Silver and Blue
Welcome to the World of Magic
The Addington household was in utter disarray. The youngest, a baby of three months, was wailing in the mother's arms, who desperately tried shove a bottle into the newborn's mouth. Mr. Addington scowled at his newspaper, growing redder in the face as another child ran around, screaming that he was going to set the house on fire. The eldest, a girl of eleven, was rereading a letter she'd received three days prior. She ducked when the middle child threw a handful of bacon at the wall. A light knock on the door silenced all of the Addingtons, save the baby.
"Nessie, get the door." snapped Mrs. Addington.
The eldest child folded up her letter and stuffed it into her pocket. She treaded into the foyer and peered through the peephole. A bizarre-looking man smiled up at the door. The girl opened the door and stared at the man. From his torso down, the man looked like a normal man. But his long, silver hair and beard gave him the bizarreness that the child had initially labeled him with. He looked down at the girl through half-moon spectacles, his eyes twinkling. The girl didn't know whether it was a crazed twinkle or a kind twinkle. Perhaps it was both. "Ah, you must be Vanessa." he greeted her.
Vanessa widened her eyes. "H-how do you know my name?"
"Well, I am the one who sent you that letter in your back pocket." chuckled the man.
Vanessa's lips parted. "Er…"
"Nessie! Who is it?" shrieked Mrs. Addington.
Vanessa flinched slightly and stared at the man. "Erm… Who are you, sir?"
"I am Albus Dumbledore, child. May I come in?" said the man.
"Oh, er, yes." said Vanessa, stepping aside to let the man in.
"Nessie, I swear to the heavens –oh!" Mrs. Addington stopped short in her charge down the hall. Her dark eyes widened at the sight of Albus Dumbledore. "Who in the blazes are you?"
"I am Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts." Dumbledore greeted.
Vanessa inched away from Mr. Dumbledore, but didn't scoot any closer to Mrs. Addington. The woman scowled. "Ah. You sent that joke of a letter here." she realized.
"I'm afraid the letter was not a joke, Mrs. Addington. Though, I do understand why you would think so. The Ministry of Magic goes to great lengths to keep Muggles in the dark about my world." said Dumbledore.
Vanessa narrowed her eyes. Mrs. Addington scowled. "Get out of my house."
"I'm afraid I can't do that, Mrs. Addington. I'm here to explain Hogwarts to you and your husband. And Vanessa, of course." Dumbledore shot Vanessa a kind glance. She offered him a small smile in return.
"You're a loon!" wailed Mrs. Addington.
"Ah, but lunacy often collides with brilliance, don't you think?" Dumbledore countered. He chuckled. "I do have quite a busy day, though. Vanessa is adopted, correct?"
Mrs. Addington rolled her shoulders back. "Yes, and we love our little Nessie with all our hearts, so don't even think about takin' her!"
Vanessa suppressed a scowl. Dumbledore held up his hands. "I wouldn't dream of it, Mrs. Addington. I'm sure that by now, you've noticed some phenomena manifesting themselves in Vanessa?"
"Like what?" Mrs. Addington said, frowning.
"Odd things happening when she was hurt, angry or scared. Things you couldn't explain?" Dumbledore proceeded. Vanessa was beginning to feel a bit agitated that the two adults were conversing as if she were not there.
"Well… I suppose…" Mrs. Addington trailed off, eyeing Vanessa suspiciously.
"That is because she is a witch. Magic runs in her veins, Mrs. Addington, which is why I am here. She has been accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, so that she may learn how to harness her powers and control them." Dumbledore said.
Mrs. Addington frowned. Her dark eyes fell upon Vanessa. "Go to your room."
"But…" Vanessa protested.
"Now!" Mrs. Addington snapped.
Vanessa glanced at Dumbledore, who merely winked at her. She groaned and trudged up the stairs and into her room. Was this some sort of a cruel joke? She was a witch? Things like that didn't happen. No… It had to be a prank. Magic didn't exist. Except for that time Billy Horace had tried pushing her into the nearby creek, and she'd floated safely to the other side… Or that time she had gotten so angry with Mrs. Addington, and the mirror had cracked… But had it truly been magic, or bizarre coincidences?
…
The Addington household had been tense ever since Albus Dumbledore's visit. Vanessa knew from her letter that the train would leave on the first of September, which was only a month away. Mr. and Mrs. Addington seemed to be watching and waiting for an unwelcome arrival, for they kept peering through the drawn curtains and muttering under their breath. Occasionally, they shot Vanessa a nasty look as if to say, Why couldn't you have been normal? Vanessa did her best to ignore her adoptive parents' bitterness. It wasn't her fault that she had abilities. It was childish of them to blame her for something out of her control. If they needed someone to blame, they should just blame her parents. Vanessa did all the time.
The day the Addingtons seemed to have been dreading arrived when an enormous, hairy man emerged in their backyard, trampling the flowerbeds. He knocked on the back door with his large hand. Mr. Addington answered it. "W-we don't want any trouble." he whimpered.
The enormous man frowned. "Weren't yeh expectin' me? Rubeus Hagrid, gamekeeper of Hogwarts. I'm here fer Vanessa."
Swallowing, Vanessa stepped forward. "I-I'm Vanessa."
"Well, it is a pleasure ter meet yeh, Vanessa. Are yeh ready ter go?" Hagrid said.
"Er, go where?" Vanessa asked.
"Ter Diagon Alley, o' course. Didn't yer parents tell yeh?" Hagrid frowned at the Addingtons.
"N-no sir, they didn't." said Vanessa.
Hagrid scowled. "Well, we are goin' ter get yer things fer school, since yer parents aren't comfortable with goin' ter Diagon Alley and whatnot."
Vanessa nodded. "Oh. Um. All right. Let's go."
Hagrid beamed at her. Vanessa led Hagrid out of her backyard and onto the street. A gargantuan motorcycle was parked on the side of the street. It had a sidecar attached to it. Hagrid swung his leg over the side of the bike. "There's a helmet in there somewhere, if yeh want it." he said. Vanessa clambered inside the sidecar. There wasn't a helmet, but Vanessa didn't mention it. She vaguely remembered Mrs. Addington telling her not to go off with strangers, but brushed it off. How many people could be in on this joke? Hagrid revved the motorcycle. With a mighty roar and a great lurch, it took off. Right into the sky.
Vanessa let out a slight scream as she watched the scenery shrink below her, the wind ripping her hair around her face. Her heart leaped into her throat and her hands clenched the sides of the sidecar until her knuckles were white. But she couldn't stop the smile stretching across her features. They were flying, actually flying! There was nothing but magic that could explain this. They landed in front of a shabby pub called the Leaky Cauldron. Hagrid led the way inside, barely fitting through the front door. Vanessa gazed around, her lips parting in wonder. A wizard waved his wand and a table wiped itself clean, the dishes floating up and disappearing to where the kitchen was most likely located. Vanessa followed Hagrid outside. Their path was blocked by a brick wall. Vanessa frowned as Hagrid withdrew a flowery pink umbrella and tapped a certain brick on the wall. At once, the bricks folded back among themselves, expanding to reveal a cobblestone alleyway lined with colorful shops.
"Welcome to Diagon Alley, Vanessa." Hagrid announced.
Vanessa was sure she looked stupid, gaping at the alleyway as she was, but she didn't care. She hurried to the nearest shop, just to look in the window, eager to see some more magic. Instead she found a broomstick in the window. Its handle was sleek, with Nimbus 2000 inscribed on the tip. Vanessa felt her heart sink slightly as she turned to Hagrid. "I haven't any money." she muttered. Her adopted parents hadn't been so keen on paying for Vanessa to go to Hogwarts, as they had made clear to Dumbledore.
Hagrid smiled at her. "As it so happens, yer parents didn't leave yeh with nothin'."
"What?" Vanessa said, looking at Hagrid sharply.
Hagrid pointed toward the end of the cobblestone street, toward a leaning, white marble building. "Yeh've got a healthy stash at Gringotts."
"Gringotts?" Vanessa queried, jogging to keep up with Hagrid as he strode toward the building.
"Wizard bank." Hagrid explained.
Vanessa nodded. She pinched her brow. "Hagrid, did you know my parents?"
Hagrid glanced down at her. "Can't say that I did, Vanessa. I think Dumbledore might've. Yeh could ask him when yeh go to Hogwarts."
Vanessa skipped up the steps and entered the building. She tried not to stare at the creatures working at the desks, but her curiosity was getting the best of her. "Hagrid… What are they?" she whispered.
"Goblins," said Hagrid with a soft chuckle, "Harry asked the same thing when I brought 'im."
"Harry?" Vanessa queried.
Hagrid widened his eyes. "Blimey, I forgot… Yeh don't even know who Harry Potter is. I'll explain at lunch, okay?"
Vanessa bobbed her head briskly and found herself staring up at the head desk. A goblin peered down at her with cold, black eyes. "What can I do for you?" he growled.
"We'd like to enter Miss Vanessa Addington's vault, please." Hagrid said, bouncing on his feet.
"Does she have her key?" drawled the goblin.
"I got it," said Hagrid, rummaging in his pockets. He withdrew a gold key that looked abnormally small in Hagrid's large hand. The goblin examined the key.
"Bogrod will show you to your vault." said the goblin.
Another goblin sidled up to them and took the key from the first goblin. "This way, please." He had a much softer voice than the first goblin, but he was no less uncomfortable to look at. Bogrod led Vanessa and Hagrid down a corridor. They took an elevator –which, Vanessa noticed with bemusement, wasn't labeled with floor numbers but by deep, deeper and deepest –and then entered a cave-like chamber. They walked in silence until the chamber opened up into the largest cave Vanessa had ever seen. Stalagmites and stalactites jutted out. A track looped through the various cave entrances. Vanessa widened her eyes when a cart rolled up to them on the track.
"Blimey, I forgot how much I hate this." Hagrid grumbled, clambering into the cart. Vanessa followed suit, trembling slightly. She breathed in and out to calm her racing heart. It's just like a rollercoaster. You like those, right? Vanessa clenched the sides of the cart, which hurtled off down the track once Bogrod had boarded. Vanessa clenched her teeth together until her jaw grew sore. She didn't want to close her eyes, because then she wouldn't be able to see where she was going. But God, how she wanted to. Her stomach fluttered as the cart soared downward, deeper into the earth. They were zooming along the track so fast that Vanessa felt her breath hitch in her throat. When the cart halted, Vanessa took several seconds to calm herself.
"Vault 734." Bogrod announced. He waddled up to the door and unlocked it with Vanessa's key. Vanessa watched the enormous door swing open. Her eyes stretched at the sight before her. Mounds of gold, silver and bronze glittered a greeting to her. Her parents had left her all of this?
Vanessa wasn't sure how much she would need for her shopping trip that day, so she grabbed some of everything. She returned to the cart, her purse now heavy with foreign coins. The cart zipped off once more, traveling upward this time. Vanessa's ears popped a couple of times. They reached the platform, where they exited. Bogrod handed Vanessa her key. She thanked the goblin, who stared at her in bemusement for a few seconds before waddling off again. Vanessa and Hagrid journeyed out of Gringotts. Vanessa was eager to shop for school supplies. She decided to begin with the most boring: her uniform. Madame Malkin's wasn't an exciting affair. Vanessa tried on a few robes and then purchased them. She left the shop and headed to purchase her cauldron and potions supplies. Then she headed for the bookstore.
She looked around, wandering the maze of shelves. Her fingers brushed along the spines of books with names in languages she didn't even know existed. She looked through a book about reading auras, before deciding she had to find her actual school books. She approached an employee. "Um… Excuse me? Could I have some help finding my books?" she asked.
The employee, an elderly man, smiled down at her. "Hogwarts, I presume?"
"Yes, sir." said Vanessa.
"What year?" the man asked.
"First." Vanessa replied.
"Sir! Wait! Could you help me, too?" said a girl, rushing forward. She was about Vanessa's age. She had bushy brown hair and slightly buck teeth and big, brown eyes.
"Hogwarts first year as well?" the man queried.
"Yes sir," said the girl. She glanced at Vanessa. The two girls followed the man, who handed them stacks of books as he wandered the shelves. Eventually, they had gathered all of their books. The bushy-haired girl turned to Vanessa. "I'm Hermione Granger, by the way."
"Vanessa Addington," returned Vanessa. The two strode to the checkout line.
"I'm Muggleborn. We were all really shocked when I got my letter. I'm really excited to be learning Transfiguration. I mean, can you imagine, turning one object into a different one? Simply fascinating!" Hermione rambled.
"Er… Muggleborn? Transfiguration?" Vanessa queried, feeling rather stupid.
The girl widened her eyes. "Oh. My parents are both Muggles. Transfiguration is one of our subjects. I'm assuming you're Muggleborn since you didn't know what that meant."
"Actually… Yeah. Yeah, I am." lied Vanessa. She had no idea what this girl was talking about. She made a mental note to ask Hagrid about it.
"Well, it was really nice meeting you, Vanessa. Perhaps we can sit together on the train." said Hermione.
Vanessa nodded. "Sure. It'll be nice already knowing someone instead of awkwardly finding people."
Hermione giggled. "Yes, it will. See you around!"
Vanessa waved goodbye and headed out of the bookshop, where Hagrid was waiting. He smiled down at her. "Well, looks like we've got ter get yer wand, eh?" he said.
Vanessa nodded. She had been looking forward to this. They walked to an unassuming shop called Ollivander's. Vanessa entered the shop. Hagrid opted to stay outside, as this would be a more personal visit. The shop was quiet, with rows of boxes piled on top one another. An old man with wild white hair tiptoed forward. "Mr. Ollivander? I'm here to buy a wand…" Vanessa trailed off, realizing she sounded a bit silly. Of course she was here to buy a wand. What else would she be buying here? A calculator?
The man smiled. "What is your name, dear?"
"Vanessa Addington, sir." said Vanessa.
"Addington… Interesting name. Yes… Let's see…" Ollivander shuffled off. He returned with a few boxes and set them on the counter. He took out a wand that had a twisting design, gathering at the end like a bulb. "Birch. Ten inches, phoenix feather. Powerful." He handed the wand to Vanessa.
She gripped it, but nothing happened. "Erm…"
"Give it a wave." Ollivander instructed.
Vanessa pointed the wand toward the wall and waved it. The picture attached to the wall flew across the room. She gaped. She'd just used magic! She turned to Ollivander, grinning. Her smile faded when she saw Ollivander's disappointment. "I don't know what's supposed to happen, sir." she said.
"The wand chooses the witch or wizard, Miss Addington. You'll know. That was not the one for you," said Ollivander. Disappointed, Vanessa laid the wand into its case. "Hawthorne. Ten and three quarter inches. Tough and complex." Ollivander handed Vanessa a sleek black wand. She liked this one. She pointed it at a plant on the other side of the room. Immediately, all of the petals fell off. Vanessa's shoulders slumped. She set the wand down. "We're getting close, I can feel it." Ollivander promised. Vanessa tried out a few more wands, but to no avail. Ollivander hadn't seemed to have lost hope yet, though. He withdrew a long wand. It was dark brown, with copper designs snaking around it. "Cedar, eleven and three quarter inches. Unicorn hair. Unyielding and loyal." he said.
Vanessa took the wand. Warmth flooded up her arm. The wand emitted blue and silver sparks. She looked up hopefully. "Is this it?"
"Oh yes, Miss Addington. You've found the right wand." said Ollivander.
Vanessa beamed. She paid for her wand and exited the shop. She checked her list of supplies. She had gotten everything… Except a pet. Her adopted parents would murder her if she got a pet, but… Vanessa grinned. "Hagrid, can we go into that shop?" she asked, pointing at the pet shop.
Hagrid chuckled. "O' course we can."
Vanessa skipped over to the shop. She entered, gazing around at all the interesting creatures. An owl? Nah. She didn't have anyone she wanted to send mail to. Definitely not a rat or a toad. Vanessa smiled to herself. She had always wanted a cat. She peered around the cages until her eyes fell upon the fluffiest kitten she'd ever laid eyes on. It was black and brown with bits of grey dotting its fur, with green eyes and white on its front paws. Vanessa stooped down and scooped the kitten into her arms. It mewed pitifully at her.
"That's a Norwegian forest cat. They're really sweet things." said the cashier.
"I'll take her." Vanessa decided. She purchased the kitten and left the shop. Hagrid wrinkled his nose at the kitten but didn't say anything. They entered the Leaky Cauldron, where they chatted about what to name the kitten. Vanessa decided on Moondust. "Hagrid, what are Muggleborns?" she asked.
Hagrid frowned. "Witches or wizards who emerge from mostly Muggle families. I don't like the idea of blood status, though. Half-bloods are half Muggle or Muggleborn and Pureblood. Purebloods are o' course fully magical blood. Load o' rubbish if yeh ask me."
Vanessa frowned. "I don't know what I am."
"It doesn't matter, Vanessa. Blood status doesn't define how good yeh are at magic." Hagrid replied gruffly.
Vanessa nodded. "Who's Harry?"
Hagrid explained the story of Harry Potter and You-Know-Who. Vanessa listened with wide eyes. When he was done, Hagrid chuckled. "Yeh and Harry come from similar backgrounds. He asked a lot o' the same questions that yeh have. The two of yeh might get along at Hogwarts."
After lunch, Hagrid took Vanessa home, with a reminder to be at King's Cross station on Platform 9 ¾ on the first of September. Vanessa waved farewell to Hagrid. She trudged to her room, ignoring the gawking faces of her adopted parents, her arms full of books and cauldron, with Moondust poking her cute little head out of the top. September the first couldn't arrive fast enough.
…
Hey, everybody! So, this is my first Harry Potter fanfiction. I was nervous to post it because OC's don't seem to be received well, but hey, I like making characters. So, here's mine. I hope you guys enjoy the story! Please review! :)
