All You Wanted

Note: Harry Potter and the ideas from his series are NOT MINE. They belong to J.K. Rowling, a very talented and inspiring author.

Chapter One: The Girl Who Kept Secrets

She stood on Platform 9 ¾, watching the other students board the Hogwart's Express. Many of them had stared at her, as she looked older than most of them, but she was not. She was, in fact, only sixteen, though her looks told her to be anywhere between eighteen and twenty-five. Not that she was trying to conceal her looks by any means. Her mother had always told her that if you are beautiful, you should accentuate that beauty, and so she did. Her long, black tresses were pulled back from her face in a high ponytail, one lock of which kept annoyingly falling out and brushing in front of her large brown eyes which were lined with long, dark lashes. Tall and willowy with honey-colored skin, the girl was amazingly beautiful. It was no small wonder that every boy boarding the train paused to look at her.

"Excuse me," someone asked behind her, and she turned around to see a happily plump woman with red hair smiling at her. "Are you lost, dear?"

"No, I'm quite alright, thank you. First time at a new school and all," the girl answered.

"First time? You can't possibly be a First Year!" the woman cried, looking the girl up and down.

"No, I'm a Sixth Year, but I just transferred here."

"From where?"

"I was taught at home, but then Dumbledore offered my mother a job teaching here, so naturally, I had to start learning here instead," the girl looked a bit anxious to get on the train and return to her own little world, a hesitancy which the woman noticed.

"I see. Well, good luck then, dear. If you ever need someone to talk to, my son Ron is a Sixth Year as well. He's very friendly," the woman called as the girl walked towards one of the cars on the train, pushing her luggage trolley in front of her.

"Thank you! I'll remember him!" the girl called back as she boarded. She found an empty compartment on the train and stored her luggage above it, with the exception of her caged owl, a snowy white bird named Socrates. He would ride with her in the compartment and keep her company, as she expected no one else would. Her expectations, however, were shattered when two boys and a girl stumbled into her compartment, just as the train started to pull out of the station.

"Mind if we join you? All the other compartments are full," the girl, who had very bushy brown hair, asked politely. What could she do? Hushing Socrates, the girl made room for the others. One of the boys looked almost exactly like the woman she'd been talking to on the platform, with bright red hair and freckles. He was tall and gangling, and also smiling at her. The other boy had messy black hair and green eyes behind a pair of glasses. She recognized him immediately, but didn't say a word, lest she reveal anything too important about herself.

"I'm Hermione Granger," the girl introduced herself. "And these are Ron Weasley and," she paused, "Harry Potter."

"Oh. Hello." The girl stopped there, then sensed she was probably being rude and went on. "My name's Alysia Karadhras."

"Are you a First Year?" Ron asked, seeming confused. Alysia shook her head.

"No. My mum taught me at home, so I'm a Sixth Year," she explained, hoping they would not ask why she was taught at home.

"Why are you here now?" Hermione seemed confused.

"My mother's the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. She's a pretty good teacher, I guess. You'll like her, once you meet her," Alysia promised, some of her shyness ebbing. Being friends with and talking to Harry Potter and his friends could not possibly be as dangerous as she'd thought. In fact, it would probably be better if Harry knew some of her secrets, though not yet.

Harry now spoke up. "We've had five Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers, and we've been here for five years. They always end up leaving, for one reason or another," he sighed. "Lupin was the best. Our third year."

Lupin. Alysia knew this man well. She smiled at the mention of his name. "Remus Lupin?" she asked, making sure it was the same man she was thinking of.

"Yes! Do you know him?" Hermione asked, brightly.

"Yes. My. . ." Alysia paused, correcting herself before she gave too much away, "my mother went to school with him and your parents, Harry."

"Sirius Black, too?" Ron asked, loudly. Alysia felt as if she'd just been hit with a ton of bricks.

"Sirius Black, too," she answered, softly, not offering any more information and praying her new friends would not ask her to elaborate, when suddenly, someone appeared in the doorway. He was a pale boy, with white blonde hair and icy blue eyes. His face was pointed, almost like a ferret's face, but it made him look cute. Behind him stood what appeared to be two bodyguards, hulking boys with dark hair and nasty expressions. Alysia stared in disbelief.

"Well, well, well, it's Potty Potter, a Weasel and a bushy little Squirrel. And what's this! A new. . ." the boy trailed off as he recognized her, "friend."

"It is you then! The boy I met skiing in the Alps! I don't think I ever caught your name," Alysia greeted him, knowing him from several skiing trips with her mother.

"Draco Malfoy," he answered in an odd tone. Harry, Ron and Hermione seemed either confused or disgusted at this new turn of events, and Malfoy's goons looked completely lost. Perhaps they were waiting for him to give the order to punch someone or break something. In any case, Alysia and Draco were the only ones still in touch with what was happening in the compartment.

"I don't think I ever gave you my name, either. I'm Alysia Karadhras." Alysia reached out her hand for Draco to shake, which he surprised everyone by kissing.

"A pleasure, Miss Karadhras," he murmured in a more gentlemanly tone than anyone else in the compartment had ever heard him use. "I didn't know you went to Hogwart's. Why haven't I seen you here before?"

"I haven't been here before. My mother taught me at home," she explained. "She's here now, teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts, so I get to be here, too, meeting some interesting new people."

"Interesting my arse," Ron muttered under his breath, receiving a sharp kick from Hermione in retaliation. Draco had heard it, however, and shot a fierce look at Ron, before turning his charming smile back on Alysia.

"I'll see you in the banquet hall, then. I do hope you're in Slytherin with us. Crabbe! Goyle! Let's go." And with that, Draco Malfoy and his goons departed, leaving all but one person in the compartment confused, to say the least.

"First of all, you do not want to be in Slytherin!" Ron exclaimed as if being in Slytherin was an unforgivable curse. "There's not a witch or wizard who's gone bad that hasn't been in Slytherin."

"Don't worry about me, Ron. My. . .mother was in Gryffindor, and I have no doubt that I will be, too. Is Draco always that insulting to you?" Alysia leaned back against her seat, comfortably.

"Let me think. . .yes," Ron replied, nodding definitely, then called Draco a word that made Hermione cry out, "Ron!" in disgust.

"Any particular reason?" Alysia asked.

"Well, he doesn't like me because I'm Muggle-born. He and his family think that Muggle-born witches and wizards are somehow less important or worse-off than 'purebloods.' He's called me a Mudblood on more than one occasion," Hermione stated, her eyes turning a bit watery as she relived what was obviously a painful recurrence.

"And he doesn't like me because my family. . .well, we're not as. . .well-off, money-wise as his," Ron answered, his face turning the color of a ripe tomato and clashing beautifully with his red hair. "Just because there are nine of us to provide for. . ." He trailed off, looking embarrassed, still.

"Everyone knows that your blood doesn't matter, and neither does your monetary status," Alysia said to Hermione and Ron, who both smiled in gratitude. "Why doesn't he like you, Harry?"

"Guilty by association, I suppose." Harry shrugged sheepishly. "Well, that and I'm a little famous."

"A little?" Ron repeated, incredulously, but Hermione kicked him again. Rubbing his shin, he finished, "Anyway, Draco's a dirty prat. Nothing but trouble, that one. I'd stay away from him, if I were you."

"I'll try to remember that," Alysia thought, silently adding, But I'll also wait and form my own opinions about Mr. Malfoy.

Meanwhile, Harry's owl had begun to rattle her cage noisily. She was eyeing Socrates with the utmost of interests. "Looks like she fancies him," Alysia commented, bringing a laugh from her new companions. Carefully, so not to disturb him too much, she opened the door to Socrates' cage and, with a little help from Harry, encouraged him to share Harry's owl's cage. Moments later, the two were cuddled together like old friends. Ron's owl, which largely resembled a fluffy tennis ball, started hooting excitedly, wanting to get in on the action.

"Shut up, Pig!" Ron yelled at the owl, then shrugged apologetically to Alysia. "My owl. . .Pidwidgeon. He's a little excitable. And that's Hedwig who's cozying up to your owl."

"Hedwig. Lovely name," Alysia murmured. "Do you have an owl too, Hermione?"

"No, but I do have a cat. His name is Crookshanks," she answered, gesturing to what Alysia had believed to be a furry orange pillow. "He's been sleeping a lot. . .still recovering from our holiday in Bulgaria, I'll bet."

"Visiting Krum again this summer?" Ron seemed annoyed at this.

"Why not? He's a friend," Hermione replied defensively.

"He's no more a 'friend' than Malfoy's 'interesting.' You fancy him!" Ron accused, and before Harry or Alysia could step in, the two started arguing at the top of their lungs, causing Pig and Crookshanks to hoot and glare, respectively, and Harry to stifle a laugh.

"They really are quite perfect for each other. They just haven't admitted it out loud yet," he told Alysia in a hushed tone, and she laughed along with him. Then, Harry adopted a more serious look on his face. "So did your mom know Sirius Black? Were they friends?"

Alysia suddenly became rather fidgety. "You might say that. When d'you reckon the trolley will be by? I'm starving," she answered, changing the subject a little too quickly. Harry looked at her oddly, but told her that the trolley would be along any minute, and sure enough, momentarily it arrived, and the four companions loaded up on sweets.

"Now look at that, would you? Viktor Krum. . .a card in a chocolate frog!" Ron snorted indignantly, ignoring the glare he got from Hermione. Alysia, who had just taken a bite of a turkey-flavored jellybean (and spat it out again), suddenly recognized the name Viktor Krum.

"The seeker from the Bulgarian Quidditch team? Have you met him as well?" she asked, reaching for another jellybean, judging by its color that it must be safe. "His family skis with my mother and I every Christmas holiday."

"Another Krum fan! What is this world coming to?" Ron moaned, tossing the card across the compartment.

"Oh, I'm hardly a fan. He's too competitive. But I can beat him flying any day," Alysia answered matter-of-factly, causing Harry to nearly bite his tongue.

"Do you play Quidditch, too?" he asked, breathlessly.

"Not formally, no. But I can. You play Seeker, right?" Alysia turned to face Harry, who seemed surprised at this knowledge she'd turned up.

"Yeah. . .how'd you know?"

Alysia bit her lip, trying to think of a good way to get out of this. "I. . .ah. . .you look like a Seeker. Plus you have a Firebolt above the compartment. . .I saw it when I reached up to get my money. I don't think anyone but a Seeker would have a Firebolt. I have one myself." Harry seemed to believe it, and she breathed a quiet sigh of relief. The train had begun to slow down, and Alysia managed to make out the outline of Hogwart's against the increasingly dark sky. She quietly moved Socrates back to his own cage (with much protest on his part), and when the train had stopped, stepped down onto the platform with Harry, Ron and Hermione. A large man with a large black beard was holding a lantern up and calling, "Firs' Years over 'ere!" Alysia started walking in the direction of the man, whom she assumed was Hagrid.

"Where are you going, Alysia? You're not a First Year!" Hermione called as she and the boys started to walk towards the horseless carriages.

"No, but I need to be sorted. I'll see you all in the banquet hall," Alysia answered, rushing over to the crowd of First Years, all of whom she stood about a head above. Hagrid saw her and immediately smiled.

"An' you'll be Professor Karadhras' daughter, I presume," he said to Alysia. "I remember your mum when she was 'ere. Right frien'ly girl, she was. In 'Ufflepuff, right?"

Alysia nodded, flinching to remember that she'd told a lie to Harry and his friends on the train. Her mother had not been in Gryffindor at all, but rather in Hufflepuff. How, then, would she explain to Harry, Hermione and Ron when the Sorting Hat placed her in Hufflepuff rather than in Gryffindor? She supposed that she would just have to spend more time with them than with the students in Hufflepuff, so it wouldn't matter so much.

Crossing the lake, hardly any of the First Years did more than glance warily at Alysia, though several whispered about her. She stared down into the black water, almost seeing the giant squid and other creatures her mother had mentioned to her. The water looked frigidly cold, so she leaned back from it, yet before she'd realized it, the boats had come to shore in front of the Hogwart's castle. Her mind somewhere other than the present moment, Alysia followed the other First Years to the hallway outside of the banquet hall, which she found to be just as her mother described it. A woman with a stern expression and dark hair twisted into a tight bun under a pointed hat was looking down at them. This, Alysia knew, was Professor McGonagall. Apparently, Professor McGonagall knew Alysia by sight alone, too.

"Welcome to Hogwart's, First Years, and Miss Karadhras. In a few minutes, you will enter the Great Hall to be sorted into your houses. They are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. While you are here, your house will be like your family. Your successes will earn you points. Any rule breaking and you will lose points. Follow me." With that, she turned on her heel and led the students into the banquet hall, which was decorated in the colors of the four houses. Heads turned as Alysia walked by the tables, most of them male. She heard a few catcalls, but ignored them, searching for her new friends in the crowd. Sure enough, Harry, Ron and Hermione were smiling at her from the Gryffindor table, as was Draco from the Slytherin table. She returned their smiles, then looked at the ceiling quietly. Her mother had told her it was bewitched to look like the night sky, and to Alysia's delight, it truly was. Stars twinkled and winked above her.

Facing the front of the room again, Alysia spotted the man of the hour, Albus Dumbledore. With twice as much beard as Alysia had hair, he resembled the pictures of wizards one sees in fairy tale books and Lord of the Rings calendars, pointy hat and all. He wore half-moon spectacles and was smiling down at the new students like a guru of sorts. A few seats down was Alysia's mother, Anaral Karadhras. Alysia's looks came almost completely from her mother, with the exception of her hair color. That came from her father. Her mother had ash blonde hair that was currently held back from her face with two discreet clips. Beside her mother was a man Alysia knew without introduction. Greasy black hair and hooked nose. . . must be Severus Snape! The Potions professor had spotted Alysia and was giving her a poisonous glare. Looks like he knows me already. Before she could return the look Snape was giving her, Dumbledore stood up to make his annual start-of-term announcements.

"First of all, I would like to announce that we have a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Anaral Karadhras," there was a murmur of applause from the few who recognized her as Alysia's mother. "I would also like to announce, to First Years and anyone else who does not know, that the Dark Forest is strictly forbidden. And also, a special hello to our newest Sixth Year student, Alysia Karadhras." At this Alysia heard quiet applause and muttering from all of the tables. Dumbledore sat down again, and for the first time, Alysia focused her attention on the Sorting Hat.

It looked like an ordinary old hat, but she knew it was something more. Each of the founders of Hogwart's hat put a bit of him or herself into the hat, so the hat therefore determined which house each student would live in during his or her time at Hogwart's. Alysia knew she would be in Hufflepuff before the Sorting Ceremony began. She'd known it since her mother told her she would be attending Hogwart's, yet for a brief moment, she wondered what it would be like to be in Gryffindor with Harry, Ron and Hermione, or even in Slytherin with Draco and his goons. Still, Hufflepuff was her destiny, and as she half-heartedly listened to the hat's song and the first students being sorted, she knew there was nowhere else she wanted to be.

Professor McGonagall's voice startled Alysia, when she called her name. Alysia could see Harry, Ron and Hermione looking at her hopefully, and Draco sitting back in his seat with a smug look on his face. She hated to disappoint them so much.

"You don't have to, you know," the Hat said, as if talking directly to Alysia's brain. "You could be in either of their houses. You have the qualities for both. Ambition and courage, very noble of you. You're a difficult one to place, Miss Karadhras."

"But Hufflepuff is where I belong!" Alysia thought desperately.

"Perhaps for now. You may change your mind later on, and it won't be the first time. Very well, then. HUFFLEPUFF!" the Hat shouted, and the Hufflepuff table erupted into cheers. Harry, Ron and Hermione, though they looked rather confused, were also applauding, while Draco's face had gone from smug to sullen in seconds. A bit reluctantly, Alysia left the stool and walked over to the Hufflepuff table. A somewhat chubby girl with red hair immediately attached herself to Alysia's side.

"Hi! I'm Susan Bones! Welcome to Hufflepuff!" she exclaimed. "I'm glad you're in my house, Alysia, we have a lot of fun here." Alysia managed to force a smile at Susan as she began her feast, but still felt an ache of longing to be sitting with Harry, Ron and Hermione or even with Draco. But this was where she belonged.

After the feast had ended and Alysia was on her way up to the dormitory, Professor McGonagall stepped in front of her, blocking her way to the Hufflepuff Common Room. "Professors Dumbledore and Karadhras would like to have a word with you, Alysia," she said in a soft tone. Alysia nodded and followed Professor McGonagall to the gargoyle that guarded the entrance to Dumbledore's office. Professor McGonagall looked at the gargoyle and stated, "Fizzing Whizbee!" in a loud voice. The gargoyle moved aside and Alysia walked up to Professor Dumbledore's office. Amongst the pictures of the past headmasters and headmistresses of the school, he sat at his desk, sharing lemon drops with her mother, who sat on the other side of the desk. At her mother's feet lay a large black dog, whose tail immediately started wagging when Alysia entered the room.

"I don't believe it," she muttered, walking forward. "What are you doing here?"

Giving her a doggy smile, the dog slowly resumed the form of Sirius Black and reached to give Alysia a hug. "I plan on being around a lot more often, Alysia, now that I have a daughter here as well as a godson," he told her. She accepted his embrace reluctantly.

"You're not safe here, Daddy," she told him over his shoulder. "They'll find you and they'll. . .I don't want to know what they'll do!"

"Alysia," her mother began, but Professor Dumbledore spoke up.

"Alysia, you needn't worry about your father's safety while I am headmaster of this school. I am fully convinced of your father's innocence and, what's more, I will never knowingly allow Dementors within the walls of this castle. Your father is more than safe here," he promised. Alysia sighed.

"Have you told Harry yet?" Sirius asked, and Alysia shook her head adamantly.

"I haven't told anyone. I don't want to tell anyone. I don't want Harry and Ron and Hermione to just be my friends because of you, Dad," she stated. "It's hard enough making friends, but having to wonder whether your friends are that simply because of who your father is. . .I don't think I want to deal with that."

"She'll tell them when she's ready, Sirius," Anaral said softly, and she and Sirius exchanged a loving smile.

"Now, Alysia, I must admit I was a bit taken aback when you ended up in Hufflepuff," Professor Dumbledore stated. "You probably would have made quite a name for yourself in Gryffindor."

"I know," Alysia answered, wishing the questions would stop. "I just. . .well, Mum was in Hufflepuff, so I always assumed that's where I would be. And. . .I also thought that if I was in Gryffindor, people might figure me out too quickly."

"Alysia, you can't keep hiding from who you are!" Sirius exclaimed, taking his daughters hands in his own. "I want you to be happy and honest, just the way you were brought up to be." He looked down, suddenly uncomfortable, and Alysia could understand why. When she was only one year old, Sirius had been arrested for murdering thirteen people. He was, of course, not guilty of the crimes, but he had spent twelve years in the wizard prison of Azkaban for being an innocent man. His dark eyes still held the haunted look of a prisoner, and he was only just now beginning to return to the healthy look of his youth, with short black hair and gaunt, pale skin filling out to a healthy weight and color. It was this black hair that Alysia had inherited.

"I should be going to bed," she told the adults. "Classes start tomorrow." She accepted goodnight hugs and kisses from both of her parents, then left them to discuss things with Dumbledore. Walking through the long cold halls that led to Hufflepuff house, she admitted to herself that she also did not want to answer any more questions about her inability to be honest with anyone about her family and her past. Nor did she want to keep reassuring her father that it was not his fault he hadn't been around for her entire childhood, and that she didn't blame him. She was just happy to have him back now.

Her entire childhood, Alysia had been told that her father was an innocent man and that he loved her very much. That knowledge alone had been enough to help her keep loving the man who she so vaguely remembered singing her lullabies and telling her bedtime stories. When he was freed, three years prior, he had immediately sent an owl to her mother with a note attached, saying, "I'm free. I'll visit as soon as I can." Alysia remembered the happy tears at their reunion, and then realized that she was on a collision course with Severus Snape.

"Oh!" she exclaimed as the two narrowly avoided running into each other. The greasy-haired Potions master sneered down at her.

"Miss Karadhras, what are you doing out of bed?" he demanded.

"I had a meeting with Professor Dumbledore. You may ask him about it if you wish," she answered. "He's in his office now." Immediately she prayed that her father would have the forethought to change back into his canine form at the sound of someone approaching.

"And I'll assume that your. . .father was there as well?" Snape sneered. Alysia felt her face go hard with the strain of avoiding emotion. "You needn't lie to me, Miss Karadhras. I know your father will be around more than ever this year, watching you and Potter. . .his offspring. And, though it pains me not to do so, I have no plans to turn him over to the authorities."

Alysia stared at Snape, unsure whether she believed him. "I'm going to bed now, Professor. Excuse me," she stated in a colorless voice, brushing past him. Moments later, she was in the girls' dormitory in Hufflepuff. Susan Bones and the other girls had many questions to ask her, but Alysia simply changed into her pajamas and climbed into bed, to lie there and think about her predicament until heavy sleep closed her eyes.