Authors Note: This is the start of a seven-story series I am writing about an OC named Samuel Black. It follows him through his years in Hogwarts, and the relationships and adventures he has. This story take place just as the Next-Generation are leaving school. Samuel's first year at Hogwarts will be the same as Lily Potter's last year. Please comment to let me know how I could improve. I hope you all enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own any Harry Potter/ Wizarding World content, whether that be characters or words. That is all owned by J.K. Rowling, I am only using them to create this story of my OC Samuel Black.
Hogwarts Is Here: The Lost Scion of Black
Chapter One – New Beginnings
St. Mary's Orphanage for Boys looked like the years had not been kind to it. One would think it was not touched since it was built back in the 1800's. Most people would walk past the building without giving it a second glance, not caring what it was used for or who was inside. But, like every other day at six o'clock in St. Mary's Orphanage, the children were in the dining hall eating. The sound of chatter and the scraping of cutlery against plates filled the hall as a short, rounded woman entered, walking with purpose to the front of the room. Everyone knew her to be the orphan keeper and causing her any problems would create a great deal of difficulty for the culprit.
"Samuel Black, stand up and follow me!" The woman spoke clearly when she had reached the head of them room.
A small boy with untidy black hair stood shakily, rubbing his nervous hands against his trousers. Whispers broke out around the hall, everyone questioning what the young boy had done to be called out in the middle of dinner. With an audible gulp Samuel followed the woman as she swiftly made her way to the door and out into the hall. They walked in silence up to the orphan keeper's office, Samuel trailing with his eyes fixed on the floor.
"Lift your head up boy!" The woman spat, stopping just outside the door to her personal office. "You have new potential guardians waiting on the other side of that door and I will not have you mess this up. God knows I need to get rid of some of you."
"Y-Y-You mean s-someone is h-here to a-adopt me?" The little boy asked, his surprise clearly showing on his face. He had come to accept that he would be stuck at the orphanage for the rest of his childhood, having been here for the five years since he was born.
"You will not be adopted if you cannot speak clearly!" The woman said darkly, enunciating each word as if to show him how he should be talking.
"Y-Yes Miss Broderick." Samuel said, trying to right his clothes for a good first impression.
Grabbing Samuel by the scruff of the neck, Miss Broderick dragged him into the office. Samuel was clinging to the front of his jumper to prevent from being choked as he was shoved down onto a bench at the edge of the room. Taking a few deep breaths to calm himself from the orphan keeper's sudden outburst, he looked up to see an elderly couple with kind faces sitting in front of a large wooden desk. Each were looking at him with a hint of concern and sadness. Samuel tried to put on a brave face and smile at them, but he was certain that he probably looked far from what he had hoped.
"This is the boy we were discussing." Miss Broderick said to the couple, sitting down on the other side of the desk. "Samuel Black, five years old, was left at St. Mary's Orphanage when he was just a new-born. His mother was a right little tramp when she showed up. Covered in bruises and torn clothes, looking like she should be put down if you were to ask me." Miss Broderick continued, flicking through the file she had on Samuel.
Samuel had dropped his head to look at the floor, trying his hardest not to cry in front of the couple who could be his saving grace. The orphan keeper was known for being cruel, having beaten many of the children in the orphanage including Samuel himself.
"Oh, I'm sure she couldn't have been that bad if she made a beautiful young boy like this." The elderly woman spoke up, her voice soft and full of compassion.
Samuel raised his head to see the elderly couple watching him carefully. Surveying every inch of him intently, from his messy black hair and watery turquoise eyes to his starved, skinny frame which sat slumped on the bench. He started to get very insecure as the pair continued to watch him without speaking. Looking back down at his hands, Samuel took a shaky breath, "Hello." He uttered timidly.
"Hello young man." The old man said, smiling at Samuel encouragingly. "Are you ready to finally leave St. Mary's?" He asked, glancing at his wife.
Samuel's head snapped up, his eyes staring at the elderly man searching for some sign that he was joking. "Y-Yes sir." He managed to stutter out, letting a tear escape and trail down his cheek.
"Vey well then! I believe we are ready to fill out any paperwork and bring Samuel back with us today." The old man said cheerily, grabbing his wife's hand.
They spent the next twenty minutes filling out forms while Samuel sat afraid to move a muscle, as if him moving might change their minds. Eventually Miss Broderick stood up and shook the couple's hands giving them a fake congratulations for their new adoption. Quickly moving over to Samuel, she grabbed him by the front of his jumper lifting him up and pushing him over to the door.
"Excuse me." The soft voice of the elderly man cut in, "Please don't treat our child like that." He said fiercely to the orphan keeper. Taking Samuel by the hand he walked out of the office followed by his wife. "Do you have anything you want to bring with you? We will be getting you new clothes and that so there is no need to worry about any of those." He asked the small child. With a timid, "No sir", from Samuel the three swiftly made their way down to the exit, leaving the building behind them.
"My name is Joseph Wilson, and this is my wife Elizabeth." The old man said, pointing to himself and his wife. "Welcome to the family!"