FIRST IMPRESSIONS - a Harry Potter fanfiction written by delirioustk (hippo-baby) and Black Rainbow
Chapter 1 - Strangers in the Night
Disclaimer : JK Rowling created the world. I merely play around and added a few characters. :)
Notes : I published an earlier story called Seducing Mr Black with the same OC in it. =) I changed the title and the story because it didn't suit the OC I pictured. Read & Review!~
Special THANKS to my beta - Sitara!~
It was the worst of times. Anya Volkova was sitting on the swing, looking up at the clear blue sky and wishing that she was at home in St Petersburg sipping tea in her father's garden rather than here in the cold England air wearing a flimsy dress, of all things. It didn't interest her in the least to step back into the party Aunt Ekaterina had thrown especially for her. All the wizarding neighbours and most of the pureblood families living in London had been invited.
Of course, Anya knew that Aunt Ekat had meant well, she always did, but that didn't make much of a difference to an eleven-year-old girl whose father had just died last month. To make matters even worse, she had been forced to leave The Lyceum, the magical school she had been attending for about a year, and move to England. All in all, it didn't make for a very happy Anya.
"Anya!" Aunt Ekaterina stuck her head out from the door, a wide smile plastered on her face. "Well, what are you doing there? Come here, darling, there's someone I want you to meet."
Here we go again, Anya thought, rolling her eyes as she slipped on her black sandals and trudged her way to the door. "Yes, Aunt Ekat?"
"There you are," she beamed, touching Anya's hand lightly. Her other hand was clutching a half-empty wine glass. "C'mon, this is a friend of your mum and I when we were younger, Jane Portley."
"It's so nice to meet you, Anya," gushed the chubby middle-aged woman, grabbing Anya's liberated hand with gusto. "The three of us - your mum, Kat and I, we used to get into such trouble growing up. Gave your grandfather quite a hard time there, I believe she did," Jane Portley gave a short laugh, reminiscing. "Always was a beauty, your mother. Her eyes," she made a gesture of flying sparks. "- gave me spooks to look at them, blue like the brightest sky! Made all the boys cry when she got married to your dad." There was a pause and Anya shuffled her feet awkwardly, already knowing what was coming up next. "Shame you don't look more like her, really." Jane and Aunt Ekaterina sighed in unison, with the latter patting Anya's head in a comforting manner.
"Umm, thanks," Anya said, raising an eyebrow sceptically. She was never sure what to say at these events. "If you'd excuse me…" Whirling around on her feet, she walked as calmly as she could towards the drinks.
"Punch please," she told the house elf, taking in the various bottle sizes that lined the counter. There was enough to intoxicate the whole of London but then again, Aunt Ekaterina had never been one for modesty. Drink in hand, Anya made her way outside again but the seat on the swing has already been taken by a teenage couple sucking face. Anya grimaced and spun, deciding instead to rest by the birch tree. In her haste, she bumped head-first into a brick wall. The sudden impact jolted her to the floor.
"Oww!" she groaned and clutched at her knee. The brick wall was actually a boy. Anya noticed that he was young, probably her age or at the most a couple of years older. "Watch where you're going, next time."
"Me?" he cried. "You're the one who knocked into me! Look what you did!" The boy narrowed his eyes at her, and then surveyed his soiled clothes. He carried himself with an air of casual arrogance, as if no one had ever said no to him in his entire life. Anya came to the conclusion that he must have arrived with one of the pureblood families. She knew that some of the families, hers included, were very rich and powerful and their lineage could be traced back to hundreds upon thousands of years back. Even when his face was contorted into an angry scowl, there was a haughtiness to it that infuriated Anya.
"I did that? Well, if you weren't stuck on your own little planet, you'd actually notice where you were walking," snapped Anya, brushing off the sand that had been stuck onto her white dress.
"Well, maybe if you weren't such a fat cow, I wouldn't have to manoeuvre myself around you," he snarled.
Anya drew in a sharp intake of air and clenched her fist. "You -" she sputtered. Not knowing any English words that would express what she wanted to say, she ended up throwing in his face the remaining of her pink fruit punch. It didn't make much of a splatter but at least gave her some satisfaction of seeing his eyes grew dark with fury.
"You little –"
"Sirius Black!" screeched someone who Anya presumed to be his mother. She was a severe old woman, with a menacing expression on her taut face. "A disgrace to the House of Black! Filthy little toerag! Apologize to the girl immediately!"
This earned Anya a pointed look, so intimidating that it made the young girl gulp. "I'm…….sorry," he croaked out. His grey eyes turned black in anger.
"Apology accepted," replied Anya, uneasily. She was looking at the old woman, who was now glaring at her through the slits of her eyes.
"We must go now, Sirius," The words spoken were sharp. Cold. Anya shuddered as she thought about what the woman would do to her son once they were in the privacy of their home. Her father didn't believe in hitting children but then again, Anya wasn't much of a troublemaker. "Regulus is getting tired. Come, boy." Sirius went with her, turning around to give Anya his dirtiest look. And Anya smiled her sweetest smile, waving and mouthing a goodbye to him in return.
"Goodbye, dear," said Aunt Ekat, kissing her niece briskly on the cheek twice. "Make sure you write us when you're all settled in, and Thomas, just keep on eye on her will you?"
"Sure, Mom," Thomas made a face and pushed his mother's hand away as she tried to hug him. "I told you not to do this anymore, my friends will see." He sighed and stepped around her, keeping a look-out for his friends. "There's Jonathan now, I'll see you at Christmas, Mom, Dad. Love you!" Without a backward glance, Thomas dashed to where a boy with ash-blonde hair was standing.
"All right now, dear," Aunt Ekaterina straightened up Anya's Muggle clothes, keeping a smile on her face. Anya had never met her mother but from the photographs her father kept in his study, she knew that her mother and Aunt Ekat had been twins. Both had dark brown hair and sparkling blue eyes that twinkled when they smiled. "Off you go, because all the compartments are full."
The platform was filling up fast with families saying goodbye left and right. "I better go then," she said. "I'd hate to miss the train." She hurriedly got on the train after being subjected to another hug from Aunt Ekat and Uncle George.
Upon finding a secluded compartment, she sat down near the window and sighed in relieve. It had been such a rollercoaster ride. Aunt Ekat had written an emergency owl to confirm her place in Hogwarts, the English version of The Lyceum. Whereas she had already started school a year ago when she was 10, English wizards begin their training at 11. When she suggested to Aunt Ekat that she might continue her studies in St Petersburg, her remark was brushed aside without another thought. 'Nonsense,' Aunt Ekat had said, chuckling. 'You've still got family, Anya, and I'll make bloody certain that you'll get the best we can give you.' Apparently that had meant selling her childhood home, moving her to a country where she didn't know anyone, other than her cousin that is, and taking her out of her school.
Hogwarts itself was magnificent. While The Lyceum looked as if carved in white lime stone with its soaring towers perfectly placed in the school's corners, Hogwarts was a large mess of grey stones with towers jutting out in diverse combination. The first years had taken the boat-ride to Hogwarts, crossing over a vast lake so murky Anya could just barely see her reflection in it.
"What are we supposed to do now?" she whispered, nudging the girl who was sitting next to her. The girl looked appalled at being spoken to but replied anyway.
"We're being sorted, obviously." She turned away then, the swish of her jet-black hair brushed Anya's cheek.
Anya rolled her eyes. "It's such a pleasure to meet you too," she muttered darkly. She fixed her eyes on the stage as a stern woman in black stepped towards the centre.
"As I call upon your name, please come up and join me," Her lips were curved in a tight smile. "Adams, Katherine."
The girl, of short stature with brown, mousy hair, gulped nervously and made her way to the stage. Anya watched with great anticipation, wondering how they were going to get sorted as that girl had called it. There was a dirty hat in the witch's hands and when Katherine got to the stage, she was asked to sit and the hat was placed on top of her head. A few seconds later, the hat – yes, the hat – cried out, "Gryffindor!"
"Merlin's beard, the hatcan talk?" Anya blinked a few times, testing herself to see if she might have dreamt that up.
"Well, it is the Sorting Hat now isn't it?" The black-haired girl replied, rolling her eyes in what Anya suspected was exasperation.
Anya fell silent. Her gaze was transfixed on the stage as more and more students got sorted into their prospective houses. Thomas had told her about them briefly, as he was packing his trunk. There were four – Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. He was in Gryffindor; he had told her so with pride. There hadn't been enough time for Anya to ask more questions about Hogwarts like how students chose their houses and besides, Thomas didn't seem so talkative. The whole time she was at Aunt Ekat's house – her new home – he had been listening to the Quidditch match broadcast on the Wizard Wireless.
"Black, Sirius!"
There was an outburst from the older students. They hooted and clapped their hands. Slytherins. Anya had gathered as much from the way they were dressed – in green and silver colours. To her surprise, it was the Brick Wall she had met a few nights ago. He was tall for an 11-year-old, and wore a sullen expression as he stomped his way to the chair. He sat there for a good minute or two before the hat cried, "Gryffindor!"
The silence was deafening. Sirius Black sat with his eyes closed tightly, praying that whichever hex that hit him wasn't going to scar his face too badly. To his pleasant surprise, it never hit. Narcissa, the youngest of his three cousins, had stood up and shouted, "Fernunculus!" but the jet of red shooting out of her wand had been met with a jet of orange light, from the stern witch's wand.
"There would be no duelling here, Ms. Black," she said coldly, pocketing her wand. "Mr. Black, you may take your seat at the Gryffindor table." Sirius nodded and walked slowly towards the table but no one dared to look him in the eye, afraid either of him or his cousin and her friends. "You're dead to me now, Sirius," whispered Narcissa, gripping her wand threateningly, as Sirius walked past her. As he took his seat, a few students visibly flinched and shifted their seats a couple of inches away.
Anya observed this exchange with curiosity, narrowing her grey eyes when they met with his. She hasn't quite forgiven him for calling her a fat cow. The other students were not quite as fascinating, sorted into houses after pulling the mangy hat for less than a few seconds.
"Mallory, Gregory!"
Anya stifled a laugh, ignoring the looks given by the pale girl next to her. The boy, Gregory, was also tall and had dark hair. He was sorted into Ravenclaw.
"Mallory, Valerie!"
This time, the usually quiet Anya couldn't help herself. She burst into laughter, clapping her hands together as she did so. "What kind of names are those?" she gasped out, still chuckling. Noticing that not a single person had joined in her mirth, Anya cleared her throat and gracelessly put on a smile on her face. "I'm sorry, do go on," she encouraged the girl, who was just holding the hat in her hands glaring at her.
"Hufflepuff!" the hat cried.
It seemed an eternity before her own name was called. "Volkova, Anya!"
She walked towards the stage calmly, feeling a blush creep up her neck. Firm hands placed the shabby grey hat on her head.
Hmm…Anya Volkova is it? You've got brains in you, my girl, you'll do wonders in "Ravenclaw!" The table decorated with blue flags and banners clapped enthusiastically as Anya made her way down to sit, feeling contented.
After all the students were sorted (there weren't many left after V), a tall man walked onto the stage, his blue eyes twinkled under the light of the 'stars' of the Great Hall. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," he began, winking in the direction of the first years. "For all students, I would like to give a word of caution. There has been a recent addition to our grounds. The Whomping Willow is not a tree to be trifled with and I would suggest that anybody wishing to receive Christmas gifts to not wander too far. A reminder from Mr. Filch- the forbidden forest is still, as of this time, forbidden for all students." He paused slightly and then clapped his hands. "Let's eat!"
All sorts of delicious dishes appeared suddenly on the enormous dining table. Anya watched as other students piled up the food on their plate, reaching for the mashed potatoes.
"Hi, I'm Adele. Adele Reed," said the girl on her left. She had long blonde hair up to her waist and fair skin with freckles on her cheeks. Adele wore an angelic smile as she reached to shake hands with Anya. "You're Anya right? It's a nice name. I'm so excited to be starting Hogwarts, aren't you?"
"I am!" interrupted the boy sitting opposite of Adele. It was the Breedlove boy. "I'm Robin. Breedlove. Funny name, I know, blame it on my ancestors," he shrugged casually, with an air of self-importance that reminded Anya of the Brick Wall. "And I sure am glad to be in Ravenclaw. If I'd made Slytherin, I'd never have been accepted back home again, I'm sure."
"I know," mused Adele, grinning widely now. "Ravenclaw's the best house. We've been winning the House Cup for quite a few years now,"
"And you lot better keep it up," chimed in an older student, a pimply faced boy who looked about fifteen.
"What's Ravenclaw all about?" a small girl with owlish eyes and strawberry-blonde hair asked.
"Oh, we're the best out of all four houses," Adele answered confidently. "Rowena Ravenclaw, that's our founder, she was the smartest out of all the four Hogwarts founders. If it wasn't for her, Hogwarts wouldn't be like it is now, that's positive. Are you a Muggle-born?"
"Yes," the girl replied, smiling shyly. "My name is Abigail Sutton."
"Nice to meet you." They shook hands over the table. "So, when did you get your Hogwarts letter? I got mine two months ago. My mom was ever so excited. Dad's a Muggle and Mom wasn't so sure if I'm a witch."
"I got mine last month," said Abigail. "Gave my parents quite a shock too, it did. I was a bit relieved, to tell you the truth. Just last year I was out with my family for brunch, you know, and I didn't want to eat my peas and I wished that they'd disappear and they did! Well, they turned into bees and we had to change tables but at least I didn't have to eat them!"
"What about you Anya?"
"I never got my letter," she said it without even looking up, attacking the carrots on her plate instead. "I suppose it was sent to my aunt's and she must have replied to it."
"Oh. Well, you'll love it here," Adele beamed brightly. "My mom said Hogwarts is the best Wizarding school in the world. She was in Ravenclaw too, you know."
"Wow, a legacy," Abigail said with admiration.
"What's so good about Hogwarts anyway?" snapped Anya, glaring at the two girls. They recoiled instantly at her tone. "Can the both of you just shut it about Ravenclaw and how amazing it is? I'm so sick of hearing it."
"I was just excited – " began Abigail, biting her lower lip.
"Well, stop acting like such a pushover and grow a backbone will you?"
The table was hushed except for those too far to hear the outburst. Adele looked miffed. "Sorry if it offended you, Anya. If you don't like it here, why did you come? We all know Russia's got the Lyceum and you're Russian right?"
"You think I want to be here?" scoffed the brunette, placing her fork down with a clatter. "Think again. Anyone in their right mind wouldn't want to be surrounded by a bunch of superficial girls with nothing but air in their heads."
"Lighten up, Anya," the pimply boy jumped in. His eyes were cold now, uninviting and severe. "You don't even know anything about this school and like my mom always said, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." He scowled, after which all that was heard was murmurs of agreements around the area of the table.
"It's going to be a long year," Adele mumbled, sighing.
A/N : Read and Review please!~~~ And don't be shy if you must be brutal...