Essence of Ava

Marauder Era.
This is my first fan fic. Let me know if it's terrible!

CHAPTER 1: Intriguing Mysteries

I’ve randomly thrown my stuff together in my trunk, grabbing anything that I might need in the next few months. There was no way I want to go through the awkwardness of writing home to my mother any more than I have to already.

“It’s about time, Ava!” my mother says sharply without even looking up from her stack of papers plastered all across the kitchen table that usually doubles as her office desk. I ignore her and continue out to our, as the greasy salesman put it last month, ‘previously-owned, quality automobile’ and get in. I lean my head on the cool, hard glass of the window and breathe in the still foreign and musty scent of the car. My mother and I have never gotten along famously. I’m not expecting today to be any different than the last five years of going to Hogwarts.

She was convinced that I’d go on to medical school to become a doctor. Her dreams were shattered when I turned eleven and I was accepted to Hogwarts. Ever since she found out I was a witch, there has been some unspoken barrier between us. Not one that I’m planning on breaking anytime soon.

We pull up to King’s Cross Station in a familiar prolonged silence that we both have grown accustom to. The last time we had a real conversation together was probably before that Day happened.

“I’ll be seeing you for Christmas, then.” It wasn’t a question, as it should have been, but a statement. We both know it was her feeble attempt at saying goodbye. Most families would be devastated to have their only kid leave for months at time. Most families would cry, tell that kid how much they mean to them, how much they will miss them, and love them. Right before the train left, most families would give that kid one last desperate hug, attempting to smile encouragingly as tears stain their cheeks with moisture. Although I was bitterly jealous of that kid, I couldn’t even see myself in the center of such a surplus of ample emotion. I have trained myself to be a rock. An unemotional, unnoticeable, sturdy old rock. Rocks don’t care that people don’t care about them.
“Sure, fine,” I respond stiffly. Without another glance back, I grab my belongings and slowly walk into King’s Cross Station, utterly alone. What else is new?

__________________________________________________ ______________________



Platform 9 ¾ is once again full of those families, crying out proper goodbyes to their kids. Shrill laughter carries over from the direction of a cluster of overly anxious girls seeking some attention. A few kids look nervously toward the train, one looks close to tears-obviously a pack of first years. I push past them all in order to find my usual compartment: the last one on the left with the jammed door. I like it because it’s harder for anyone else to get in, people tend to give up and pass-by, eventually learning to ignore this compartment all together, my own private sanctuary.
After tossing my junk on the bench across from me, I lazily slump across the seats; my heavy eyes slowly drooping into restless slumber.


Flashback:
“Avy baby! Where are you?”
“Right here Daddy!” I giggle, “You are terrible at hide and go seek!”
“I think you’re right! I can never find you!”
“It’s okay, Dad. You just need more practice!”
He smiles his mischievous smile. The one that means he is planning on chasing me and tickling me. I start running. I can hear him not far behind. I laugh out loud.
“You can’t get me!” I shout out to him.









I feel my body slam into something hard. Already feeling the bruises form, I open my eyes slowly, allowing my vision to clear just to find myself on the floor of the compartment. The train has just started to move, and already I’m aching to get off of this thing. I must have been asleep for no longer than fifteen minutes.

As fate would have it, three boys walk by and stop nearby my compartment. I can hear them laughing about something. The tallest of the three, who I recognize to be Sirius Black, opens the jammed door with exceptional ease. Drat! Thoroughly embarrassed by being found stretched out on the floor of the compartment, I manage to bite my lower lip and stare stupidly at them as they file in.

“Oh….erm…sorry, we thought this one was empty…” Sirius says to me, trying his best to look charmingly apologetic as he reaches down his hand to help me up. Charm doesn’t work for me. Sirius is an air headed jerk that has the silver lining of a perfect life. He gets away with anything just because he is a marauder. I narrow my eyes at his hand and quickly help myself back into my own seat. He must think I’m too helpless to get up by myself or something! I arrive at this irrational conclusion, and quickly set my body language in ‘leave me alone’ mode as I turn to stare out of the window. I definitely don’t want them to feel too welcome in my compartment.

“…so gracious of you to invite us in.” he finishes. Oblivious to the death glare I shoot his way, he sets his stuff under the benches and sits next to me, followed by two other boys I know named, James Potter and Peter Pettigrew.

“So, are you new here?” Sirius asks me. Somewhat surprised that A. he is still being civil towards me despite my less than friendly behavior, and B. that he is so self-absorbed that he has never even noticed me once in the past five years, I let out a sharp humorless laugh and raise my eyebrows at him.

“Nope.” I say rummaging in my doodle-graffitied up, tattered bag for my book.
“Oh, so...erm, what house are you in?” he asks trying to cover up his previous blunder. I bury my nose in my book, pointedly ignoring him. What does it matter that I have been in their same house for five years? We’ve had almost every class together. Who do they think they are budging in like that? I silently hate them more and more. Smirking at my lack of answer, he turns to his friends and says something inaudible. Like henchmen, they obediently laugh at what was probably a stupid witless joke only a brain dead turtle like him would ever think to say. At least they decided to leave me alone, just the way it should and always will be.

__________________________________________________ _____________________

Once off the train, I was disgusted to find Sirius Black following me to a carriage. Hoping against hope that he would just leave me alone, I stepped around the creepy horse-type things and into the carriage.

“Let’s see here, you really didn’t think that you could ignore me forever, eh?” Black said to me putting on what he apparently hoped was his most dashing smile.

“Hmmmm…” I put on a fake face of mock wonder, “I guess your right. I don’t know what I was thinking, ignoring Sirius Black. He is just sooo attractive..!” I add a flirtatious wink to heighten the insult and hopefully embarrassment. After misinterpreting my sarcasm, Sirius grins over to James and Peter who have just gotten in the carriage as well. I had always thought that Sirius was somewhat stupid, but it is still amazing to me at how quickly he just assumes that I am instantly into him.

“I see you know my name, but I don’t know yours yet.” He looks at me expectantly.

“Oh goodness! How very rude of me! My name is Ura,”
“Ura?…hmm, now we are getting somewhere! Ura who?”
“Ura GIT! Now leave me ALONE!” and without another word, I open up my book again. James bursts out laughing, I can tell that Peter is still trying to figure out the joke, and Sirius just shook his head. I silently beat myself up for saying something aloud as witless as that. Maybe I’m losing brain cells just by being around him.





Authors note: okay so that was my first try at this type of thing-not sure how to add a reviews button, so maybe just email me?? But Please let me know what you think! Even if you think it was really awful, please let me know. Oh and I just started to write this today so, it might be a week until I can post again. Thanks!!!!

ok so I set up a feedback thing, but I dont know how to make a link. I copied and pasted the site below to go to the feedback thing, so hopefully it works!!

http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=113696

if this doesnt turn into a link then please let me know how!! but feel free to send me an owl if you like!

Corny and sarcastic, just how I like them…thought Sirius Black. He watched her sitting there in the carriage, her face almost entirely concealed with her book. How have I never noticed her before? Ura Git…hmm I wonder what she is hiding from? Why won’t she talk to us? Sirius thought he had girls figured out and was really shocked to see this mystery girl ignoring him. He was so used to the usual attention he got just by stepping into a room and now he didn’t know what to make of this girl.


Sirius watched her for a little bit longer, hoping that she might somehow give away who she was just long enough for him to recognize her. A wavy lock of sandy colored hair dangled just out place, which she neatly tucked back behind her ear as she turned the page in her book. This drove him mad. Sirius reached over and plucked the book from her hands.

“Let’s see what we have here! Silent Wonders…From the very beginning mysteries and crime have captivated the minds of everyone. In this book, we will study the meaning of human nature and its obsession with mystery. Sounds intriguing... Are you reading this for fun??” Sirius gave her the book back with raised eyebrows.



“Hey! You can read! Who knew?” Ava retorted back, piercing him with her startlingly violet eyes. Sirius gaped awkwardly, dumbfounded by the unusual color of her eyes. James seemed to have noticed them as well. Ava quickly snatched her book back. Both boys recovered their composure instantly, but Ava noticed their look and decided to hide once more behind her book.

“Wow, she is almost better than Remus at hiding behind books!” Sirius laughed nervously to James loud enough for everyone to hear. He turned smiling once more toward Ava hoping to have somewhat penetrated her rather thick outer barriers, but to no avail. She was still sitting there motionless behind her mystery book. Fitting he thought, because a mystery book is exactly what she was. He chuckled under his breath. Sirius wasn’t one to take the time and read books, especially mystery books, but he was considering making an exception. However, it would be even harder to read a book that refused to be read.

__________________________________________________ __________________________________________

Ava felt relieved as soon as she felt the carriage begin its steady decline toward the ground. Once it landed, Ava stepped quickly out of the carriage, again ignorant to the hand Sirius offered her to help her down. Sidestepping around the boys, she was grateful to find that they were no longer following her. Instead, they were approaching Remus who was on another carriage with the other prefects.

That was probably the most awkward ride of her life. Ava shook her head. She had preferred the old days of being invisible. The days when she was solely herself, independent and alone, not saying stupid remarks to the most popular boys in school. Most likely, they would forget her by the time they entered the castle. Everyone always forgot her.

Little did she know that Sirius was thinking of nothing but her.





Authors Note: okay so I thought I ended really poorly before so I added a little more just now. Please give me feedback! I think the link works.:)

Question: is it "prefects or perfects"? i have seen it both ways and I dont really want to search through all the harrypotter books to find out.

Please Oh please give me a bit of feedback!

Chapter 2:

Ava found a place at the table in the Great Hall, right as Dumbledore was preparing to give his start of term speech. Ava found Dumbledore to be brilliant, but so repetitive. Always the same speech over and over, with a few minor adjustments depending on what new rules needed to be made because of the marauder’s behavior the previous year. The first years were sorted, as usual, and five scrawny Gryffindors were added. Then the food was served. Same traditional meal every year. Ava wasn’t one to be too picky, but some good plain old pizza would taste wonderful right now, instead of all this funny looking wizard food.

After some serious contemplation, Ava decided to just skip the meal and continue reading her book in the quiet common room with a cup of hot chocolate. She was practically through the Great Hall doors when a gang of boys nearly knocked into her.

“Oi! Ura Git! I’ve been wondering when I was going to run into you!” Sirius bellowed out, “Remus, this is the girl from the train that we were telling you about.” Remus looked fairly pale, but handsome nonetheless.

“I hope these three didn’t give you too hard of a time on the way here!” Remus said with a laugh, offering out a handshake. Ava shook his hand and let a quick smile escape her lips. Finally, there is a polite guy in this universe.

“Perfect timing too! We just came from the kitchen on our way to the feast, and I am starving! Care to join a handsome man like myself to dinner?” Sirius said with a grin.

“There are kitchens here?” She couldn’t help herself but to ask. The moment it came out of her lips She realized that it was a stupid question. Of course there would be a kitchen, it just never occurred to her before…

“So is that a yes to dinner?” Sirius inquired with apparent satisfaction.

…Okay so assuming there is a kitchen, and they just came back from it, then why are they so hungry? Probably some start of term prank they are about to pull and they don’t want to miss it. Ava thought to herself.

“Are you going to tell me about the prank?” Ava knew that she had hit the nail on the nose, or however the saying goes because right then Peter let out an astonished gasp. James and Sirius threw him an annoyed look.

“It’s harmless, really!” James urged. Remus looked a bit ashamed, while Sirius merely looked pleased with himself.

“Besides, the Slthyerins had it coming…” Sirius started.

“I’d really love to boys. I love a good prank as much as the next guy, but I must be going. I have an appointment in an easy chair with a cup of hot cocoa. No worries, I won’t keep you a minute longer from your instant celebrity status in the Great Hall.” Ava interrupted with thick sarcasm as she turned and trudged her way up to the common room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“You were right Sirius, she is a pistol!” chuckled Remus Lupin

“So you don’t know who she is then? Dang! I thought that you knew everything Moony!” I cursed at him. With smug expressions, we stepped into the Great hall to wait for the effects of our glorious prank to occur.
“If you are sure that she is in our year, I bet Lily will know who she is,” Remus offered.

“Well that is assuming that she will talk to us after we glue those slimy Slytherins’ mouths shut. Maybe today wasn’t the best day to pull a prank, but we can’t undo it now…” I thought out loud.

We took the walk of fame down the length of the Great Hall to find a handful of seats, while winking a grinning at every girl we pass. I’ve become quite the expert at intriguing the minds of women everywhere. James and Remus aren’t to horrible at it either, but Peter needs a lot of work yet.

I laughed when I saw James’s head wildly searching the Gryffindor table for Lily. He is utterly hopeless! I suppose I can’t complain too much at the time, because I need her help.

The three of us followed James into some seats opposite of Lily and a few of her friends. Lily gave a loud groan the moment we sat down, which James was oblivious to. I could just tell that she was struggling with issue of whether or not she wanted to know where we had been just now. It’s not everyday people come late to the start of term feast after all. She resolved by reaching for more kidney pie.

After filling my plate up twice with food, the desserts finally ‘popped’ onto the tables. James and I shared an eager look that did not go unnoticed by Lily.

“I am afraid to ask…” she started but I cut her off.
“Then please don’t Lily-kins!” I smiled at her scowling face.

The suspense was really getting to me now. We knew that the Slytherins would be suspicious of their food, seeing how we manage to prank them every feast, so Remus threw a Hinder Spell on our prank. That way the full effects wouldn’t arise until ten minutes later. Moony had his stopwatch out.

“Wait for it…just a moment now… in five, four, three, two, now.” Remus announced as the entire table of Slytherins began to make snortish type noises and long moaning sounds that can usually be heard by someone trying to talk with their mouth closed.

The Great Hall was filled with laughter at the Slytherin’s expense, which is how it should be considering they are foul-mouthed dust mops who shouldn’t be allowed to open their pie holes.

“James your brilliant spell worked!” I congratulated.

“Couldn’t have done it without ole’ Moony’s Hinder Spell” James added.

“Thank you Prongs, but our Sirius’s appeal with the Hogwarts house elves gave us the access to the Slytherin’s food,” Remus reminded.

Peter merely giggled at our wittiness. I swear, that boy can be such a brown-noser sometimes!

“I CANNOT believe you guys! Just think about all of those poor first years! They are new students who are probably scared to even eat now!” Lily scolded us.

“Well it’s not like they can eat now…” James pointed out. I could just tell that this wasn’t going to go down very well, and James would just end up making a fool of himself, so I cut in the middle of the argument.

“Lily, Lily, Lily. I am so sorry for our ignorance, but believe me when I say that we share the greatest remorse in our wrong doing. By the way, I have a question to ask an intelligent student such as yourself. There is this girl, see, and I…” Lily nearly choked on her butterbeer at this part of my little speech.

“Sirius Black apologizing, complimenting me, and then asking about a girl?! Did I hear you right? Since when did you start having girl troubles?”

“Since a girl in our carriage snubbed him, when he was expecting a snog,” Peter answered immediately. I wanted to hit over the head for that one. That boy can not keep a secret to save his life!

“So who is she?” Lily asked.

“See that is the problem! I don’t know! She was in the train reading some book and then on the carriage, I noticed she had these wild violet eyes…um…oh yeah she has sandy-ish hair, not a bad figure…”

“Do all guys notice just looks?! Sheesh! Well…was she in our year or what?”

“Ummm…I didn’t ask…she probably wouldn’t have told me anyway. I don’t think that she really likes me that much…”

“Oh but Sirius, you are such a catch! I can’t understand why!” She replied back with a mischievous grin as she watched James’s head whip around to look at her in disbelief. I couldn’t help laughing.

“So are you going to tell me who she is or not?” I ask a bit more desperate than I usually am.
“Fine then, I think you are talking about a girl named Ava Cambell. I could be wrong though.”

“Ava Cambell. Hmmm…can’t say that I have heard of her.”

“What? She is in our house, and she is a 6th year just like us. Surely you have seen her in our other classes?” Lily pointed out.

“Nope, definitely never heard of her…” Sirius said as he noticed a majority of the professors wandering over to the Slytherin’s table to sort out the problem. One professor, however, wandered directly over to where the marauders were sitting.

“Good evening Professor McGonagall, How are you feeling this fine night?” James cheekily addressed their Head of House.

“I’m feeling very remorseful that I will be needing to take points from Gryffindor on our first day here, Mr. Potter.”



Ava sat in the cozy common room, curled by the fire with her book.


What a nightmare this evening was! That Sirius can make a girl go mad! She thought to herself.

The fire continued to flicker its intense flames, while the crescent moon slowly waltzed higher into the night-time sky. She found it increasingly strenuous to fight off much needed sleep. At last, it finally consumed her.

She thought she heard her father’s comforting voice.


Rest on My Darling Ava.

Feedback:


http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=113696

Chapter 3
(A handful of lines from this Chapter belongs to JK Rowling’s 6th Book. Just so you know.)


Ava woke up to find Lily watching her curiously. "Sirius Black was inquiring about you last night. He seemed…I dunno, different..... Do you like him?" Lily asked ending rather bluntly.

Ava smiled at the ridiculous thought, "Ha! Who would fall for such an arrogant git? Besides, he is probably the biggest nuisance I have ever come across." Lily laughed at this, but clearly approved of Ava’s answer. “How did the prank turn out?"

"Oh, well having the Slytherins’ mouths glued shut does cause a commotion with the teachers, but overall they practically got off the hook." Lily answered with a frown.

"As always…" Ava added with a slight shake of her head.



"I was just heading down for some breakfast, care to join me?’ Lily ventured. ‘I mean, you don’t have to…if you’d rather sit…"

"By myself you mean?’ Ava finished for her, ‘I would love to have breakfast with you."


Lily smiled and held out a hand, "I’m Lily Evans, and I know that you already know that, but I thought I should make it official."
Ava shook her hand, ‘Ava Campbell, pleased to meet you, Lily.’ Lily smiled again at the ease of talking to her new friend and they headed down to the Great Hall.



They were just outside of the common room when Ava nearly ran into a person right in front of her.

‘Oi! Campbell! Finally decided I was too irresistible to pass up, eh? I thought you’d come to find me eventually, just didn’t realize you’d come so soon…” Sirius smirked to the rest of the marauders.


‘Actually, I was attempting to break your neck just now, but considering that I missed, I suppose I will just have to break your ego!’ Ava announced coolly much to Lily’s shock.


‘And once you’re done breaking his ego, Ava would you mind terribly to break Potter’s ego as well?’ Lily added, joining in with the joke. Sirius and James stood there looking stupefied while Remus and Peter howled with laughter. The two girls turned their backs on the boys and continued on their way to breakfast.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They had only just finished breakfast when the bell rang for the afternoon’s dose of double Potions and the class beat the stretch down the familiar path to the dungeons.

When Ava arrived, she saw that there were only a handful of people or so that had progressed to NEWT level. Five Slytherins, including an extremely greasy haired boy named Severus Snape, sat down at a table together and looked ready to hex the heck out of the three Gryffindor boys sitting at a table across from them. Four Ravenclaws and a Hufflepuff were also sitting together. To Ava’s horror, the only spots left were at the table with Sirius, Remus, and James. She took the seat closest to Remus; at least he was a decent person. Lily walked in a minute later. Much to James’s dismay, she walked right past him and took a seat next to Ava.

Strangely enough, a giant golden cauldron emitting spiraling steam with a mother-of-pearl sheen was sitting at their table. It smelled absolutely wonderful. Ava had never smelled anything half as good as that potion.

The dungeon door opened and in walked Professor Slughorn. His great walrus moustache curved above his beaming mouth and he greeted Lily and Snape with enthusiasm, considering they were extremely gifted when it came to potions class, not to mention they were honorary members of the ‘Slug Club’.

The dungeon was already full of vapors and odd smells. The class sniffed interestedly as they eyed the large, bubbling cauldrons that were at each table. Sirius grinned as he let the essence of their cauldron fill him. Oddly enough, it faintly reminded him of butterbeer, fireworks, and something else that he couldn’t quite place where he had smelled it. A strange tingling sensation took over his body. Remus smiled lazily over to James who looked about ready to drool on himself.

The scene of the three boys sitting there with glazed eyes and watering mouths made Ava laugh. It was probably the first time she had genuinely laughed in a very long time. She couldn’t stop, and was soon giggling uncontrollably. Lily looked over at Ava amused at her silliness, and she too, began to laugh without reason.

‘Now then, now then’ said Slughorn, whose massive outline made Lily and Ava giggle even more, but they had no idea why. “Scales out everyone, and potion kits, and don’t forget your copies of Advanced Potion-making. We have a very interesting lesson ahead of us today!’

‘I’ve prepared a few potions for you to have a look at, just out of interest, you know. These are the sorts of things you should be able to make after finishing your NEWTS. Can anyone tell me what this is?’ Slughorn asked indicating the potion at the Ravenclaw table.

Ava leaned forward slightly in order to have a better look at what appeared to be boiling water. Lily raised her hand, ‘Sir, it’s Veritaserum, a colorless, odorless potion that forces the recipient to tell only the truth and nothing less.’

‘Very good! Very good. Now, what about this potion? Its mud-like substance is fairly well-known…’ Slughorn asked.

‘Polyjuice Potion. It changes the drinker into anyone they desire, so long as they produce a bit of whomever they wish to turn into.’ Snape recited.

‘Excellent, m-boy! What do you suppose is in this cauldron over here?’ He asked once more while nodding his head to the potion at Griffindor’s table.

‘Amortentia. It is known as the most powerful love potion in the world. It is supposed to smell differently to each person according to what attracts us.’ Snape answered while turning slightly pink after stealing a longing look in Lily’s direction.

‘Quite right! Take ten points for Slytherin!’ Slughorn beamed. ‘But Amortentia doesn’t really create love, of course. It merely creates a powerful infatuation or obsession. It is impossible to truly manufacture or imitate love. Well then! I believe that it is time to begin…Oho! I nearly forgot!’ He said with twinkling eyes. ‘What do you suppose this one is?’ Everyone strained to see a tiny cauldron bubbling immensely with a golden liquid glistening inside.

‘Why, that is amazing! It’s called Felix Felicis, isn’t it? It’s supposed to make you lucky!’ Lily cried excitedly. The whole class seemed to sit up a little straighter, hoping for a bottle of luck.

“Yes, very good my dear, take ten points for Gryffindor. And that is what I shall be offering for a prize in this lesson! So please turn to page eight in your books and set of to work!’ Slughorn announced enthusiastically with a characteristic chuckle.

There was a loud rummaging and clanking of materials as everyone hurried to begin. Sirius was having problems concentrating on his potion while having the Amortentia so near. He glanced over to see how Remus was starting and began to copy his every move. James was doing the same thing. Remus smirked at his friends. The class passed by fairly quickly considering it was double potions.

Ava couldn’t help but notice that Sirius seemed to be watching her, but quickly shook away the thought the moment it occurred. She needed to focus on perfecting her potion that was slowly beginning to turn a chunky blue-ish color instead of smooth lilac.

‘If you crush your roots with the flat side of your silver dagger, they release the juice better and much more efficiently,’ Lily offered Ava after noticing her potion’s strange smell.

‘Thanks,’ Ava smiled curiously at Lily. They had hardly ever talked before this year, and now Lily was helping her gain some serious ground on finishing her potion. ‘These Sopophorous beans are such a nuisance!’ She replied back with a smile.

Sirius watched the two girls, surprised at how their friendship sprouted so quickly in the last couple of hours. James snorted when he noticed Sirius watching the girls with interest.

‘What?’ Sirius asked confused with his friend.

‘So what did the Amortentia smell like to you, eh mate?’ whispered James mischievously, ‘Essence of Ava?’ He snorted again. Remus was watching him with a smirk as well.

‘What are you talking about Prongsie? Hark! Is there an essence of Lily in the air?’ Sirius retorted. James turned a color a tomato would be proud of. ‘Besides, Jamsie-boy, I have only just met the girl.’

Remus laughed at his two friends already having girl troubles.

‘Time is up! Lets see who will be the new proud owner of the Felix Felicis!’ Slughorn bellowed. He passed by each cauldron giving faint suggestions here or there.

‘By Jove! I think we have a tie! Well done Miss Evans and Mr. Snape! Here is a bottle for each of you.’ He said as he produced to bottles filled with the golden fluid from his robe pocket.

Lily smiled happily and Ava was quick to congratulate her. Maybe having a friend would be nice Ava decided.

Snape sneered and quickly pocketed his new prized procession.

‘Class dismissed!’ Slughorn said as his beefy form disappeared behind his desk.

They quickly filed out of the dungeon and up to the rest of the days classes.




‘What a wonder what having one friend can do to a girl,’ Ava thought to herself. This was the first time she felt almost truly happy. She almost even felt like sending an owl to her mother…Almost…

Feedback:


http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=113696

Chapter 4

My first free period found me sitting alone (not much of a surprise there) under everyone’s favorite tree out by the lake. Alone, really isn’t the best word, considering there are atleast twenty other sixth and seventh year students scattered out nearby, but I have always been slightly separated from everyone else. More separated by mental and emotional means, rather than physically.

It’s is just something that comes natural to me; putting up hard concrete barriers around myself. That is why, I suppose, that I am one of the few students that are naturally good at occulmens. I’m just so used to hiding things and pushing emotions aside.



It is a fairly warm afternoon, with the sun peeping out just behind a pile of puffy clouds. All in all, perfect weather.

“Aguamentee!” I said as I flicked my wand hoping to produce something more than air. Curses to you Flitwick! And curses to charms! Charms has always been a horrible disaster of a class for me. I’ve never gotten the hang of it.

After what seemed like my hundredth try, I managed to produce a puddle of water that was too small for an ant to even consider swimming in. I sigh and tuck my shoulder length, sandy blonde hair haphazardly into a low pony-tail. Just thinking about attempting this spell non-verbally has me almost crawling for my bed. Sixth year is way harder than I ever had thought possible. Non-verbal spells trick me up in almost every class now. Sighing again, I stick my eight-inch ash and rosemary wand into my pocket.


After a second of hesitation, I pull my wand back out to try again. I have to get it right sooner or later, and who knows, what if I get stranded out in the middle of the desert and I need water…or something? It could happen, I think…


‘Afuamenta!..ah, dang it! I don’t even remember what the stupid spell was anymore!’ I groaned as I leaned back banging my head several times on the tree trunk.

‘Ahem, I believe Aguamenti, is the word you are looking for,’ a masculine voice said from behind me. I gasp, embarrassed that anyone had seen my feeble try. Without wanting to, I turn my head back to see guess who? None other than that gosh darn Sirius Black who happened to be producing a perfectly crystal clear fountain of water streaming from his wand.

‘Show off,’ I snap back as I lean my head back on the tree, grumpy at being shown up by a guy I despise.

‘It’s all in the wrist, just snap, swish, and flick,’ he replied calmly. Rolling my eyes, I attempt again, only to have my wrist make a flop, swing, and blub motion. Sirius chuckled and took hold of my hand, gliding me through the movements.

‘Now try saying it with feeling,’ he instructed still guiding my wrist.

‘Aguamenti!’ I attempted and much to my surprise, a nice little shoot of water splashed out.

‘There you go! Just keep doing it and it will be perfect in no time.’ Sirius smiled at me. Not wanting to be rude, since he saved my butt for my next charms class-but not wanting to be very nice, I manage a prompt ‘Thank you, Black’ with a quick, businesslike smile. I, then, abruptly got up and started on my way to the common room. My wrist still tingling at the spot he touched.

‘I don’t like him. He is a pompous jerk.’ I recited over in my head all the way up to the fat lady’s portrait.


__________________________________________________ ________



Sirius shook his head in amazement. Some girls are so strange. Scratch that- this girl is so strange. All the other ones he knew would have fallen madly in love with him the moment he started talking to them. Well, atleast that was the way he liked to think they would have reacted.


He made his way back over to where Remus and James were sitting.

‘No luck mate? Ah, that’s too bad…I suppose your charms and good looks are beginning to waver,’ James said smartly without even taking his eyes off of the snitch he was playing with. Remus smirked at this, but continued reading as if nothing had been said.


‘Where is Wormtail?’ Sirius asked, avoiding the conversation at hand and casually glancing around.


‘Oh him, he saw Matilda McCoy- you know that girl who is fairly desperate, any way, I guess she was crying…and he thought that she might let him, cheer her up- if you know what I mean,’ Remus answered with a fairly amused expression. Sirius laughed. Peter was always trying to fight his way in with the ladies. Maybe this time he’ll get his first snog, but Sirius wasn’t about to bet on that. McCoy wasn’t completely desperate, yet.


‘So how is your Lily hunt going?’ Sirius asked James in retaliation.


‘She is head over heels for me. She just doesn’t know it yet. I’m just not sure how I make her realize that we were meant for each other…’ James said with a far away glance.
Sirius and Remus shared a bemused look and bit there lip to keep from laughing at their friend. James quickly ruffled the back of his hair and resumed playing with the snitch.


‘Please don’t start going soft on us now, Prongs!’ Remus jested.

I hope Im not confusing you guys with switching up the vantage point all the time. I just cant completely decide on one view over another, so I just do any/all of the ones I think would work. Let me know if it is too confusing or if you think I should concentrate on one persons thoughts more than another. Thanks for reading! feedback:

http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=113696

Chapter 5.


Peter Pettigrew found himself wandering around Hogwarts practically aimlessly. He had been on a hot pursue of a girl name Matilda McCoy, but his escapade turned out pointless and excruciatingly embarrassing.
Matilda had dark hair that fell just above her shoulders, and the whole incident was really unfortunate, actually:

___________

He was absolutely sure that he had found his chance after he saw her running to the library apparently crying. He chased her up right up to library door, where Lily Evans beat him. ‘Curses!’ he muttered. He was really hoping to be the one to get to her first. She could cry on his shoulder, while he dried her tears…Peter sighed at the mere thought. ‘Still worth a shot’ he thought to himself. ‘After all, Lily, can’t possibly be half as caring as a strapping young lad, like myself can be to a girl.’

Still assuming this, Peter looked longingly at the back of Matilda’s ebony locks of hair, with her bellowing robes…Despite her lack of feminine figure, (actually, she was right on the verge of being masculine) Peter decided that now would be his ideal moment.


“I’ve been looking for you! I’m so sorry to see how devastated you seemed just now! Maybe I can assist you. Let’s just go over into one of those vacant classrooms, and you can express your soul to me! I, too, have very tender feelings,” Peter said with a hint of romantic poetry about him that everyone else would portray as bathetic.
When he got no acknowledgement, he reached out for her shoulder. As soon as her touched her, a strong fist found its way right into the bridge of Peter’s nose. Peter crumpled onto the ground, looking dazedly up to see his attacker.

“SEVERUS! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING? You DON’T just go around punching people!” Lily shouted. Shocked at the scene in front of her.

PETER practically just proclaimed his love for SNAPE!?

Peter’s confused eyes landed on Snape, right before they closed and everything went black.
__________

‘Yes, quite unfortunate really.’ Peter thought to himself again. ‘Thank goodness none of the marauders were around for that one. How unlucky it was that Matilda and Snape look almost identical from behind.' He knew he’d have to be more careful about that sort of thing from now on. He didn’t need anyone to start getting suspicious about his manhood.

‘Snape! Of all peopl!' Peter shook his head, trying to clear his head of his new most embarrassing moment. ‘Blast those robes! It makes it nearly impossible to decipher the girls from the boys if you are standing directly behind them. Especially if the boy in question has hair as long as a girl’s…’

________

Lily had escorted Peter up to the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey had instantly supplied Peter with a pepper-up potion and he was back up to normal.

Still strolling around Hogwarts, not yet daring to face his friends, Peter caught sight of another girl. Sandy-haired Ava was hurrying up to the common room. Peter rushed into the nearest deserted room and transfigured into a rat. He just made it into the portrait, behind Ava, and continued to follow her over to the best sofa in the common room.

She sat down with her legs stretched out on the sofa and parchment ready on her lap. She had stuck her quill between her teeth and pulled out a few textbooks. Peter was almost instantly sorry he ran all this way to see her start her studies. After all, he wasn’t in very good shape, and the short stretch he had run, had caused him to begin to wheeze a bit. Right when he was about to turn back, Lily entered the common room.

“AVA! You have got to hear this! Peter Pettigrew is in love with Severus Snape!” Lily said, bursting with laughter.
Peter muttered curses to himself. ‘No, I just confused the guy for Matilda. Dang! The marauders will hear about this for sure, now!’ Peter thought to himself.

Both girls began to laugh, almost as uncontrollably as they had at their last potions class.

“Lil, would you mind terribly, to listen to my potion’s essay? It’s not long, but I want to make sure I have the essentials.”

“Oh yeah! No problem.” Ava looked relieved as she stood up from the couch and began to read her rather boring, complicated essay. Peter suddenly had a genius thought.

‘Robes with skirts, might just be a good thing after all…’ For a rat, his sly smile was hardly evident, but it was there all the same, as he began to skitter towards Ava.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

‘Well boys, seeing how tomorrow is my lucky day, I believe I will go up to the common room and contemplate my approach,’ Sirius announced with a hint of a smile on his lips.

‘Your lucky day? What are you talking about Pads?’ James asked bewildered by his friend’s sudden outburst.

‘My dear Prongsie-surely you didn’t think I was going to let Ava wander around Hogwarts living a lie! I feel that it is my moral duty to allow her to find her true feelings for me. How can I possibly live with myself, if she is sulking around because I haven’t asked her to accompany me to Hogsmead yet?’

‘Ah HA! You are going to ask her out! I KNEW it!’ Remus proclaimed with his winning smile.

Sirius shook his head at how quickly he was caught. He was really losing his touch! Everyone had always thought he was so mysterious, and now they already knew what was on his mind!

He was really much more concerned at how she was going to react to him then he let on to his friends. Of course if she turned him down, he could always play it cool…but…

He needed to be relaxed. Confident. Charming.

‘Like I said, I’m off to the common room-anyone coming?’ He asked as they all slowly left the warmth of the sun that was gradually beginning to fall.

__________


‘James, how’s the team looking this year?’ Remus prompted as they began the steady rise up to the dormitories.

‘Well, we did lose some key players-Rowlben and Jormick will be hard to replace, but overall I think we well be in great shape as far as the cup goes.’ They were just inside the portrait hole, when Sirius stopped dead in his tracks let out a low snarl. The three of them had just spotted a familiar looking rat scurrying across the room; closer to a violet-eyed girl that Sirius just happened to be particularly fond of.

‘A RAT!’ Sirius bellowed pointing at Pettigrew. A majority of the girls in the room began screaming and stomping. Somebody’s shoe caught Peter in the gut and sent him flying towards the stairs.

‘Serves him right!’ Sirius muttered angrily to James and Remus. ‘Not even I would sink so low!’

Ava and Lily made there way over to where the boys were standing.

‘Scared of rats Sirius?’ Ava jested with a raised eyebrow and that smile that he just loved about her.

‘I… well…you see it was…’ He stuttered not sure how to put it. She laughed at his unusual lack of words.

‘I was only kidding, but what can you tell us about your friend Peter-Lily just told me the funniest story about him!’ She laughed again. Lily smiled and began to rehash the strange Snape/Peter incident to the marauders.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sensing his defeat, Peter started his straggling climb up to the dormitories. His stomach was killing him. Dang that Sirius! He was so close!

He was just up the third stair, when he heard Lily re-telling the day’s previous event including Snape and himself.

‘That just puts the cherry on top of this wonderful day!’ He muttered, his voice thick with sarcasm as he hurried up the rest of the stairs. A dark cloud hanging over his head.

Feedback! please and thank you!!!!!!!! As you can tell-Im kind of corny and sarcastic in general. Much of that shows through in my writing lol. So if you think I am being too corny and/or sarcastic or anything-let me know and I will work on that! ok? lol. The whole Peter/Snape thing was very corny, I admit. I was just trying to add some funny/filler stuff because as of right now, I only see a faint glimpse of the future of my story.

http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=113696

Thanks everyone who has been reading! I finally know kinda where this is all going. The next few posts are a tad short, but I haven’t completely finished revising them yet. They will be up very soon.

The beginning of this chapter is a bit drull, but it leads to further incite on Ava's character and what not. I'm a bit more descriptive in this update. Not sure if that is better or worse than previous posts.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Chapter next.

Ava Campbell found herself smiling as she entered the girls dormitories. She, along with Lily Evans, had just spent a majority of the night in the common room with the Marauders, without any hexing or arguing!

She stepped over to where her trunk was sitting; the lid ajar with various articles of clothing lying sprawled out on her bed. Slowly, she began to pile it all back inside as she sighed to herself. It had been a long week.

Finishing the last of her clothes, Ava shut her trunk tight and threw herself onto her bed. Her eyes were steadily beginning to shut, welcoming the long needed sleep.


Flashback:

A man with a wide grin was holding his daughter’s hand. The resemblance between the two was uncanny. Except for the cuts and bruises around her knees and hands, the girl looked exactly like her father

“You did it, Ava!” He smiled at her, “I knew you could!” The young girl, so carefree, began to skip and swing his hand.

“I only fell twice today, Dad! But then after that I rode by myself for a whole minute!” She squealed, unable to keep her excitement in any longer.

“What do you say to some ice cream? It’s not everyday my little girl learns to ride her bike without her training wheels!” He suggested catching her in his arms, and swinging her around. Ava nodded her head vigorously.

“Cotton candy ice cream?” She asked with her eyes aglow.

“Sure, it’s your special day, Avy-baby!” She began to skip again, but this time, she stayed up in the air a second too long during each bounce. The man watched his daughter with his mouth gapping awkwardly. His eyebrows furrowed with concentration and a touch of fear.

“Ava! What are you doing! Stop that, this minute!” he said harshly. He took hold of the forgotten bike, and wheeled it up to the house, leaving Ava standing on the sidewalk; a confused expression etched on her face, and tears welling in her eyes. She knew that there would be no ice cream tonight. She had ruined it again.


Ava woke up with a start. Her cheeks still glistening with wet tears. She quickly wiped them away with her sleeve. The morning’s sun was brilliantly dazzling in front of the dormitory window, just begging her take a brisk jog around the lake.

After she pulled her favorite hooded sweatshirt overtop of her tangled tresses and threw on her old battered tennis shoes, Ava slipped quietly out of the room. She needed to exercise all her painful memories away. They had to be pushed back down where they belonged, long forgotten. Forever.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A speckled, graceful bird flew soundlessly in a low arc above the castle, neatly entering an open window. It landed on top of a hard mahogany wood bed, peering curiously at the bed’s occupant. After blinking several times, it hoped onto the boy and pecked his shoulder several times, rather cruelly.

Sirius threw out his arm attempting to push the owl away. He smashed a pillow overtop of his head and buried himself deeper into his warm blankets. The persistent owl flew onto his back and mercilessly attacked the back of his exposed neck.
“Oi! HARGONION KNOCK IT OFF!” He roared. The remaining boys in the room all shouted out their objections to the loud ruckus caused by their over zealous friend.

“Sirius! Shut your mouth! Some of us are trying to sleep,” James hissed.

“Prongs it was that blasted owl again! Hargonion is too dense to know that today is SATURDAY!” He tried to explain. James’s response was in the form of a well-aimed pillow that smacked Sirius in the head.

There was no going back to sleep now. Sirius had to admit that much to himself. He slowly got up and walked into the relatively empty common room. The soft armchair was the perfect haven for him. He slouched sleepily in to the cushiony back of the chair and peered out of the window.

“Perfect day for quidditch,” he told himself looking admiringly at the clear blue sky, and silky ripples made from the wind on the lake. That was when he spotted the angelic figure of a girl jogging under that same cloudless sky.

“It couldn’t be her? Could it?” He questioned, rising out of the chair. “We’ll just have to find out…” With every thought of sleep abandoned, Sirius began to walk out of the common room…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

:relax:Author's note: okay so that was a little event-less but I had to set it up right for the next part of the chapter. It will be up in about a day.

Feedback please!!!!!!!!

http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=113696

Continued Chapter Next:
(Sad I have already forgotten the chapter #. It's even more sad that I am too lazy to check! :))


Sirius Black made his way down towards the lake and lounged down just at the edge of the water. Ava was still about fifty meters away and hadn’t even noticed an intruder on her solitude.

Her mind was focused on her goal. Breathe in. Breathe out. Every muscle flexing and contracting at each step; running was the only thing that she really loved to do. Feeling the fresh wind on her face, her pony-tail beating the back of her neck, her long and slender legs pumping without complaint, running was her sole passion.

Ava had just rounded the bend at the edge of the lake, when she was thrown for a surprise. Sirius was sitting just meters away, calmly dipping his bare feet into the mid-September waters.

“Have you ever gone swimming with Bosley, the Giant Squid?” He asked without even looking up at her.

His question caught her off guard. Black, Sirius Black was making small talk? With her? What? Confused and slightly bewildered Ava raised her eyebrows.

“Look Black. I’m just here to run. Besides, I hardly even know you…unless you count the few various arguments and encounters we’ve had so far this year.”

“Well I don’t know that much about you either, so let’s start with the basics. First of all ‘Black’ is such a…well… unfriendly greeting. The name is Sirius, but for short, you can call me ‘Sir’,” Sirius said with a satisfied smirk on his face. Ava merely rolled her eyes at him, but smiled nonetheless.

“Care for a jog?” She asked him, beginning to run again.

Her eyes widened with shock. ‘Did that really just come out of my mouth?!’ Ava thought, secretly kicking herself for being so stupid.

Sirius threw his shoes back on and caught up to meet her pace, surprised at her invitation.

“So Campbell, you like to run? What else? Tell me the details.”

“Well, I love fresh cut grass and gummy bears. I hated hopscotch as a kid, but I loved drawing with sidewalk-chalk. I never talk to my mother-if I can help it, and I will never tell you my middle name.” She spouted randomly.

Sirius laughed at this new look to this mysterious girl. Ava turned and glared at him for laughing at her openness. To reconcile Sirius responded,

“Okay…um, I have no clue what hopscotch is, but it sounds yummy. I don’t know why, but I really like foggy weather. I secretly love Celestina Warbeck’s songs, but I will never admit to it if you tell anyone. Don’t laugh, but my middle name is Benedict. And I don’t talk to my mother at all and hopefully never again.” Ava pondered this new incite to Sirius Black. They continued to run their last lap around the lake, and gradually came to a stop.

“Sirius Benedict Black? Benedict?! Like as in the type of egg?” Ava asked unable to keep the skepticism out of her voice.

“Hey! I told you not to laugh!” He said gently punching her shoulder. “So, Campbell, what do you say to that swim?”

“Well..I don’t think….” Sirius didn’t even let her finish her thought. Before she knew what was happening, he had pushed her into the gorgeously inviting aqua lake. He threw off his t-shirt and shoes, and he cannonballed in after her.

“SIRIUS BLACK!” Ava shouted gasping for breath. The water was refreshingly cool, but Ava wasn’t about to let him just push her around. “WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?!” She trudged up onto the shore, with her soaking tennis shoes making that obnoxious squishy noise. Her hoodie was completely saturated.

“Aww, come on Ava! The water feels wonderful! I am just trying to get you to loosen up a bit. You are so uptight sometimes.” Sirius said floating on his back gracefully.

Ava frowned at his casual use of her first name. There was no way she was just going to let him off the hook that easily. After squeezing the water out from her ponytail, she picked up his shoes and tied them together.

“Campbell? What are you doing…?” Sirius asked suspiciously. She smirked at him and swung the shoes as far as she could throw. They landed a nice distance away with a satisfying ‘plunk’ noise.

“Better hurry or Bosley might get them first! Have fun fishing!” She chimed as she took his shirt and waltz back into the castle.

_________________________
Feedback please!!!!!!!!

http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=113696