Chapter One: In the Beginnings

I sat on the Hogwarts Express flipping through a copy of the Quibbler when Luna Lovegood let out a disappointed 'humph.' I peered curiously at her over the top of my magazine.

"What's on your mind, Luna?" I asked. She closed her copy of the Quibbler, which had been upside-down, and set it primly on her lap.

"Just Father and I quarreling over the hierarchy of important matters that ought to be emphasized in the Quibbler," she said airily, already investing her attention in thoroughly examining the students sitting across from us. I couldn't decide whether to frown or laugh, so I decided instead to toss my own Quibbler onto the seat between us.

"I'm sure he had his reasons," I replied, wondering vaguely whether or not Luna even remembered what we were talking about as she was beginning to make the other students squirm uncomfortably in their seats under her wide-eyed inspection.

"Oh, I know he's been busy, what with the Quidditch World Cup taking away most of his work force."

I winced involuntarily, but thankfully Luna didn't seem to notice.

"Father's very fond of you, you know," she said suddenly.

"Er—yeah, I know," I said after a moment. "I really appreciate everything you guys did for us this past week." I knew I certainly had. Mother had never approved of the Lovegoods, but Dad and Luna's father had been best friends since their days at Hogwarts together; it was impossible for Mother to keep them apart, not even after graduation when Dad went to work for the Quibbler.

"Our pleasure," Luna replied, reopening her copy of the Quibbler, only to have it shot out of her hand by an airborne Chocolate Frog.

"Sorry!" cried the boy sitting across from us as his friends cracked up with laughter. The frog took a flying leap, aiming desperately for the open window, but I shot out a hand and snatched it out of the air.

"Whoa, nice catch!" the boy said. "Do you play Quidditch? Those are some wicked reflexes."

"I can play, yeah," I said, handing him his Chocolate Frog as Luna went back to reading her Quibbler as though nothing had happened. I couldn't help but smirk.

"You should try out for your House team, which would be…?" he prompted, glancing at my robes for a clue that wasn't there.

"Don't have one, yet."

He frowned. "You look a little old to be a first year."

I chuckled. "Fourth year, actually. I was home-schooled for my first three years. This'll be my first time at Hogwarts."

"Really? So why are you coming to Hogwarts now, then? Why not just finish it out at home? Not that we don't want you here, or anything," he added with a charming smile.

"My father was teaching me, but he, uh…he died recently." The boy's eyes widened at this. "And my mother's too busy to pick up where he left off," I hurried to add so my voice wouldn't waver, "so we figured sending me to Hogwarts was the best option."

"Oh, I'm so sorry," the boy said immediately, handing me one of his pumpkin pasties. A very small but genuine smile touched my lips as I accepted his offer.

"My name's Cedric Diggory," he said, extending his hand. I shook it.

"Sam Evans."

"Well, If you're sorted into Hufflepuff, let me know. I'm the Quidditch team's captain and seeker, and we could use all the talent you've got," he said as he settled back into his seat.

I smiled properly that time.

"Thanks, Cedric. I'll keep that in mind."

An hour and one long conversation about various Quidditch teams later, the train slowed to a halt during the height of a violent thunderstorm. Luna and I made our way out onto the Hogsmeade platform, our cloaks doing little, if anything, to keep us dry. We dashed for the line of carriages I could barely make out in the heavy downpour, Luna grabbing my arm and pulling me along as I stopped short at the sight of the skeletal horses pulling them.

"Thestrals!" she informed me enthusiastically once the howling wind was muffled by the closed carriage door. "Only people who have seen death can see them."

"Oh." I grimaced.

"Hello, Luna," said a girl sitting on the other side of the carriage. Luna looked up.

"Hello, Ginny," Luna replied with a smile.

"How was your summer?"

"Unsuccessful, I'm afraid. Father and I are still having issues with the Quibbler."

"I'm sorry to hear that," the girl named Ginny replied earnestly.

"And your summer?"

"Pretty good," she replied, glancing analytically at me. "Who's this?"

"This is my friend, Sam Evans. Sam, this is Ginny Weasley. She's in her third year, with me, but she's in Gryffindor. I like Gryffindors," Luna added dreamily.

"Hello," I said with a nod.

"Nice to meet you. Evans, you say? Hm…I'm not sure I'm familiar with your family."

"Most people aren't. We travel a lot. Or used to, anyway. Never stayed in one place more than six months or so. That's the way it's been since before I was born."

"No extended family?"

"Not that I know of. If there is, they're very distant relatives. It's just me and my pa—mom. Why do you ask?"

"Your hair," Ginny said simply.

"My…hair?" I asked, confused.

"Everyone in my family has red hair, so I thought we might be related. But yours is quite a bit darker than ours, so probably not. Actually, now that I look at it," she said as lightning lit up the carriage, "it's much darker. Although, your eyes…"

"What about them?"

But the carriage came to a halt and we were whisked away into the warm castle and Luna and I were separated from Ginny.

"Miss Evans!"

I turned at the sound of my name, shaking my hair like a wet dog. Someone was moving quickly toward me while simultaneously warding off a poltergeist hovering above the mass of students in the entrance hall. A professor, I guessed. She slipped on the wet floor, regaining her balance only after flinging desperate arms around a student's neck. "Sorry, Miss Granger," the woman said before moving past her.

"Miss Evans," the woman repeated as she reached me. "Welcome. I am Professor McGonagall, deputy headmistress of Hogwarts and Head of Gryffindor House. We'd like to Sort you after the first years, so if you wouldn't mind waiting at one of the House tables until then, it would be much appreciated."

"Sure, Professor."

"Wonderful. Now I need to go check on the first years and make sure they haven't drowned in the lake," she said, rushing off more carefully this time to avoid falling.

I threw Luna a questioning look.

"The first year students get to the castle by taking boats across the lake," she supplied.

"In this weather?"

Luna just nodded absently.

"Yikes."

"Sam!" someone called. I looked over to see Cedric Diggory making his way through the crowd to me. "Sorry to interrupt, it's just that I think you left this on the train." He held out my Quibbler.

"Oh! Whoops, I didn't even notice it was missing. Thanks." I slid it into my bag.

"So, are you going to be Sorted at the feast?" Cedric asked eagerly.

"That's what I've been told. After the first year students, though, so until then I need to just wait at one of the tables." The que began moving as students flowed into the Great Hall.

"You could sit with us at the Hufflepuff table," Cedric offered as we entered. But I wasn't listening; I stared around in awe at the magnificent Great Hall, my jaw slack.

"Wow," I breathed. The ceiling was bewitched to look like the sky outside. It appeared as though the fierce storm was raging just above us, yet not not a single drop of rain reached the floor. I smiled as I marveled at the magic I had only read about before tonight. Cedric chuckled and took my arm, guiding me to the Hufflepuff table. I managed a quick farewell to Luna, who didn't even seem to notice I wasn't around.

"Sam, this is Justin Finch-Fletchly and Ernie Macmillan. They're both fourth years, like you."

I greeted Justin and Ernie in turn just as the Great Hall doors reopened to admit the first year students lead by Professor McGonagall. The new students looked absolutely soaked, not to mention nervous under the gazes of the older students looking up at them.

One of the first year students was gazing around at the older students looking much more at ease than his peers, although his hands were shoved deep into his pockets. His gaze met mine, and I felt compelled to smile reassuringly to the eleven year old boy. He stiffened slightly, staring at me for a moment before grinning shyly back.

"Ackerley, Stewart!" McGonagall cried.

The boy I had just smiled to tensed slightly before turning on his heel and marching defiantly up to the Sorting Hat. When he was seated, his facial features looked entirely blank. There was a pause, the silence pounding in my ears before the Hat opened its brim and shouted "RAVENCLAW!"

Two tables away, the students erupted into cheers, clapping Stewart Ackerley on the back as he joined them with a smile.

After the last first year was Sorted into Hufflepuff, Headmaster Albus Dumbledore rose to his feet. His eyes were on me, and I nodded in greeting, having seen him only the other day to discuss my sudden transfer into Hogwarts.

"We have a new student amongst us today who is not a first year. Would everyone please welcome fourth year student, Miss Samantha Evans!"

The applause sounded confused, which made sense considering very few students ever transferred into Hogwarts. But Cedric and the Hufflepuffs around me applauded merrily and without pause until I had seated myself on the stool.

Professor McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on my head and a soft, shrewd voice sounded in my thoughts:

Ah, yes, always an thrilling task, Sorting an older student, the Sorting Hat whispered. But I've never yet been wrong! Let's see here. Hm…quite a mind, you've got there. Very sharp, and very wise for your age. You have seen a great deal with your young eyes. Rarely do I find a mind as alive as yours. Very impressive. And oh, how fascinating! Your wit and wisdom has spawned a cunning power within you. Yes, you are filled with great audacity. That's quite a Slytherin trait you've got there; you would do well in that House. You are a force to be reckoned with, there is no doubt about that.

But eternally and ultimately, as I said at the beginning, your mind is your weapon and your shield. So it better be…RAVENCLAW!

I opened my eyes, not realizing I had shut them, and found the Ravenclaw table cheering madly. I smiled a real, proper smile:

I was in my dad's old House.

Professor McGonagall removed the Sorting Hat from my head and I went to join my new Housemates. Luna made room for me next to her, and I sat, my robes now emblazoned with the blue and bronze crest of Ravenclaw. I turned and made eye contact with Cedric from across the Hall and shrugged apologetically. He just smiled encouragingly back and kept on clapping until obscene amounts of food appeared on the tables. Everyone began to tuck in.

"So are you going to write your mum and tell her about your Sorting?" Luna asked kindly.

I hesitated, filling the silence by also filling my plate.

"I suppose I ought to," I said, choosing my words carefully. "Ravenclaw is my dad's old House, after all. That's how he and your father met, remember Luna?"

Luna didn't take the topic-change bait. Not that that was a surprise.

"You don't think your mother will approve." Luna said bluntly, but there was no edge to her voice. She was merely stating a fact.

"What do you think?" I groaned, wishing Luna would drop the subject. But that was too much to hope for.

"Seems rather odd for a Slytherin to marry a Ravenclaw and then disapprove of her daughter being in Ravenclaw, don't you think?"

"Yes, well, that's my mother for you," I said glumly, tucking into dessert when it appeared. "She'd be even more upset to find out that the Hat considered putting me in Slytherin and didn't," I said, keeping my voice low so only she could hear.

"Is that why you winced?"

"Did I?" I asked. Luna nodded.

"Maybe you ought to leave out. The Hat chose Ravenclaw, therefore that's where you belong."

"Tell her that, will you?"

"Evans," came a gruff voice just as I was making my way out of the Great Hall with the other Ravenclaw students. Turning, I found myself face to face with the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Moody.

"Yes?" I noticed Professor Dumbledore was standing next to him.

"Would you please join us in my office?" the headmaster asked kindly.

Confused, I nodded uncertainly and followed the unlikely pair away from the rest of the students and up to the headmaster's office.

"Please, have a seat," Dumbledore offered, gesturing to one of the seats in front of his desk. The room was entirely too grand for my liking, but it was inviting nonetheless. I sat without hesitation, watching Dumbledore expectantly.

"My sincerest apologies for dragging you away from your new Housemates, but I'm afraid it can't wait, not even until the morning."

"What's happened?" I asked swiftly, catching on that I was about to be informed of something very serious. I forced my mind to stay blank, but an absurd notion crossed my mind that I was about to be told that the Sorting Hat had chosen incorrectly, and that I was being transferred to Slytherin. I winced.

"It's about your father's case," Moody growled from the other side of the room. He had refused to sit down.

"I already gave my witness statement," I said immediately. "And frankly, sir, how do you know about it?"

"Miss Evans, there have been some developments in the very short time you've been away from home," Dumbledore said, radiating calmness. I returned my attention to the headmaster, feeling uneasy. I had left this morning. How could anything have happened since then? "Magical Law Enforcement has been unable to come to any sort of conclusion on the evidence they have been poring over for the past week. They have given jurisdiction of the case over to the Auror Office."

My mind whirled uncomfortably with an endless stream of theories and queries. "I thought the Aurors were busy dealing with the aftermath of the World Cup. Why—?"

"Why?" Moody interrupted. "Because it's a murder investigation, Evans, and one that involves Dark wizards, no less."

I fell still at his blunt words, staring down at my shoes.

"We're going to need your wand."

"What?" My head shot up and I stared disbelievingly at the professor.

"All Magical Law Enforcement has managed to do is clear your father's wand from any involvement in the case. But the Aurors are a little more thorough. We'd like to check yours as well," Moody said firmly.

"We—?" I said vaguely, lifting a hand to my forehead in confusion.

"Professor Moody used to be an Auror," Dumbledore informed me. "Part of his job description as a member of my staff is to act as a lesion between the Auror Office and yourself, keeping you involved in your father's case while you are here at school."

My head was starting to ache. I thought all this would be behind me when I came to Hogwarts, but I was quickly being proven wrong.

"I haven't used my wand all summer. And I'll need my wand for classes now that I'm here," I said, looking up at Dumbledore.

"Indeed you will. For the time being, you will be using this wand."

Dumbledore opened a drawer in his desk, extracting a carefully wrapped package marked "Cleared by Magical Law Enforcement" in large, bold letters. He lifted the lid with a small flourish, extending the box toward me.

I didn't respond right away. I just stared intently at the wand I knew so well:

My father's wand.

I reached out with tentative fingers, removing the wand from the box and cradling it gently. I kept my mouth sealed, afraid that if I opened it, a tidal wave of emotions would come spilling out. There were too many for me to sort through, so instead of speaking, I wordlessly extracted my own wand from my robes and handed it to Dumbledore.

"Thank you, Miss Evans," Dumbledore said kindly. "Would you like assistance in finding Ravenclaw Tower?"

I shook my head and got to my feet. I exited the office, wand still in hand.

I paused just outside Dumbledore's office, breathing deeply and willing myself to relax. After several long moments, I began walking. I had seen maps of Hogwarts in several books, and I forced myself to concentrate on remembering them as opposed to how I was feeling.

The castle was dark and the corridors empty; not quite the way I expected to see the school for the first time. I saw a ghost floating absently through a wall up ahead and a scruffy cat prowling down one of the side corridors I passed. The cat looked up at me abruptly, the look in its eyes far too human for my comfort. I quickened my pace, climbing down two sets of stairs to the fifth floor, where I recalled Ravenclaw Tower being on the map.

I found a spiral staircase just off the main hallway, and figuring it for the one that lead up to the Tower, I began to climb. At the top was a door with no knob or keyhole, but a large bronze knocker shaped like the House animal: the eagle.

"If it takes ten men to dig a hole, how many does it take to dig half a hole?" the bronze eagle asked serenely.

I stared at it, wondering if this was a prank on the new student. I glanced around, but I was quite alone on the staircase.

"There's no such thing as half a hole," I said rather scathingly, feeling as far from a polite and sociable mood as I could get after my meeting with Dumbledore.

To my great surprise, the door swung open before me.

A single look inside told me that this was indeed Ravenclaw Tower. The common room was wide and circular with a decidedly airy feel. The carpet was a dark, midnight blue, and the arched windows were draped with soft blue silks. Tables and chairs and bookcases covered the area, encouraging studying and learning.

But my favorite part was the ceiling. It was domed and painted with silver stars. Looking at it was like looking at a clear night sky, and it was breathtaking. I was thankful for the calming sensation it provided, because I immediately felt my rush of emotions from the evening ebb away.

Oh yes, I thought. This is my House.

"There you are, Sam," came a dreamy voice from nearby. I spotted Luna and crossed over to her. "Where did you go after the feast?"

"Professor Dumbledore wanted to speak with me," I said quietly as Luna guided me around to various parts of the Tower. "About my father's case," I added when Luna didn't appear to catch on. "Looks like the Aurors are taking over."

"Oh my. The Aurors are part of the Rotfang Conspiracy, you know," Luna said placidly, but her eyes bugging somewhat. "They're working from within to bring down the Ministry of Magic using a combination of Dark magic and gum disease."

I stared at her for a long moment, then roared with laughter. "Oh Luna," I gasped, "what would my life be like without you?" I continued shaking with laughter, seeming to startle several nearby Ravenclaws.

"Much less interesting, I'd imagine," Luna said seriously, and my laughter flared once more.