A beautiful young woman of seventeen stepped through the barrier onto platform 9 ¾, flanked closely by two men in matching uniform robes. The three had brilliant blonde hair and seemed to attract the eye without even putting forth an effort, heads turned towards the grouping as both men and woman felt themselves drawn to their charms. The girl smiled and ducked her head, clearly used to the reaction her appearance generated even if she was a little uncomfortable about it. Her blonde hair fell in slight waves, glimmering in the sun and set off by the brilliant yellow mini dress she wore. On her feet were white flat sandals and beside her was a trolley carrying a set of matching stacked bags, a large white and blue plaid purse and a caged owl. She took a deep breath and took in her surroundings, and then she began to move forward, an aura seemed to grow around her as men parted to create a path for her to move. The two men she arrived with flanked her pulling her trolley along scanning the area as they moved. Whispers started on either side of her, but she ignored them and continued down the path to the train. Reaching for her wand she levitated her trunk through the opening and into the luggage compartment, before taking the few steps up onto the train herself and proceeding down the corridor and into a vacant compartment. The uniformed men checked the compartment she had chosen before taking up positions on either end of the train. The girl closed the door and situated herself comfortably pulling out a magazine to flip through.
In a compartment just across from the new girl's sat Sirius Black and James Potter, lounging back with a confident air that seemed to emanate off them and fill their compartment. Their compartment door opened revealing Remus Lupin and across the corridor to a compartment door closing on a beautiful blonde girl.
"Whoa, who's that?" Sirius asked in semi awe.
"New girl and you're not the only one whose notice Padfoot...everyone's talking." Remus said taking his seat in the compartment.
"Hmm, this year just got interesting." James said with a raised eyebrow at Sirius.
"No kidding." Sirius breathed.
Across the corridor, a tall red headed girl in a purple jumper was knocking on the blonde's compartment door. The blonde girl opened the door, with a smile, "Hello."
"Hi, do you mind if we join you?" she stepped aside revealing two brunettes, one in a green mini skirt and white t-shirt, the other in black capri pants and a pink tank, "everywhere else is full."
"Oh yeah sure come on in, I'm Calliope, but please call me Callie." the blonde responded
"Hi, I'm Lily Evans and this is Marlene McKinnon and Alice Monroe."
"Good to meet you."
The rest of the girls took seats in the compartment, Lily sitting down beside Calliope.
Turning to her she asked, "So you're new right?"
"Is it that obvious?" Calliope asked.
"A little, you did draw quite a crowd," Marlene put in.
"I don't think she can help that." Alice said kindly.
"What do you mean?" Marlene asked.
"She means that I'm veela," Callie responded a pretty blush colouring her cheeks.
"Veela no way!" Marlene exclaimed, "that's awesome boys must be falling for you."
Callie shrugged, "No actually it's not so great, it can be a bit maddening at times."
"I'm still jealous." Marlene shot back.
"Ignore Marls, Callie; she's more than a little boy crazy." Lily said.
"Yeah just ask most the boys in our year." Alice said teasingly, earning her a swat with the magazine Marlene was reading, and causing the girls to burst out laughing.
In the boys' compartment, talk had turned back to its usual topics, Quidditch and girls. James as always had his thoughts on Lily Evans.
"Speaking of Evans, isn't that her?" Remus asked, causing James' head to whip around.
The boys stared out their compartment window into the compartment across the hall, where Lily, Alice, Marlene and the new girl sat in laughter.
"Shall we go say hello, after all Prongs it's your duty as Head Boy," Sirius let out a snigger, "to meet and greet new students." Remus said with a grin.
"I still don't understand why Dumbledore made you head boy." Sirius said.
"Because he sees my amazingness." James answered his chest puffed out.
"That's not a word." Remus told him.
James just shrugged, "still works."
The boys got up together and crossed the hall, pushing the door open; James leaned against the door frame. "Evans, Evans, Evans, miss me this summer?"
"You wish Potter," Lily retorted.
"Oh you have no idea." He answered and entered the compartment; followed by Sirius and Remus, "Aren't you going to introduce me?" he continued slyly wedging himself between Callie and Lily.
Lily huffed and turned to Callie, "This is Remus Lupin, Sirius Black..." she trailed off.
"Annnddd?" James continued
"And James Potter." Lily mumbled with a grimace.
"Hello." Callie said smiling at the boys, they stared back entranced until she looked away, over Marlene's shoulder at her magazine.
"And you are?" Sirius asked
"Calliope" she replied
The boys nodded their greetings, then Lily checked her watch, "all right Remus we've lollygagged enough, we should head out," turning to Callie she added, "Prefect's meeting."
Remus nodded and turned to James, "Prongs you coming?"
"Wait what?" Lily exclaimed, "Potter's not a prefect."
"Nope but I am Head Boy now aren't I, shall we?" James exited the compartment leaving a stunned Lily in his wake; Remus grinned then followed his friend down the corridor.
"Noo," Lily groaned, "he can't...Potter can't be..."
"And yet apparently he is," Alice commented stifling her laughter.
"Have fun Lils...enjoy your meeting," Marlene added her shoulders shaking.
Lily glared at her two friends then turned in a huff out the compartment and down the corridor to the prefect's compartment. Marlene and Alice burst out laughing Sirius joining them. Callie looked on confused, she had an inkling about the underlying tensions between the two and her veela abilities told her they didn't run only one way. Sirius flopped down on the bench beside Callie and leaned over.
"James and Lily have been fighting since first year."
"I'm not so sure I'd call that fighting, flirting might be a better term." Callie responded.
"You catch on quick don't you" Sirius responded, cocking an eyebrow.
Callie shrugged, "It's more than a little obvious."
"True, so do you ladies mind if I join you? It seems I've been left behind by those better behaved than myself." Sirius said with a smile.
"Actually where's the other one of your group, where's Peter?" Alice asked, always one to be kind.
Sirius simply shrugged and turned to Marlene, "So what are you reading?"
The rest of the trip passed in this way, the girls getting to know each other, Callie asking questions about Hogwarts, and simply enjoying the time as it passed. The train pulled into Hogsmede station and the group finally reconnected. The girls had kicked Sirius out of their compartment just before arriving so they could change into their school robes, much to his displeasure. So as they disembarked and made their way to the carriages the trio met up with him again and were soon joined by a disgruntled Lily, ecstatic James and a bemused Remus. They managed to find an empty carriage and climbed in together riding towards Hogwarts in happy conversation. As they crossed onto Hogwarts grounds Callie gasped and smiled, clearly enjoying the view before her.
They filed off the carriage and up to front steps, McGonagall stood at the top nodding to the students as they entered. When she spotted Callie she stopped the group, and nodded to the blonde girl, "Miss Stewart, you will follow me please."
Callie nodded, "Of course Professor, see you all later," and followed the professor into a small greeting hall, her two guards following close behind. The sorting of the large group of first years had finished, but McGonagall didn't remove the sorting stool, she nodded to Professor Dumbledore and he stood to address the student body.
"Welcome to another school year at Hogwarts, now that our new first years have been sorted I am pleased to announce that we will be having a second sorting. Hogwarts is pleased to welcome a new student to our midst. A transfer, Miss Calliope Stewart."
The double doors opened and the beautiful blonde haired girl stepped through, walking down the aisle towards the sorting stool, each and every head in the Great Hall turned and followed her progression down the aisle. Not unnoticed were the two men in official looking uniforms who took up posts on either side of the doors their eyes continuously scanning the room. An aura seemed to pulsate off of her as she took her seat on the stool and allowed the sorting hat to drop onto her head.
"Ah a veela...how interesting. But where to put you? It is clear that you are strong of heart and mind, and brave to be sure, one must be when one is royal. There is no doubt in my mind that any and all of our noble houses would do you well, but perhaps best of all...GRYFFINDOR!" the hat shouted the last word to the hall, and a large cheer went up from the table of red and gold.
Callie stood and lifted the hat from her head, turning with a smile to McGonagall and passing her the hat. Then she proceeded back down the aisle to where her new friends sat, once again earning head turns her way from the entire hall. A new student was a rarity, but one so beautiful and mysterious was forever intriguing.
Dumbledore nodded to Callie as she took her seat, a twinkle gleaming in his eye, "Welcome Miss Stewart, now then there is a time for grand words and speeches, but this is not it. Tuck in."
Food appeared at the tables and the students allowed their heads to turn away from the beautiful new girl and to their own plates. However it was clear that she was not forgotten as whispers broke out all over, and many students sent her furtive glances.
Remus however was multitasking; he filled his plate, but couldn't help but question, "Stewart? As in...No..."
Callie blushed attractively and looked to Remus giving a small almost unnoticeable nod.
"What are you on about Moony? James questioned over a mouthful of potatoes.
"Nothing, just Stewart is a powerful name in the veela community...assuming of course that your veela, Calliope." Remus continued.
"Yes, I'm veela, and yes Remus you are right, Stewart is a very powerful name in our community, actually it's the most powerful name," Callie blushed furiously, which only served to make her more attractive, "and its Callie please."
"So wait, that makes you the veela princess, then doesn't it?" Remus asked.
"Wait not only are you veela but you're royalty too...man this is so unfair." Marlene exclaimed.
"So why are you coming to Hogwarts? I mean you had to have had awesome tutors at the palace." Sirius asked.
"You have a palace?" Alice asked
"Actually it's not a palace but more of a big manor house...and its tradition, the heir has to spend her coming of age year in magical training."
"You're the heir?" James asked.
"Yeah isn't that usually a guy?" Alice asked, "I mean that's how the muggle royals work."
"Not in veela society, they're a matriarchal system." Lily answered, earning a surprised nod from Callie.
"How did you know that?" Marlene asked.
"We studied veela politics last year in history Marls, it was the week you were mooning over Dave Jensen."
"Oh yes, now I remember, Binns was droning on and on about the political war in 1815 when they ran out of eligible female heirs in the royal family." Alice said.
"I will never understand how you two manage to stay awake in that class let alone take consistent notes." Sirius commented.
"It's because Evans is amazing." James answered with a smile for Lily.
The group barely stifled their laughter, which caused more than one male head to turn at Callie's light infectious laughter, before quickly turning back embarrassed. The group ate dinner in an easy conversation about the upcoming year and before long desserts had been served and the plates were cleared. Dumbledore stood up to address the school at large.
"Now that we are all fed and watered, a few rules for our new students and reminders for those who are returning. There is to be no magic in the hallways and a full list of contraband items can be found on the door to Mr Filch's office, this list has been widened to include Dung Bombs and Fanged Frisbees," Dumbledore's eyes sparkled as he continued, "I would like to remind you that the Forbidden Forest is in fact forbidden, and that if you value your lives you will not approach the Whomping Willow as it will in fact fight back. Many of you may have noticed that we have been joined in this hall by some official looking gentlemen, these men are here for your protection, and the protection of a student of noble class who has joined our midst," heads turned to look over at Callie and she blushed deeply refusing to meet people's eyes.
"Students please remember that though the castle provides a safe home for you to grow and learn, outside out stronghold there are men and women who would intend to do you wrong, but I find that often the easiest thing to do is turn on a light and the darkness will be kept at bay. Now then, if our Head Boy and Girl will stand, I'd like to introduce you to your Head Boy, Mr James Potter, and Head Girl, Ms Lily Evans. Good luck to you both in the coming year, good night." He finished his eyes sparkling mischievously.
The students rose and filed out of the Great Hall proceeding towards their common rooms, the Gryffindor group went to take a short cut through a tapestry which would lead them up a steep set of stairs to the Fat Lady's portrait, but Callie stepped back from the group motioning for them to go ahead without her, "I'll catch you up, I'm supposed to have a meeting with Dumbledore about my sleeping arrangements."
The group nodded, slightly confused, but continued on their way. Callie on the other hand proceeded towards Dumbledore's office, followed as always by her two bodyguards. A few moments later she was seated in a comfortable plush chair in front of Dumbledore's desk looking at the older man with his half-moon spectacles.
"Miss Stewart, my agreement with your father was that you would be sleeping in a separate quarters from the other Gryffindor students, but upon reconsideration it might be best that we have you join your classmates in the Gryffindor dorms."
Callie nodded, "I'd like that sir. I met a few of them on the train ride here, and I quite enjoy being in their presence."
Dumbledore nodded, "The only trouble is these two gentlemen here, they obviously cannot sleep in the girls dorms, and our dormitory staircases are such that they will not allow men up to the girl's rooms."
Callie's face fell, her beauty dampening slightly, but then she smiled as she thought of a solution, "Sir might I suggest a veela protective magic, that would allow only my two bodyguards to climb the stairs, it involves a series of checks which would confirm their identity. So if anything were to happen to me they would be able to get to me."
Dumbledore's eyes sparkled at the idea, "Lovely my dear. That is a perfect idea...lemon drop?" he passed her a tin of yellow candies, and she took one with a smile.
"Thank you."
"Gentlemen, as it is my understanding that you will be working to assist the professors in protecting the school, we will organize a separate dormitory for you, with full access to Gryffindor Tower. However, I would prefer it if you allow Miss Stewart her freedom in the castle grounds."
Both men nodded, "We will be guarding the gates, once we ensure Her Highness is safe in her dorm," the taller of the two answered.
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled, "well now that's settled, off to bed, Miss Stewart I'm sure that your new friends are waiting for you."
"Thank you sir, goodnight."
Callie rose and exited the office with a smile on her face, for the first time in her life she had a chance to simply be a normal person. She didn't have to behave all the time, she didn't have to worry about how people would interpret her words, for the first time in her life she could simply be herself.
The girls were unpacking in their dorms, noticing that a new door had been added with a plaque reading HEAD GIRL – LILY EVANS, which clearly led to Lily's new Head dorm. As they were unpacking a new bed appeared in one of the empty corners and on it was a stack of designer bags monogrammed with CS. Marlene and Alice grinned, clearly realizing that Callie would be staying with them. The other two girls in the year said nothing; they were fairly snarky girls who were already jealous of the attention Callie was getting.
Callie entered the Gryffindor common room soon after with Professor McGonagall and was greeted by Sirius and James who were sitting on the couches in front of the fire. She waved to them and immediately proceeded over to the girls' staircase; McGonagall stood and made an announcement to the common room asking that no one try to climb the stairs for the next bit of time. She then climbed the stairs to ask those who were up in the dorms already to join the rest of the students in the common room.
"Students please stay back for a moment. Girls you will need to avoid climbing the staircase for a while, make yourselves comfortable. Miss Stewart proceed as you will."
Callie nodded and turned back to the stairs, taking a deep breath and placing her hands on either side of the opening. For a moment nothing happened but then she closed her eyes and all around her a purple aura seemed to glow, pulsating outward into the main room and up the stairs. Everyone present began to hear beautiful music as the aura floated over them, Callie's hair blew in an invisible wind and the assembled students watched as she seemed to grow more and more beautiful. Each boy in the room began to be drawn towards her some of the younger ones actually moving out of their seats and attempting to get closer, only to be stopped by her two burly bodyguards, who seemed to find the situation rather amusing. When the misty aura reached the walls it began to change colors proceeding through a veritable rainbow of color before settling into a vibrant red and vanishing.
Callie opened her eyes the colour fading back from a vibrant purple glow to her usual blue and turned to Sirius, "Sirius, could you please try to climb the stairs."
He smiled and nodded, attempting to cross the threshold of the door, he stopped short of the threshold appearing that it was impossible to cross through.
He stepped back frustrated, "I can't it won't let me."
Callie simply nodded, "Remus, would you try please."
Remus nodded and attempted to cross the threshold doorway, he too was unable, "I can't either."
Callie nodded again and gestured to one of her bodyguards, "Jorge, could you please try to get through."
The bodyguard nodded and stepped forward into the threshold. A rainbow of light flared down from the top of the doorway and over the man before he crossed through and up the stairs.
"Excellent. Well done Miss Stewart, ladies you may now go up to bed. I will see you all tomorrow morning at breakfast," with a nod McGonagall turned and left the common room.
An awed silence fell over the common room, all of the students confused as to what had just happened. Callie on the other hand simply turned to her bodyguards and had a quiet conversation with them, blatantly ignoring the stunned looks on the other student's faces.
"Jorge, Jeremy. Thank you, you know how this enchantment works, you should always be able to pass through it."
The two men nodded, and she continued.
"Now then I'm off to go unpack, have a good night I will see you in the morning."
"Yes your highness." The two men said, each giving a small bow and proceeding through the door she indicated.
Callie turned and climbed the staircase up to her dorm, decidedly ignoring the looks she was getting. A few minutes later she was joined by Marlene, Alice and Lily, who smiling widely plopped themselves down on the two beds on either side of Callie's. Callie's bed was covered with a stack of clothes which she was hanging in her armoire.
"So?" Marlene asked.
"Hm? So what?" Callie asked, unfolding a mini dress and hanging it up.
"So what did you do?" Alice pressed.
"Yeah, I've never seen magic like that." Lily added.
"No probably not, it's veela magic. We rely on the power of auras to protect and defend. I just made sure that Jorge and Jeremy would be able to climb the staircase but no other boys could."
"Jorge and Jeremy being your dishy bodyguards?" Marlene asked a flirtatious smile on her face.
"Yes that's them, and before you even go there veela bodyguards are way hardcore, they don't tend to date." Callie replied.
"Can't blame a girl for trying" Marlene shot back with a smirk, the girls laughed.
"How does it work?" Lily, ever the dedicated student, asked.
"It scans over the person who crosses through the doorway, if and only if they are female and safe from enchantment, they can cross through." Callie replied.
"So then how do the bodyguards get through?" Alice asked.
"There's a kind of a DNA check, it's controlled through my knowledge of the person. Currently all Gryffindor female students have access, no one can cross through the doorway without going through a check to ensure they are who they're supposed to be." Callie answered.
"That's incredible; can all veela do this kind of thing?" Lily asked awed.
"No...Just the royal family...it's a gene thing, it's one way to ensure that the royal line is not interrupted and well protected."
"So we're pretty much the safest people in the castle then." Marlene commented impressed.
"Kind of, but when it was agreed that I would attend here, my entire family came and added veela protection to the castle and grounds. And Jorge and Jeremy are patrolling the gates in shifts with other lower level veela guards and the teachers. Hogwarts is probably the safest place in Britain, beyond our manor."
"Crazy...I love that dress by the way." Marlene added, and the conversation turned back to more normal girly things, fashion and what not.
In the common room, James and Sirius sat lounging on the couches with Remus.
"I didn't know veela could do that kind of thing." James stated.
"No kidding...she's intriguing." Sirius added.
"Intriguing Pads?" Remus asked amused.
"Yeah...there's just something...I don't know..." Sirius trailed off.
"Boys I think it's happened." Remus exclaimed.
"What's happened?" Peter asked entering clearly confused, James simply smirked.
"Pads has fallen in love." Remus stated smugly.
"Love? Seriously Moony is it that time of the month? I think you're losing your head, I just met her." Sirius snorted.
"Yeah Moons, Pads would never fall in love, it's not in his nature." James teased.
"Exactly, thank you James." Sirius said triumphantly.
"He's definitely...what was it...intrigued though." James continued with waggaling brows, earning him a smack on the back of the head by a disgruntled Sirius.
"Whatever...Prongs what do you have planned this year to get Lily?" Sirius asked, clearly trying to turn the tables.
"Nothing." James said simply.
"Nothing? That's not normally your way is it?" Remus asked surprised.
"Nope nothing, I'm going to wait for her to come to me...after all we'll be spending a great deal of time together this year, she's bound to come round to my charms."
The boys snorted and fell into laughter for the next few moments before they too laughed their way up to their dorm.