The Ties That Bind

Chapter One

A Brand New Beginning

The plane had landed at Heathrow Airport over an hour ago. Rebecca glanced around the crowded terminal uncertainly to get her bearings. She had been told someone would be arriving to get her, and yet there was still no sign of the mystery person.

As she walked, she glanced down at the piece of paper or rather parchment paper she held, skimming over the long thin handwriting which had instructed her to come to London immediately. She looked to see if there wasn't a time or a name of who would be picking her up. Not paying attention, she walked right into someone only to be knocked to the floor.

Standing before her was the largest man she'd ever seen. She assumed his face would have been kindly but it was hard to tell behind his large bushy beard. Wearing a coat that appeared to be made out of several different animals he was getting a lot of strange looks from everyone in the airport, including Rebecca.

"Yeh must be Rebecca." He offered a large hand to help her to her feet "Professor Dumbledore sent me ter fetch yeh. Said yeh'd be gettin' in about now."

Rebecca eyed the man strangely for a moment after getting to her feet. She didn't know whether she should use her newly acquired slayer strength and put as much distance as possible between herself and the very large man before her, or if she should trust him. Strangely enough her instincts told her she could trust him. "Uh... yeah. That's me. And you are...?"

"Rubeus Hagrid, Care of Magical Creatures teacher at 'Ogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."

Rebecca shook her head and picked her bag up again. "Any other week and I would think you were crazy for saying such a place even existed."

"Yeh, Dumbledore said he wasn't sure how'd yeh react, great man Dumbledore, yeh must be really talented for him bringin yeh on in your third year. Never been done before." Hagrid picked up her other bag and they head out of the airport to his motorcycle waiting outside. After getting her things settled they take off, literally. The bike lifted into the air, once clear of most of the traffic. At first Rebecca was inclined to freak out but once she realized that they were not going to suddenly fall out of the sky and crash to their deaths she let herself relax and enjoy the warm night air as it whipped through her hair. She settled down in her seat and leaned back just watching the night sky zoom by and before long she had drifted off into a light sleep.

When she awoke, Rebecca had no idea of how much time had passed. She realized that they were no longer moving and were probably back on the ground when she heard Hagrid talking softly to someone. In no rush to wake up fully yet she remained still, hoping that maybe this was just a pit stop, but suddenly and without warning she felt a great weight on her chest before something wet licked her face. She moved to push whatever it was away and opened her eyes to see a large dog, though he would have been normal size when you compared him in proportion to Hagrid.

"FANG! I told yeh to leave the poor thing alone. Now look what yeh've done. Yeh alright Rebecca? He won't hurt yeh he jus' gets excited around new people is all."

She nodded her head as she sat up and stretched, "yeah I'm ok. So where are we?" As her eyes adjusted she could see they were outside a cabin on the edge of what looked to be a vast forest and up the way a large magnificent castle. "That... that's not Hogwarts is it?"

Hagrid's chest visibly swelled with pride hearing the awe in Rebecca's voice. "That it is... c'mon the Headmaster'll be expectin' yeh."

With a nod she started to gather her things only to have Hagrid tell her they would come back for them. Not much was said as they made their way up to the castle. Rebecca was trying to take in as much of the castle and its grounds as she could. Never before had she seen anything like it. When she was little she had imagined being a beautiful princess growing up in a castle like this but she never dreamed she'd actually get to see one. They entered through the grande doors and he lead her up a beautiful marble staircase to a statue of a gargoyle on the seventh floor. "Uh Hagrid... I..." Rebecca started but before she could voice the thought that they wouldn't be able to get through there she heard Hagrid mutter something that sounded strangely like 'cockroach cluster' and the stone gargoyle leapt aside to reveal a moving staircase.

Rebecca gave Hagrid one last curious look she stepped onto the staircase and was taken to a door that she could only guess was the doorway to Professor Dumbledore's office. Ignoring the voices in her head that told her this all must be a dream she knocked on the door and didn't have to wait long to be told to enter. It was like entering another world. A circular room with many delicate silver instruments on spindle-legged tables puffing and whirring unlike anything Rebecca had ever seen before. On the walls were many portraits of people she'd never seen before, many of whom seemed to be sleeping. So captivated by the room was she that Rebecca didn't even see the elderly man behind the desk. As she turned around she jumped, realizing for the first time she wasn't alone in the room.

"Good evening, Miss Saunders. I trust that your journey was a pleasant one?"

Rebecca knew she must be wearing an expression of confusion and curiosity. "Uh yeah, it was fine. Um are you Professor Dumbledore?"

Dumbledore smiled at her in a way that seemed to instantly put her off her guard. "That I am. And I'm sure you're wondering just why I asked you here."

"Yeah I've been wondering about that. I know you said you wanted me to attend your school but what I can't for the life of me figure out why."

"Well the why is simple. Because you are a witch, and from what I've seen a very gifted one at that. Your name has been on the list to attend this school since you were very young. You should have started two years ago but there were some extreme circumstances that prevented that. But now we have the opportunity to rectify that mistake, that is of course, only if you wish to attend school here."

Rebecca could only stare. This man just told her she was a witch like it was the most normal thing in the world. She had barely grasped the fact that vampires were real and that she was destined to fight them. "I'm sorry I think I misunderstood you.... did you say I'm a witch?"

Dumbledore looked over his half-moon spectacles at her. "That is correct."

Mulling around the idea in her head she decided it would just be easier to accept it and work out the details later. And so Rebecca shrugged her shoulders and sat down when Dumbledore motioned for her to take a seat. "Oh. Ok. And yes I would like to attend school here but I don't have any place to live and I don't really have that much money."

Watching the headmaster carefully Rebecca thought she saw a flicker of surprise in his eyes as she so easily and willingly accepted what he's told her so far. "That will not be a problem. I have arranged it for you to spend your summer holidays with a wonderful family. Though they are currently in Egypt at the moment and will not be returning until the week before the school term is to begin. In the meantime there is a room waiting for you at the Leaky Cauldron where you can stay. As for money there is a fund at Hogwarts for students who require assistance buying spell books and robes. You may need to get some of your books secondhand..." He was interrupted before he could finish.

"That's ok, books are books... the more owners they've had the more stories they can tell." Rebecca realized that she interrupted him. "Sorry... you were saying?"

Dumbledore smiled kindly at her. "Quite alright. Now there is still the issue of your house."

"My house?"

"Yes, your house. And since you have accepted your place at Hogwarts I would ask that you please address me as 'Professor' or 'sir'"

Rebecca nodded realizing that she had been rude. "Sorry sir. Sometimes I tend to forget my manners."

Dumbledore smiled once again letting Rebecca know that he was not upset with her. "As I was saying, I think it would be best for us to do the sorting tonight to determine which house you will belong to. I think you might look a little out of place standing with all the first years."

Not wanting to look like she had no idea what he was talking about Rebecca nodded. She watched quietly as Dumbledore rose from his seat and went to a nearby shelf picking up a very ancient looking hat. Without warning he walked over and placed the hat on her head. Just as she was about to ask what was going on she heard a voice talking in her ear. It seemed to be analyzing her qualities telling her the strengths she possessed. Before too long the hat spoke outloud just one word. "Gryffindor".

Taking the hat from her head Dumbledore set it back on the shelf. "Well, I think everything is now in order. Unless you have any other questions I'll escort you back down to where Hagrid is waiting for you and he will take you to the Leaky Cauldron."

Rebecca smiled. "I'm sure I'll have questions but for now they can wait. I'm just ready to hit the hay." With a nod and a smile from Dumbledore she rose from her seat and they headed down the spiral staircase. She followed the headmaster out onto the grounds once again and they headed to the cabin sitting on the edge of the expansive forest where Hagrid and Fang were waiting.

The journey back to London was uneventful and Rebecca found herself once again lost in her thoughts as they traveled. After making sure she was settled Hagrid departed. She was finishing up something to eat when she noticed a flurry of activity at the door and a boy about her age being ushered inside by a man wearing pin striped robes and a lime green bowler hat. The boy's green eyes met Rebecca's for a split second before he was lead into another room and she headed upstairs to her waiting bed wondering what all the fuss was about.