I do not own Harry Potter.
Delaney took a deep breath as she looked up at the tall gates of Malfoy Manor. She had heard her father talk about the Malfoys, mostly the heir, Lucius Malfoy. They were a very traditional family, werewolves were none humans, like house elves, so they didn't have to be treated as human beings. Which was probably why it was a house elf that greeted her. "Hello. How can Dobbie be of service?"
"I'm Delaney Greyback. My father told me I was allowed to use the floo to get to Diagon Alley to get my supplies for school." Delaney wasn't entirely sure about using this 'floo network'. But her father assured her it would be the fastest way to travel. It would just smell.
The house elf nodded before he extended his hand for her to take. Delaney gently took the elf's hand, not expecting the spinning sensation and suddenly being in a different place. It took her a moment to steady herself and settle her stomach. "Dobbie apologizes. He should have warned Miss Greyback. Dobbie needs to be punished."
"It's alright Dobbie. I'm fine." Delaney hastily replied, not wanting the house elf to do anything drastic. She straightened up and looked at the large fireplace before her. Looking around the room, she noticed she was in the kitchen. "Why is it in the Kitchen?"
"This is for the servants to use." Dobbie answered honestly. "Does Miss Greyback know how to floo?" Delaney shook her head at the little creature. Dobbie walked over to the pot of floo powder. "Miss Greyback will take a handful of floo powder. Then stand in the fireplace. Then say Diagon Alley and throw down the floo powder. Is Miss Greyback coming back here after shopping for school?"
Delaney shook her head. "I have a place to stay there until the school year begins." Apparently she had an uncle in London that her father had never mentioned before. Or was it great uncle?
Taking the handful of the grey powder, Delaney stepped into the fireplace. She took a deep breath as she held out her hand. "Diagon Alley." She threw down the powder, surprised when a burst of green fire engulfed her, but didn't burn her. She coughed at the strong scent of soot and carbon when the flames vanished and she was once again in a new place. "I like floo much better than elves." Delaney spoke to herself as she stepped out of the fireplace and into the milling market before her.
Delaney stared in awe at how many people there were. She hadn't gone to many villages, mostly because she would be picked out as an outsider and asked a bunch on questions. But here there were people from everywhere. She could smell it, meadows, cows, books, cleaning supplies, even the sweet smell of sugary treats. But one scent stuck out to Delaney, werewolf.
She couldn't help herself as she made her way through the crowds, following the scent of another werewolf. It stopped just outside of a store, Olivander. Curiously she opened the door and stepped into the shop. The scent of wood, polish and dust hit her like a brick. But luckily there were only two people inside, a young boy and an old man.
"I'll be right with you my dear." The old man spoke to Delaney as he continued helping the boy. Delaney watched as he vanished between shelves and returned with a long, thin box. "Here, give this one a go." The boy took a light colored wand out of it's box. Sparks jumped from the end of it as he held it in his hand. "There we are. Told you it was here somewhere, Mister Lupin. Now let me go put these back."
Delaney waited till the man was out of sight. "You're a wolf." She stepped up beside him as he froze in place. "Relax, so am I." She gave him a smile as he stared at her in shock. "Delaney Mavis. Pleasure to meet you." Her father warned her never to use Greyback, so she would use her mother's maiden name.
The boy looked at her curiously before taking a tentative sniff. His eyes widened before a smile spread across his face. "Remus Lupin, pleasure." He offered his hand to the girl beside him. "I'm glad to know I'm not the only one going to Hogwarts."
Delaney took the boys hand in a firm shake, though his hand was rather thin. "Do you eat properly? You're as skinny as a twig."
Remus looked away from the girl as he shrunk into himself. "I can't really stomach any food whenever it comes around."
Delaney tilted her head as she thought through the boy's words. "You mean, you don't hunt? Why not?"
"It's not something my family is proud of. It's a curse-" Remus doubled over as the girl stepped back from punching him in the stomach.
Delaney looked down at the boy with an unimpressed look. "Even if you think that, it's part of you now. So accept it and get over any petty problem you have with it. Otherwise you're just going to be miserable." She straightened out her clothes as the old man returned. "Hello."
"Hello my dear." The old man spoke as he looked over at the boy. His face looked a little strained. "Are you alright my boy?"
Remus gave the man a hasty nod. "Just fine Mister Olivander. How much for the wand?"
Delaney watched as Remus Lupin paid for his wand and left the shop, giving her one last look over his shoulder. "Now then," Delaney turned her attention back to Olivander. "What are we looking for today?"
"My first wand I guess. I'm going off to Hogwarts this year." Delaney replied as the man walked between the shelves, searching for a box.
"And I imagine you and young Mister Lupin will be seeing much of each other." Olivander mused as he pulled a box off of a shelf. He opened the box as he walked back to the counter and held it out to the girl. "Give this one a try."
Delaney took the dark wooded wand out of it's box. It felt rather heavy for a small wooden stick. Curiously she gave it a flick at a small, charred, wooden post. The post broke apart into splinters. "Nope, not that one." Olivander spoke up as he returned to the shelves. Delaney carefully laid the wand back inside of it's box.
It was about four boxes later that she finally found her wand, 12" Cherry with a unicorn hair and dragon heartstring core. Olivander had spoken for a few minutes how it was one of his few wands with a duel core. Delaney didn't know what that meant, all she knew was that she now had a wand. It was rather beautiful with the butterflies and swirls carved into it.
She stepped back out into the busy street of the market. "Now what do I need?" She dug through her pockets, searching for her Hogwarts letter that had her list of school supplies. She pulled it out and then walked down the road, searching for the shops she would need.
The first stop was a used robe store. She didn't have a lot of money, so she needed to save however she could. Leafing through the clothes, she found all she needed. They smelled like they hadn't been cleaned that well, but they were still cleaner than most of her clothes back at the village. The only thing she didn't find were shoes, they had run out. "Guess I'm wearing these for the year." Delaney spoke down to her boots with a smile.
Her next stop was a second hand book store. It was filled with people getting books. Delaney snuck through the crowd till she found the section of first year books. She managed to find all of her books in fairly decent condition. Now she just had to wait in the long line. "Hello again." Delaney looked beside her, finding Remus Lupin smiling at her. "Did you find all of the books?"
"I did. Did you already get yours?" She didn't see any books in his hands.
Remus pointed to a woman a few people ahead of Delaney. "My mum has them. Where are your parents? Did they just send you on your own?"
Delaney nodded. "My dad lives far away, it's safer for everyone. I'm staying with my uncle until school starts."
"Everyone? Do you live with...others." Remus spoke cautiously, there were other people around them.
"Yeah. There's a village of us." Delaney did the same as Remus. She was proud to be a werewolf, but not everyone was accepting of them. "Maybe you could come visit over the summer."
"I don't know. Mum and Dad like me to be near the house. They were even thinking of home schooling me instead of sending me to school." Remus confessed. "But maybe it won't be that bad. There are two of us."
"Remus, who is this?" Delaney looked up at the man standing behind her new friend. She could smell the similarity between Remus and the man. So he was most likely his father.
Remus looked up at his father than back to Delaney. "This is my friend, Delaney Mavis. Delaney, this is my dad."
"Pleasure." Delaney gave the man a smile. "I'm looking forward to spending the year learning with Remus."
"It's nice to know he has made a friend already." The man squeezed his son's shoulder affectionately. "Remus, let's go wait outside. You're mother is already at the counter."
"Alright." Remus answered his father. "I'll see you on the train." He gave Delaney a wave before he followed his father out of the crowded store.
Delaney watched as the two left. She really was looking forward to going to school. Especially if she got to spend time with Remus. She wondered what other friends she would make at school.
By the time Delaney had bought all of her school supplies, the sun was starting to set. Delaney quickly dug through her pockets and pulled out the other piece of paper she had, her uncle's address. She returned to the floo fire places and gathered all of her things inside of it. She grabbed a handful of powder and prepared herself. "Wolfs Blut." In a rush of green fire, she was flooed away.
She stepped out of the large wooden fireplace and into the living room of what looked like a large wooden cabin. She felt very much at home. Even the scent was familiar in some way. "So you must be Delaney." Delaney looked over as a man with gray hair walked down a set of cared wooden stairs. "Fenrir was right, you look just like her."
"Like who?" Delaney studied the man, he didn't look anything like her father. "Father didn't mention who you were."
The man chuckled as he placed his hands on his hips. "Guess not. The name is Tiberius Mavis, your mother was my little sister."
Delaney gave the man another once over. She could see how he was familiar now. He had the same warm brown eyes as her mother. "So you know?"
"That's you're a werewolf? Yes. You come from a family of werewolves." Tiberius chuckled as he ruffled the girls long hair. "I'm a werewolf too you know. Probably why your father trusts you with me over your aunt."
"I have an aunt?" Delaney frowned, wondering how much family she had that her father had never told her about.
"Yes. Another little sister to me, but older than your mom." Tiberius picked up some of the girl's bags. "Come on, I'll show you to your room." He led the girl up the stairs. "This house is on the outskirts of London, so there is plenty of room to run around during the full moon. But it's close enough to London to be of use."
"And you use floo?" Delaney knew her mother came from a magical family, but it was still interesting to learn how to be both a wolf and a witch.
"Yes, it's faster than using a broom or running, and it's less nauseating than apparating. Though apparating is a useful skill to have." Tiberius opened the door to one of the bedrooms and let his niece in. "This will be your room. Your father will also be here when you visit for Christmas."
"When will I be here?" Delaney asked. "I still want to go home."
"You will, little pup. Summer break your father will pick you up and take you back to the pack. Probably during a full moon." Tiberius explained as the girl settled in. "I'll find you a trunk you can take to school with you. For now get some sleep. You've probably had a long day."
Delaney sat down on the bed after her uncle shut the door to her new room. It was plain, beige walls and brown wood floors with a cream colored rug on it. Her bed was wooden with plain white sheets and a brown quilt. And across from her bed was a dresser with a mirror on top of it. She would definitely need to decorate the room if it was going to be hers.
"Well, guess there's no going back now." She spoke to no one but herself.
Another chapter done. So, what do you think? Worth continuing?
And yes this story is going to go well beyond just her at school. It's also going to tie into Harry's timeline.
Please leave a comment. And follow the story so you know when I update. Especially since I'm not entirely sure when I will update. It's the joys of working almost full time and being a full time student.