Hi, eh!! Thanks for coming! This is my first fanfiction ever, so I'm hoping that it turns out nicely. I've just got a few things to point out, now that I'm finally here:
This is a fifth-year fanfic. Yes, I know I'm a bit late ... Hehe, I'm still having fun with it. This story does have more of the Weasley twins and Lee in it, but less of Ginny ... I love her, but I couldn't really fit her in. Oh, and Oliver Wood will be at Hogwarts, even though he's supposed to be out of school for what ... 2 or 3 years by now? Oh, well. Oh, and warning: this is very Ron/Hermione (-sigh- I love that couple, no offence to H/H fans), Fred/OC and a lil bit of Harry/Cho too.
Hopefully, I'll be able to update once a week!! R&R, please and thankie!!!! Anywhuzzles, on with the disclaimer and chapter one!
Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to the Harry Potter series; I do own my OC, Sarah, some spells, and a couple of miscellaneous things throughout this fanfic.
Chapter One
As I arrived at King's Cross Station, I took a rather bulky letter from my backpack, remembering my first time opening it.
- flashback -
It was a sunny summer morning, when a barn owl swooped through our kitchen window, dropping the Daily Prophet and a few letters onto the breakfast table, and flying back out afterwards. Of course, this was a perfectly normal thing to happen in our household, especially in the mornings. You see, I attended the Ontario Academy of Magic. You may find this hard to believe, but I am a witch. I was about to go into my fifth year at the Academy and I can perform many complicated spells and make several difficult potions.
So, back to the letter and newspaper. My father automatically reached for the newspaper, while my mother flipped through the mail.
"There's a letter for you, Sarah," my mother said, tossing the thick manila envelope onto my plate.
I glanced at the address. It was addressed in emerald green to "Ms. S. Strilchuk, The Breakfast Table, 131 Cartier Crescent, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada". Smiling to myself, I tore open my letter and read:
'HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. Of Wizards)
Dear Ms. Strilchuk,
We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Please note that the new school year begins on September the first. We await your owl by no later than the 31st of July. The Hogwarts Express will leave from King's Cross Station, platform nine and three-quarters, at eleven o'clock.
Fifth years are permitted to visit the wizarding village of Hogsmeade at certain weekends. Please give the enclosed permission form to your parent or guardian to sign.
Yours Sincerely,
Professor Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress'
At the end of the first page, I stopped, taking it all in. Hogwarts – one of the most prestigious magic schools in the wizarding world – wanted ME to attend! An audible gasp escaped my lips and it became slightly hard to breathe.
"What's the matter?" my mom asked anxiously.
"Mom...Dad...my letter is from Hogwarts – you know, the best wizarding school in the world?" I explained to the quizzical looks on my parents' faces. Both my parents are Muggles (non-magic people) so they don't know or understand much about my world. In fact, I didn't even know I was magic until I got my letter from the Academy, telling me I was. Although I told them of everything I could after my first year of magic, and I keep them filled in on new information, sometimes they just can't comprehend the world I live in.
"Oh, yes – that's the one in England, right?" my dad questioned with a look.
"Well, yes, but...the headmaster sent me an owl awhile back, wondering whether I'd like to learn there for a year. You know, because my grades are so high." I allowed a modest smile here. "Of course, I owled back the same day, saying I would love to go for a year at Hogwarts, but I would have to discuss it with my parents first. I guess the Headmaster took it for a 'yes' and sent me this letter, which has all the details, plus it says I WAS ACCEPTED!" I said these last words with such excitement that my parents smiled widely and chuckled quietly.
I handed the first page of my letter to my parents and read on:
'HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Uniform
Fifth year students will require:
Four sets of plain work robes (black)
One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
One pointed dress hat (any colour) for special occasions
One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings or silver, black fastenings)
One dress robe (any colour)
Set Books
All fifth year students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade Five) by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic (Intermediate Version) by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory by Aldabert Waffling
An Intermediate's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions Two by Arsenius Jigger
Dangerous Beasts and How to Defend Yourself by Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble
The Monster Book of Monsters by Anonymous
Unfogging the Future by Cassandra Vablatsky
Arithmancy by Bert Brahtsenburg
The Study of Ancient Runes by Volodymyr Kohutchuk
Numerology and Grammatica by Rory Senora
Other Equipment
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size two)
2 set of glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set of brass scales
Students may also bring either an owl OR a cat OR a toad
Students (second years and up only) are allowed their own broomsticks'
'Woah,' I thought to myself, 'this is going to cost so much for us – I mean, if they let me do this.' My happiness darkened a bit. I shook the envelope to see if there was anything else in it. A few more pieces of parchment fell out – the Hogsmeade permission form, a letter from the headmaster to my parents and a letter from the Deputy Headmistress to me. I gave the list of books and equipment, along the Hogsmeade permission form and the Headmaster's letter, to my parents. I could almost hear the fluttering of my acceptance at Hogwarts heading out the window. I heaved a sigh as I started to read my letter from Professor McGonagall:
'Ms. Strilchuk:
There are several rules and regulations that you should be aware of during your stay at Hogwarts. I expect that a few, if not many, of these rules will be similar to those at the Ontario Academy of Magic. The rules I would like you to pay the most attention to are as follows:
1) Absolutely NO ONE is allowed out of their common rooms after hours.
2) No magic is to be performed in the hallways or between classes.
3) Physical fighting, duelling and/or hexes are NOT permitted on Hogwarts grounds.
You may be exempted from particular rules, considering certain circumstances ('Huh?' I thought with confusion, 'I wonder what that's supposed to mean...'). To get to Hogwarts will be somewhat complicated. Since you aren't old enough to Disapparate and Apparate here in England, you will have to use a Muggle airplane or Muggle ship of some kind. Take a plane or boat and get to London, England. Once there, you must take a Muggle form of transportation (taxi or bus) to King's Cross Station. Ask someone to show you or find the platform barrier between platforms nine and ten. Your platform is nine and three-quarters, as you already know. To get to it, you must walk straight at the platform barrier. You will be able to walk through the wall and land on platform nine and three-quarters. YOU MUST DO THIS CAREFULLY TO AVOID MUGGLES NOTICING YOU. Give your train ticket to the conductor and board the train. Make sure to be at the train station at least ten minutes before eleven o'clock. The train ride will be at least 6- 8 hours.
Now, once you arrive at the station, follow the students down a dirt trail. Do not bring your bags, because they will be taken up separately. You will reach an opening where stagecoaches will be waiting for you. Get into one and it will take you through the gates to the front entrance of Hogwarts. Go down the Entrance Hall and into the Great Hall in which I will be. Do not worry about finding me – I will find you. From there, I will take you to my office to be Sorted into your House.
I will then bring you back to the Great Hall and show you to your House's table. After the feast, kindly go up to the High Table to Professor Dumbledore, your headmaster. He will take you to his office and have a serious talk with you. He will then show you to your Common Room and give you the password for the given fortnight.
I hope this is all clear, but if you have any questions, please send me an owl.
Yours Sincerely,
Professor Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress'
I skimmed over the note again. Loads of questions began to form in my mind. How do you get Sorted? What are the Houses she speaks of? 'They must be an important part of everyday life for her to put so much emphasis on a certain House's Common Room or Table,' I thought as more questions filled my mind. What if I get lost? Does Hogwarts have Quidditch teams? (I loved Quidditch – I was my school team's keeper and I owned the third best broom in the world called the Magma) And the question that was bugging me the most was: What kind of special circumstances would I be in? I would have liked to ask Professor McGonagall all these questions, but none were important enough to send an owl for.
I glanced up at my parents. The book and equipment list and the Hogsmeade permission form lay forgotten on the table. My mom and dad were reading the Headmaster's letter wide-eyed, like they couldn't believe something. I watched a few moments, as they finished the letter. They looked at each other, communicating silently with their eyes. They seemed to reach some sort of decision, because they turned to look at me. Mom looked somewhat sad and worried and Dad – well, he hid his feelings well. Then they each broke into a wide smile, allowing a sense of pride to leak out.
"So you say that Hogwarts is one of the most prestigious schools in the wizarding world?" my father began.
"Yes," I replied, gathering my thoughts to try and convince them to let me go. "Albus Dumbledore – the headmaster – is in the First Class Order of Merlin and was asked to be Minister of Magic for England, and they have so many more subjects I don't know yet, so this would be a great learning experience for me and—"
"Okay, okay," my father said, laughing. "No need to set up a defence! We have decided" (I held my breath in anticipation) "that it is imperative that you go to Hogwarts this year," my dad announced with a smile.
For a moment I couldn't speak – one whole year at Hogwarts to learn new subjects and meet new people and discover the English wizard culture...it sounded great! A smile spread across my face slowly, daring to show a mere fraction of my happiness.
"Really? You're not just toying with my emotions now, are you?" I dared to ask.
"Nope," my mom replied, "not in the least. Now, there's a mountain of work to do, and you know what to do first, right?" she asked suspiciously.
"Uhm...send Bili to Hogwarts to tell them I'm coming?" I guessed.
"No – well, yes, I guess you should do that first," my mother admitted. "But I was thinking more along the lines of...cleaning your room."
I groaned inwardly.
"Ok, fine – I'll do that next," I agreed. "Bili! Please come here – I have toast!!"
Bili was my snowy owl and there is no way she can resist toast – it's her all-time favourite food! So, sure enough, she came gliding into the kitchen and landed in front of me, nipping my finger affectionately. I fed her a couple small pieces of toast and started scribbling a note, saying,
"Now Bili – you have a very important job to do. I know you are still kind of young and you've never flown this far before, but I know I can depend on you." Bili ruffled her feathers proudly. "I need you to fly to England and give this note to Professor McGonagall at Hogwarts. It just says I am allowed to go. Ok?"
Bili stuck out her leg for the letter in response. I tied it to her leg and she took off out the kitchen window. I ran to the window and called, "Please make sure it gets to her by July 31st, Bili!"
"Now that that's done, Sarah, get your butt upstairs and clean that room until it shines!" my mother emphasized.
I trudged upstairs, taking nearly two hours to clean my room until my mom was satisfied. Then we decided to go on a shopping spree, and took my brother and sister with us. My brother and sister are both magical, with my brother going into his first year at the Academy and my sister going into her second. My parents thought that we might as well take them with us, and buy their school supplies as well as mine.
We decided to go to Wildabloone Alley, which was in Toronto. It would definitely have the many things I would need, as well as beginner things for Matthew and Laura. My mom lifted the bag of Floo Powder off of the mantelpiece of our fireplace. I grabbed the extra bag of Floo Powder from the end table and walked over to my mother. I plunged my hand into the depths of the bag my mom held, grabbed a handful of the Powder and threw it into the crackling fire. The fire turned a bright green and the flames became high. I climbed into the fire, which felt like warm breath, shouted "Wildabloone Alley!" and was whooshed away from my house. I tucked my arms in so they wouldn't bang on anything as I spun faster and faster. I landed quite hard in the fairly large fireplace of Hatsney's Pub, which was in Wildabloone Alley. I jumped out of the way of the fireplace (for the rest of my family would be arriving just after me) and tucked the extra bag of Floo Powder into my purse. As I started to brush the ashes from my shoulders, my sister and brother emerged out of the fireplace. Next my mom, then my dad, popped out of thin air and into the fireplace, almost bumping into one another. After straightening ourselves up, we walked out of Hatsney's Pub, Laura and Matthew in the lead. Matthew headed straight to Quality Quidditch Supplies to gaze at the new Firebolt 750 open-mouthed. He looked imploringly at mom –
"No," she said.
"No what?" Matthew asked. "I didn't even ask you anything."
"Okay, ask me something."
"Can I have a broomstick?" Matthew begged.
"Absolutely not. You're not allowed one in your first year, plus right now you don't know how to ride one. Oh yes, before you try to ask me again – no, you cannot because I said so," my mother stated, closing the discussion and my brother started to pout – until he looked around the Alley and remembered why he was there. To get the things he needed to start school. Ever since I began my years at the Academy, my brother was always fascinated and wanted to go with me. So fascinated, in fact, that he thought my wand was some kind of toy and decided to cover my room, and himself, with some kind of goo one day; Mom gave him a severe lecture and he didn't do it again. But that didn't stop him from wanting to go; when he got his acceptance letter, he was completely ecstatic – off the walls with excitement. So with that thought, he brightened once more and dragged my parents over to Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. The day was very hectic – we must have gone into ever shop at Wildabloone Alley at least once, and we had to go back to Gringotts Wizard Back twice for more money. By the time we reached home, we were all laden with packages of every size and every shape imaginable. We had bought robes, a new wand for Matthew, supplies from the Apothecary (for Potions class), several kinds of wizard treats (Ice Mice, Chocolate Frogs and Peppermint Imps), dress robes and hats for Laura and I, and even a black cat for Laura which she named Felix and a salamander for Matthew which he named Oz. We dropped our packages in the middle of our living room and collapsed on the sofas at about seven in the evening, too tired even to get ourselves up to bed.
So, that's chapter the first! What do you think?? Please let me in on your opinions! Oh, and I guess I should state that the whole flashback scene isn't finished yet, that's for the next chapter!!!