Hello there lovelies! I am back with a new fic that I think you'll all enjoy! This is a Sirius Black x OC fic, Marauders era. Now, for those of you who know my previous work, I am indeed given up on, James' Secret Sister and I will not be returning to it. I am truly sorry but I no longer liked the direction that it was going.
This time, however, I have planned the first 10 chapters out thoroughly and am confident in the direction of it! Without further ado, I give you Better Than Oz.
Feel free to check out my page for pictures of what I imagine each OC to look like.
The only characters I own are my OC's. I DO NOT OWN THE MARAUDERS OR ANYTHING IN THE WIZARDING WORLD. That all belongs to JKR.
Chapter One: We're Not In Kansas Anymore
My name is Jaclyn Noelle Abernathy and my hands are made out of charcoal.
That isn't actually true.
That was just me trying to make a joke.
I'm sorry; I'm really not all that funny.
Well I suppose that was a half lie, not the part about me being unfunny; that's perfectly true. The part about my hands being made of charcoal, they are however covered with it. They aren't always covered in charcoal; sometimes it's paint, or ink, or basilisk venom.
I know the last one sounds weird, but it works perfectly to create a skin like texture.
You see, I'm an artist.
Well I guess not technically, as you're only an artist if someone buys your work. And my mum giving me a chocolate frog for my painting of a Hippogriff when I was five probably doesn't count.
Scratch that. I'm making it count.
So anyway, I'm an artist. And I'm sketching the Hogwarts express using charcoal, thus the reason my hands are covered with it. I'm not good at much, but art is something I would say I'm pretty good at. Not to sound vain or anything; I'm really not. You know when someone says they look like rubbish one day, when in reality they look fabulous? I hate it when people do that, so you know what? I am a good artist. THERE, I SAID IT! AM I CONCEITED NOW?
And if you are wondering, I really did say it.
Out loud.
Thank god I'm alone in the compartment.
Then again, I'm always alone.
Not to say that I don't have friends, because I do.
And yes they're real!
They just aren't here right now, but they'll be here soon!
Speaking of which, I should probably clean up. The compartment looks as though a hippogriff stormed through here!
Hmmm… Where's my wand?
Here it is!
Crap I got charcoal all over it.
I used a quick spell and sent everything back into my bag with the exception of my sketchpad.
I should really go wash my hands before my friends get here. They always poke fun at me for my hands never being 'clean'.
I stood up and my sketchpad fell to the floor. Of course it did. Ugh.
Great! Now I have charcoal on my forehead.
I reached down to pick up the sketchpad when I realized I could potentially smudge it.
There is only one way to do this.
I bent down and tried to pick up my pad using just my elbows… Let's just say it isn't working.
"Oi! Nice view!" That's all I heard before feeling my butt being brutally whipped!
Okay, not whipped. But it still hurt!
I squealed and because of the position I was in, I toppled over, just missing my sketchpad.
A chorus of laughter filled the compartment as I looked up at two of my three best friends.
Noel MacDougal, the guilty party in this scenario, laughed loudly as he gracefully flopped down onto the compartment seat as he said, "Oh don't pout! It provokes wrinkles!"
Noel was my best friend. He is a sixth year, like myself, and he is the keeper for the Ravenclaw Quidditch team. He is, by society's definition, beautiful. I mean he really is. He has almost black hair, and the iciest blue eyes. Girls flock to him like a moth to a flame, and ironically enough, Noel is gay.
As in he like boys.
Not Girls.
But girls love him.
See the irony?
Funny, HA!
Anyway, I managed to plop myself onto my bum while when sending Noel a hyperbolic pout. This caused a chuckle from Noel and a sigh from someone else in the doorway. I looked over and saw Yvonne Doge; with long, sleek, platinum blonde hair, and legs for days, she was definitely the hottest girl in our year… Maybe even the hottest girl at Hogwarts? Like Noel, she's in Ravenclaw.
That's right ladies, she pretty and smart.
Do you hate her yet?
I did. Well when I first met her, I did. Back in third year when Noel introduced us; it was right before a Quidditch match, one that Noel dragged me along to, of course, boys and their sports! He said we were meeting up with a friend of his, and this of course made me anxious; I hated meeting new people. I have people, or friends as they're called, so why did I need another? And of course when we got to the Ravenclaw benches, after earning a glare from my fellow Gryffindor's as it was as it was a Ravenclaw vs Gryffindor game, I saw that Noel's "friend" was none other than Yvonne Ophelia Doge. She was and still is little miss popular. At the time, I saw her as a complete snob. I mean, anyone that attractive couldn't have been nice too, right? Well for the entire game all Yvonne did was make eyes at some fifth year boys, who obviously didn't know/care that she was just a third year, and talk about herself. I remember wondering if I got up and left if she would have noticed. Looking back now I guarantee that she wouldn't have. But throughout the years I began taking a liking to her more and more, especially after she was so great to Noel after he told us about his sexuality last year. I'm not saying that we are best friends, or that she doesn't get under my skin sometimes, but she isn't a bad person to have around, even if she is a party girl.
Anyway, back to the benevolent sigh.
"Jackie, you have that black, ash stuff all over you again." Yvonne said while pulling cloth out of her bag and offering it to me, "Here clean yourself up."
I accepted it and began wiping my hands with it, and with one quick swipe my hands were clean; oh, I do enjoy magic!
"First of all," I said to Yvonne while wiping the charcoal off my forehead, "it isn't 'ash', it's charcoal. And I was arting, so don't judge me lady!" I said with an overdramatic huff, while wagging my finger at her.
Oh, did I forget to mention that I have a flare for the dramatic?
Oops, well let's carry on!
"I'm not judging, all I'm saying is that boys don't like girls who look dirty and who're covered with ash… I mean, charcoal. I just think you could keep yourself looking more presentable, that's all."
See? This is something I hate about Yvonne. She is so concerned with what boys think! Oh, do I wanna tell her off!
Before I could open my mouth, Noel piped in.
"Okay, okay. Enough of that; Yvonne, Jackie is happy with herself and that's what matters." I smiled at my friend, always looking out for me. "And Jackie, you have charcoal on your nose." Noel added as he bopped me on the nose.
Ah, the infamous nose bop! It happens to me often. Noel has always said I have the perfect nose to bop; it being bunny sloped and all.
"Yeah, yeah. Jackie is dirty. Jackie has charcoal on her nose. I get it. Anyway, if we are done picking on Jackie, tell me about your guys' summer." I said, while packing up my art supplies.
"Well…" And they both began retelling their fabulous summer. You see, both Yvonne and Noel were raised in a very established pureblood community, which means they always see one another at events and such.
Yvonne is beautiful, obviously, but I'm not jealous of her hair, or her complexion, or her body, or her intellect, or… Wait, where was I?
Oh right, I'm totally not jealous because of that. But I must admit that I am slightly jealous of her bond with Noel. I mean, Noel and I are best friends, without a doubt. But there's something that they have that we never will, and that would be the lifestyle in which they were raised. They were both raised in privileged households, attended the most lavish parties and met the most fascinating people. And I'm a pretty simple person, so I don't need all of that, but I miss out on the sneaking away from the party with a bottle of firewhiskey, and mocking diplomats from other Wizarding countries, and on the summer trips that their families would take together.
I am not ashamed of where I come from; I have a wonderful family who loves me, and a warm bed at home. I don't need anything else. But it does suck that I will never be invited to the extravagant balls, or have the fairytale moment that I have dreamed about my entire life, and all because I am a half-blood.
You see, my dad is a wizard and my mum is a muggle. And my dad did come from an important pureblood family, however, they didn't exactly approve of his relationship with my mother.
Shall I dive into my parent's romance story? Hmm… Perhaps another time, as I think I've been figured out…
"Jackie!" Yvonne emphasized, "Have you been listening? You were the one who asked what we did this summer." You see, Yvonne hates being ignored; she loves being the center of attention and hates it when she doesn't get her way.
"Of course I was listening!" I lied. I feel moderately bad about zoning out, but every summer is the same with them.
"Oh really? Well then what was I saying?" Yvonne challenged, as she quirked an eyebrow.
Okay Jackie, time to BS your way out of this.
"You were saying how you two spent the summer in the French Riviera, and you went to this stuffy dinner party were you two snuck away with some boys, and a bottle of firewhiskey, and well I don't wish to go into detail about what you two did with the boys." I mentally crossed my fingers and hoped that I knew my friends as well as I thought I did.
"Oh!" Yvonne exclaimed, rather surprised, "Sorry, I guess you were listening!"
I just smiled and glanced over at Noel who was looking at me. He gave me a little wink because he knew I wasn't paying attention. And that's what I love about Noel; he understands me.
Before Yvonne could continue with her "intriguing" story of what exactly she did with those French boys, Lily Evans entered the compartment; Thank the lord for Lily Evans!
But Lily did not look happy! Oh no, no, no! When Lily is upset, it's for one of two reasons; one, she received below an O on an assignment, which has only happened once in her five years at Hogwarts, or two, James Potter was being James Potter. And since the school year hadn't officially started yet, I'm going to go with number two.
"James Potter is insufferable! He is a self absorbed, arrogant, prick with no regard for anyone but himself! UGH!" Lily threw herself down on the bench across from Noel, and myself and beside Yvonne.
HA! I was right! *Mentally high fives myself*
"Well, Hello to you too Lily." Noel said smirking, although we all pity Lily, the infatuation that James Potter has with Lily Evans is quite humorous.
"Wipe that smirk off your face! This isn't funny!" Lily protested, "He's making my life a living hell."
"Don't let him bug you Lily, he does what he does to get a rouse out of you. Don't give him the pleasure of seeing you upset." I said, sending her a sympathetic smile.
"You're right," Lily said, straightening herself out, "I won't talk about James Potter again for the rest of the day!"
"Good!" I said while smiling. Lily became my friend in first year, even before Noel and I met. We are dorm mates, and on the first night here I was terribly shy, and while Lily and the other girls in our dorm, Marlene McKinnon and Mary MacDonald, were chatting away and eating sweets that their mums packed for them, I stayed in my bed, with my nose planted in a book. I can't remember what book it was, but I do know it wasn't remotely interesting. But I was so scared to be away from my family that I felt like crying. But that changed when I looked up from my book and saw a red headed girl offering me the last of her chocolate frogs, and I suppose the rest is history.
"I'll take a bet on how long that lasts!" Yvonne said while laughing. We all joined in, except Lily of course, who threw a crumpled up piece of parchment at Yvonne, and we all began laughing harder.
And just like that, another year at Hogwarts ensues, taking the same path as in years past.
But could this year be different?
No, of course not.
So there it is! Chapter One! This chapter was really just to establish my characters and to set the mood for the story. I will explain the reason behind the Wizard of Oz theme for the title/chapter titles probably sometime in chapter two or three.
How do you guys like the writing style? Like, the way that Jackie is almost narrating the story through her thoughts?
Let me know and I'll make any necessary changes to future chapters!
Also, feel free to point out any spelling/grammar mistakes if you notice them! I try my best but it's easy to miss them!
I have no issue with criticism, but please keep it constructive! NO FLAMES.
I am not an aspiring writer; I am just doing this for fun. So please don't expect something JKR worthy.
Anyway, please favourite and review if you like the first chapter! I will update every week (probably every Sunday)!
All the love,
Mischief Managed.
PS. I'm going to set review "goals" for each chapter, and if you guys reach them then I will update early!
This chapter's goal is 5 reviews!