Chapter 1: Welcome to Hogwarts
I ran my hands through my hair for the fifth time, unbraiding the mess that I created and going in to try one more time. Pulling some strands out, I started one more time. "Mom!" I yelled out when I saw the same bumps forming, listening as my voice echo through the empty house. It had been almost a year and a half since we moved to London- well, back to London, I guess. Mom and I moved to America when I was really young to get away from the war after my father died. So, I grew up in our cozy little home on the coast of California in the sunny weather, only to come back to rainy, depressing London. We moved back to take care of my grandpa and have stayed ever since.
"What do you want now, Ri?" Mom sighed, fitted in an apron and covered in flour, "I'm trying to bake this bloody cake." I pointed to my head with dramatic effect, causing mom to roll her eyes in response. With a wave of her wand, I felt my hair weave itself into a tight braid, tied off with a ribbon on the end. With a smile, my mom pinched my cheek and kissed me on a forehead, "Happy Birthday, honey. The post should be here-"
Before she could finish, a beautiful snowy owl flew through the window dropping a letter on the desk beside us. "Right on time," Mom smiled.
I picked up the letter with excitement, already knowing what it was.
Ms. Alexandria Grovene-Black –
"Who's that? Black?", I questioned to my mom, "That's not my name." Shoving the letter in her face, I pointed to the mistake.
"Oh- wow, I don't know how they could make that mistake," she whispered, taking the letter in her hands and staring at it. "I'll send them an owl, I'll fix it," she shook her head, shoving the letter back into my hand dismissively.
I opened the letter, ignoring the melancholy look on mom's face, and throwing the envelope to the ground.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Dear Ms. Alexandria Grovene-Black,
We're pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find an enclosed list of all necessary books and equipment. All items on supply list can be purchased at Diagon Alley.
I didn't even bother finishing the letter before handing it back to mom, pulling the list out and skimming it. "Can we go now, mom?" I begged, pulling out the puppy eyes and handing her the list. "Please?"
She gave the letter one last look before releasing a big sigh, "Yes, fine." I let out a scream and hugged her. "We can just go buy a damn cake. Let me just reply for you." Grabbing the letter, she left the room and I got ready quicker than I ever had before.
Exhausted, both of us dropped our bags onto a bench, taking a seat for a minute. We almost got everything we needed, and more, including my wand. I smiled pulling my new wand out of its box and rotating it in my hand. It was a beautiful 13-inch elm wood wand, with dragon heartstring and it was surprisingly springy for a piece of wood.
"What else do we need to get?" She asked, mentally checking off the items on the list.
"A cat," I smiled, pointing to the pet store not too far away.
"Are you sure? An owl would be much more useful," she sighed, "and won't pee on my carpet." I pulled my best sad face at her before she shook her head at me in defeat. "Fine, then go by yourself. I'll be here."
"That was easy," I laughed and smiled at her, grabbing our coin pouch and running towards the shop. An older woman greeted me as I walked into the surprisingly empty shop.
"Let me know if you need me," she smiled, to which I returned a wave.
There was cages on cages of cats of all sizes. I strolled up and down the store multiple times trying to decide on which one. It took about another half hour of me walking down the store, back and forth, before the storeowner came over to help me. Together, we decided on a long haired, pure white kitten and some supplies.
Walking out of the store, I noticed a large group of redheads surrounding where my mother was. Careful not to toss around the cat crate too much, I pushed my way through the crowd of people to my mom. "Ria, honey!" She smiled, causing the group of people to look my direction. "This is Molly and Arthur Weasley, old family friends, and their kids." She gestured to the two redheaded adults, who both pulled me in for a hug.
"Hello," I breathed out, through the tight hug. Molly happily introduced me to most of her children before pulling two of her sons forward by the arms, both of which seemed very unhappy to be here.
"This is Fred and George," she beamed, obviously very excited. "They'll be first years like you!" With an elbow into both of their sides, she demanded, "Boys, say hello."
"'Ello," the two boys smiled sheepishly to appease their mother, which it did and she continued her conversation with my mom.
"That's Fred-," the one on the left announced.
"and that's George," the other exclaimed. That's only slightly disturbing.
"I'm Alexandria," I said, with a small smile, shaking both of their hands.
"We'll be in Gryffindor," Fred (I think) said, while the two puffed out their chests proudly.
"How about you?" George continued.
The thought hadn't run through my head, to be honest. "My mom was a Ravenclaw and she says my dad was a Gryffindor, so I'm not sure."
"Well, if you become Gryffindor, like us-"
"Then we'll can be your friend!"
"Well, I guess we can be your friend no matter what-"
"Unless you're Slytherin," they both stated together, very matter-of-factly. Molly overheard their statement, giving them a snack on the back of their heads, earning an "OUCH, MOM" from both of them.
"We've got to get going now," I heard over the small crowd. My mom and I said our goodbyes before I grabbed ahold of her arm, apparating back home.
Time seemed to move too slow before I actually made it to Hogwarts. Those two months seemed to be years, but now, trolley fully loaded, I was finally at Platform 9 and ¾. There were people everywhere, screaming their hellos to old friends and goodbyes to their families. I picked up Snowball, my kitten, placing her in the front pocket of my sweater before mom levitated my trunk onto the train. She turned to face me, pulling me into a huge hug, causing a loud hiss from inside my pocket.
Both of us laughed before my mom kneeled down to my eye level. "Be good, okay?" She smiled, ruffling my hair, "And make sure to write what house you get in!"
"We'll see," I smiled, as I heard the train blow a warning whistle.
"You really are your father's daughter," she whispered, smiling at me. I never knew my dad, sadly, he died in the war when I was really young. I don't know much about him besides that he was a Gryffindor and we both had the same grey eyes and black hair. "I love you!" She yelled as I ran onto the train, waving behind me.
"Where should we sit, Snowball?" I asked, pulling her out of my pocket and into my arms. Walking through the train, I found an empty compartment near the back and sat there quietly. Snowball jumped out of my arms and started strutting around the compartment curiously. Getting lost in the landscape, for what seemed like hours, before I heard a huge hiss and the compartment door slide open.
"Woah, killer," the girl in the doorway said, "Could I sit here? My compartment got hit with dungbombs by some twins." I smiled and gestured for her to come in, while picking up the hissing kitten.
"Calm down, killer," I said to my kitten, feeling her relax in my arms, "Sorry, hi. I'm Alexandria."
The girl sat down across from me, waving to the feisty ball of fluff in my arms. "Hello, I'm Alicia Spinnet," she said. "So, American accent?"
For the rest of the train ride, Alicia and I got along well. It didn't seem to be too long after before we made it to the castle. We changed into our robes and I put Snowball into my pocket, really glad she's a tiny kitten. Not long after, we had piled our way into the Great Hall after getting a lecture from Professor McGonagall. I'm sure we looked like a herd of lost sheep being filed into the hall.
Once you got over the many faces staring at you, you got completely captivated by the ceiling that was enchanted to look like the night sky and the hundreds of lit candles that floated above our heads.
There weren't many people before me to get sorted, but one by one the list kept getting closer to my name. Roger Davies just was sorted into Ravenclaw, receiving a loud round of applause for the first one of the year. Cedric Diggory was next, being sorted into Hufflepuff with a loud cheering from the table of yellow.
"Alexandria Grovene," Professor McGonagall yelled, instantly causing a wave of anxiety to run through me. With my head held high like my mom taught me, I made my way up to the stood in front of the room and she placed the hat on my head.
Interesting. Both families' pureblood and proud, true Slytherins at heart. But your parents, as I remember are different from the rest. Yes, yes, I remember, your mother was much more a Ravenclaw and your father- your father so different from the rest. The Black family, pureblood and dark, yet he was so brave at heart.
Yes, I know. Your heart reminds me of him, I know… "GRYFFINDOR!"
The hat was removed from my head and nothing could stop the smile from forming on my face as I made my way to the table of cheering scarlet and gold, not even noticing the sly comment from the hat about the Blacks. It wasn't long before the rest of the first-years got sorted out. Not long after me, Angelina Johnson took a seat next to me at the Gryffindor table, followed by Lee Jordan. Alicia came next, happily taking a seat by my side and giving me a big hug as she did.
Last, but not least, Fred and George got sorted into Gryffindor, the hat calling it out before it even touched their head. Molly really knows how to raise Gryffindor, I guess. The two made their way over to the table sitting across from me and Alicia.
A huge grin spread across their face as the saw me, they both looked at each other and said, "Well- I guess we can be friends with her!"
Thanks for reading! Just some fluff, there will be a few chapters until I make it to her fifth year in the Prisoner of Azkaban. Stay tuned!