Hello everyone! Um this is my first ever fanfiction. I've been a fan of the series since...I can remember and decided to put this out there. It did originally start of as another canon character/OC and I thought that was way over done so I decided to switch it and pair the OC with a different canon character. Why not.
I promise my writing is only half as annoying as my authors notes. So if you're reading the note; give the fic a chance :P
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Harry Potter franchise. I am a poor University student. I only have bacon in the fridge. I think it is obvious I own nothing but my OC and this plot. Except the canon stuff. I don't own that. Obviously.
Anyway, this is really just an introductory chapter. The real stuff starts in the next couple of updates.
- Love Diana
Lexie was always sure she had a lot to live up to. She was born to Gregory and Amelia Fortian, an old fashioned pureblood family, who'd been in Slytherin for six generations. Her father held a strong role within the Ministry and was viewed as respectable and a very proud man. Her mother was an intelligent witch, who married a rich man and decided she preferred to spend her days adorning their manor house with expensive luxuries, rather than pursuing a career of her own.
When she was eleven, the Sorting Hat had lingered over her, deliberating whether this Fortian's talents lay elsewhere.
"Fortian, Alexandria"
She shook as she made her way up to the front feeling several hundred pairs of eyes on her, Lexie caught her brothers eye on the Slytherin table and smiled briefly, as the Sorting Hat was placed on her head.
"Ah, an ambitious mind I see, and you're determined when you want to be….like, your brother, you've got Slytherin potential no doubt," she heard it, drawing comparisons with her brother, Marcus, in third year. "yet I see a difference in you, I sense you want something else…but where to place you…" a pause which felt like a century "I know…. RAVENCLAW" the Sorting Hat announced to the room, and the House table applauded victoriously, welcoming their newest member as a stunned Lexie made her way to the Ravenclaw table. A Howler had arrived a week later.
Ever since that, her father had always treated her slightly differently muttering to her mother that "Six generations of Slytherin doesn't go out the window for no reason," and the raised eyebrows when she would talk enthusiastically about her Defence Against the Dark Arts lessons and the time her father had almost dropped his copy of the Daily Prophet, when weeks before her fifth year, Lexie proclaimed she had set her heart on becoming an Auror when she graduated. He'd told her she'd "get mixed up in business she did not understand," she'd protested telling him that it would come in useful as Voldemort was back. He almost choked on his pumpkin juice.
"Alexandria, if you are to speak of him in this house, we call him the Dark Lord. He is after all; to be….respected, whether or not he has returned is yet to be proven. If the Dark Lord has returned you would do well to stop with the casual use of his name," Gregory spoke loudly, as if he was hoping to be overheard by someone. Lexie was unsure who. The only others in the house were house elves. Gregory cast a glance around then sat down.
"I have a good mind to keep you here instead of sending you back to school, but without a magical education to the highest level you are no better than…" he paused and looked as if his meal had a particularly sour taste to it. "Muggles, or god forbid people thought you were a squib!"
Lexie rolled her eyes. There was no way anyone would think the Fortian children were squibs. The way her father boasted about Marcus and Lexie at 'dinners', was heard in the next county.
Still, anxious to get away from her father; she boarded the Hogwarts express and took her seat in an empty compartment, either side of her conversation bustled, filling the aisle with occasional bursts of laughter. Her friend had yet to board the train but she felt somewhat at peace. Hogwarts was without a doubt Lexie's favourite place in the world. She let her mind wander over the exams this year, over who the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher would be. Moody, or should that be Barty Crouch Jnr had been somewhat of an crazed genius last year, showing them the darkest side. She remembered how a Hufflepuff boy had went a horrible shade of green after the Professor performed the Killing Curse on a small creature. Lexie shuddered. It was painful to watch it inflicted on a creature, how another person could…slay another human being like that. Lexie shook the images from her head. It HAD happened last year. She placed her head against the cool window of the train. Last year had been awful. The Triwizard tournament won by Harry Potter, one of two Hogwarts champions, had been overshadowed greatly by the death of Cedric Diggory.
She barely knew Cedric yet felt somehow felt the same loss the whole school had felt. And the anxiety. The nerves rising in her stomach. She had a feeling it was true. People don't just drop dead.
"Lexie!" a voice called and her friend Sian stuck her head around the corner and sat down "I've been looking everywhere for you!"
Lexie smiled relieved for the distraction. Over thinking was one of her worst qualities. "I've been here this whole time, is Archie safely on board?"
Sian spent more time tending to her tawny owl, Archie than to what went on around her. She was however already in her robes. "I changed before I found you!"
"Oh really? There was me thinking you strolled through the city dressed in your uniform!"
"Sarcasm, Fortian," Sian elbowed her friend.
"Wit, Edwards," Lexie tapped her head.
Before long and many liquorice wands later; the girls found themselves off the train and heading up into the Great Hall to watch the Sorting ceremony.
"And well it was never really going to work out!"
Ah. She'd almost forgotten. Amongst all the Cedric fiasco at the Triwizrd Tournament that had engulfed the Wizarding world, Lexie had somehow forgotten all about her boyfriend… well ex boyfriend. Eddie Carmichael. The pair had been dating since second year, yet last year when the Yule Ball reared its head, he went suddenly cold and distant; lurking in the corners with Terry Boot and Michael Corner, boyish laughter roaring out every so often. Usually when a pretty French girl passed. Yet they went to the ball together as expected and he was nothing short of a gentleman for the entire evening. After an exhausting few hours of dance, he kissed her and retreated to the Ravenclaw Tower leaving her with her friends to discuss the couples at the dance; An hour or so later, feet sore, she'd kicked off her shoes and walked softly to the tower, it was there she caught him in the Ravenclaw common room with a raven haired Beauxbatons girl midway through a make out session and had thrown a book at him before breaking down and storming off to her room. They hadn't spoken since.
Eddie caught her eye and turned back to the boys he was walking with "Let me tell you all about this Muggle girl I met on holiday!" he enthused, well aware Lexie was still in earshot. She hated him. Lexie actually hated him. How she was supposed to deal with him in most of her classes she had no clue. If she got to Christmas without hexing him, she'd class that a victory.
Lexie halted, motioning for Sian to go on. Hesitantly the other girl continued into the hall, leaving Lexie to take a deep breath and compose herself. A minute later, feeling slightly calmer, Lexie moved to take a step forward and felt someone clatter into the back of her and felt herself go sprawling onto the floor.
She looked over her shoulder at the culprit and found a dark haired boy from her year who had turned a shade of red to match his Gryffindor tie. She hoisted herself up and glanced at him.…The boy still appeared somewhat uncomfortable.
"I'm sor-I'm sorry," he stammered, breaking eye contact and instead staring at the floor "I wasn't looking"
"It's okay," she shrugged "It happens"
He nodded shyly and quickly headed off to join his friends at the Gryffindor table
Still she shrugged it off and headed into the hall and took her seat at the Ravenclaw table. Taking a look around, she noticed over at the Slytherin table, Draco Malfoy, a family friend proudly showing of his prefect badge and made a mental note to congratulate him later. Lucuis and Gregory had both attended Hogwarts at the same time and by chance; Lexie and Draco had ended up in the same year after growing up together. Her father seemed set on matchmaking the pair, They however viewed each other as friends only. Blaise on the other hand…Now he was attractive.
Th e attention was soon switched to the front of the hall where Professor Dumbledore stood patiently
"Good Evening, children," he began once he was aware all eyes were on him "Now we have two changes in staffing this year, we are pleased to welcome back Professor Grubbly-Plank, who'll be taking Care of Magical Creatures, whilst Professor Hagrid is on temporary leave,"
Around her she heard murmurs ripple quietly through the tables. At first she wondered why. Then she noticed an unfamiliar and most likely unwelcome pink suited figure sitting primly in her seat. She wore a straight smile and her hair was neat.
"We would also like to welcome our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher Professor Dolores Umbridge…" Dumbledore looked over at the woman in pink then cast his gaze back over the hall "And I'm sure you'll all join me in wishing the professor, good luck"
"She's gonna need it," Lexie muttered to Sian as Professor Dumbledore spoke of a reminder Flitch had set to all students… A cough however broke his trail of speech, it was a slight cough and sugary sweet polite one at that.. Everyone glanced forward again, even the Headmaster seemed stunned and turned to face the woman in pink who was advancing out of her seat and towards his stand, her hands clasped infront of her.
"Thank you Headmaster, for those kind words of welcome," Umbridge spoke, calmly. " And how lovely to see all your bright happy faces smiling up at me,"
Sian pulled a face at Lexie "Is she in another room?" There was few smiles in the room. Most of the students appeared to be wearing expression which were a mixture of confusion and disapproval. "I'm sure we're all going to be very good friends," Umbridge continued, her smile looked plastered on.
"The Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of young witches and wizards of vital importance," Umbridge put on a concerned face and continued in her sugary tone "Although each headmaster has brought something new to this historic school," She cast a smile Professor Dumbledores way, which he returned "Progress for the sake of progress must be discouraged,"
Lexie rose her eyebrows. What exactly was this Umbridge getting at.
"Let us preserve what needs to be preserved, perfect what can be perfected and…prune practices that ought to be prohibited."
Prune Practices? A few murmurs rippled over the tables. Umbridge smiled and headed back to her seat primly. Lexie got a feeling she was going to dislike this woman already, she seemed to have a thirst for control, it was almost as if she was interfering.
Clapping began as Dumbledore thanked the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor for her words and allowed the students to get back to their meal.
"What do you reckon to Umbridge then," Sian kicked off her shoes and fell down onto her bed.
"Hmmm," Lexie tilted her head "I think she's going to be hard work."
"She looks like one of those women who appear all sweet but you know she's secretly waiting for you to screw up"
"Exactly!" Lexie put her long reddy-brown hair into a ponytail and lay down on her bed. "And that's the last thing we need with our o.w.l's coming up this year, and with what the rumours are, you know…"
Sian leant over and stared at her friend "You believe them? You really think You-Know-Who…." Sian shuddered. "Is back?"
She considered this, tuicking her hands behind her head "Well it makes sense right? Why else is Cedric Diggory dead? I know we were told people die in the tournament but that's like… if they're killed by a dragon or they drown in the Black Lake or something, not like….they're just dead. And did you see Harry Potter's face? There's no way he made it all up," Lexie paused. "Why don't you?"
Sian faltered "I just find it hard to swallow. I mean… wouldn't he have done something now? Tortured someone? Came after Potter? Killed Muggles? It's quiet, Lex, too quiet,"
"He wouldn't strike now though… he'd wait…bide his time…"
"You're overthinking this, I'm sure that'll be great when you're an Auror but for now? Just concentrate on exams, Nothing will happen. I promise that you're overthinking all this,"
"I'm not!" Lexie started to protest then she caught herself "You know what…you're probably right…"
Sian smiled sympathetically. "Get some sleep, Lex, you're probably tired,"
Lexie nodded, She couldn't be bothered to protest and instead rested her head back on the pillow and fell into her dreams.
Any comments; Please be kind ;)
