Black Ruby
The Beginning.
I looked around the dingy little pub, Tom the owner had already shown us to our room the day before. My mother was talking to the land lord about matters that neither interested me nor concerned me, or so I was told. I was left to my own devices. So I spent the day finding something to do, maybe look around the town see what a teenage witch could do. Though as far as I'm concerned this charming little village had nothing to keep me occupied. Just as I was loosing all hope, my mother beckoned me towards her, Tom had excused himself due to customers.
My mother was a very beautiful woman. She was a Vampire, consequently making me one also. Well technically I'm only half vampire. My mother had long, smooth, silvery blonde hair, stunning blue eyes that reflected her youth perfectly. Renee was her name and it matched her down to the tee. I on the other hand had long ebony locks with curls in the ends. It just reached the middle of my back. I had deep Hazel eyes that I supposedly attained from my father. All I knew of him was that he was human. Who he was I still had to find out. According to my mother and Grandmother my name suited me, Rhuben. I didn't really see it to be honest, but they insisted.... Back to the point I wasn't your average Vampire. I didn't need to drink blood, being a half vampire and all. I had all of the Vampiric characteristics, e.g. Beauty, Quick reflexes and Heightened senses, however most would just think I was Veela.
"Rhuben, good news....Your going to my old school. Hogwarts don't worry, you will fit right in trust me. With Professor Dumbledore will do anything to make you feel comfortable...School starts on September first or that's the departure date anyways!!!" my mother stated excited that things were going to be okay. It has been strange for a few weeks now. There had been this break out from Azkaban, some bloke called Sirius Black. A mass murderer from what I can gather. One of the 'Dark Lord's' followers. Next thing I know a boy that looked about my age stumbled in to the pub, yelling for Tom....The boy seemed familiar but I couldn't quite place him. It was late so I traipsed up the stairs to my room, I managed to get to the room before remembered that my mother had the key. I turned back around the corner only to collide with the boy from earlier. We were both knocked to the ground. His glasses came off in his not-so-graceful fall to the ground.
"I am so sorry!!! I've gotta watch where I'm going..." I handed him the glasses. It was then that I got a good look at his face. The scar on his forehead was a dead give away as to who he was.
"I'm Ruby, well technically Rhuben....but my....people call me Ruby." I stated holding out my hand.
"You can probably guess who I am..." Harry said pointing to the lightning bolt shaped scar on his forehead. I nodded smiling sheepishly, Harry just grinned like he was used to it. Then the normal scrutinizing look began, I feel it was the first time Harry had ever seen a Veela...or Vampire but that little fact could remain a secret.
"So what brings you to the Leaky Cauldron?" Harry asked still staring, I was beginning to feel uncomfortable his eyes hadn't left my face since our introductions.
"To be honest, I don't really know. But since that break out my mother has been trying to get in contact with some old friends. She pulled me out of my old school so I could go to Hogwarts....Apparently it was her old school...She seems to feel safer here in England than in France, I used to go to Beauxbatons the French academy...I'm rambling sorry I do that a lot normally when I'm nervous..." I managed to cut myself off before I said something I knew I would regret. I could feel my cheeks turning a vibrant red as Harry smirked down at his feet, as if doing this would hide the fact that he was indeed smirking. He looked up and I grinned, it was strange I had only just met the boy and I felt protected, as if he was going to make sure I was safe.
"Well I had better go and get the key...I seem to have forgotten the fact I need it to get in to my room...." I stated rolling my eyes, Harry grinned letting me by. I nodded in thanks and made my way back to grab the key from my mother. When I came back I found that Harry was still stood there leaning against the wall studying the floor beneath his feet.
"I-thought-I-would-wait-and-see-you-in...." Harry stated in one breath. I smiled and continued walking to my door.
"Well, thank you. And people say Chivalry is dead...." I smirked as I unlocked the door and went in.
For the next few days Harry and I became closer, we walked around the town. Throughout our time together he told me about his friends Ron and Hermione. Hermione was, according to Harry, a bookworm who was a muggle-born but was the smartest in the year and had saved his and Ron's skins on countless occasions. Hermione was also an only child. However Ron had five older brothers and one younger sister, Ron was loyal and kind though sometimes not the brightest button in the box. Harry also told me about his mishaps both at Hogwarts and at Privet drive, his home for the summers. I was enjoying his company more and more as the days passed I found him easier to get on with. The day before we were due at the train station Harry and I wandered about the town some more before heading back to the Leaky Cauldron. When we arrived there it was to an awful ruckus. Two, what seemed to be teenagers, yelling at each other whilst clutching on to what appeared to be animals.
'I'm warning you, Hermione,' said the boy fiercely clutching a Rat to his chest. The girl, who had rather bushy hair, held a cat in her arms as it tried to get away to get at the Rat.
'Keep that bloody beast away from Scabbers or I'll turn it into a tea cosy.'
'It's a cat, Ronald, what do you expect?' said Hermione. 'It's in his nature.'
For a cat, it was bloody big and hairy. His squat face certainly didn't endear me to him at first. I looked at Harry who grinned.
"I'm guessing these are your....friends?!?!" I asked recognising the names they yelled at each other. Harry nodded and smirked watching the argument as if it were a Tennis match, or something similar. Harry grabbed my wrist and pulled me over to a table. We sat down and watched in fascination as neither of the arguing teens had noticed us watching their heated debate.
'A cat?' Ron had continued. 'Is that what they told you? It looks more like a pig with hair if you ask me.'
Harry continued to grin, I opened my mouth to ask if we should intervene he shook his head and held a finger up to his lips, I understood and kept silent watching the argument before us.
'That's rich coming from the owner of that smelly old shoe brush,'
said Hermione. 'It's all right, Crookshanks. Just ignore the mean little boy.'
Harry thought now would be a good time to interrupt, as he laughed gaining the attention of his to, up until then, oblivious friends.
Harry,' he said in surprise. Hermione turned round, Crookshanks still in her arms.
'Harry,' Hermione stated, as if she was about to contradict Ron and then turned around to see Harry. 'Good summer?' she asked trying to change the subject before Ron commented on her previous mistake.
Yeah,' said Harry. 'Been here for the past three weeks or so. Got all my school stuff ages ago.'
'We already knew you were at the Leaky Cauldron,' said Ron. 'Dad told us,' he added, seeing Harry's confused face.
'Did you really blow up your aunt, Harry?' asked Hermione, a serious tone of voice.
'I didn't mean to,' Harry said. Ron and I burst out laughing. 'I just – lost control.' He cried waiting for someone to believe him.
'Brilliant,' enthused Ron, still laughing.
'Nice one, Harry,' I added. Still giggling.
'It's not funny, Ron,' said Hermione sharply. 'Honestly, I'm amazed Harry wasn't expelled.'
'I think I was lucky not to be arrested actually,' said Harry.
Next, our talk went on to Ron's holiday in Egypt. Ron even had the newspaper clipping of him and his family outside a pyramid from the Daily Prophet.
'What's it like?' asked Harry.
'Brilliant,' said Ron. 'Lots of old stuff like mummies and tombs. Even Scabbers enjoyed himself.' Ron still had him in his hands.
'You know the Egyptians used to worship cats,' said Hermione.
'Yeah, along with the dung beetle.'
'Here we go again,' I groaned. I glanced at Harry and said, 'They've been arguing ever since we got here.' Harry just nodded and smiled.
'Are they always like this?' I asked, again Harry nodded. I had a strange feeling that most of my time this year would be trying to stop Ron and Hermione from killing each other.
Just then in came a set of twins Harry, Ron and Hermione seemed to
know.
'Fred and George. Two of Ron's older brothers....You'll meet the rest of them later....' Harry whispered as he saw my confused face.
'Not flashing that clipping again, are you, Ron?' said one of the twins.
He snapped it up off the table.
How can Harry tell them apart?? I thought to myself.
'I haven't shown anyone,' said Ron.
'No, not a soul,' said Fred. 'Not unless you count Tom –'
'– the day maid –' added George.
'– the night maid –'
'– the cook –'
'– the bloke who fixed the toilet –'
'– and that wizard from Belgium.'
'Come on, you two, behave.' a balding wizard still with some red hair had just walked into the bar and joined us stated in a fatherly tone, I assumed this to be Mr. Weasley. 'Harry, how are you?' He had a paper in his hand and I could see the photo of Sirius Black looking up at us, the mad glint still in his eye.
'They still haven't caught him, then?' asked Harry.
'No,' said Mr Weasley gravely, looking at the picture. 'They've pulled us all off our regular jobs at the Ministry to try and find him, but no luck so far...' His gaze suddenly shifted to me 'And who might this be?' he asked looking to Harry for an introduction.
'This is Rhuben Tuesday....' Harry stated smiling at me. Smiles lit up all of the faces around me. I had a feeling they knew who I was....
'Rhuben Tuesday....Is that what you just said Harry?' A plump red haired woman asked him whilst staring directly at me. He just nodded and watched in bewilderment as I was pulled into a motherly hug by a woman I didn't think I knew. I saw my Mother over her shoulder, at the sight of me being hugged by a stranger she went in to PVM (Protective Vampire Mother) mode and stalked up to me. Tapping the woman on the shoulder and crossing her arms, a sign that she was incredibly angry and trying not to go all "I'll rip out all of your vital organs before I drink your blood!!". The hugging stranger turned around to face a very pissed off Renee Tuesday....What happened next I didn't expect. There was a whole lot of screaming, hugging and jumping. I was slowly being pulled behind Harry. I felt him tense as I peeped over his shoulder.
'Renee....I was wondering where you were...I thought if I knew anything about Renee she would never leave her daughter alone unless she is near...' Molly said. I managed to pick out her name during the screeching episode. My mother just nodded sheepishly. When Harry realised what happened he gently pulled me next to him however he kept hold of my arm just in case we needed to run away. I looked to Mr. Weasley, Ron, Fred and George, they all looked terrified of the display they had just witnessed however Hermione just looked confused. Soon we were joined by more of what I assumed to be Ron's family. They were introduced as Ginny, Ron's younger sister, and Percy, another of Ron's older brothers. After meeting them we sat down to dinner then departed to go to sleep for we had to wake up early and go to King's Cross station. Get on the train and then we would be going to Hogwarts for the year.