Secrets and Lies
By Rayven Darkheart
Disclaimer: I own nothing but my original characters.
Prologue
The silence of the still night air was permeated by the screech of a barn owl. Few of the people that were milling around outside on the street and in their yards gave the bird a second look as it landed on the LaRue's family car and gave a loud hoot. The neighbors were used to this sight. They also paid no mind as the family's front window opened and the owl flew onto the sill.
A small hand reached out and took a moment to caress the bird's feathered head before he came inside the house. The girl smiled and set the owl down on her desk. "Let's see what you've got there little guy." She reached out and untied a scroll from the bird's leg.
Sitting down in the chair next to the desk, she allowed the bird to nuzzle her as she read the note.
To Miss Alyma LaRue,
You've have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. We are well aware of your special circumstances, and though you may start on the first day of the school year along with the other students, I would like to see you in my office before you start your classes.
That being said, you will be under close scrutiny. I am certain you understand. Please send a reply back with Hera if you are willing to accept this condition.
Sincerely Yours,
Professor Albus Dumbledore
Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Smiling to herself, Alyma grabbed a pen and a spare piece of parchment. She scribbled down a brief reply and attached it to the owl's leg. "Here you go Hera. Please take this straight to Professor Dumbledore." She stroked the bird one last time as she carried her to the window and set her free.
Watching as the bird flew away, she turned and scooped up an ivory cat and snuggled it. Smiling, she whispered softly, "Let's go tell Mother that I've been accepted to her old school, aye Isis?" The cat mewled softly as the girl walked toward her mother's room.
The room grew silent as the small barn owl landed on a table, near the perch of a phoenix. An old man smiled slightly and took the piece of parchment from the bird. He unrolled the scroll and read it silently before turning to his colleagues and smiling. "She's coming."
A younger man with greasy looking black hair spoke up first. "Are you sure this is a good idea? She could be as bad as… well, you know."
The old man smiled indulgently and sighed. "She could be, but I believe Miss LaRue will become an outstanding addition to this institution. Merlin knows I've heard things like that about you Severus." He winked at the man cheekily as he sulked.
Severus looked at the other person in the room for help, but found none. 'Damn woman. She'd follow Dumbledore no matter what he said.' Looking back at the older man, he sighed in defeat. "Fine, but she will not be in my house. I don't care what her old schoolmaster said about her abilities."
Minerva McGonagall finally spoke up and said, "No Severus, it's already been decided that she will be in Gryffindor. She has the traits of a Slytherin, but we think it would be better to steer her away from the darker path." Snape seemed pleased with this.
Dumbledore watched the two, seemingly amused. He had plans, big plans, but he wasn't about to let the cat out of the bag yet.
Alyma and her mother arrived at the train station just in time to enter at platform 9 ¾ and hear the last warning blast of the Hogwarts Express whistle. Hugging her mother softly, Alyma hurried to pack her bags into the train and board.
Grabbing Isis and holding her tight, Alyma walked down the corridor trying to find somewhere to sit. Stopping near one of the glass doors, she peered in and saw three people sitting there, two guys and a girl. She knocked softly on the door and slid it open. "Excuse me; do you have room for one more?"
The occupants of the compartment looked up and the girl spoke up. "Of course. I'm Hermione. This is Harry and Ron," she said as she pointed to each of the boys. "Who are you?"
The red head looked at the talkative girl, trying to mask her dislike at the over abundance of talking. "Alyma." She moved inside and sat down, sitting Isis down next to her. The red haired boy reached out to stroke the ivory cat, which hissed and swatted at the hand.
Alyma smirked and stroked her cat between the ears, leaning her head back against the seat, trying to ignore what she considered the incessant droning of Hermione's voice. Finally, just to make it stop, she opened her emerald eyes and stared right at the other girl.
Hermione felt almost unnerved by the gaze, but stared back, cursed by her own Gryffindor bravery. Finally, the flame haired girl spoke. "You want my life story? Fine. I'm from the United States. I don't know my father and my mother doesn't like to talk about him. I'm being shipped here for my sixth and seventh year because my ability in the dark arts scares people. Now if you don't mind, shut up."
Harry, who had been quiet up to this point, snickered a bit. "You've got quite an attitude, don't you?" The girl swung her gaze to him quickly. He, unlike Hermione, didn't feel uncomfortable while he was being scrutinized. Instead, he smiled warmly and leaned back, closing his eyes.
Blaise Zabini awoke with a start as he felt something hard hit him in the head. Growling, he looked first at Crabbe and Goyle, but one he found them with their eyes closed, he turned his gaze to the blond in the compartment. Narrowing his eyes, he threw the hard paper weight back at him.
The blond boy caught it and smirked. "Zabini, didn't you tell me you had to tell me something once we got on this train? Spit it out already. I'm getting bored with the prospect."
Shaking his head, he raised an eyebrow and cleared his throat before saying, "My cousin is starting at Hogwarts this year. I'm sure you'll like her." He chuckled at the look on his friend's face. "What's the matter, Draco? Do you not like the idea of fresh meat at school?"
Draco looked out the window before speaking, careful to keep his tone flat. "Why would I care? So your cousin is here. Isn't she the one you told me about in great length?"
Blaise nodded and smiled. "I'll make a bet with you Malfoy. I'll bet you that you can't get to my cousin the way you get to the girls at Hogwarts."
Draco smirked roguishly at his house mate. "What are the terms Zabini?"
Professor McGonagall was waiting at the station along with Hagrid as the train pulled up. Everyone but the first years found this strange but no one said anything. As Alyma stepped off of the train, the professor stepped forward and shook her hand.
Giving her an odd look, she shook the professor's hand. "Professor McGonagall? I'm Alyma LaRue. It's nice to finally meet you."
"Miss LaRue, it's good to see you've arrived. Professor Dumbledore would like to see you in his office before the sorting ceremony if you don't mind. We've put some conditions to your admittance to our facility.
Alyma sighed softly and stared out at the mote that the students would soon have to cross before answering. "I know what they say about me Professor, but I'm not evil just because of my parentage."
"No one here ever said you were. We've had our share of unique students throughout the years. We just want you and the rest of the students safe. We will not be traveling with everyone else in the boats. You're old enough to apparate and I would like you to do so along with me. You cannot apparate into Hogwarts but there is a wizarding community outside of the gates that you can. Please meet me there." With that and a distinct pop, McGonagall disappeared.
Alyma sighed and gazed over the water, looking for the community. Just as she was about to apparate, she was grabbed from behind. Gasping, she turned around and punched the attacker.
Blaise stumbled back from her, holding his eye. His blond haired companion was roaring with laughter. "It seems she likes you as well as we do Zabini." The boy in question turned and glared at the blond.
Alyma sighed softly and narrowed her eyes at Blaise. "I really do not have time for your crap. You'll know where to find me later." With a small bow to Zabini's companion, she disappeared with a pop, leaving a mystified Draco.
The flame haired girl reappeared in the center of a small village, next to McGonagall. She gave the older woman a small nod as they walked toward the castle of Hogwarts. They moved in silence but there was a tension between them, one that could be cut with a knife. Finally, Alyma spoke up. "You know, don't you…"
McGonagall kept walking, not sparing a glance at the girl, but she answered quietly. "Not that it's my place to discuss Miss LaRue, but yes, we know. Your… dark past does not matter to Professor Dumbledore, but you know there will be a condition to your admission. You are not the first to be admitted against the wishes of the Governors."
Alyma nodded and fell silent as they walked through the empty halls of Hogwarts to the gargoyle that guarded Dumbledore's office. McGonagall muttered the password, "Sugar quill," and they entered.