Marauders American Girl

Freaking Pureblood Stereotypes

The day after my tutor had deemed me ready for social interactions, Grandfather took me to Hogwarts to be sorted separately. He didn't want me to go through the normal first year sorting process and I was alright with not having to do that again.

"I'm Headmaster Dumbledore," a nice old man greeted me. "It's my pleasure to meet you Miss Kendra. Although I wish it was under better circumstances."

"The pleasure is mine," I stated. "Things don't always turn out how we want them to."

Dumbledore had me sit on a small stool in his office, even though there were plenty of big chairs to use. He placed an old hat on my head. The hat proceeded to talk to me.

"Already so much wisdom in such a young girl," the hat commented. I started in surprise. "But you have little to learn from the wise. And so much kindness. But I see you've buried it. You just need somewhere to bring that back out." What's that supposed to mean?

"Gryffindor!" the hat called loudly. I was introduced to the Head of House, Professor McGonagall. My grandparents took me home. Grandmother explained that they were disappointed that I'd been sorted into Gryffindor. Any other house would've been acceptable. Just not Gryffindor.

From that point on, my grandparents abused me. Never physically. They were too old for that and I was too strong. No, they abused me mentally and emotionally. Reminded me that I was nothing. I was a street rat turned lady. I was nothing until they changed me. Little did they know, I never truly changed. I acted fancy and posh for them, but I relapsed into my old self once in the privacy of my room, working out most of the time. I punched and kicked at trees in the backyard when they weren't looking.

It was odd being able to have my wand outside of school. I often twirled it around in my fingers when I was thinking. Grandmother was constantly plucking it from my hair. I'd place it there unconsciously, as I had in school, and then forget it was there.

Grandfather took me and Grandmother to a party a couple weeks before school was due to start. Some of their Pureblood friends were hosting it. Orion Black had sent the invitation and it'd been the first time in years that they had accepted. I knew that it was only because they wanted me to meet some "respectable" people to be friends with.

Grandmother had overseen my dress shopping, making sure the dress I picked out was fancy enough. Warm colors set off my black hair and tan skin. Red was my favorite color so I picked a dress that came in deep red, almost burgundy. It was a one sleeve style, tight until my waist when it flowed down in a full skirt. I wanted to add a layer of shimmery gold fabric over the skirt, to add some glow. Grandmother agreed that the glow would make the dress better and got a roll of the gold fabric I wanted to use. She paid for the dress, taking that and the fabric home. She gave me some money for shoes and a few pieces of jewelry. Milly appeared a few seconds after she'd disappeared. She would take me home when I was done shopping.

The day of the party arrived and Grandmother had insisted that I begin getting ready only an hour after breakfast, even though the party didn't start until almost dinner time. The dress was the last thing I would put on. I started with my hair. Honestly, I had no idea how to do hair, so it was the one thing that Grandmother did for me. She put it up in an elegant bun, with a few strategic locks hanging loose which she curled in beautiful ringlets.

I ate lunch with my hair done and my makeup started, but not finished. I had on foundation and blush and eyeshadow, but nothing else. My gold eyeshadow stood out against my brown eyes. I'd contoured slightly, making my cheekbones just slightly more prominent. After lunch, I put on winged eyeliner and mascara. Even though I was fancy, I really wanted to look like the fighter that I was. Red lipstick, the same color as my dress, finished off the look.
Milly helped me zip up my dress after I'd gotten into it. Dreny had been the one to carefully attach the gold fabric over the skirt. I slid into gold sandals and put on gold dangly earrings and the matching necklace. I wore my dad's black wedding band on my thumb.

We met Orion Black and his wife, Walburga, at their door. What kind of name is Walburga? It sounds like a disease. They were really nice and excited to see me. Grandfather told Orion how old I was. For some reason, they both got even more excited.

"She's the same age as my oldest, Sirius," Mr. Black stated proudly. "Both of our boys are inside with our other guests. You'll come across them sometime, hopefully." We entered. My grandparents mingled with the adults. I stood awkwardly near the walls, the natural scowl of my face scaring anyone who approached me.

"That's pretty stupid of you to wear those colors," a boy stated as he walked up in front of me. He had cropped black hair and grey eyes. He was younger than me but he didn't look the slightest bit out of place.

"I'm sorry?" I growled, my American accent seeming out of place even more than I did. "I can wear whatever colors I want to."

"You're American?" he stated in shock. I nodded.

"My mum eloped with my dad, who was from America," I explained, starting to adjust words with an English accent. "They're both gone now, so I'm living with my mum's parents, the Sheratons."

"Ah, so you wouldn't know Hogwarts house rivalries," he realized. "Most everyone here is in Slytherin. Slytherin and Gryffindor hate each other. Gryffindor's colours are red and gold."

"Thanks very much," I smirked before continuing sarcastically. "I would've been so lost without that knowledge. I'm Kendra Watson." I offered him my hand to shake.

"Regulus Black," he replied, bringing my hand up to kiss my knuckles. I froze briefly, unused to the physical contact but then nodded.

"I overheard your dad talking to my grandfather," I commented. "He mentioned something about me being the same age as one of his sons?"

"Probably Sirius," he muttered. "You'll see him at dinner and then not for the rest of the night. He hates these things."

"They do seem dreadfully boring," I mused. "It's more of a get together for the adults. There's precious little for us kids." Our conversation paused as we stared out at everyone from the wall.

"I like you," Regulus stated eventually. "You're cool and calculating and not afraid of what people think."

"You're nice," I replied. "Probably my first friend since coming to England."