Thank you to my fabulous beta Go-french-a-dementorI hope you guys are enjoying the rewrite let me know in the comments, they mean so much to me.I own nothing but my OC.
"Mistress must wake up, it's September first!" Lollies shrill voice cut through the room.
Freya groaned, sucking air through her teeth as she tried to roll on to her back, "Lollie, the train doesn't leave until eleven," she pushed her long blond hair out of her face and looked at the clock, "It's only eight-thirty."
"Lollie has herbs from the garden for Mistress Freya's back. Madame will not know, she left early this morning," the obnoxious elf skipped into the bathroom and Freya heard the tub start. She laid there for a few moments, it was odd that she hadn't even heard her grandmother around the manor since the incident, not that she wanted to. Freya gingerly sat up and made her way to the bathroom
Lollie had fussed over Freya for the better part of an hour, triple checking her trunk and stuffing it with sweets. At ten on the dot, the house-elf nearly pushed Freya to the fireplace, handing her a map of London and a small bag. Freya looked at the items confused before shoving them into her pocket. Grabbing a handful of powder she threw it into the floor shouting, "Platform 9 ," in a woosh of green flames she was gone.
Stumbling out of the fireplace she was greeted with the sight of a bustling train platform. Even being early, there were tons of students moving around. Some loading their trunks, others saying goodbye to parents and younger siblings. Freya ignored the internal pity party and yanked on the handle of her trunk, pulling it to the train.
Not excited about spending time in a small train car, Freya walked back out onto the platform pulling out the last minute 'gift' from Lollie, Freya opened the map, smiling as she saw a bright green circle around Kings Cross Station and another around a coffee shop two blocks over, "Oh you wonderful little elf," Freya smiled to herself as she opened the small pouch seeing several muggle bills inside. Slipping off her cloak and hanging it over her messenger bag, she started pushing her way through the students blocking the exit.
The sound of traffic filled her ears as she stepped out of the station, following the short path Lollie had drawn for her. Once in the coffee shop, she let the warm smell comfort her nerves as she took her place in line.
It took less than twenty minutes for her to make it back to the station, her cup of happiness scalding under her fingers and a muffin tucked away in her bag. She took a long whiff before chancing a drink, letting out a little hum of enjoyment, completely unaware she'd caught the attention of a certain grey-eyed Gryffindor.
Sirius leaned up against the red brick wall as Mrs. Potter doted over her son. James rolled his eyes and ran a hand through the hair she'd just fixed, "Mum, stop!" He hissed.
The older Black brother chuckled.
"I'm not sure what you're giggling about over there," Mia Potter smiled warmly at her adopted son, she walked over and pulled him into a hug, "Can we keep the letters from school to a minimum?" She asked as she pulled away, leaving her hands on his shoulders. Sirius smiled, "I never make promises I can't keep," he shrugged, shoving his hands in his pockets.
James waved goodbye to his parents one last time before motioning for Sirius to follow, meeting up with Remus and Peter near the scarlet steam engine. Their conversation nothing but murmurs as he looked across the platform and watched his mother give Regulus a few parting words.
As he rolled his eyes and shifted back towards his friends he stopped short, catching a glimpse of the small blond from Diagon Alley. He elbowed his bespectacled friend, "Prongsy, see what I see?" Looking towards Freya.
James followed his eyes, "Muggle clothes? Guess she's not as prim and proper as you thought," James laughed turning his attention back to Remus. The sandy blond turned his head to see what the other two were talking about, "The girl Malfoy was hassling?"
"The very same Moony, my boy," Sirius watched as she disappeared on to the train, he shifted his focus back to the boys, "We should probably find some seats, yeah?" He didn't wait for an answer before walking towards the train steps. Pushing his way through the small hall, his friends following closely behind, Sirius carefully scanned every compartment they passed, until finally spotting the blond sitting by herself. She was already stretched out on the bench, opening a book that looked like it had seen better days.
Freya looked up through her lashes as the door clicked open, "Fancy seeing you here," the familiar voice of the boy from the Alley caused Freya to draw her attention completely from her book. She locked her blue eyes with his silver ones, "Well, this is the only way to school," she replied flatly.
He ran a hand through his thick black hair before stepping into the compartment, "I don't believe we've been properly introduced, Sirius Black," he flashed a bright smile.
Freya was about to speak when the other black haired boy grabbed his arm, "I thought we were finding seats," he turned his hazel eyes on Freya, "Sorry, he's like a dog with a bone when he sees a pretty girl. James Potter," he waved.
"Shut up," Sirius hissed.
"It's fine really," she stifled a laugh, "actually I should thank you two for your help the other day. I'm Freya by the way." She smiled politely, "You can sit here, I mean if you want." She pulled her legs off the bench to emphasize her point.
Sirius and James walked right in, the former sitting at the far end of Freya's bench while James took the other window seat. The other two stood by the door.
"I don't bite," Freya laughed.
"That's Remus," James pointed to a boy with scruffy sandy blond hair, "And Peter," both waved in turn. The second boy also had blond hair but lighter, Freya noticed he was built differently from the other boys, not quite as tall and a little stockier.
"So is there a last name?" Sirius asked.
"Fawley," she replied simply.
"Bull shit, Sofia was the last one and she died almost 20 years ago." He snapped.
No, she died four months ago, Freya narrowed her eyes at him "I'm a cousin, I moved to London over the summer."
"That accent it's hard to place," Remus said, obviously trying to draw her attention away from Sirius's remark.
"It's a jumble," Freya shrugged, "I grew up in New Orleans, lots of tourists in and out of the store."
"Store?" Peter asked.
"Mmhmm, my mom ran an apothecary." She shifted a little in her seat, not wanting to go into much detail with a bunch of strangers, "So what year are you guys in? I'm going into sixth"
"Same," James answered for everyone, "We're all in Gryffindor as well."
"I only know what I've read about the houses," she lied, her mother had told her several stories about her common room, and life in the castle but she wanted to know about it from someone else's perspective, "What are they like?" She asked excitedly, hanging on every word as the guys explained the four houses.
It wasn't long before a knock on the door interrupted a lively retelling of a prank played at last year's end of term feast. A redhead walked in and James quickly stood up, "My lovely Lily flower how was your summer?"
"I've asked you a million times to stop calling me that Potter," she snapped, her green eyes staring him down, she continued, still glaring at James, "Remus we should head to the Prefects cabin it's almost time for our meeting."
The boy in question stood up, "I was just about to head that way, Lily have you met Freya?"
Lily's attention finally moved from a still grinning Potter and met Freya's, "Lily Evans, nice to meet you," she smiled warmly, "Do you know what house you'll be in?"
"Not yet but, these four have been telling me all about them," Freya smiled back.
"Yeah, I'm sure they've given you a very… impartial run down." She raised her eyebrows looking around the small room.
"Evans, you wound us," Sirius laughed, "Were as impartial as they come, love," He winked, causing Lily to roll her eyes, "Why don't we see what house she's in before you start stuffing her head with all that Gryffindor pride you lot seem to ooze."
"I think she was insulting us Prongs," Sirius said looking over at James.
Lily flipped her long red hair over her shoulder and looked at Freya, "If you get tired of their nonsense, a few of my friends are three compartments down towards the end of the train, ask for Marlene, they'll protect you."
"Thanks," Freya laughed and returned the wave Lily gave before the two prefects walked out.
"So," James started, "How was your summer with the wicked witch of London?"
"I see Lady Fawley's reputation precedes her," Freya replied sourly.
"Oh that woman is an evil wench," Sirius snapped.
"It was definitely a new experience," she wrung her hands nervously, "Speaking of do you have a brother?" She said suddenly, looking at Sirius.
"Yes, why?"
"I met him, literally the only person who was any kind of nice to me all summer," she explained.
"Give Walburga a couple more years, she'll train him to be just as vile as your escort from Diagon Alley." Sirius rolled his grey eyes and slumped back into his seat.
"Don't even get me started on Malfoy," Freya groaned.
"I'll bet lady Fawley's itching to marry you off. After Sofia, the Fawley name just kept dropping down the social ladder, what better way to hop back up the rungs than to hand off her next of kin," he rolled his eyes.
"Oh, I'm already working around that." Freya replied confidently, "Something about being auctioned off to the highest bidder doesn't really sit well with me, and from your reaction I see you feel the same."
He waved his hand through the air before sitting up, smirking as he opened his mouth to speak but quickly closed it, shaking his head.
The trolly stopping by managed to shift the mood in the room, a pile of sweets taking up empty spaces on the benches. The topic of conversation soon turned to Quidditch, Freya grinned, when James mentioned almost all the houses needed players, "I played chaser for a year," Freya announced, "but the last three years I was a seeker."
James grinned, "No shit?"
"Really," she smiled back, "Only lost one game, but I was unconscious so I don't think it counts," she shrugged.
"You have a broom, yeah?"
Freya's heart sunk a little, "I did," she paused, "But it had an accident so I'd have to order a new one." She didn't miss the glance between James and Sirius but didn't dwell over it either.
Over the next couple of hours Freya learned that Sirius lived with the Potters, and Peter's family owned a book shop. Freya talked about growing up in the shop, helping her mom make potions, "Her friend Vera, makes candles and does tarot reading for the no-maj."
"The what?!" Sirius snorted a laugh.
Freya blinked in his direction a couple of times before slowly replying, "No-maj, you guys call them muggles, my mom did too."
"That is a terrible name."
"You're named after a ball of floating gas, who are you to talk?" She huffed.
Sirius narrowed his silver eyes, "As opposed to a goddess known for being a slag with anger problems," he smirked.
Freya's eyes went wide, her eyebrows raised, "Excuse me?"
James slapped a hand to his face, "This is not going to end well," he groaned.
"Merely stating my own interpretation of Norse mythology," Sirius smirked but his face quickly turned to one of surprise, "Bloody hell," he said wide-eyed.
Freya groaned she knew what he was gawking at, control had slipped from her fingers and her anger was clearly displayed on her head, "Fuck," she muttered.
"That's amazing," James gasped.
"Thanks," Freya deadpanned. Shaking the color out of her hair, "I think I'm going to find somewhere to change," she looked out the window not able to see much now that the sun had set. She got up reaching above the seat to grab her bag.
"What the hell was that?" James asked once he was sure Freya had moved down the hall.
"I have no idea," Sirius groaned into his hands.
"I figured you would have actually had a plan when you talked to her since, you know, you've been talking about her, non-stop, all week," James rolled his eyes leaning back in his seat.
"Shut up James," Sirius growled before getting up and stepping into the hall.
Freya leaned against the restroom door, What the actual hell. confused about her sudden lack of control, she hadn't even been that angry.
She dug through her bag pulling out her uniform, noting she'd have to do a little work to it before classes started. Looking in the mirror as she pulled her hair up into a messy looking bun. She reached for the door handle and jumped as a knock came from the other side. She paused hoping the person on the other side would just walk off to the next toilet.
"Come on out Fawley," Evan Rosier's rough voice rang through.
"Sorry wrong girl," Freya replied in a slightly higher voice than normal.
"Open up pet."
Ignorant, fucking, asshole, she thought, before squaring her shoulders and opening the door, "Can I help you?"
His blue eyes flashed malice as he gripped what was surely a wand in his pocket, "Lady Fawley wanted me to remind you to think hard about where your loyalties lie at the sorting," he sneered.
Freya crossed her arms and used her shoulders to slip past him out into the hall, "I'll keep that in mind thanks," she replied, not looking back.
Rosier wrapped his hand tightly around her forearm, forcing her to face him with a tug, "Running off so fast? Lucius is rather sore about you ditching him in Diagon Alley the other day, why don't you come see if you can make it up to him," he smirked, causing Freya's stomach to turn.
"Piss off Rosier," Sirius walked up behind Freya, his eyes immediately shot to Evan's hand.
"This isn't your business Black."
Freya rolled her eyes at the exchange, she twisted in Rosier's grip and used her free hand to hit the inside of his arm, knocking his hand away. Freya stepped back, "We mustn't touch what doesn't belong to us," she calmly said, swiping her hand down her arm brushing out the wrinkles. When she looked back up at Evan's angry face, "Keep that in mind," she smirked before quickly turning around and heading back to her original seat.
Sirius quickly caught up with her sliding into the cabin after her, "What did he want anyway?" He asked, running a hand through his hair.
James looked up from the game he and Peter were playing, "Who?" He slammed his hand down preventing the cards from exploding.
"Rosier," Sirius replied as he watched Freya dig through her bag, seemingly ignoring him, "Fawley?"
"Hmm?" She looked up meeting his eyes, "Nothing, he's one of the fuck wads I met this summer, decided to push his luck." Freya set her bag beside her, "After that dinner, I was forced to sit through with him, I'd jump off this train first."
Sirius laughed a little before turning to face her, "What was that twisty thing you did?"
"I can show you, I'm not sure how to explain it," she held out her wrist for him to grab, she leaned down, "Watch right here," she twisted her wrist and created a small gap between his finger and thumb, "That's the strongest part of this grip and I've broken it," she hit his forearm releasing her hand, "and bam, you're free," she smiled, "I'm small, so I need that extra hit but it's possible to just pull your arm free after the twist."
"Where'd you learn that?" Peter asked with an excited look on his face.
"My dad, he was very big on making sure I knew how to do things the no-" she rolled her eyes, "muggle way."
"Why when the magical way is sooo much easier," Sirius barked with a laugh.
"Because you don't have to use magic for everything, the best things in life require a little effort."
Remus came back a few minutes later letting them know they were about to pull into the station. Freya stood outside while they changed, lost in her thoughts as she watched the little dots of light from Hogsmeade roll over the windows.
The cabin door slid open and Freya stepped back inside, tuning out the boys excitedly talking about the feast and focusing on what Rosier said, it wasn't a hard question, she wasn't like them, and wouldn't let herself be bullied into that life either.
Everything happens for a reason, only the Gods can change fate, Sofia's go-to reasoning for when anything went wrong calmed Freya, slightly.
She tried to use the darkened window to figure out her tie, letting out an irritated huff as she got her finger stuck.
"Here let me help," Sirius put a hand on her shoulder and she turned around, "I'm sorry for earlier," he said quietly as his fingers worked, "I forget not everyone is used to how adorable I am." He finished stepping away.
"Not sure adorable is the word I'd use but I'm going to keep that gem to myself," she winked stepping back and picked up her bag, "Thanks… for the tie."
He nodded and stepped into the hall and led the way to the platform.
Freya stepped out looking over at the path up to the school, "We have to walk?!"
"No," James laughed, "The carriages are this way," he held out his long arm pointing to a short line of students. Freya watched in awe as the horseless carriages pulled away.
"Lilykins," James yelled behind us, "Want to ride with us?"
Freya looked at the girl in question who rolled her eyes and glared at him, "I'd rather ride with the giant squid," she turned her nose in the air and went back to talking to her friends.
Freya climbed up the one step on the side and took a seat on the plush grey bench, "One day she'll say yes," James said, taking the seat across from her.
"It's been five years James, give it a rest," Remus laughed, sitting next to him.
"I won't, I've got it all planned out," James smirked.
Freya leaned over the empty spot separating her and Sirius, "Five years?" She whispered.
Sirius laughed, throwing his head back, "Prongsy here has been in love with Lily Evans since the day they met."
James rolled his eyes, "Yes please, Padfoot, scream it across the countryside for me."
"Always happy to help," Sirius flashed him a smile before leaning back against the seat.
Once out on the solid ground again Freya looked up at her new home and hoped that she could find some type of peace.
Someone called her name from her left as she walked inside, she stepped away from the group of students and walked over to a smaller man with a kind face, "Freya Fawley," he repeated, She nodded, smiling.
"I'm Professor Flitwick," he spun around and gestured for Freya to follow. "I teach charms, I'm also the head of Ravenclaw house. Do you know anything about our sorting ceremony?"
"I do," she replied nervously, pulling on her fingers as she walked down the small hallway.
"Professor McGonagall will be along any moment with the first years, you'll follow them into the Great Hall," with a smile he slipped through a door Freya assumed led to another hallway, she sighed and leaned against the wall.
In the main hall, the boys quickly found seats together, "I can't be the only one who noticed." Sirius whispered between them.
"No, I smelled it too." Remus said, adjusting his robes as he sat down, "Almost canine." He added.
"Maybe she has a dog." Peter offered.
"Maybe, should we just ask?" James looked at his three friends.
"And how, dear Prongs do we even bring that up?" Sirius dropped his voice to a whisper, "Hey Fawley, you smell like a dog can you turn into one?"
Remus let out a small chuckle, "I mean she didn't just smell like a dog."
Sirius thought for a moment, no she didn't. Freya smelt like cinnamon, and honey and sin but he'd keep that observation all to himself. James broke his trailing thought, "You don't think she has a furry problem of her own do you?"
Sirius snapped his head to James who was focused on Remus, "No, Moony would have spotted that before we got on the train." Remus shook his head, the others in silent understanding he wasn't talking in the third person.
"Well if I wasn't interested in little Miss Freya before, I am now," Sirius smirked but it was quickly replaced by a look of pain as Lily walked by, "You leave her alone Sirius Black."
He rubbed the spot on the back of his head where she'd slapped him, "Jealous, love? I thought you only had eyes for Jamsie here."
James gave him a look that said he didn't appreciate being brought into this but ever the best friend looked at the annoyed redhead and smiled, "Yeah where's my abuse Lily Flower?"
"Careful Potter, I found several new hexes I've been dying to try." She narrowed her eyes and turned away from the group to find a seat.
Freya hadn't been left alone long when the chatter of excited voices floated up the stairs. She leaned against the wall trying to stay out of the way as a tabby cat ran up the stairs shifting into a middle-aged witch dressed in long black robes and a pointed black hat. She gave Freya a brief nod, before facing the group of younger students who'd just reached the landing.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," The professor spoke loudly, quieting the last few whispers, "I am Professor McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress and head of Gryffindor house. In a few moments, you'll walk through these doors into the Great Hall where you will be sorted. While you're here your house will be like your family. Any triumphs will earn you house points and any misbehaving will lose them. Now if you will follow me," she turned around and started down the hall.
Staying in the back of the group, her eyes fixed on the enchanted ceiling reflecting the brilliant night sky, moving as far away from the group of eleven-year-olds as possible when they got to the front.
Her eyes scanned over the head table, meeting the bright blue eyes of the headmaster. Her mother had talked about her transfiguration teacher often. Freya noticed he momentarily gave her the same awed look as the shopkeepers a few days ago. Once he looked away Freya continued to take in her surroundings as Professor McGonagall read from her list.
As the last first-year hopped off the stool the headmaster stood up, "We have a new student joining our sixth-year class. Due to the state of our world, she joins us all the way from Ilvermorny. While this situation is unusual, I trust that everyone will welcome her warmly," he nodded and took his seat again.
"Freya Fawley," the female professor's thick Scottish accent cut across the hall. Freya pulled at her fingers as her boots scraped across the stone floor. She sat down on the stool and the old brown hat fell over her eyes, jumping when a small voice sounded in her head, "It's been a long time since I've seen a Fawley," the hat pondered a moment, "I see you thirst for knowledge, learning just for the enjoyment of it. Loyal with a need to defend the underdog. Cunning too I see, when it serves you. Where on earth shall I put you?"
Then silence, Freya swallowed thickly and thought, I can't be a Slytherin.
More silence.
"Please," she whispered out loud.
"GRYFFINDOR!" The hat shouted and the table full of students in red and gold robes cheered. Freya let out a breath and hopped off the stool, handing the hat back to the professor and almost skipped to her table, making sure to smirk at two angry Slytherins in particular.
"Freya come sit with us," Lily called out.
Freya flashed a bright smile at the redhead before taking the open seat next to her.
"Pay up Alice," Lily laughed and held her hand out over the table.
The girl across from her reached into her robes and pulled out a sickle slapping it into the redhead's palm. "Well, Fawley's old magic, it was really a 50/50 shot." She giggled. She turned and smiled at Freya, her small nose and bright eyes matched perfectly with her brown pixie cut, "Alice Fortescue," she said sticking out her hand, Freya took it, "Welcome."
Lily pointed to a girl with shoulder-length golden blond hair, "That's Marlene McKinnon," then gestured to another girl with short black hair and a round face, "And that's Mary Meadows," the girl waved with a smile.
"Hi, thanks for letting me sit with you." Freya smiled, piling food onto her plate.
"Honestly we just want to know how you survived an entire train ride with three-quarters of the Marauders." Alice giggled.
"The who?" She asked, looking down the table following the girls' gaze, she saw Sirius and James taking turns throwing food into each other's mouths, "Them?" She asked turning back to face the girls.
"Wow, they went the whole train ride without using nicknames, color me impressed." Marlene laughed.
"I mean they used nicknames just not that one." She elaborated.
"It's just what they call their stupid little group. They are always playing pranks and bullying the Slytherins." She nudged her head to the table under the green banners.
Freya looked over, a sea of black robes trimmed in green, two in particular sending glares towards her. Freya turned around thankful she wouldn't have to share common areas with people who made her so uncomfortable.
She listened intently as her housemates talked about their summers and answered questions about America. Lily seemed particularly interested in what it was like growing up in an apothecary.
"Looks like the new girl has a fan club," Peter said suddenly, looking past Sirius
Sirius looked up at his blue eyed friend, cocking an eyebrow, Peter nodded his head, and Sirius turned around. Scowling when he saw who Wormtail had been referring to, Rosier and Malfoy were whispering between themselves, throwing angry looks over at Freya.
"What are we talking about?" James also spun around, quickly finding what had his friend so tense.
Sirius brought his focus back to his meal, sneaking glances down to the other end of the table. If Freya knew those two were watching her, she didn't show it.
Padfoot cleared his plate and waited, his fingers tapping impatiently as Dumbledore welcomed them with a short speech, before dismissing them off to bed.
Sirius shot up slipping easily through the sea of students, he wrapped his arm around Freya's waist and steered her into the crowd.
Freya flinched expecting pain from his arm sitting on her back, but the herbs Lollie had used earlier must have done the trick. She tugged away from him but his grip held strong in her hip, "So I probably should have mentioned this earlier but I'm a huge fan of personal space," she hissed.
He laughed using his free hand to push his hair out of his face, "Well you see dear Fea, while-"
"Fea?" She asked, finally letting herself be led from the Great Hall.
"Everyone needs a good nickname," he smirked.
"Whatever," Freya rolled her eyes, "can you let me go now?"
"Just a moment," he said quietly, watching as the two snakes he was concerned with disappeared through the dungeon door, "and you're free." His hand slipped from her hip and he took a step to the side.
Freya shook her head, her long hair fanning out a little as she did, running up ahead and walking with Marleen.
"So you don't like Fea?" He called out.
She looked at Sirius over her shoulder, rolling her eyes quickly before looking away.
"That wasn't a no," Padfoot mumbled quietly
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