Half-Mer

Prologue/Chapter 1

The man searched for the baby he could hear crying. He had been camping when he heard the crying begin, that was over half an hour ago. Now he could hear water running and the baby's cry was louder. Panting, he broke through the trees to see a lake, a stream emptying into it. On the shore, he saw a baby in a basket and went over to it, taking off his jacket to wrap the baby girl in. He made soothing noises as he rocked her, and the baby was soon asleep. Peering down into the basket, he saw what looked like a note, only it looked like it was woven out of weeds. "This baby is a half-mermaid. To whoever finds her, keep her away from large bodies of water. Her life is forfeit if she enters the water. This is all I can do for her. Keep her safe." Charlie Camonar read and looked down at the sleeping child, who was holding onto Charlie's thumb tightly. He noticed on the inside of her wrist, there was a birthmark shaped like a seashell and there were more pronounced webs between her fingers than there would be on a normal human's hands. "You need a name, little one. Adrienne."

11 Years later

"Nothing's going to happen today." Adrienne said to herself as she got ready for school her 11th birthday. She pulled out a silvery tunic style shirt she had designed and dark blue jeans. "Adri, breakfast!" her dad yelled, and she yelled back "coming!". She quickly brushed her teeth and ran a brush through her long almost black hair, making sure to put her seashell earrings in. They were the only jewelry she wore, and she had made them herself. "Adri, your blueberry pancakes are getting cold!" She shrieked and ran downstairs, tripping down the last few. She quickly jumped up and brushed herself off.

"Adrienne Camonar, why did you freeze the water in the aquarium today?" Her principal asked her, ignoring the obvious question: "how?". "It was an accident." Adrienne said but they never believed her. Kids at school steered clear of her, except a few who liked to tease her. Her principal sighed and turned away from her. "Your father has been notified and is on his way to pick you up. Go get your stuff from the class." The principal said, dismissing her and she got up, trudging out.

Kids snickered as she walked in and grabbed her bag, one even stuck hit foot out and tripped her. "Freak" he hissed at her and the other kids took up the call until the word "freak" was all she could hear. She covered her ears and ran for it, tears streaming down her face.

"Hey Adri, how was school?" her dad asked her when she got in the car and she sniffled. "Mean kids again?" He asked, and she nodded. "Am I freak?" she asked, and he hugged her. "No, you aren't, you're just different than them." He reassured her like he had countless times.

When they got home, they were surprised to a strange-looking man sitting on their porch. Everything from his long silver beard to his purple boots and his dark blue robes screamed "DIFFERENT". "Good afternoon, my name is Albus Dumbledore." He said pleasantly.

Adri had to constantly remind herself that staring was rude as the three of them sipped tea. He had said he was the headmaster of a school and that he wanted her to attend but that was all he had said before he had asked to come in and in their surprise, they had let him and had served him tea. Finally, she couldn't take it anymore. "You said you are the headmaster of a school and you want ME to attend? May I ask why?" He smiled and set down his teacup as if he had been waiting for someone to ask him. "I am the headmaster of a school, yes. A school of magic. You can do things other people can't, can't you Adrienne?" He asked, leaning forward. "He knows. He knows something's wrong with me!" Her dad stood up and said "Sir, may I talk to you in the other room?" Smiling, Professor Dumbledore stood up and they walked into the kitchen.

"I admit that she can do other things, things that her classmates can't do. But so, what? What can your school do for her?" Charlie demanded and Albus nodded. "For one thing, we can teach her to control her magic. Secondly, she wouldn't be bullied by her peers for something that she can't control. And thirdly, she's half-mermaid, isn't she? We can help her with that too." They heard a tinkling of china in the doorway and turned to see Adrienne shaking. "Why didn't you ever tell me?" She said, her almost-violet eyes gleaming. "I wanted to tell you sooner, but I didn't know how to tell you. How do you tell your adopted child that she's half-mermaid?" Charlie realized what he had said too late and judging by the crushed look on her face, Adrienne had heard it. Then the miserable look on her face turned to anger. "So, I'm half-mermaid and now I'm adopted too. Is there anything else you've lied to me about?" She snapped and turned to look at Professor Dumbledore, who looked rather awkward. "How soon can I leave?" He handed her a letter and she opened it and quickly read. "How much will all this cost?" She asked him, looking up at him and he smiled at her "there is a special fund set aside for muggle students and another set aside for students who are…different." He said the last part awkwardly and she nodded. "If you wish, we can go get your school supplies right now." Adrienne looked at her father then away. Would it have been so hard for him to tell her the truth? "Let's go."

Charlie watched as Adri gave him one last miserable look and walked out. "Take care of her." He said to Albus, who nodded and walked away.

"This place is INCREDIBLE!" Adri shrieked in Diagon Alley and a woman with orange hair smiled kindly at her "First year? My youngest son is a first year as well. I'm Mrs. Weasley. It's a pleasure to meet you, dear." The woman said kindly and shook her hand. "My name is Adrienne Camonar, it's nice to meet you." Mrs. Weasley looked over Adri's shoulder and looked shocked to see Professor Dumbledore but he shook his head no and retreated into the crowd a little bit and she nodded.

Adri looked at the dingy shop, opening the door. She had already gotten everything, but Dumbledore had disappeared after telling her to go get her wand. "Welcome to my shop, young witch." An old man with peculiar eyes said to kindly and she smiled at him.

5 wands later, she had finally found her wand! When she picked up the wand, a geyser of water erupted out of the tip, forming a mermaid in mid-air. "That wand is Unicorn hair and Pear wood, very nice!" Ollivander beamed at her and she smiled back, the wand feeling like an extension of her arm. "Happy birthday, Adri." Professor Dumbledore said, holding a cage. Inside the cage, a beautiful Hawk Owl. "She's beautiful!" Adri whispered as the owl was sleeping and beamed at Dumbledore.

Dinner that night between Adrienne and Charlie was awkward. He had prepared her favorite dinner but neither of them were very hungry. Adri's owl, who she had named "Athena" was sitting on her shoulder and eating a sausage that Adri had given her. "Adri? I owe you an apology." Adri looked up to see her father looking miserable. "I never told you that you were adopted or half-mermaid because I wanted you to live a normal life and be as normal as you could. Besides, you will always be my daughter, even though we aren't related by blood." Adri got up and hugged her father, a tear rolling down her cheek. "I love you, dad."

5 Months Later

Adri watched as a black-haired kid ran through the column, followed by an orange-haired tall kid. That black-haired kid had had an owl just like hers, so maybe that how to get to Platform 9 ¾. She took a deep breath and ran at the column, expecting to hit it but then she passed through it!

"Let me help you." A girl with frizzy brown hair and rather large front teeth said and helped her with her trunk. "Thanks, I'm Adri." Adri said, and she held out her hand. "Hermione, it's nice to meet you."