Chapter 1: Transfer to Hogwarts

Calamity took a deep breath looking at the barrier, or what she was pretty sure was the barrier. She checked her watch. The train would be leaving in ten minutes. She looked at her letter again.

"Dear Ms. Clara Ezra-Mahoney,

After careful review of your history and experience we are pleased to accept your application of transfer to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Although the transfer is rare, we are pleased to assist in your journey to become a Healer in this time of need.

Be advised that you will be assisted by a Prefect, Remus Lupin, once you have reached platform 9 3/4. The platform can be found between platform 9 and 10 in the muggle Kings Cross Station.

Do not hesitate to owl should you run into any issues.

Sincerely,

Professor Minerva Mcgonagoll

Deputy Headmistress"

Calamity folded the letter again and put it into her pocket. Looking around to make sure no no-maj (they were called muggles here, she supposed) was watching. Seeing the coast was clear she walked calmly through the wall and found herself on a new platform, a bright red engine before her.

She had no idea who this Remus Lupin was, but the platform was packed with students and their families, hugging and kissing. Some parents looked tired. Perhaps staying up late worrying about the war raging on outside of the platform. She opened her trunk and pulled out her Herbology book: Encyclopedia of Magical and Mundane Plants. It lived up to its title, but Calamity flipped to the chapter on Venomous Tentacula.

"This dangerous plant is a giant eyeless head with fangs, though the shape of its mouth tends to vary, along with many leaves surrounding it. It has many large vines that act as arms and may or may not have separate heads at the end. Occasionally, aside form biting, some forms can also fire spiky spore-like balls from their mouths at their targets. They use these appendages and spikey spores to catch and eat prey, especially Chizpurfles, whose carcasses can often be found around the plants base.

Venoumous Tentactula should be approached with great caution, as all predatory plants should be. The Severing Charm is best to both stun and sever its arms. Common uses include-"

"Ouch!"

Calamity's book was thrown from her arms as a tall boy with black ruffled hair made contact with her. The boy nearly tripped, but somehow managed to save himself, obviously more athletic than his gawkiness predicted.

"Heads up," called another voice and Calamity had just enough time to duck before a red Quaffle flew passed her and into the first boys hands.

"Good reaction time," said the first boy. He pushed up his glasses and tousled his already messy hair. Reaching down he picked up her book and scanned the title.

"You're a sixth year? I've never seen you around." He handed her the book and she narrowed her eyes at him, dusting off the cover. "I'm James Potter."

"I thought the Brits were suppose to be more polite," Calamity said. James Potter didn't even have the decency to look abashed.

"You're the American?" He put the Quaffle under his arm and cupped his hands around his mouth. "Oi, Remus! I found the Yank!"

Calamity glared again and was about to begin explaining to this dimwit a thing or two, but she saw three boys approaching, one who had a sparkling gold badge with a P on his chest. James tossed the Quaffle over Calamity and into the hands of a boy about the same height with a rougish smile and longer black hair, grey eyes Prefect hurried forward.

"Sorry for the delay, these three were fooling around," he motioned to James Potter and the two other boys. Calamity took this time to notice the smaller, squatter one with a mousish look and blonde hair.

"I'm Remus Lupin," grabbing Calamity's trunk. He underestimated its weight and dropped it again. He motioned behind him, pretending that he had not been bested by a trunk. "You met James Potter already, but this is Sirius Black" he motioned to the rougish smiling one, who winked at Calamity. She rolled her eyes. "And this is Peter Pettigrew." Peter waved.

"You must be Clara Erza-Mahoney, right," Remus said. He reached down as if to lift the trunk again, but Calamity tapped the trunk and it began to levitate.

"Call me Calamity."

"Calamity," repeated Remus with a smile. She noticed a scar across his lip and chin.

"What happened," she asked nodding to his chin as Remus motioned for them to move towards the train.

"He fought the giant squid," Sirius said nonchalantly.

"He rescued five orphans from a Deatheater attack," countered James.

"He was at the end of a bad hex, but you should see the other guy," Peter added.

Remus smiled silently.

"Oh look, it's Snivellus," said Sirius excitedly waving at a greasy haired boy about their age. "Snivvy!"

The greasy haired boy glared and got onto the train. Calamity checked her watch. Only about three minutes.

"That's Snivellus Snape," explained Sirius. "We're old friends."

"I think we ought to say hi to our old friend," Peter agreed.

"Erm..." James looked hesitant.

"Evans is probably in the Prefect compartment, don't worry. If we catch him before he gets there then she'll never know," Sirius urged.

"Let's just find a seat," James offered. Sirius' face fell, then a flash of anger crossed his face. He turned to Remus pointing accusingly,"This is all your fault- you and your prefect-ness."

"Prefect-ness," Calamity repeated.

"I said it and I meant it," Sirius snapped. She frowned at him, eyes flashing. For a moment he seemed to shrink under her glare.

"Come on Peter, lets leave these goody-goodies." He jumped on the train with the blonde following him.

"He doesn't mean it," James said to Remus before following suit.

Remus shook his head smiling. and motioned for Calamity to follow.

"So, Calamity," Remus said as they walked down the train towards the front. "That's an interesting nickname. How'd you get Calamity from Clara?"

"I rescued five orphans from a deatheater attack," she replied. Remus grinned mischievously highlighting his scar again.

"Sorry about that, they get carried away. It was really only two orphans."

"How silly of them to exaggerate. Can we pause for a moment?" She reached into her purse and brought out a small vial and napkin. "This is a mixture of Gooseberry and Aloe Vera. It'll help your scar fade." Remus look at it suspiciously.

"Gooseberry?"

"It's nothing compared to those deatheaters," Calamity said with a smirk. Remus still looked unsure but allowed Calamity to apply the green paste. It disappeared almost instantly and the scar faded into a hard to see line.

"Wow," Remus said looking at his reflection in a compartment window. "How'd you know?"

"It's an old trick my Grandmother taught me. I was very accident prone growing up. For some reason my magic liked to show itself with explosions and flying sharp objects, so I got hurt a bit. That's how I got my nickname."

"Glad you're passed that stage of your life," Remus smiled. He looked at the vial again, as if wanting to ask something. Instead he said. "Well, this is the Prefect compartment where we have our meeting. Feel free to sit where ever you like. I'll find you when we've almost reach Hogwarts."

"Sure, thanks," she handed him the vial. "You can only use it once every week. Don't ingest it or you'll be stuck over a toilet and bucket for another week."

Before he could protest she turned and walked down the compartments, looking quickly through the windows to see if there were any free. The train had started to move during their conversation and most of the compartments were full of friends laughing and joking. One compartment had a group of students huddled close in secret. A boy, almost a slightly shorter and younger version of Sirius, watched her pass before turning back to his whispering.

Finally she made it to the back of the train where there was a compartment with only two girls in it, the door open.

"Mind if I sit here," Calamity asked.

"Oh sure," said the blonde one with curly hair. She patted to the seat next to her. Calamity noticed the lion crest on her chest. She tried to think back to her reading over the summer from Hogwarts: A History.

"Gryffindor, right," she asked.

"Yes," the blonde replied. "We both are. You're not a Slytherin are you?"

"Dunno," said Calamity. "I haven't been sorted yet."

"Oh, Susan! She's the American Lily was talking about," said a dark skinned girl with a small afro held back from her face by a headband. "I'm Margaret and this is Susan. I'm so sorry, I can't remember what Lily said your name was."

"Clara Erza-Mahoney. Call me Calamity."

"Sure thing," said Susan with a smile. The girls turned back to their game of exploding snaps and Calamity opened up her book again looking for the place she had left off.

"Common uses include poison and a number of valuable, but illegal, juice of the Venomous Tentacula creates a nonfatal poison. Ingestion leads to a burning sensation that has been described as ones insides being on fire. It also creates a purple tint on the leaves are extremely valuable and the potions they make extremely advanced and illegal. Needless to say, any person or persons seeking venomous Tentacula byproducts is likely up to no good."

Calamity underlined burning sensation that has been described as ones insides being on fire and purple tint of the skin. How did one stop the burning sensation? Did it just go away?

There was the sound of an explosion from the hallway and Margaret jumped up looking out.

"Bloody hell, they're at it again!" She slammed the door as smoke filled the hallway. Even with the door closed they could smell the smoke faintly- like dung.

"Why can't those stupid marauders take a year off," moaned Susan.

"Lily's going to be furious," agreed Margaret. As if summoned, the door opened and closed quickly as a red head jumped into the compartment looking livid. She reeked of the dung smoke.

"Lily, this is Calamity, the American student" Susan said jumping up and motioning to Calamity just as the redhead opened her mouth to start fuming. Lily glared at her friend, seeing through the ploy, but ended her rant before it started.

"Lily Evans," Lily said sitting down across from Calamity. "Glad you're here, but sorry that you have to put up with these uncivilized pigheaded idiots like the Marauders. I swear, Potter and Black can't go one moment without doing something to annoy the rest of us."

Susan sighed, "so close."

"You tried," comforted Margaret.

"I'm serious," Lily fumed. "I'm just leaving the Prefect meeting, walking down the train minding my own business when Potter comes out of nowhere and asks me out to Hogsmeade."

"Already," asked Susan. "We haven't even reached Hogwarts yet!"

"There he is asking me as if I hadn't already told him last year that'd I'd rather date the squid and he has the nerve to try to explain that he's matured over the summer. Then, a dungbomb exploded in a Slytherin compartment and I had to walk through it to get here. They make me so angry! Why haven't they been expelled after all of this non-sense!"

"Not the best timing, that's for sure," Susan said turning back to her game.

"At least we're almost there," said Lily. "The meeting took forever." She took a deep breath, trying to forget the stupidity of sixteen year old boys, and turned to Calamity. "What brings you to Hogwarts?"

Calamity looked up from her book at being addressed.

"I need to finish my last few years of schooling in England in order to work at St. Mungos and I've heard Hogwarts is the best place to do it."

"St. Mungos? Now?" asked Margaret. Her hand shook for a moment and Susan looked nervous, but nothing exploded. "It's been a targeted a few times already this year."

"None were successful, though," Lily added reassuringly. "And if there was ever a time we needed more healers, it's now."

There was a silence as the girls all considered the war raging outside.

"I heard that Elizabeth Clearwater is going to arrive late this year because of her father's disappearance," said Susan in a hushed voice.

"She's not going to be the last, either. The Prophet said that the list of enemies of He Who Must Not Be Named is growing."

"Who?"

The girls looked at Calamity in surprise.

"The evil bloke going about England killing muggles," Susan said as if talking to a small child.

"Voldemort?"

"DON'T SAY HIS NAME," shouted Susan as Margaret looked around as if she were about to be cursed on the spot by some invisible force.

"Rumor has it he plans on putting a Taboo on the name," Lily explained. "You say it and his deatheaters show up."

"It's not a rumor," hissed Margaret.

"Sorry, sorry," Calamity said hurriedly. "All the American newspapers have been calling him by name. I didn't know."

"That's fine," Margaret said with a deep breath. "Just- just don't do it again."

"Got it."

The girls' conversation turned to summer trips and visits and soon it was time to change into uniforms. When Calamity returned, Lily looked at her in surprise.

"Where's your skirt?"

Calamity looked down at her uniform. It looked just like their outfits, except that she didn't have a house crest on her breast and instead of a skirt she was wearing pants.

"I bought skirts and pants," said Calamity with a shrug.

"The pants are for boys," said Susan with a frown. She raised her wand as if to transfigure the pants, but Lily stopped her at Calamity's look of determination.

"I'll let a professor correct me, then I'll change it," Calamity said firmly.

"Boy, are you trying to live to your name," said Margaret shaking her head. "I'd hate to see Professor Mcgonagoll's face if your out of uniform."

Before Calamity could reply the door opened and Remus stuck his head in.

"There you are," he said with a smile. From the hallway the girls could hear the voice of James Potter saying, "Just let me say one thing to Evans."

"Oi! Prongs, no biting," said Sirius' voice.

Remus pretended not to hear, though he moved forward as if holding back the struggling James.

"Forgot to give this to you when we talked before," Remus explained handing her a letter. "You'll be coming with us on the carriages, but will be sorted after the first years so Professor Dumbledore can introduce you. Lily, do you mind escorting Calamity to the castle? I'm a bit busy, I'm afraid."

Lily smirked. "Of course."

The door closed behind Remus and there was a muffled commotion in the hallway. Then silence. The train began to slow.

Calamity opened the letter and read:

"Ms. Clara "Calamity" Erza- Mahoney,

As your ambition is to be a Healer you are required to take the following classes:

Potions

Transfiguration

Herbology

Charms

Defense Against the Dark Arts

and a final class of your choosing when you arrive.

We were pleased to find that your previous performance in all subjects Exceeded will attend these classes with your house, whichever this may be. Some N.E.W.T. level classes may be smaller due to their rigorous entrance requirements and you may be in classes with students from other houses as well.

Please be reminded that N.E.W.T.s will be taken at the end of your 7th year and you must have either an Outstanding or Exceeds Expectations in your five main classes.

Good luck and we anticipate your arrival.

Sincerely,

Albus Dumbledore

Headmaster

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy"

"Wow, a letter form the big man himself," said Lily impressed.

"He's very powerful," agreed Margaret. "Some people say he's the only one He Who Must Not Be Named fears."

The train came to a complete stop and the sound of compartment doors opening filled the train. The girls gathered their things and headed off the train, towards the horseless carriages. Susan, Margaret, and Lily jumped up in, but Calamity was too slow. Just as she was about to step up, she was pushed out of the way by Sirius Black.

"I''m afraid we've reserved these seats," said Sirius Black as he sat down, dragging James Potter with him. "Remus and Peter ditched us."

"Oh, no," Lily started, but it was too late. The carriage began to move.

Calamity walked back to the last free carriages. The only one with space had the mini-Sirius sitting in it, his friends obviously having fit into a carriage without had enough interactions with Sirius Black for today and wasn't sure if this miniature one would be as bad as the original. He looked at her with a bored, haughty expression.

She opened her book again, but the mini-Sirius spoke just as she started to read, .

"You're the girl from the train," he drawled. "Where's your crest?"

"I'm new," Calamity said. "Just transferred from America."

"I'm Regulus Black," Regulus said proudly. He held out his hand. "You must be very powerful if they'd accept you so late. What are you? Sixteen? Seventeen?"

"Sixteen," Calamity said. she shook his hand. "Calamity Erza- Mahoney."

Regulus paused looking her over. "Pureblood?"

"Pure-what?"

Regulus pulled his hand back slowly looking at her suspiciously. "Are you muggleborn?"

"No," said Calamity, translating these new British terms in her mind. Regulus looked pleased.

"Is Erza- Mahoney an old family? The Blacks are. We're one of the original twenty-eight. Families that were all witches and wizards from their founding until now."

"Oh," Calamity said. Her eyes darted to her book sitting sadly unread. "I believe Mahoney is, but Erza I'm not sure. We don't know too much about that side."

"Mahoney's got to be Irish, right," continued Regulus.

"Gaelic, I guess," said Calamity. The carriage began to slow as the castle came into view.

"Well, Calamity, I think I can give you some advice. First, pray you get into Slytherin- it's the best house, despite what anyone says. Second, try to avoid those Marauders. They'll just get you into trouble and third," He stood as the carriage halted. "Remember that blood and background are very important in these trying times. Don't get mixed up with the wrong lot."

"Got it," said Calamity standing and moving from the carriage. Regulus followed, falling into step with her.

"Have you met anyone yet?"

"Yes, Lily Evans and her friends, James Potter, Remus Lupin, Sirius Black," she watched Regulus' souring expression. "Is he your brother or cousin?"

"Brother," said Regulus. "If you'd like I can introduce you to some proper people worth knowing."

"Oh," Calamity said. She couldn't think how else to respond. Luckily, she didn't have to because she heard someone's booming voice carrying over the carriages, calling her.

"Clara? Clara Erza- Mahoney? I'm ta take yer to where you need to go!"

Calamity gave Regulus a wave before following the voice to a giant of a man with a burly beard, who introduced himself as Hagrid. He led her to the castle and into a side room where Calamity could hear the muffled yells and laughs of the student body.

"I'll come git yer when it's time," said Hagrid smiling. He left and Calamity opened her book again.

"The Snargarluff is a plant with the appearance of a gnarled stump, but within it's dull exterior is a violent secret. If provoked, the Snargarluff's thorn covered vines will attack, so it is best handled by two or more wizards. The Snargarluff's attack is necessary when retrieving the green pulsating pods from within. About the size pf a grapefruit, these pods are broken open and the insides (which resemble pale green tubers) can be used for healing potions. In the medieval period the pods were often used as weapons, though this lessened as wizards discovered the healing properties within."

"They're ready fer ya."

Her time had come. Calamity walked out and a few students craned to see the new student who might be joining their house. A stern looking witch with spectacles placed a ragged hat on her head. A voice greeted her in the darkness.

"Lots of talent here, and a bit of arrogance. Ah, but bravery without a doubt, and determination. Willing to do what is necessary to succeed, but I see a limitation here. A noble trait- you would risk it all for what is right. Well, it's clear to me that it must be- GRYFFINDOR!"

The hat was removed and Calamity moved to the cheering table, sitting next to Lily who looked displeased with the fact that the marauders were sitting so close to them.

"Well done, Calamity," said Susan excitedly as the golden plates filled with food.

Calamity peered around and caught the eye of Regulus Black, who shrugged at her and shook his head as if pitying her fate.

"Don't mind those gits," James said from his place diagonal from Lily.

"Yes, who has the time," said Lily coldly. "When we have our own gits to mind."

"Evans," said James, a smile breaking across his face. "You think of me as YOUR git? That's so sweet!"

Sirius let out a bark-like laugh as Remus looked apologetically at Lily, who decided to simply eat in silence.