The blessed girl's destiny (a harry potter fanfiction)

Chapter 1

Vanessa's first impression of the Order's headquarters was not a positive one. As they entered, the creaking of the door, the dampness of the air, and the total darkness of the hall all contributed to an ominous, eerie atmosphere. It felt in keeping with the theme of the evening. Led by Dumbledore, she reticently advanced, and the atmosphere seemed to shift completely. Warm light consumed the room she had entered, filled with the sound of people laughing and eating, and the scent of warm food filled the air.

To Vanessa, it seemed that she was not welcome here. To this room and these people, she felt like a terrible dark cloud announcing rain that would only dampen everyone's mood. Still, Dumbledore guided her. He hadn't looked at her since they had left Romania, but at least he was there; it was better than being alone after all.

He stepped into the warmly lit room before Vanessa, briefly blocking her view of the gathered group. "Albus!" came a warm voice from a woman bustling near the table. "We didn't know you'd come! Would you like to join our feast?"

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled, though his expression remained calm, almost serene. "Thank you, Molly, but I'm afraid I must decline. I've only come to drop off Miss Taylor." He stepped aside, and Vanessa felt all eyes shift toward her. The sudden silence in the room was heavy. With a nod, Dumbledore continued, "Everyone, this is Vanessa Taylor. She will be staying here for some time."

Vanessa forced a small smile, trying to mask the anxiety roiling in her stomach. A man with a rugged appearance but sharp eyes stood near the back, watching her intently. His curiosity was palpable.

"Vanessa?" he asked, glancing at Dumbledore.

"Ah, yes," Dumbledore said, turning to him. "I do apologize for the suddenness, Sirius. Her mother asked me to look after her, and I believe Vanessa may be of great help to the Order. But more of that in our next meeting."

Sirius, along with everyone else, nodded, though the unspoken question of "Why?" hung in the air. Vanessa could feel it. Dumbledore gave her a kind smile. "I'll take my leave for now. Molly, thank you again for your hospitality." He turned to Vanessa, his gaze softening for the briefest moment. "I shall see you soon, Miss Taylor."

And just like that, he was gone, leaving her behind with a room full of strangers. Although Dumbledore was a stranger too, he was the one to bring the news of her dead mother. In retrospect, the fact that her mother asked him to take her in made him a last connection to her mother, one she must salvage. Only, she couldn't help but feel numb as she heard the door shut and saw everyone looking at her.

"Well, come along dear. I don't suppose you've eaten yet. Take a seat here next to Fred," the kind woman she now knew was called Molly said, motioning to a ginger boy who she realized was sitting next to an identical person.

She sat down hesitantly, everyone watching her, and she could feel the tension—the unasked questions like the warmth of the room: it was suffocating. But eventually, everyone returned to their conversations, as if they had heard what she was thinking—Vanessa really wished they hadn't—and she was left to her dinner with a pair of mischievous twins.

"I'm Fred and this is—"

"George, pleasure to meet you," both twins exclaimed, huge grins on their faces as if they had just told the funniest joke in the world. They extended their hands, and after a brief moment of confusion, she tentatively reached out to shake both of theirs, still not understanding the joke.

At that moment, another girl stepped in, ginger and bearing a clear resemblance to them. "Their sister, then," thought Vanessa. The girl smacked their heads before looking at Vanessa. "They're idiots, the both of them. That is George," she motioned to the one that had said Fred, "and that is Fred. They do this all the time. I've had years to try to convince them it wasn't funny, but everything I say goes in one ear and out the other."

Then her eyes widened. "Oh, sorry, by the way, I'm Ginny. Nice to meet you."

"And I'm Hermione Granger, and this is—" She elbowed another ginger-headed boy who seemed too preoccupied with his meal to hear any of the conversation. "Ron, pleasure."

It seemed like it was her turn to speak, so she said, "I'm Vanessa, as Dumbledore said. Ummm, pleasure meeting all of you."

The conversation swiftly unfolded, with topics ranging from life in Romania to Quidditch to Exploding Snap, as each asked her questions she could only start to answer before the topic changed again. Before long, Vanessa was laughing along with a joke the twins made. She liked the twins; despite their first impression, they were funny. Ginny was cool and caring. Hermione was interesting and smart. Ron was sweet.

It was easy here. Words flowed like water and laughter like music. With this, even if she didn't realize it amid all the negative thoughts in her head, Vanessa could only get better, move forward, and leave her grief behind.