A/N:I don't know where this fic is going (but I do have a rough plan) so bare with me on this one. It may take me a while to write – but as long as I get reviews for every chapter (lots would be good =] yey!) I will keep at it.

There will be no romance between Harry and my OC, Autumn Rose, for anyone who is hoping that by the way (just to tell you incase you're wanting to read a Harry/OC love story, lol.)

Oh, and I only own my own characters and the plot. Anything you recognise belongs to J.K.

Read and REVIEW please.

Ps. This should get better – at least I plan for it to do so.

The First of Me

I here a voice inside

It's crowning to a scream

I'm not the next of them

I am the first of me

'cause I can live the lie

I am just what you see

I'm not the next of them

I am the first of me

- Hoobastank's 'The First of Me'

Chapter One

Autumn Rose Taylor was an orphan, and because of that she had never been what you'd call popular. Her clothes were scruffy and at least two sizes too big, her skin was grubby and her hair greasy. Her scrawny legs were lined with bruises and grazes from her frequent falling overs (most of the time helped by one of the elder kids in the orphanage.)

For an eleven year old she was tall; she was taller than the other girls her age, and a few of the boys. Her blue eyes had touches of green that made them almost turquoise in colour; her eyes were her favourite feature, for they were so un-usual. Her hair fell in uneven black locks (once again thanks to the elder kids) and was longer at the front than the back.

Oh, and she was a witch.

She had received the letter today and there had been no question about believing it. All of her life Autumn had been different. Unusual things happened around her – and they weren't always overly good.

The other kids had jeered and snatched as she held the letter in her hand – it was the first she had ever received – determine to read it or destroy it before she had the chance. But with her height advantage she had managed to escape to a secluded part of the garden where she had opened her letter eagerly and belived every word without hesitation within seconds.

It wasn't that she was a gullible person, not at all, it was just that she knew in her heart that Hogwarts really existed and the Dumbledore was its Headmaster. She needed no more evidence than the letter and the un-usual things that happened to her.

The hard part would be trying to explain to her carer (who hardly understood the word care.) How was she meant to explain to the strict woman that she had been excepted into a magical school where she would board and only return to the orphanage in the summer? How would she persuade Ms. Foster to pay for all her expenses?

Now that would be difficult.

'Ms Foster?' Autumn knocked on the office door nervously. She would have been a fool not to be nervous, for Ms. Foster had violent mood swings that were unpredictable. How she had never been sacked as carer of the orphans was beyond anybody's guess.

'What?' barked the annoyed reply.

'Could I, uh, speak with you?' Autumn asked, her voice barley audible.

'Who is it?' she sounded annoyed. Autumn gulped, she had never been on Ms. Fosters good side, and the woman hated her because of all the unexpected things that happened around Autumn. That, and she hated kids altogether.

'Autumn Rose, miss,' Autumn replied. Autumn Rose had not been her original name, the one that had been left on the note when she had been discovered abandoned as a baby. No, Autumn Rose was the only nice thing Ms. Foster had given her. Autumn felt that the name had a beautiful ring to it, and was surprised that the cold hearted woman had ever managed to come up with something so lovely.

Autumn did not know her real name, she only knew that Ms. Foster had detested it. Even had she not, she would have probably changed Autumn's name, it's easier to stop parents tracking down their children that way. And as nobody ever wanted to adopt the children of her 'care home', Ms. Foster was able to use them as slaves for her own bidding.

'Enter,' said Ms. Foster with an impatient sigh. Autumn stretched out a trembling hand and turned the door handle, opening the door and entering the room.

Ms. Foster appearance couldn't be more mismatched with her personality. The woman, in her late 30's to early 40's (nobody quite knew) was beautiful. Her skin was flawless and pale, yet she had defined rose coloured cheeks. Her hair fell far in luscious red curls, only a few shades lighter than her blood red lips. Her body flowed in a perfect hourglass shape and was always covered in well fitted, expensive clothing.

'Well, what do you want?' Ms. Foster demanded, raising a lit cigarette to her mouth. Autumn choked slightly as the smoke hit her in the face.

'Um... I received this letter earlier,' Autumn started, holding out the letter.

'Ah, so it was you that caused that pathetic uproar earlier.' She extended a hand to take the letter. For a moment she examined the letter in silence. Autumn watched her anxiously, waiting for some kind of reaction to spread across her face, but none came. The fact that this letter was inviting Autumn to attend a magical school seemed of no surprise to Ms. Foster.

'So I'm finally getting rid of you?' she asked finally, a pleased and slightly evil grin spreading across her face.

'Um... are you not... ah... surprised?' Autumn asked nervously.

'Surprised?' Ms. Foster laughed. 'I've known what you are sine you arrived here 11 years ago,' she sounded disgusted. Autumn stared at her shock.

'How...?' she asked quietly.

'Well with your pure blood how could you not. It's not like he'd be a father to a squib!' She froze as she finished, seemingly figuring out that she had said too much.

'You knew my parents?' Autumn demanded, curiosity and anger filling her. Ms. Foster had known who her parents were all along and she had never said anything?

Ms. Foster avoided answering the question, instead turning to her desk and rooting around in it for a moment until she discovered what she was looking for. She handed Autumn her Hogwarts letter and a small key.

'That will open your vault at Gingotts. Don't worry, I never took any of the money your parents left you – though I would if I'd have been able – so it's all yours. You can go to Diagon Alley tomorrow. I think you're quite old enough to go by yourself. You are dismissed.' And with that, Autumn had no choice but to leave the office, leaving behind many unanswered questions.