Summary: If you have read, The Winds of Change, then you know a bit about Shaddi Ravencroft. However I have never given her entire story. Well here it is for the first time. Starting from before she even gets to Hogwarts of her first year. The complete story of Shaddi.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any other names or places I mention in the following story. With the exception of Shaddi Ravencroft and her family who are of my own creation.
Rating: Mature: Language, violence, adult situations. ((Most all in later chapters.))
Shaddi Ravencroft
The Beginning
By: Tanithseh1011
Introduction: Beginning's
Shaddi woke up on that early summer morning. Her black hair tousled and sapphire blue eyes full of tiredness. She drifted toward the bathroom and hopped into the shower. Later when she entered the kitchen she found her mother singing as she cooked. Shaddi always liked watching her mother cook. She loved it as she charmed things to do her bidding. Shaddi had just turned eleven and was expecting a letter from Hogwarts anytime now. Her parents were both purebloods and had also attended Hogwarts. Her mother a Slytherin, and her father a Ravenclaw. Both knew she would do well no matter where she was housed and only wanted her to do her best. Shaddi could hear her younger sister and older brother playing outside in the garden with their father, but wasn't inclined to join them. No she liked it just where she was, watching her mother as she sang and worked her magic.
Her mother Raven, was a beautiful woman who's facial structure was exactly like Shaddi's; thin, with high cheek bones, narrow eyes, a small and cute nose, and a flawless and perfectly pail complexion. Her hair was a pure Platinum color yet she always swore that when she was younger she had black hair like Shaddi's. Her eyes were deep brown and soulful.
Shaddi had her Father's black hair and blue eyes along with his fierce determination. If the two of them got together and had the same opinion on a subject, they could out argue anyone.
Her brother Kai was one year older than her and was returning to the Gryffindor house at Hogwarts this year as a second year. He had hopes to join the Quidditch team. Both he and Shaddi were beaters and excellent ones at that. Kai was tall for his age and had ash blonde hair and his mother's soulful brown eyes.
Shaddi's younger sister Christine was the one who bore true resemblance to Raven. She had the same Platinum hair, thin face and brown eyes. She was a kind child of ten years old, and was insanely jealous that Shaddi would be going off to Hogwarts this year.
"Shaddi!" Christine's scream rocked the kitchen, as three people bounded into the room. "Shaddi it came!" She was waving a parchment envelop above her head. Shaddi could see Kai had his unopened letter in his hand. Their father Robert came in behind them, a large smile on his face. He was a large man, who seemed to be built to last. His short black hair wasn't really a thing to be parted, it just kind of lay flat in what ever way it wanted to. Shaddi took the letter from her sister as Kai sat down next to her.
"Together." He said, "One, two three." Perhaps it was because their birthdays were on the same day that they always did this, but for as long as they could remember they always opened things at the same time. And this was no different even as they tore their letters open. After reading the letters and passing around complements everyone knew that they would be heading into Diagon Alley.
"Well go get ready." Robert said smiling at his children left the table.
"It's not fair!" Christine said as Shaddi checked the mirror to make sure cloak was on straight. Just when Kai entered the room wearing his Gryffindor cloak, Christine continued to speak. "Now you're going to go off to Hogwarts and leave me here all alone."
"Don't worry sis, you'll be there too, next year. Besides, this year you have to keep mom and dad company."
"And," Shaddi added, "you'll get our room all to yourself, until you go to Hogwarts. And I'll write to you, like Kai did last year to us."
"Yeah, and I'll still write, I've got some friends who get to visit the village this year, so I'll have them pick up some stuff for you."
"Well I'm still going to miss you two." She said putting her arms around her brother's waist. He smiled and patted the top of her head.
"We'll miss you too." He said kindly, in that way only big brothers can.
"Kids, come on. I want to get going." Raven called up the stairs.
"Let's go!" Shaddi said swiftly moving out the door ahead of the others. Within moments they were in the living room standing with their parents.
"How are we getting there dad?" Kai asked,
"Portkey this time, I don't want another floo fiasco." Shaddi began to giggle.
"It's not funny!" Kai spat, "You try ending up in some poor witch's sitting room miles from home, with no clue of what to do."
"It is funny seeing as even Christine made it to the right fireplace and she was only seven." Shaddi said, Kai scowled even as his father quieted them all.
"All right, come on." He said "Haven't much time now."
Within moments all three of the kids found themselves collapsed on the floor of an upper level in the Leaky Cauldron.
"Ow, Kai that's my foot!" Christine said as her brother stood up.
"Sorry." He hoisted her to her feet.
"You two are so slow." Shaddi said from the door where her parents were descending the stairs. "Come on!"
Once they were out in the street Kai and Shaddi were sent off to find the things they would need, while Christine stayed with her parents. They were to meet with them in two hours, when they would go get Shaddi's wand. Her parents wanted to be there when she found the right one, but until then she was given money and told to go have fun.
As they moved down the street crowed with witches wizards and other Hogwarts students Kai told things about Hogwarts. Things she found fascinating.
"You really have to watch the stairs, if you're not careful they'll change where they're going and you'll end up not going where you were trying to be."
"What about the classes?"
"They're really fun, charms is a blast, there's always someone who ends up sending something into poor Professor Flitwick, you'll like him, he's really short and very nice. But he expects a lot of his students, just the type of challenge that you love."
"Great! Hey come on I've got to get robes." She said spotting Madam Malkins.
"Yes and I've got to get my cloak reparied." He said looking at the tattered bottom corner.
"What happened to it?"
"The school poltergeist thought it would be funny to put mice in my dorm. When we found them, they had shredded a lot of our clothing."
They went inside and Shaddi got fitted while Kai got his cloak fixed and bought one extra set of robes, just in case.
As they passed by Quality Quidditch Supplies Kai took Shaddi inside. He told her he had been saving up all year and wanted to get the best broom her could so he could try out for the house Quidditch team.
"The latest model of the market is the Swiftstick, this broom blows the competition out of the water." It was a beautiful broom, with perfectly symmetrical twigs at the end and a sparkling sliver handle inlayed with red lettering that said "Swiftstick",
"For only five sickles more I can change the color's to match your Hogwarts house and put your name on it."
"Sold." Kai said.
"Brilliant!" The little wizard took Kai's name and his house then Kai paid him, when he returned to get Kai's approval Shaddi gasped at the new found beauty of the broom. The handle was a deep blood red with bristles of a deeper maroon. Across the handle was written "Kai Ravencroft," Near the base with "Swiftstick" near the top, both in a magnificent gold.
"It's too beautiful; it'll have been worth it even if I don't make the team." Kai said as they left.
"But they'd have to be stupid not to pick you, you're a great beater and they wouldn't get by without your excellent reflexes." Shaddi said with a smile.
"I should pay you to be my spokesperson." She hit his arm then dragged him off toward Florish and Blotts to get their books. It was crowded with students trying to get their things. As they made their way into a less crowded corner, they found a group of people, who looked at them strangely. Shaddi could see what looked like, two families, their sons standing with them and all of them waiting for their books. One of the boys had very pale skin and black hair and eyes. He looked as if he lived in a dark room. His companion looked if nothing else rich. His hair, if it was possible, was even whiter blonde than even Shaddi's mothers. His gray eyes seemed to dig into her very soul. And as she looked at his respective parents she thought she had seen them before. The blonde's father looked down at them, he watched as Kai stood very alert with a hand on his sister's shoulder.
"Aren't you Ravencroft's children?" He asked, Kai looked at him and in his best gentlemanly manner, with a smile and a short bow he said,
"Yes sir; however, I am afraid I do not remember ever making your acquaintance."
"You haven't, however I often work with your father. And his office is decorated with your pictures. My family and I also attended your father's Christmas party last year." He extended his hand toward Kai.
"I see." He said taking the man's hand.
"I'm Abraxas Malfoy. This is my wife, Sybell and our son Lucius." Sybell offered her hand which Kai took and kissed the back of as he was taught.
"Pleased to make your acquaintance Lady Malfoy." His smile did not extend to his eyes and Shaddi could see how aware of everything he was. He briefly shook hands with Lucius.
"I am Kai Ravencroft and this is my younger sister Shaddi." She gave a brief curtsy, something she hated doing, but did anyway out of respect for her family's name. The other boy had just received his books. Without saying a word and making no eye contact he and his family left the shop as if not wanting to stay and talk.
"She had so much and threw it all away." Sybell said more to herself than anyone else.
"All for muggle trash." Her husband added glaring as the family exited the shop.
"Excuse me." They looked down at Kai. "If I may, Who was that?"
"Well no one of any real importance, but that was Eileen Prince, or at least she used to be, before she married that Snape. And ended up with that poor boy."
"Prince? You mean she was the end of the Prince line?"
"Yes a shame too, now all that's left of them is a half breed with a muggle's name." The woman shook her head. Both Shaddi and Kai knew the Prince family had once been a very powerful family in wizard society, but when the new that the finally heir to the Prince name was female every influential pureblood wizard wanted a chance to marry their sons into the family. But poor Eileen's horrid excuse of a face hadn't helped the fact that she was very picky and in the end she fell for love rather than blood, and thus was the end of the Prince line.
Once the Malfoys had gathered their books they bid goodbye to Shaddi and her brother. Lucius pausing just long to say something about seeing Shaddi at Hogwarts and kiss the back of her hand, before leaving with his parents. It wasn't long after that the siblings also left the shop clutching their new books.
They stopped in the Apothecary and once again spotted the pail young half-blood from Florish and Blots. He was examining a shelf of dragon claws, as he waited for the assistant of bring his stock of ingredients to the counter. Shaddi could see he already had the other basic things they would need for their potions class. A nice set of brass scales, his cauldron, and his phials. all waiting to be wrapped. Shaddi perused through a book on the uses of snake fangs while they waited. Kai was busy finding the ingredients he was short on, to save them a bit of time. The boy looked at Shaddi as she leaned on one of the very small spaces of empty wall.
"Hogwarts?" He said in a low voice that seemed to run over Shaddi like water.
"Yes." she said looking up. His eyes were entirely black and seemed empty and cold, they made her want to shiver. His parents weren't paying attention they were busy discussing something with the shop keeper as he packed the items upon the counter. Kai however was watching the two very closely as he moved about the shop. He was very protective of his younger sisters, and didn't want them hurt. The boy didn't say much more as he went back to looking at the shelves.
"So did your parents go to Hogwarts?" Shaddi asked, trying to make conversation.
"Yes." His reply was quite as if he didn't want to talk about it. It was then that his parents called him away. With a hurried goodbye he left without ever so much as giving his name. Shaddi shrugged, not really thinking about it, he and her brother soon left the shop as well. They met up with their parents before heading over to Olivanders' Wand Shop to get Shaddi's wand. As they were about to enter the shop, Shaddi noticed that a family was already exiting.
They stopped as four people exited; two girls both Shaddi's age and their mothers. One of the girls was almost painfully thin with a long face and blonde hair; she through Shaddi a look which was returned. The other girl was very pretty and had a long sheet of red hair and stunning eyes that looked like chips of polished emeralds. She smiled at Shaddi as she passed with her family on their way back down the street.
Upon entering the shop the Ravncroft's found it to be cramped and dark and very quiet. There were no other families in there now, only they and the silence broken only by their shuffling feet as they all crowed through the door. Shaddi was very curious as she looked around the shop which was piled high with long thin boxes which must have been full of wands. Doing her best to ignore the prickling that was now running up her spine, Shaddi turned around just in time to see thin Mr. Olivander standing in front of her.
"Good Afternoon Ms. Ravencroft, I take it you are the one here for me this year."
"Yes, Sir." She said, looking directly at him.
"Well let's see what I have for you. Young Master Ravencroft." He called over his shoulder as he began taking down boxes while Shaddi was measured by the magical tape measurer.
"Yes, Sir." Kai said looking at the shopkeeper.
"You have been taking good care of that wand right? An excellent piece of work, oak and dragon heartstring; eight and a half inches, very sturdy. I would certainly hate to see it damaged."
"Of course Mr. Olivander, I treat it with the up most care."
"Very good, That's fine." The tape stopped measuring Shaddi and Mr. Olivander came over handing her a wand from one of the many boxes he had pulled down from the shelves. "Yue, Phoenix feather, eleven inches, excellent for transfiguration." She took hold of it and a second later it was slipped from her hand a replaced with a new one. "Elm, unicorn hair, eight inches, do try." almost at once it also vanished. "No, no, not quite right. Ah, but what about this?" He took a new box from the shelf. "Ebony, unicorn hair, thirteen and a half inches. This will do you well in Charms. Here try it." Shaddi took the wand, feeling heat spread through her hand. She waved it sending a stream of blue and sliver sparks dancing across the floor and off the shelf bases. "Excellent, excellent, my dear." He took the wand from her and wrapped it up, he parents paid him for it and they left all very happy.
In the days to come Shaddi could be found in the library reading her new books learning from them all she could on her own. Kai would normally be training for the Quidditch season which meant tryouts for the house teams. Helping Shaddi with whatever questions she had, or himself reading and learning what he could from his new books.
On September first everyone in the Ravencroft house woke early, by the time the children had come down Raven had already prepared a lovely goodbye feast of a breakfast. By the time they got to the station Shaddi and Kai were equally excited. Christine looked like she wanted to cry but wouldn't let herself in front of everyone at the station. The family went through the wall between Platform 9 and 10 in shifts. Kai and Robert went first followed by Shaddi and lead up by Raven and Christine.
The platform 9 ¾ was very crowed filled with students and their families, friends greeting each other after the long summer and first years looking around for siblings and parents. Kai found an empty compartment and loaded his and Shaddi's things into it. Once everything was in place for the journey they went back out to say goodbye to their families before the train left. Shaddi smiled as she stepped off the train to see her little sister wrapped around Kai's waist Begging him not to go back to school. He promised her that they would be back at Christmas and not to worry. Shaddi said good bye to each of her parents before she was nearly knocked over by her younger sister.
"Kai promised that you were going to come back over the winter holiday, is it true, do you promise?"
"Yes Christine, I promise I'll be back before you know it. Don't you worry about anything." She hugged her little sister and then the train whistle sounded and the students began filing onto the train. Shaddi and Kai gave one last set of goodbyes and then the train door was shut. They went back to their compartment and made themselves comfortable for the long ride.
After some time, perhaps it had been the first few hours, neither new or cared. All their attention was drawn to the chess board that sat on the floor between them. Their pieces were waiting patiently for instruction. Shaddi, it seemed was losing to her brother but not by much, one or two pieces at that, and in chess that meant nothing. It was just as she was about to give her instructions when the door to her compartment was slid back and two boys came falling in. Both laughing and smiling as they shut the door quickly behind them.
"Did you see his face?" One of the boy asked, he had pitch black hair which was very messy, he wore glasses, which had very thin frames that fit his hazel eyes nicely. The other boy also had black hair which looked shorter mostly due to the face that it was much less messy and fell just above his dark eyes.
"I thought he would wet himself!" The second boy said with excitement.
"Excuse me." Kai said, the two boys looked up at them, as if just noticing them for the first time since they had arrived in the car.
"Oh sorry there." They stood up and in unison bowed at the waist.
"Greetings to you, I am James Potter and this is my good friend Sirius Black." They bowed again one right after another.
"Hello, I'm Kai Ravencroft, and this is my sister Shaddi." Kai said standing and offering his hand. The boys shook it then each kissed the back of Shaddi's hand. The boys stayed for some time talking with Kai about Hogwarts while Shaddi was reading refreshing her memory of the things she had learned over the summer. They were alone by the time the train came to a stop in Hogsmead station. Shaddi and Kai had already changed into their robes and were off toward their destinations, Kai heading toward the horseless carriages, and Shaddi off toward the boats which would lead them to Hogwarts.