A/N: Hi everyone!! I would like to say that this is actually the second fan-fic I've written, but the first one was so bad, I had to erase it before anyone read it. Now I give you: (drum-roll please!!) MY FIRST REAL FAN-FIC!!! Okay, ok.
This story is rated R for later sexual content, (Not between Voldemort and Gwen, silly.) and for language. I have to admit that my name on this site is derived from the main character's name on this fan-fic, and I am NOT doing a Self-insertion kind of thing. This is about a fictional character, NOT me, so I would appreciate not getting any flames on THAT topic. Okay so I lie, this character IS a lot like me. I will admit that I included some things about her that ARE like me, for instance, the harp-playing thing and being ahead for her age, but that's about it. So please, I already know how pathetic I am, I don't need flames telling me that too. However, if you find that my writing is bad or my beta reader is not up to speed, I would appreciate any editorial, and/or plot help. I will thank various reviewers and supporters at the end of each chapter, and would be happy to answer any questions anyone might have about my work or me! Anywho, here is the tale, I shall not bother you any longer, Thanks to my BF's and my family!! Love ya' all!
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CHAPTER ONE: Changes
(A/N: dream)
"NO!!" She shouted loudly as she ran in the other direction. "No, please! Leave me alone!" Her breath quickened as she ran away from the cloaked figure. "GO AWAY!!" She shouted as it caught up with her. Suddenly she fell and the figure was picking her up. "NO! NO!!" she began to cry as the figure pulled her towards the darkness. A masculine voice came from within the hood: "Guenevere…Guenevere…" The voice suddenly changed, becoming feminine and kind. "Guenevere…
"Guenevere, wake up."
Guenevere stirred and sat up. Her mother's voice came from behind the wooden door.
"Sweetheart, you're sleeping late. You don't want to be late for church, do you?"
Guenevere groaned. "Coming...coming."
She frowned. *Another dream.* She picked up her dream journal and flipped listlessly to an empty page. She picked up her pen, but decided against it. Her journal had been found before.
*Maybe I should stop writing in it, after all.*
She thought hard and decided to read a few entries instead. Cold shivers went up and down her spine.
*Maybe that's a bad idea too…*
She got up and went to the bathroom, starting the shower and brushing her teeth.
*When will those stupid dreams stop?*
She asked her reflection silently.
*Am I to be tormented by this guy forever?!!!*
She moaned and stepped into the shower.
Four years.
It was four years since the dreams had started: when she was 9. Well, nine going on ten.
They were fierce, they were upsetting, and they were realistic. They were not, however, lucid. No matter what she had tried, she could not control the dreams. In fact, she eerily noted as she washed her strawberry-blonde hair, it almost seemed like the dreams were being controlled by…something else.
She shivered and shut the water off. That was, after all, insane. If she wasn't careful, her parents might send her to some insane asylum. She had to be very wary of everything she said and did. She couldn't risk anything being found out, so she had told no one.
*No, that's a lie.* She thought angrily. *When I was younger, I told anyone who wanted to be my friend. No wonder people thought I was insane in fifth grade!!!*
She dried her hair furiously, and then changed into a short dress and stockings.
*Orchestra tonight. Finally, I have something to look forward too.*
She sighed wearily and thought about the dreams again.
*Who IS this guy? Does he find it funny to rape me night after night?!!*
The dreams never changed much in detail. The same man, the same bedroom…almost the same sex…but every time she was unwilling, and every time the man's face was hidden behind a hood. She never knew him.
*Good thing too…if I knew him, I'd run away from him constantly!!*
"Guenevere!!! We're going to be late!! Let's GO!"
"I'm coming mom!!" She shouted as she hastily put her shoes on.
*This is going to be a loooooooooooooooong day!*
Little did she know just how long it would be…
~ ~ ~
As the last note rang throughout the orchestra hall, Guenevere was putting the covers on her harp. "Good job, Gwen." Said a very shy boy next to her. "Thanks, Ben. You did well too!" She smiled at him, and then proceeded to wait by the door for her parents to pick her up. The room soon emptied out, leaving her and her harp and empty chairs all around. She fidgeted nervously. She had the funny feeling something was wrong. Something she couldn't put her finger on.
*C'mon mom, hurry up!!* She urged silently
She waited. And waited, and waited. No one came.
The next orchestra was already entering the room to practice. Still her mother had not shown up.
*Maybe she fell asleep on the sofa. Maybe Dad is busy and forgot to wake her up.*
She squirmed on the piano bench. She waited for another hour as the other orchestra practiced and left.
The feeling that something was wrong had not gone away, and she could not satisfy her instinct.
*SOMETHING is wrong…I should call.*
She dug in her jeans pockets for change.
*Hmm…not enough. Well, I'll borrow some then.*
Just as she stood up, a dull ringing came from her purse.
"Oh!! I brought my cell phone!"
She slapped herself on the forehead.
*That would be mother calling me to say what's going on.*
The caller ID said that as well.
"MOM?!" She shouted anxiously as she picked it up.
"Who is this?" Came a male voice on the other end.
"This is Julia…who are you?"
"This is Lieutenant Sanders, from the Philadelphia Police Department. Whereabouts are you, ma'am?"
"Lieutenant M-…I don't understand. How did you get my mom's cell phone? And why hasn't my mother shown up yet?" She was confused.
"Ma'am, I know this is hard for you to understand, but you're going to have to believe me when I tell you this."
"What?"
"You're parents are dead."
"WHAT?!"
~ ~ ~
One day. That was all it had taken for her entire life to fall completely apart. One day. She had said goodbye and gave her mom and dad a kiss, and that was the last she saw of them alive. After she had given Lieutenant Mark her location, she cried rivers. Her harp was taken back in a truck, because they didn't bring the right forms of transportation. When she returned home, she was informed that her parents had been murdered and the house set on fire. Fortunately, they told her, only the one room burned. The other rooms were spared when the fire department cam and put it out. She snorted. *Very fortunately.* Her parents and all her pets were in that room.
She couldn't think it would get worse, until she found out she had to go live with her grumpy grandparents too. Not that it was too bad, but they really didn't like to spend time around kids. They preferred themselves. So her life was doubly cursed.
It was late February. She had to get back to school. But who would teach her? She wondered sadly. She had always home-schooled. Now that she was living with her grandparents, they were too busy to teach her. She found that the more she thought about her old life, the less she cried, until she could no longer cry. She merely found it all looked like a dream.
Lonely one day, she crept into the attic to look for something to play with. *Anything but Poker. If I have to play Poker one more time, I'll go insane!!*
She frowned when she tripped on an old trunk.
*Damnit!! Is this entire place a minefield?— *
She stopped when she saw the nametag.
It read: Colleen Donahue
*Colleen? But that was my birthmother's name!!*
She had been adopted. She always knew she was, but she never knew her birthmother's full name. She stepped cautiously towards the trunk, as though it might bite her.
*After all, I'm not supposed to know her name until I'm 21…*
She touched it lightly, brushing the dust off the fine wood and opening it cautiously.
*Books. Books and papers and…what is this?!!*
She picked up a stick cautiously. It was about nine inches long, smooth and brown with a silver handle.
*This looks like…no…it couldn't be…*
She picked up one of the books and read the cover.
"Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander…"
She read aloud.
"This…this is…"
She picked up an envelope, excitement growing in her mind.
On the front, written in green ink was:
Guenevere Donahue, C.O. The Smith Family
1325 Willowisp Avenue,
Doylestown PA, 16750
She opened it carefully.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL
Of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
~~~~
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc. Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. Of Wizards)
Dear Miss Donahue
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.
Yours Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress
Guenevere sat on the floor in confusion. What was this thing? Why was she chosen? She checked the post mark. It was written 3 years before.
*Why didn't I ever get this?!!*
She ran downstairs and tracked down her grandmother.
"Grandma!!! Grandma!!"
She stood breathlessly in front of the old woman making dinner.
"Good Lord child, you almost gave me a heart attack. What is it?"
"Why didn't you tell me about this?!!"
She brandished the letter in the air. Her grandmother's face blanched.
"Where did you get that?"
"In the attic, in my birthmother's trunk upstairs!"
There was silence. For a moment, Guenevere thought her grandmother would yell.
Then, suddenly, she cried out with joy.
Guenevere jumped a foot in the air.
"TED!! TED! Come in here!!"
Her grandfather sidled into the room.
"What is it, Martha? You scared me half to death—why--"
But he stopped. He saw the letter in Guenevere's hand.
He laughed and began to dance around his side of the room. Guenevere's grandmother hugged her and immediately started square dancing with her grandfather.
"Would you two stop and tell me what in the world is going on?!!"
Her grandparents stopped, wheezing, then smiled.
"Well, my dear, now that your parents have died, you can know!"
"Know what?"
"Well, we were supposed to keep you away from this sort of thing, your parents being Christian and all, but we always found it kind of exciting and all. So, know that we can tell you…"
"Guenevere, dear, you're a witch."
"I'm a WHAT?"
"Oh no, not as an insult, as a real thing."
"You mean…a magic kind of witch? With a broom and a black cat and a book of magic spells?"
"Well actually…"
"Or more like the whole Wicca thing...you know, casting a circle and praising the Goddess sky clad?"
"What?"
"Or--"
"ENOUGH!!" Her grandfather made them all jump.
"Sorry. Gwen, this is serious. You are a witch, and you may go to this school if you really want to."
Gwen frowned.
"I don't understand. I was invited to this school when I was eleven to learn how to be a witch? I didn't know before, but now I do, and out of the blue I can go?"
Her grandmother nodded.
"Yes. You would be in third year if you went, because you're thirteen."
"But no one would know me!"
"It was a real nice place, Hogwarts. Lots of friendly people."
"And the food was good too!!"
"Ted, you aren't being serious either."
"Sorry, Martha."
There was silence.
"So when do I go?"
"That's my girl!!" Shouted her grandfather.
"Well, you would be in third year. I know it's not proper, but maybe you could try and learn all of those books upstairs. They go up to seventh year. Some might be a little outdated – they're you're grandmothers. You can learn the first two years' curricula, and then maybe they'll let you in!!"
"Ted, she'd need a wand and all."
"Well, we'll get her one. And then her schooling can start this September like all the other witches and wizards."
"Where would we get one?"
"I don't remember…you'd need to write to that Dumbledore fellow. Or McGonagall."
"She'd need an owl, Ted."
"Oh. Right."
They sat in silence again.
"I know, what was it…underage witches and wizards couldn't perform magic, right?"
"Right." Her grandmother looked suspicious.
"So we can have her read a few spells and maybe the Ministry'll come and she'll get arrested!"
"TED!!!"
"But we'll tell them the real reason and she won't get arrested."
"Oh, Ted, it's ridiculous!!"
Guenevere frowned. How did they know all of this??
"Oh, because dear, I'm a witch myself. Retired, you know."
Guenevere jumped.
"Mind-reading was a hobby of mine…not everyone can do that anymore. That's how I keep your grandfather in line."
She grinned innocently at her husband who frowned and shook his head.
"My owl died a few years ago. Otherwise, we could use him. Now, why don't you repeat after me…Something harmless…umm…"
She thought hard.
"We'll be here all night…" said Grandfather Ted.
"I got it!! Wingardium Leviosa."
Guenevere frowned.
"Wing what?!!"
"Wingardium Leviosa. Just say it like I do and you'll be fine."
Her grandfather, who had ran upstairs, came back down with Colleen's wand.
"Here, use this."
Gwen grinned at the wand.
"Will it work?"
"Probably not, but you can try it anyway…say it…Wingardium..."
Guenevere sighed.
"Point at that paper, dear."
"Um…ok."
She sighed again, determined to get this right.
"Wingardium Leviosa."
Nothing happened.
"Try it again!"
"WINGARDIUM LEVIOSA!!!"
The whole stack of papers hovered above the floor. Guenevere shrieked and dropped the wand, and the papers fell.
"Oh my, well…try to pick them up again, deary."
"WINGARDIUM LEVIOSA!!"
They floated once more, and she nervously guided them back onto the table.
Her grandmother chuckled as Guenevere started to make everything she could float.
"The Ministry should be here any minute." Said her grandmother knowingly.
Sure enough, there was a noise from the living room fireplace.
"Ow…I swear no one knows how to do this right these days…sending me to do all the side jobs when I have so many other things to do…"
A balding, red headed man strode into the kitchen. As he looked up and saw Gwen's grandmother, he smiled suddenly and ran forward.
"Martha!! So good to see you!!"
Grandma Martha laughed as he hugged her briefly and shook hands with Grandpa Ted.
"I've missed you, Arthur Weasley. You should really drop by more often!!"
"I've been so terribly busy in London…what with You-Know-Who rising to power, I haven't been able to do a thing but work!"
Guenevere, who had been standing in confusion, was suddenly brought to as the center of attention.
"Oh, and who might this be…Wait a minute, are you the one fooling around? Why do you have that wand?"
Guenevere cringed
"It's alright, Arthur. This is our granddaughter, Guenevere. But the wizarding world knows her better as Guenevere Donahue…Colleen Donahue's daughter."
"Oh, really? Fascinating!! I dated Colleen for a number of years! She was such a clever young woman…left in her sixth year though."
"Why?"
"Was pregnant. With you, I suppose?"
"Yes, sir."
Arthur smiled.
"And so polite too…" He suddenly remembered why he had come. " Why were you fooling around with that wand? Shouldn't you be in Hogwarts right about now?"
"That's why we made her play with it, Arthur. We needed to contact the wizarding world and we didn't have any other way."
"Oh, I see…well, then I suppose I'll let you off this time. But why isn't she--"
"She never knew, Arthur. Her parents wouldn't allow it. Made me send them an owl refusing the letter when she was 11. Poor thing. Wants to learn magic now though… We really need to buy her materials. I want to home-school her if that would be alright."
"Permanently?" Arthur asked, disappointed.
"No, no. Until this September. Then she can go to Hogwarts as a third year."
"How on earth would she learn that quickly?"
"She's a Donahue by blood and a Smith by adoption!! She'll learn quicker than any other kid there."
Her grandfather said triumphantly, placing a hand on Guenevere's shoulder.
"Would that be alright?"
Arthur Weasley sighed.
"I'd have to talk with Dumbledore…and the Ministry if they'd allow it. But I don't see why not."
Guenevere leaped in the air with a whoop.
"But wait…why am I being sent to Hogwarts? Both my mother and I are American. Why go there?"
"Because Hogwarts was the safest place then and now."
"Safe? From what?"
Arthur sat down in a chair.
"May I?"
Her grandparents nodded solemnly.
"Guenevere, I have something to tell you about how your parents died. It all revolves around a wizard called…"
He shuddered visibly.
"Voldemort."
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A/N: So how did you all like it so far? Scary, huh? Sorry it wasn't very Harry Potter-ish at the beginning. I had to set up her character and all. Don't worry. From now until later chapters, the focus will be on our favourite characters.