.::*I created a new character named Ada Alucinor. My fic follows her through her seventh year at Hogwarts. Don't worry, all the characters are still there. Except for Cho. I don't like her so she's not here. This is going to be many many chapters long. You've been warned. I hope you like it. It might take me a few days to get the next chapter up because I'm rather lazy although I have plenty of time but it'll be up*::.
.::*This is rated R and you'll find out why in the later chapters*::.
.::*To my friends ~ If you're not in the first few chapters or don't get mentioned much although I promised you a spot, don't worry! You'll come in later. As you know, I've written more than 50 pages and it's still only the first week so there's the whole year left. Like I said, it's going to be very long. *big smile* Enjoy.*::.
~Just a note::: When I first started writing, a friend of mine and I were corresponding our fanfics and he wrote much faster than me so he planned out the first two chapters pretty much. I've worked in what he did into my story the best I could. Be lenient on me if you don't like it.~
Chapter 1 – A New School Year
A small barn owl swooped in through the window. It landed on the bed, dropped the letter it was carrying, and started nipping at the girl that was asleep. She stirred and groggily said, "Stupid bird. Let me sleep." The owl insisted on pecking her arm. She started flailing her arms and managed to catch the owl. "Ha! Caught you!" The owl gave the girl an affectionate nip on her hand. She patted the owl on the head and picked up the letter it had delivered. "Wonderful!" screeched the girl. "My Hogwarts letter!" Excitement filled her voice. She was a pale girl with bright blonde hair. Her blue-green eyes shone brightly as she read the letter.
"Due to circumstances unbeknownst to students…" she read aloud then interrupted herself. "Unbeknownst to students? What? Why can't we know?" She continued to read on. "Due to circumstances unbeknownst to students, the Hogwarts Express will be leaving at exactly eleven o' clock a.m. one day early." She gave a strange and confused look at the letter as if it was talking gibberish. "But then I get to go a day early. Oh, okay then. I don't care what the 'unbeknownst circumstances' are. That's fantastic!" Her voice shrieked with excitement so much, her owl nearly fell off its perch.
"Ada! Breakfast!" called a kind but tired voice from downstairs. Ada quickly made her way down the stairs still grasping her Hogwarts letter.
"What are you doing home?" she asked her mother.
"Oh. I called in sick today so we could get your supplies," replied her mother. "I trust you've received your letter already?" she asked. Ada held up the letter.
"Yeah. It says that the train is leaving a day early. It doesn't mention why though," Ada said curiously. Her mother motioned to a chair specifying that Ada should sit down to eat.
"Well, that's odd. I'm sure they have good reason," her mother said as she placed a plate of French toast in front of Ada. "I thought you'd like something other than 'whatever' for breakfast. It's not everyday you wake up before noon," her other smiled and took the letter from Ada's hand. She sat down and began to read it to herself.
"Quite a heavy load of books, don't you think?" questioned her mother.
"Oh," said Ada. "It's not that bad. Most of them stay in the common room. I don't end up carrying any more than about three books." Ada noticed her mother eyeing her suspiciously. "Don't worry! I do my work. Honest! You act as if all I do is goof off and play Quidditch," Ada mumbled through a bite of her French toast.
"That's only because that is all you do," laughed her mother. Ada didn't argue. Ada thought to herself about choosing between Quidditch and Professor Trelawny droning on about bad omens. It's really a simple and obvious choice. Being bored or playing an exciting game of Quidditch with… Ada's thoughts were interrupted.
"Ada," her mother said sternly. "Finish your breakfast and stop staring off into space. We only have a few hours to get your supplies and get you on the train. We don't even know how we're getting to Diagon Alley. Quickly now, come on."
Ada nodded and said, "Mum? Has Oliver called today?" Ada had been friends with Oliver Wood since before she could remember. Her mother told her they've always been inseparable.
"Ada…" her mother looked up from Ada's supply list. "He lives right next door. Open your window and talk to him. He doesn't need to call." Ada knew that. She didn't really know why she asked.
"Guess what, mum?" Ada's eyes got brighter when she spoke. As much as her mother liked Oliver and his friendship with her daughter, she didn't want to hear about him constantly. She knew it was about Oliver so she rolled her eyes before she answered. "What?" she questioned in an irritated tone. "Oliver got a job at Hogwarts. I get to see him all year round, now. He's taking over Madame Hooch's position. Great, isn't it?" Ada's voice revealed how excited she was. Her mother didn't express quite the same enthusiasm.
"Really? I would've never suspected that Oliver, of all people, would want to teach Quidditch," her voice full of sarcasm. Ada gave her a 'don't mock me' look.
"Shut up," she said, "I'm really excited for him. It's the next best thing to playing Quidditch professionally."
"Wasn't he offered a position for that one team…er…what's the name?"
"Puddlemere United."
"Yeah, that's it. What happened with that?"
"Oh. Surprisingly enough, he turned it down. He'd like to go straight into playing professionally but his mum said that he should make a smooth and comfortable transaction out of school. She said it would be easier for him to get used to the wizarding world outside of school. He was upset at first but only because he knows she's right," Ada gave a faint smile.
"Ah. I see. So he'll work at the school until he feels like quitting to play pro?" Ada's mother asked.
"Aye." Answered Ada. Her mother sighed.
"You're happy that you get to see him and be in his company. That's why you're so 'excited for him'."
"But I am excited for him. I'd be even more excited for him if he didn't turn down the Puddlemere United position. But," Ada paused to eat some toast, "like I said, his parents think it's best that he turned it down." Ada's mother just looked at her. "I'll go get ready for Diagon Alley. I'll ask Oliver how he thinks we should get there on such short notice and we'll leave in…let's say…" Ada looked at the clock, "thirty minutes?" Her mother chuckled and waved Ada out of the room. As Ada turned to the stairs, she heard her mother mumbling something about Oliver, Quidditch, and lovey-dovey nonsense. Ada smiled and bolted up the stairs and quickly changed clothes.
They didn't usually leave for Diagon Alley so late. They usually took their time on the train and stayed in a nice inn until she got her letter. No, they couldn't do that this year. Her mother didn't have the time. She was experiencing something odd. Ada had read about her mother's condition to be of more help. It's a very rare condition called 'Stunted Talentus'. It meant that whoever was diagnosed with it, would have extremely weak magical talent until the age of thirty. Most cases involved those who realised the symptoms closer to forty years of age but thirty is the youngest age recorded. Ada thought that she was the only one with magical talent. Ada grew up thinking she was muggle-born when really she was half and half. Her mother was of legal wizarding age but she never had proper training.
"She's taking classes, though," Ada said to Oliver. They were both sitting at their windows, talking.
"So when will she learn to apparate and disapparate? That is…without disappearing or splitting herself in half," asked Oliver.
Ada laughed. "She's not interested in that yet. She's too afraid she would do that. She's just taking basic classes along with a few advanced ones that I'm helping her with. So how are we getting to Diagon Alley?"
"Oh, erm, Mum suggested floo powder. It's messy but it's easy. Want to race?"
"Sounds good. So, floo powder it is. And of course I'll race."
They mounted their broomsticks and almost immediately, Oliver was gawking and awing over Ada's Firebolt.
"I see you've noticed," commented Ada, smiling.
"Yeah. I mean, I've got a Nimbus 2001 but the Firebolt is the top-notch model. How'd you get it?" Oliver asked.
"I've been working extra hours at Zonko's. Fred and George make fun of me every time they come in but they'll get theirs," she laughed.
"What are you planning?"
"I work in a joke shop, don't I?" She gave him a look as if she were surprised he even had to ask.
"Right. Right. Sometimes I forget I'm not talking to a girl," he smirked. Ada burst with laughter.
"Oh, you'll pay for that one, Wood. Let's race."
Off they flew. At first they were steady going. Oliver started to pull ahead.
"Oh no you don't!" shouted Ada. She shoved her broom forward and pulled in front of him to cut him off. "Ha!" she yelled behind her. The turning point was coming up. All Ada had to do was circle around the tree three times and fly back to her window. She could win this race with ease. She came out of circling the tree and Oliver was right behind her. She lunged forward. Oliver still followed. They were neck-and-neck again. They looked at each other, smiled and looked forward. Ada pushed ahead and landed gracefully in her room with just enough time to see Oliver land in his.
"I'll beat you one of these days," he laughed.
Back downstairs, Ada was talking to her mother.
"I'm ready when you are. The Woods are probably there already. Oliver's parents are only coming along to see you. Oliver and I are gonna go off by ourselves and buy my supplies. We'll meet you somewhere when we're ready to go," Ada explained.
Of course that would be the plan. The two of them were inseparable. Her mother would expect nothing less. She was happy she was getting the chance to see Oliver's parents, though. Ada's parents had been good friends with Oliver's ever since the Alucinors moved in. Ms. Alucinor hadn't seen Mr. and Ms. Wood in nearly three months. They had taken a trip to Arabia to study the wizarding world over there. Oliver's parents both worked at the Wizarding Cultures Museum. It was their job to go to different parts of the world and observe the differences between the different cultures. Ms. Alucinor thought of how fun it would be to ride a magic carpet. They're most likely on one right now she thought. Realising she was still in a conversation with her daughter, she replied.
"How are we getting there, Ada?"
"Floo powder, mum. It's messy, sure, but we…er…you can use a cleansing charm. I don't want to get a warning for using magic outside of school, now, do I?"
"Oh please, Ada. Don't act innocent. When you're away at school, I get an owl at least twice a week telling of some outrageous thing you did. Really, Ada. Removing toilet seats from the unused bathroom and sending them to professors you don't fancy, such as Snape, is silly."
Ada thought back. Ah, yes. Good times, indeed. Ada laughed.
"They earned them. He's quite the smelly teacher in more ways than one, mum. Besides, we didn't get in trouble for that. Hufflepuff lost a bit of points that year if I remember correctly. Although, after that, Dumbledore always chuckled when he passed us by in the corridors. Did you know we wrote on them and made them belch? Haha. Peeves helped us out on making them talk. It's his voice singing that song he carries on with. It said, 'Old professor you're ugly but what can we do? Everyone says you belong in a zoo. If you—'"
"Thank you, Ada," he mother said, cutting her off, "I thought Peeves wanted to get students in trouble? Not help them make trouble."
"Oh, he likes us. Not necessarily Wood cause he was always practising Quidditch instead of making pranks. And added to that, he's a teacher now. Peeves'll love that. But no, he likes us. He was poking fun at us, so we poked fun at him. It was this big thing. Filch had to break it up. Threatened us with detentions, he did. After that, Peeves always wanted to know what we were up to and if he could help."
Her mother looked annoyed.
"Go gather your things and we'll be out, then."
***
When they arrived at Diagon Alley, Ada and Oliver immediately disappeared into the Quidditch shop. They didn't bother with a cleansing charm.
"Just like always," Ms Alucinor muttered. "Ah! Eva! How wonderful it is to see you! How was Arabia? And where's Merrel?"
Eva Wood, Oliver's mother, had just emerged from Gringott's Bank and walked up to Ginger Alucinor.
"Oh, we had a fantastic time. The carpets are always so much fun. A Chinese Fireball, unfortunately, bit Merrel when we were in a village that sold Oriental cloaks. The dragon belonged to the shop owner. We got two free cloaks as his apology. So, Merrel couldn't make it today, I'm afraid. He's still a bit woozy."
"Oh dear. That's awful. I send him my best. I'm glad you had a good time up until that point."
Eva looked around. "Where are the kids? Are we left to have a drink in the Leaky Cauldron and a conversation not about Quidditch? A shame, that is."
Ginger laughed. "They ran off into the Quidditch shop. They'll meet us back here when they're ready to get to the station."
Eva snorted.
"Just like always. Well, let's get some butterbeers, Ginger. You can tell me about these classes you've been taking. Oliver's written me about them once or twice. Wonderful news!"
Ginger and Eva made their way into the Leaky Cauldron while they waited for Oliver and Ada to finish Ada's school shopping.
"Blimey, I wish I could afford that Magpies poster," mentioned Ada as her and Oliver walked out of the Quidditch shop. Her favourite Quidditch teams were the Ballycastle Bats, Montrose Magpies, and the Kenmare Kestrels.
"Fifty galleons!" she yelled. "Fifty! That's a tad bit overpriced for a giant piece of paper covered in scribbly ink."
"Come this Christmas, you might be seeing that giant piece of paper covered in scribbly ink on your wall." Oliver winked at Ada as he walked into Flourish and Blott's.
"No way!" Ada exclaimed, "Oliver, you can't afford that! Not even on Hogwarts pay!"
She followed him.
"It's only fifty galleons. By Christmas, I'll have plenty to afford it." He read the first book on her list and took it from the shelf. Bad Omens and Signs of Awful Death and Most Horrible Destruction by Lorena Endis Nearus. He gave it a disgusted look and asked, "Tell me again why you're taking Advanced Divinity?"
"I don't know. It wasn't my choice. I only got to pick Quidditch History and Transfiguration and Charms. I don't care for anything else. I would've taken Care of Magical Creatures but I didn't have room for it. I think it has something to do with Fred, George, Emily, and me ditching it so many times before. I have to remember to stop that. But you can't expect to buy me that poster among other presents." Ada threw the book carelessly into her cauldron and continued to follow Oliver while he was weaving in and out of the crowds in the small shop.
"You can't expect it, either." He winked and pulled a few more books off the shelf.
"Smart ass," Ada mumbled. She lightly punched him in the arm.
They stepped out of Flourish and Blott's and they heard the clock chime.
"Well, it's ten o' clock. We better find our mums and make our way to the station," Oliver noted as he tugged on Ada's sleeve to pull her away from the Quidditch shop's window. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but we have to leave it," he said, clearly surprised with himself.
"Erm…right. Uh huh. Yeah, I'm coming," Ada answered trying her hardest to peel her sight away from the newly sewn Quidditch robes next to the drawings and pictures of the new broomstick model prototype.
Eva and Ginger stood up when Oliver and Ada walked into the Leaky Cauldron from the back entrance.
"Ah, the lovebirds have arrived," Eva whispered to Ginger. They both gave a faint chuckle but quickly stopped as Oliver and Ada walked up to them.
"What are you laughing about?" Ada asked.
"Oh nothing. Just a little in-joke between Eva and me," Ginger answered. Eva and Ginger looked at each other and smiled.
"Well, we're ready to go to the station. Ada's book list is ridiculous. She's got Quidditch History with me though. I want her to overtake my keeper and captain position."
At Oliver's words, Eva and Ginger busted with laughter. "Sorry. Erm…what about Potter?" his mother asked.
"Oh. Oliver sent him an owl to ask if he wanted the position but he turned it down saying that he loved Quidditch but he's not ready to be captain," Ada answered.
"Well, if he doesn't want it because of the responsibility it holds, why should you have it, Ada?" asked Ginger.
"I don't pop off when it comes to Quidditch, mum." Ada's voice had a sense of stern determination in it. Oliver looked at her admiringly.
"We're off, then," Ginger spoke. "Ada, your father's meeting us at the station to see you off. He's bringing your things. He requested an extended lunch break for today. He still can't stay long though, so we better hurry." Ada nodded and turned to Oliver.
"See you on the train, then, Oliver, " she said.
Oliver leaned forward as if to hug her but backed away and answered, "Right. Just look for the crowd making all the noise. In other words, look for the twins." He smiled and left with his mother. Ginger turned to Ada.
"Uh huh," Ginger spoke under her breath.
"Huh?" Ada asked, confused.
***
They arrived at King's Cross Station and met up with Ada's father, Mark Alucinor. "Hey, kid," he said as he hugged her.
"Hey, dad. Thanks for taking your lunch break to do this." Ada motioned to her trolley with her trunk and her owl, Fearil, strapped to it.
"Aw, well. It's not a problem." Mark looked at the clock. "Train leaves in ten minutes. Go ahead onto the platform. Love 'ya, kid."
Ada hugged her parents goodbye. She ran towards the wall between platforms nine and ten. As she passed through the gateway, she heard her parents call out that they would send an owl as soon as possible.
She came out on the other side of the wall that was Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. The sight of the bright red and black train engine with the Hogwarts crest always made Ada smile. She found the twins, Fred and George Weasley, almost immediately. They were trying to climb to the top of the train. The train's footmen kept pulling on their feet. She didn't, however, spot Oliver anywhere in the large group of people pointing and laughing as the twins quickly lost their shoes and started to lose their pants. As soon as Fred and George spotted Ada, they jumped down and ran over to her, leaving the footmen out of breath from jumping up and down. They greeted her in their goofy manner and led her to the compartment they had reserved.
Emily Rogers, Ada's best friend other than Oliver, was already in the compartment. She was the only Ravenclaw in their small clique. Emily was clearly meant to be in Ravenclaw even though she acted like a Gryffindor. She was a tall, thin, attractive girl with long brown hair, blue-green eyes, and pale skin. She nearly jumped for joy at the sight of Ada.
"Ada!" she screamed. "Yay! It's so good to see you!" Emily and Ada gave each other big hugs.
"It's great to see you too, Emily. I would've written you but Fearil was sick most of the summer so he couldn't deliver anything. So, sadly enough, I had to spend my whole summer spending extra time with Oliver."
Clearly, Ada was being sarcastic. Fred patted Ada on the shoulder. "Well, I for one know that spending all summer with him would be a blast."
Here it comes Ada thought. "Fred! George! Don't fly away from the bludgers! Hit them at players! No! Not our team! Harry, I know you're nervous and don't think all the responsibility is on you but if you don't catch the snitch, I'll kill you. Practise, practise, practise," Fred said, imitating Wood. "I just might turn mad and think he's a bludger and beat him with a club. Or at least I could use that as my excuse," added George.
"No. No one would believe you. You're already mad," Emily laughed. "And besides, Ada's the same way so I'm sure they had a blast playing Quidditch." Emily glanced at Ada.
"Thank you, Emily. Yes, I did have fun this summer. Quidditch was great," Ada tried to sound serious but failed. George was poking her side.
"Yeah. Quidditch was great. Among other things," chuckled Emily. Fred and George laughed and Ada blushed.
"Shut up, Emily. It's obvious enough that I like --" Ada stopped suddenly when she heard footsteps. She turned around.
"It's obvious that you like what?" It was Oliver. Ada couldn't help but hope he hadn't heard too much.
"Oh…uh…er…nothing. It's nothing," Ada stumbled across her words. She gave a nervous smile. Emily and twins exploded with laughter.
"Clearly, I've missed something," said Oliver, eyeing the foursome suspiciously. "I have to ride in the teacher's car so I can't ride with you lot. Here. Ada, give me Fearil and I'll take him to the luggage car. It's on my way. Train leaves in about five minutes. See you at the school."
And with that, Oliver was gone and everyone was seated waiting for the train to pull out of the station.
For the whole trip, Ada was poked fun at by Fred and George with Emily chiming in every now and then. They were making rhyming songs and little jokes.
As Ada stared out the window at the grassy hills rolling by, followed by the dark blue lakes, she lost her focus watching the sun slowly set. All she could think about was what could possibly come of her and Oliver's friendship.