Chapter One: Andara Alexis Steelsong
She was a dancer, not a whore. She was a lover not a fighter. She was a beauty not just make up. She was more than just some girl selling her body, which was just something she did at night to make money for school. School? Why did she need money for school? She could attend public schooling like everyone else, public schooling did not require money you say. But she could not just attend public schooling, she attended a private school for, gifted people. Still don't understand? Let me tell you, let me tell you the story of Andara Alexis Steelsong…
Gods above she was tired, tired and sore and dirty. Working in America had it's benefits, she made more money than in France, but gods was America dirty. She was in New York for the summer; her boss in Paris had hooked her up with a guy who would let her work for him. And work she did, she worked very hard and she returned to the flat she shared with five other girls she barely made it to her bed, if someone else wasn't in it, like today. She had stumbled up the stairs, body protesting all the way.
She opened the door and ignored Melanie and the boy who was with her today and walked to the curtained off area that served as her bed. She stopped dead, Alex was in her bed, at least she thought it was Alex, she couldn't keep all five of the blonde chits straight. She was probably the only brunette in the building. She wasn't even really a brunette; Georgio had insisted that she had black hair either way Andara didn't care. She coughed to see if she could get Alex's attention and got no response.
This was it, she was leaving, she was sick of this, she would go back to France, or England, or wherever she was from. She didn't even bloody know where she originated. Her mother had been a dancer in France since Andara could remember. Quickly she grabbed the few clothes she had and all of her money, then she headed to the kitchen. She knew someone kept their money in the freezer, she headed there. She looked around, feeling slightly guilty but opened the freezer door anyway. As she had thought a roll of bills, twenties and fifties was in the back corner. She took it and closed the door as she put the money in her purse. She noticed with slight amusement that someone was puking in the bathroom; I hope they know the toilet doesn't bloody work. She thought as she headed towards the door.
"Hey, were do think you're going missy? You're not running out on us are ya?" She heard someone ask, inwardly she groaned and turned around.
"Wouldn't dream of it Donna." She said with a false smile.
"Then why do you have your suitcase?" The woman asked, lounging against the wall. Donna was the one who owned this apartment and let the other four girls live with her, for a small fee. Donna wasn't stupid like the other girls unfortunately. Andara sighed. "You can go, but you owe me this months rent. Twenty bucks sweetie." She said, holding her hand out. Andara suppressed a smile and rummaged through her purse, acting like she might not have the money. Donna wasn't a bad sort, but it was more than likely her money in the freezer. Expertly she crumpled a crisp twenty in her hand and handed it reluctantly to the woman.
"There, bye." She said, turning and walking out the door like a sullen teenager. As soon as she was out of view she ran. Donna was sure to go to the freezer to put the twenty with the rest of her now missing money. Two flights of stairs were between Andara and freedom when she heard an enraged scream and feet following her. She tried to go faster but the suitcase hindered her movements and was banging against her leg, knocking her slightly off balance with every step she took. Five steps to the bottom floor and she fell, knocking her head as she hit the concrete floor. Slowly she stood up and grabbed her bag, trying to make it to the door.
Donna stood at the top of the last flight of stairs, anger evident in her eyes, making her look evil. Andara gasped and moved towards he door, her head pounding. Donna came down the stairs, yelling like a banshee. Oh gods. Andara thought before running towards the door, she was never going to make it to the portkey station at this rate, if only I could use my wand. She thought desperately. The mantra stupefy, stupefy, stupefy, chanted in her head as she ran but she knew it wouldn't help her, this was a muggle area and they weren't supposed to use magic away from school unless it was a life or death situation. And she was sure the International Association of Wizardry would not count stealing money and getting caught a life or death situation.
She turned, Donna was only a few short feet away. She turned down an alleyway, knowing that the portal to the wizarding world was at the end of it, except, there was the small fact that this was the wrong alleyway. She turned, three feet, two, oh gods, stupefy! Stupefy! Stupefy! He brain screamed as she clamped her eyes shut, preparing for an impact that never came. She opened her eyes and swore Donna was frozen mid-stride. I have to get out of here, now! She thought and ran around Donna and down the street, grateful that no one else was running around at three in the morning, it was actually slightly odd for NY.
She burst into the portkey center, a man was smoking a cigarette at the counter as he watched something on the tele, what she didn't want to know. "I need a portkey to Diagon Alley, now." She said, glaring at him. The man looked up and a slow smile crossed his face.
"Next one doesn't leave for an hour missy." He said, she looked at the chart, he was right t didn't leave for an hour. "I got sumthin we could do that'll occupy your time tho." He said. Andara didn't eve look at him.
"I'll wait, how much do I owe you?" She asked.
"Twenty American will do missy." He said, she handed over the money and sat down…this was going to be a very long hour…
It turned out that she was the only one heading to England at four in the morning as she grabbed the dust pop can, three, two- and then someone grabbed her she turned to look into the steel gray eyes of a man in robes with the crest of the International Association of Wizardry, henceforth to be referred to as the IAW. "You almost got away from us." He said, laughter in his eyes. "But we're going to England anyway, so if you could grab the pop can again we will be on our way." He said and Andara groaned as she touched the can, she was in for it now….
She landed unceremoniously on the floor in the landing area of the Ministry Of Magic, the official from the IAW was trying not to smile, she got up and glared at him. "This way miss." He said turning to walk down a sickeningly white hallway, Andara didn't move. "Problem miss?" He asked in an overly sweet voice.
"Several actually." She said before pausing for dramatic flair. "First on the list being who the hell you are and what you've arrested me for." She said,
"I am Kingsly Shakelbot and I haven't arrested you, merely detained you." He said with a smile, Andara glared in return.
"On what grounds?" She asked and the man muttered something about inherited stubbornness.
"On the grounds that I was requested to do so." He said, obviously getting irritated with her.
"By whom?"
"I was asked not to tell you now come on." He said, walking down the hall, it was obvious he wasn't stopping either.
"I know my rights!" She said, running to catch up with him. "You cannot detain me if I haven't committed a crime." She said, "So I demand-" The man looked at her.
"But you have committed a crime remember? Several in fact, stunning that horrid woman and stealing all of her money, and that was just today!" That shut Andara up as they entered a room. A very old man sat at the head of a long, white table, a goblin on his left, two red haired people, a haggard looking man with brown hair, a few random Ministry officials and a teenaged boy. "Here Professor, she's a bloody pain, you owe me." He said before leaving, Andara glared.
"I resent that!" She yelled as he left, she heard him laughing in the hall. She muttered curses under her breath.
"Ahh, welcome Miss Steelsong, if you would sit and give us a moment of your time." The old man said.
"And you would be?" She asked placing her arms on the back of the chair and bracing herself so all of her weight was not on her feet.
"Albus Dumbledor." He said with a smile.
"Aw bloody hell…" She muttered as she sat.
"You are Andara Alexis Steelsong correct?" He asked.
"Yes." She said, grimacing as he said her full name.
"Good, this meeting is about the assets your father left you in the event that you actually exist and in the event that he died." An official said, beginning what would have been a long and drawn out speech had Andara not interrupted. She stood up violently.
"I don't want it. Whatever it is I'll have nothing to do with it or him." She said before turning to open the door.
"I'm afraid you don't have a choice in the matter." Said one of the officials. Andara turned to look at him.
"You sir, are not to tell me what I will and will not take part of. My father was a death eater and a murderer and I will not participate in anything that involves him. As such I'm surprised you haven't seized his assets, as he was a traitor to all things pure in this world. Now if you'll excuse me I need to go find a job." She said, glaring daggers at everyone in the room. The teenaged boy had stood up and looked like he wished to kill her when she had started ranting about her father but the dirty man next to him restrained him.
"Find a job in another whorehouse? I think not, you will be place in the-"
"Excuse you?" She yelled. "I've never worked in a whorehouse. I am a dancer and I work in studios. I would have expected a man such as yourself to know the difference." She said with a sarcastic smile. He looked as if he was going to retaliate but a different official cut him off.
"You will be placed in the custody of your godfather-" He began.
"Sorry, don't have one." She said. "Father didn't know I existed, mother worked in a whorehouse as you so eloquently put it-"
"Shut the bloody hell up all of you." The dirty man cried. "You, Miss Steelsong have quite the attitude problem, the rest of you are just incompetent. Now shut up and listen for one effing moment please. Your father was not a death eater he was a good man. Your mother was a dance mage, something the lot of these idiots don't know anything about and if they do they certainly don't believe it. Now if you could just let the idiots talk for five minutes we can go." He said before sitting back down. The old man looked impressed.
"Well said Remus-" He started before looking down at the page.
"Remus?" She asked, "As in Moony?" She said, looking him over couldn't be him, the werewolf her mother had told her about. It was only a day or two from the full moon, she was surprised he had so much control.
"Yes. The same, Now you'll inherit half of your fathers assets which are listed here." The old man-Albus said, "And Harry will inherit the other. Now the question is may we sill use Number thirteen Grimbauld place for headquarters?" He asked, Andara had no idea what he was talking about but the boy said yes without hesitation.
"Headquarters for what?" She asked calmly. Dumbeldor looked at the three ministry officials who groaned and left. The man preformed some complex spells only a few of which Andara identified by his wand movement.
"Headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix." He said. Andara looked at him.
"That still exists?" She asked, utterly amazed.
"Yes." He said calmly.
"Do you still use the tattoo's for access into the premises?" She asked.
"No." He said, amusement in his eyes.
"Well that's a bummer. It's fine if you use the Girmbul thing." She said. "What is the Grimbul thing anyway?"
"Your fathers house." He said.
"Does the nasty house elf still live there?" She asked.
"No." Said the teenaged boy and everyone looked at him, it was the most he'd said in weeks.
"Good, otherwise I would have to kill it." She said.
"Already did." He said and she looked at him.
"Who are you?" She asked him.
"Harry Potter." He said quietly and she nodded.
"I see. Are we quite done?" She asked.
"Yes, you are now to be released into the custody of Remus Lupin, your godfather in the event that your godmother has passed on." Professor Dumbledor said.