A/N first chapter? first chapter. It's a fem!percy story btw and she's smart. I told you, it's an AU, don't whine. Just kidding, I'm a nice person but still, don't whine.
Disclaimer: again, no male and still a Dutch teen so I won't be able to own Percy Jackson or Harry Potter.
Hello, my name is Cassiopeia Selene Jackson but everybody always calls me Cassi since nobody can say Cassiopeia right. It's actually really hilarious when teachers do a name check the first day of school and I've been to a lot. See, people always see me as a troubled kid and maybe I am but there always seems to happen something which ends up with me getting expelled even though I'm pretty intelligent. Like this year I blew up the school bus while we were on a fieldtrip to Saratoga battlefield and I had this accident with a Revolutionary War Cannon. I really wasn't aiming for the school bus but of course I got expelled anyways. Another example, last year we had a behind-the-scenes tour of the Marine World shark pool, I sort of hit the wrong lever on the sidewalk and our class took an unplanned swim. There always happens something, these things I can explain to muggles – non-magical people – but other things… Not so much, like Smelly Gabe, my step-father, was hitting me and I got angry and the bastard was suddenly jerked back by some unknown force. Yes, you might ask why I used the word muggle, you see, I'm not really normal. I'm a witch, just like my mother. She has to watch out because she doesn't want Gabe to know. Okay, I'm wandering off to what I was talking about, stupid ADHD. Back to where I began, I was born in Britain where I lived 'till I was five but then something happened that caused us to move to Manhattan, New York where my mum met Gabe. She ended up marrying him but she deserves so much more than that vile man… And I'm wandering off again. I'm eleven and my life hasn't been really normal since I've been born but when I thought it couldn't get any weirder. I was wrong. Let's start my story with the day my headmaster visited.
It all started a few months ago. I woke up with a delicious smell in the air: my mother's cookies. I ran down the stairs to get as fast as I could to steal a cookie. As I walked through the open door into the kitchen my mum suddenly said without looking up from her baking, "Cassi, don't steal the cookies."
"How do you always know what I'm going to do?" I whined, putting a raven strand of hair behind my ear. She chuckled.
"Because I know you, dear." She answered and I sighed.
"May I please have a cookie," I asked her with best puppy eyes almost nobody was able to resist. "They look so good and blue and the smell is just amazing."
Yes, you heard it right. Blue cookies, Gabe once told my mother there was no blue food and they had an argument about it. Since that day she always brought back blue food from her work or even made it with blue food-dye.
She sighed and handed me a cookie. "You little cookie-monster." Her auburn hair was in a bun on her head. She had grey stripes but I didn't see her as old. She has a lot of stress, me, Gabe, her jobs etcetera.
I nibbled satisfied on my cookie then suddenly something popped up in my head , "Mum, when will my Hogwarts letter arrive?"
"Soon, dear, I promise." She smiled at me and immediately I had to smile too. You see, her smile brightens up everything. My mother, Sally Jackson, is by far the nicest person in the world and that proves my theory that the best people have the rottenest luck. Her father left as soon as she was born and her mother – my grandmother – died when she was sixteen so she had to live in a foster home. Not a long time later the man got sick and had to care for him since his wife died not long before. When the man died she was eighteen – off age but still too young to be alone again – then she met my father. She never really told me but my father made her really happy, I see it in her eyes every time we talk about him. She got pregnant of me but he had to leave, on a trip across the sea and he never came back. Lost at sea, she always told me, not dead, just lost at sea. So we moved to Manhattan when I was five. We had serious money troubles. We had wizard money, a lot, but we were short of muggle money and the only place where we could change was in the wizarding bank Gringotts but my mum swore she wouldn't return to Britain until I was accepted to Hogwarts, don't ask me why, I don't know but I think it's because of her past. I wouldn't want to return too, if I was her. So we were about to get kicked out of our apartment when Gabe Ugliano turned up and 'saved' us – that's what he calls it – and he had money and helped us. My mum married him but then he showed us his true colours, a smelly – the reason of his nickname Smelly Gabe – drunk, poker-playing, abusive bastard. I hate him but if we leave him we'd be homeless and moneyless so I tried to cause as less trouble as I could for my mum. Gabe always uses his money in his poker parties so my mum had more than one job. Mum always sends me off to boarding schools in and around the city which means I don't see him a lot but that also means I don't see mum often which I hate because I love being with her. This year, I was probably going to Hogwarts, a school for special people, magical people. I couldn't wait to finally get my letter. I've been waiting for it since my mum told me about the school a few months ago. She told me about wizards and wizards on my tenth birthday and ever since I've been asking questions about the wizarding world. The first ones of course being about the school.
We were disrupted from our conversation when I heard his horrible voice coming from the living room, "Sally, where's my beer?"
"Coming honey," She got a beer and walked to the living room where Gabe was watching poker on television. He opened the beer and took a big swig.
Typical, I thought and sat down in the chair farthest away from him. I was about to make a remark when we heard the doorbell.
"You go, girl." He threw a read magazine towards me and I was just able to dodge it. I scowled at him even though he didn't see it. I stood up to walk to the door. When I opened the door I saw an old man standing in front of me with a grey beard which almost reached his waist. He word half-moon spectacles and wore a weird suit. He had twinkles in his eyes and a smile on his face.
"Hello, are you Cassiopeia Jackson?" He asked politely with an English accent not so different from mine (mine had some American mixed with it though). I nodded, not sure what to do. "Oh, where are my manners. I'm Albus Dumbledore, schoolmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." When I heard that I got really excited.
"Hello sir, come in but I have to warn you about my step-father. He doesn't like strangers, especially if they don't do anything to make his life better." I told him softly. He nodded understandingly. I opened the door further. "Come in please, professor."
He followed me to the living room. "Mum, we have a guest. I think it's better to head to the kitchen." My mum's eyes widened when she saw Dumbledore. She nodded slowly and stood up. Gabe still didn't look up from his television. Lazy bastard.
Dumbledore and I followed my mum to the kitchen where we sat down at the table. "So Mr Dumbledore. What are you doing here? I don't want to be rude but I thought I'd just get an owl just like every other student who knows about our world."
Dumbledore looked at me and smiled. "You're pretty clever, aren't you?" I shrugged, I wasn't that smart and I also really didn't like to boast. "I bet you are, if you even have half the smarts your mother has you'd be smarter than the everage. Your mother Sally was a Ravenclaw for a reason and your grandfather was very extraordinary with magic." He winked at me. My eyes widened.
"You knew my grandfather?" I asked silently. He nodded. "What was he like?" I started to get excited.
I waited for Dumbledore to say something but instead my mother turned to me and started talking, "I've never told you this because I didn't think how you'd take it but I guess I don't have a choice," She glanced at Dumbledore who nodded sadly. She turned back to me. "Your grandfather wasn't a nice man. He was an evil, vile. Master of the dark arts." My face paled.
One name immediately popped up, the most feared wizard of the century. "Is it Lord Voldemort?" I whispered slowly, afraid for the answer.
"Yes, dear," Dumbledore said. "I guess you know the story." I nodded slowly, frowning and afraid that because of my grandfather I wouldn't be welcome at Hogwarts. "So now you know why I'm here. I wanted to tell you myself you're welcome to Hogwarts even though your grandfather is evil, I won't judge you on your ancestors." He handed me an envelope with a Hogwarts stamp on it. My frown disappeared immediately and I grinned.
"Really?" Dumbledore nodded and my grin widened. I turned to my mother and hugged her. "I'm going to Hogwarts." I exclaimed showing my letter to her. She laughed at my reaction.
"Yes, you are." She smiled at me. Then she turned back to Dumbledore, her expression turning serious. "I'd rather have her use the surname 'Jackson' instead of 'Riddle'. I think you understand why?" Dumbledore nodded. "I don't want people to judge or hate her because of her grandfather."
"I totally understand and will make sure she'll stand in it as 'Jackson, Cassiopeia'." My mother nodded as thank. "I'll take my guess you will go to Diagon Alley tomorrow."
"Yes, we'll get her supplies as soon as possible and will probably stay in the Leaky Cauldron the rest of the weeks until Cassi here has to go to Hogwarts." She glanced at the door to the living room. "I'll have to make a lot of food to make sure Gabe would let us. I'll start as soon as you're gone. By the way Dumbledore, I have to tell you something else." She looked at me. "Cassi, grab a cookie and go to your room please, I've got to have an adult conversation with professor Dumbledore. Maybe you can pack some clothes for tomorrow's trip to London."
I nodded and ran upstairs. Of course I was curious about what my mother wanted to talk about but I knew she'd tell me when the time was right and I was too excited to go to Hogwarts to think much about it. I was still holding my letter. I opened it carefully, trying not to tear the envelope. When I opened it read:
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Ms Jackson,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
There was another paper underneath with the supplies I needed. I eagerly read what I had to buy:
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
UNIFORM
First-year students will require:
1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)
2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
4. One winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupil's clothes should carry name tags.
COURSE BOOKS
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble
OTHER EQUIPMENT
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
Students may also bring, if they desire, an owl OR a cat OR a toad.
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICK
At the last sentence I sighed. I really looked forward to play Quidditch but I wouldn't let that ruin my mood nor the fact that my grandfather was an evil git. Family doesn't define you and I was way too happy. I grabbed my duffel bag I always used for the boarding schools I went to and started packing my favorite clothes and of course my favorite teddies which were a dolphin and a black wolf. I got them from my dad and aunt when I was born even though I can't remember them. one day I would meet them, I promised myself.
Please tell me if you liked it or not? I'd love to know. Okay bye until the next chapter.