Well, this is the first chapter of a new story and I'd just like to say hi to everyone who is reading this. I have a quick note to make. This story was started a fair while before I decided to change my pen name to Shuki. Her character was not based in any way on me, in fact, all of the original characters are entirely original and not based on anyone. I am also looking for a beta, so if anyone is interested, could they just send me an email. Interested peoples can write to shuki_quickjewel@hotmail.com . Any other enquiries can be sent to strawberry_pocky_01@yahoo.com.au . Thanks and enjoy!
" " = Speech
* * = Thought
Chapter One – New Friends and Old
Walking through the immense stone passageways, it felt like coming home. She had not trodden these steps since she had chosen to leave, seventeen years ago, and yet her feet did not fail to find the once familiar paths that would now lead her to a bright, new future. Her two daughters followed, not afraid, nor in awe of their surroundings but with a certain sense of resignation. To them, this was not a grand new adventure, but yet another move, yet another school, yet another set of friends – and enemies – to be made. She came to a halt at a pair of enormous oak doors... and waited.
Ron was becoming more and more irritating as his hunger grew. The first years had been sorted, and Dumbledore had yet to announce that it was time to eat. Harry wasn't particularly interested in dinner. He hadn't eaten any more than two bread crusts a day for the past two months, and the thought of food was making him feel violently ill, but he hid it well from his friends, which was not a difficult task as they could not keep their eyes off each-other for more than a moment. Hermione and Ron had begun going out in their sixth year and had not wasted a single moment in making up for the past five years of wanting and waiting. Deep in his thoughts, Harry didn't even realise that Dumbledore had risen to speak until Ron nudged him in the ribs.
"Students and teachers, it has been a long struggle for all of us, dealing with the losses that Voldemort has dealt us," he glanced meaningfully at particular students, "and it has taken it's toll on our teaching staff," everyone knew he referred to Professor Zion, who had been forced into retirement after only one year due to an attempt on his life as the DADA teacher. "It has been a really difficult task, but we have managed to replace him. Our new teacher will also be replacing Minerva McGonagall, who will be taking on her responsibilities as deputy headmistress, and vacating the positions of head of Gryffindor house and Transfigurations. So, please make welcome Professor Shuki Mitchell."
The doors slammed open and the woman took that as her cue to enter. She walked through the doors and heard a collective gasp from the students who were seated within. Dumbledore was clapping, which usually encouraged the students to begin, but they sat in stunned silence. She could only guess that it was her hair that was causing the commotion. It was, after all, blue-black with hot pink and purple streaks running through it. She wore it pulled into several short pig-tails all over hear head, bound tightly with bright blue ribbons, making it appear as though she had several stalks growing from her head. Her robes, rather than the usual long, black standard fare, were the deepest of navies with a dark green trim, and only came to her knees. She wore a dark maroon skirt to her ankles and silver, high-heeled, lace-up boots. Attempting to ignore the dark glares of the students, she walked to the front of the hall to take her place at the staff table beside one Severus Snape, who wore an expression as though someone had slapped him. Shuki smiled warmly and a tentative applause broke out.
"I would also like to welcome her two daughters, Angel and Charlotte, who will be undertaking their seventh year here. They must be sorted, of course, so we will get that underway, and then, I know you are all starving now, so we will eat!"
Angel and Charlotte walked through the same doors that their mother had gone through and were greeted with a similar reaction. Although there was nothing outrageous about the girls, they shared an unmistakable beauty with their mother. They moved to the front of the hall and Charlotte took her place on the chair to be sorted. The hat was placed on her head...
"Gryffindor!"
She smiled and wandered to the Gryffindor table, seating herself beside Harry. Her mother beamed with joy and then her sister took her place on the chair and McGonagall lowered the hat.
*Good evening to you, Shartien.*
*Ah, one who knows me by my true name.
It's nice to be known as something other than The Sorting Hat. So, you have
travelled many places. You are intelligent enough to be worthy of Ravenclaw,
loyal enough to be a Hufflepuff, certainly brave enough for a Gryffindor, and
shrewd enough to be a Slytherin. But where to put you? I haven't had anyone
with such a mix since Harry Potter himself came through here. Would you like
to be away from your sister?*
*I really don't care where you put me... I just want to have some true friends who will stick by me when the times get really tough. Friends who aren't afraid of the darkness within.*
*Then I do believe...*
"Slytherin!"
An immense round of applause broke out from the Slytherin table and once again, Shuki smiled broadly with pride. The students were confused as to how two sisters such as these could be placed in opposing houses, whilst their mother smiled happily about it. There was something strange going on. One could hardly support both Slytherin and Gryffindor and if, indeed something WAS going on, then the students wanted to know what it was.
Angel presumptuously sat down in one of the spaces that Draco Malfoy kept around himself so that he wouldn't feel crowded in and faced the front of the hall, completely ignoring the boy. Crabbe and Goyle attempted to say hello and were studiously ignored and when Pansy Parkinson made an attempt, she was told to back off.
"Well! You've waited long enough!" Dumbledore clapped his hands and the food appeared, "Let's eat!"
Everyone at the Gryffindor table dug into their food, except for Harry, who just stared in silence at his plate. In reality, he was casting a disappearing spell over the food in his head. The charm would allow for the food to gradually disappear as though being eaten, without him having to eat a bite. Only one person noted the look of intensity in the boy's face and decided to make certain talents known to him.
*Harry? Harry Potter?* Harry jumped at the sounds of a voice in his head. He glanced around but none of his friends seemed to have noticed. *Harry, I know that you're casting a spell, and I know which one. Please tell me why or at least how long you've been doing this?* He had no idea as to how to respond, so he decided just to think his answers.
*Who are you and what are you doing in my head? How can you know about the spell?* Charlotte had to stifle a laugh at the boy wonder's confusion.
*I'm insulted. I am, after all, sitting right next to you.* Harry swivelled his head around and Charlotte gave a small wave. He blinked in surprise.
*Hmmm, the new girl. Well, you still haven't answered my question.* Charlotte sighed in frustration, prompting questions from Hermione about whether or not she was ok. When she had finally shaken off Hermione, she went back to her mental discussion with Harry.
*Is she always like that?* Harry gave the mental equivalent of a nod. *Anyway, if you hadn't already worked out, I'm a telepath and you made it pretty easy to see that you were casting. You're going to need a whole lot more practise before you can successfully do wandless magic without showing any signs. That extreme look of concentration on your face is a dead giveaway. I can teach you, if you like. I can also teach you telepathy. It passes long and boring classes so that you don't need to concentrate so hard. Once you know what the teacher is thinking, you can find out what you actually need to study, or haven't you noticed that the vast majority of what you are supposed to be learning isn't even on the exam? Well, without cheating, you can find out.* Harry looked dubious.
*It IS cheating though... to know what's on the exam beforehand. I couldn't do that!* Charlotte rolled her eyes.
*It isn't cheating. You still have to study; it just gives you direction as to what you NEED to study. My mother was telling me all about Professor Binns and how much he used to yammer on. I'm going to assume he still does by the look of understanding. Mum says he used to put the entire class to sleep, even the most exemplary of students, without any effort whatsoever. She says her brother never survived a single class even with perfect Miss Lily poking and prodding at him to pay attention. Even Lily fell asleep in half of the classes. Do you know anyone like her? So obsessed with studying and all that?*
*Yes, Hermione tends to get a little obsessive and don't be rude about Lily Evans. She is my mother. She died when I was a baby. Was your mother in the same year as her?*
*No, my mum is a couple of years younger. She was in her fifth year when they were graduating. She left school towards the end of that year... although she never tells anyone why.*
*What house was she in?*
*Oh, a Slytherin till the end. She has fond memories of that house and those who were in it. I think she had a boyfriend there, another thing she refuses to talk about. She never tells us much about her youth. The only thing we truly know is that her family disowned her, which I'm assuming is part of the reason she left the school. Having to see her brother every day.*
*What was her brother's name and how come she seems so happy for you to be in Gryffindor then?*
*I honestly don't know who her brother was. She never talks about him. All she ever says is that he hated her. As to why she is happy for me to be a Gryffindor, I think it's because she had friends in that house, which comes as a surprise considering how violent it was between Gryffindor and Slytherin at that time. Her own brother challenged her to a duel and when she won, went completely berserk and bashed up her boyfriend saying that she had cheated and if she did it again, he would go after her friends and then her.*
*He sounds like a complete arsehole. No wonder she doesn't talk about him.*
*In any case, you still haven't told me why you aren't eating.*
*I don't eat dinner. Over the holidays I hardly ate at all, and I know my friends would worry if they knew, but I can't even look at food without feeling sick.*
*How could they not notice how thin you are? It's ridiculous. I know it'll be hard, but you have to eat, even if it makes you spew all over the table. I do understand. I didn't eat more than a piece of lettuce a day for nearly a year. I had chronic anorexia, and can now safely say that I have no idea whatever possessed me not to eat. Food is such a wonderful thing... mmm, chocolate... anyway, try eating something small at each meal. Even if it's only one mouthful. When you can manage that, try to eat a tiny bit more. Trust me, you're going to need every bit of energy you can get, if you are to take on Lord Voldemort.*
Harry, who had been staring at his plate, shot his head up to stare at Charlotte, who was munching on a chicken leg whilst talking with Ron about quidditch. Was the girl a Death Eater? How could it be possible? Yet it was the only way that she could know about the challenge that he had put forth to Voldemort. The pair were to duel after graduation at the end of the year to decide once and for all the solution to the prophesy.
*How do you know about that? Are you one of his followers?* Charlotte lifted her hands, holding a chicken wing, to her mouth, allowing for her sleeves to fall to her elbows, revealing unmarked skin. Harry sighed in relief, but was still curious as to how she could possibly know about the duel. *But how do you know?*
*Voldemort has been getting ready for something and I wanted to know what it was. I feel a need to keep in touch with what is going on in the world, and knowing what Voldemort is up to forms a large part of that. People are too naïve as to what is going on and it will be their downfall. Unless you save us all. But remember, no-one said you had to do it alone. I can teach you things that they certainly won't teach you here. Things will put you on equal footing with Voldemort so that it will be a fair fight. You don't have to answer me now, but we do need to get started fairly soon if you do want my help.*
*I'll think about it.*
The meal ended and everyone headed up to their rooms, and Harry did think about the offer made by the mysterious Charlotte.
Well there's the first chapter! Five or more reviews (constructive criticisms or positive comments) and you get the next chapter. Each chapter, the number of reviews needed will go up, so that I can stay motivated. Tell me what you think of the story! Flames will be used to roast marshies (marshmallows) for me and Raya. They also make good entertainment, but still, it would be nice if you could just be a little more helpful. What do you think of
The original characters
Storyline potential
Interaction between characters
Having an ex-Slytherin as the new head of Gryffindor
Shuki's mysterious past
I'm also looking for story names... I have no idea what to call this baby, so any ideas would be highly appreciated. Thanks muchly! Please hit the Go button!