Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, any of the characters, etc. It's just something I do for a living… You know, write stories about other people's inventions. I just don't own anything J.K. Rowling made first. Oh, and Selene is my invention, no stealing.

CHAPTER ONE: Of Roses and Red Ribbons, Also Concerning Adoptions

Selene yawned, pulling herself out of bed reluctantly. It was close to the last day of summer break at the local middle school, it would start bright and early – seven – in the morning, and she had to get her sleeping schedule settled. With another yawn, she pulled the black bedcovers up to the edge of her green satin pillows, not caring how badly it looked, and started wobbling down the stairs.

Okay, so today was July 31. Big deal. Summer was nearly up, and she had nothing to do to celebrate such a sad day. Her plans were, well, nothing. Her friends were all busy with their 'last minute' school shopping, and her parents were going to be out at work all day. The Weitzel household was quiet as it could be, with Selene creeping down the staircase without saying a word, just listening to the echoing of the floorboards. She sighed, stepping off the final stair with a fake gusto, and made her way to the front door, still in her pajamas.

There was no doubt the Weitzels were rich, there was proof of it everywhere. The house they lived in – as big as a mansion. Never mind the fact that Selene always had whatever she wanted. In fact, you could call her a spoiled brat. She didn't flaunt it, but she had it. She knew that there would be one time in the future where her parents wouldn't be around to get her whatever struck her fancy, so she'd have to get used to life without them.

Exiting the front door, she started the long walk down the garden path to the mailbox. Her mother reveled in her gardening ability, the only pathway to the house being through the middle of all the daisies and lilies, which happened to be her favorite flowers – aside from roses. But, from their location in London, roses couldn't be grown – and live – in her garden. The path was hand-placed by her father himself. As she neared the end of the garden, she watched the mailbox get closer at the end of the road that ran a different direction than the road. Climbing down the last few steps, she opened the gate on the side of the road, moving a few feet to the mailbox. Selene popped open the flimsy metal, gazing inside. There lay a few letters, one wrapped in a scroll with a red ribbon, the bud of a rose sticking out. Selene reached in, pulling out the scroll-like-rolled letter – it was from David, she could tell by the rose and ribbon.

David Anderson had been going out with her for about a year now, and always had this habit of sending her letters with roses and red ribbons. They always arrived on holidays or days that he thought needed celebrating – which, apparently, was today. Selene grinned, taking the rose out of the scroll, and bringing it to her nose, running through the gate without closing it. She'd read the letter when she got back to her room, where she could smile and laugh at his writing alone.

When she finally got to the house, she ran in, barely closing the door as she skipped stairs on her way up to her room, sliding on the slick hardwood floor of the hallway, turning into her room and collapsing on her bed. She pulled away the red ribbon, placing it on her night table – she would put it in the drawer later with the rest of them. With another, larger grin, she unrolled the paper.

Hey Oli,

How're you? It's been a while since I've been able to talk to you – being in France and all. I just got back this morning, the parents decided to let me drop off the letter before going home. Surprising, right? Well, anyways, I know it's coming up to the last day of summer (Only a week more!), but I have something worse to add – and I'm sorry about this ahead of time. See, while I was in Brest – you know, near the ocean – I met this really amazing girl at the beach. Her name was, well you don't need to know this. I think it's better off for both of us – you and me, I mean – if we just split up for now. See, the thing is, this girl…hell, never mind, I'm not going to explain it.

Love always,

Dave

With blurry eyes, she looked in disbelief at the scribble he called a signature. He couldn't do this – not so close to her debut in seventh grade – she had daydreamed of the day she walked into the new school with Dave at her side, as her boyfriend. But this, this couldn't be. With a sigh, she looked up at the ceiling. As her avó (A/N: Grandmother in Portuguese) would say – if he doesn't want to be with her, there would always be someone else to pamper her. She smiled again, opening her window. It had just occurred to her that it was a beautiful day out, and that she should let the sun in. With a sigh, she pulled herself out of bed and to her closet, which she always left open. She picked out a pair of jeans and a low-dip black tank top that was crafted to look and feel like a corset. And with that, she got dressed.

Weitzel Manor, 6 o'clock PM
Selene ran down the stairs at the sound of the door opening, with a huge smile on her face, as she ran into her mother, giving her a hug.

"How was work, mama?" said Selene through the fabric of her mother's coat.

Karina Weitzel smiled widely, hugging her daughter back.

"Wonderful – and your day alone?"

Selene shrugged, "Good."

She let her mother go into the living room, and then followed her into the kitchen. She had already made dinner, her basic beef with a side of macaroni – also her specialty. She had already set the table as well, for her father was gone for the weekend. Her mother sat down at one end of the large oak table, while Selene sat at the other end. They ate in silence for a few moments, when there was a pecking sound at the window above the sink. Selene looked up, seeing an owl perching on the outside of the window, with a letter in its beak. She jumped up; opening the window and taking the letter from the owl, watching it take off. It was an odd situation – it wasn't full dark yet, but this owl was still flying around. Shrugging it off, she sat at the table, looking at the letter.

'Miss Selene Talcrom

West Wing Bedroom

Magic's Hollow, London'

Her eyes grew wide at the title. They got the bedroom right, but what was this whole 'Magic's Hollow' thing? And who was Selene Talcrom?

"May I see it, Selene?" her mother asked, looking over the table with a curious tone to her voice.

Selene looked up at her mother, handing her the envelope. Her mother took a look at whom the letter was addressed to, and turned pale. She slowly handed it back to her daughter, and then looked up at her with vivid blue eyes that didn't seem to fit in with hers – a fact she just realized.

"Selene, I think I should explain something to you."

Weitzel Manor (as you could guess by now, Magic's Hollow) 7 o'clock PM
Her mother settled them both in the huge living room that belonged to the Weitzels, covered in an array of black, greens, and other complimentary colors. The couches and chairs all looked overstuffed, and probably were. Selene settled across from her mother – who was sitting on a black couch – in a forest green armchair. Her mother looked up at her, an indescribable look in her eye.

"Selene, you know your father and I love you very much. I have a little secret I've kept from you for eleven years." Selene's eyes grew wider as she realized the truth, "You are adopted."

No wonder! No wonder she looked nothing like the rest of her family – nothing like her father or anyone on his side, the same with her mother's side. She always figured that it was just coincidence, but then she remembered – nothing happens by coincidence.

"Of course, last year your adoptive parents wanted to see you again, and if you consented, move back in with them. The Talcroms are wonderful people, Selene, and if you'd like to move in with them you can. I just thought that ten years was too young to know that you had two sets of parents, and I certainly think that eleven is."

Selene looked up at her adoptive mother – she felt as if the woman in front of her was totally alien to her now – and smiled.

"I'd like to meet them at least, but can you please explain the letter? What's Magic's Hollow?"

Karina smiled at her daughter, settling back into the couch.

"Magic's Hollow is the name of our home. See, when they allowed us to adopt you, they also offered us a home – one of their two estates, which each was inherited by one of the Talcroms. We gained an estate by adopting you, and therefore what they called this estate – Magic's Hollow – is what it is called now."

Selene nodded, her head swirling a bit. It was almost too much information to deal with at once.

"And also, this school – Hogwarts." Her mother continued, "It means that you, like them, are magical. You're a witch."

If Selene hadn't been sitting down, she could have collapsed. Her? A witch? There was nothing outwardly magical about her, except the fact that if she really truly wanted something to happen with all of her being, it would happen. Her power had only been exhibited once, and she thought it by chance. She looked up at her adoptive mother.

"I think this is enough for tonight…I'm heading to bed."

Dazed, she climbed up the stairs to her room. It was too much to handle today. Being single, being adopted, and being a witch – what else could happen today? Of course, that was before she reached her room. Opening the door, she rubbed her eyes, looking in surprise at her bed. The absolute last thing she had expected was a young man to be sitting on her bed when she walked in her private room.

"So, you must be my sister." came the hoarse and husky voice of the man.

Turning on the light, she got a better look at the man sitting on the edge of her bed. His eyes were bright – the first thing she noticed - and also very vividly green, like her own. His hair was like a mop, just sitting on his head, like blonde string tied together in knots – but the color was also very much like her own. Even sitting, she could tell that he was tall – probably around six foot or more, and athletically build. One of the most noticeable features of this man was his broken nose. Selene almost broke out laughing at the sight of it.

"It all depends on who you are, I suppose." Selene muttered, but loud enough for her visitor to hear, "To quote a popular movie – 'Give me your name, horsemaster, and I shall give you mine.' Is it a crime to quote movies in the other world?"

The man smiled with a chuckle, shaking his head.

"No, it's not a crime. Well, it's not punished at least. I'm Jakob Talcrom. Your elder brother by about 7 years."

Selene smiled. Someone with a sense of humor that wasn't just sarcastic.

"Please, tell me I don't have a family that's dry and stuck up and all…prissy and stuff." She said, mostly to herself.

"No, you don't, actually. Surprise, looking at all the other older wizarding families." Jakob replied, looking at her.

Selene chuckled. She figured she got the best of the world, a family that's not stuck up.

"Well, I should let you go to sleep. You'll need your strength for tomorrow."

Before he could leave, she asked him one more question.

"What's tomorrow?"

He grinned at her, standing up with one graceful and swift motion.

"Shopping. Oh, and meeting the rest of the family. Everything from mom and dad to second cousin four times removed."

With a pop, he disappeared – Selene looking around for him with no luck – and she sighed. If she was going shopping tomorrow, she might as well get some sleep. She changed into her pajamas, and crawled into bed, almost immediately going to sleep. She'd think it all over in the morning.

A/N

There ya'll go, hope you like it. Please read and review, I'll get the second chapter up as soon as possible.

Tons of love,

Elle