Disclaimer: Hi all! I've actually never done this before, but it seems like we're supposed to put a happy disclaimer at the top...so as you are all very aware these characters are not mine, this school is not mine, all that is mine is the plot and Saria...she is mine damnit.

A/N: So ummm...as I implied above this is my very first fanfic, so sorry if it sucks. Please review and tell me how you feel about it, I will only update if I get reviews!! Oh, and as of right now, my story doesn't really have a plot line so any ideas would be great.

Chapter 1: The Letter

The sun shone brilliantly in the cloudless blue sky, spreading a blanket of comfortable warmth over the Colorado plains. Saria DeThome glared at the cursed burning ball of light and wished it were snowing. She had been like that for as long as she could remember, she hated the sun and the heat, loved the cold and the dark.

She sighed wearily and lay down on the grass in the shade of a gigantic willow tree. As she stared solemnly at the long vine-like branches of the tree, she thought about her life. It wasn't too long ago that things had started going astray, maybe only a year. She had grown up in a house full of kids and dogs and loving parents. She had been best friends with her mother for as long as she could remember, she wasn't very good at making friends her own age. At school she was an outcast, she sat in the field, away from the playground and watched the other kids play, wishing she was playing with them. She had always been to shy and go play with them without being asked, and she was never asked.

She wore her brown hair short, very short for a girl and only wore boys clothing. She had big coke bottle glasses that covered her brilliant purple eyes. She had always thought her eyes were the best part of her face. Her skin was naturally dark, darker then the rest of her family, but not dark enough to be considered brown. She was very short for her age, and a bit chubby, she thought she'd be a midget when she grew up.

Then in the fourth grade, she had met a girl named Delia. Delia was a person all of her own, and a bit nuts at that. But Saria had been happy to have a friend, anyone would do. Delia told Saria all about her life and Saria told Delia about hers, it was the only thing they had in common. Delia introduced Saria to lots of new ideas; cussing, sex, smoking, things Saria never would've done without her.

Within the year, Saria met a bunch of new people. She felt like she belonged with them, they were her friends. She slowly grew more and more distant from her mother, she barely ever came home and when she did, it was always a fight.

In fifth grade, Saria's mom had decided that she had had enough. Saria was not allowed to hang out with her "friends" anymore. Saria had taken to the computer and books. She spent hours barricaded in her room listening to death metal and reading books. When she wasn't in her room, she was playing on the computer. She barely talked to her family and still she grew more and more distant.

Two weeks ago she had graduated the fifth grade, four more weeks and she was off to middle school. Saria's mom had kicked Saria off the computer two hours ago, claiming that she couldn't spend the whole summer on the computer. Saria had walked to the nearest park, until she couldn't stand the burn of the sun on her skin. She had taken refuge under this tree and hadn't moved since.

Saria opened her eyes wearily at the sound of fluttering wings, and was instantly blinded by the bright rays of the sun. As her vision cleared, she could make out the tiny outline of an owl, headed directly for her. Saria raised her eyebrows questioningly as she took off her glasses. She whipped them on her shirt, wondering if the "owl" was really just a smudge. She replaced her glasses and could clearly see the brown tawny owl sweeping down from the sky.

She had barely registered the owl in her conscience brain when it was crashing ruthlessly through the protective branched of the willow tree. All Saria could do was sit in shock as the owl landed lightly on her knee, dropping a worn piece of parchment into her lap. The owl looked at her and then the parchment expectantly. When Saria made no move, eyes frozen on the owl, it cocked its head to one side as though trying to figure out what was wrong with her. Then, impatiently it dug its talons into her knee.

The pain shocked Saria into motion. Cautiously, she reached out and picked up the parchment. The owl seemed satisfied, but it still did not move from her knee. Slowly, trying not to rip the parchment, Saria unrolled it. She quickly skimmed the note, her mind in a kind of numb shock. "Oh," she said, looking back at the owl. Suddenly, her face snapped back into life, "Wait...WHAT?!?!?!" Saria exclaimed jumping. The owl glared at her, not happy with her sudden movement. "Oh my god, NO WAY!!!" said Saria after she had re-read the letter. She rolled the parchment up and set it down next to her. She closed her eyes and shook her head a few times, trying to wake herself of her obvious dream. She blinked her eyes a few times before opening them fully again. The owl still sat on her knee blinking unbelievingly at her, and she still clutched the worn parchment in her hand. Saria blinked once more before lifting the parchment to read it for the third time, this time she savored every word, willing her mind to believe its authenticity.

The letter read:

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmistress: Minerva McGonagall (Order of Merlin, Second Class, Chf. Witch, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Miss DeThome,

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, Severus Snape, Deputy Headmaster