Hello guys! This is the first chapter of my first fanfiction, so I hope you like! I'm planning for the story to be quite long, spanning all Hogwarts years, and get much more exciting. Please rate and leave constructive criticism so this fanfic can get better. The story follows canon and everything J.K.'s told us as of October 1st, 2015. All the information about wandlore was taken from the Pottermore Wiki, so give them partial credit. All the characters in Harry Potter are owned by J.K. Rowling. Thanks, and have fun reading!
~theantihorcrux~

Chapter One: Lainoloc Lane

I was five years old when I showed my first signs of magical ability. I had been playing with my little sister, Hanna, who had been three at the time, and I had attempted to throw a soccer ball to her. I was about to hit her face and cause a serious injury, I was terrified for a moment, but right before the collision, it stopped and hovered in the air for a few seconds before it dropped. After that incident, my parents knew that I, Leah Chang-Fletcher, was a witch.

My mother, Cho Chang, was a witch too. She used to live in Scotland and learned magic like all the other witches and wizards. After her schooling, she came to live in America to work a the British Ministry of Magic s Embassy here in Maryland, near Washington D.C. She fell in love with my dad, Jacob Fletcher, and they got married and had me and Hanna. My mom has long, shining dark hair and dark eyes and freckles on her nose. She s beautiful. My dad has frizzy copper-brown hair and is very tall. He has brown eyes, but they re much lighter than my mother s. He s a bit hairy, if I had to describe him. He s nice, though, and has a great smile. Oh yeah, he s also a muggle.

Apparently it s a bit strange for wizards to marry non-magical folk, some might even say it s inappropriate. But my Dad s as close to a wizard as a muggle could possibly be. Once, my mom took him to Lainoloc Lane, a bustling street full of shops and people. I ve always wanted to go, but Mom says that I should wait until I get my Hogwarts acceptance letter. Most American wizards, as I ve heard (I ve never actually met any wizards besides my mom and Hanna, as far as I know) go to the American school in New York, but my mom wanted to go the extra mile and send me to the British school, where she made so many memories.

Anyway, my mom took my dad to Lainoloc Lane and gave him a handful of Galleons to spend. He bought potions books, quidditch rules, and magical history books. He s practically memorized them all. So have I.

Lost in thought on a weekend afternoon, I hear the gentle hoot, hoot of an owl. Ugh, that must be Hanna s new stuffed animal. She never stops playing with it. I get up to go tell Hanna to turn the stupid thing off for once and pass a mirror. I see myself with my shoulder-length hair. Dark like my mother s and frizzy like my father s. My eyes are my mother s, but only in color, I have my dad s shape. I have the freckles on my nose just like my mother, but more of them. I m tall like my dad, but a bit bony like my mom. My sister looks very different. For every quality I have from one parent, she has the opposite quality from the other. For example, she has the color of dad s eyes but the shape of mom s eyes.

I turn away from the mirror, knowing my sister will make fun of me to no end if she catches me looking in the mirror for too long. I hear a plop at the door and notice a parchment envelope with a purple wax seal slip in through a crack in the door. I pick up the note and turn it over in my shaky hands.

Miss L. Chang-Fletcher

Room in the Attic

451 Holly Road

Maryland

United States of America

It was addressed to me, but in a very strange way. Emerald ink, and it was so accurate! I open my eyes wide and rip open the envelope, because this could only mean one thing.

Dear Miss Chang-Fletcher,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find inside a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term starts on September 1st. We await your owl no later than July 31st.

Yours Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall, Headmistress

I scream with excitement and start jumping up and down like a maniac. I got my Hogwarts letter! I hear angry footsteps as my family comes rushing to the door, seeing if there was a problem. Mom opens her mouth to scold me for yelling so loud when there was obviously no real emergency. But then I show her the letter. She snatches it from me and reads it over. When she looks up, she has tears in her eyes. (She ll use any excuse to cry, to be honest) She gives me a large smile with her perfect white teeth.

What is it? Hanna asks hurriedly. Dad stares at my mother with a quizzical look on his face. Leah Is going to Hogwarts! Dad smiles and reaches down to hug me. (It s one of the few times he s hugged me, he s not really one for touching others.) My sister looks up at me and opens her mouth to what I think was supposed to be a smile, but whatever it was, it was huge. It was nice to have this attention, but after a few seconds of my whole family just staying silent with dumb smiles on their faces, it got a bit embarrassing, and really awkward.

So, I say, trying to break the silence. When are we going to get the school supplies?

Oh! Mom exclaims, bringing herself back into reality. Today, I guess.

I take the other piece of parchment out from the envelope and read the hefty list of school supplies that we needed.

Uniform

First-year students will require:

Three sets of plain work robes (black)

One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear

One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)

One winter coat (black, silver fastenings)

Please note that all pupil s clothes should wear nametags

Course Books

All students should have a copy of each of the following:

The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1)

By Miranda Goshawk

The History of Magic

By Bathilda Bagshot

Magical Theory

By Adalbert Waffling

A Beginner s guide to Transfiguration

By Emeric Switch

One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi

By Phyllida Spore

Magical Drafts and Potions

By Arsenius Jigger

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

By Newt Scamander

The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection

By Quentin Trimble

Other Equipment

1 wand

1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)

1 set glass or crystal phials

1 set brass scales

Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad

PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS

Well, this will definitely burn some galleons, Dad exclaimed when he finally reached the end of the page.

Hasn t changed a bit since my first year. I wonder if they re going to teach about the Battle of Hogwarts? Mom will rant endlessly about how she helped Harry Potter defeat You-Know-Who and that kids these days must learn about it.

All I could worry about is that everyone will look sad and dreary with all that black clothing. Maybe I ll figure out how to charm my robes so they ll be a bit more colorful. And that I d really like to bring my dog, Merlin. (Of course named after the famous wizard.) Mom says that the Weasleys brought a rat to school, (who, of course, ended up to be a Death Eater in his animagus form) which wasn t mentioned on the list. So why can t I bring a dog?

Mom packs us all into the red minivan so we can go to Lainoloc Lane and buy my school supplies. My dad, a fairly calm person, was bouncing off the walls telling me about how amazing it was.

When we finally get out, we find ourselves out in front of a small and dark deli. I look up my mom. Are you serious? I whisper to her. She gives me that don t-talk-to-me-like-that look and nods. We walk in and Mom heads to the small man at the counter.

Excuse me, My mom says. The man gives her a bored stare. I ll have three glasses of pumpkin juice and exactly three quarters of a deviled egg, (Hanna, of course, chooses this moment to giggle in delight.) The man sighs. Come with me, He says in a hoarse voice. The man leads us to the back of the deli. To my surprise, I see a small, white door. He opens the door and leaves.

Mama? Hanna asks. Why was that man so grumpy? She looks back to see if the man was still there.

I ve heard rumors that he s a squib, poor thing, Mom replies, as she pushes the little white door open and we crawl through.

On the other side was the most amazing thing I ve ever seen. Although it was the middle of summer, the cherry blossoms were in full bloom, lining the gravel streets along with grass. Me and Hanna run down the soft, grassy hill and stare in amazement at all the witches and wizards who passed. Yes, we are half-bloods, our mother is a witch, but we ve lived like muggles. Muggle dad, muggle friends, muggle house, muggle car, muggle everything. It was amazing to see these things. No matter how many times you read something, it will never live up to seeing it in real life.

Mom hands me the school supplies list and a small purse full of galleons. Shop away! Me and Hanna run down the gravel pathway to Abby s Robes and Other Magical Clothing. The lady, who I assume was called Abby, was very nice. She fitted three casual black robes for me. I asked her if it was possible for one to change the robe s colors.

I m not sure if Hogwarts allows its student to change the colors of their robes, I know that in America, we are a bit strict in that matter. But if you do want to change the colors, you might want to pay attention in Transfiguration class! She says with a tinkling laugh.

She hands me a hat that fit me perfectly, even though it felt a bit stupid to wear. Next, we tried on some dragonskin gloves that looked epic, but I bet it would look a million times better if it were fingerless, like in those spy movies Hanna always likes. The winter coat was very warm and for once, was a bit more classy than the muggle coats. Abby even embroidered my name on all the items for me with magic for no extra charge.

Hanna and I walk down the path to Parchment and Pens to buy books, and are amazed by the shelves bursting with books climbing high to the ceiling. I could literally live here. We have to look for a while to find the British books, since most kids were going to the American School. We find them all and added Hogwarts, A History, plus What to do at Magic School? to get prepared for what we have to learn, and The War Against the Dark Lord: A Memoir by Hermione Weasley, just to see what the hype is all about. I quickly add A Wizard s Guide to Wandlore on the way out.

We head to Potions Palooza! and quickly purchase the B model cauldron, which is what all the others are buying, and it fits the requirements for school. We also buy a set of crystal phials and some brass scales.

We stroll through the blooming cherry trees to Waverly s Wands. I look up at the small store and take a deep breath. I ve read many wizarding books, and for as long as I ve remembered, I ve wanted to be a wandmaker. The fact that everyone has a different wand and that each wand reflects what the owner is best at, just amazes me. My mom has always told me, The wand choose the wizard , which is what makes this so exciting. I stroll into the store, trying to act casual, when really, butterflies are flapping in my stomach. What wand will I get? Will it work? What if the wand won t do magic for me? What if I m not right to get a wand at all?

An old man who introduces himself as Zered Waverly sits me down on a tall wooden stool and asks me my name.

Leah Chang-Fletcher,

Daughter of Cho Chang?

Yessir,

What a nice lady, I ve spoken to her a few times!

I gulp. Yessir,

Aw, you don t have to be so polite!"

I give a weak smile. Ok, sorry, I m just a bit nervous,

Everybody is when they get their first wand. It ll be OK, He grabs a wand off the self. Let s try this one, Maple with Phoenix feather core. 10 inches. Stiff.

I grab the wand and give it a wave. The chair beneath me falls over. I blush with embarrassment. Sorry, I mutter.

Don t worry about it! Mr. Waverly chuckles. We just need to find you the right wand!

He takes a wand from the top shelf. Ash with Kneazle Whisker core. 9 inches. Unyielding. I flip over a small box full of wand cores

Ebony and unicorn?

Fir and dittany stalk?

Apple and kelpie?

He pulls out another wand from the shelf. What about this. Laurel with Dragon heartstring core. 12 inches. Nice and springy. By now, I m blushing like a tomato and those small butterflies have turned into angry wasps, stinging the inside of my stomach. But when Mr. Waverly hands me that wand, I am able to lift a quill a few feet above Mr. Waverly s small desk. I smile. So does he.

Now, Leah, with that kind of wood and that kind of core, you can do extremely powerful, even lethal magic. I haven t had that combination in a while. You must be very careful. But I m sure this wand will be perfect for you. He smiles again. Some of those butterflies have come back, but I m glad I have a wand that will do my willing.

I walk with Hanna to the small coffee shop where my mom and dad are waiting. I barely talk to her, I just marvel at my wand, the dark wood and where it spirals like a corkscrew at the end. Wands just fascinate me to no end.

I show mom and dad my wand, and they re all very impressed with what I got. I didn t tell them the warning that Mr. Waverly gave me. I hear a small noise from under the table. My dad reaches under and pulls out a large box.

We meant for this to be a surprise, but this little guy was so excited to see you! I open the box to find a small orange kitten with blue eyes. I smile. So I guess I can t bring Merlin! I chuckle. Dad shakes his head. So what would you like to name her?

I think about it for a moment. I think I ll name her Apple Pie. Apple for short,

Well that s certainly cute. My mom replies. Hanna asks to hold Apple and I let her. We eat lunch in Lainoloc Lane and then leave, shopping all done.

As we were driving home in the car, Hanna exclaims, The wand shop guy told Leah that her wand was-

Shhh! I don t want mom and dad knowing about what happened.

Why?

Because!

Leah, let her speak, Mom said calmly in her oh-so-perfect Scottish accent.

Well, Hanna started as I blush furiously. The wand shop guy-

Mr. Waverly, I interrupt.

I got it! Now shut up! The wand shop guy said-

Hanna! Mom exclaims. That was not a very nice thing to say! Apologize now!

Urgh, OK, I m sorry! Are you OK now?

Say it nicely, I comment, trying to annoy my little sister.

She looks me in the eye. I- am- sorry!

I nod. The wand shop guy said that Leah s wand was super powerful and could possibly be lethal!

I squeeze my eyes shut as I wait for my parent s response. To my surprise, Mom laughs. Good! Powerful wands are something every good Auror needs! Just don t kill anybody! Mom thinks I want to be an Auror like all the other kids, like she wanted to be after the Battle of Hogwarts. But I don t want to be an Auror. It would be cool, but not my dream. I want to be a wandmaker.

Even after all the lights are out and everyone should be asleep, I m tossing and turning in my sleep wondering, Am I dangerous? I look at the clock. 11 o clock PM. I should ve been asleep hours ago. I go to my closet and pull out A Wizard s Guide to Wandlore. I flip to the section about wand cores and what they mean.

Dragon Heartstring is one of the more common wand cores. They produce wands with the most power, capable of the most flamboyant spells. Dragon wands tend to learn quicker than other wands. While they can change allegiance if won from their original master, they always bond strongly with their current owner.

It was a bit strange how the book talked about wands, as if they had personalities, as if they were alive. I read on.

The dragon wand tends to turn easiest to the Dark Arts, though it will not incline that way of it s own accord. It is also most prone of the three cores to accidents, being somewhat temperamental. It also tends to be leathley hazardous if combined with certain woods, such as cherry or yew.

I knew that dragon heartstring was a very common wand material, it scared me a bit to find out that it was most prone to the Dark Arts. I flip to the encyclopedia of wand woods and find laurel.

It is said that a laurel wand cannot perform a dishonourable act, although in the quest for glory (a not uncommon goal for those most suited for these wands), laurel wands have been known to perform powerful and sometimes lethal magic. Laurel wands are sometimes called fickle, but this is unfair; the laurel wand is unable to tolerate laziness in a possessor, and it is in such conditions that it is most easily and willingly won away.

Otherwise, it will cleave happily to it s first match forever, and indeed has the unusual and engaging attribute of issuing a spontaneous lightning strike if another witch or wizard tries to steal it.

The section on the laurel wand canceled out some of the points in the section on dragon heartstring such as being able to change allegiances. What confused me about the section on the laurel wand is that although it said it cannot do a dishonorable deed, why is it known for doing lethal magic?
I feel my eyelids getting heavy and in what felt like felt like only a few seconds, I woke up to see light streaming through the large attic window above my bed.