Authors note: Okay, this is my very first Harry Potter fanfic. Be gentle – not really; I don't mind bad reviews; they tell me what I should fix.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Harry Potter characters – J.K. Rowling does. The book Green Rider belongs in full to Kristen Britain. However, I do own the character Riley Evans. She is purely mine; and should be since she is based on a real life person. Also, Snickers is also mine – it's the name of my baby, my cat.
Trust is Hard to Come By
By: Nekkyoo Ema
"Nearly 80% of fathers of babies born to teen mothers do not marry their babies mother." – Teen Magazine
*****
She hated being the new girl at schools. Everyone looked at her like she has some sort of a disease. Just like right now.
Rolling her hazel colored eyes she pushed her trolley, which held the chest her late grandfather had carved for her thirteenth birthday, and few parcels; one in particular held a new broom. Also the cage containing her black and white tiger-striped cat – Snickers, through the crowds to the barrier between Platforms 9 and 10 at King's Cross Station.
Making sure that no one was watching, she pushed the trolley through the barrier and looked up at the Hogwarts Express. The ride to her new home for the year.
And so begins another year at yet another school. She thought as she put her chest into an open slot and put the parcels next to it.
"I'll let you out in a second, Snick, just let me get on the train first." She said to the loudly meowing tomcat. She stepped up into the train, choosing to ignore all the weird looks she was receiving.
Honestly, she thought again, you'd think that they've never seen a girl with navy blue hair before.
She found an empty compartment and shut the door behind her. Snickers meowed loudly again, reminding her to let him out.
Snickers was indeed a very fitting name for the tom ... When she was at her first school, Salem Academy for Witches, there had been a "Cat Ceremony" in which all the first years got a black kitten of their own. She had arrived late, as usual, and all the black kittens had been given away already. When the Headmistress handed her the tiger-striped kitten all the girls had snickered.
She lay her head on the armrest and propped her combat boot-clad feet up on the seat. Snickers curled up on her stomach and began to purr like he usually did.
"Accio Green Rider." She said waving her wand about. A book flew out of her bag that lay on the floor in her hands. Upon removing the bookmark, she began to read. By now in her reading she had found out that the author always kept you hanging, always making you want to read more.
She was just getting to a semi-suspenseful part when Snickers' head shot up, ears pricked.
"What is it, Snickers? What do you—" she stopped short as her compartment door was opened. Snickers hissed and jumped to the floor, sitting under the bend seat opposite his owner.
"Can I help you? And before you answer; if I can't ... get out." She said as she put her book down.
"We just thought we'd welcome you. This here's Crabbe and that's Goyle. I'm Draco Malfoy."
She rolled her eyes. "I said if I couldn't help you then get out. So ... shoo or whatever it is that you do."
"You'd better watch what you're saying and to whom you're saying it to." Draco sneered.
She stood up and looked him straight in the eyes. "And you had better heed your own warnings. I know something about your family that you don't want told. And what I know would ruin you."
Malfoy glared, but left the compartment. His last words before out of earshot were: "watch your back, mudblood."
She slammed the door shut and sat back down. She had let her temper get the better of her again. When she had finally clamed down, she clicked her tongue and Snickers came out of his hiding spot.
"Hey, babyface." She said as she scratched his back.
Knock, knock.
Oh, for the love of— she thought as she picked herself and the tom up off the seat once more. She slid open the compartment door and glared.
"Uh, hi. I, uh, just wanted to tell you that Malfoy is a stupid git. Just ignore him."
"I gathered that much myself."
She hated unnecessary small talk.
The girl stuck out her hand. "Hermione Granger, seventh year Gryffindor. You?"
She didn't take Hermione's hand. "Riley Evans, seventh year transfer."
"Oh? From where?" Hermione asked, retracting her hand that had never been taken.
"Everywhere."
Hermione knew from Riley's tone of voice that their short conversation was over.
"Okay. Well, we'll be at Hogwarts in ten minuets ... see you at the Welcoming Feast." And then the bushy hair brunette left.
Riley rolled her eyes and closed the door. If they were going to be there in ten minuets, she had better get into her robes.
Once she was in them she looked at her reflection in the glass windows. She sighed. "Navy blue hair would certainly make a statement – but I think it would be best if I was natural today. Y' think, Snickers?"
The tiger-striped cat meowed as if to say yes. Riley nodded before picking up her wand and saying: "color natural." She watched her hair turn back into it's natural rusty red-brown color. I guess it doesn't look half-bad... at least I'll still stick out, she thought. It wasn't like she wanted to be noticed, in fact ... she didn't even like being noticed; but she liked to have her hair different colors.
"We will be arriving at Hogwarts in five minuets, please leave all luggage and animals on the train. They will be taken to your dorm separately." The train conductor said over the P.A. system.
"You heard the man, Snickers, get back into the case." The tom meowed angrily but obliged.
When she stepped off the train, she saw the bustling town of Hogsmeade across the street from the station. She knew that students above the third year were allowed to go to Hogsmeade on certain weekends, and she was actually looking forward to being back in a town that was entirely full of witches and wizards.
She turned her head when she heard a voice yell: "Firs' years o'er 'ere!" Should she go with the first years?
"You Riley Evans?" the giant of a man asked when she walked over to him to ask.
She nodded.
"Yeh gettin' on a carriage o'er there." He pointed out the carriages that the other students were loading up into.
"Thanks." Riley said before walking towards a carriage; hoping that it would be empty. As luck would have it, the first one she looked into was the one that Malfoy and his friends had climbed in to. She slammed the door shut and walked to the one behind it. It was empty. She shut the door behind her and hoped that no one would try to sit with her. She wanted to be alone, as usual.
By the time they had gotten to the castle, the sky was thundering. Riley stopped to look up at it before the crowd of students pushed her ahead. They were met with the, to them, familiar sight of the stern-looking Professor McGonagall.
"Ms. Evans, this way please. Move along now Weasley. You too Potter!" She barked.
Riley's jaw almost dropped at the sound of the name. She didn't know he went to this school. She thought that maybe he did, but now she knew for sure. She struggled through the crowd and went to the top of the stairs where McGonagall was already standing.
"Come with me please, Ms. Evans." McGonagall walked up the stairs and led her into an office that Riley could only assume was hers. Professor McGonagall pointed to a seat across from the large desk. "Sit down."
Riley, still utterly confused, sat down.
"Now, Ms. Evans. My name is Professor Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress and teacher of Transfiguration – and I thought I would explain how things work around here before the Sorting Ceremony starts. There shall be no magic in the corridors. Our caretaker, Mr. Filch, has a list of things that are not allowed in the school; though many have a certain disregard for that list.
"I'm sure you already know that all third years and above are allowed to go in to Hogsmeade on certain weekends; and we do know that you have no consent from your parents or legal guardians."
"Er..." Riley started.
"Yes, we do know who your parents are. Professor Dumbledore, your Headmaster, and I thought it best not to contact them. Therefore, we have decided that you may go to Hogsmeade for the time being. However, if you cause any trouble while there, I shall take back your privilege."
"Thanks..." Riley said.
"Now let us get to the Sorting. And, Ms. Evans – don't tell anyone that you have permission without consent from parents to go."
"Yes, ma'am."
Riley walked behind McGonagall slightly as she lead the way to the Great Hall. They knew who her parents were? How?
"Zimmons, Karen."
Riley watched the last small first year get sorted into Hufflepuff. She was new, and therefore the last to be sorted.
"Evans, Riley." McGonagall called.
Riley strode forward with confidence and sat down on the stool. She felt the Sorting Hat plop down on her head.
Hmm... The hat said into her ear, we definitely don't want to put you in Slytherin – you wouldn't get along well there. Ravenclaw – no, you wouldn't do there either. Hufflepuff – oh, no, no, no, no, no, you are too distrustful. Well, it seems that we'll just have to put you into GRYFFINDOR!"
Riley nodded her head and took off the hat. She walked off towards the clapping Gryffindor table and took a seat at the very end, far away enough from everyone for them to get the point that they should best leave her alone.
Professor Dumbledore stood up for his annual Welcoming Feast announcements. "First of all, I would like to welcome Ms. Riley Evans to our school and I hope you will all treat her with respect. Secondly, Mr. Filch has informed me that he has added some items that should not be used in the corridors to his list. If you wish to look at it, it is posted in his office. Now, I am sure that all of you are hungry after your long journey so, tuck in."
As Dumbledore sat back down the tables filled up with food and Riley helped herself to some mashed potatoes, turkey, and some shepherd's pie. She never ate much, and right now she wasn't all that hungry. Drinking some of her juice she watched everyone talk loudly about his or her summer.
She got up not to long after she was done eating and walked out of the Great Hall. She had gotten a Perfect to tell her the password. Now her only problem was: how did she get there?
She looked down at her feet when she felt something rub against it. "Snickers? What the heck are doing here?"
The cat meowed again and walked towards some stairs.
"What? D'you want me to follow you, or something?" Riley asked. Snickers meowed again and headed up the stairs. Riley shrugged and followed her cat up many stairs. Skipping the ones he skipped and testing them out once she did to see why. Riley made a mental note to remember that trick step.
"Password?" the portrait of a fat lady in a pink dress asked when Riley got there.
"Er... figgleworm." Riley said. The Fat Lady swung on her hinges and Riley followed Snickers into the Common Room. "Nice..." she walked up the stairs and looked at the doors. She found the door marked 'Seventh Year: Girls.'
Guess this is my dorm... she walked into the room, shutting the door behind her. Her chest was already at the end of the bed closest to the door. She slid the curtains aside and Snickers jumped up onto the bed and curled up. Riley grabbed her pajamas and put them on quickly before climbing onto the bed herself.
"Accio journal." Her journal flew out of her chest and she opened it up to write.
September 1st,
Well, I made it to Hogwarts in one piece. I'm in Gryffindor, same as my aunt. I am beginning to think that I am getting more and more like her everyday. I don't think my Mum likes her very much. They're too different. Maybe that's why she and I don't get along.
Harry Potter attends this school. From what I saw, he is a friend of a girl, Hermione Granger that talked to me on the train. She seemed okay, but I'm still not doing well in the trust category right now. Guess it's been my life. I wonder if he knows...
Dumbledore and McGonagall know who my parents are. How? I never told them in the reply letter! How on earth would they know who my parents are?
I wonder still if people will treat me the way they did are my other schools. Some of the Slytherins are already pissed off at me. But it's nothing I can't handle – it's just Draco Malfoy. I still have that little bit of information about his childhood that I'm sure he doesn't want people to know about... He sure has changed a lot. Wonder if he remembers me.
Riley looked up as she heard the sound of people coming in to the Common Room. Damn, everyone's back... she thought. She closed the curtains to her bed and continued writing.
I hope the teachers here are good. I may not be the most studious of all people, but I will try as hard as Auntie did. She is more of a mother figure to me then my own mum – even if I never did meet her. At least I know her through the diary that was in the attic. I wonder if mum knows that all of her stuff's up there? More then likely she put it there herself. I'm glad that I went up there before they sent me away.
I guess I should send Grandmother an owl letting her know I made it here in one piece. I still cannot believe I found a relative that did not hate me for what I am.
She put the journal back and grabbed the photo album out of the chest. She flipped threw it, looking at the pictures for the hundredth time. When Riley heard the sound of laughter coming up the stairs, she quickly put the album away and crawled under the covers. She was just in time, too, because her roommates came through the door right after she had gotten under the covers.
Whatever you go through in life, the best things you can have are friends. Her grandmothers' voice echoed in her head.
Oh, what does she know? I don't want to be friends with them. Riley answered.
"Riley? Riley are you still awake?"
It was Hermione. Riley looked up and saw the girl looking at her.
"Yeah..." Riley said in an annoyed voice.
"I just thought you would like to meet the girls." Hermione said.
Riley pulled her curtain aside at the end of her bed. "Hello."
"Riley, this is Lavander and Parvati." Hermione said.
"Nice to meet you." Lavander said with a smile.
"Right back at'cha." Riley said. She pulled her curtains shut and laid back down. They seemed like they were... okay.
"She doesn't seem very friendly..." Parvati said in a snitty voice.
Riley heard Hermione sigh, "maybe she doesn't trust people very easily. Give her time, I think she'll warm up to us."
"I hope you're right, Herm." Lavander said.
Riley stared at the curtains. How did Hermione know that? She must be a pretty smart girl. Either that, or she is really good at noticing things.
Used to getting up early, Riley climbed into the shower at six-thirty in the morning the next day. She had taken her robes into the bathroom with her and changed when she got out of the shower.
Hmm... What color should I have my hair for the first day at Hogwarts? Pink? – no. Purple? – did that... Riley looked into the mirror as she thought about it. And then she smiled. Got it...
"Color gold stripes."
Her hair went from all rusty red-brown to being rusty red-brown with gold highlights. A trick her Grandmother, of all people, had told her about.
Riley walked out of the bathroom with a smile on her face and went down to the Common Room. They didn't start serving breakfast until seven o'clock so she had a half-hour to kill. But what to do, what to do? It was a Saturday, so there were no classes. Lucky for all the students September 1st was on a Friday.
She walked out of the common room when it started to fill up with the early risers; too many people bugged her sometimes. She made her way down to the Great Hall, almost forgetting about the trick step.
"Whoa, check out the hair on that chick." Riley heard a boy from Ravenclaw say to his friend.
Riley stopped in front of them and placed her hands on the table. "At least I'm showing my House Pride. What do you have to show for your house?"
And then she walked away with a smirk on her face and sat down next to Hermione.
"I heard what you said last night." Riley said.
Hermione choked on her orange juice. "You did?"
Riley nodded curtly. "If you're going to talk about someone, do it after you check to see if they are asleep." Then she got up, grabbing a few pieces butter toast and left the Great Hall. She walked down the hallway and went outside to sit on the steps.
"Hey! I want to see some more passing of that Quaffel! Fred, George – get on those Bludgers!" a female voice yelled from a field to Riley's left.
That caught her attention. She got up from the stairs and jogged over to the Quidditch field to see what was going on.
"Hey! Watch it!" the same voice, yelled loudly.
Riley looked up just in time to see a soccer-size red Quaffel fly towards her head. Before she even knew what she was doing, she caught the ball. By then, all the Gryffindor players had stopped in mid-air to watch.
Riley tossed the ball up and down in her hands.
"D'you think you could throw that back?" another girl called out.
Riley extended her arm back and threw the Quaffel back to the girl that had told her to watch out, and then she turned to head back inside.
"Wait!"
Riley turned back around, "what?"
"Where'd you learn to throw like that?" the same girl asked as she landed in front of Riley.
Riley shrugged, "I got into a lot of fights, it's just natural."
"Can you ride a broomstick?"
"WHAT?" Riley exclaimed. Were these people insane?
Angelina held out her broom, "can you ride a broom and throw the Quaffel?"
She shrugged, "never tried."
"Try."
Riley crossed her arms.
"Please, we're one Chaser short. You don't have to join the team if you don't want to. Just, please, try." The seventh year begged.
Riley knew she wasn't going to get back to the school unless she tried. Plus, it would look like she was fitting in better if she played Quidditch. She sighed and asked; "who do I throw it to?"
"Me." The other girl said.
"Fine." Riley hopped onto the broom and smiled slightly as she felt the wind rustle her hair. Katie, the other girl, took the Quaffel from Angelina and the team resumed play.
Katie threw the Quaffel at Riley while dodging a Bludger. Riley caught it and flew towards the goals with Katie beside her. She threw the Quaffel back to Katie and watched her score the goal.
The team and Riley went through five more drills before Angelina called an end to the practice.
Riley landed and gave the captain her broomstick back.
"Welcome to the team. That is – if you want to join." Angelina said.
Riley stared. "Why the hell do you want me?"
"To be honest, you're the best Chaser we've seen so far. You've got the natural talent for Quidditch."
"I'm not much a team player. Besides, I know some of the rules – you have to have parental consent to play. That I can't get." Riley replied.
"Why not?" Angelina asked.
Riley looked away, "my parents – they don't like Quidditch that much. Too brutal for them." That had to be the stupidest lie she had ever told.
"Ask them. Please? Tell them that you're the only one for the job."
Riley looked the taller girl in the eyes, "I'll think about it. In the mean time, please don't bug me." And then she walked away.
"Not exactly the friendliest girl is she?" Katie muttered.
Harry looked at his teammate, "give her a chance."
Riley walked up the stairs and down a hallway – she had no clue where she was going. How the hell am I going to get my parents to say I can play? They claim they don't even have a daughter...
"Ms. Evans!"
Riley snapped out of her thoughts. "Yes, Professor McGonagall?"
"Is there something I can help you with?" McGonagall asked.
Riley was about to say no, but then thought about it. "As a matter of fact, you can. Can you take me to Professor Dumbledore's office please?"
"Well ... alright. But only because you're new." McGonagall replied.
She led the way down the hall and stopped at a stone gargoyle. "Lemon drop." She said, and the gargoyle sprung to life and out of their way. They walked up to the office and McGonagall knocked.
"Come in." Riley heard Dumbledore say.
"Professor Dumbledore, may I speak to you in private?" Riley asked straight away.
"Yes. Thank you for bringing her here Minerva." Dumbledore said. Professor McGonagall nodded curtly before leaving, shutting the door behind her.
"Professor Dumbledore – Angelina wants me to be the new Chaser..."
"Well, that's wonderful, Ms. Evans."
Riley smiled falsely, "my problem is my parents. I don't know if I can get their consent. I can't owl them – they hate owl post. And I don't want to bother my Grandmum, she's quite busy right now."
"Well, then we shall just have to pay you're parents a visit, shall we not?" Dumbledore said with a twinkle in his eyes.
Pay her parents a visit? Riley's eyes widened. She hadn't seen her parents since she was eight years old. That was the last time that they had let her visit – and they wouldn't even let her come to the house. They had met at the train station. They had pretended she was some "lost little girl" that they were trying to help find her parents.
"Pay – Pay them a vis-visit?" Riley stuttered.
"Yes. Now let us go, we have a long journey ahead of us and only one hour to do it in; because I have to be back here for a meeting." Dumbledore said.
~~
Author's note: Who are Riley's parents? Can you guess? Well, hope you liked the very first chapter of my very first Harry Potter story. Yes, I do know that Angelina and Katie should be out of Hogwarts if Riley is in her seventh year, but I didn't want to think of new names so I just kept them. I had a lot of fun writing it. Also, if any of you are wondering why I kept putting 'color' in italics is because the word 'color' in Latin is, well, color. So don't mine me! I'm just having my fun.