Naulinata Dumbledore

She panicked as she climbed up the steps to get on the train, turning back towards her family to wave good bye, also to seek comfort in the familiar faces. Her sister was furiously staring at the floor, and she could see her friend skulking off to another train compartment. Maybe she'd been too hard on him, then again maybe not. She sighed and tossed back her long dark red hair, her deep green eyes were shining with tears.

The train whistle sounded and Lily hurried up inside. She stepped into the first compartment she found. It was not empty though. Seated by the window was a beautiful girl, a few inches taller than Lily. She was already changed into her Hogwarts robes and sat resting her head in her hand looking out the window as she kicked her feet against the seat; her long dark hair fell to her waist like a curtain. She had no luggage with her that Lily could see, but she did have a long thin wand that she held like a pencil in one hand.

"Is this seat taken?" Lily asked shyly, hiding her tears instantly. In a second the girl sat up and sprang to life.

"Sure by you, if you want to. First year right? I am too. Weird isn't it? This train that is. What's your name?" she asked. Lily immediately had the impression, that she had never met anyone like this girl before and never would again; something seemed there, beneath the surface of this girl.

"Lily Evans. And your?" Lily asked sitting down beside her.

"Naul, call me Naul." She said.

"That's a strange name." Lily said as she turned and put her trunk up on the luggage rack.

"Well I'm a strange person." Naul said simply.

"So, did you have trouble finding the platform too?" Lily asked trying to make polite conversation.

"Nah, did you? Oh, you must be muggle-born. Well welcome to the Hogwarts express. Are you nervous?" Naul asked casually.

"Yes, aren't you?" Lily asked. The train whistle sounded and suddenly the train started moving, Lily had never been on a train before, and her nerves were as taut as steel cable.

"Nope!" Naul laughed and Lily's nervousness melted away.

"Did you ever use magic before coming here?" Lily asked.

"Yep, it's not that hard, you'll do fine I'm sure though. I can tell. I know a great wizard when I see one." Naul said.

"I suppose your parents are wizards then?" Lily asked.

"I don't know. My dad is, but I've never met my father or my mother." Naul said with strained levity as she peered out the compartment door looking for the snack cart.

"Why?" Lily blurted it out before she realized how rude she must seem.

"I assume they're dead. I don't need them, though. I have the best dad in the world." Naul said closing the compartment door since the snack cart was no where in sight. Lily was too intrigued by her new friend to care that the train had traveled farther away than Lily had ever been before.

Naul did not only provide conversation, but also magic. Lily didn't know any spells, but Naul could conjure anything Lily asked of her. Naul could even summon what she called a Patronus. Lily watched in amazement as a tiny silver dragon formed out of light from the tip of Naul's wand.

"I thought it would be bigger." Lily said.

"It can be, I can change it into anything I want, if she was full size, my patronus wouldn't fit in this compartment." Naul said, even when she was bragging Naul maintained an air of wonder that surprised Lily.

"I wonder if you could teach me that spell." Lily said thoughtfully.

"I could but then Aunt Minnie would yell at me." Naul said sulkily as her patronus disappeared, "See I'm not supposed to know half of the spells I do, but my dad has tutored me ever since I was five."

"Oh, I guess I'm far behind you." Lily said.

"Nah, you'll pass me up within the first week I bet!" Naul laughed. Before their conversation could continue the compartment door slid open and two boys entered. One was especially handsome, with his hair growing a bit long and a laughing face he smiled at Lily, immediately planning to flirt. The other boy was tall and skinny with round glasses hiding his shining eyes, and dark black hair that stuck up at the back.

"What have we got here, James?" the handsome boy asked.

"Two very capable young women who will not tolerate flack, harassment, or anything of the sort." Naul said suddenly on her feet.

"Huh, feisty, isn't she?" James asked. The handsome boy hadn't heard him though, he was staring at Naul.

"Hi." He stuttered turning red. James cocked an eyebrow. Lily looked confused.

"Hiya." Naul said. Then within seconds Naul and the boy broke out laughing. Then Lily and James joined them.

"Name's Sirius, Sirius Black." The handsome boy said throwing himself down on the seat across from Naul. Naul smirked and fell back into her own seat.

"Naul." She said.

"I'm Lily Evans." Lily clenched the hem of her skirt nervously.

"James Potter. Call me James." He winked at Lily as he sat down across from her and she felt furious blush heat her face.

"Naul, I've never heard a name like that before." Sirius said.

"Sirius Black, the Blacks, a bunch of snooty aristocrats weren't they?" Naul retorted.

"Touché."

Lily suddenly looked out into the corridor and then back out the window with tears in her eyes. Sirius, Naul, and, James were too engrossed in conversation to notice. The compartment door was brutally yanked open.

A greasy haired boy with a hooked nose and sallow skin in his school robes stood at the door staring straight at Lily, completely ignoring her three companions.

"I don't want to talk to you," she said, her voice choking. Naul suddenly glared viciously at the new comer.

"So, you decided to make my friend cry on her first day at school." Naul's cold voice was dripping with fury and barely suppressed rage.

"This doesn't involve you." He snapped and focused on Lily, "Why not Lil?"

"My sister hates me, all because we saw that letter from Dumbledore!" Naul stiffened at Lily's reply.

"So what?" the boy asked casually.

Naul and Lily both glared at him now, he paled under Naul's furious stare. Even James and Sirius stopped talking for a moment.

"She's my sister, Severus!" Lily said.

"She's just a m-" Severus stopped short of a big mistake, Naul was discretely passing Lily a tissue to wipe her eyes with an neither noticed.

"Bu we're finally going!" he laughed, unable to stop himself as he was suddenly bursting with enthusiasm, "This is it! We're going to Hogwarts!"

Lily nodded, and Naul smiled at her, Lily turned to the boy and half smiled in return.

"You'd better be in Slytherin," he said, happy that she was cheering up a little.

A fake retching noise came from Naul as she made a ridiculous face and she turned away snickering. James ignored her and looked up at Severus. He seemed similar to Severus, but better off at the same time.

"Who would want to be in Slytherin? I'd leave, wouldn't you?" He turned to Naul and Sirius.

"I'd die." Naul said.

"My whole family has been in Slytherin," Sirius said.

"Blimey!" Naul said.

"And I'd thought you'd seemed all right." James said.

Sirius grinned broadly. Naul couldn't help it, the side of her mouth quirked.

"Maybe I'll break the tradition. Where would you go if you could choose?"

James raised his hand as if holding a sword, "'Gryffindor, where dwell the brave of heart!' My dad was in it too."

Naul suddenly stood and gave a surprisingly realistic lion's roar. Sirius whistled and James smiled.

"See here's a girl who knows what I'm talking about." James said. Naul smiled and punched him on the shoulder before sitting down, her hair rippling like waves.

Then Severus made a small scoffing noise.

"Got a problem?" James turned on him. Naul also glared fiercely.

"Nope," he said sneering, "If you'd prefer brawn to brains-"

"Where are you planning to go, as you've clearly got neither?" interjected Sirius.

James and Naul roared with laughter. Naul stopped though when she saw Lily looking affronted as she stared between them with dislike.

"Come on, we should find another compartment."

"Ooooooo…" James and Sirius imitated her voice as Lily and Severus left. James tried to trip him as he exited.

"See ya, Snivellus!" Sirius called before the compartment slammed. In a sudden fluid movement, Maul rose and slapped both of them.

"Take it easy on Lil." She said.

"What about, Snivels?" James asked.

"If you're going to torment a snooty Slytherin, I'd help any day!" she said and they were all laughing.

When they arrived at Hogwarts they were led across the lake with a giant, named Hagrid, in boats. Upon arriving in the Entrance hall they found a very nasty looking woman with her dark hair tied back in a bun. Naul waved to her and she glared.

"Aunt Minnie!" Naul whispered.

"It's Professor McGonagall!" she snapped at Naul.

Naul sighed and stood with her two new friends as they were led into the Great Hall. There were the usual rumors and mutterings about what was happening. Naul seemed to be the only one actually calm.

In the Great Hall Professor McGonagall began reading off the names to come try on the Sorting hat. The House tables stared wide-eyed watching the first years.

"Black, Sirius!" McGonagall called. Sirius was placed in Gryffindor and McGonagall continued reading off names for awhile.

"Dumbledore, Naulinata!" She called and the entire hall went silent. The headmaster leaned forward from his seat at the High Table. Whispering broke out throughout the hall.

"I didn't know Dumbledore had a daughter?"

"She could be a cousin or niece!"

"I don't know her!"

"Must be a real prick, probably got special tutoring."

"Where is she?" McGonagall interjected silencing the crowds.

"Sorry, Aunt Minnie," A little voice said. The crowds turned and parted as a girl passed through them. They craned their heads to get a better look at her. Sirius jumped realizing it was none other than Naul. Naul approached the Sorting Hat and before she had even sat on the stool the hat screamed Gryffindor. The loudest cheer yet went up at this and Professor Dumbledore clapped calmly smiling from the High Table.

Naul turned and proudly walked towards the Gryffindors, as they cheered and Sirius made room for her next to him. She took the seat smiling and everyone's attention was drawn back to the hat.

Then McGonagall turned and called, "Evans, Lily!"

Lily was put in Gryffindor as well, but when Naul offered her a seat she spotted Sirius and turned towards the other end of the table. She waved to Snape who was still waiting to be sorted and then sat far away from Sirius.

McGonagall continued roll call and a scrawny shy looking boy was called up and became a Gryffindor. Naul waved him over.

"Remy!" She called happily and he took a seat on the other side of her. Sirius looked at him curiously and he blinked.

"This is Remus, Remus this is Sirius." Naul said happily. Their attention was again drawn to the hat and they didn't have a chance to start a conversation.

Then a short squat boy sat down on the other side of Sirius. Then James joined the Gryffindors as well and shoved him off to the side as he took his seat by Sirius. The boy still moved closer to the four as if dying to be part of their conversation. When everyone had been sorted and the feast began the four boys turned to Naul for an explanation.

"Why didn't you tell us you were the headmaster's daughter?" James asked.

"Well, you would treat me like some nerdy goody-too-shoes if I had before you got to know me. Besides, you never asked." Naul said eagerly biting into some potatoes, her new friends snickered agreeably.

"Are you really his daughter? Isn't he a bit old to have kids as young as you?" Peter asked.

"I was adopted. My parents are dead." Naul said simply.

"I never suspected you would be the headmaster's daughter, I'd never have guessed that." Sirius said in disbelief.

"I knew she was." Remus said.

"How did you guys know each other?" James asked.

"Remy, well he's from a distant part of England so he had to get special clearance to come here and when his parents came to see my dad they brought him with them." Naul said.

Within the week it became clear the Naul was the farthest thing possible from her nickname, "Dumbledore's Princess", she was obviously a tomboy despite her long flowing hair, and she played pranks and jokes with Sirius, James, Remus, and Peter at every available opportunity. At the same time she and Lily competed