The Charmer (A Harry Potter Fanfiction)

Chapter One - Diagon Alley

-Veronica Brunswick-

My eyes fluttered open, relieved at the sight of my bedroom ceiling. Sluggishly, I sat up on my bed and yawned.

Recently, I've been having the most weird dreams, but I never remember what happened in them. When I wake up, the spooky feeling of it lingers and my legs feel sore as if I've been running away from who knows what.

But that didn't matter. I'm Veronica Brunswick. And that means I'm going to Hogwarts this year.

I swiftly changed out of my pyjamas and took one quick peek in the mirror. In it was a girl with bright, golden eyes and jet black hair. I would say I didn't recognize her, but she was me. I still wonder where I got that eye colour from.

Turning away and deciding that to be the mystery for another day, I headed downstairs to find my parents, which took a while since we still live in the mansion Godric Gryffindor and his descendants always have lived in. I'm surprised the dark wooden building still seemed so new.

Ancestry. Tradition. That's what my family has always valued.

~~~

"Hey Veronica, are you ready?" My mother and father smiled at me.

I nodded eagerly.

The three of us held hands as my father threw the floo powder, "Diagon Alley!"

I closed my eyes, and when I opened them next, there we were. At Diagon Alley.

Inside the alley is an assortment of restaurants, shops, and other sights. All the items on the Hogwarts supply list can be bought at Diagon Alley.

"I want to get my wand first!" I exclaimed, running off to the famous wand store, Ollivander's.

My parents chuckled at my excitement and followed.

"Hello," a friendly voice greeted as I entered the store.

"Hello, Mr. Ollivander," I replied, walking up to him, "I would like to get a wand."

He smiled and turned to his storage of hundreds of wands, "I'm sure you do. Now, let's see... perhaps a 14-inch, cypress wood with a unicorn hair core would suit a noble Brunswick like you?"

I carefully took the wand Ollivander handed to me and gave it a flick. Nothing happened.

"Hm.. not even the tiniest reaction?" Mr. Ollivander seemed puzzled, "Wands of cypress wood or of a unicorn hair core has always chosen those of your family line."

Suddenly, the door swung open as my parents came in. "I have a little hint that may help you out, Mr. Ollivander," my mother offered.

She walked to him and whispered something into his ear.

"Oh, I see," he reacted, taking out another wand, "Miss Brunswick, do take a try at this 12-inch, Hawthorn wood and Dragon Heartstring cored wand."

The wand was black. At the bottom end was a sphere that had patterns spiralling out towards the tip from it.

The moment the wand was in my hand, it had already begun lighting up. I gave it a flick, and it let out a playful string of light.

Ollivander smiled brightly, "the wand has chosen its wizard."

After paying for the wand, my father and I walked out the door while my mother stayed back.

"When are you going to tell her?" I heard Ollivander ask my mother.

She looked at me right as I turned my head away, "Well, we doubt she won't find out herself at Hogwarts."

~~~

At the bookstore, I wandered deeper into it when my parents were having a chat with the bookkeeper.

I couldn't help it, there were so many shelves and books, it was like a maze.

Despite this, in no time I was already returning with a stack of books in my arms. I could barely see what was in front of me.

My mind pondered off about what my parents could possibly be hiding from me. Mother said I would be able to find out at Hogwarts, so what kind of secret could it be? My parents have always been honest with me.

Suddenly, I bumped into something, falling backwards along with all my books.

"Ow!" I looked up to see that it was a boy with platinum blond, slicked-back hair in Hogwarts robes, on the ground as well. He seemed to be in his first year, like me, unless he was just a short second year.

"Hey, watch where you're going next time!" He sneered as he got up and brushed his robes.

I did so as well, and began collecting my books, "Blond hair, an ugly face, and poor manners? I don't need to ask who you are. You must be a Malfoy."

"Who are you calling ugly? I'm Draco Malfoy, and you've clearly messed with the wrong person," Draco Malfoy retorted, "Just wait till Father hears about this-"

"And what exactly do you think will happen when 'father' does hear about it?" a cold voice came from behind us. The tall shadow towered over us. I didn't need to turn around to know it must've been Mr. Malfoy. I would've let out a laugh at Draco, but in the presence of his father, it felt as if not a single laughter would ever dare to erupt.

"What do we have here? A Brunswick?" Mr. Malfoy analyzed, "Draco, apologize."

"Sorry," Draco Malfoy rolled his eyes.

"Help Miss Brunswick carry her books," his father demanded.

"What? But she bumped into me-" Draco Malfoy stopped himself upon seeing his father's glare.

The two of us walked to the front of the store in silence. That is, until Draco Malfoy grew irritated.

"Who even are you? And what's with your eye colour?" He questioned, "To have Father's respect, you must be a pureblood. Which Hogwarts house do you think you'll be sorted in?"

"The one I'm expected to be sorted into, Gryffindor," I answered dryly, "And you must be wanting to get into Slytherin, Malfoy."

"Is the sky blue? Does water extinguish a fire? Of course, I do!" Malfoy responded, "Are those your parents? I'm pretty sure you've got the rest handled, Brunswick."

He quickly stacked his half of my books onto the pile I was carrying and ran off.

"Made a friend already?" My mother guessed, smiling as always.

I scoffed, "Wouldn't call him a friend."

"Was that a Malfoy?" My father asked once he paid for my books. My mother gave him a look that kept us all silent and ended the brief discussion.

~~~

I poked at my food, having little appetite for dinner.

"Is something wrong, Veronica? You've been quite silent," Mother noticed.

Letting out a sigh, I looked up at them. What I heard at Ollivander's didn't seem like much, but I just had this feeling that it was something big.

"Mother, Father," I began. They both looked at me attentively with soft smiles on their faces. "Have you... been hiding something from me?"

Immediately, the sensation of regret flooded through me. They were my parents, and even if they lied about anything to me, it must've been for my own good, right? Why should I have even suspected them?

I stared at them, seeking reassurance. However, they looked back and forth at each other nervously.

"Johnathan?" My mother mumbled to my father.

"Lisa," He replied, "...no."

"What's wrong?" I asked.

Mother placed down her fork and smiled, "Nothing, dear. Absolutely nothing."