Prologue: Marli Magreet is a sixteen-year-old girl from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Her parents moved there shortly after graduating from Hogwarts and getting married. She has caramel-colored skin and dark brown wavy hair and intense hazel eyes. She's a little stout, but she's rather curvy and fit. Marli was a well-adjusted girl until she entered high school. She began acting out, doing drugs, drinking, and having unprotected sex. Her parents thought that the only way they could save their child from illness, STDs, and unwanted pregnancies, they needed to stage an intervention.
Even though she went to Muggle schools, her parents still taught her magic from their old texts. That was the one thing she enjoyed learning. So after five years of magical studies, her parents decided to send her to Hogwarts. After sending an owl to Professor Dumbledore, he decided that she could attend it for her last two years. This is her story.
I was stuck in the middle of King's Cross with my belongings. I was trying to figure out where Platform 9 ¾ was when I saw the strangest group of people coming my way. They were a family of redheads (with an extremely tall one), a pretty brown-haired girl and a boy with dark hair and glasses. As they approached me, I began to stammer, hoping the younger ones were coming my way.
"Hi, excuse me, my name is Marli and um, well, uh, are you by any chance, uh, on your way to Hogwarts?"
The mother answered for everyone.
"Oh, of course dear. I'm Mrs. Weasley. These four are students. This here's Hermione Granger and Harry Potter. They're sixth years. This here's my girl, Ginny, who's a fifth year. And this is my boy, Ron," she leaned in close to me and whispered proudly, "He's a prefect you know."
"Oh, no ma'am, I didn't know that."
I'd noticed Ron staring at me, but I only briefly glanced his way.
"Well, dear," Mrs. Weasley continued, "are you having trouble finding the platform?"
"Yes ma'am. I'm kinda confused."
"Well, don't fret. Ron'll show you how to get through."
Ron stood there petrified. Harry, sensing his friend's embarrassment, spoke, " Uh, Marli, I'll show you how to get through."
Harry turned toward one of the brick support beams separating platforms nine and ten, and after looking around to see if any of the Muggles were paying attention, ran full speed toward it. I thought he had gone temporarily insane so I screamed his name. Nevertheless, he continued running and disappeared when he met the beam.
"Oh, my God," I whispered, "is he going to be all right?"
"Don't worry, Marli," Hermione replied, "The platform is, well, I can't really explain it, but all you have to do is run towards the beam and you'll be on the platform."
"Hermione, did you hear what you just said? You want me to run into a brick support beam?"
"Well, I know it sounds bad," she continued, "but it's the only way onto the platform."
I decided that I had to get over my fears if I wanted to go to Hogwarts. I turned toward the same beam in which Harry disappeared. I gathered my composure, closed my eyes and ran as fast as I could. When I opened my eyes again, they were flooded with an amazing sight. I saw rolling green hills, a clear, blue sky and the most magnificent train I'd ever seen.
"I wouldn't stand there long if I were you," said Harry.
"Why--." My question was interrupted when, ironically, Ron came bursting onto the platform and barreled into me from behind.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, oh gosh am I ever sorry," he said while helping me up, "are you all right?"
I stood there, amazed as I stared into his eyes. "I-- I'm fine, Ron, thanks," I said with a smile.
"You're welcome, Marli," he replied while turning red and looking very embarrassed. He was cute in a kinda geeky sort of way.
"Well, uh, I don't want you getting hit again, so it's best if you two move out of way, right?" Harry repeated.
"Oh, you're probably right," I said as we both moved aside.
At that moment, Hermione came bursting through the wall followed by Ginny shortly thereafter.
"Well, I see you got through safely," Hermione said.
"I kinda have you to thank, Hermione," I replied, "Uh, what's next?"
"Well," Ginny answered, " we drop our suitcases off here and continue onto the train where we i hope /i to find an empty compartment."
"Ok, then, let's go," I suggested.
As Ginny had explained, we left our belongings with one of the baggage handlers and moved onto the train. There must've been hundreds of kids on the train ranging from prepubescent brats to know-it-all seventh-years. Yep, I was finally where I belonged.
But, luckily, we found a completely empty compartment and sat down. Ron was the first was the first to enter, sitting on the left side near the window. Then Harry came in and sat opposite Ron. I rushed past Hermione to claim the empty spot next to Ron. Everyone looked a little weirded out, but Hermione and Ginny, sensing my excitement with sitting next to my beloved, scooted next to Harry.
"So Marli," Harry asked after some time, "I notice your accent. Are you American or Canadian or just some weird hybrid?"
"I was born in America, but my parents are English. So I guess I am a weird hybrid."
Ron spoke up. "So why is this my, er, I mean our first time meeting you?"
I got nervous because I had to tell them the lie I had concocted on the plane ride over here. Because unlike the pleasantness of my lie, the reason for my being here was not so innocent. When I was 12, I first started using. I started out with pot, then I moved to smoking and now I use coke. I couldn't afford it with my allowance, so I began stealing money from my parents, family and friends. If I couldn't get the money from them, then I'd have sex with guys to get it. I was desperate then, but now that I'm old enough, I work and spend all of my money on my habit. So my mum and dad got so fed up that thy got special permission from Dumbledore to let me enter Hogwarts in my sixth year. Gosh, I hope they believe this.
"Well, that's because this is my first year here. You see, both my parents are Hogwarts grads and met there. They soon relocated to Louisiana after getting married 'cause my dad's company moved him out there. I've gone to Muggle schools my whole life and just wanted a change. My mum's been teaching me so I thought 'Why not?' "
"Do you like it there?" Ginny inquired.
"Yeah, it's okay. It's pretty hot out there though, but I'm used to it."
At that moment, a witch wheeling a cart of magical goodies knocked on our door. Thank God she did because I i really /i didn't feel like talking about it.
"Oh, time for food," Ron said joyfully.
"Um, what should I get you guys? I don't eat any wizarding food."
"I would recommend a chocolate frog, Bertie Bott's Every Flavor JellyBeans, and a nice Butterbeer," replied Ron.
When I opened the box with the chocolate frog, it jumped out the window because all I did was stare at it. I tried a jelly bean and punched Ron playfully in the arm when I tasted a booger in my mouth. But I was pleased when I tasted the Butterbeer.
When I was done, I started to feel like I normally do when I need to take a hit. I had to get away from these guys, and fast.
"Um, is there a bathroom here, you guys?"
"Yeah, there is," responded Hermione as she stood up. "Ron and I can show you where it is because we've got to go to the Prefect's compartment anyway."
"Aw bloody hell, Hermione, do we i really /i have to go?"
"Yes, Ron. We're prefects, and you know we can't break any rules."
"All right then. C'mon Marli," Ron sulked as he exited the compartment.
We walked a short distance before Hermione pointed out the entrance to the bathroom. I walked inside and took off my shoe. I took out my bag with the coke and took out my wand and conjured up a knife and a straw. I poured out just a little. I couldn't be greedy because this had to last the whole year. I used the knife to build little rows. When I was done, I took my straw and snorted it. It felt like pure joy, as if all of my pains and fears were gone and were never gonna return. I just relaxed and until the good feeling left me, and I was once again filled with the hurts I had from before.
I'm sure when I left the bathroom, I kinda stumbled out 'cause the line of kids who were waiting while I was in there looked at me as if they had smelled a potion go sour. I returned to the compartment to see Harry and Ginny deep in conversation.
"Are you feeling all right, Marli, because you were in there for a while? Ginny asked concernedly.
"Oh, I guess I'm just not used to wizarding food yet."
"Okay, then. Well, I hope you feel better."
"Thanks, Ginny."
"We have about thirty minutes before we get there. Maybe you'd like to take a nap? We'll keep it down for you," Harry suggested.
"Oh, thanks. Maybe a nap would help." I lied.
I knew that when I was high I couldn't sleep, so I just laid down with my back turned to them and pretended to sleep. I ignored their conversation for the most part and just thought about when I could get the hell out of here and back home, but before I realized it, I had actually fallen asleep.
Harry woke me up just as the train was slowing to a stop. The pictures and my parents' descriptions of it didn't its justice. It is beautifully majestic, and even though I'm forced to be here, I guess it'll be all right. I was told in my letter from Dumbledore that I had to walk with first years to be sorted into a house. All of my new friends were in Gryffindor so I hoped to be placed into that house.
Walking down that aisle was the single most embarrassing thing I've ever done. I easily loomed over everyone else, but I felt a little better when I saw Ron and the others smiling at me from the Gryffindor table.
Proffessor McGonagall called my name. As I stepped forward and sat on the stool, Dumbledore exclaimed, "Wait! I need to explain this matter. This new student is Marli Magreet. She is an American sixth year whose English parents taught her everything she needed to know until now. She wanted to finish her education here so I allowed her. Please welcome her and make her feel at home. Proffesor, please continue."
McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on my head. It spoke to me.
"Hmm, very intelligent and smart, a trait found in all Ravenclaws, you're a risk taker and brave, found in Gryffindors. But, hmm, what is this? Secrets from your past? You seem to get in trouble quite frequently and you're pure-blood. Oh, better make you a Slytherin!"