed. Alice and Rosalie hugged me next, both wishing me good luck as well.
Alice pulled me off to the side, away from the others and we scanned the crowds. What she had meant before when she said I would have fun there was that I would meet a boy there. But she couldn't see him all that well, which was odd, because everyone usually came up perfectly clear in her visions.
"He's tall," she stated as we searched, "much taller than you," she ignored my 'well who isn't?' comment (I was only five foot tall you see), "and he's rather built. He's very popular, too."
"How about one of them?" I inquired, pointing to a group of boys standing around a red-haired girl. There were four of them; we could immediately discount the one though. He was short and squat, sniveling almost. He was definitely not my type and he also didn't fit Alice's vision. There were three boys, however, that did. One was tall and skinny, with jet black hair, hazel eyes, and round glasses. He was trying to sweet-talk the redhead. Probably not him then. The next boy was more buff, with jaw length, shiny black hair. He had bright grey eyes and amazingly handsome features for not being a vampire. His grin was enough to cause Alice and I to giggle. He was definitely muscular, that much was certain, even through those silly black robes. And finally, there was another boy, taller than the other two. He was lean, but built as well. He had shaggy, sandy blonde hair and deep amber eyes. I would almost say they were the eyes of a vampire (a vegetarian one, that is) but I highly doubted he was. He was very handsome, as well, though he was currently rolling his eyes at the hazel-eyed one's actions.
"Yes, I'm sure you're right," Alice smiled, bouncing again, "it has to be one of them."
"Maybe I can find them on the train?" I mused aloud. She was practically beaming with excitement, "Definitely!"
As the steam engine blew its whistle, the gobs of people began boarding, including the boys and the redheaded girl. I turned to the Cullens and smiled sadly. We all said good-bye again (I knew if they could cry, Esme surely would be) and, teary-eyed, I headed over to the train, boarding and waving good-bye to my favorite people.