A tiny girl with pitch-black hair stood outside of her adopted parents' home on the first of August. They had seen her change into a small kitten and freaked out; just like all of the other families that have had her. Her head laid in her small clammy hands, her light gray eyes stared at all of the other children playing with their mothers and fathers. The tiny girl wanted that. She wanted a family- a place where she belongs.

Happy eleventh birthday to me, she thought to herself sullenly. Leaves had begun to fall from the trees- not much but enough for her to know that fall was on its way. She didn't understand why she was able to turn into a black cat- whether she willed it or not- she just wished she could control her emotions more so she won't constantly change in front of other people.

The front door opened; as she expected her things were in their hands rushing her into their car to get away from them.

"I'm sorry, Akira," the woman said, "but we want a normal child."

You're a freak of nature, was what the woman had meant to say.

Sighing, Akira looked out the window as they drove her back to the orphanage. She didn't mind that she was going back to the orphanage because she lived in the attic away from the other children. It was relaxing to be able to not have to bring herself to be around anyone else, but when couples come in looking for someone around her age; she has to go down to get interviewed by the couple.

She had been adopted ten times in the last three years, and she hated getting her hopes up to be adopted. Her first year in the orphanage, she refused to be anywhere close to another adult. Akira didn't trust anyone since it mostly seemed no one wanted her; she had to learn to fend for herself. Often times Akira would be forgotten to be fed and would end up having to sneak into the kitchens to make herself a sandwich. Punishments were just a small price to pay.

When they arrived in the orphanage's parking lot, Akira grabbed her things and went to her room. No one looked her way as she went to the attic. When she entered her room she set about unpacking her small backpack.

"Akira," Miss Roberts called from the trap door, "you have a visitor."

Great.

Grabbing her hand-me-down hairbrush, Akira went to her mirror to brush her soft curls of hair. Her hair went down to the middle of her waist- although the back of her hair brushes the small of her back. Ten minutes passed as she continued to brush her hair, she eventually decided to grab a pair of scissors and made her bangs shorter. Instead of them hanging below her chin, it now hung around her cheekbone. It would go up after she takes a shower and allowed it to dry. Grey eyes looked at her lightly tanned face- her naturally pink lips had indents where her teeth had been biting her bottom lip.

"I need to stop that," Akira mumbled to her reflection.

"You are absolutely right, my dear." Snapping her body towards her visitor- Akira held her brush out as if it were a knife. "Terribly sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you."

Sighing, Akira placed her brush on her stand. "It's okay." She motioned to her bed as she sat at the head of her bed. "Who are you?"

"My name is Albus Dumbledore," the man said. His fingers twirled the end of his beard- his beard rested on top of his lap- thoughtfully. "Akira Black, if I am correct."

"Just Akira is fine," Akira mumbled with a gentle blush. "Why are you here for me?"

"You see," Dumbledore said lightly. He leaned closer to Akira; as if telling her a secret. "I am a headmaster of a school for gifted children. I am here to give you an acceptance letter."

Akira looked at the official-looking envelope. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, she read. "Okay. When do I need to go school shopping?"

Dumbledore smiled pleasantly, though a bit stunned by her acceptance of the letter. "I'll have someone help you look for what you need. I'm sure tomorrow would work for you?"

When Akira confirmed his plan, she watched him leave from the orphanage. She didn't like Dumbledore very much; something about him set her off, but it wasn't as if the other staff were like him, so she supposed she could give the school a chance. Before she had gone to bed, Akira decided to open her letter.

Dear Miss Black,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find the enclosed list of necessary books and equipment.

The term begins on September first. We await your owl by no later than July thirty first.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall.

Deputy Headmistress.

As the next day came, Akira sat in front of a lone black and white kitten that was in front of the orphanage. The kitten had been coming towards the orphanage for weeks- maybe three- and she seemed to be very attached to Akira already. Many of the others who see her and try to pet her, they would get hissed at or the kitten would run away from them. Akira didn't mind since she felt like she was friends with the kitten.

A man in dark robes entered the lawn, he barely glanced at her before going inside of the building. He had shoulder-length greasy black hair that framed his face. It looked as if his hair was trying to hide him from the world. She had noticed he was very tall and slim, but she got a depressing aura around him that made her uncomfortable.

The man came back and walked up to her, his dark brown eyes glared into hers. A chill went down her spine- but she had noticed that he held her backpack in his hand as he stood before her.

"Miss Black," he said; punctuating each letter, "let us leave."

Biting her lip, Akira followed after him. She felt something sharp clinging to her leg; when she looked down she saw the black and white kitten held onto her leg. Sighing, Akira grabbed her bag from the man and opened it up for the kitten to hop into.

"Happy?" The kitten mewed at her as she then went on her way back to the man who had stopped for her. "I'm sorry, Sir, but she wouldn't let me go."

"Is it yours?"

"No," Akira looked at the cat that climbed out of her bag and was now resting on her shoulder, "she's a stray."

"Be lucky Hogwarts allow pets." Had he not heard her say that the kitten wasn't hers?

"Who are you?"

"Professor Snape," the man snapped. He grabbed onto her arm and pushed her inside a rundown building. "I'll get your things, you go to that place over there to get your wand." He placed some gold coins in her hand.

She watched as he left her once more. Following his instructions, Akira made her way to a shop that said Ollivanders Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C. and Akira knew that the place was very popular to get a wand. A man with wild white thinning hair stood at the front of the desk. He seemed to be polishing a new wand.

"Good morning," a soft voice floated to her.

"Hello," Akira stood in front of the counter, "I am looking for a wand?"

"You came to the right place," he said as he looked her over. "Which is your wand arm?"

"I'm right-handed," Akira asked. "I'm Akira Black."

"Related to Sirius Black?"

"Who," Akira asked lightly. Did this man think he knew her father?

"Well," Ollivander said as he began to grab boxes as a magical tape measure began to measure her, "you kind of look like a young lad that had come in here years ago. His name was Sirius Black."

Akira shook her head as she was then told to flick her wrist with a wand in her hand. Ten minutes of being handed carefully selected wands, Akira was given a dark brown wand that had a knot at the bottom of the wand. With a gentle flick of her wrist, a broken clock began to tick. Warmth flooded her chest as she looked at the wand in her tiny hand.

"Lovely! Mahogany wood with a unicorn tail hair core, twelve and a fourth inches, very springy."

With a kind smile, Akira walked out of the store to be greeted by Professor Snape with a bunch of supplies for her. "Good. You're done. Follow me."

"Where are we going?"