The Riddle

ONE • MOVING

ACT ONE  •  MOVING

START OF CHAPTER ONE

Dakota Scamander was an unusual girl, fascinated by a lot of things. Even the mention of Defense Against the Dark Arts could put the girl in a dream, a dream to be like one of her ancestors, Newton Scamander. Dakota wasn't like any of her other family members, they mostly had light chocolate brown hair, but the girl was different. She had hair as white as snow, freckles that pinched underneath her forest green eyes and up her perfectly shaped nose. Dakota normally had her luxuriant hair neatly platted into two fish plats; one at either side of her head that swayed round to the back. This year, the year of 1976, Dakota was starting a school. A proper wizarding school. The sixteen year old was nervous, but excited. Seeing as the girl had only just moved into the new house (or should I say mansion) with her grandma, there were boxes placed just about everywhere.

"MA!!" the nervous voice of a girl shouted, "can I meet the neighbors now?" Dakota's grandma, Queenie Scamander, huffed then her reply of, "sure, whatever! Be back by 6." came from the upstairs of the the new purchased house. Glad that Queenie had let her, Dakota skipped out of the house, looking left and right before crossing the road. As she introduced herself around the neighborhood, she finally got to the last house she had yet to introduce herself too. The girl, now full of happiness, skipped back across the road to the mansion that stood standing by her own, while Dakota skipped down the mini pathway, she admired the small flower garden growing outside of her neighbors house. The sixteen year old reached the door in a few minutes. Dakota put on a small smile as her knuckles gently tapped on her neighbors door, she stood there politely like she had when meeting the other neighbors, swaying side to side. About 3 minutes had passed and the gleeful girl felt like turning around and walking back to her new house until the door got forcefully pulled open, Dakota eyed the person suspiciously before realizing that he - she realized it was a boy - was safe. The boy had sandy blonde hair, a dark shade of green eyes and a few cuts across his face. The visitor smiled sweetly at the boy who called into the house. A few seconds later, an older women appeared at the door.

"Ah! Hello!" the women exclaimed while the boy awkwardly shuffled back into the house, "I'm Euphemia Potter and this is the house of the Potters'! Are you new to the neighborhood? If so whats your name? Would you like to come in? Oh I ask too many questions! Want to come in?" Dakota giggled quietly under her breath as she nodded, accepting the invite into the Potter mansion. Euphemia gestured towards the living room were three teenage, about the same age as her, boys sat. The sandy haired boy from earlier, a scruffy black haired boy and a boy with a dark brown shade of hair. Dakota cautiously sat down while peering around the mansion.

"Wow.. This place is.. amazing!!" Dakota excitedly said, her smile reaching her eyes, "oh! Sorry, by the way. I just moved in, and um-- my name is Dakota Scamander!" 

The boys all looked up from whatever they were doing and the sandy haired boy chuckled as he closed his book. Dakota turned to face the boy who had just randomly laughed. "Remus Lupin- wait! Scamander? You mean.. you're related to Newton Scamander? The one who wrote 'Fantastic Beats and where to find them'?" he asked, obviously interested. Dakota nodded as her gaze lifted from Remus to the other two boys. The scruffy black head smirked and stood up. He walked over towards the girl, picked up her hand and kissed it, Dakota's faced blushed a light shade of pink as the flirtatious boy introduced himself as Sirius Black. 

"Sirius Black at your service, Miss Scamander. Prongs! Introduce yourself to this young lady." The boy who Sirius had called 'Prongs' huffed and muttered a sarcastic comment, making Sirius clutch his heart and fall to the floor. The Scamander girl looked confused but Remus told her that he did it a lot.

"Sirius get off my floor."

"When has it been your floor?"

"Since I moved in this house."

"But didn't your parents pay for it?"

"Yes.. but it's still my house."

"How is it?" 

"Because I bloody live here Padfoot! Get up or I'll call the Ministry! You're fleas are gonna get all over our expensive carpet!"

"Jame Fleamont Potter! When did you start caring about this rug? You didn't so shut the fu-"

"We do not say that word! There are children around!" James' pointed at Dakota and Remus. Dakota's jaw dropped open as she and Remus stood up defensively.

"I'll have you know that I am a responsible sixteen year old!" They both accused at the same time. After noticing that they both talked at the same second, saying the same thing, they bursted out into laughter. Euphemia Potter and a man, probably her husband, walked into the living room to find their new neighbor and one of their sons' friends in hysterics of laughter.

"Having fun boys, Dakota?" the man, going by the name of Fleamont Potter, asked as Remus stopped laughing and fell into an armchair while the guest of the Potter house carried on laughing. As she had laughed so much, Dakota started to sway. Soon she was swaying so much that she crashed into Remus' lap and banged her head on the arm of the chair.

"Ow.." Dakota muttered, rubbing her hurt head. Quickly, she pulled out a stick and pointed it at her head, mumbling unknown words. "Better!" Dakota looked around to see Sirius still on the floor and Fleamont, Euphemia, James, Sirius and Remus looking impressed, "sorry.. I could have gotten a trial for that- wait. I couldn't have! I haven't been to a proper school before and this wand was passed down from Newt.. Ah nevermind." Remus' jaw dropped and his eyes widened, "you're a witch? Awesome! We're wizards. Can I look at your wand?" Gracefully, Dakota nodded and cautiously handed the interested boy her wand.

"THIS.

"IS.

"AWESOME!!"

Remus' chuckled slightly before handing the girl her wand back. Fleamont and Euphemia retreated to the kitchen, saying a goodbye to Dakota as they went. She had a little chat with the boys until James and Sirius smirked, looking at Dakota's position. After she had crashed into Remus, she ended sitting on his lap. Remus didn't mind much since she was light but his face turned a bright red. Dakota suddenly realized she was sitting in the boy's lap and jumped up, her face turning a dark shade of red. She quickly checked her watch on her right wrist and rushed to the door.

"Sorry! I've got to go but I hope to see you on the Hogwarts Express?" Dakota asked, a smile forming on her face again. Remus and Sirius nodded while James stood up an walked towards her.

"See ya on the 1st September Dako!" James grinned, opening the door as the the sixteen year old girl rushed to her house next door. Dakota, like the three boys, had a good feeling that they would be good friends, no matter what happened. Although she had just met Remus, she felt that she may of had a tiny crush on him. 'A good day today..' Dakota thought to herself as she walked through her door, 'new friends.. luckily I won't be alone when going to Hogwarts.. I'm glad me and Ma though of moving.'

ACT ONE • ONE

END OF CHAPTER ONE