NATURAL SELECTION
A Harry Potter UNIVERSE/ Sasporilla Bucket Fan Fiction
by Darren Kelly
Chapter 1
The tiny one street village of Avonshire, just south of Essex, was home to many magical families. Though a reasonably poorer working class of witch or wizard lived there, exceptions were of course found. The Bombaduck family had been considered the founders of Avonshire some 200 years ago. They cast the protection spells which kept the town hidden from muggle eyes. The Bombsducks were quite wealthy and enjoyed showing it. They lived in the biggest house at the top of the village. Well, where else would the Mayor and his family live? Away from, and above all, those beneath them. They dressed in the most expensive elaborate fashions. They ate the most expensive of foods. They were even preparing to pay the heavy costs of a 1st class education at Hogwarts for their only son. Though young William could have gotten a scholarship with his top shelf grades, the Bombaducks saw it as there responsibility to allow those who were less fortunate to receive the charity of such things as 'SCHOLARSHIPS'.
Sasporilla Bucket was an amazingly plain and ordinary 10 and 5/6ths years old girl despite the challenges of life she had been born into. The only child of a squibb mother and a father who was the town drunk. They lived in a one room apartment above the old Dog and Pony pub, at the muggle cross road, Just outside of town where the Avonshire road crossed the old muggle path known as the Kings Road. Her parents slept on a pull out couch on one side of the room while she slept in a converted sunken bookshelf with the shelves removed. Sasporilla didn't delude herself into believing she was any less than anyone else despite the fact her family was dirt poor. In many ways she was just like everyone else, even with her hot pink hair.
It was the last day of school, before summer break, for the seven students of Avonshire elementry. A small one room school house where the basics were taught to the children of the village. The teacher, Mrs. Esther Babbity, stood before her class with an excited look on her face.
"Students." Mrs.Babbity began. "I am both pleased, proud and excited to announce that one of your illustrious class mates has been accepted at Hogwarts!"
Every child in the class looked down at their desks. They knew who she meant and didn't care. He was the school bully and town delinquent. The best thought they could think was that he would be gone for at least 5 years.
"Please come to the front William Perciville Bombaduck!"
Mrs. Babbity applauded and expected the rest of the class to do the same. The children managed a slow, weak, half hearted clap. Billy Bombaduck, the stubby fat faced son of the mayor with his scraggly slicked back blonde hair and his upper-class school clothes, walked to the front of the class like a winning olympian. In his head it was like a royal parade. This was the adulation of his peers he had been taught by his parents to expect and demand.
Sasporilla Bucket couldn't seem to get her hands to quite come together as she looked out the window at a pretty blue butterfly, flapping around a flowered bush.
"Our young William has been accepted to the best school of Wizardry in the world! This is an honor that some of you," Mrs.Babbity said looking towards Sasporilla who didn't notice her. "will not have bestowed upon you. Some of you do not have good enough grades, because they do not pay attention!" With a wave of her wand Mrs.Babbity snapped the shutters closed.
"As well some of you're parents simply will not be able to afford a top caliber school like Hogwarts for your education."
Sasporilla felt the eyes turn towards her. She knew that they looked down on her and her family.
"I'd rather never have to go to any school", Sasporilla said with a coy smirk, "if the only way they'd have me is for my family to buy off the board of admissions."
Billy Bombaduck tensed and took a step towards Sasporilla with his fists clenched. Mrs.Babbity placed a calming hand on his shoulder and looked at him with the reassurance that she would vindicate him.
"Miss Bucket." Mrs.Babbity continued with a smile. "Though the point is moot, as in the 10 years we've known you we have seen no evidence of magical ability from you."
"Ya!" Billy Bombaduck sneered. "You're a squibb like your mum!"
The class tittered. What was the play ground skipping rhyme?
'Squibb, Squibb. Muggle, muggle. What's the difference? Shruggle, shruggle. Either way, nothing but trouble.'
"Quiet." Mrs.Babbity continued. "For your out burst you have earned detention, Miss Bucket." Sasporilla looked down at her desk bitterly. "But as this is the last day of school, and quite honestly I wish to get out of here as much as any of you, You can serve it after class first day of next year. After all? I expect you will be with us again."
The bell rang and the students rushed away from the school and off to summer freedom. Sasporilla walked out of the school slowly and lazily. She honestly had no where special to be. Her father would be in the pub and her mother was working late again at the book shop. Her mum worked so hard that she always came home tired. Some nights dad slept in the pub where he passed out. As awful as it was even to think it, some nights that he did come home she hoped he wouldn't. Some nights it just seemed impossible to be happy when he was around. She had some chores to do but nothing that couldn't wait. So she chose to walk slowly down the school yard path into town.
The butterfly she had watched out of the window by her desk floated high above. It road the currents of air with grace and beauty.
"Hello butterfly." Sasporilla said. "Having a nice day?"
The butterfly flapped its way down to her. Sasporilla held out her hand and the butterfly landed on her fingers. The butterfly looked up at her as she walked along.
"I know you can probably understand me. Most animals and insects do. I usually understand what they're saying to me too. Its a gift? Mum says."
The butterfly flapped its wings.
"Its nice to meet you. I'm Sasporilla Bucket. I'm not a witch like the other girls in the village."
The butterfly looked around.
"No I don't have friends like the others. No one likes me much. I speak my mind you see. Not to mention my moms nonmagical, so they look down on her."
The butterfly motioned with its front legs by its head.
"Yes with the glasses! That's my mum yes."
The butterfly spun around.
"Yes I think so too."
The butterfly flew up to her ear and landed on the tip, leaning in as if whispering a secret.
"hmmmmm." Sasporilla Bucket thought for a moment. "Well if I had a wish I guess I'd have to wish for world peace or something like curing all diseases or ending starvation. That sort of thing."
The blue butterfly flapped once & whispered again.
"Oh!" Sasporilla said surprised."To wish for something JUST for ME?"
She had never really thought about something for herself. She had been raised with so little she simply didn't see the point in most THINGS. Like her mum says. 'We have a roof over our heads & we're not starving like some. We have what we need.'
"Well if it has to be just for me.... I guess I'd wish for s friend. Someone to talk to who understands enough to listen. Someone to have fun & laugh with. Though I love talking with all of you, no one stays around long. I don't blame you. You all have very busy lives & some much shorter than mine. It's just, some times, I get lonely. Some times."
The butterfly took off fast into the sky. Sasporilla watched as it soared higher as if rushing to take the secret wish off to heaven and the department of little girl wishes, priority division. Something heavy struck her hard in the side and knocked her to the ground. Billy Bombaduck stood over her and kicked her hard in the ribs.
"That's for insinuating my families honor, and this one..." Billy Bombaduck yelled and drew his foot back to kick again. Suddenly his leg lurched back and kicked his own backside. Billy Bombaduck looked surprised as his leg then swung forward and up over his head, throwing him hard to the ground. Sasporilla got to her feet and backed away as Billy was lifted into the air by his kicking foot and began to spin like a top.
Sasporilla wondered for a moment if this was her power finally manifesting. Then she saw the friendly old face her families house elf Ms.Daisy coming up the hill wearing her best blue and yellow paisley dress with green lace fringes and her best floppy pink hat with the large purple Dorggal feather in it. With a snap of her small fingers the boy vanished and reappeared in the hammock strung between the 2 large oak trees behind his families home.
"Miss Sasporilla my child." Ms.Daisy puffed as she walked her ancient frame up the hill. "That awful child! Did he hurt you?"
"A little bit." Sasporilla said holding her aching side.
Ms.Daisy came over and touched the area. Sasporilla winced at the pain from the slightest pressure.
"Oh dear we'll have to fix that." Ms.Daisy said snapping her fingers. The pain in Sasporillas side vanished as quickly as her attacker.
"There we are." Ms.Daisy said. "Right as rain."
"Thank you Ms.Daisy." Sasporilla smiled.
"Tut-tut child. Come along home. Mum is coming home early and we are having guests."
"Who?" Sasporilla asked surprised. They very rarely had guests and never on a week night.
"You'll see miss Sasporilla. You'll see."
The pair scurried to the other end of town where the Dog and Pony Pub lay.
"Hurry on up stairs now." MS. Daisy smiled through kind old wrinkled face. "I've done your chores so have a quick wash-up and into your Sunday best."
The door to the pubs back stairs unlocked at Sasporilla's touch. She went inside and raced up the stairs to her families apartment.
Ms.Daisy walked over to the old dog house that belonged to Mr.Barnswaggle, the pub owners late St.Bernhard "Quaffle." The Buckets had converted it into quite s cozy cottage for her. Equipping it with a lovely Maple door that Wysteria had hand cut from an old broken table top & building her a wondrous fire place for cooking and for warmth on cold nights. Furnishing it with a lovely bed for sleeping, a rocking chair for siting & knitting & small chest to hold her private things, Ms.Daisy had all she needed to live out her twilight years in comfort & in luxury, for a house elf. Though on hot days it did still smelled a little like wet dog. The old house elf went in and sat in her chair. She looked at a picture of her father "Fingus."
Fingus had been the head of the Bucket House elves a century ago. He was Kind, loving and obedient. Perhaps to a fault. It was because of some unspeakable scandal that he was freed & Ms.Daisy & her sisters were sold to other wizarding families. Ms.Daisy was very young when she had gone to work for the Bent family. She worked hard for them for many generations. She recognized wondrous qualities in young Wysteria Bent. As a child she was caring & kind. Not like her siblings. It was Wysteria who convinced old Mrs. Bent to give Ms.Daisy to her. Then in an act of ultimate kindness, she freed the house elf with the gift clothes. Wysteria presented Ms.Daisy with a small veiled hat & a pair of her old Sunday shoes. Mrs. Bent was furious but Wysteria kept Ms.Daisy on, paying her for her services at 1 knut a week. To this day Ms.Daisy had every bit of coin she was paid. One day she would use the money to buy something very nice.
Ms.Daisy reached out and stroked the top of the old pictures iron frame.
"Soon father." Ms.Daisey said. "Soon."
The tiny one street village of Avonshire, just south of Essex, was home to many magical families. Though a reasonably poorer working class of witch or wizard lived there, exceptions were of course found. The Bombaduck family had been considered the founders of Avonshire some 200 years ago. They cast the protection spells which kept the town hidden from muggle eyes. The Bombsducks were quite wealthy and enjoyed showing it. They lived in the biggest house at the top of the village. Well, where else would the Mayor and his family live? Away from, and above all, those beneath them. They dressed in the most expensive elaborate fashions. They ate the most expensive of foods. They were even preparing to pay the heavy costs of a 1st class education at Hogwarts for their only son. Though young William could have gotten a scholarship with his top shelf grades, the Bombaducks saw it as there responsibility to allow those who were less fortunate to receive the charity of such things as 'SCHOLARSHIPS'.
Sasporilla Bucket was an amazingly plain and ordinary 10 and 5/6ths years old girl despite the challenges of life she had been born into. The only child of a squibb mother and a father who was the town drunk. They lived in a one room apartment above the old Dog and Pony pub, at the muggle cross road, Just outside of town where the Avonshire road crossed the old muggle path known as the Kings Road. Her parents slept on a pull out couch on one side of the room while she slept in a converted sunken bookshelf with the shelves removed. Sasporilla didn't delude herself into believing she was any less than anyone else despite the fact her family was dirt poor. In many ways she was just like everyone else, even with her hot pink hair.
It was the last day of school, before summer break, for the seven students of Avonshire elementry. A small one room school house where the basics were taught to the children of the village. The teacher, Mrs. Esther Babbity, stood before her class with an excited look on her face.
"Students." Mrs.Babbity began. "I am both pleased, proud and excited to announce that one of your illustrious class mates has been accepted at Hogwarts!"
Every child in the class looked down at their desks. They knew who she meant and didn't care. He was the school bully and town delinquent. The best thought they could think was that he would be gone for at least 5 years.
"Please come to the front William Perciville Bombaduck!"
Mrs. Babbity applauded and expected the rest of the class to do the same. The children managed a slow, weak, half hearted clap. Billy Bombaduck, the stubby fat faced son of the mayor with his scraggly slicked back blonde hair and his upper-class school clothes, walked to the front of the class like a winning olympian. In his head it was like a royal parade. This was the adulation of his peers he had been taught by his parents to expect and demand.
Sasporilla Bucket couldn't seem to get her hands to quite come together as she looked out the window at a pretty blue butterfly, flapping around a flowered bush.
"Our young William has been accepted to the best school of Wizardry in the world! This is an honor that some of you," Mrs.Babbity said looking towards Sasporilla who didn't notice her. "will not have bestowed upon you. Some of you do not have good enough grades, because they do not pay attention!" With a wave of her wand Mrs.Babbity snapped the shutters closed.
"As well some of you're parents simply will not be able to afford a top caliber school like Hogwarts for your education."
Sasporilla felt the eyes turn towards her. She knew that they looked down on her and her family.
"I'd rather never have to go to any school", Sasporilla said with a coy smirk, "if the only way they'd have me is for my family to buy off the board of admissions."
Billy Bombaduck tensed and took a step towards Sasporilla with his fists clenched. Mrs.Babbity placed a calming hand on his shoulder and looked at him with the reassurance that she would vindicate him.
"Miss Bucket." Mrs.Babbity continued with a smile. "Though the point is moot, as in the 10 years we've known you we have seen no evidence of magical ability from you."
"Ya!" Billy Bombaduck sneered. "You're a squibb like your mum!"
The class tittered. What was the play ground skipping rhyme?
'Squibb, Squibb. Muggle, muggle. What's the difference? Shruggle, shruggle. Either way, nothing but trouble.'
"Quiet." Mrs.Babbity continued. "For your out burst you have earned detention, Miss Bucket." Sasporilla looked down at her desk bitterly. "But as this is the last day of school, and quite honestly I wish to get out of here as much as any of you, You can serve it after class first day of next year. After all? I expect you will be with us again."
The bell rang and the students rushed away from the school and off to summer freedom. Sasporilla walked out of the school slowly and lazily. She honestly had no where special to be. Her father would be in the pub and her mother was working late again at the book shop. Her mum worked so hard that she always came home tired. Some nights dad slept in the pub where he passed out. As awful as it was even to think it, some nights that he did come home she hoped he wouldn't. Some nights it just seemed impossible to be happy when he was around. She had some chores to do but nothing that couldn't wait. So she chose to walk slowly down the school yard path into town.
The butterfly she had watched out of the window by her desk floated high above. It road the currents of air with grace and beauty.
"Hello butterfly." Sasporilla said. "Having a nice day?"
The butterfly flapped its way down to her. Sasporilla held out her hand and the butterfly landed on her fingers. The butterfly looked up at her as she walked along.
"I know you can probably understand me. Most animals and insects do. I usually understand what they're saying to me too. Its a gift? Mum says."
The butterfly flapped its wings.
"Its nice to meet you. I'm Sasporilla Bucket. I'm not a witch like the other girls in the village."
The butterfly looked around.
"No I don't have friends like the others. No one likes me much. I speak my mind you see. Not to mention my moms nonmagical, so they look down on her."
The butterfly motioned with its front legs by its head.
"Yes with the glasses! That's my mum yes."
The butterfly spun around.
"Yes I think so too."
The butterfly flew up to her ear and landed on the tip, leaning in as if whispering a secret.
"hmmmmm." Sasporilla Bucket thought for a moment. "Well if I had a wish I guess I'd have to wish for world peace or something like curing all diseases or ending starvation. That sort of thing."
The blue butterfly flapped once & whispered again.
"Oh!" Sasporilla said surprised."To wish for something JUST for ME?"
She had never really thought about something for herself. She had been raised with so little she simply didn't see the point in most THINGS. Like her mum says. 'We have a roof over our heads & we're not starving like some. We have what we need.'
"Well if it has to be just for me.... I guess I'd wish for s friend. Someone to talk to who understands enough to listen. Someone to have fun & laugh with. Though I love talking with all of you, no one stays around long. I don't blame you. You all have very busy lives & some much shorter than mine. It's just, some times, I get lonely. Some times."
The butterfly took off fast into the sky. Sasporilla watched as it soared higher as if rushing to take the secret wish off to heaven and the department of little girl wishes, priority division. Something heavy struck her hard in the side and knocked her to the ground. Billy Bombaduck stood over her and kicked her hard in the ribs.
"That's for insinuating my families honor, and this one..." Billy Bombaduck yelled and drew his foot back to kick again. Suddenly his leg lurched back and kicked his own backside. Billy Bombaduck looked surprised as his leg then swung forward and up over his head, throwing him hard to the ground. Sasporilla got to her feet and backed away as Billy was lifted into the air by his kicking foot and began to spin like a top.
Sasporilla wondered for a moment if this was her power finally manifesting. Then she saw the friendly old face her families house elf Ms.Daisy coming up the hill wearing her best blue and yellow paisley dress with green lace fringes and her best floppy pink hat with the large purple Dorggal feather in it. With a snap of her small fingers the boy vanished and reappeared in the hammock strung between the 2 large oak trees behind his families home.
"Miss Sasporilla my child." Ms.Daisy puffed as she walked her ancient frame up the hill. "That awful child! Did he hurt you?"
"A little bit." Sasporilla said holding her aching side.
Ms.Daisy came over and touched the area. Sasporilla winced at the pain from the slightest pressure.
"Oh dear we'll have to fix that." Ms.Daisy said snapping her fingers. The pain in Sasporillas side vanished as quickly as her attacker.
"There we are." Ms.Daisy said. "Right as rain."
"Thank you Ms.Daisy." Sasporilla smiled.
"Tut-tut child. Come along home. Mum is coming home early and we are having guests."
"Who?" Sasporilla asked surprised. They very rarely had guests and never on a week night.
"You'll see miss Sasporilla. You'll see."
The pair scurried to the other end of town where the Dog and Pony Pub lay.
"Hurry on up stairs now." MS. Daisy smiled through kind old wrinkled face. "I've done your chores so have a quick wash-up and into your Sunday best."
The door to the pubs back stairs unlocked at Sasporilla's touch. She went inside and raced up the stairs to her families apartment.
Ms.Daisy walked over to the old dog house that belonged to Mr.Barnswaggle, the pub owners late St.Bernhard "Quaffle." The Buckets had converted it into quite s cozy cottage for her. Equipping it with a lovely Maple door that Wysteria had hand cut from an old broken table top & building her a wondrous fire place for cooking and for warmth on cold nights. Furnishing it with a lovely bed for sleeping, a rocking chair for siting & knitting & small chest to hold her private things, Ms.Daisy had all she needed to live out her twilight years in comfort & in luxury, for a house elf. Though on hot days it did still smelled a little like wet dog. The old house elf went in and sat in her chair. She looked at a picture of her father "Fingus."
Fingus had been the head of the Bucket House elves a century ago. He was Kind, loving and obedient. Perhaps to a fault. It was because of some unspeakable scandal that he was freed & Ms.Daisy & her sisters were sold to other wizarding families. Ms.Daisy was very young when she had gone to work for the Bent family. She worked hard for them for many generations. She recognized wondrous qualities in young Wysteria Bent. As a child she was caring & kind. Not like her siblings. It was Wysteria who convinced old Mrs. Bent to give Ms.Daisy to her. Then in an act of ultimate kindness, she freed the house elf with the gift clothes. Wysteria presented Ms.Daisy with a small veiled hat & a pair of her old Sunday shoes. Mrs. Bent was furious but Wysteria kept Ms.Daisy on, paying her for her services at 1 knut a week. To this day Ms.Daisy had every bit of coin she was paid. One day she would use the money to buy something very nice.
Ms.Daisy reached out and stroked the top of the old pictures iron frame.
"Soon father." Ms.Daisey said. "Soon."
PLEASE REMEMBER
I am in no way affiliated with Warner Bros. or with J.K.Rowling. My work is purely that of fan fiction & do not ask for, nor accept money, gifts or other compensation for my work. If you really feel you must do something, research which charities J.K.Rowling donates to, then donate to them as such.
I am in no way affiliated with Warner Bros. or with J.K.Rowling. My work is purely that of fan fiction & do not ask for, nor accept money, gifts or other compensation for my work. If you really feel you must do something, research which charities J.K.Rowling donates to, then donate to them as such.