Chapter One: The House of Black
To say that the house of Black was humble was normally considered unthinkable, considering that most of the house of Black had a reputation for being rather snobbish. Most of the Black family supported a Pureblood society. They did not sit well with Half-Bloods and Muggle borns, which they called MudBloods. The Blacks, and by extension, the Malfoys and Lestranges, were highly regarded in their inner circles. They were also rumored to be supporters of You Know Who. The Dark Lord's biggest supporters were the Malfoys. Lucius Malfoy was one of his supporters. There was also Bellatrix Lestrange, who was Narcissa's sister. When You Know Who was supposedly defeated, most of them went to prison. Some got out and built a life of their own.
One person who did not sit well with this was Sirius Black. He did not sit well with the beliefs his family held, and as such, was disowned. There were a few others as well, like Andromeda Tonks. Sirius married a girl named Noah. They lived a happy life at Number 12 Grimmauld Place, but that was before tragedy struck. Sirius had always been great friends with the Potters. James was his best friend at Hogwarts. So close, that they were part of a foursome of troublemakers that called themselves the Marauders. But the night that the Potters died was a horrible thing. He regretted the decisions he had made that led to this moment. It was this tragedy that led to his downfall. But that was years ago.
Rowan Avery Black woke up to the sun coming in from her window. She looked up at her ceiling, allowing her vision to clear from the sleepiness. It was September 1, and she knew that this was going to be the day she went to Hogwarts for her first year. She didn't know what the school had in store for her, but she knew that she had to make the best of it. Her mother, Noah, opened the door and peeked inside. She smiled as she saw her daughter.
"Morning, sleepy head," she said. Rowan turned to see her and smiled.
"Hello, mum. Is breakfast ready?" Noah smiled brighter.
"It's been ready, sweetie. I let you sleep a little longer. But it's time to get up and get ready," Noah said.
"Alright, I'll get up," Rowan said, and her mother left, closing the door.
Rowan slowly got up and made her bed. She got dressed and went to the bathroom to was her teeth. After a bit of time, she made her way to the kitchen and sat down to a hearty breakfast. Noah sat down with Rowan.
"Remember that today we go to King's Cross to get the train to Hogwarts," she said.
"Yeah. I got most of the stuff packed, I just need to make sure my journal is ready, and my Owl, Beaker," Rowan said.
"Good. Eat your breakfast and get ready," Noah said.
Noah watched as Rowan quickly finished her breakfast and headed back to her room to check on her journal and make sure Beaker, her Owl, was ready for the journey to Hogwarts. As she packed her last few items, she couldn't contain her excitement for the upcoming adventure. Noah, knowing Rowan's tendency to get lost in her thoughts, reminded her to focus on the task at hand. With a final check of her belongings, Rowan felt ready for the journey ahead.
Noah and Rowan made their way to King's Cross station, the bustling crowds adding to the anticipation in the air. Noah helped her daughter take out the luggage and Beaker, who was in his cage.
"Got everything?" Noah asked.
"Yeah. I double-checked everything," Noah replied.
The mother and daughter made their way to Platform 93/4, making sure nobody paid attention as they went through the hidden gateway. As they crossed through the portal, the sight of the Hogwarts Express gleaming on the platform sent a thrill through Rowan. Noah took her to the side.
"You okay?" she asked.
"Yeah. Just nervous," Rowan asked.
"Remember to keep your true identity a secret. Some will more than likely know who you are, but nobody else can know, understand?" Noah said.
"Yes, mom. I promise," Rowan said.
"Good. The House of Black is a noble one, but many are not very nice. You are a good person and I want you to remain that way," Noah said. Rowan nodded, then made her way into the train with her things. As she found a compartment and settled in, Rowan couldn't help but feel grateful for the familiar company of Beaker.
The train whistle blew, signaling the start of their journey to Hogwarts. Rowan glanced out the window, watching her mother slowly fall behind as the train accelerated. Soon she was viewing different scenery, the thrill of a year at Hogwarts becoming more and more real.