Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Abigail
Abigail Fay Hayden sat at the table eating her breakfast enjoying her summer break. The young raven haired eleven year old sat and watched as her mother waved her wand and cleaned up the dished from breakfast. Abby knew that her family was special, unfortunately she could not tell anyone.
Abby and her mom were both witches. Although Abby did not know how to use her magic yet, she knew that she too was a witch like her mother. She knew that sometime this summer she would be receiving an acceptance letter from Hogwarts, at least she hoped she would. Then she would get a wand like her mom and be able to use magic. She also looked forward to going to school with children just like her, and maybe she would actually have friends.
Because Abby and her mom lived in the muggle world, she had attended a muggle school since she was five. She hated it. The children made fun of her because she did not know whom her father was. The girls also laughed at her because her black hair was always crazy and unmanageable. Normally she just put her hair in a ponytail, but it still was a bit crazy. They also made fun of her because weird things happened around her. It was not her fault it was just her magic. But she could not tell anyone that.
"Abby dear, I need you to go get your shoes on. I have to drop you off at Grandma's before I go to work." Abby got up and slowly obeyed her mom. As she started to leave the room a large owl flew through the open window. It had a large official looking letter. Abby could not believe it. Her letter was here! She ran up to the owl and removed the letter quickly as her mother gave the owl some water.
"Look mom! It's from Hogwarts. Can you believe it? I got my letter!" She cried as she jumped up and down. Diana laughed at her daughter's antics. It actually reminded her of James a bit.
"I see the letter dear, but I still have to get to work on time today. Take the letter with you and read it at Grandma's." She grabbed the container of Floo powder and tried to usher her daughter to the fireplace.
"When can we go to Diagon Alley?" Abby asked her mother.
"I have Friday off. We will go then. But now we are going to Grandma's"
"Will I get my wand there?"
"Abigail! Let's go. Now!" Abby reluctantly obeyed her mother.
For the next few days all Abby could talk about was Hogwarts. She was so excited. It drover her mother and grandmother crazy. Finally Friday came and Abby anxiously waited for her mother so they could go to Diagon Alley.
"Come on Mom, we have to get all of my things!" She cried as her mother was putting the morning dishes away.
"Alright lets go." Diana chuckled at her daughter's behavior. She could not fault her though. She had been just as excited when she received her letter. Every eleven-year-old witch or wizard is excited to start Hogwarts. They Flooed to the Leaky Caldron and went to the back alley that would lead to Diagon Alley.
Abby was in shock. She had never been to Diagon Alley before. Her mother had told her about it, but they had never come. It was amazing. Her hazel eyes tried to absorb everything in, but there was just too much to see.
"First we have to go to Gringotts. I will have to get some money out of my vault." Diana said as she dragged her daughter along.
"You have a vault?" Abby asked.
"Yes, I do. I have not used it in a while. I don't use wizarding money much." Being back in the wizarding world was a bit strange for Diana. She had left because no one wanted to hire a young witch that had gotten pregnant out of wedlock and right out of Hogwarts. After James had died and stopped sending her money, she had no choice but to find a job anywhere she could. Although waiting tables at a small restaurant was not what she thought she would do after she graduated, nor did it pay well, she at least was able to take care of her daughter.
When they come to the snowy white marble building Abby stopped to marvel at the beautiful building. Once again her mother gave a chuckle and had to drag her inside. They approached the counter where a goblin sat.
"I would like to make a withdrawal from my vault." Diana addressed the goblin in front of her.
"Name?" The goblin asked
"Diana Hayden."
"Do you have your key?" The goblin asked looking the woman over.
"Unfortunately I do not. I lost it a while back." Diana did not like interacting with the goblins. She did not think them beneath her like many wizards did, but she did think they were unpleasant.
"Prick your finger and place a drop of blood here." The gobbling gruffly handed her a piece of parchment and a silver knife. She did as she was told and the paper revealed her name, her family tree going back three generations and her vault information.
"All seems to be in order. I will get you another key. Would you like to visit your daughter's trust vault?" The goblin asked as he looked over the paper.
"My daughter's vault? I did not know she had one." Diana was confused. Abby looked up at her mother wondering what was going on. How could someone have a vault and not know it? The goblin summoned a paper.
"According to our records a trust vault was opened March 1st of 1978 by James Potter. His instructions were to give her access to her vault when she turned eleven to insure she could buy what she needed for Hogwarts."
Diana eyes started to tear up. James had not abandoned his daughter. He was more then willing to take care of her. Sometimes she felt like she made a mistake breaking up with him. She looked down at her daughter who had both her father's unruly black hair and light hazel eyes. Everything else was all her, but the hair and eyes were all James.
"Yes we will visit her vault as well. Thank you." With that the goblin went through a door and came back with two gold keys.
"This way please." He led them through another door and into a stone passage. The goblin whistled and a cart came up the tracks. The three of them climbed into it and they were off. Abby loved the ride down to the vaults. It was like the rollercoaster she had gone on last summer when her mother had taken her to an amusement park.
They came to a stop in front of a small vault. The goblin opened it to reveal a small pile of money. Diana grabbed a few Galleons, leaving most of the money in the vault. She had a feeling that James had left plenty for Abby so she wanted to make sure she had enough left in the vault for a later date. After that they got back into the cart and went a little further down. Once they reached the next vault the goblin once again opened it for them. Diana and Abby just stared at the mounds of Galleons, columns of Sickles, and heaps of Knuts.
"Is this really all mine?" Abby asked her mother.
"Yes it is dear. Your father left it for you." She grabbed enough money for Abby to buy her first year things and a little extra spending money for her. Diana had always been thankful that Abby was not greedy, but she knew that it hurt sometimes that she could not get some things that she wanted. Now she would be able to at least get something she wanted.
Abby was shocked. Her mother never talked about her father. She watched her mother grab some money and placed it into a small black bag. Then her mother handed her the bag.
"This is your money. We will first buy what you need. Then whatever is left over is yours to spend on whatever you want. However it must last until next summer." Abby grabbed the bag and tied it securely at her waist. She smiled at her mother and the two of them climbed back into the cart to return to the surface.
Once they left Gringotts, Abby was overwhelmed with the sights again. She did not know where to begin. She looked to her mother for guidance. With another chuckle Abby was led to a shop.
"How about we get some robes first. Madam Malkin's is the place to go." They walked into the store and a cheery squat witch greeted them.
"Hogwarts, Dear?" She asked as she saw Abby. It was that time of year when Hogwarts students started to come and get what they needed for the next school year. Abby nodded her head and was immediately ushered to the back of the shop and placed on a stool. Another kind looking witch slipped a robe over Abby's head and started to pin it up. Next to Abby stood another young girl getting fitted.
"Hi. Are you a Hogwarts student too?" The dark skinned girl asked.
"Yes, first year," Abby managed to squeak out. She became very shy all of a sudden.
"Me too. I am really excited. I can't wait until September 1st. Have you gone to get your wand yet?" She animatedly started to ask, causing the witch who was fitting her to scowl at her.
"No not yet." Abby again replied quietly.
"Just you wait. It is super exciting. Do you like Quidditch?"
"I have actually never watched a game. I have heard about it though." Abby was starting to feel embraced.
"It is lots of fun. I want to try out for the house team someday. I am sure you will like it. And even if you don't that's ok too. We all like different things, right?" Abby was relieved and started to relax. The girl seemed nice.
"Your right. What house do you think you will be in?" Abby asked the first thing that came to her mind.
"I am not sure. I am not a brainiac so probably not Ravenclaw. I really would rather not be in Slytherin. Either Gryffindor or Hufflepuff probably. How about you?"
"Well my mom was in Gryffindor. I would be ok with Hufflepuff too."
"Maybe we will be in the same house together. Wouldn't that be fun? Hey! How about we meet at the train station on September 1st. The ride will be more fun with a friend." The girl smiled at Abby, and Abby could not believe what she was hearing. They had just met and this girl wanted to be her friend.
"Sure." Abby smiled back. The other girl was done being fitted and she jumped off the stool.
"My name is Alicia by the way. Alicia Spinnet. What's your name?" Alicia asked.
"Abby. Abigail Hayden." They two girls smiled, happy to have a friend.
"Great. Is it ok if I owl you?" Abby nodded in response. "Alright, that's settled. I have to go. My parents are waiting for me." She waved goodbye and left Abby there a bit stunned. She could not believe she had just made her first real friend. She was so happy, but part of her was wondering if she would lose her new friend if she reviled that she did not know who her father was. She decided to put that thought to the side.
Soon she was finished and she had a set of Hogwarts uniform robes and some casual clothes, none of which were second hand. This was the first time she had brand new clothes. She never minded wearing second hand clothes, but she liked the feel of having something new.
"Where are we going next?" Diana asked her daughter.
"Can we go get my wand?" Abby pleaded with her mom.
"Alright then, to Olivanders it is." The two of them walked happily to the shabby looking shop. They walked in and a tinkling bell rang, acknowledging their presence.
"Good Morning," an old man greeted them. "Ah, Miss Hayden, so nice to see you again. Eight and three quarters made of pine. And who is this?" His pale silver eyes turned to Abby.
"This is my daughter, Abigail Hayden. We are here to get her wand." Diana pushed her daughter forward. Mr. Olivander looked her over as if he was trying to figure something out. Then he pulled out a tape measure.
"Which is your wand arm?" Abby held up her right hand. With that he started to measure her, eventually leaving the tape measure to continue while he searched in the stacks of boxes for a wand. He came back making the tape measure stop and handing her a wand
"Try this one. Cherry and phoenix feather. Eleven inches. Give it a wave." Abby took it and waved it like she had seen her mother do countless of times. Nothing happened and Mr. Olivander took it from her hand. He handed her a few other, each with the same result. "Cedar and unicorn hair. Nine and a half inches."
This time when Abby grabbed it, something felt different. She gave it a wave and colorful sparks came from the tip of the wand. She smiled at her mother.
"Very good, very good." He took the wand and put it back into the box he had removed it from. "Cedar wands pick those who are loyal and protective of those they love. With the unicorn hair, this wand will be very loyal to you and serve you well." He wrapped it up and handed it back to Abby as Diana paid for the wand.
The two witches left the store very happy. They finished their shopping mid afternoon. Diana's hands were full of bags and a new trunk would be delivered to their house next week. Diana was very happy seeing her daughter preparing for Hogwarts, and not having to buy used and battered things. Not that she was ashamed of buying second hand things, she was just happy that for once in her life, Abby could have everything she wanted.
"Mom, before we go home, can I get a pet?" Abby asked her mother.
"Of course. What would you like to get?"
"I'm not sure. I don't think I would like a toad. So either and owl or a cat." Abby excitedly led her mom to the shop that had several animals in its windows. Abby looked over the owls first. She knew that owls were useful, but none of them caught her eye. She then went over the cats. She looked them over. There was a box that had six kittens in it. When she peered in a pair of brilliant blue eyes looked up at her.
"Mom, I want this one!" Abby shouted to her mom. She picked up the small pale kitten. The sleek Siamese kitten started to purr as soon as Abby picked her up. Diana smiled at her daughter gently holding the kitten.
"Looks like she likes you. I guess she is the one. Alright lets get what we need for her. I think I might also get an owl so I can send you letter." With that mother and daughter each got a pet. They went home with their arms full of bags, parcels, an owl cage and a cat curled up in a covered basket.
The two witched arrived home with a sense of satisfaction and yet exhaustion. Their day had been long. They put all of Abby's things into her room and went into the kitchen. Diana started to make dinner while Abby was on floor playing with her new kitten.
"Do you have a name for her?" Diana asked her daughter. She smiled as the eleven year old gently played with the small kitten.
"I was thinking I would call her Asha, you know after that story you used to tell me about the magical fountain. I always liked the name Asha." Abby turned to her kitten and spoke softly to her. "What do you think? Do you like the name Asha?" And with that the kitten rubbed her head against Abby's hand and started to purr loudly.
"I think she likes it" Diana laughed. "Did you know that Asha means 'hope'?"
"Really?" Abby looked at her mother with wide eyes. "What does my name mean?" Diana paused for just a bit. She knew this would open a door she was not sure she was ready to open. However she knew it needed to happen before Abby went to Hogwarts.
"Abigail means 'father's joy'," Diana said. Abby thought about that for a minute. She did not know how she felt about that. She did not know her father.
"Mom, you said that my father left me the money in that vault. Who is my father?" Her hazel eyes pierced her mother. With a sigh Diana sat on the floor across from her daughter.
"In my last year of Hogwarts I dated this guy who was a year behind me. We got along pretty well. However when I graduated we decided to split up. He still had another year at Hogwarts and I was going to start Healer training. However a week into the summer I found out I was pregnant with you. I did not want to force him into a relationship. So I told him I did not think he was mature enough to be a father. Well to be honest he probably wasn't at the time, but I was an idiot for not letting him be in your life. He insisted that he at least help financial, and so he sent me money every month."
Abby listened intently to her mother. She soaked up all the information she could and held back her questions, not wanting her mother to stop.
"Your father never forgot you. However during his seventh year he fell in love with someone. They married right out of collage and a couple of years later they had a son."
"WAIT! I have a brother? Well I guess he would my half-brother right?" Abby couldn't help herself. Diana smiled softly at her daughter.
"You do, but things got a little complicated. You see your father and his family were targeted by You-Know-Who. Unfortunately one night your father and his wife were killed." Abby felt like she knew this story. Diana paused seeing her daughter thinking. Abby was a pretty smart girl. She would probably figure it out on her own.
"The goblin at Gringotts said the bank account was opened by James Potter… Is he my father?" Diana nodded her head. She gave her daughter a couple more seconds and soon Abby's eyes widened in shock.
"Yes your father is James Potter, Harry Potter's father."
"So Harry Potter, The-Boy-Who-Lived, is my half brother?" Abby asked skeptically.
"He is, however no one knew the fact that James was your father. I told people I got pregnant when I went to visit my cousins in France. Only James and your grandparents knew the truth."
"So even if I said he was my father, no one would believe me." Abby said quietly.
"Unfortunately, yes. There is a way to prove he is your father, but without him, you will have to wait until you are seventeen. For now it will just have to be a secrete between the two of us." She gave her daughter a sad smile. Before she knew it her daughter jumped on her and was hugging her.
"Thanks for telling me mom." And with that Abby scooped up her kitten and went into her room to think for a bit. She finally had the answer she was looking for, but it really did not change anything. If her father had been alive things might be different, but she would never know her father.