Hi Everyone! It's been literally years since I've written a story, but I got the bug. Hope you enjoy!
Get up. You cannot spend the rest of your life wallowing in self-pity in a stranger's house. Get up. Move your body. You're not dead...yet.
Onyx willed herself towards the door of her small bedroom at Number 12 Grimmauld Place. She was tired of being catered to by Molly, even though the woman had good intentions, Onyx couldn't take another day of mothering. Besides, she had to restart her life somehow. It had been two weeks since Zed had brought her here to recover from her attack. Onyx tried not to think about it. She tried to shove the torture and the fear and the humiliation suffered at the hands of deatheaters down into a little box in the back of her brain. She tried. But the damn box had a leak.
You need to meet people. You need to feel human again.
Onyx reached for the door handle but caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. The faded red shift dress she wore - given to her by Molly - hung off of her like a bag. Her already unruly hair was a matted mess and her usual tan had faded to the color of paper. Her arms were covered with ugly yellow and purple bruises, the beginnings of a nasty scar had begun to twist around her calf down to her ankle. Quickly, Onyx wrestled her hair into a bun, threw on a cardigan sweater and leggings, and pinched her cheeks to create the illusion of a blush. Finally, she opened the door and followed the sound of voices into the kitchen.
When she arrived, the chorus of conversation halted. Molly came towards her, "Oh dear, you didn't need to get up! I'll be right in with some soup!"
"Thank you Molly." Onyx barely recognized her own gravelly voice. "I actually was just wanting to get some new scenery for a bit. Besides, it would be nice to put faces to the voices I've been hearing for two weeks. Is - is it ok if I eat with everyone?" Onyx chewed on her lower lip. Good god woman, since when are you timid?
Molly beamed. "Of course! I'm so happy you're well! Sit down right here next to Sirius." Molly motioned to a scraggly man sitting at the head of the large dining table. Of course Onyx knew all about the infamous Sirius Black. His innocence came as a shock to her and the others on her team when Dumbledore had come propositioning them for help. "Now." Molly continued. "That's Remus," she pointed at an exhausted looking man across the table from Onyx. "And these are mine. That's Ron, Ginny, Bill, George and Fred." Molly pointed towards each teenager in turn, "and over there is Harry and Hermione."
"Hi everyone. I'm Onyx, none of you have actually met me yet." Onyx lamely told the assembly.
"We've never met an American before, are you an auror?" The girl, Hermione, questioned.
"Well, sort of." Nyx replied and tried to figure out how to explain her job - and what she was - to a teenager. "My team works with aurors. But we work more internationally and with more than just run of the mill evil wizards. We also use a lot of experimental magic."
The group seemed impressed with her answer and dinner was served shortly after. Onyx didn't talk much during the meal, preferring to sit back and observe the interactions of the others. She decided she liked the twins very much, they caused her to actually smile for the first time in weeks. See! Isn't it nice to be with people? Don't you feel yourself getting stronger? By the way, Sirius has a nice smile. Onyx tried to shake her thoughts away as the meal ended and everyone dispersed.