Just a little note before the story: I decided that it would be interesting
to see Harry Potter through the eyes of someone else. In the books you get
to read what Harry thinks so you don't really get to see what others think
of him and his frustrations since they don't know what is actually going on
in his head. So I decided to show that, but then I'd have to use one of the
characters in the Harry Potter books and I didn't want to do that since I'd
feel obligated to make the character exactly the way he or she is in the
book. Therefore, I made a new character and the story is mostly focused on
this character. Also, if you do read this please write a review! Thanks and
I hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer - Obviously I didn't make up the characters that are in J. K. Rowling's books but this is just a fanfic with the plot totally and completely original. It makes references to characters and situations from the books and the descriptions are similar to those in the book but they are original as well.
Chapter One: Remus' Relative
Oscie sat at the breakfast table with her parents as they read The New York Times. She held in her own hand a book, Healing Potions, although she wasn't reading. She was staring at her parents to see when they would set the paper down for a moment and she could get a word in.
"Did you hear about the bombing of an embassy in Africa?" her mom asked her dad without looking up.
"No, I didn't get to that page yet," he replied. He moved the paper and looked around the table for his cup of coffee and Oscie took this opportunity to talk.
"Dad?" she said hopefully. He looked up at her and she smiled. "When can I go to Transylvania? I need to get supplies before school starts in a month."
"Going all the way to Transylvania is really inconvenient. Why must you go there to get your books? Can't you order them online or through a catalog?" her dad said with a sigh. Her mom had now put down her paper as well to help make the decision.
Oscie matched her dad's sigh and fought the urge to roll her eyes. "How many times must I tell you that our world doesn't work like that? I must go to Transylvania and to a special shop that leads to an alternate road that only we can reach," Oscie explained for the millionth time. Being a witch with Muggle (non magical parents) was frustrating since her parents were too caught up with their jobs to remember all the things she said about her world.
"Can you get a ride with one of your friends?" her mom asked.
"None of them live in New York City. We're from all over America and my closest friend is in Maryland. I have a lot of stuff I need this year and it'd be best to get it before I leave. I need new dress robes, more ink, a few quills, books for this year, and some ingredients for potions that we'll be doing," Oscie explained. Her parents' blank expressions told her volumes about their lack of interest in the world in which she belonged.
"Why not go when you get to Europe?" her dad asked. She was going to be sent to Europe for the next year to live with her uncle (her mom's brother) that she had only met once since her parents were going to Japan for their job.
"But I don't know where their magical shops are," Oscie protested.
"I'm sure your uncle will," her mom stated. Oscie's shoulders sank as she realized the battle was over. Her parents got up from the table to leave. They were already dressed in their business suits and walked over to the front door.
"Have a nice day, Oz," her dad said just before he walked out of the house with his briefcase.
"Make sure to call if you're going somewhere or leave a note," her mom called to her just as the front door closed and she heard the key turn in the lock as she was locked in the house for the day.
"Where would I be off to? Not like I have friends in town," she said to herself and retreated to her room. She had to pack the rest of her belongings she would be taking with her to England.
Her room was very different from the rest of the house. She had two posters on a wall of her favorite Quidditch (a game played by witches and wizards on brooms) teams that were more like movies in that the people in the pictures moved about the photo and made magnificent moves on their brooms over the Quidditch field. On her desk were stacks of books for school instead of a computer like most normal teenagers have. In the corner of her room was a table with a cage sitting on it for her red and white owl, Fox. Owls are used in the wizard world to send messages to other witches and wizards. On the top of her dresser she had jars of ingredients for potions and her cauldron next to them to make potions. At the moment she had a potion brewing and it was spewing a sweet smelling fragrance into the room.
Oscie gave the cauldron a stir with a ladle and then turned her attention to Fox who was cooing in the corner. He had two letters tied to his leg and she quickly went over to his cage.
"Good job, Fox," she complimented, stroking his head as she untied the letters. She sat on her bed to read them.
Hey Oscie! Nooo! Your news is horrible! Can't you get out of moving somehow?! I mean it'll be your 6th year at Salem Academy and there is no way you can move! Come live with my family or something, you know you're welcome. I know, I know.I'm going ballistic but there has to be some loophole! We always find them in everything. Just promise me you'll complain to those Muggle parents of yours and get them to agree to you staying. A.S.A.P.
Jen Jones
Oscie frowned and refolded the note. There was nothing she could do and she knew this because she had tried to get around moving every way that anyone would ever think of. Her response to Jen was short but explained the circumstances and that she hated it just as much, if not more.
She then turned her attention to the other note before sending Fox off with the response to Jen.
Dear Oscie, I'm sorry this is going to be very vague but you'll have to use floo power to get here. I do hope you have some there. Well just leave at precisely 4pm (your time) and say the words "Grimmauld Place".
Your Uncle
Oscie shuddered at the thought of having to use floo powder when there were better ways to travel such as by broomstick. She loved to fly and even had a place on her school's Quidditch team as a beater (one of the rather dangerous positions since bludgers were getting whacked in her direction and she had to try and hit them away from others).
Oscie quickly jotted a note to her uncle acknowledging the airport and tied it and her note to Jen on Fox's leg. "Alright Fox, take this note to Jen in Maryland and then take this one to my uncle. When you get there stay with him until I get there, okay?" she said. Fox brushed his head against her hand to let her know he understood and without a noise flew out the window. Oscie watched him until he was out of sight and sighed. Now she had nobody in the house that understood the magical world in the slightest.
She went back to her cauldron and gave it another swirl. It seemed to be almost done. The color that had originally started as yellow was now a dark red and very thick. Oscie pulled out one of the potions books and opened it to the marked page and looked for the last ingredient to add. She found a jar of bat's hair on the dresser and pulled out two strands, dropped them in, and then stirred three times clockwise. The potion turned a jet black, the fragrance disappeared, and it got thicker. Now the potion was complete and she poured it into another bowl so she could pack her cauldron away.
Students aren't allowed to do magic outside of school by order of the AMM (American Ministry of Magic) so she couldn't use her wand to practice or just to do magic for fun. Brewing potions was allowed since it didn't require magic with a wand, just a lot of skill and it was at your own risk since messing up in the slightest way could cause some potions to explode or be toxic. Oscie prided herself in her potions and was the best in her grade at the Potions class at Salem Academy.
Oscie continued to pack her clothes and items and soon had a suitcase of clothes and in the second one she began to put her magical items. She pulled out her most prized possession, an invisibility cloak. Her grandfather had been a wizard and had given her his cloak when she got her letter from Salem Academy at the age of eleven inviting her to learn magic. She wrapped all the other items with the cloak and then closed the suitcase.
When she finished she sat on her bed and looked around at the bare room. It was now more definite than anything - she was going away to a new place and away from all she had ever known.
"Well this is it," her dad said looking at her. She was wearing normal street clothes (jeans and a shirt) since she had no idea where she would be appearing. Oscie gave him a huge hug.
"I'll miss you guys," she said as a tear slid from her eye. She was more upset at having to leave Salem Academy but knew that she would eventually miss her parents. They weren't around much so it wouldn't be that different but she figured it would be weird not seeing them for a whole year.
"We'll miss you too," her mom said, joining in on the embrace. Oscie pulled away. They were standing in the living room in front of the fireplace and it was about two minutes until four.
"Here, I made this for you," she said picking up the bowl of the black potion. She handed it to them and they looked apprehensively at it. "It's for putting on leather. It keeps it from ever scuffing and I figured that you might like it for your shoes or brief cases or something."
"Thank you, Oz. Did you make it?" her dad asked in amazement. She nodded and looked at the clock. It was about time.
"I guess this is it and I'll see you in a year," Oscie stated. Her parents hugged her one last time and she stepped up to the fireplace with her bags. She grabbed a handful of gray powder from a bag and threw it into the fire. The flames turned green and there was an audible gasp from her parents. She pulled her luggage with her into the fire and felt a tingling, warm feeling all around her. She turned around to face out and said, "Grimmauld Place". The last glimpse she got of her parents was of them standing there with their mouths hanging open. Immediately she felt a spinning sensation and was forced to close her eyes to keep her composure. The spinning lasted for a little longer than usual and then gradually slowed down and finally stopped. She was now in the fireplace of an unfamiliar room and could see a figure standing in the room through the flames. Oscie stepped out of the fireplace with her bags and noticed the room was dingy and dark but was unmistakably the kitchen. The cupboards were of old dark wood and were even darker with what appeared to be stains and chunks missing from some parts. The counters looked unfit to prepare food on and the floor was scuffed and covered with a rug that was just as dirty as everything else appeared to be. The figure that she had seen through the flames was standing at the far side of the room and turned when he heard the roar of the fire when Oscie had appeared. The man had mostly gray hair but there was still some light brown on his head. His black wizard robes were shabby and had faded from black to gray. He looked younger than she had expected and even though his hair was gray his face appeared youthful.
"Oscie!" he exclaimed happily. He looked different from the last time she had seen him but this was unmistakably her uncle.
"Uncle Remus!" she said in a greeting. She set her stuff down and even though it was a bit awkward she gave him a hug that seemed to take him by surprise.
"It's been a long time since I've seen you and I must say I wasn't expecting that letter from your parents," Remus said. Oscie shrugged slightly but kept glancing at the room around them. Remus appeared to notice and commented, "You're lucky you came here this summer. This house used to look worse if you can imagine that." He chuckled slightly and Oscie smiled.
"Do you live here?" she asked.
"Yes and no. I work here in a sense but I stay here most of the time as well. It's slightly hard to explain actually," he answered, puzzling Oscie even more. Just then Fox flew through the open door and squawked.
"Fox! Oh, I missed you," she exclaimed as he perched on her arm.
"Is that his name? I didn't know it and he seemed a bit put out by that," Remus commented as Oscie stroked the bird. "I'd normally take you on a tour of the house but with the state it's in I don't think would be a good idea. There are a few others that are your age here but they're upstairs. I think they could answer your questions better than I," Remus said.
"Alright," Oscie said and followed him from the kitchen into the dining room. It was in the same state the kitchen was and she didn't stay there long enough to take in the whole room. They then passed up along a long staircase that was lined with pictures that were covered with dusty curtains and a few house elf heads that were stuffed and stuck on the wall. They reached a platform and Remus led her to one of the doors and knocked softly. Oscie noted that his mannerisms were gentle and felt a little more at ease even though the house was in shambles.
"Go ahead on in," Remus said. "This is the girl's room and there will only be Hermione in there most likely. I must go downstairs because there is a meeting I must attend. I'm sorry I couldn't stay longer and I'm sure you're very confused but Hermione will undoubtedly fill you in." With those words Remus disappeared back down the stairs and Oscie was left with her luggage and questions at the door.
Oscie opened the door apprehensively and found only one girl in the room sitting on the bed reading. She had bushy brown hair and appeared to be about the same age as Oscie. Her clothes were just black witch robes with a skirt and a shirt. She was reading a book but looked up when Oscie opened the door.
"Hello," Oscie said. "Sorry to disturb you but Uncle Remus told me to just go on in. I don't know if you heard his knock or not."
"Oh you must be Oscie. Lupin told us you were coming. I'm Hermione and right now I'm the only one here but it won't be that way for long," Hermione said as she jumped to her feet and helped Oscie with her bags.
"Thanks," Oscie said as they set the bags down and were finally able to sit down on the two beds in the room. This room was relatively cleaner than the kitchen but was by far from being clean. Oscie reached into her bag and pulled out a bottle of a potion she had made and set it next to her on the bed.
"What's that?" Hermione asked.
"Oh, it's just a potion I made over summer break. It's the Constituary potion. It helps you to feel content and at the moment I'm so confused that I figured it might help me to sort out the questions I want to ask," Oscie replied.
"Did you make it? Because that's a very difficult potion to brew," Hermione said, slightly impressed. Oscie smiled a little embarrassed.
"Yes. I was top in my class at Salem Academy," Oscie replied.
"Oh of course! That's America's witch and wizard institution in Massachusetts. I read about it in one of my books, Magical Learning Communities Around the World. I suppose you'll be going to Hogwarts then. That's our school in England and I'm first in my class as well," Hermione exclaimed. Oscie took a big gulp of the vibrant orange potion and then closed her eyes as she felt the warm sensation travel through her body.
"Would you like some? It's really delicious despite the color," Oscie offered.
"Er.no thanks," Hermione said. By look on Hermione's face Oscie had known the answer before she spoke. "So you said you had questions?"
"Oh, right. I have a whole lot that might take a very long time to ask," Oscie replied with an apologetic smile. Hermione laughed.
"Don't worry. We have plenty of time," she said.
Disclaimer - Obviously I didn't make up the characters that are in J. K. Rowling's books but this is just a fanfic with the plot totally and completely original. It makes references to characters and situations from the books and the descriptions are similar to those in the book but they are original as well.
Chapter One: Remus' Relative
Oscie sat at the breakfast table with her parents as they read The New York Times. She held in her own hand a book, Healing Potions, although she wasn't reading. She was staring at her parents to see when they would set the paper down for a moment and she could get a word in.
"Did you hear about the bombing of an embassy in Africa?" her mom asked her dad without looking up.
"No, I didn't get to that page yet," he replied. He moved the paper and looked around the table for his cup of coffee and Oscie took this opportunity to talk.
"Dad?" she said hopefully. He looked up at her and she smiled. "When can I go to Transylvania? I need to get supplies before school starts in a month."
"Going all the way to Transylvania is really inconvenient. Why must you go there to get your books? Can't you order them online or through a catalog?" her dad said with a sigh. Her mom had now put down her paper as well to help make the decision.
Oscie matched her dad's sigh and fought the urge to roll her eyes. "How many times must I tell you that our world doesn't work like that? I must go to Transylvania and to a special shop that leads to an alternate road that only we can reach," Oscie explained for the millionth time. Being a witch with Muggle (non magical parents) was frustrating since her parents were too caught up with their jobs to remember all the things she said about her world.
"Can you get a ride with one of your friends?" her mom asked.
"None of them live in New York City. We're from all over America and my closest friend is in Maryland. I have a lot of stuff I need this year and it'd be best to get it before I leave. I need new dress robes, more ink, a few quills, books for this year, and some ingredients for potions that we'll be doing," Oscie explained. Her parents' blank expressions told her volumes about their lack of interest in the world in which she belonged.
"Why not go when you get to Europe?" her dad asked. She was going to be sent to Europe for the next year to live with her uncle (her mom's brother) that she had only met once since her parents were going to Japan for their job.
"But I don't know where their magical shops are," Oscie protested.
"I'm sure your uncle will," her mom stated. Oscie's shoulders sank as she realized the battle was over. Her parents got up from the table to leave. They were already dressed in their business suits and walked over to the front door.
"Have a nice day, Oz," her dad said just before he walked out of the house with his briefcase.
"Make sure to call if you're going somewhere or leave a note," her mom called to her just as the front door closed and she heard the key turn in the lock as she was locked in the house for the day.
"Where would I be off to? Not like I have friends in town," she said to herself and retreated to her room. She had to pack the rest of her belongings she would be taking with her to England.
Her room was very different from the rest of the house. She had two posters on a wall of her favorite Quidditch (a game played by witches and wizards on brooms) teams that were more like movies in that the people in the pictures moved about the photo and made magnificent moves on their brooms over the Quidditch field. On her desk were stacks of books for school instead of a computer like most normal teenagers have. In the corner of her room was a table with a cage sitting on it for her red and white owl, Fox. Owls are used in the wizard world to send messages to other witches and wizards. On the top of her dresser she had jars of ingredients for potions and her cauldron next to them to make potions. At the moment she had a potion brewing and it was spewing a sweet smelling fragrance into the room.
Oscie gave the cauldron a stir with a ladle and then turned her attention to Fox who was cooing in the corner. He had two letters tied to his leg and she quickly went over to his cage.
"Good job, Fox," she complimented, stroking his head as she untied the letters. She sat on her bed to read them.
Hey Oscie! Nooo! Your news is horrible! Can't you get out of moving somehow?! I mean it'll be your 6th year at Salem Academy and there is no way you can move! Come live with my family or something, you know you're welcome. I know, I know.I'm going ballistic but there has to be some loophole! We always find them in everything. Just promise me you'll complain to those Muggle parents of yours and get them to agree to you staying. A.S.A.P.
Jen Jones
Oscie frowned and refolded the note. There was nothing she could do and she knew this because she had tried to get around moving every way that anyone would ever think of. Her response to Jen was short but explained the circumstances and that she hated it just as much, if not more.
She then turned her attention to the other note before sending Fox off with the response to Jen.
Dear Oscie, I'm sorry this is going to be very vague but you'll have to use floo power to get here. I do hope you have some there. Well just leave at precisely 4pm (your time) and say the words "Grimmauld Place".
Your Uncle
Oscie shuddered at the thought of having to use floo powder when there were better ways to travel such as by broomstick. She loved to fly and even had a place on her school's Quidditch team as a beater (one of the rather dangerous positions since bludgers were getting whacked in her direction and she had to try and hit them away from others).
Oscie quickly jotted a note to her uncle acknowledging the airport and tied it and her note to Jen on Fox's leg. "Alright Fox, take this note to Jen in Maryland and then take this one to my uncle. When you get there stay with him until I get there, okay?" she said. Fox brushed his head against her hand to let her know he understood and without a noise flew out the window. Oscie watched him until he was out of sight and sighed. Now she had nobody in the house that understood the magical world in the slightest.
She went back to her cauldron and gave it another swirl. It seemed to be almost done. The color that had originally started as yellow was now a dark red and very thick. Oscie pulled out one of the potions books and opened it to the marked page and looked for the last ingredient to add. She found a jar of bat's hair on the dresser and pulled out two strands, dropped them in, and then stirred three times clockwise. The potion turned a jet black, the fragrance disappeared, and it got thicker. Now the potion was complete and she poured it into another bowl so she could pack her cauldron away.
Students aren't allowed to do magic outside of school by order of the AMM (American Ministry of Magic) so she couldn't use her wand to practice or just to do magic for fun. Brewing potions was allowed since it didn't require magic with a wand, just a lot of skill and it was at your own risk since messing up in the slightest way could cause some potions to explode or be toxic. Oscie prided herself in her potions and was the best in her grade at the Potions class at Salem Academy.
Oscie continued to pack her clothes and items and soon had a suitcase of clothes and in the second one she began to put her magical items. She pulled out her most prized possession, an invisibility cloak. Her grandfather had been a wizard and had given her his cloak when she got her letter from Salem Academy at the age of eleven inviting her to learn magic. She wrapped all the other items with the cloak and then closed the suitcase.
When she finished she sat on her bed and looked around at the bare room. It was now more definite than anything - she was going away to a new place and away from all she had ever known.
"Well this is it," her dad said looking at her. She was wearing normal street clothes (jeans and a shirt) since she had no idea where she would be appearing. Oscie gave him a huge hug.
"I'll miss you guys," she said as a tear slid from her eye. She was more upset at having to leave Salem Academy but knew that she would eventually miss her parents. They weren't around much so it wouldn't be that different but she figured it would be weird not seeing them for a whole year.
"We'll miss you too," her mom said, joining in on the embrace. Oscie pulled away. They were standing in the living room in front of the fireplace and it was about two minutes until four.
"Here, I made this for you," she said picking up the bowl of the black potion. She handed it to them and they looked apprehensively at it. "It's for putting on leather. It keeps it from ever scuffing and I figured that you might like it for your shoes or brief cases or something."
"Thank you, Oz. Did you make it?" her dad asked in amazement. She nodded and looked at the clock. It was about time.
"I guess this is it and I'll see you in a year," Oscie stated. Her parents hugged her one last time and she stepped up to the fireplace with her bags. She grabbed a handful of gray powder from a bag and threw it into the fire. The flames turned green and there was an audible gasp from her parents. She pulled her luggage with her into the fire and felt a tingling, warm feeling all around her. She turned around to face out and said, "Grimmauld Place". The last glimpse she got of her parents was of them standing there with their mouths hanging open. Immediately she felt a spinning sensation and was forced to close her eyes to keep her composure. The spinning lasted for a little longer than usual and then gradually slowed down and finally stopped. She was now in the fireplace of an unfamiliar room and could see a figure standing in the room through the flames. Oscie stepped out of the fireplace with her bags and noticed the room was dingy and dark but was unmistakably the kitchen. The cupboards were of old dark wood and were even darker with what appeared to be stains and chunks missing from some parts. The counters looked unfit to prepare food on and the floor was scuffed and covered with a rug that was just as dirty as everything else appeared to be. The figure that she had seen through the flames was standing at the far side of the room and turned when he heard the roar of the fire when Oscie had appeared. The man had mostly gray hair but there was still some light brown on his head. His black wizard robes were shabby and had faded from black to gray. He looked younger than she had expected and even though his hair was gray his face appeared youthful.
"Oscie!" he exclaimed happily. He looked different from the last time she had seen him but this was unmistakably her uncle.
"Uncle Remus!" she said in a greeting. She set her stuff down and even though it was a bit awkward she gave him a hug that seemed to take him by surprise.
"It's been a long time since I've seen you and I must say I wasn't expecting that letter from your parents," Remus said. Oscie shrugged slightly but kept glancing at the room around them. Remus appeared to notice and commented, "You're lucky you came here this summer. This house used to look worse if you can imagine that." He chuckled slightly and Oscie smiled.
"Do you live here?" she asked.
"Yes and no. I work here in a sense but I stay here most of the time as well. It's slightly hard to explain actually," he answered, puzzling Oscie even more. Just then Fox flew through the open door and squawked.
"Fox! Oh, I missed you," she exclaimed as he perched on her arm.
"Is that his name? I didn't know it and he seemed a bit put out by that," Remus commented as Oscie stroked the bird. "I'd normally take you on a tour of the house but with the state it's in I don't think would be a good idea. There are a few others that are your age here but they're upstairs. I think they could answer your questions better than I," Remus said.
"Alright," Oscie said and followed him from the kitchen into the dining room. It was in the same state the kitchen was and she didn't stay there long enough to take in the whole room. They then passed up along a long staircase that was lined with pictures that were covered with dusty curtains and a few house elf heads that were stuffed and stuck on the wall. They reached a platform and Remus led her to one of the doors and knocked softly. Oscie noted that his mannerisms were gentle and felt a little more at ease even though the house was in shambles.
"Go ahead on in," Remus said. "This is the girl's room and there will only be Hermione in there most likely. I must go downstairs because there is a meeting I must attend. I'm sorry I couldn't stay longer and I'm sure you're very confused but Hermione will undoubtedly fill you in." With those words Remus disappeared back down the stairs and Oscie was left with her luggage and questions at the door.
Oscie opened the door apprehensively and found only one girl in the room sitting on the bed reading. She had bushy brown hair and appeared to be about the same age as Oscie. Her clothes were just black witch robes with a skirt and a shirt. She was reading a book but looked up when Oscie opened the door.
"Hello," Oscie said. "Sorry to disturb you but Uncle Remus told me to just go on in. I don't know if you heard his knock or not."
"Oh you must be Oscie. Lupin told us you were coming. I'm Hermione and right now I'm the only one here but it won't be that way for long," Hermione said as she jumped to her feet and helped Oscie with her bags.
"Thanks," Oscie said as they set the bags down and were finally able to sit down on the two beds in the room. This room was relatively cleaner than the kitchen but was by far from being clean. Oscie reached into her bag and pulled out a bottle of a potion she had made and set it next to her on the bed.
"What's that?" Hermione asked.
"Oh, it's just a potion I made over summer break. It's the Constituary potion. It helps you to feel content and at the moment I'm so confused that I figured it might help me to sort out the questions I want to ask," Oscie replied.
"Did you make it? Because that's a very difficult potion to brew," Hermione said, slightly impressed. Oscie smiled a little embarrassed.
"Yes. I was top in my class at Salem Academy," Oscie replied.
"Oh of course! That's America's witch and wizard institution in Massachusetts. I read about it in one of my books, Magical Learning Communities Around the World. I suppose you'll be going to Hogwarts then. That's our school in England and I'm first in my class as well," Hermione exclaimed. Oscie took a big gulp of the vibrant orange potion and then closed her eyes as she felt the warm sensation travel through her body.
"Would you like some? It's really delicious despite the color," Oscie offered.
"Er.no thanks," Hermione said. By look on Hermione's face Oscie had known the answer before she spoke. "So you said you had questions?"
"Oh, right. I have a whole lot that might take a very long time to ask," Oscie replied with an apologetic smile. Hermione laughed.
"Don't worry. We have plenty of time," she said.