Updated 9/9/2021: Edited
First off I would like to thank everyone who has read and set alerts for this story, it means a lot to know there are people out there who are curious with this idea I've had bouncing around in my head for a couple of weeks now. Information regarding the Elementals, will be revealed as Paisley finds out more about them.
I originally put it out there with no notes to see how it will be perceived and I will say this, it will be slightly AU with some things changing over the years but most changes won't be noticeable until after Paisley and co have graduated from Hogwarts. I also do not own anything that comes from the Harry Potter Universe, just my OCs
Off to Hogwarts
September 1971
Paisley stood there on Platform nine and three quarters, watching the chaos in front of her.
She had a smile on her face as she watched those there were obviously friends, mainly girls, run into each other's arms and hug one another. While catching sight of those that pointed and whispered behind someone's back, giving her the suspicion that maybe those people didn't get along.
She found it interesting to watch how some of the students interacted.
She found that those her parents associated with worked in dealings and backstabbing, doing what they could to get higher on the social ladder. While those her grandparents and aunt and uncle were associated with the complete opposite.
Paisley wondered if a part of this was the continuous argument regarding the family's different associates.
She always knew there was a rift between her parents and grandparents. She assumed it was the family fortune that kept them civil in public settings. Those celebrations are thrown at her grandparents' estate usually had people in attendance that were never invited when her parents threw celebrations.
She had tried asking her brother about it during the summer when their parents and their associates were gathered at Malfoy Manor. Everyone in attendance was celebrating the engagement of Lucius Malfoy and Narcissa Black.
Except she couldn't get a straight response from him, just noticed the sour expression on his face as he sat alone, and it took a moment to realise what was happening.
Her rather large family had all four houses at Hogwarts covered, some houses being represented more than others. Lucas had been sorted into Gryffindor. While her parents and those people they generally preferred to socialise with had been sorted into Slytherin. She never saw any open disdain towards her brother because he was mostly ignored. She stated that maybe he spent too much time with his grandfather, a Gryffindor. It was left at that when everyone remembered who the head of the family was.
"Are you ready for this Paise?" Paisley turned and looked at her brother, a small smile on her face as she looked up at her brother.
She nodded. Her smile increasing as she was genuinely excited to be finally going to Hogwarts. After all the stories her brother had told her, she was genuinely enthusiastic about the prospect of finally being able to go.
She wasn't at all surprised that her parents left the moment they had delivered both her and Lucas to the platform before they disappeared with a comment about Italy.
Their parents weren't overly affectionate people, and they didn't show disdain to her brother for being sorted into a house that wasn't Slytherin. It was more than they were four people living in the same place. It was the house-elves raising the children, with their grandparents being the ones to give them the affection they missed out on from their parents.
She nodded at her brother, keeping calm when internally she wanted to bounce up and down on the spot. "I'm really excited. I can't wait to see the Castle for myself. I can finally picture what you've been telling me about all these years," she continued quickly, looking around to see if she could find familiar faces. "The photos probably didn't the Castle justice."
She frowned as a smirk appeared on Lucas' face. "It would be physically impossible to capture the Castle in all its glory in a photo."
Lucas let out a laugh at the look on his sister's face before he picked up her trunk. "Come on, let's find you a spot on the train. Do you want to look some others?" her brother questioned, and Paisley looked at him for a moment before she looked around the platform.
"That could be several people, the children of the Dark or the children of the Light?" Paisley muttered, but Lucas merely softly bumped into her, and she looked at him.
"Marlene?"
Paisley shook her head. "We agreed to limit our contact. We've never interacted before. We need to be careful. She was telling me of how one generation had Darkness be caught and killed because of what she could do to those around her."
"I won't let anything happen to you, Paise," Lucas spoke softly. "Let's get you on the train."
Paisley nodded and followed her brother onto the train. Lucas made idle chit chat about the various things at Hogwarts, unsure as to if Paisley had heard them or not.
They managed to find an empty compartment, and Lucas placed her trunk up in the racking before leaving, commenting about finding his own friends. Paisley wasn't fazed as she just sat down with her book and began reading another written passage.
I've made Space mad at me.
I think it's rather pointless, but she is mad nonetheless.
She knows the rules, I know the rules, and I'm pretty sure all of us know the rules that have been put in place since the last time all eleven of us were together.
The rule was that no clans were ever allowed to merge. It was Space's job to make sure it didn't happen; it was her job to make sure that no clans ever joined because the risk was far too significant. You were unable to determine which clan the offspring would follow.
Space tried to claim it was a way to make sure we always had an Elder, that it didn't always fall on Space, and she wasn't always alone with this knowledge.
Space wants to merge with the Darkness clan family. But I forbade it.
I told her in no uncertain terms that I wouldn't allow it to happen. That I will grab Light and Mind and bind her like we did Nature and Air. Screw the consequences of Space not existing.
But Space knew the elements must have said something because I heard murmurs among the Families that their courtship had been dissolved this morning. It looked severely among Space's family.
It didn't remove the anger she held towards me though, I hate that there is a rift between us, now of all times…
Paisley looked up at the compartment door opened. She watched as a boy and girl stood there looking at her, and a quick glance out the window showed the English countryside, and she wondered how long she had been stuck in her book.
"Hello," she greeted them with a smile.
"Can we join you?" the girl questioned with a sweet smile on her face. Still, Paisley couldn't help but notice the sour expression on the boy's face, but she didn't say anything and decided that company would be a good thing for some of the train rides.
"Of course, I'm Paisley Burke." She introduced herself.
"I'm Lily Evans, and this is Severus Snape," the girl spoke, introducing them both. "What were you reading? Is it a book on Hogwarts?" Lily questioned, and Paisley couldn't help but look a little put out by the scoff that came from the boy introduced as Severus.
"No, it's a family book," Paisley explained, offering no further explanation as she closed the book and placed it beside her.
"Come on, Lily, let's go somewhere else. She's probably going to be like the other two," Severus cut in as he stood up, looking down at Lily, but she didn't remove her gaze from Paisley.
Paisley didn't like the look Lily was giving her, nor how Severus reacted to the way she stated it was a family book. They had no way of knowing what kind of 'family book' it could have been. They were jumping to outlandish accusations because of something another two students could have potentially done to them.
"I don't know about the other two. You have no idea what I meant by family book," Paisley argued, narrowing her eyes slightly as she looked at Severus. "For all you know, my family is full of famous writers, and this book contains their unpublished works."
"Doubtful," Severus argued.
"Sev, you don't know anything about this girl," Lily cut in.
Paisley watched as they both shared a look for a moment, and it made her wonder as to how well they knew each other. Had they met before, or did they meet earlier that day and happen to get along incredibly well so quickly.
"I take it you two know each other?" Paisley questioned, her eyebrow-raising slightly as she studied them both.
"Yes, we live near each other," Lily explained, and Paisley nodded. "We met in the park, and Sev explained magic to me after witnessing about of," Lily turned and looked at Severus. "What was it you called it?"
"Accidental magic," Severus responded.
"That's right," Lily continued to smile.
Paisley didn't say anything, but she was curious about the other two. She was beginning to think that maybe Lily was a Muggleborn given how she seemed excited over a potential Hogwarts book and had forgotten the words' accidental magic'. It seemed like Severus knew all this stuff, so he couldn't be Muggleborn.
"Do you two have any siblings at Hogwarts?" Paisley questioned, hoping it would allow them to open the door to further questions about their upbringing.
She had no issues with Muggleborns, but she was curious about the Muggle world. She had heard her parents and associates complain about it so often that she was interested and drawn to it and wanted to know more about it. It seemed like those in front of her had the potential to help answer her questions.
"No, I'm a Muggleborn," Lily responded, and Paisley leant forward a little. "But Sev doesn't have any siblings."
That answers one question, Paisley thought to herself but merely nodded on. This began a conversation from Lily about her family with how her older sister was a Muggle. She seemed to have shown a slight annoyance at not being invited to attendant Hogwarts three years prior. Paisley heard Severus muttered something under his breath. Still, it wasn't quite loud enough for her to make out the words exactly. She assumed from the context of the conversation with Lily's family that it had something to do with this sister. It didn't help that the word 'freak' was thrown in from Severus.
"You and your sister don't get along?" Paisley questioned softly, a slight frown on her face. "I have an older brother, and he's practically my best friend, and I trust him with everything."
Paisley realised she hit a nerve with this question by the look that appeared on Lily's face at the mere thought of answering it.
"We used to be," Lily responded softly, looking down at where her hands were placed in her lap. "But it seems as though my family and I finding out that I'm a witch has pushed her away from me."
Paisley nodded along as Lily continued, branching out to mention how supportive and excited her parents seemed to be.
"Have you ever thought of asking the goblins to do a genealogy test for you and your family?" Paisley questioned when Lily fell silent once more, but she couldn't help but notice the strange look that Severus gave her.
"What do you mean?" Lily questioned before she looked at Severus. "Did you know about this?"
Severus narrowed his eyes slightly in Paisley's direction before he responded. "I did, but it's rather expensive."
Paisley shook her head. "Not necessarily." It was at that point that Paisley seemed to have Severus' full attention for the first time since they both entered the compartment instead of him mainly focusing on Lily. "There are Curse Breakers that are interested in learning how Muggleborns came to be. Some of them would actually pay for the genealogy process to do be done for the Muggleborn."
"Why is that?" Lily questioned, sounding a little confused. If Paisley were being honest, if it weren't for her aunt and uncle heavily involved in the wonders that were Muggleborns, she felt she wouldn't know much as she did.
"There are some that believe Muggleborns are actually descendants of witches and wizards. That the true Muggleborn with no magical lineage doesn't actually exist," Paisley explained softly. She was attempting to keep her words as simple as possible because when she first heard this theory, there were more complex terms used that she didn't understand. At the same time, they were consistent terms thrown around the dining room table when her family got together.
"How is that possible?" Lily questioned.
"Squibs." Severus cut in, and Paisley nodded.
"Squibs are those born to magical parents but not having the ability to cast spells and use magic," Paisley explained. Noticing that, Lily looked a little confused at the term squib. "The theory states that the squibs that were cast out went on to have their own families. They continued to have children that were squibs. After several generations, they begin to show magic again, bringing a once dormant magical lineage to life."
Lily's eyes grew wide as she took in the information, which caused Paisley to let out a laugh. "But why me and not Petunia?" Lily questioned softly, but Paisley merely shrugged before jumping off the seat she was on.
"Who knows, I'm only eleven." Paisley started, stretching out her back. "I'm going to go find Lucas." She quickly grabbed her book, not wanting to leave it behind, before she promptly left the compartment, going in search of her brother. A part of her was hungry. She knew from stories that there would be a lady wandering up and down the train with a trolley full of sweets.
As Paisley walked, the book was in her hands. She wondered who she would run into, as she knew many children beginning at Hogwarts this year. There were many possibilities since her family was rather significant. She had spent time with many different family members over the years. When her parents wanted to travel the world and not bring her along. As such, she spent time with her grandparents.
"Paisley?"
Paisley turned around as she heard her name be called out, and it took her a moment to notice one James Potter standing in front of her, and she shook her head before letting out a laugh.
"James," she greeted. "Fancy seeing you here, I figured you to be the home-school type," she teased, causing him to let out a laugh.
"Mum tried, but then dad reminded her what happened when they tried to teach me how to make potions," James responded with a grin, but it just caused Paisley to shake her head, knowing full well it was James to a tee.
"Why am I not surprised? What room blew up?" She questioned.
"The ballroom."
Paisley stood there for a moment before a memory came to her. Her grandparents commented that the annual Potter Ball on New Year's Eve was cancelled due to an unforeseen circumstance.
"That annoyed my grandparents." Paisley pointed out, and James' eyes went wide, and she waved her hand. "Please, don't act scared. It's beneath you."
James let out a laugh. "Come sit with us."
Paisley didn't question the 'us' comment. She just followed along behind James as the two of them caught up about their lives since they last saw each other a couple of years ago. It didn't matter that it had been almost three years since they last saw each other as Paisley would always recognise the mop of dark hair that James has had for as long as she could remember.
She entered the compartment and took sight of who was sitting in there. While she would have been more surprised to see James was seated alone, instead, the other occupant was just as surprising. She half expected James to be sitting with another child from one of the Light families instead of the Dark.
"Paise, this is Sirius. Sirius, this is Paisley," James introduced the two of them, and Sirius let out a laugh.
"I know who that is, James," Paisley commented. "Do you know how he is?"
James looked between them both before he collapsed into a seat. "Bugger," he complained. "Who are you?" He questioned, looking at Sirius.
"Who are you?" Sirius repeated, looking at James. Paisley let out a laugh realising that neither boy had any idea who they indeed were. When they introduced themselves, they only used their first name, which she thought was odd for James because he was so proud of being a Potter.
"Potter, meet Black. Black meet Potter." Paisley spoke, pointing her hands at both boys, and they let out a laugh.
"When were you ever allowed to socialise with a Potter?" Sirius questioned, and Paisley shrugged.
"His parents are friends with my grandparents," Paisley explained before taking a seat. "And before you ask, my parents are friends with his parents."
"I keep forgetting your family is weird," Sirius muttered.
"I just thought it was her parents that were weird?" James questioned, but Sirius shook his head.
"I suppose it all depends on who you hear complaining about who," Sirius responded, and Paisley nodded.
"Let me guess," James cut in, and they both looked at him. "Your parents complain to his parents about my parents?" Paisley let out a laugh and nodded.
It didn't take long for the three of them to launch into a discussion where Paisley got information from each boy regarding what they had been up to lately. In contrast, the boys learnt more about each other since it became apparent that they were hiding parts of themselves when they first sat down in the compartment together.
Sirius had explained that it wasn't always a warm welcome when people found out he was a Black. Paisley agreed that she sometimes had similar issues. After all, she was a Burke with how some of her family members are seen. Still, it wasn't judged too harshly because she had family on the Light/Grey side. After all, they couldn't tell which side she was born into without knowing her family tree.
James explained that he is always cautious of introducing himself because of a similar issue. His parents warned him that there may be those out there only interested in his family, with him and his parents being the last Potters left alive. Some people may be interested in being a surviving family member since his parents were a little older than traditional parents. The Potters were the creators of some top-rated potion products, and that was where their family fortune had come from. As with any family known to have piles of gold, some people just wanted access to the money.
The rest of the train ride to Hogwarts passed by uneventfully. Paisley, James, and Sirius spent the rest of the ride talking amongst themselves. Sharing their own eventful stories as they grew up gave the boys a better chance of getting to know each other.
There was laughter between the three of them as they climbed off the train. The group was trying to figure out where they were meant to be going. The only thing they knew was that their luggage would find its way to the correct dorm before they arrived after the Sorting Feast.
"Paisley, boys." The three of them turned around and found Lucas heading their way.
"Where are we meant to be going?" Paisley questioned, giving her brother a smile. She had been told she was able to find him whenever needed. She would be able to sit with him and his friends. Still, she had found that time passed relatively quickly sitting with James and Sirius. In that time, she wished she had spent more time with James growing up while she always knew she had gotten along well with Sirius.
Lucas pointed behind them, and they turned to see a rather large man standing there with some other students standing around him. "First years over here!" his booming voice rang out across the platform.
"He calls out every couple of minutes until the train is empty. Follow him, and he will take you to the Castle." Lucas explained, and the three of them nodded, waving goodbye as he turned and left to chase after his friends.
As the three of them walked over, they stood among who they assumed were other first years, all talking amongst themselves. Paisley quickly noticed the sour look that Lily and Severus sent in their direction. She wondered what that was all about but promptly realised it was because of James and Sirius considering the snickering coming from the two of them. She merely rolled her eyes, not wanting to know what truly happened there.
It was as she stood there and looked around her that she saw a couple of familiar faces. At the same time, she wasn't surprised about some of them because she spent a significant amount of time with them growing up and knew they were starting at Hogwarts this year as well. Still, there were some familiar that she didn't realise were eligible to start this year as she thought they were younger, with one or two she thought were older. Then two lone students spent the summer boasting about how they claimed to be going to Durmstrang Institute for their magical education instead of Hogwarts.
She leant closer to Sirius so she could whisper in her ear. "I thought the Nott twins were going to Durmstrang?" she questioned softly before pointing over at the twins.
Sirius looked at her before over at the Nott twins, and he merely shrugged. "They've spent the last year claiming it has a better education system than Hogwarts and that they had their places."
Paisley nodded, opening her mouth to respond to Sirius, but the large man's voice cut through first. "Alright, this must include everyone." Everyone fell silent and turned towards the large man. "My name is Rubeus Hagrid, but you can call me Hagrid, and I'm the Keeper of Keys here at Hogwarts. If you follow me, I will be escorting you towards the Castle. Everyone follow me." Hagrid turned and began walking down a path.
Hagrid didn't seem bothered as the conversations started again among the students. Paisley overheard a couple of them, and they were along the same lines. They were all discussing their expectations of the Castle and the various other things they would encounter over the next year.
"You're all about to get your first glimpse of the Castle as we round this corner," Hagrid called out. Everyone carefully made their way around the bend, allowing them to take in the Hogwarts castle sight.
The sounds coming from all the first years were indicative of how stunning the scene in front of them was, with the Castle being lit up by the moonlight with stars twinkling off in the distance.
"Everyone climb into a boat, no more than four," Hagrid called out the order before climbing into a boat himself. Due to his size, it was rather apparent that no one would be able to join him.
Paisley hesitated at the water's edge before she stepped towards the boat, hating the idea of getting in the boat as she was terrified of the water after an accident when she was six.
"Still afraid of the water?" James questioned softly, and Paisley slowly nodded as she closed her eyes.
She hoped that if she could see that they were travelling across a lake, then maybe her fear wouldn't creep up on her.
"What happened?" Sirius questioned, but Paisley didn't respond. She didn't want to relive that moment of her life. She was grateful that Sirius picked up on her silence and quickly changed the topic of discussion to Quidditch. It launched an easy debate between the two boys while Paisley was able to stay silent.
Paisley jerked in her seat as the boat came to a stop, and she tightly gripped her seat. "It's okay. We made it." Sirius spoke softly as he softly placed a hand on her arm. Paisley slowly opened her eyes, relief filling her when she noticed that they had indeed stopped moving across the lake.
"Come on, it's time to get sorted," James called out, and they both noticed he had walked ahead and started talking to some other first years.
Paisley and Sirius let out a laugh before they followed him and headed into the Castle.
