Prologue
It was early October and the clouds were laying heavy over the city of London. People were rushing through the streets, not wanting to get caught by the rain which the weather forecast had warned about, earlier this morning. But among these people, was a woman whom seemed to be in no hurry at all, as she walked down the street, seemingly searching for something. She was wearing a large dark coat and a woolly hat, meanwhile hanging from her right arm was a dark green umbrella.
Her pace was almost leisurely as her eyes scanned the surrounding buildings when she finally spotted what she was looking for.
Minerva McGonagall once again looked down on the slip of paper in her hands to see if she had gotten the address right, yes this was the right one. McGonagall slipped the paper back into her pocket and made her way towards the front door, not giving the sign above it, a second glans "Little Champions Orphan Home"
She knocked on the door and proceeded to wait for someone to greet her. She did not wait long before the door opened and was greeted with a short older woman with brown eyes and brown hair that seemed to show sight of turning grey.
"Hello?" the woman seemed a bit surprised by suddenly having a guest at the door.
"Greetings, my name is Minerva McGonagall, I believe I already sent a letter regarding why I am here?" the woman seemed to think for a few moments before she realised what she was referring to, and immediately brightened up.
"Ah yes, it was regarding one of the kids being accepted into your school, correct?" the woman Proceeded to step out of the way to allow the guest into the building. "My name is Olivia by the way, I am currently in charge of the orphanage because William has gone down with a fever. Here follow me into the office" Olivia then proceeded to lead McGonagall down the hallway and into her temporary office.
"Would you like some tea? I just brewed it a few minutes ago." Olivia offered, when McGonagall declined Olivia proceeded to look for something in one of the draws before finding what she was looking for, the letter. Skimming it she asked "So, the school you come from is called Hogwarts? I tried searching for information on it, and I could not find anything except the absolute minimum that proves that it even exists."
"That is correct, the school is a very private one as we like to keep to ourselves." McGonagall responded, rather used to this line of question. Olivia's eyes left the paper as she gazed quizzingly at the other woman.
"Is that not a bit counterproductive? I mean how if people don't know you exists how do you even get new student if parent don't enrol them?" the brown eyed woman asked, out of pure curiosity "And while we are on the subject, I asked Naruko about her trying to enrol into a school and she has adamantly declined having sent in a request."
"It is actually the other way around, you see. It is the school that searches for the student, and it is the student which catches out attention, and from there we give them a chance to enrol." McGonagall once again responded.
"That is great and all, but the orphanage is in no position to pay for her equipment and education, so how do you solve that?" From her tone, the orphanage lady clearly wanted this for Naruko, but it was impossible for the orphanage to pay for what was no doubt an expensive investment for just one single kid.
"Usually it is the parents whom pay, but there are cases where there are more 'unfortunate' children whom are allowed, when this is the case, than the school gladly pays for the necessities." Olivia immediately seemed relived about this news. This is where McGonagall asked some questions of her own "And what can you tell me about Naruko, from the name I get the impression she is not of European origin." Olivia falls silent for a few moments as if trying to decide how to respond.
"First of, Naruko is a wonderful girl, but she… has a few quirks" The orphanage lady once again stopped, trying to think about the right way to respond, when McGonagall stepped in knowing that it was better not to start talking about her 'special ability' if it could be avoided "I am aware that some 'quirks' tend to transpire around her, but I want to know about her as a person, not so much her quirks, as you put it."
At first Olivia seemed as if she wanted to push the subject, but finally decided against it, she fell silent a few short moments before beginning again "Naruko, is a cheerful young girl whom is unafraid to say what is on her mind, she is also very loyal and brave. But she is rather loud and as i said, she says what is on her mind and that can sometimes be seen as downright rude. She is not the sharpest knife in the drawer, in fact she struggles when it is anything she does not see as practical, but she does have a love of sport and let me not forget that she can be stubborn as a bull." Olivia stopped to collect her words as if she is unsure how to describe something "she is also very much a tomboy."
McGonagall digested this information and nodded, more to herself than to the lady in front of her before replying. "I would like to speak to her in private, if that is possible" Olivia nodded and pressed the microphone on the desk and said "Naruko, can you please come down to the office please?" turning back to McGonagall she said "remember, she can be a bit rude."
They only waited a few moments before they heard running footsteps approach and the door to the office was flung open followed by a very loud "I DID NOT DO IT!" McGonagall did not even have time to fully turn around to see who had just flung open the door before a yellow comet had already speed past her line of sight and had positioned itself in between McGonagall and Olivia "I'M BEING FRAMED, YOU HAVE TO BELIVE ME OLY."
"Calm down Naruko it is not like that. I want you to meet someone." Olivia gestured to the last occupant in the room, and the comet turned around and McGonagall could finally make out the details of whatever had just burst into the room.
The girl was short for her age, she had long golden hair which was styled into two pigtails, on each of her cheeks she had three stripes of what seemed like birthmarks which made the resemblance of whiskers. And finally, a pair of piercing deep blue eyes which briefly took her aback, as they almost seemed… as if they were trying to drill into her in an effort to judge her, and then it was gone, instead the look was replaced with a warm playful one and McGonagall wondered if she had just imagined it.
The girl was wearing a black pair of jogging pants and an orange jogging shirt, the girl smiled and Introduced herself to McGonagall.
"Hello, Old Lady my name is Naruko Uzumaki."
McGonagall immediately felt her libs thinn in irritation at the girls utter dissrespekt of her elders. But she took a breath and calmed herself, this was not the first time she had been insulted by a child, what is more, this girl did not even have parents to teach her proper manners.
"Hello Naruko, my name is Minerva McGonagall, but everyone calls me McGonagall, I am the Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts." McGonagall introduced herself "I am here to talk to you about a chance to come to the school which I work at, and trust me, not many people get the chance." McGonagall shot a short glance at the other woman, Olivia realise that she had forgotten the leave them in private like she had promised and made her leave.
"O…key?" Naruko responded clearly unsure about her current situation and glanced and the door which Olivia had left "But why me?" McGonagall also shot the door a look before responding.
"Because the school which I am talking about is not just any school, but something few people are allowed permit." Naruko intended to say something but McGonagall continued, cutting her of. "More specifically, Hogwarts is a school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Where people, gifted with magic are taught how to harness and control said magic." Naruko fell silent as her eyes widened and were filled with wonder, excitement and a bit of hope.
But then to McGonagall's surprise, she seemed to suppress it and it was instead replaced with something akin to a suspicious and questioning glare.
"Magic?" the blond girl asked with a tone that clearly told that deputy headmistress needed more then just words to prove it. "is this a joke?" the tone mirrored her expression "I mean, I'm being admitted to a magic school? Prove it." McGonagall let a small smile reach her lips, muggles and muggleborn always said something along those lines and now it was her job to prove that it was in fact real.
"I promise you Naruko, I am not joking and that you are indeed being admitted to a magic school." And to prove her point McGonagall drew her wand and with a flick, her large dark coat seemingly loosened and floated towards the coat hooks behind the door, and the coat was immediately followed by the woolly hat and the umbrella. Naruko's eyes followed the floating garb the entire way until it settled on the peg. Naruko's gaze left the coat and settled back on McGonagall before again shifted this time on the wand in her hand.
"so, it is real." Naruko muttered more to herself then McGonagall. The young girl fell silent and McGonagall continued.
"There are more children like you, you know." Naruko's gaze returned to the old lady as if telling her to continue. "children like you, whom have no knowledge of the magical. When that is, we usually organize meet at a specific time and date, so we show them where to buy school supplies and get them acquainted with the magical."
"When is this usually?"
"July. We send a letter for the time and place we meet." This is where McGonagall's voice turned serious. "remember you are not to tell anyone about this, it is one of our most important laws, no people who do not know about magic are not to be told. Understood?" Naruko nodded enthusiastically. "And before I forget. This one is more a formality than anything."
McGonagall reached into her pocked and took out an envelope and handed it to the young girl. Seemingly hesitating a short moment before she took the envelope and took a closer look at it. The envelope was sealed via a wax seal with the Hogwarts Coat of arms and in the front was written in dark green ink.
Miss N. Uzumaki
Room 12
Kings guard road 28
London
The girl only gave the front a short look before turning the envelope and inspecting the wax seal. Gazing at it for a few moments she decided that she should just open the bloody envelope as she would gain nothing by just staring at it, she swiftly opened it and read the context.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Ms. Naruko,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment will be provided with the time, date and place where muggleborn are told to meet up.
Term begins on 1 September. We await your response no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
"Remember." Naruko's attention returned to the older lady as she spoke in a stern voice "do not tell anyone ells about this outside the magical community and hide that letter well. Understood?" receiving a nod in confirmation McGonagall turned towards the door and spoke in a loud voice "we are done now, you can come back inn." And Olivia returned into the office.
"I have talked to Naruko and she has agreed to attend" McGonagall's told the other lady, Olivia's eyes almost shone with happiness for the young girl. "we will send a letter approaching the end of July where we will detail the time and place where we can meet up and buy supplies for the upcoming school year, can you ensure that she will be there at the right time?" Olivia nodded.
"Very well then. I must be off, I have other matters to tend to and I must be on my way." McGonagall said as she rose from her seat and begun to put the cloak back on while Olivia told Naruko to run along.
"Thank you so much for allowing her to attend. But fair warning, Naruko can be a handful at times." Oliva warned the older woman as she led her towards the exit.
"I have had to deal such troublemakers before." McGonagall responded
"even so I feel I should warn you that Naruko is a prankster." The deputy headmistress almost succeeded to hold back a sigh at the news before responding as her mind momentarily shifted to a specific group of former students. "I doubt she can compare to some of my former students."
"I still feel I should warn you."
"and I thank you for it." McGonagall replied as she opened the front door and was greeted with and empty street and very heavy rain. "I noticed, she acted pretty mature at times."
"she does have her moments, most of the times she is a young girl, and then suddenly she acts like a grown woman." Oliva explained as she eyed the heavy rain "are you sure I should not call a taxi?"
"not to worry, it is not far." McGonagall said as she unfurled her umbrella and stepped out. "thank you for your hospitality"
"and thank you for visiting and accepting Naruko." Olivia answered as she closed the door and the woman with a dark green umbrella went walking down the street in the rain. Turning a corner, she looked around making sure that no one was around, she vanished leaving no indication that she had even been there in the first place.
(ノ◕ヮ◕)ノ*:・゚✧
Naruko was sitting on her old bed and looked out the rain cowered window at the dark skies outside. It was late, and all of the orphanage was undoubtedly sleeping, but Naruko's mind continued to plague her.
"nearly 9 years, huh." She sombrely muttered to herself. "there actually seems to be more than first meets the eyes" she smiles, not the usual friendly and cheerful smile which she had used throughout the day, this smile was one which weighs heavily on one's heart and holds countless secrets.
"Still, magic, who would have thought?" her tone turned bit dry and with a hint of humour as she looks down on her two hands as if they contained the secrets of the universe.
"Do I still have it?" her tone once again turns sombre. She falls silent as she continues to look at her hands before her gaze turns towards the dark sky once more.
"I wish you were here Kurama." a smirk reaches her lips. "you would probably just call me an idiot and tell me to continue to walk forward." Standing up from her position and walking a few steps she stood before the window and looked out at the huge city which surrounded her.
Her deep blue eyes, whom had been empty for far too long somehow seemed livelier they had been for far too many years. The fire, which for far too long had laid dormant, started to rekindle, even if it was mere embers and not the same raging flame which it once was. But when all is dark even embers can light up a dark room.
"And you know what," her tone seemed to gain an undertone of determination, barely noticeable "I think that is what I'm going to do." She stood there a few moments longer before turning back to the bed and going to sleep.
She fell asleep to the sound of heavy rain hitting the window. But for once, the City of London seemed a little bit more vibrant that it used to.
