Changing Tides (Sirius Black)

Chapter 1

Nixie Dover

I dropped my stuff from diagon alley just inside the door to the house before sprinting down to the ocean where my father, Henry Dover, said he'd be waiting for me.

Today I was going to meet up with my mother. The mysterious woman had apparently been out at sea since I'd been born nearly eleven years ago though nearly nine months prior to this particular day was when I finally got to meet my mother.

My dad stood facing away from the ocean as I stripped and dove into the ocean. The calm, cool feeling that came with being underwater washed over me and I felt my legs fuse together and looked down to see my sparkling light orange tail.

I laid down on my back and stared upwards. The sun was beautiful as it shone through the water. My black hair flowed around my head, the sun giving me golden streaks.

I started to see golden blonde hair float into my vision and looked over to see my mother, Meri, with her sparkly blue tail. Her chest was only covered by her long hair, just as it is with every other mermaid including me.

Today was the last day that I'd go swimming with my mom before I left for Hogwarts.

I couldn't help but frown as I thought of going to school.

"What's wrong little water sprite?" My mother said in her soft, musical voice.

I sighed and turned my head away, my eye catching on a sparkling black conch shell which I reached out to take.

"What if they don't accept me?" I said quietly as I played with the shell.

I felt the wet sand shift slightly beneath me as my mother came and pulled me into a comforting hug.

"Oh sweetie, why wouldn't they accept you?"

"I've heard people at dad's work say that I'm not natural. That I shouldn't have been born."

Meri's brows furrowed as she looked down at me.

"Tell me who they are and I'll drag them to the bottom of the ocean." She announced ferociously.

I laughed.

"Mom, we both know you'd get in big trouble if you were to do that."

Meri laughed as well.

"Fine. Well if it would make you feel more comfortable, you don't have to tell anyone about what you are until you know that you have found some true friends. Does that sound good to you?"

I smiled at my mom gratefully before we both headed up to the shore. Mom and I pulled ourselves halfway up the rocks and lay there, talking with dad for hours. My mom was on her stomach and I was on my back with my tail in the water.

I love the feeling of cool, salty, ocean waves on my scales.

"Nixie? Nixie!"

I was jolted from my thoughts by my dad as he tried to get my attention. I nearly fell off the rock.

He chuckled.

"I guess someone should be getting to bed. It's going to be a big day tomorrow."

I groaned and reluctantly dragged myself up onto the sand to wait for my tail to dry and turn back into legs. It took about half an hour, giving my mom time to nag me about sending lots of letters and to go swimming frequently.

I got dressed and walked with my father back up to the house, waving bye to my mother as she dove back underwater. I sighed and kept walking up the rocky path.

I lay in bed staring up at the ceiling, thinking.

Hogwarts was a school that accepted purebloods, halfbloods, and muggleborns. I've heard that there are people who don't like muggleborns there, or even halfbloods. I can't imagine how badly it would be if the students were to find out that I was half "beast".  

That is when I decided that I would keep my secret for as long as I could.

I struggled to breathe as my father gave me a bone crushing hug.

"Dad, I have...to get on the...train."

He let me go and I put my hands on my knees, trying to catch my breath.

"Bye dad, I'll be home for christmas."

"Bye Nixie, don't forget to swim regularly, write often, and have fun. Make some friends!"

"I know dad, I'll miss you!"

The warning whistle sounded as I got on the train and started looking for an empty compartment. After walking for a little while a boy with black curly hair ran past, nearly knocking me over.

"Hey, watch it!" I yelled after him but he just kept going.

I rolled my eyes and kept going.

Closer to the back of the train I found a compartment with only one person in it. I opened the door and poked my head in.

"Excuse me, can I sit here?"

The boy looked up. He had light brown hair and kind brown eyes.

"Sure."

I smiled gratefully and sat opposite to him.

"My name is Nixie Dover." I said, holding out my hand to shake.

"Remus Lupin." He said as we shook.

He took in my appearance analytically. He gave a half smile and, in what I believe was a joking way, asked me a question that set me on edge.

"Are you by any chance a mermaid?"