A/N: Please leave me a review! Tell me what you loved, tell me what you hated! I can't tell you enough how much I appreciate reviews, favorites, and alerts. If you notice anything wrong, PM or tell me in the review, I don't have a beta. I'll try and update as much as I can, but since school for me is starting in 2 weeks, it's going to be hard to update on a schedule. Enough of my rambling! Thanks for reading. Hope you like it. I'll see you at the end of the chapter.
-LunaMay xx
Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns most of this. I own the things you don't recognize.
PROLOGUE
A thin, tall girl twirled a lock of chestnut hair around her slender finger anxiously as she appeared to be waiting for something, or someone. Today was one of the happiest days of the eleven-year-old's life and she NEEDED her best friend/partner in crime, to be here to celebrate it with her. The girl craned her slender neck to look out the window again. No Potter's. She grimaced as she got up and slouched over to the stairs.
"Mum!" her voice shouted up the grand staircase.
"Ava Marie Stone! How many times have I told you not to yell up or down the staircase? If you need me, walk your bum up here instead of shouting throughout the house! You're going to wake up some of the portraits and I'm not in the mood to deal with them!" the British accented voice belonging to Ava's mum shouted back, ironically enough. Ava sighed and clomped her bare feet heavily to make her presence and annoyance clear as she climbed up, kicking the red velvet up carelessly. As she dawdled into one of the many sitting rooms that littered Stone Manor, a petite woman with ivory skin stood up and wrapped her thin arms around Ava in greeting.
"Hello dear, how are you today?" she questioned and Ava's mood greatly brightly. Auntie Bea was the identical twin of her mum, also doubled as Ava's favorite aunt. Ava smiled grandly and nodded her head to signal that she was well. As Bea pulled away, she slipped a couple of galleons in Ava's small hand, winked and made her way back to where her tea was. Ava grinned like the Cheshire cat and slipped it into her pocket slyly.
Ava made my way over to the other woman with equally pale skin as Bea. She was sitting with perfect posture on her favorite chair in the house. The eleven-year-old sauntered over and perched her thin frame on the arm. The woman set her tea-cup down on the beautiful saucer in her lap, and gave Ava her undivided attention. She smiled gratefully at the woman who brought her into the world eleven-years-ago. Ophiella (LaVinge)-Stone was a French-English pure-blood. However, Ophiella and her husband Richard, were considered blood-traitors, seeing as they didn't believe that blood-status made you different from the next guy. Born and raised in the wealthy magical community in Britain, she had a thick British accent, but very fluent in French. She had attended Hogwarts and was correctly sorted into Gryffindor. Many times, Ophiella had proved that she was a true, brave Gryffindor. Being a top Healer, she had excelled quickly through the levels, and was proudly given the title of Head-Healer. Her compassion radiated off of her at all times. Her light silvery-blonde hair, delicate ivory skin, and bright blue-eyes were true traits of a french pure-blood, the meaning of her name un-betraying, meant beautiful in French.
"When are they gonna be here? I'm getting bored. He promised to be here around 1, and it's already 1:05!" Ava slightly wined impatiently. Her nose wrinkled in annoyance.
"Don't worry, Evelyn just owled saying that they'll be here as soon as Harold get's home." she reassured, smiling softly. Ophiella gave Ava a small kiss on the forehead and gave me a gentle push, as to say "Go wait for them; they'll be here soon enough." She flashed a grateful smile at her mum as she left the room with a little wave.
As Ava left the room, and made her way down the grandly decorated corridor, she finally got the stairs, fixing the ancient runner that her feet had kicked up. When Ava was satisfied with it's appearance, the tall eleven-year-old continued my way down, and as she hit the last step, Ava hopped off. Her eyes wandered around until she found a mirror. Ava went over to it, and glanced at the reflection. A beautiful girl stared back. Straight chestnut colored hair was neatly parted to the left, with side bangs that gently grazed her left eye. Two orbs of clear baby-blue eyes with black, thick, long eyelashes that framed them, two perfectly arched eyebrows above. A small, 'ski-jump' nose in the perfect proportioned spot on her ivory-colored face. Two plump pink lips covered the two rows, of straight, white teeth. It only then dawned on Ava that it was her. People always said she had the luck of having a pureblood's looks. Ava combed her slender fingers through her already neat hair. Being happy with her appearance, Ava continued over to one of her favorite parts of the Manor. The window-seat. Made out of the finest oak wood, covered with beautiful velvet and littered with small throw pillows, it was one of the best spots to read or hang out with her messy-haired best friend.
Ava's blue-eyes gazed out the window, clutching the letter. The source of her happiness and giddiness, had been in her possession since around 9 o'clock that morning. It was the key to Hogwarts. It hadn't left her sight all day, considering she had a tendency to misplace things. Finally Ava's ears heard a faint pop, and grinned as the Potter's came into view. Ava jumped up and opened the heavy oak door, and bounded outside. She flung herself at a thin boy with unruly black hair, glasses, and warm hazel eyes.
"JAMESY!" Ava shrieked as she felt his arms wrap around her thin frame. She pulled back, smiled at the older couple behind him. The older man looked identical to James except for his dark navy blue eyes, streaks of gray through his messy black hair, and slight wrinkles that came with aging. He smiled and pulled her into a hug. The woman beside him had long, dark brown curls with a couple peaks of gray at the scalp line, her warm hazel eyes shining. She had aged gracefully except for the few wrinkles from laughter and smiling. When her husband released Ava, the woman pulled her into a gentle hug. She smiled broadly and released Ava. "Mr. Harold and Ms. Evelyn, how lovely to see you." The classy eleven-year-old greeted, remembering her manners. "This way, please." Ava said as she led them into the mansion. "Mum! The Potter's are here!" Ava yelled up the stairs, forgetting what Ophiella said earlier. Turning to them, "Up the stairs, and it's the 4th door on the left." Ava added a smile. As, they started up the stairs, Ava grabbed her best friend's hand and led him into the backyard. As they climbed into the tree house, Richard built for them when they were 7, Ava breathed in the familiar scent of the wood structure. As the 2 eleven-year-olds plopped down on the old rug that covered most of the floor across from each other, they wore identical expressions of excitement. I thrust my letter at James, as he did the same, beaming.
His read:
HOGWARTS SCHOOL
of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Mr. James Potter,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
"Can you believe it? Hogwarts! Finally, after all this time!" James grinned back enthusiastically, his hazel eyes shining with excitement. "We've been waiting for this day since Isaac and Gavin boarded the Hogwarts Express for the first time!" Ava smiled, the memory rekindling. James had accompanied Ava's family and her, as everybody went to see Ava's two twin brother's, Gavin and Isaac, off for their First Year. Being an only child, he had never see Platform 9 3/4. As soon as Ava and JAmes had run together through the barrier, they were captivated by the magic of it all. Since that day, they had been all but counting down the seconds until they received their letters.
"1 more month, Jamesy! Then, we head off on the Express and we go to Hogwarts! Imagine the feast, the ghosts, the tower, the EVERYTHING! The sorting hat! Oh, we both have to get sorted into Gryffindor. Promise to sit with me on the Express?" her words all came out in a jumble, and her Irish accent was prominent as she was deeply excited.
"Of course I'll sit with you and of course we'll be brave Gryffindor's. Ava, you're my best friend until the end." James smiled brightly and from that moment Ava hoped that he was right.
A/N: Ahh, Pre-Hogwarts. I personally think James is quite adorable. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE review! It motivates me, and the more reviews I get, the more I feel needed to update! Thanks again for reading. I'll update as soon as I can.
-LunaMay xx