Chapter One

Hello! So this idea has been floating around in my head for a while. I thought it would be interesting to explore what it would be like for a Squib to integrate into the Wizarding World. This story follows an OC and most of the characters are also OCs. However this story is set during the Order of the Phoenix, and will touch on some of the events during Harry's story. This will mostly follow the movie, but may include some things from the books. Without further ado, here is the first chapter for Home Sweet Home.

The sound of the dough hitting the counter with a 'thud' made my poor grandpa jump, and place a shaking hand onto his chest.

Raymond Miles was an aging man, evident from the appearance of wrinkles on his face, and the wisps of greying hair atop his head. When he was deep in thought he would run a hand over his face, and adjust his oversized glasses; much like he was doing at this moment.

"Grandpa, what are you thinking about now? " I asked rather amused as I continued to roll out the bread dough. I can't really remember what time I had gotten here or how much rolling I had done, but I found it quite relaxing, despite the growing ache in my arms, and legs.

"Well Harriet dear, money's tight at the moment so I'm trying to decide what to take off the menu. At the moment I'm trying to decide between the strawberry doughnuts, or the red velvet cake."

"Not the red velvet cake!" I gasped dramatically.

"Doughnuts it is then." He replied, rolling his eyes, "When's your Gran coming? You have to be at the train in a few hours, and you know what she's like.

Placing the bread dough in the oven, I glanced up at the clock, "She should be here any minute. Gran worries too much."

Cleaning the bench, I removed the flower-print apron, and turned to look at my Grandpa.

"Here's a list of everything, and get some extra chocolate for yourself, okay?"

I accepted the jam stained page from his worn hand, and scanned down it. I had to smirk at the fact that my grandparents had a larger list of sweets which they wanted than I did.

"I think I'll have plenty of time to get chocolate now, Gramps."

They use to do the same with their own daughter, Sarah.

My mother.

Though I never knew her, Gran had showed me every picture of her, told me a boat load of stories about her life, including the one where it turned out she was a witch, which you can imagine was quite the shock to a family of Muggles. From what I can tell she looked a lot like Gran, who is exceptionally tall, with her large blond hair, adding to the height. Poor grandpa only reaches her shoulder when she has her heels on. Which is always. She also had blue eyes, unlike my green ones.

I look the complete opposite from, while she was rather beautiful, I'm just, well normal. I'm average height for my age, and I have rather short brown hair, I take after my father from what I've seen.

The only thing I had on him, was that his name was Richard, and a Muggle picture that was my mothers. Gran explained how he never knew that my mother was pregnant and she never wanted to tell him.

My guess? It was a bad break up.

However, one thing I didn't have in common with either of my parents was the fact that they could do magic.

I can't.

Yep, I'm a Squib.

It's made for a rather strange up bringing to say the least.

Considering the fact that my mother was my grandparent's only connection to magic, until she died, I have a very limited knowledge about anything not of the muggle world. And that's why I'm moving away from the English Countryside, and into the wizarding world. It had been a strange last few months. It was unlike anything I had ever seen, it was like my eyes were opened for the first time, to a whole other world of colour and life. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. And also one of the worst.

Something I quickly discovered was the disdain the majority of witches and wizards held for us Squibs. When I first began wandering places like Diagon Alley I would not hesitate to tell someone what I was, but as I quickly discovered, that made things rather awkward. Nevertheless, I wouldn't let that stop me from discovering this new part of me, and so I persevered, and only told my 'secret' when I needed to.

After a lot of thought, and ventures into the various different magic invested places, I somehow managed to get a job in the famous sweet shop Honeydukes, in the village of Hogsmeade. The owner Ambrosius Flume and his wife were an older couple, and while they seemed rather nice, I could tell Mr Flume was rather put off by the fact that I was a squib, but his wife was slightly more accepting, and convinced him to let me have the job.

I had finished Muggle school, two years prior and now on the 5th of October, a week after my 18th birthday, I am going to finally immerse myself in the magical world, in hopes of learning more about my mother.

The beeping from my grandmothers rusty yellow beetle brought me from my thoughts, and I grabbed my suitcase and shoulder bag. Hugging my Grandfather tightly, I left the little bakery, the bell chiming as the door opened then fell shut behind me.

'Harriet dear, give me two seconds. I really need the loo!' Maria Miles waddled in her exceptionally tall yellow heels, into the building, as I shook my head, laughing at her.

Moving around the back of the car, I wrenched open the stiff boot, and threw in my suitcase. I settled myself into the passenger seat of the car, wrinkling my nose at the strong lemon smell coming from the dangling air freshener.

Almost tripping over herself getting back into the car, gran started the engine, jerkily pulling away. After decades of driving, she still struggled to drive a stick. I offered to drive, but she just said 'No no dear, I can handle it. It's just the car, bit old, is all.' I'm almost positive she was speeding at times, but I said nothing. My gran was ever the worrier. She didn't want me to be late, no matter how much she'd prefer me stay home.

After half an hour of driving, we were still an hour's drive from London, and by the rate she was going, I didn't think my gran was going to stop talking any time soon. It was like she was trying to get a year's worth of conversation into an hour and a half.

'Are you sure you want to do this?' she questioned me for what felt the one hundredth time.

'Yes gran. Positive.'

'I know you're sick of hearing this, but your grandfather and I just worry, you know? Its not like we know any magic tricks. Although,' She paused for thought, 'there was that one year Raymond tried to use one of those magic tricks to get the magic going or whatever.'

I laughed at that. When I was twelve my grandparents got me a Muggle magic kit for Christmas. Since I hadn't shown any signs of being able to do magic in the years prior my grandfather thought it would be a good idea to try and coax the magic out of me. Needless to say that didn't work.

'Yeah not much magic flowing back then. Though I have to say, Grandfather did master some of those tricks.'

'Oh like pulling the bunny out of the hat! That one is a classic. I still don't know how he did that.'

'Yeah, I have to say twelve year old me was less than impressed that he could do magic and I couldn't even manage the 'pick a card' trick. I did manage to get some awesome card shuffling skills though.'

'Yes, hopefully you can impress the Wizards with your shuffling.'

'Gran!'

'What? I'm just saying, people who can magic things from across the room aren't going to care about some card tricks. What if they're weird about Squibs?'

I hadn't exactly told my grandparents how the majority of witches and wizards look down on Squibs, and how most of them just integrate with Muggles, because it's an easier life. That would be the perfect excuse to keep me at home.

'I'll be fine, anyone I've talked to has been nice enough.

We sat in silence for a moment, the lemon shaped air freshener swaying back and forth.

'So, will young Matthew be at Hogsmeade as well?'

'He's still in school gran.' I rolled my eyes.

'Ah yes, yes. It was his seventeenth not too long back.'

'Yes gran. You were there.'

'You know, I think it's wonderful you are courting someone younger than you. Very modern.'

'No one says courting anymore gran. And he's only a year younger. It's his final year.'

'Yes, yes. But surely you'll see plenty of him? Hogwarts isn't far.'

'Yeah, but they only get to visit Hogsmeade once a month. Besides… I haven't told him I'm coming yet.'

The car jerked slightly. 'What? Why haven't you told him?'

'I wanted it to be a surprise. And besides I might get there and hate it. I don't want to get his hopes up if this turns out to be a bad idea.'

She hummed in reply. 'So where will you be staying?'

I groaned, 'I already told you! I have a place sorted out.'

'You could give me a bit more than that! You've barely told me or your grandfather anything about this whole venture of yours!'

'Okay, okay. Uh I'm staying with another girl. Annie, she works in one of the shops, and needed a roommate. Her last one moved to America or something. It's a nice wee cottage. Clean.'

'And this Annie… Does she know... about being a Squib-?'

Sighing I replied, 'Yes she knows, and she doesn't really care. She just kinda nodded and offered me some chocolate.'

She hummed again. 'Just… are you sure this is what you want? I mean living as a squib, in a world of magic. It's not going to be easy….'

'I know. If I hate it I'll be straight home, don't worry.'

After driving in circles, and finally finding a parking space, I stood in Kings Cross Station. My palms were sweaty and I felt like a bundle of nerves. After all my planning the last few months, I almost couldn't believe that I was about to move to a magic invested village.

'I'm going to miss you.'

'Oh gran! Don't cry!'

She pulled out a handkerchief and began dabbing her eyes. 'I do not cry. I am a grown woman.'

'I'm pretty sure grown women cry, gran.'

'Oh!' She tackled into me, pulling me tightly to her.

'It'll be alright gran! I'll write to you every week! And I'll send you plenty of sweets.'

'Yes, yes.' She pulled away, dabbing at her eyes again. 'Thank you dear.'

I glanced quickly at my watch, 'I have to go now gran! I'll see you sometime soon, I promise.'

'Oh my little girl, all grown up.'

Giving one last hug, I snatched my case from the ground and started towards the platforms, Maria Miles waving like a maniac behind me.