Disclaimer I own nothing you recognize. Be smart, I think you know the difference between what's mine, and what's Jo's. If not, go away.
-Chapter One-
Adena Sanguina was first and foremost, the new girl. No matter how many times she corrected people, they still continued to refer to her as 'The New Girl.' And sometimes they'd switch it up and call her 'The American.'
Because, you see, Adena was a new student, from America. When her father died, her mother, Adelaide, who had been from England originally, had decided that they should move back. She had felt that there were too many memories in the States. So, in what would have been the beginning of her seventh year at Salem Academy, Adena started at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, instead.
She was excited for the first time in a long time when she'd found out they were moving. She agreed that there were too many memories in America. And besides that, she had always just loved Europe; they used to vacation there when she was younger, before her father got sick. It was one of her favourite places to be.
So, when her mother escorted her to Diagon Alley in London, Adena was teeming with excitement. She walked a very fast pace through Muggle London, not wanting to waste any time. When they arrived at the Leaky Cauldron, her mother led her to the back, and showed her how to get into the alley. Adena quickly memorized it, and continued on into Diagon Alley.
"C'mon," her mother said, "we need to get your books, Darling."
Adena followed her mom through the crowds of witches and wizards that filled the street. They passed a cute little ice cream parlor called Florean Fortescue's, where there were a few groups of teens laughing and enjoying the weather. She envied them quietly wishing that she had some friends that she could have met with here, but she didn't, as she'd left them all in the U.S.
They passed a particularly rambunctious group of teens outside Quality Quidditch Supplies. The group consisted of four boys. The tallest of the group had messy black hair, and it was obvious why, as he rumpled it every now and then. He wore wire rimmed glasses and his deep smile reached all the way up to the dazzling hazel eyes that lay beneath them. The next boy had longish brown hair that hung slightly into his face; his eyes were a smoky grey, Adena saw, as he threw back is head in laughter. Next to him was an equally handsome boy who had sandy blonde hair and deep blue eyes, he seemed to be more shy than the first two. The last boy was perhaps, the oddball of the group. He did not posses the same looks as the others. He was short, and rather stout. He had light hair and watery blue eyes, and he seemed to hang on every word the others said.
The boy with the glasses seemed to sense Adena's gaze, as he turned as he turned and looked around, his eyes finally landing on her. He smiled cockily and turned back to his friends, where he seemed to have told them of his findings, as they proceeded to turn and look at her. His friend with the long dark hair grinned, and Adena positively blushed, turning to keep up with her mom.
Once they'd reached their destination Adena took out the list of books she'd be needing. With her mother's help, she easily located every book on the list. After paying, they left the bookstore to find the apothecary, so that she could restock her potion ingredients.
Once they had obtained everything Adena would need for the start of term, her and her mother decided to stop at the ice cream parlor they'd passed on the way in.
"Well, it looks like you've got everything you need, Addy," her mother informed her, consulting the list.
Adena could tell she was trying to be happy for her; she really was. But she, like Adena, was sad, because they would be parting ways again.
They were best friends. Adena loved her mom more than anything in the world. The feeling was mutual. And the death of her father had brought them even closer.
Adena was worried about leaving her mom to go to school. She didn't want her to have to be all alone in their new flat all day.
"Guess what, Addy?" Adelaide asked her daughter excitedly.
"What, Mum?"
"St. Mungo's wrote back. I have an interview Monday!" She was glowing with excitement.
"That's awesome, Mom!"
"Isn't it?" Adena's mother then drifted off into a dreamy sort of state, she was no doubt, thinking about the possibilities St. Mungo's held for her.
"Mum, I'm going to go look at brooms, alright?" her mother nodded absently.
Adena threw away the cup from her ice cream, and went over to look at the window display of the Quality Quidditch Supply store. She saw the latest model broomstick, and began to read its capabilities on the sign next to it.
"She's a beauty, isn't she?" a voice said from beside Adena, she jumped slightly. She turned to see one of the handsomely tanned boys from earlier.
"Y-Yeah," she said, stuttering slightly.
"Hello," the boy said, flashing a bright grin. "I'm James."
She turned completely to see his smile reach up to his bright hazel eyes; she couldn't help but smile back.
"Adena," she said, outstretching her hand.
James' hand covered Adena's slender hand completely, as he shook it.
"Nice to meet you, Adena," he said, still smiling.
"And you," she replied.
"So, you like Quidditch?" he asked, casually.
"I love it, I was captain of my team back home; in the States," she added fondly.
"America, huh? Well, that explains the accent," he said with a chuckle. Adena blushed lightly.
"Do you play Quidditch?" Adena asked, directing the conversation away from herself.
"Why, yes, Miss Adena, I do. I also captain my team," he said the last quite pompously, but Adena thought it was charming.
"At Hogwarts?"
"Yes, Gryffindor House Quidditch team," he said, proudly. "Are you coming to Hogwarts?"
Adena nodded.
"You'll love it there, especially with me and my friends around," he said, arrogantly.
"I'm sure," she said, with a chuckle. "You certainly are full of yourself, aren't you?"
James looked taken aback.
"It's ok, I like it," Adena informed him, with a grin. "Well, I must get back to my mother. I guess I will see you at school?"
James nodded and they said goodbye before Adena turned back to find her mum.
In the days leading up to her arrival at Hogwarts, Adena was anxious beyond reason. She already had something to look forward to at her new school.
A friend.
She was still worried about her mom, but a certain amount of uneasiness had been lifted when Adelaide had secured herself a job at the wizarding hospital, St. Mungo's. Adena finally felt ok about being excited, knowing her mother would have something to do.
Adelaide awoke her only daughter early on the morning of September 1st. She hadn't been able to sleep much the night before, and wanted to make sure everything she'd been worried about would be fine.
"Ugh, mom, it's only seven!" Adena grumbled as her mother pulled her sheets off of her, causing cold air to rush over her body.
"Come on, Adena, don't you want to look good for your first day?" she asked, looking around her daughter's room. "You'll need to shower, and change, and- Oh! Adena! You haven't packed?!"
"…No..." Adena said timidly from beneath her pillow.
"Get up, Addy. We have a lot to do," Adelaide said before leaving. "Come on, I'll make you some coffee."
Adena lay in bed for a few more minutes, before getting up to take a shower. Once she'd showered and dressed, she went out into the kitchen, and was immediately met by the delicious aroma of coffee percolating.
"Mmm, gimme some of that," Adena said, perkily. Her shower had really woken her up, because it had been cold. "Mom, why isn't there hot water in the bathroom?"
"Uh, well, about that…"
"Mom! You said we could afford this," said Adena, worriedly.
"We can, Honey, we can. I just haven't started work yet."
Adena was still worried, but put it aside when she remembered what was happening today.
"If you're sure…"
"I am; I am. But Adena, honey, is that what you're wearing?" Adelaide looked at her daughter's clothes with disdain.
"Mom, I'll have to change into my robes before I even get into the school, anyways," she said, defensively. Adelaide eyed her daughter's old torn jeans, before pouring her some coffee.
The time flew by, and soon they were headed for King's Cross station so that Adena could catch the Hogwarts Express. They hurried into the station, because even though Adelaide had woken her daughter up quite early, they were running late.
They hurried onto the platform, and were confronted with a steaming red train. Adelaide looked up at it fondly.
"I remember my first ride to Hogwarts," she reminisced.
"Mom, I'm not going to get a seat, I have to go," Adena said, hurriedly.
"Yes, alright, honey. I'll miss you so much. Write to me everyday?"
Adena gave her a look.
"Yes, well that's wishful thinking, just write to me," she said with a laugh.
"Of course, Mum. I'll miss you too."
They hugged as the warning whistle blew. Adena looked cautiously at the train, before turning back to give her mother a kiss.
"I love you, Mom."
"I love you, too, Hun. Now go get a seat."
With one last sad smile at her mother, Adena boarded the gleaming red train. She looked hopefully around for help, not sure whether or not she was just supposed to jump into a random compartment. She was saved the trouble of asking, when she heard a deep voice behind her.
"And we meet again."
Adena turned to see the ever friendly face of James Potter. The other boys she had seen him with in Diagon Alley tailed behind him. He smiled brightly at her.
"Come on, you must sit with us," he said, happily. Adena didn't object as he took her trunk, and led her to an empty compartment, as she had no where else to go. He took her trunk and hoisted it up into the overhead for her, before sitting casually with his friends.
"Thanks," she said, gratefully.
"No problem," he said, as she sat next to him. "Meet the gang. Marauders, this is Adena."
"Sirius Black at your service," introduced the boy across from her. He was the boy with the longish hair and deep grey eyes. Next to introduce himself was the sandy haired boy.
"Remus Lupin," he said, with a nod, looking tired. Adena smiled politely at him.
"P-Peter Pettigrew," stuttered the last boy, shyly. He was the one that Adena thought didn't belong. But she smiled at him, as well.
"Adena… What does that mean?" asked Sirius, curiously.
"It means 'fire'. And my middle name is Kora, which means 'maiden'-"
"Fire maiden?" he asked with a smirk. "I like it."
Adena couldn't help the blush that crept into her cheeks. She smiled. Luckily, though, James saved her from adding anything else.
"Adena here was the captain of her Quidditch team back in the States," James informed them. Sirius grinned.
"Well, I sure hope you're in our house."
"Yeah, what position do you play?" James asked.
"Beater," Adena said. Sirius brightened.
"Me too!" Sirius said excitedly.
"One of our beaters left us this year, so if you are sorted into Gryffindor, you're welcome to try out," James informed her. Adena perked up a little at this.
"Yeah, and if you're not, then sorry in advance, because our team is going to beat yours every time!" said Sirius, loudly. Adena laughed at that.
"Sure you will."
"I wonder if you'll be sorted with the first years," Remus voiced.
"Oh, man, that would suck. All those little kids everywhere…" Sirius told her, with a slight shudder.
"Um, in the letter I got, the Headmaster said to meet him in his office after the feast, he said I could be sorted then."
"Oh, well that's a relief," said Sirius, actually sounding relieved, causing Adena to smile yet again.
She was very excited about how quickly they had all accepted her, and sincerely hoped she was sorted into their house. Though she had no idea what determined which house you were placed in. She voiced her worry.
"Oh, well there are four houses," James informed her.
"Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin," Sirius said. "Gryffindor is for courageous people, like us."
"Ravenclaw is for people with smarts," Remus informed her. "Hufflepuff holds loyalty-"
"Pansies, if you ask me," Sirius added.
Remus continued as though he hadn't been interrupted, "And Slytherin is for-"
"Prats," said Sirius, cutting in again. Remus glared lightly.
"Slytherin is for the cunning, and sly," he finished.
"In other words, Prats," Sirius explained.
"Oh," Adena said, nervously hoping she wasn't going to be placed in Slytherin.
"Don't worry. You don't seem like the Slytherin type," James reassured, sensing her worry. At that moment, their compartment door slid open to reveal a pretty redhead.
"Ah, Evans, miss me?" James asked the girl, causing her emerald eyes to roll.
"No way in hell, Potter," she said. "I just heard you got Head Boy?"
"Why yes, Evans, I did," he said pompously. "And you, I presume, got Head Girl?"
"I-I, yes. Yes I did. You got Head Boy? How is that possible," she asked, looking to Remus for support.
"I don't know, love, but it is," said James with a grin.
"This is going to be a long year," she muttered under her breath. It was then that she noticed there was another girl sitting next to James, listening to them bicker curiously. "Oh, hello, how rude of me, I'm Lily Evans."
Lily extended her hand for the other girl to shake. "Hi, I'm Adena Sanguina-"
"The fire maiden!" Sirius said. Lily looked at Sirius strangely, before turning to look at Adena with pity in her eyes.
"I'm so sorry, I don't know how you got stuck with these idiots," she comforted. Sirius made a noise that suggested indignance, but was clearly mock.
"They're not too bad," said Adena, defending her new friends.
"Not too bad!? We're the greatest, and you know it, Sanguina!" Sirius said, laughing. Adena couldn't help but crack a smile. Lily sighed.
"Yes, well, you haven't spent the last six years with them," Lily said with a smile. "I would invite you to come to my compartment, to meet my friends, but there's a Prefect meeting that I have to be at. Maybe when I'm done."
"Oh yeah, I have to go to those now don't I?" James whined, causing Lily to sigh with exasperation.
"Yes, Potter, you do, now come on," she commanded. James and Remus both stood, to follow Lily out. Now it was just Adena, Sirius, and Peter.
Adena looked curiously at Peter. "Do you talk, ever?"
Sirius laughed at this. Peter merely blushed, and excused himself.
"He hates you now," Sirius informed her with a grin.
"Well, I don't know, he wasn't talking. It seems… weird compared to you and James."
"Yeah, I suppose it does… So anyways, Fire Maiden, tell me about yourself."
Adena sighed. She already regretted telling Sirius the meaning of her name.
"Well, first off, I would prefer it if you called me Adena, or even Addy. Just not Fire Maiden, ok?"
"Whatever you say… Fire Maiden," Sirius said, causing Adena to roll her deep blue eyes. This was going to be a long year.
AN Alright. I'm baaaaaaaack. How are we liking this? If you read it, please review it. Even if you didn't like it, I don't care. Feedback makes me happy. Good and bad. And everything in the between. Alright. First reviewer gets chapter dedication! Please and thank you. Chapter two shall be up shortly.
-Love, L to the C: Lady Carmilla.