Hey guys, so this is my first Harry Potter fic—please review and tell me what you think! I have a feeling it's not going to be like other stories!
I often think back to my times as a child; the times when all the other children would laugh and giggle at my name—Serenity Longbottom. Their words would cut as true as a knife and always sent me running into my father's arms in tears. He would just hold me there until my sobs turned to sniffles; he'd then gently put his fingers under my chin and lift my head up until my startling blue eyes would meet his grey ones.
"Serenity." He would whisper gently, his face still smeared with dirt from our greenhouse. "Serenity, do you know why named you that?" I would shake my head even though he had told me several times. "Your mother and I named you Serenity because you were born in a time of peace, of truce." He would tell me, referring to the fall of the dark lord. I would bite my lip but my father would just take my chubby toddler hands in his large, delicate hands and smile softly. "Those other kids just don't understand the power in your name my dear, but one day they will—one day your day will come." With those final words my father, Neville Longbottom, would kiss my head and take me into the green house with him to tend to the plants.
I sighed and ran my hand through my long blonde curls as I stared out into the endless rain. My heart pounded in my chest at the knowledge of my fifth year at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It was my first year to be named as a perfect and I was terrified.
"Serenity." My father said gently as he looked back at me from the rearview mirror. I was instantly pulled out of my thoughts and looked up at him. "Serenity—what are you so nervous about?" I folded my now small, graceful hands onto my lap and sighed.
"What if they made a mistake Dad? What if I really wasn't supposed to be a perfect?" I whispered, my voice shook slightly with the knowledge but my father just shook his head.
"Of course you were going to be named as a perfect dear; why on earth wouldn't you be?" My father turned left and into King's Cross Station. He unbuckled and opened my door before unloading our trunks from the car. My father was the Herbology Professor at Hogwarts. I sighed and took hold of my pure white cat, Aurora, into my arms and followed my father into the train station.
"Because…..because." I shook my head with a sigh. "I don't know Dad; I just have a bad feeling about it. It's not like I'm the best student at school, I don't get the best grades." My father laughed as we walked, he stopped for a split moment and smiled back at me.
"Serenity, you got your mother's creative mind—just because you doodle in your lessons doesn't mean you aren't bright. Slytherin needs a creative girl like you in their grasp to lead them." I sighed but nodded before looking at the brick wall, platform nine and three quarters, and ran straight ahead.
Once emerging in front of Hogwarts Express, I looked back from where I had come and watched my father run in after me. He set a hand on my shoulder and kissed my head.
"Remember Serenity; you were named after this time of peace and truce. Never forget that—show the others that you were meant to lead and don't let them tell you otherwise." My father looked up and chuckled. "Here comes James, I'll see you later my dear." With one final kiss on my forehead he left my trunk next to me and walked off with his own to the train.
"My name is Serenity, My name is Serenity." I whispered to myself over and over until my thoughts were broken by one voice.
"SERENITY!" James yelled as he ran up and swept me into a tight hug; Aurora hissed with protest and squirmed. James just laughed and dodged her claws before smiling brightly at me. "Are you ready for this year!" I smiled softly to myself as I remembered the first time James and I had met.
It was my first year in Hogwarts and of course I had been ridiculed throughout the day—the professor's daughter. My leather bound sketchbook had been clutched tightly to my chest as I ran through the dimly lit halls; being me I tripped over my own feet and fell to the ground. My sketch book had flown out of my hands and the tears finally spilled over. A pair of feet had stepped in front of me and I looked up to see a boy with reddish brown hair flipping through my sketch book.
"These are great—amazing really…" He had muttered, his eyes never left the paper even. With a nervous swallow I pulled myself off the ground and looked at the ground.
"Can I have that back?" I had whispered quietly.
"Say, why are you looking at the ground? My eyes are up here." The boy put his fingers under my chin and pulled my face up. His eyes were startling green and I felt my breath leave my lungs for a split moment in amazement. The boy held my sketch book out to me with a smile. "Those are great-." He held his hand out to me with a huge smile on his face. "My name is James by the way; James Potter."
After that day I slowly found myself rolling my eyes, I found myself making snide comments and laughing along with everyone else. Our friendship was legendary, a Slytherin and a Gryffindor. A year after James and I met, his little brother, Albus, had been sorted into Slytherin. I took him under my wing and in truth he was like my little brother.
I sighed and reached into my pocket before pulling out some every flavor jelly beans. With an evil smirk I handed one to James.
"Eat up James; these were the grossest I could find." James scrunched his nose and took hold of the jelly beans with a look of disgust on his face.
"Come on Serenity, that bet was completely rigged and you know it." He begged with me. Over the summer we had bet over whose family owl was stronger. I had won when he had strapped an entire bag of rocks to its foot. The Owl had fallen straight to the ground and couldn't go further; I was smart enough to only strap a feather or two to my owl's foot. To say the least, I had won the bet and this was James's punishment.
"Eat up James." I laughed as James groaned and placed the jelly beans in his mouth. "Chew and swallow." I said slowly. James glared briefly at me before doing as told—it only took him a moment to gag.
"What was that! Puke flavored!" I laughed more and shrugged before handing him a piece of mint gum; he took it with excitement before shoving it in his mouth.
"Beats me." I said with a smile. James rolled his eyes as the train whistle blew—signaling that it was going to be leaving in minutes to follow. Quickly, James and I grabbed our trunks before running onto the train.
xXx
"So what happened exactly?" I asked with a laugh; James groaned and looked at me with disbelief. He had been going on and on about a dramatic tale he had endured during the summer.
"Have you not been listening! I met the most gorgeous girl over the summer!" He said with excitement and I felt my heart fall a little; I denied the fact that I was crushing over my best friend and swallowed the emotions before nodding with boredom."
"And?" I pressed as I stroked Aurora's fur. James looked at me with disbelief.
"I met the love of my life and you just say and!" He shook his head violently. "Bloody hell Serenity—you're hopeless!" I just rolled my eyes.
"Did you even speak to the girl James?" He opened his mouth to protest but stopped for a moment.
"Umm….no…" He sighed. "I suppose I didn't." I nodded then suddenly winced as a strong headache suddenly started to settle in me. James frowned. "It's happening again?" He asked gently before crossing the small space and sitting next to me, he laid his hand on my forehead but I just shook my head.
"No, no I'll be fine." I whispered but James just frowned more.
"Serenity, your pupils are dilated and you are shaking. Not to mention that your skin is clammy." I opened my mouth to protest but instead I clamped it shut and held back a scream as I gripped my head. The room's light started to fade around me and James's eyes widened. He gently pulled me against his chest and rocked me. "Deep breaths." He whispered into my ear as shadow after shadow appeared before my eyes. All reaching for me and begging me to talk to them. I held in another scream before blacking out against my best friend.
Review and tell me what you all think =)
Kelsey