There I three things in this world you can be absolutely sure about-a)I am
not J.K. Rowling, b)I do not own Harry Potter and c) I live on reviews.
Please respond when you read-please!
Let the cartoooons begin (
Emma, or Kestrel as she shall be called henceforth, awoke to two bulbous, amethyst eyes staring disconcertingly at her. She bolted upright and came nose to nose with what was an unmistakable house elf.
"Hawser is sorry, miss!" squeaked the elf piteously "Hawser is not knowing the best way to wake miss up, miss."
"It's alright Hawser." said Kestrel blearily "No harm done. If you ever wake me up again, just tell me to wake up or something."
Hawser nodded and then suddenly threw herself at the counter and repeatedly banged her head against it, squealing "Bad Hawser, bad!"
"Hawser! Knock it of! I mean," Kestrel said hurriedly as the elf banged her head even harder against the plaster "Stop! Stop it!"
The elf stopped beating her head momentarily, and then pounding her fists into her skull hard.
"Hawser, stop hurting yourself!" Kestrel commanded. This seemed to have worked, because Hawser immediately stopped, and began moaning wretchedly.
"Hawser what did you do that for?" Kestrel chided gently.
"Hawser is not waking miss up at the correct time, miss." Hawser peeped "Hawser is supposed to be getting miss up at eight and it is know nearly eight fifteen!"
Kestrel glanced up at the clock, and noticed that it was indeed 8:13. "No harm done Hawser." Kestrel repeated "It's my fault really, I should have set my alarm."
Hawser blinked. "Now, why don't you go back to the kitchens, Hawser." Kestrel continued. Hawser nodded, and made to leave.
"But don't punish yourself!" Kestrel added, as an afterthought.
Diagon Alleys was not as cool as it was made out to be. It was much better. Owls swooped over arched rooftops as people of every description wandered the cobbled streets.
First off was Gringotts, which proved to be lengthy, but interesting. First the goblin nearly fell of his stool when Kestrel produced her key. Then, after several tests to prove that she was who she said she was, they were led into the most ostentatious carriage Kestrel could have ever imagined. The stopped at what was probably the last vault in the entire bank, so far underground, that you could almost feel the heat of the earth's core.
"Stand back!" ordered Trine, the goblin who was with them. The command came not a moment to soon, as a jet of flame spewed out right in front of them. Hagrid followed Trine, clearly interested, as he went to subdue the dragon, while Kestrel just stood there blinking in shock.
"Key please." snipped Trine, snapped her out of her reverie, and numbly handed her key over. Trine inserted it in a cleverly concealed hole, and then traced a pattern next to the door that only he could see.
"If anybody but a goblin tried that, they'd be frozen in ice for the next century." Trine smiled nastily. Kestrel nodded mutely, and then poked her head cautiously into the door. "Holy shit!"
She figured her vault must have three times as much gold as the rest of the world put together. Mountains of gold interspersed with rivers of silver seemed to continue for an eternity. A multitude of bronze coins lined the wall to her left, and to her right were jewels of every color imaginable, along with several boxes, and a scroll of parchment.
"Blimey, Kestrel, is all 'o this yours?"
"I should say it is. The goblins have been guarding these treasure for innumerable centuries. You're now the riches person who has ever had an account at Gringotts." Trine informed them.
"Holy shit." Kestrel repeated in awe.
"Well, don just sit there gwakin', grab some of this stuff, and we'll buy ya yer school supplies." Hagrid said.
Kestrel robotically produced a money bag from her pocket and began to fill it with gold coins, but the real objects that caught her eye were the boxes, and the scroll.
Trine cleared her throat." I thought you might find some of the things in here interesting. After all, this vault hasn't been opened for nearly three thousand years. Doubtless there are several items of considerable value." Trine coughed pompously "This is a box that will expand to fit anything you wish to take from your vault, while still remaining the weight of three pounds." "Thanks" said Kestrel, making to take the box from Trine. Trine held on. "But before I give it to you, I ask that you tell me what you find in here. This vault has no inventory, and it's a point of curiosity for me."
Kestrel nodded, and Trine handed over the box.
It was perhaps several minuets later, when both she and Hagrid were blinking out in the bright sunshine when the inevitable question was posted.
"Who left ya all 'o tha' stuff?" Hagrid asked
"No idea what so ever." Kestrel said "I thought I was all Muggle until I showed up at Hogwarts."
Hagrid shook his great burly head, and then said, "This is Madam Malkin's, the wizarding robe shop. Have a go in 'er, you know what ter buy."
Kestrel nodded, and walked through the shop doors.
It wasn't very busy in Madam Malkin's, as only three or four people milling about, or being measured for robes. A woman who could only be Madam Malkin came bustling up to her. "Hogwarts dearie?" Kestrel nodded. "Well step up on the stool over there, and we'll measure you for your robes. There's another girl being measured for fine clothes, you can have a chat with her."
Kestrel hopped up onto the stool as a measuring tape immediately began measuring her hand span.
"Hello, I'm Hermione Granger." Kestrel nearly fell of her stool with shock. She was sorely tempted to say "Are you really?", but didn't think that would go over well. What she said instead was "I'm Kestrel Cascara. Nice to meet you?"
"Did you know you were a witch, or did you just find out?" Hermione asked
"I just found out. But I've read about it. It's really weird."
Hermione smiled "I love to read. Have you ever read Lord of the Rings?"
Kestrel nodded. "That was a very awesome book. Legolas is my favorite character. How about you?"
"Aragorn. He's so cool. I wish I could use a sword like he does."
"Archery's more my thing. I've never been able to convince my gym teacher to teach it though. Where're you from?"
"Bristol. It's a rather nice place, if a bit dull. Are you from America?"
"I'm a New Yorker, born and bred. I used to live on LI. Nothing really gets boring there, the general male population sees to that."
They passed a few moments with idle small talk, when Hermione let out a shout. "Oh my God! Is that a giant?!?"
"No that's just Hagrid. He's really nice. Sort of like the Hell's Angles people who'll tell you what they put on their roses, or how their hydrangeas are doing this season."
Hermione giggled. "Besides," Kestrel continued. "Real giants are twenty feet tall. Hagrid's only ten."
"You're all done, dears, step down now." Madam Malkin said, handing them each a large bundle of robes.
Kestrel and Hermione left the shop still chatting animatedly. "So he gets to live at Hogwarts? Wicked!"
"Yeah he gets to go into the Forbidden Forest, too, lucky blighter."
"You know, for an American, you certainly use quiet a lot of British phrases."
"What can I say? I've read to many English novels."
"There's my parents. I've got to go. See you at Hogwarts, Kestrel."
"See you later, Hermione."
"Nice ta see yore makin' friends there, Kestrel. Come along now, off to Flourish and Blotts."
"Nothing of consequence happened until they reached Ollivander's. The descriptions in the book had not completely conveyed the disturbing atmosphere of this shop. Cobwebs hung in every corner, and it looked like it might have been a funeral home in a past life. Kestrel and Hagrid stepped inside.
"Ah, Hagrid, back so soon? And who's this?"
"This here is Kestrel Cascara. She showed up at Hogwarts on 'Arry's birthday, roundabouts, an' I'm bringin' her 'ere for her school supplies."
"I see." said Mr. Ollivander, although he did not look it. "Wand hand?"
"I'm right handed." Kestrel replied, sticking out said limb.
"Very well." said Mr. Ollivander, flicking his wand. A tape measurer sprung to life and began measuring several different parts of her body.
"We have several different types of wands here, Miss Cascara, with several different types of wand cores. Phoenix feathers, dragon heartstrings, unicorn hairs, and the like. Here try this. Ebony and unicorn hair. 13 inches, rather whippy, give it a wave."
Kestrel took the wand and waved it a little, trying not to blush as Mr. Ollivander snatched the wand away. "Redwood and Dragon heartstrings. 10 and ΒΌ inches, a bit bendy."
And so it went. Wand after wand passed it's way into Kestrel's hand, and each was snatched back to be replaced by another.
"I must say, you're a particularly difficult customer." Mr. Ollivander said after what must have been hours. He headed toward a rack of wand labeled 'Unusual Cores'. "I haven't had somebody take one of these for nearly a decade now. Here, Mandrake sinew and stag velvet. Give it a go."
Once again the tedious process of trying out wands started. She passed through Dementor skin, grim hair, werewolf claws, house-elf hair, rat's tail, Kneazle whiskers, and owl feathers to know avail. Mr. Ollivander gave her his last wand.
"I'll eat my hat if this isn't your match, Miss Cascara. Phoenix teardrops, birch with ivory inlays, stiff."
Kestrel tried it out, but much to her disappointment, nothing happened.
"I don't under..." Mr. Ollivander spluttered, before gazing at the wand seated on the cushion on the windowsill. "I wonder..."
Kestrel followed him as he grabbed the wand of it's cushion, breathing very fast. "Miss Cascara, I'd like for you to try this. It's a very powerful, very old wand my great-great-grandfather made. Inside are a hair from Merlin's beard, four hairs from the four founders, unicorn hair, a heartstring from an opaleye, horntail, fireball, and Welsh green cross, and a pure white phoenix feather, incased in Mandrake sinew and ebony and ivory. Try it."
Kestrel took the wand with a thrill of anticipation. This was it! It had to be! She waved, and a multitude of rainbow sparks shot out of her wand. Mr. Ollivander nodded, looking slightly winded. "That will be sixteen galleons, Miss Cascara." Kestrel paid for her wand, lost in thought.
It was by far the weirdest letter ever written to a Gringotts goblin.
Trine,
No offense intended, but are you sure that vault hasn't been opened for three thousand years? I'm sure once you read the inventory, you'll agree this seems unlikely.
Anyway, here goes.
Stuff that was in the box (Thanks for that, by the way)
Dairies of Lilly Evans, James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Severus Snape, Luscious Malfoy, Narcissa Black, Peter Pettigrew, Bellatrix Lastrange, Ludo Bagman, Alastor Moody, Albus Dumbledore, Petunia Evans, Minerva McGonagall, and Tom Riddle
One ruby and diamond necklace.
Three emerald rings
One opal pendant
An egg!?!?!?!?!
Ten silver bangles
The complete Hogwarts: A History by the founders
How to brew three thousand incredibly complex yet highly useful potions. By Salazar Slytherin
Attack and Counterattack: A guide to Defense Strategy By Godric Gryffindor
Flora and Fauna: All the Earth's Creatures By Helga Hufflepuff
Fifty Thousand Advance Spells You Will Need By Rowena Ravenclaw
Any idea what this is about?
Sincerely,
Kestrel Cascara
"Now, 'ere's yore ticket, Kestrel, and yore portkey. Don wan' ya ta be late, now do we?"
"Thanks Hagrid." said Kestrel, eyeing the portkey apprehensively, before touching it and being whisked away to Kings Cross.
"Kestrel! Kestrel!" Hermione said running up to (so far) her only friend in the wizarding world as she materialized in the station.
"Hey Hermione! Got your ticket?"
"Yeah, but I think they made a mistake. There's no platform nine and three quarters here."
Just the a large family of red heads marched past, with an owl, and much muttering about "Mad Muggles giving us the evil eye."
"They look like a family of wizards to me, let's see how they get on?" suggested Kestrel, who knew very well how to get on the platform, but wanted to see how it was done anyway.
"Sound's good to me." said Hermione, and they watched as Percy strolled casually against the barrier, and fell straight through.
Hermione turned to Kestrel. "So, you just run through then?"
"Looks like it. I'll go first."
Kestrel waited for the twins (Gred and Forge she mentally said) to finish going through and then took off through the seemingly solid stone. Hermione followed a moment later. "Let's go, the train leaves in five minutes." Hermione said
"Okay... Oh shit." Kestrel said, as her trunk exploded. "You go ahead-no sense in us both being late."
"Okay see you on the train." Hermione said, puttering off.
It was nearly three minutes later when she had finally got all her stuff, and was levitating her trunk through the still open doors of the train. No sooner had she stepped inside when her first real challenge began.
"Hey, Cutie!"
Kestrel spun around to see three boys looking appraisingly at her. She glared icily back. Being the only fourteen-year-old in first year was going to have some drawbacks.
"Need some help with that!" asked one of the twins
"Do I look like it?" asked Kestrel icily. She put down her trunk, and began to peer into compartments as she passed, looking for Hermione.
"I haven't seen you around before." said the other twin. Before Kestrel could answer, the twin's companion, a boy with dreadlocks who could only be Lee Jordan, blurted out. "Do you need a room?"
Kestrel raised an eyebrow at him. Lee blushed, and Fred and George both smacked him on the head.
"Don't mind him." said one of the twins, who had a slight overbite.
"He's a bit of an idiot." said the other
"Listen to the pot calling the kettle black." Kestrel muttered. The twins seemed not to have heard.
"By the way-" said the one with the overbite
"I'm Fred-"
"And I'm George-"
"This is our friend Lee Jordan."
"And you are?"
"Kestrel Cascara."
"Nice to meet you." stated George
"Are you a transfer student?" asked Fred
"No, actually." said Kestrel, who had spotted a head of bushy hair in the next compartment. "I'm a first year." She paused to enjoy the horrified looks on their faces. "Goodbye."
She poked her head in a compartment that was packed with giggling girls. They all turned to look at her. She then realized that the bushy-haired girl was probably in her third year. "Oh, sorry. Wrong compartment."
She moved onto the next, relatively empty compartment. She entered. "Can I stash my stuff in here?" Both boys looked taken aback by being addressed by a girl. The messy, raven haired boy regained his speech first. "Sure."
Kestrel nodded her thanks, and lugged her now grounded trunk into the compartment and onto the overhead rack. "So, Ron." the boy continued. "What were you saying about Quaffels?" The red-head jumped slightly "Oh, yeah, well Harry, they have..." but what ever Quaffels had Kestrel never found out, for at that moment she realized who's compartment she was in. Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley. Wow.
The compartment door slid open reveling a pointy faced framed by platinum blonde hair and what could have been two shaved gorillas. Draco Malfoy and his two bookends.
"They're saying that Harry Potter's in this compartment. Is it true?" Malfoy said with a slight lisp. Kestrel supposed this was his drawl.
Ron and Harry stood up in a typically macho fashion. Kestrel casually drew her wand out behind her back. Better to careful than not careful enough.
"Yes." said Harry, calculating. "And you are?"
"Draco Malfoy." said Malfoy with obvious pride. Ron coughed into his hand, and Kestrel found the corners of her lips were twitching.
"So you think my name's funny, don't you?" said Malfoy aggressively. "No need to ask who you are. Let's see- hand-me-down robes, and red hair, must be a Weasel, and a Mudblood with no wizarding family and no pure blood." Malfoy turned to Harry. "I think you'll find that some wizards are better than others. You need to choose your friends wisely. I can help you there." He stuck out his hand.
"I think I can chose my friends for myself, thanks." said Harry coolly.
Draco Malfoy looked around the compartment, which was strew with candy wrappers and mushy sandwiches. "We seem to out of food. You have plenty, would you mind sharing?" Without waiting for a answer, one of the gorillas stooped the grab an unopened chocolate frog.
"Ouch!" A mangy rat was hanging from his teeth as the portly boy shook his hand violently. Scabbers squeaked as he came loose, and crashed into the window.
"Let's get out of here!" Malfoy shouted, running out of the compartment. Kestrel sighed, shook her head, and put her wand away.
"Gits like Malfoy give us Slytherins a bad name." said Kestrel wearily. Ron gave her an incredulous stare. "What?"
"You're a Slytherin?" Ron gaped. Kestrel shrugged.
"I don't really know. I'm a first year you see." both boys mouth fell to the floor with an almost audible thunk. "But Hogwarts: A History said that Slytherins are ambitious, cautious people, and that sounds like me." Ron continued to gape at her.
"But all Slytherins are evil!" he blurted. Kestrel raised an eyebrow. "Mad- Eye Moody was a Slytherin, and you can't say he's evil. Insane maybe, but definitely not evil."
While Ron was digesting this piece of news, Kestrel turned to Harry, who was plainly wondering who Mad-Eye Moody was, and stuck out her hand. "I don't think we were introduced. Kestrel Cascara."
"Harry Potter." said Harry, automatically. Kestrel shook his hand, resisting the urge to stare at his scar. She then turned to Ron, who was still staring into space. Harry punched him on the shoulder, and he blinkingly came back to life. "Ron Weasley."
"Now that that's over with, have you seen a girl called Hermione Granger. She has bushy hair, she's about a head shorter than me. She Muggle born, so probably interested in any spell work."
Ron stared again, but Harry said "Sure, she was in here about half an hour ago."
"Which way did she go?"
Harry and Ron both pointed- in different directions. Kestrel sighed. Harry and Ron glared at each other. "Right then. I'll find her on my own."
She sidled out the compartment, nearly colliding with a pudgy boy who looked close to tears. "Have you seen a toad anywhere around here?" he said mournfully. "His names Trevor, and I can't find him anywhere!"
"Here let me try something." she pulled out her wand. Neville took a terrified step back. "Don't worry I'm not going to hex you." she scoffed. "You said his name was Trevor?" Neville nodded. "Accio Trevor!" A squashy, green toad landed squarely in Kestrel's hand, have flown from just around the bend." Here you go then. I'm Kestrel Cascara, by the way." Neville awkwardly took the toad with his right hand and shook with his left. "Neville Longbottom."
Just then the sound of footsteps echoed through the corridor. Kestrel and Neville both turned automatically to face the cause of the noise. It was the twins and Lee again.
"Have either of you seen a toad?" George breathed "We were just holding him when he zoomed out of our hands!"
"Hey, watch were your pointing that thing, Kestrel!" said Fred melodramatically, gesturing to the wand that was aimed at his face.
"You watch to whom you talk about toads to." Kestrel retorted gruffly.
"Why should we... oh." Lee said comprehension dawning on his face. "It was your toad then?"
"His actually." Kestrel said coolly, nodding towards Neville
"We were just holding him!" protested George
"Honest, Kestrel, we were going to give him back!"
"Right..." trailed off Kestrel. "Listen, if you're going to play pranks on people, at least do it to people like that Malfoy git, who deserve it, or your older brother, who need it."
The twins stared uncomprehendingly at her, and then they broke out into identical, slightly evil, grins. "Righty-o Kestrel..." said Fred cheerfully
"We'll go play a trick on old Percy the Perfect Prefect..." continued George
"And then we'll tell him, it was all your idea!" finished Fred
"You do that." said Kestrel, and she turned away, still looking for Hermione.
"Hello, I'm- hey Kestrel, where've you been!" said Hermione, as Kestrel turned away from the cubicle she had been looking into.
"I've all over the train looking for you. What've you been up to?"
"Helping a boy called Neville find his toad, and then talking to prefects and the like." Hermione explained. "What about you?"
"First I staved of three blokes who were catcalling me, then I met the Boy- Who-Lived. Almost had a fight with a pureblood git called Draco Malfoy, if you can believe it. Then I bumped into Neville, summoned his toad, and then told the same people who were catcalling me to play a prank on Malfoy. A good afternoon's work, I think."
"Yeah," said Hermione, grinning, "But you shouldn't have got on a Malfoy's bad side like that. I hear they're very powerful."
"Only money wise, and trust me, I defiantly beat them out there too. So where's you're compartment-I haven't had a chance to sit down the entire train ride."
"Right this way."
The walked down the narrow corridor, still conversing vivaciously.
"First years! First year, ov'r 'ere! This way, come along now!"
Kestrel followed the sound of Hagrid's booming voice as the throng of students made their way around Hogsmead Station. Kestrel caught Hagrid's beetle black eyes, grinning wildly. "How're ya doin', Kestrel. An' you to, 'Arry? Have a nice trip, you two?"
"A very good trip!" Kestrel replied, and heard Harry shout something similar over the ruckus of the crowd. Hagrid led them around a bend and up a small hill until they were face to face with the majestic scene of Hogwarts, all lit up for the night. It was a spectacular sight, rather like diamonds sparkling amidst onyx stone.
"No more tha' four to a boat, now. Steady as she goes!"
Kestrel hurriedly clambered into the nearest rowboat, accompanied by Hermione, a blond who turned out to be Blaise Zambini, and a black-haired girl who turned out to be Padma Patil. There was no time for any chit-chat after introductions were made and family background relived, because then they had to scale the sopping wet steps up to a small door, at which Hagrid knocked three times. The soon-to-be-first-years huddled together in silence, before the door opened, revealing a large vestibule, and a sweeping marble staircase on which her house could have easily sat. A severe looking woman who had here hair up in a large, silvery bun stepped out of the shadows.
"I am Professor McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress, Head of Gryffindor House, and Transfiguration teacher. Here at Hogwarts, you're houses will be you're homes, and your housemates your family. There are four houses, Hufflepuff, Slytherin, Gryffindor, and Ravenclaw. Each has produced several powerful, and notable wizards. Please stay in their, while I prepare the Sorting."
There were several excitable whispers as the group moved as one to the small antechamber McGonagall had indicated.
"I wonder what the sorting's going to be like?" Hermione questioned. "Padma, your family is pureblood, did they tell you anything?"
"Not a word." Padma said mournfully. "I think my twin, Parvati, might know something, but she won't tell me. How about you, Blaise?"
"Same situation. With out the evil twin, though." Blaise cracked a wry smile. There was a moment's silence, before a voice that was unmistakably Ron's said fearfully "My brother's said something about a troll..."
The girl's snorted mirthfully. Ron and Harry both glared in their direction. "What are you laughing about." said Ron angrily. "For all you know, it could be."
"Actually, you have to change the color of a hat." piped up a frantic- looking girl. "My mom told me."
Kestrel decided not to comment.
Review!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let the cartoooons begin (
Emma, or Kestrel as she shall be called henceforth, awoke to two bulbous, amethyst eyes staring disconcertingly at her. She bolted upright and came nose to nose with what was an unmistakable house elf.
"Hawser is sorry, miss!" squeaked the elf piteously "Hawser is not knowing the best way to wake miss up, miss."
"It's alright Hawser." said Kestrel blearily "No harm done. If you ever wake me up again, just tell me to wake up or something."
Hawser nodded and then suddenly threw herself at the counter and repeatedly banged her head against it, squealing "Bad Hawser, bad!"
"Hawser! Knock it of! I mean," Kestrel said hurriedly as the elf banged her head even harder against the plaster "Stop! Stop it!"
The elf stopped beating her head momentarily, and then pounding her fists into her skull hard.
"Hawser, stop hurting yourself!" Kestrel commanded. This seemed to have worked, because Hawser immediately stopped, and began moaning wretchedly.
"Hawser what did you do that for?" Kestrel chided gently.
"Hawser is not waking miss up at the correct time, miss." Hawser peeped "Hawser is supposed to be getting miss up at eight and it is know nearly eight fifteen!"
Kestrel glanced up at the clock, and noticed that it was indeed 8:13. "No harm done Hawser." Kestrel repeated "It's my fault really, I should have set my alarm."
Hawser blinked. "Now, why don't you go back to the kitchens, Hawser." Kestrel continued. Hawser nodded, and made to leave.
"But don't punish yourself!" Kestrel added, as an afterthought.
Diagon Alleys was not as cool as it was made out to be. It was much better. Owls swooped over arched rooftops as people of every description wandered the cobbled streets.
First off was Gringotts, which proved to be lengthy, but interesting. First the goblin nearly fell of his stool when Kestrel produced her key. Then, after several tests to prove that she was who she said she was, they were led into the most ostentatious carriage Kestrel could have ever imagined. The stopped at what was probably the last vault in the entire bank, so far underground, that you could almost feel the heat of the earth's core.
"Stand back!" ordered Trine, the goblin who was with them. The command came not a moment to soon, as a jet of flame spewed out right in front of them. Hagrid followed Trine, clearly interested, as he went to subdue the dragon, while Kestrel just stood there blinking in shock.
"Key please." snipped Trine, snapped her out of her reverie, and numbly handed her key over. Trine inserted it in a cleverly concealed hole, and then traced a pattern next to the door that only he could see.
"If anybody but a goblin tried that, they'd be frozen in ice for the next century." Trine smiled nastily. Kestrel nodded mutely, and then poked her head cautiously into the door. "Holy shit!"
She figured her vault must have three times as much gold as the rest of the world put together. Mountains of gold interspersed with rivers of silver seemed to continue for an eternity. A multitude of bronze coins lined the wall to her left, and to her right were jewels of every color imaginable, along with several boxes, and a scroll of parchment.
"Blimey, Kestrel, is all 'o this yours?"
"I should say it is. The goblins have been guarding these treasure for innumerable centuries. You're now the riches person who has ever had an account at Gringotts." Trine informed them.
"Holy shit." Kestrel repeated in awe.
"Well, don just sit there gwakin', grab some of this stuff, and we'll buy ya yer school supplies." Hagrid said.
Kestrel robotically produced a money bag from her pocket and began to fill it with gold coins, but the real objects that caught her eye were the boxes, and the scroll.
Trine cleared her throat." I thought you might find some of the things in here interesting. After all, this vault hasn't been opened for nearly three thousand years. Doubtless there are several items of considerable value." Trine coughed pompously "This is a box that will expand to fit anything you wish to take from your vault, while still remaining the weight of three pounds." "Thanks" said Kestrel, making to take the box from Trine. Trine held on. "But before I give it to you, I ask that you tell me what you find in here. This vault has no inventory, and it's a point of curiosity for me."
Kestrel nodded, and Trine handed over the box.
It was perhaps several minuets later, when both she and Hagrid were blinking out in the bright sunshine when the inevitable question was posted.
"Who left ya all 'o tha' stuff?" Hagrid asked
"No idea what so ever." Kestrel said "I thought I was all Muggle until I showed up at Hogwarts."
Hagrid shook his great burly head, and then said, "This is Madam Malkin's, the wizarding robe shop. Have a go in 'er, you know what ter buy."
Kestrel nodded, and walked through the shop doors.
It wasn't very busy in Madam Malkin's, as only three or four people milling about, or being measured for robes. A woman who could only be Madam Malkin came bustling up to her. "Hogwarts dearie?" Kestrel nodded. "Well step up on the stool over there, and we'll measure you for your robes. There's another girl being measured for fine clothes, you can have a chat with her."
Kestrel hopped up onto the stool as a measuring tape immediately began measuring her hand span.
"Hello, I'm Hermione Granger." Kestrel nearly fell of her stool with shock. She was sorely tempted to say "Are you really?", but didn't think that would go over well. What she said instead was "I'm Kestrel Cascara. Nice to meet you?"
"Did you know you were a witch, or did you just find out?" Hermione asked
"I just found out. But I've read about it. It's really weird."
Hermione smiled "I love to read. Have you ever read Lord of the Rings?"
Kestrel nodded. "That was a very awesome book. Legolas is my favorite character. How about you?"
"Aragorn. He's so cool. I wish I could use a sword like he does."
"Archery's more my thing. I've never been able to convince my gym teacher to teach it though. Where're you from?"
"Bristol. It's a rather nice place, if a bit dull. Are you from America?"
"I'm a New Yorker, born and bred. I used to live on LI. Nothing really gets boring there, the general male population sees to that."
They passed a few moments with idle small talk, when Hermione let out a shout. "Oh my God! Is that a giant?!?"
"No that's just Hagrid. He's really nice. Sort of like the Hell's Angles people who'll tell you what they put on their roses, or how their hydrangeas are doing this season."
Hermione giggled. "Besides," Kestrel continued. "Real giants are twenty feet tall. Hagrid's only ten."
"You're all done, dears, step down now." Madam Malkin said, handing them each a large bundle of robes.
Kestrel and Hermione left the shop still chatting animatedly. "So he gets to live at Hogwarts? Wicked!"
"Yeah he gets to go into the Forbidden Forest, too, lucky blighter."
"You know, for an American, you certainly use quiet a lot of British phrases."
"What can I say? I've read to many English novels."
"There's my parents. I've got to go. See you at Hogwarts, Kestrel."
"See you later, Hermione."
"Nice ta see yore makin' friends there, Kestrel. Come along now, off to Flourish and Blotts."
"Nothing of consequence happened until they reached Ollivander's. The descriptions in the book had not completely conveyed the disturbing atmosphere of this shop. Cobwebs hung in every corner, and it looked like it might have been a funeral home in a past life. Kestrel and Hagrid stepped inside.
"Ah, Hagrid, back so soon? And who's this?"
"This here is Kestrel Cascara. She showed up at Hogwarts on 'Arry's birthday, roundabouts, an' I'm bringin' her 'ere for her school supplies."
"I see." said Mr. Ollivander, although he did not look it. "Wand hand?"
"I'm right handed." Kestrel replied, sticking out said limb.
"Very well." said Mr. Ollivander, flicking his wand. A tape measurer sprung to life and began measuring several different parts of her body.
"We have several different types of wands here, Miss Cascara, with several different types of wand cores. Phoenix feathers, dragon heartstrings, unicorn hairs, and the like. Here try this. Ebony and unicorn hair. 13 inches, rather whippy, give it a wave."
Kestrel took the wand and waved it a little, trying not to blush as Mr. Ollivander snatched the wand away. "Redwood and Dragon heartstrings. 10 and ΒΌ inches, a bit bendy."
And so it went. Wand after wand passed it's way into Kestrel's hand, and each was snatched back to be replaced by another.
"I must say, you're a particularly difficult customer." Mr. Ollivander said after what must have been hours. He headed toward a rack of wand labeled 'Unusual Cores'. "I haven't had somebody take one of these for nearly a decade now. Here, Mandrake sinew and stag velvet. Give it a go."
Once again the tedious process of trying out wands started. She passed through Dementor skin, grim hair, werewolf claws, house-elf hair, rat's tail, Kneazle whiskers, and owl feathers to know avail. Mr. Ollivander gave her his last wand.
"I'll eat my hat if this isn't your match, Miss Cascara. Phoenix teardrops, birch with ivory inlays, stiff."
Kestrel tried it out, but much to her disappointment, nothing happened.
"I don't under..." Mr. Ollivander spluttered, before gazing at the wand seated on the cushion on the windowsill. "I wonder..."
Kestrel followed him as he grabbed the wand of it's cushion, breathing very fast. "Miss Cascara, I'd like for you to try this. It's a very powerful, very old wand my great-great-grandfather made. Inside are a hair from Merlin's beard, four hairs from the four founders, unicorn hair, a heartstring from an opaleye, horntail, fireball, and Welsh green cross, and a pure white phoenix feather, incased in Mandrake sinew and ebony and ivory. Try it."
Kestrel took the wand with a thrill of anticipation. This was it! It had to be! She waved, and a multitude of rainbow sparks shot out of her wand. Mr. Ollivander nodded, looking slightly winded. "That will be sixteen galleons, Miss Cascara." Kestrel paid for her wand, lost in thought.
It was by far the weirdest letter ever written to a Gringotts goblin.
Trine,
No offense intended, but are you sure that vault hasn't been opened for three thousand years? I'm sure once you read the inventory, you'll agree this seems unlikely.
Anyway, here goes.
Stuff that was in the box (Thanks for that, by the way)
Dairies of Lilly Evans, James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Severus Snape, Luscious Malfoy, Narcissa Black, Peter Pettigrew, Bellatrix Lastrange, Ludo Bagman, Alastor Moody, Albus Dumbledore, Petunia Evans, Minerva McGonagall, and Tom Riddle
One ruby and diamond necklace.
Three emerald rings
One opal pendant
An egg!?!?!?!?!
Ten silver bangles
The complete Hogwarts: A History by the founders
How to brew three thousand incredibly complex yet highly useful potions. By Salazar Slytherin
Attack and Counterattack: A guide to Defense Strategy By Godric Gryffindor
Flora and Fauna: All the Earth's Creatures By Helga Hufflepuff
Fifty Thousand Advance Spells You Will Need By Rowena Ravenclaw
Any idea what this is about?
Sincerely,
Kestrel Cascara
"Now, 'ere's yore ticket, Kestrel, and yore portkey. Don wan' ya ta be late, now do we?"
"Thanks Hagrid." said Kestrel, eyeing the portkey apprehensively, before touching it and being whisked away to Kings Cross.
"Kestrel! Kestrel!" Hermione said running up to (so far) her only friend in the wizarding world as she materialized in the station.
"Hey Hermione! Got your ticket?"
"Yeah, but I think they made a mistake. There's no platform nine and three quarters here."
Just the a large family of red heads marched past, with an owl, and much muttering about "Mad Muggles giving us the evil eye."
"They look like a family of wizards to me, let's see how they get on?" suggested Kestrel, who knew very well how to get on the platform, but wanted to see how it was done anyway.
"Sound's good to me." said Hermione, and they watched as Percy strolled casually against the barrier, and fell straight through.
Hermione turned to Kestrel. "So, you just run through then?"
"Looks like it. I'll go first."
Kestrel waited for the twins (Gred and Forge she mentally said) to finish going through and then took off through the seemingly solid stone. Hermione followed a moment later. "Let's go, the train leaves in five minutes." Hermione said
"Okay... Oh shit." Kestrel said, as her trunk exploded. "You go ahead-no sense in us both being late."
"Okay see you on the train." Hermione said, puttering off.
It was nearly three minutes later when she had finally got all her stuff, and was levitating her trunk through the still open doors of the train. No sooner had she stepped inside when her first real challenge began.
"Hey, Cutie!"
Kestrel spun around to see three boys looking appraisingly at her. She glared icily back. Being the only fourteen-year-old in first year was going to have some drawbacks.
"Need some help with that!" asked one of the twins
"Do I look like it?" asked Kestrel icily. She put down her trunk, and began to peer into compartments as she passed, looking for Hermione.
"I haven't seen you around before." said the other twin. Before Kestrel could answer, the twin's companion, a boy with dreadlocks who could only be Lee Jordan, blurted out. "Do you need a room?"
Kestrel raised an eyebrow at him. Lee blushed, and Fred and George both smacked him on the head.
"Don't mind him." said one of the twins, who had a slight overbite.
"He's a bit of an idiot." said the other
"Listen to the pot calling the kettle black." Kestrel muttered. The twins seemed not to have heard.
"By the way-" said the one with the overbite
"I'm Fred-"
"And I'm George-"
"This is our friend Lee Jordan."
"And you are?"
"Kestrel Cascara."
"Nice to meet you." stated George
"Are you a transfer student?" asked Fred
"No, actually." said Kestrel, who had spotted a head of bushy hair in the next compartment. "I'm a first year." She paused to enjoy the horrified looks on their faces. "Goodbye."
She poked her head in a compartment that was packed with giggling girls. They all turned to look at her. She then realized that the bushy-haired girl was probably in her third year. "Oh, sorry. Wrong compartment."
She moved onto the next, relatively empty compartment. She entered. "Can I stash my stuff in here?" Both boys looked taken aback by being addressed by a girl. The messy, raven haired boy regained his speech first. "Sure."
Kestrel nodded her thanks, and lugged her now grounded trunk into the compartment and onto the overhead rack. "So, Ron." the boy continued. "What were you saying about Quaffels?" The red-head jumped slightly "Oh, yeah, well Harry, they have..." but what ever Quaffels had Kestrel never found out, for at that moment she realized who's compartment she was in. Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley. Wow.
The compartment door slid open reveling a pointy faced framed by platinum blonde hair and what could have been two shaved gorillas. Draco Malfoy and his two bookends.
"They're saying that Harry Potter's in this compartment. Is it true?" Malfoy said with a slight lisp. Kestrel supposed this was his drawl.
Ron and Harry stood up in a typically macho fashion. Kestrel casually drew her wand out behind her back. Better to careful than not careful enough.
"Yes." said Harry, calculating. "And you are?"
"Draco Malfoy." said Malfoy with obvious pride. Ron coughed into his hand, and Kestrel found the corners of her lips were twitching.
"So you think my name's funny, don't you?" said Malfoy aggressively. "No need to ask who you are. Let's see- hand-me-down robes, and red hair, must be a Weasel, and a Mudblood with no wizarding family and no pure blood." Malfoy turned to Harry. "I think you'll find that some wizards are better than others. You need to choose your friends wisely. I can help you there." He stuck out his hand.
"I think I can chose my friends for myself, thanks." said Harry coolly.
Draco Malfoy looked around the compartment, which was strew with candy wrappers and mushy sandwiches. "We seem to out of food. You have plenty, would you mind sharing?" Without waiting for a answer, one of the gorillas stooped the grab an unopened chocolate frog.
"Ouch!" A mangy rat was hanging from his teeth as the portly boy shook his hand violently. Scabbers squeaked as he came loose, and crashed into the window.
"Let's get out of here!" Malfoy shouted, running out of the compartment. Kestrel sighed, shook her head, and put her wand away.
"Gits like Malfoy give us Slytherins a bad name." said Kestrel wearily. Ron gave her an incredulous stare. "What?"
"You're a Slytherin?" Ron gaped. Kestrel shrugged.
"I don't really know. I'm a first year you see." both boys mouth fell to the floor with an almost audible thunk. "But Hogwarts: A History said that Slytherins are ambitious, cautious people, and that sounds like me." Ron continued to gape at her.
"But all Slytherins are evil!" he blurted. Kestrel raised an eyebrow. "Mad- Eye Moody was a Slytherin, and you can't say he's evil. Insane maybe, but definitely not evil."
While Ron was digesting this piece of news, Kestrel turned to Harry, who was plainly wondering who Mad-Eye Moody was, and stuck out her hand. "I don't think we were introduced. Kestrel Cascara."
"Harry Potter." said Harry, automatically. Kestrel shook his hand, resisting the urge to stare at his scar. She then turned to Ron, who was still staring into space. Harry punched him on the shoulder, and he blinkingly came back to life. "Ron Weasley."
"Now that that's over with, have you seen a girl called Hermione Granger. She has bushy hair, she's about a head shorter than me. She Muggle born, so probably interested in any spell work."
Ron stared again, but Harry said "Sure, she was in here about half an hour ago."
"Which way did she go?"
Harry and Ron both pointed- in different directions. Kestrel sighed. Harry and Ron glared at each other. "Right then. I'll find her on my own."
She sidled out the compartment, nearly colliding with a pudgy boy who looked close to tears. "Have you seen a toad anywhere around here?" he said mournfully. "His names Trevor, and I can't find him anywhere!"
"Here let me try something." she pulled out her wand. Neville took a terrified step back. "Don't worry I'm not going to hex you." she scoffed. "You said his name was Trevor?" Neville nodded. "Accio Trevor!" A squashy, green toad landed squarely in Kestrel's hand, have flown from just around the bend." Here you go then. I'm Kestrel Cascara, by the way." Neville awkwardly took the toad with his right hand and shook with his left. "Neville Longbottom."
Just then the sound of footsteps echoed through the corridor. Kestrel and Neville both turned automatically to face the cause of the noise. It was the twins and Lee again.
"Have either of you seen a toad?" George breathed "We were just holding him when he zoomed out of our hands!"
"Hey, watch were your pointing that thing, Kestrel!" said Fred melodramatically, gesturing to the wand that was aimed at his face.
"You watch to whom you talk about toads to." Kestrel retorted gruffly.
"Why should we... oh." Lee said comprehension dawning on his face. "It was your toad then?"
"His actually." Kestrel said coolly, nodding towards Neville
"We were just holding him!" protested George
"Honest, Kestrel, we were going to give him back!"
"Right..." trailed off Kestrel. "Listen, if you're going to play pranks on people, at least do it to people like that Malfoy git, who deserve it, or your older brother, who need it."
The twins stared uncomprehendingly at her, and then they broke out into identical, slightly evil, grins. "Righty-o Kestrel..." said Fred cheerfully
"We'll go play a trick on old Percy the Perfect Prefect..." continued George
"And then we'll tell him, it was all your idea!" finished Fred
"You do that." said Kestrel, and she turned away, still looking for Hermione.
"Hello, I'm- hey Kestrel, where've you been!" said Hermione, as Kestrel turned away from the cubicle she had been looking into.
"I've all over the train looking for you. What've you been up to?"
"Helping a boy called Neville find his toad, and then talking to prefects and the like." Hermione explained. "What about you?"
"First I staved of three blokes who were catcalling me, then I met the Boy- Who-Lived. Almost had a fight with a pureblood git called Draco Malfoy, if you can believe it. Then I bumped into Neville, summoned his toad, and then told the same people who were catcalling me to play a prank on Malfoy. A good afternoon's work, I think."
"Yeah," said Hermione, grinning, "But you shouldn't have got on a Malfoy's bad side like that. I hear they're very powerful."
"Only money wise, and trust me, I defiantly beat them out there too. So where's you're compartment-I haven't had a chance to sit down the entire train ride."
"Right this way."
The walked down the narrow corridor, still conversing vivaciously.
"First years! First year, ov'r 'ere! This way, come along now!"
Kestrel followed the sound of Hagrid's booming voice as the throng of students made their way around Hogsmead Station. Kestrel caught Hagrid's beetle black eyes, grinning wildly. "How're ya doin', Kestrel. An' you to, 'Arry? Have a nice trip, you two?"
"A very good trip!" Kestrel replied, and heard Harry shout something similar over the ruckus of the crowd. Hagrid led them around a bend and up a small hill until they were face to face with the majestic scene of Hogwarts, all lit up for the night. It was a spectacular sight, rather like diamonds sparkling amidst onyx stone.
"No more tha' four to a boat, now. Steady as she goes!"
Kestrel hurriedly clambered into the nearest rowboat, accompanied by Hermione, a blond who turned out to be Blaise Zambini, and a black-haired girl who turned out to be Padma Patil. There was no time for any chit-chat after introductions were made and family background relived, because then they had to scale the sopping wet steps up to a small door, at which Hagrid knocked three times. The soon-to-be-first-years huddled together in silence, before the door opened, revealing a large vestibule, and a sweeping marble staircase on which her house could have easily sat. A severe looking woman who had here hair up in a large, silvery bun stepped out of the shadows.
"I am Professor McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress, Head of Gryffindor House, and Transfiguration teacher. Here at Hogwarts, you're houses will be you're homes, and your housemates your family. There are four houses, Hufflepuff, Slytherin, Gryffindor, and Ravenclaw. Each has produced several powerful, and notable wizards. Please stay in their, while I prepare the Sorting."
There were several excitable whispers as the group moved as one to the small antechamber McGonagall had indicated.
"I wonder what the sorting's going to be like?" Hermione questioned. "Padma, your family is pureblood, did they tell you anything?"
"Not a word." Padma said mournfully. "I think my twin, Parvati, might know something, but she won't tell me. How about you, Blaise?"
"Same situation. With out the evil twin, though." Blaise cracked a wry smile. There was a moment's silence, before a voice that was unmistakably Ron's said fearfully "My brother's said something about a troll..."
The girl's snorted mirthfully. Ron and Harry both glared in their direction. "What are you laughing about." said Ron angrily. "For all you know, it could be."
"Actually, you have to change the color of a hat." piped up a frantic- looking girl. "My mom told me."
Kestrel decided not to comment.
Review!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!