"What's an aunt?" "I'm sorry?"

It wasn't the best first thing I could have said to him, but hell, how was I supposed to know? I was new at this whole "Meeting new people thing" I didn't know what to say or what not to say. So I went with the only thing I could think of to say.

"What's an aunt?"

I repeated myself. He looked at me as if I were crazy, and let's be totally honest with ourselves, I am without a doubt, the craziest person he has ever met.

I was certainly the wildest, raised by the sea and living on my own in the marshes since I was about five.

He looked at me the way that I looked at that damn owl that delivered me my Hogwarts letter.

"Are- are you being serious?"

He asked and I just nodded, too worried for speaking.

"It means she's family. She is the sister of one of your parents."

Family? Now there was something I hadn't had in a while. The only family I had was the ocean and that alone made me sound insane. I couldn't tell him that, I couldn't tell anyone that without them think I've gone mad.

I simply nodded at his response that filled me in on the status of my living relatives. I had an aunt now. Great.

"Professor River is a fantastic teacher."

He continued talking and this time I wasn't sure if he was talking to me or just talking to be talking.

Men are... a funny thing.

"She teaches Mythology to the second years and offers more advanced courses to those who wish to continue studying it while at Hogwarts." He continued.

"She was and still is my favorite professor. And she's our head of house. Everyone here loves her even if they won't say it."

Was he trying to make me feel better? Safer? I didn't get it. Social cues were not something I had learned yet.

"You don't talk much."

He finally said, turning to look at me once more. He was grinning, it was a soft grin and his eyes seemed to sparkle in the low lighting of the common room. I felt a heat fan across my chest. It was a feeling I wasn't familiar with, it was barely a feeling at all it was so faint.

"Don't got much to say."

I replied, the drawl of my voice contrasted with his.

"That's fair, I suppose."

He replied.

"You're in a new place, I'm sure it's frightening."

He continued and stepped closer to me. I didn't like this. I still wasn't used to people I wasn't used to contact.

"You probably need help finding your dorm, come on, I'll show you to the girl's dormitories."

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

The dorm room itself was larger than my entire home back on the island.

Sebastian had left me by now and I was on my own, the other girls who were sharing this room with me hadn't arrived yet.

There were four beds all arranged in a loose circle. Each had a green canopy. It was easy to tell which one was mine, the one loaded with books, plants, and god knows what else.

There were books that didn't catch my eyes which I assumed was for classes like "Ancient Runes" and "A Standard Book of Spells". There were bags of seeds wrapped in brown canvas sacks and jars of bizarre ingredients that were labeled as such.

But what did catch my eye was what was laid on the pillow of my bed. A copy of a leather boud book with inky dark etching that wrote "SEA MAGIC: A HISTORY" and on top of the leather bound book was a wand.

It was pearlescent white and shaped like a shell, like an Auger shell, you know the spiraling one. Look it up if you ain't so sure. A note was also left among these things which read:

Sereia,

I hope you found your way to your dorm alright.

These items are for your classes. I have taken the liberty of heading to Hogsmead for you and gathering what you need. You should also find, however, a few extra things.

Left for you are an introduction to Sea Magic and your mother's wand. Your mother's wand was an heirloom, passed down through generations. Use it well, it will be your wand during your time here. She would have wanted you to have it.

I have also included your class schedule, I have tried to convince Professor Weasley to give you the same schedule as some of your house mates to allow you to become more acquainted with them.

Try to make some friends, Sereia, you cannot do life alone.

Should you have any questions regarding your schedule find Professor Weasely in the transfiguration classroom. And should you have any questions for me come find me in the Mythology classroom.

Best wishes,
Marina Rivers

My eyes were drawn to the book she had left me. The special one that I didn't need for a class. I stretched out my fingers and slowly swiped them across the leather cover, feeling every indention of the title. It was like the book was calling to me, drawing me in. I opened it, setting down on my bed, and began to read.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

Sea Magic is as mystical and unknown as it is arcane. Not every wizard can use sea magic, in fact most are unable to even read the ancient language of spells that most of it is written in. Some wizarding scholars have been able to translate some spells but much of Sea Magic is regarded as an unknown arcane, some even thinking it to be dark magic and should not be tampered with.

This book contains no such spells, or potion recipes, or charms, only the basics. Where sea Magic came from, why it's gained such a stigma, and what wizards study it today.

Originally, Sea Magic was only used by mermaids and sirens. Today they still practice it but some wizards who are brave enough have tried to study it themselves.

Sea magic has only ever been used by inhabitants of the sea, no land dwelling wizards could ever use Sea Magic effectively, as it does not run in their veins.

If you believe sea magic runs in your veins I should urge you to keep reading, perhaps you are a long lost siren whose voice was taken from you too young.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

Weird.

The more I read the book I more she felt called to it.

Was it dangerous? Perhaps.

I never had a book that had such a hold on me before. I only ever had two books that I managed to get my hands on back on the island.

I had a reader, given to me by my mother when I was young to try to get me an early start on any education, and a sea life guide for the crystal coast that the ocean had washed up for me.

Neither of those books had drawn me in like this but they had also not been written on such riveting stuff either.

Marina had told me that sea magic was a rare thing in witches and wizards but she had failed to mention that it was exclusive to mermaids and sirens or anything else that would dwell in the ocean.

What did this say about me? About my family? Where exactly did I come from?

These questions clouded my brain and made it hard to even process the time.

The other Slytherin girls had begun to file into the dorm room. None of them said anything to me, but a good handful of them pointed at me and laughed.

It wasn't until one of the girls lifted the book out of my hands and stared down at me with a wicked grin.

"And you must be the wild one we've all heard about."

Imelda Reyes said.