My thoughts raced endlessly in my head, my face suddenly feeling both hot and cold at the same time as I let his words sink in. With my hands shaking slightly in their clasped position behind my back, I looked towards him as I tried to control the fear across beginning to spread across my pale face. His stern eyes met mine coldly, and knowing this was not up for debate, my pleas died in my throat as I let my shoulders slump slightly. The sun that shon through my bedroom window hit the back of my exposed neck, but the hairs still rose as though a cold chill had blown past.
"You will be departing in three days. Your account at Gringotts has officially been reinstated,, and the money belongs solely to you as you have no adult relatives or legal parental guardianship. Acquiring all of the necessary supplies for your school year will be up to you." His disdain was evident, the wrinkles around his mouth deepening as he spoke of the money. "It was decided that sending you to Hogwarts with provide you with the highest level of protection and security, both for you and against you should you decide to follow in his footsteps. I personally agree with the decision."
"Yes sir. I will make sure to be packed and ready to leave by Saturday." With a small grunt, he nodded his head and exited the brightly it room, almost knocking the picture frame from the wall as he slammed the door. It rattled against the white wall, now hanging crooked from the small nail. It would be packed anyway, along with the few meager belongings in my possessions.
I had learned to keep my thoughts to myself around Alec- around everyone. I would speak only to the ravens that visited in the warmer months or to my journal. The panic began to set inside of me, filling up my body like a glass of wine being poured at dinner. This place, the place I had called my home and my school for my entire life would no longer be a part of it. Growing up in near solitude was hard sometimes, yes, but it was what I had grown accustomed to. Being thrust into an entirely different world was not something I had planned on, and with this news, my hands trembled once again as hot tears filled my eyes. Emotions, however, would have to wait, and I stored them carefully in the recesses of my mind, hopefully to be forgotten. Emotions never did one well and I was no exception. So they would stay there, tucked away and preferably forgotten.
Packing my belongings wouldn't take long, but beginning it now would distract my mind from the situation. Surveying the room around me for a place to begin, I pulled my long, dark hair into a pony tail at top of my head. The small bed under the window would stay, but the black blankets atop it would be taken with me. I had almost no knowledge of the workings of Hogwarts, and no knowledge of what would be provided. A bed did not seem necessary to bring. The wooden nightstand to the right of the bed held only a lamp and a brown leather-bound journal with a beautiful quill resting atop it. The wardrobe that stood beside the door held minimal clothing options, minimal shoes, and minimal accessories. Everything in my life was minimal. They spent only what was necessary on me, and I had never known otherwise.
Despite sorely lacking in possessions, my guardian, Alec, had an abundant amount of ingredients for potion making, several magical creatures, and ample space for practicing magic. With nothing else to do, I spent my days studying, putting all of my effort and dedication into my schooling. With no real teacher- Alec was meant to homeschool me, but he left me to my own devices- I had learned to teach myself the material. Attending Hogwarts was going to be extremely different in terms of learning, as I would no longer be teaching myself at my own pace. What if they went too fast for me? I considered myself fairly smart, but I had never been introduced to the ways of an actual school before.
Taking the picture from the wall, I held it in my hands as I gazed down upon it. It was one of the few pictures I had, and the only one of my mother. She was lying in a hospital room, her light golden hair sticking to her pale, sickly face. In her arms was a baby, almost unhealthily small in her already tiny arms. The room was dimly lit and shabby, the walls filled with holes and grime. She didn't look how a new mother should, as the glow of having a newborn was missing entirely from her face, and yet she still a happy smile tugged on her lips. She hadn't survived the following days after childbirth.
A small portion of the right side had been torn off, the jagged edges a reminder of who was once in the picture. I had been raised with the knowledge of who I was, and why I was a menace to society. Nothing was ever hidden from me, because it could not be- no one could love me as a guardian should. I was orphaned only several days old.
Sitting down on the bed, a new fear washed over me, one I knew I would need to bury deep within. Would the teachers find out who I was? Or, worse yet, did they already know? They must, at least a select few, to keep me under tabs. Would my pupils find out who I was? The main reason the ministry allowed me to be homeschooled, and more yet, to use magic outside of school grounds, was to prevent this. Their main goal was to keep me invisible from the wizarding society, pretend as though I didn't exist, and it was successful. No one knew about me-even he thought I had died. This secret would stay with me for the rest of my life. The figure torn out of the picture would stay that way.
The annual trip to Diagon Alley was always something I had looked forward to, but this time, fear was lingering heavily in the back of my mind. This fear was especially present when visiting Gringotts. The Goblins looked at me with such intense hatred as I told them the vault to be opened. The ministry had put the vault in my own name, but it was clear the Goblins knew of whom it once belonged. They clearly did not think it would ever be reopened.
The ride to the vault was uncomfortable, in more ways that one. The animosity was radiating from the Goblin, his arrogant sneer in plain view whenever he turned his head around. The disgust was rolling off of him in waves and crashing into me at each turn. Had it not been for this, the ride itself would have been enjoyable- it was scary in a way that made my heart beat wildly and a ghost of a smile grace my lips. I highly enjoyed the rush, just as I did when I flew. It made me feel real, it made me feel alive.
On each side of the vault a lantern was placed on a curled black hook, giving off enough light to examine the door. What looked like metal vines snakes across it, twirling in intricate patterns across its surface like vines creeping up the walls on an old building. It was almost unsettling, the way they snaked together- they looked as though they were alive.
The goblin produced a shiny gold key from inside his jacket, and with precision, he inserted it into a small keyhole I had not previously seen. With a flourish, the metal vines on the door began to twist and turn, untangling from one another with loud clicks. Within a few seconds, the door to the vault creaks open, and the Goblin stepped aside with an air of disdain. Stepping forward, I pushed the door open fully and stepped inside.
It took a few moments for my eyes to adjust to the dark, and when they did, I was shocked. The inside of the vault was much larger than I had expected, and the amount of gold that greeted me almost knocked me short of breath. Piles of galleons lay before me, with smaller piles of sickles and knuts strewn haphazardly across the floor. This kind of money could not have been gained in legal ways of any kind, that much was obvious. And me, being the only living heir, rightfully owned the dirty money. Dirty or not, I needed it.
Taking a healthy amount of galleons and sickles in my multiple smaller pouches, I shoved them all in my bag. The amount I had taken- which was more than I had ever seen in my lifetime in one place already- made no noticeable dent on the piles. How he even had a vault here to begin with, I didn't know, but I would take it nonetheless. He coins jingled as my shoulder bag hit my leg, and it had grown significantly heavier after the money was put in it.
I avoided the goblin's eyes as we left, sitting behind as we reentered the cart. I took more time to examine the cavern this time, the nerves no longer as heavy on my shoulders. The sight was unbelievable, otherworldly by even my standards. It looked as though I had just stepped into the centre of the Earth, with jagged stone pillars reaching upwards towards the sky and others reaching down. Large caverns could be seen underneath, and a faint sound of running water tickled my ears. The entire scene looked like the inside of a volcano about to erupt.
The ride once again gave me a rush, bringing me a small amount of joy until I was snapped back when the Goblin grunted and the cart came to an abrupt stop. Exiting, we returned to the main hall. I heard the Goblin mutter an insult under his breath as I turned to leave, and it stopped me short in my tracks for a moment. I was suddenly reminded of why I had been isolated for my entire life. Without looking back or thanking the creature, I made my way out of the bank. My black, worn out boots squeaked on the polished floor as I exited, and I cursed myself internally as I pushed open the doors.
A soft breeze hit my face as the doors closed behind me, bringing along with it the scent of food I couldn't place my finger on and the sound of voices throughout the streets. People lined the streets of Diagon Alley, looking excitedly at broomsticks through store windows and tearing open the wrappings of candy bars. The energy was high as students buzzed about, chattering to one another excitedly. Their excitement almost palpable in the air. Their happiness and excitement would have been contagious if I was not alone and afraid. Typically, being here excited me- it gave me a glimpse into the normal wizarding world, and I loved seeing everyone hustle back and forth, hearing snippets of conversation as they went. I never had to worry then. I knew I would never see them again, and they me. They were just passerby's I would never encounter again. Now, however, I knew I would be going to the same school as them, taking the same classes as them, staying in the same dorms as them.
Shaking my head free of these thoughts, I continued down the cobblestone road as I made my way to Flourish and Blotts. This was always one of my favourite shops- I loved reading, and not once had I left with the same number of books as on my list. Alec hadn't cared to check the books I purchased, nor did he count the change when I returned, so I always bought books in excess. Most of these had been left at home, though I did pack a few select favourites. The familiar green storefront came into view just as someone's shoulder crashed into mine. My feet caught on a slightly loose cobblestone on the path, and I went crashing down to the stone ground. With a light moan, a sharp pain spread through my ankle as I repositioned myself on the ground.
"You should watch where you're going next time." A voice spit from above me. The pain in my ankle only grew as I looked up to find a boy around my age looking down at me. His white-blond hair was parted to the side, and his skin was only a few shades darker than his hair. He had an angular face, with high cheekbones, and his eyes were glaring down at me. He stared down at me in disdain, and I grimaced at his spiteful look. I hurriedly collected my bag as I avoided his gaze.
"Sorry." Was all I could muster as I attempted to stand, but more embarrassment flowed through me as my ankle gave out beneath me and brought about another wave of pain. Fuck. My face grew even hotter as I sat there at his feet, and I wanted to take my wand out and shove it in his foot. Arrogant, pretentious assholes like him made me unbelievably angry. Even with years of practice dealing with Alec and others from the Ministry, it was different here- we were essentially on the same play in field, and he held no real position of authority over me. Still, it would do me no good to express these feelings.
There were two other boys behind him, and their laughter reached my ears as the larger one on the right slapped the white haired boy's back, looking at him in near-adoration. Their heads were turning back and forth from each other to the boy that I was surprised they didn't have whiplash. Even our house elf wasn't this eager to please me as they were him.
"If you're so weak that a little fall hurts you, you have no hope for the real world darling!" he said, a smirk spreading across his face as he looked down on me. The two behind him continued to laugh, and the larger one said something I didn't hear as embarrassment flooded through me. The boy's features were twisted in amusement, as though he were a king looking at a lowly peasant.
Another burst of anger filled me asI forced myself onto my feet. Sharp ripples of pain spread from my ankle, snaking up my leg as I put weight on it.. The heat in my face had spread throughout my body, and I felt my hands begin to shake slightly as I narrowed my eyes at him. A few others had stopped around us to watch the encounter, but the large majority simply walked on past, their heads lowered as though to pretend they didn't see us. The boy looked at me with heightened amusement, his gaze falling back down to my ankle. Episky! I whispered in my head, hearing a small crack and a burst of pain as my ankle righted itself. The boy obviously heard this, as a look of surprise crossed his features. Stepping forward, I looked at him once again.
"Have you ever even been in the real world? Because trust me, out there, you aren't as tough as you seem to think you are." I snapped, wanting to say more to the arrogant little cock but holding myself back. His mouth turned downwards as he surveyed me, a scoff escaping his mouth. The two behind him followed suite.
"Shut it, do you even know who you're talking to?" The skinnier one stepped forward slightly as he said this. He had dark eyes and a short haircut, his forehead drawing most of my attention. The white haired boy held his arm outwards, and forehead boy backed down, disappointed.
"Oh, trust me, I know far more of the real world than you do."
"Oh I highly doubt that. You're just a pretty boy who acts like he's better than everyone else because mommy and daddy always told him so. Well newsflash, you're not that important." I spat, hoisting my bag on my shoulder and turning away from the three boys. Before I could take a step, there was a rough hand on my shoulder, forcing me to turn around. Our closeness startled me, as his chest was almost pressed against mine. I had to adjust my footing so I didn't fall into him. Slowly, I raised my eyes from the black of his jacket to meet his, his grey eyes burning into mine as his lips curled.
"You know nothing, you little bitch." He said, his voice low and angry. He was so close that his breath tickled my face, the hot air fanning across my skin. A faint aroma of peppermint washed over me. The anger and fear swelled in me, my chest tightening and my head pounding. I searched my brain for what to do. Trying to fight him was obviously not a good idea- I didn't need to make enemies at Hogwarts before I even attended. Judging by the look on his face, however, it was too late for that. Speaking to him the way I did was unbelievably stupid and irresponsible.
"Draco, leave her alone." a voice came from beside us. The boy, presumably Draco, held my gaze for a second longer before scoffing and taking a step back. A small, shaky breath escaped me as my head began to clear. Looking towards the source of the voice, I saw another boy about my age glaring at Draco. He looked vaguely familiar, but I couldn't put my finger on it. His dark hair fell around the nape of his neck, a few strands covering his forehead. On his nose rested a pair of circular glasses, and a red and yellow scarf was wrapped loosely around his neck.. A few feet behind him was another boy around the same age, his ginger hair drawing my attention. It too was long, brushing past his neck.
"Oh yeah? Or what, Potter?" Draco spat, stepping closer to the dark haired boy. His two goonies watched from behind him, shooting the occasional sneer my way.
"Just piss off, Malfoy. Don't you have other evil stuff to attend to?" He asked, stepping towards me. Draco huffed, shooting me another glare before walking away, his black coat ruffling behind him. The dark haired boy and the ginger walked over to me, giving me apologetic smiles. He gestured for me to follow him, and I did, as he led to the sidewalk. When we stopped, Ron leaned against the stone wall of the building, looking more relaxed than I could ever hope to here.
"I'm sorry about him, he's always like that. Honestly it would probably be best to stay away from him." Harry said, sighing, and I shifted on my feet in front of them. Now that the anger was gone, I was just left flushed with embarrassment. I laughed awkwardly and nodded my head, rubbing the back of my neck as I looked at he ground.
"I'll keep that in mind. Thank you, by the way. For getting him off my back." His smile turned softer, and he shook his head.
"Oh no, you don't need to thank me. You stood up for yourself, which isn't something Draco is used to." He said, pausing for a moment. "I'm Harry, and this is Ron." His name sent a chill down my spine. Harry. I finally realized why he was familiar- I had seen him in The Daily Prophet multiple times. Harry Potter, the boy who lived. I stared at him for a moment too long, willing my tongue to work. I new he went to Hogwarts, but it hadn't even crossed my mind when I learned I would be attending.
"I'm Acacia," I said, waving slightly at them. "Nice to meet you."
"I haven't seen you around school before, are you new?" Ron asked, moving his head to get some hair out of his eyes. I shifted my feet, looking down and feeling my heart beat faster.
"Yeah. I'm transferring to Hogwarts this year."
"Cool!" Ron spoke. " Where did you go before?" I didn't know how to answer this. Being homeschooled in the wizarding world was very rare, as extra steps had to be taken in regards to using magic outside of the school. My guardian was part of the Ministry, which made it easier to get a license for me to use magic on the estate grounds. Being who I am, however, also helped in this case. I had rehearsed my story multiple times, but I didn't know how realistic it would sound. The simpler, the better- well, more like the simpler, the easier to remember.
"Um, I was actually homeschooled. This is my first time attending a real school," I said awkwardly, "so I'm a little bit nervous about it all."
"Wait, you were homeschooled? I didn't even know that was allowed, honestly." Ron mused, furrowing his eyebrows.
Harry looked at me and smiled. "I can imagine how nerve wracking that is. Have you been to Diagon Alley before?" I was surprised he hadn't asked why I was homeschooled, though I was grateful.
"Yes, I still came here for my supplies every year. Although I usually did so a few months in advance, so I've not actually seen it so busy before." They both nodded, and avoided their gaze as I looked at the people scurrying past. I saw flashes of green, red, blue, and yellow walking past, indications of the students houses. The only house I was overly familiar with was Slytherin, and it was the one house I prayed not to get.
"Oh yeah, it gets packed this time of year." He mused.
"Where are you headed to now?" Harry asked. "We're meeting a friend at Flourish and Blotts, if you'd like to come with us and hangout for a while. Do you still need to get your books?"
Hearing his invitation, I wanted to say no. I wasn't here to make friends. Especially not with Harry Potter. But I was going there anyways, and it would be even more awkward to say no and then follow them to the same place. Besides, getting acquainted with someone beforehand might be useful, especially if I needed help with something.
"Sure, if I won't be a burden." I chuckled nervously, fiddling with my fingers.
"No, not at all!" He said, turning away and beginning to walk. "Come on, we'll introduce you to Hermione."