Chapter 1: The Muggle Minister's daughter

"There will be a new student I want you all to treat her kindly, her name is Harmony Thatcher. So please treat her with great respect. She is the daughter of the muggle Minister and I assure you he will be angry if she gets bullied," Dumbledore said, smiling and gesturing towards the Great Hall doors. The doors opened and I walked in. I have beautiful strawberry blonde hair all the way to my hips, freckles all over the parts of me that people can see, and bright blue eyes. With a wide smile on my face, I was probably the prettiest girl in Hogwarts. I walked right down the middle of the Gryffindor and Slytherin tables. Everyone looked over their shoulders to look at me. Malfoy was staring hard as I walked past. I walked up to the stool and sat down, and Professor McGonagall set the hat on my head. "GRYFFINDOR!" the hat shouted, and my smile grew even wider. I made my way to the Gryffindor table as the house cheered. Hermione was waving me over, so I walked over and sat down.

"Hi, I'm Hermione Granger, Muggle-born, and this is Ron and Harry," Hermione said.

"Wait, Harry as in... The Harry Potter? The Chosen One?" I said.

"Yep, that's me!" Harry said. "What's your name?"

I looked at Harry, starstruck, but then I came back to reality.

"Harry, Dumbledore just told us her name is Harmony Thatcher," Hermione said.

"Yeah, I'm Harmony Thatcher, Muggle-born," I said. "But I go by my middle name, Melody."

"Nice to meet you, Melody," Ron said with a mouthful of food. I looked at him. "What?" Ron said. I just busted out laughing, and Ron’s ears turned bright red as Harry snorted into his pumpkin juice.

“Well,” Hermione said, smiling warmly at me, “you’ll fit right in.” Professor McGonagall clapped her hands for silence, and the feast truly began. Plates filled themselves with food I’d only ever seen in storybooks-roast chicken, golden potatoes, steaming vegetables, and desserts piled so high they defied logic. I stared for a moment before grabbing a roll.“So,” Harry said casually, though I could tell he was curious, “where’d you learn magic? You seem… really comfortable already.” I shrugged. “I’ve known since I was little. Things tended to explode when I got emotional. My parents figured it out pretty quickly.” I grinned. “Turns out accidental magic and government meetings don’t mix well.” Hermione’s eyes lit up. “That’s fascinating! Did you read Hogwarts: A History yet?” “Twice,” I said easily. “Once when I got my letter, once on the train.” Ron groaned. “Brilliant. Another Hermione.” “Hey!” Hermione protested, though she looked secretly pleased. Across the hall, I caught Malfoy staring again, whispering something to Crabbe and Goyle. I raised an eyebrow and gave him a sweet smile. He quickly looked away. “Trouble already?” Harry asked. “Nothing I can’t handle,” I said lightly, though a strange thrill buzzed in my chest. Hogwarts already felt alive-like it was humming, waiting for something to happen. As the feast wound down, Dumbledore stood once more, welcoming everyone back and announcing a few rules. My attention drifted up to the enchanted ceiling, stars glittering above us, and I felt it then-excitement, nerves, possibility-all wrapped into one. This was it. A new world. A new beginning. And as I followed the other Gryffindors toward the tower, laughing and talking like we’d known each other for years, I knew one thing for certain: Hogwarts was about to hear my melody.