Shattered Dreams (1/?)
Author: Meri
Email: Kagome014@yahoo.com
Category: Romance, action, mystery,
Keywords: Trio, Draco, Ginny, Original character
Spoilers: All books
Rating: PG-13 (the opening is rather graphic)
Summary: Adrianna finds herself in a world unknown to her, and a life that is not her own. Missing for the past ten years, she reappears with no recollection of who she is or where she was. Sent to Hogwarts in hopes of forging a life for herself, she sets out to find who she is through the help of Harry Potter. Drawn into the web of lies and illusions, Adri must find out what exactly is going on. With a mysterious someone stalking her and new unexplained events, Adri must find her memories before the guilt and fear consume her.
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. Also Kyuketski Miyu characters are the property of their corresponding owners/designers.
A/N: Half this story belongs to Janina, my very first beta reader, plot giver, and everything else in-between. And another special thanks to Samantha, fefi3, and Morgana my beta readers! Thanks for the support guys!
A/N (continued): It is snowing REALLY early, I know. Hogwarts is just special so it can do that.
~*~
"But
I threw you the obvious, just to see if there's more behind the eyes of a
fallen angel, eyes of a tragedy. Here I am expecting just a little bit too much
from the wounded, but I see through it all and see you"
-A
Perfect Circle, 3 Libra's
~*~
An ice-cold zephyr washed over me. I shivered as the rain pelted my flesh and sent goose bumps crawling up my arms. My nightgown was plastered to my clammy skin and did nothing to bring about even a small flame of warmth. I stood where I was, on a hill of sorts. I looked down at the countryside, shrouded in darkness and a veil of mist. A crescent moon hung in the sky, her power and light waning, causing the shadows to grow longer and more menacing. Crisp fall leaves swirled around my feet and embedded themselves in my hair.
I stared down at the bodies on the ground before me. Their faces were blurred, but I knew deep down, that they were important people and had been close to me. The woman's neck had been snapped, and stark white bone splinters could be seen piercing through the delicate flesh of her neck. Her face was turned to the left, and from what I could see of her eyes, they were glazed over, unseeing, even in death. Her wrists were scraps of raw flesh, where ropes must have bound her. She was covered in bruises but otherwise unscathed.
I turned to focus my gaze on the man beside her. His body was a mass of bloody cuts, ranging from shallow to impaling. Some blunt object had been forced through his stomach and then ripped out. Shallow cuts spanned up and down his legs and arms. However, the most distinguishing injury was where someone had burned his skin away to reveal the bone on his left arm. A fragment of a memory told me a tattoo of a snake and scull had been situated there.
I turned my back on their pitiful corpses and began to walk away from the cursed place. The wind bit into my flesh and tried to force me back to the site. I stood stooped over, but slowly made some head way. The cold was seeping into my soul and it was getting harder and harder to lift my feet. In a state of utter exhaustion and hypothermia I sank to the ground. The mud sucked at my legs and dress trying to pull me into his sweet embrace. I sat staring out into the void hearing the seductive whispers of my Other trying to convince me to run away with her to Hayll. Slowly, I saw her wink into existence, but her transparent form could do little to help keep me warm. I saw the landscape through her as she drew nearer to me.
"Save yourself, go to the land of the Muggles. There, and only there, will you find answers you so desperately seek young one." her voice sounded like the baying of hounds and the crash of the waves in the sea. She ran a comforting hand down the side of my face. I stared up at her silvery form as she began to return to her true form of air and Essence that made her. She dissolved and I was once again left all alone.
"Alone," I whispered. I started to shake with inward terror. I covered my traitorous ears to block out their voices. I began to jerk and convulse as the tendrils of terror imbedded themselves into my Self and I started to scream uncontrollably.
"Wake up!" I heard a voice shout in my ear, drawing me back from the world of dreams, of remembrance. I opened my eyes to find the taunt face of Ms. Kleever staring down at me, her intense brown eyes filled with annoyance and worry. "What is wrong with you child? I won't have any of your fits at one o'clock in the morning!" She leaned away from me and sulked back to her bed across the room, nestled in the corner nearest to the door.
"I had a nightmare, sorry to bother you." I answered sheepishly with my eyes downcast. She snorted at me, drew the covers back over her lean form and turned away from me to face the wall. I breathed a sigh of relief. I was glad she had brought my Self back from my dream. Dreaming was not good, because I had no idea what they meant; if they were just that, dreams, or worse if they were memories. I shivered and drew the covers around my skinny form. Sitting up in the bed, I took out my diary and began to read over the events of the last week. I believed that if perhaps I read them enough, I was certain I could catch something that I had missed previously, some clue to unravel my mystery.
August Twenty-fifth 2001
Dear Diary,
I woke up today to find myself in a hospital surrounded by doctors and wizards. With some inborn sense I could tell what they were. Weird, huh? I was later informed that I had been missing for ten years! They wanted to know where I had been. I truthfully didn't know anything, not even my name. I still don't. I was questioned by being put under magical stasis so they could question my sub-consciousness. Still nothing. I know nothing, remember nothing. So they locked me up here in this hospital until they can uncover the mystery. If I don't know, how will they?
August Twenty-Sixth
Dear Diary,
This past week I've been absorbing information at an incredible rate, the doctors claim. I've already mastered magic that only fifth year students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry can perform. It takes them five years of training, it took me a week. I'm making them nervous too. Not knowing my name, but being able to do complicated magic is putting them on edge. It scares me a bit too.
I was looking at a newspaper today and I found a picture of a cute boy. He looks intelligent and he defeated the Dark Lord, a.k.a. You-Know-Who. It's so interesting to learn that you've spent ten years somewhere away from society to find your self re-submerged in it without a clue of what has been happening. The head doctor says if I'm lucky I'll be meeting this kid soon if I keep learning and cooperating with their experiments. The look of savage greed in his eyes tells me another story. I don't trust him. I have to escape from this institute, soon, I fear, it will be too late, and I will be too entangled in their web of treachery and deceit to escape.
I closed my diary with a dull thud. 'Maybe this boy will have the answers I'm searching for.' I gazed down at a picture of the young man with night-black, unruly, hair. He had the most beautiful eyes I had ever seen, so piercing and inquisitive. I stared down at the picture one last time and stuffed it into my pocket. 'I'm coming for you Harry Potter.'
"Miss, they're ready to see you." the nurse proclaimed in too cheery a voice. It was 7:00 in the morning, and I had once again dreamt that night. Dreamt of blood and despair, playing itself over and over in my head, their deaths. I closed my eyes, and there, imprinted on my closed lids I witnessed it again. I snapped my eyes open at the sound of the nurse opening the door for me. I nodded curtly to her and entered the room.
There, standing before me was a man emitting a strange and highly powerful aura. I involuntarily stepped back from him towards the door, trying to escape from his presence. He had a long, silky, silver beard that reached to the floor and above his beard were the most striking sapphire eyes. His eyes seemed to stare at me and read the secrets of my soul. I shivered and wrapped my robe tighter around my body.
"My name is Albus Dumbledore, and you must be…"he trailed off, realizing too late that I had no name. "Come," he waved an inviting hand to a chair by his before a great oak desk that monopolized the tiny office. With all my senses tuned to his every move, I edged into the chair. As soon as I sat down, the spell was broken, and he no longer seemed a threat to me. I sagged into the chair, annoyed at the prospect of yet another lecture. I sighed and waited for the head doctor behind the desk to speak. He sat there, his fingers steepled staring at me intently.
"Do I have something on my face?" I asked with feigned ignorance and sweetness lacing my voice. The doctor sputtered for a second then regained control of himself.
"Miss, we are here to discuss your future." he began.
"What future? I don't want another one of your lectures on how I should be a good girl, and stop playing around and lying about my past." I interrupted him bluntly. Again, he sputtered, waves of fear came wafting over to my delicate nose. I smiled at him making the smell intensify.
"Be quiet Miss." he warned me through clenched teeth. Dumbledore turned to address me now.
"I'm not intimidated by you. Now, speak civil while he explains to you what is going on." I closed my mouth and squirmed in my chair, I hated being looked down on with a vengeance.
"Miss, Dumbledore here for some reason beyond my knowledge, wants to enroll you in his school. It is called Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." he paused for dramatic affect. I felt myself pale at the mention of the school. 'That's the school where Harry Potter goes. This could be my chance!' I thought to myself. He continued, "There you will be put in the fifth year group. I know that you know more advanced magic than that, but we think that it would be wise to learn this way. Slowly, rather than how you have been learning." I was about to mention that there was nothing wrong with learning five years worth of magic in a week, but bit back the reply, not wanting to spoil my chances. I nodded my head, showing my understanding of the subject.
"Would you like to live and study at Hogwarts?" Dumbledore questioned me with a hopeful, open face.
"I'd love to." I answered, smiling. 'Yes! This is going perfectly!' "When do I leave?"
"Not so fast!" the doctor ordered in a hurry. "We still have to run some more tests and," I drowned him out and starred at the picture of a snowman on the wall. I hated their 'tests', they were more like 'lets see who can break into her brain first' contests. I hated the sense of probing in my brain, it hurt and just made me want to break loose and strangle them all. It was at those times that I felt like something was eating me alive from within and wanted to erupt from me. Strange, alien, emotions coursed through my veins and demanded that I let them surface. I was finding it harder and harder to try and rein in these emotions. I was afraid of what would happen if I let them loose, what damage would I cause?
"Miss? Are you listening?" Dumbledore asked leaning close to me peering into my face.
"Ah, yeah, sure, I'm fine." I answered him, my eyes still glued to the picture of the snowman. He whispered some foreign sounding words that I did not recognize and I felt my Self released. I recoiled away from the picture. Without thinking I pointed a finger at the picture. "Daemon irretio everto." A burst of flame jumped from the tip of my finger to settle on the painting. It consumed it and the ashes fell to the floor in a matter of seconds. I smiled triumphantly and turned back to face them. The doctor was once again sputtering, but Dumbledore looked almost, could it be? Amused?!
"What's so funny?" I demanded, furious at his laughter.
"Well, you destroyed a demon trapping spell imbedded in that picture. They're usually used to trap demons. Funny how it seemed to have some affect on you." He smiled a secretive smile at me. I bristled, but remembered that I needed to get into his school so I had better behave. The alien blood pumped in my veins again. I felt it like fire coursing through my veins heading towards my heart from my toes.
"Oh, before you leave, Miss, a word please." I walked tentatively over to stand beside him. "You'll need a name if you are to enlist in Hogwarts. Would you allow me to call you Adrianna? It was your mother's personal favorite." I stared at him in horror. 'How could he possibly know that?!' Dumbledore must have noticed because he then spoke to the doctor saying that they would discuss the specifics at a later date. "I shall see you at dinner where we can go over the specifics, okay, Adrianna?
"Okay, nice meeting you Professor Dumbledore." I gave a slight nod and exited the room at a run. I clenched my robe tightly closed around my neck, as I tore down the hallway to the safety of my room.
"She has great potential, even though she is a Shinma." commented Dumbledore.
"I agree. I'd like to get her as far away from here as possible and trained. That way I don't have to worry that I'll wake up with a full-fledged demon on a rampage in here." The doctor said, and shivered.
"She doesn't even know her name, so I wouldn't worry about her turning into a Shinma any time soon. Besides, she is not a demon. Shinma are different, they are of God and Demon, and they live in the darkness. Not in Hell, like where the type of demon you describe lives. You just need to sign some papers releasing her into our custody, and you can sleep rest assured that she will not be causing trouble here." Dumbledore said.
"I don't see the difference, Shinma, demon they're all the same. I just want her out of here! I don't care what you do, just get her out!" the doctor began to yell as he lost his temper. Dumbledore quickly left his office leaving him alone with his thoughts. 'How will we control her if she does turn into a Shinma?' Possible situations raced through his head, everything that could go wrong. He shook his head to clear it. He would take care of her; he owed her parents that much. The least he could do was get her out of this place, and where she belonged, with other teens her age. A long difficult, un-walked road lay before her, filled with potholes, pits and other dangers. 'She'll make it if I have any say in it!' He swore to himself.
At Platform Nine and Three Quarters:
I stood on platform nine and three quarters and stared at the train that would take me away to Hogwarts.
"Now, do you remember all we told you? All your possessions and supplies that we bought for you, will be awaiting you there. A proper wand will be bought for you at a later date. Now, keep out of trouble!" the Doctor gave me a shove towards the train. I
smirked. If it weren't for the fact that he'd get into a lot of trouble with the Ministry, he would have dumped me there all alone. Take that back, he'd probably kill me given the chance. I smelled the intense fear on him. 'Now' I thought, 'for a little fun.' I turned around slowly growling deep in my throat. I looked up into his face when I had fully turned around; he was as white as paper and sweating profusely. I burst out laughing. People turned to stare at us.
"See ya later, Doc. Hope the demons I released in your room don't decide to visit you tonight." With another smirk, I strode away leaving him there. I walked over to the car at the very end of the train. I slid the door open and entered the car. The compartment was comfortable and homely. 'Homely, what am I thinking? I have no home, so how could I call anything homely?!' I sat down in a corner seat and put my tiny travel case down beside me. I unzipped the bag, and drew out my cloak. Wrapping it around me, and sank into the soft cushions, trying to futilely catch a little sleep. However, it was not to be, for no sooner had I put my head down, the compartment door opened. My head snapped up as four teens entered. They stopped in their tracks when they saw me there.
"I'm sorry, is this your compartment? I'll leave, its okay." I sat up and began to gather my luggage.
"No, no that's alright." I looked up into the face of a boy with long, unruly black hair. Behind his glasses were the most intriguing green eyes. And there on his forehead was a lightning-bolt shaped scar. 'It's Harry Potter!' My inner voice screamed in relief. Harry bent down and took my bag from my hands and placed it on the seat beside me.
"Are you new at Hogwarts? I've never seen you before." A redheaded boy questioned next. He had the most vivid red hair I had ever seen. 'I haven't seen people in
ten years they tell me, so of course everyone looks new and different.' Freckles adorned his forehead and across the bridge of his nose. They looked strangely right there, however.
"How can you ask such a stupid question, Ron? She's too old to be a first year." A girl who must have been Ron's sister said with annoyance. She had long, wavy red hair and freckles, just like her older brother.
"Well, I've never seen her before!" Ron protested.
"Excuse me, but what year are you going into now?" A girl whose bushy brown hair was straining to escape the ties that held it back.
"I'm going into fifth year." I answered her.
"Then why haven't we seen you before?" Ron interrogated.
"Leave her alone Ron. My name's Ginny Weasley. And this is my brother Ron, that's Hermione, and that's Harry." She pointed to them all in turn. "And your name would be?"
I turned my head away. 'Why does everyone have to have a name except me?
I heard them whisper behind me. "Did I say something wrong?' inquired Ginny.
"I don't think so, you just asked for her name." Ron said.
"Wait, I got it!" Hermione interjected. I turned around to look at her. "You're that girl that they just found that has been missing for ten years, and no one knows where she was. She doesn't remember anything, not even her own name! I wondered why you looked so familiar to me!" she drew out of her pocket a picture, a picture of me. They stared at the picture than back at me.
"You are her, aren't you?" Ron replied in awe.
"Yes," I whispered. "Professor Dumbledore has named me Adrianna, so I guess you can say that's my name now." I hung my head in shame. Someone came over and put their arms around my shoulders.
"It's all right, there's nothing to be ashamed about." Ginny told me with ease. I looked into her eyes; they held no secret meanings underlying her kind words. I smiled tentatively.
"The train will be leaving soon; I wonder where Fred and George are. Have you seen them Harry?" Ron asked in a worried tone of voice. Harry shook his head no. They all proceeded to store their luggage away in the overhead compartments and then sat down. Ginny sat down next to me and gave me a warm, comforting smile. I couldn't help but smile back.
"So you're going into fifth year Adrianna?" a pause, "Hello? Your name is Adrianna right?" I gave a start.
"Oh, er, yes it is. Sorry, I'm not used to it yet. But yes, I am going into fifth year. Also, you might as well call me Adri, 'cause it's shorter then Adrianna. Are all of you going into 5th too?" I inquired.
"No, Ginny is going into fourth year, while the rest of us will be with you, in fifth year." Ron replied. "So, have they taken you to a quidditch match yet?"
"No. I didn't think to ask. Besides, the doctors at the institution were more interested in dissecting me than thinking about what I wanted." I looked at their shocked faces, and smiled inwardly.
"They tried to dissect you?" Ginny asked in a hushed voice.
"Well not literally, of course!" Looks of relief were mirrored on all of their faces. I continued in an even voice, "But, they did make me take lots of annoying tests."
"How is it that you are going into fifth year when you have been missing ten years? How could you learn enough to be put into fifth year?" Hermione asked in a
quiet voice. I squirmed in my seat, but my need to explain myself won out.
"I was taught enough magic to put me in fifth year. I learned it in a week; does that answer your question, Hermione?"
"That's impossible! No one could learn that much magic that requires five years of training to master, in just a week! It's simply not physically possible!" Hermione exclaimed in her 'know it all' voice.
"Being missing for ten years and reappearing isn't physically possible either." I reminded her. She closed her mouth, looking a little embarrassed, and leaned back into the seat deep in thought. Suddenly the door crashed open.
"Quick close the door Harry!" Harry raced out of his seat and slid the door that connected the compartments together closed.
"The train is about to leave and you finally show up!" Ron fixed them both with exasperated stares. They were twins and looked exactly like Ron and Ginny. 'So they must be their brothers.' I thought idly.
"Sorry, we were just giving out some presents." One of the Weasely twins smiled evilly. The other elaborated, "We might have slipped some presents into Malfoys' luggage and he might have eaten some of them…"
"What happened Fred?' Ginny inquired excitedly. The others chorused as well.
"He took a bite and it turned his hair pink." Fred answered with a smirk. They all burst out laughing as if it were the funniest thing in the world. I stared blankly at them. Ginny must have noticed because she staggered over to me.
"Draco Malfoy's family is our enemy. They hate Harry and Hermione, and people they call Mudbloods. Mudbloods are witches and wizards whose parents weren't witches or wizards. He's an over all dislikable person in our opinion."
"He'll probably be coming to seek revenge soon so, everyone get out your wands." One of the twins ordered. "Hey, Ron, who's this? Did you finally pick up a girlfriend?" he teased. Ron's whole face turned tomato red, even his ears changed color.
"No, George, she's new to Hogwarts." Ron finally was able to squeak. George strode over to my seat.
"My name's George, and take it from me, don't hang out with my brother if you know what's good for you. He never wants to have fun. While I on the other hand,"
"George!" Ron protested. George put up his hands, laughing.
"Okay, I'll stay away from your girlfriend Ron; you don't have to get defensive."
"George, knock it off you're embarrassing her; you git!" Ginny began; it was at that moment that the door opened and let in a very angry guy with pink hair flanked by two very tall, menacing bodyguards.
"Nice hair Malfoy. But, I really don't think pink is your color." Harry catcalled. Malfoy growled.
"You'll regret that Potter." he sneered. I watched in amazement. This boy was different from the rest, he seemed to emit a chill aura, cold and menacing. His hair was silver-blond under the pink. The dye colored the top layer of his hair but the under side was still visibly blond. It was long and the bangs hung in his eyes. It looked as if it were almost spun of spider silk. To all appearances he looked like the perfect guy, but soon as he spoke your first conception was shattered like glass. I realized this as I watched the scene unfold.
"Malfoy, I'll have you know, I disagree with Harry. I think pink is the perfect hair color for you and aren't I lucky because I'll have four months to enjoy it." Fred taunted. Malfoy rounded on him. An almost invisible signal passed between the two bodyguards and Malfoy. They suddenly attacked the twins, wands drawn. Ron, Harry, Hermione and Ginny all drew theirs as well and aimed them at Malfoy. Malfoy said something and a shield appeared around him just
before the hexes aimed at him struck. They glanced off and hit the walls. I threw myself to the ground to escape getting hit.
"And who's this hiding in here with you losers?" Malfoy asked with a tone of indifference.
"What gives us any reason to tell you anything, Malfoy?" hissed Ron fixing Draco with a baleful glare. I saw a pair of black, polished boots enter my limited field of vision from my position on the floor. I looked up, and there before me was Draco Malfoy. He stared down at me.
"What's your name?" he asked in any icy dangerous voice.
"Don't answer him." Hermione said tersely. I stared at her. She had seemed so nice and care free, but now…I stood up to my full height of 5' 4".
"Why would you want to know my name? You're not worthy of knowing it." I looked up at him and smirked. His eyes and face betrayed nothing. He smiled and aimed
his wand at me. I saw a powerful hex flying straight at me. Without thinking I whispered a word of Power and I drew a character in the air with my right hand. Ice formed in the air to form the strokes needed to complete the character. I pushed it at the hex and at Draco. It sliced right through the hex in a blast of blue sparks and hit Draco square in the chest. He stared down stunned into silence, as ice crystals traveled across his chest, incasing him in ice. Everyone had stopped fighting and was watching Draco
and I.
"What the heck was that?!" Ron was finally able to ask. Meanwhile, on Draco the ice was spreading.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to." I was finally able to utter. I walked over to him and put my hand on the place where the ice spell had hit him. The ice receded and came slowly back to its origin. I let the ice trickle back into me. Draco stared down at me.
"Whoops, I didn't mean to do that." I re-iterated to him again. I turned away and let my hand fall from his chest. Draco still stared at me in silence, brooding. His gaze was captious, and it made me squirm under it. Fred aimed his wand at Draco's hair and it turned back to its natural color. Draco looked straight into my eyes a few more moments then he stormed out with his lackeys trailing behind him. The tension that was mounting in the room eased after the door was shut.
"What was that? I've never seen that before." Hermione demanded.
"That? I have no idea. The spell just popped into my head." I answered her truthfully.
"That was amazing! You have got to teach me how to do that!" demanded Ginny. I shrugged.
"Yeah, sure." Now that Draco had left I felt more comfortable and in control. "But not right now, I'm spent."
"Thanks!" Ginny exclaimed.
"We're almost there." stated Harry. They all took out their luggage and donned their school robes. I pulled out my pitch-black robe and let it hang open. We all sat down, waiting for the train to come to a complete stop.
"That was cool, what you did to Draco, Adri. I've never seen him that scared. I've never seen him scared in the first place, come to think of it." Ron said.
"Anytime," I answered with ease. The train screeched to a stop. Fred pushed the door open and we all clambered out. A long, twisty dirt path led up to Hogwarts. I gazed at the school in shock and awe. It was so big! It looked like it had popped out of a fairytale storybook. It was in the perfect likeness of a medieval castle, turrets and all.
"Come on, we're going to be late if we don't get moving." Ginny tugged at my sleeve.
"Do you have to go with the first years to get sorted?" Hermione inquired.
"I'm not sure, actually." I said, a little nervously.
"We'll, let's go ask Hagrid." Harry decided. He took off toward a dock, where about 25 small four-person rowboats waited, letting us follow him. Letting us all follow him. 'He surely must know how to help me. He seems so confident and is a born leader. Surely, he will be the one.' We soon came upon a large man who towered over us all. His beard was long and tangled, and his clothes were rather shabby, but for his fearsome appearance he was gentle.
"'lo 'arry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Fred, George, and who might you be?" he asked gruffly, but in a cheerful tone of voice.
"This is Adrianna. We're wondering where she should go. This is her first time going here and she hasn't been sorted yet. However, she's going into fifth year with us. Does she go with the first years?" Harry asked.
"I guess she should go with these here first years to get sorted, unless Dumbledore has other plans for her."
"Well we'll see you later at the banquet then Adri." Harry told me. With a friendly pat on the shoulder he took off towards the carriages that were waiting. They all said goodbye and followed suit, all except Ginny.
"Good luck Adri. We can still be friends no matter what house you get placed in, but do try and get yourself into Gryffindor." She took off at a run, turned and waved, then raced on catching up with the others.
"Come on, into a boat. Why don't you go with that little 'un over there who's all alone in that boat." Hagrid pointed a thick finger over at the last boat in the row. I walked over through the tall, wet grass. 'What on earth is a Gryffindor?'
"Is this boat taken?" Before he could respond I jumped in and settled myself onto the wooden seat.
"Hi, what's your name?" I asked cheerfully.
"My name is Glen. Now go away." He turned away from me and propped his chin up on his folded arms and gazed over the side of the boat.
"Why should I go away?" I answered him in a sweet as sugar voice, under laced with anger.
"Because you're a Shinma." he answered simply. That got my attention.
"What did you just call me?" I asked in an ice filled voice.
"A Shinma, a Demon God that lives in the darkness, and will return there once again. It is the fate of those born of the darkness. When will you return Adri? We all miss you there, trapped in the darkness. Why do you get to escape?" he whined. "Why did you escape while the rest of us were sealed away? Why? It's not fair!"
"I have no idea what you're talking about, boy." I stuttered.
"Hmpf. You know perfectly well that what I speak is true. We await your return Adri. Beware the wrathful Shinma, thirsty for revenge. It will be paid in blood, the price for freedom." It laughed harshly and the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. This was no ordinary boy; this boy was possessed by a demon and it was controlling him. However, I recognized the voice behind the mask. I heard him in my mind; it was his voice I heard in my dreams.
"You! Who are you! Answer me demon!" I burst out angrily. He laughed some more, and then fixed his haunted eyes on me once again.
"You know who I am. All the answers lie locked away in your mind. You just have to simply unlock the right doors." I had had enough; I pulled out a piece of paper from my inside robe pocket.
"Akruyo Taisan!" I yelled and the enchanted holy script flew at him blasting him out of the boy's body. I saw the spirit form of the demon, before he evaporated. Something about him was so familiar, who was he?
"Kaitou, Adrianna." I stepped up to the sorting hat. I picked it up, sat down on the stool and placed the hat delicately on my head.
"Hmm, difficult," I heard a voice murmur. "Has potential. But your thirst for revenge…Slytherin would help you achieve what you seek. You also have that touch of underlying ruthlessness. But there is also your driving need to do what is right, and to be mindful of others. That would make you unfit for Slytherin."
"I don't want to be in Slytherin, I want to be with Harry, Hermione, Ron and Ginny." I whispered.
"But, are you brave enough Shinma?" I bristled and my hands griped the edges of the stool until my knuckles turned white. "Yes, I'll do whatever it takes."
"Then better go with…GRYFFINDOR!" I took the hat off and placed it back on the stool. In a daze I walked over to the Gryffindor table, where the others I had met earlier were cheering for me. I sat down next to Ginny and Hermione who were cheering for me wildly.
"Come on, this is the way to the Gryffindor wing." Ginny tugged me along behind her.
"How can you be so filled with energy? I'm wiped out." Ginny just laughed at me.
"It's your first day, we all felt that way when we first came here." Hermione interjected before Ginny could answer. "Grinport," the painting swung open revealing the Gryffindor common room. "These are the stairs to the girls' dormitory," she pointed to the right. "And those are the boys. We aren't allowed in there for obvious reasons. Goodnight Harry, Ron."
"G'night Hermione, Ginny, Adri. Tomorrow is a holiday so we'll show you around Hogwarts if it's okay with you, Adri." Ron asked tentatively.
"Sure, thanks." I smiled at him.
"G'night," chorused Harry who looked even more tired than Ron. 'That won't do Harry, you need to be strong if you are to help me.' I followed Ginny and Hermione
up the girls' stairs. Hermione stopped at the second door on the right.
"This is the fifth year girl's room. Ginny's room is right across the hall. Good night, Ginny."
"Thanks a lot for helping me out today. See you tomorrow morning." I said. Hermione opened the door. She stopped at the last bed in the room. "This is your new bed. All your luggage has already arrived. My bed is right next to yours if you need anything. Goodnight." Hermione said gently, giving me a warm smile.
"Thanks for everything Hermione." She nodded and went over to her bed where she grabbed her pajamas and went back down the room to the bathrooms. I took a deep breath and opened the red curtains to my bed. The walls were stone and right near my bed was a fireplace that was already roaring away. My meager amount of luggage was piled on top of the chest at the end of my bed. I walked over to my nightstand and lit the candle with the flick of a finger. The light flared red then blue. I unpacked my clothes and possessions and placed them in my bureau. I then donned my pajamas. They were blue, unlike the clothes that were allowed to be worn under the school robes. 'I hate red, but it's not like I have a choice in colors if I'm in Gryffindor.' I rolled my sheets back and hopped into bed. I let the candle burn out as I slept, for once feeling like I belonged.
I dreamt.
Their bodies were there still atop the hill. I turned away from them and raced down the hill, my long black hair trailing behind me. The kimono I was wearing was restricting my running, but I dared not shed the garment. It was black; the color of mourning. It matched my soul.
"Why must they be dead?" I asked the wind.
"You caused their deaths." I whipped around at the sound of that voice.
"You again. Just leave me alone! Go haunt someone else!" I screamed at the creature. It laughed, sounding like dry leaves.
"No dear sister, I'll be staking up a permanent residence here in your dream world. Besides, who else would be better for the position then your own dear
older brother?"
"You aren't my brother." He feigned hurt, but dropped the act when it did not raise any reaction from me.
"You're heartless you know that? Well, it's true that you caused their deaths, sister."
"I did no such thing, for I did not kill them. But, you must know who did."
"Indeed I do. But what will you do with that information if I tell you?"
"Kill them," I said simply. He snickered.
"Here's your first clue; the snake with a heart of ice knows where the ancient secret is buried. He alone holds the key to this mystery. But can you find him in time sister? The clock is ticking, time is against you." He then started to sing, "When will you pay the price for freedom? When will she come knocking at your door seeking payment in blood? When will you return to us O sister, when will we see your true face? We shall see it before us in the land of ever dark. When will the sacred flame consume all? When, O sister, shall you return to me?" his voice soothed me despite its raspy tone.
"I know that song!" I exclaimed in excitement. He smiled. "Why can't you show your true self creature? You sing of me showing mine, but when will you show your own true self?"
"As soon as you show yours, I shall reveal to you my own." He smiled a secret smile then, and began to fade into the scenery. I shook my head smiling. I took off walking again.
"The clock is ticking time is against you. When will the price of freedom be paid? When will she come knocking at the door seeking payment in blood? When shall I return to you, O brother, when will I see your true face? We shall meet again in the land of ever dark. When will the sacred flame consume all? When, O brother, shall I return to thee?" I sang quietly.
I sat up straight in bed casting the covers aside. I scanned the room for the noise I had just heard. There, on my beside table was a sealed white envelope. (No, it does NOT contain anthrax ^.~) I tore it open and opened the folded piece of paper. It said:
Adrianna:
I know what you are.
I starred down at the letter. 'Who could have known? Who possibly could know about me being able to do magic without the aid of a wand? No matter what they think, or what that guy who calls himself my brother tells me, I'm not a Shinma! I'm a normal witch who was just lost for a few years and can't remember anything!' My other side whispered that that was not so, leaking poison into my mind. I shook my head to clear it.
"I'll figure out what to do tomorrow morning, until then I plan on getting some sleep!
I sat up straight in bed drenched in sweat. "I must have had another nightmare. Strange, I can't remember what it was about." I said deep in thought. I tore the covers off me to let the chill morning air cool me down. I got up and stripped my sweat stained pajamas off and donned tight Kaki jeans along with a green, long-sleeved shirt trimmed in silver. I tugged on my knee-high black leather boots and clipped silver hoops into my ears. I stared at myself in the mirror above my nightstand. My dark hazel eyes stared back at me, looking haunted. I was too pale for my liking and the dark colors of my
clothes contrasted with my fair skin. I brushed my long, black hair into some semblance of order. I glanced at my watch; it was five in the morning. I had two and a half long, agonizing hours to sit and wait for the bell to ring to signal the start of the day.
"What to do in that time is now the questions at hand."
"Why don't you study dearie?" asked a voice in the mirror. "You look like you could use something to do." I stared; the mirror on the wall was talking to me!
"Um, yeah, sure. What do you suggest I study?" I asked it.
"Why don't you study about demons?" I froze. 'Why was everyone asking me about demons and Shinma?' I pointed a finger at the mirror.
"Glacio!" A thin sheet of ice covered the mirror blocking the voice from conversing, and therefore commenting. I looked around to make sure no one had woken up. None the less, even though I didn't like the mirror very much, my interest was peaked. I opened my trunk and drew out my Defense against the Dark Arts textbook. I opened to the table of contents there, on page 560, Demons and other creatures from the dark. I skimmed the book searching for page 560. I stopped, and read:
"Demons are the deepest evil given a form of flesh. They live and thrive in the darkness. Their main home is in Hell, but the occasional demon will leave and come into the mortal realms. They are destructive by nature and will do anything to achieve their ends, no matter the means. Depending on the level of the demon, a simple demon banishing spell can be performed in most cases." I skimmed the page.
"Little is known about the mysterious beings dubbed Shinma. All that is known is that they live off of humans, and lead their souls to ruin. They live in the darkness between day and night. Shinma are not very common and over the centuries have decreased in number due to regulation polices. All Shinma were banished from this realm and forbidden to return, but that doesn't seem to stop the few from traveling here and spreading." I gave a sigh of exasperation. "I need useful information, not a history lesson."
"Here!" I pointed at the second to last paragraph.
"It has been heard of that Shinma have bred with Muggles, even wizards. Shinma blood is very powerful and will only remain dormant until the offspring enters puberty. Then they will experience changes in appearance, emotions and powers. Shinma only look like normal people by hiding their true face behind a façade. The offspring will be able to perform certain spells without the aid of a wand. However their power is limited to their type. The basic types are fire, water, wind, earth, and electricity." I closed the book with an abrupt thump.
"So that's how it is. Maybe that creature that possessed the kid was right, maybe
I am a Shinma." I fell silent as I heard a loud knock on my door. I got up from my seat on the bed and strode over to the door. I opened it wide to reveal the form of Ginny.
"'lo Adri. Sleep well?"
"Er, if waking up at five in the morning is well then, yes." I answered with rye humor. She laughed at my comment, but suddenly stopped.
"Why are you wearing green and silver?" she asked, all traces of humor gone from her face.
"I just like the two colors together, is there something wrong with that?" I gazed at her with suspicion.
"No! I mean, there's nothing wrong with them it's just that," she added hastily, but left off when she saw Hermione coming towards us.
"Hi Adri. Ginny have you started to review your textbooks yet? It's never too early to start studying, you know." Ginny rolled her eyes, and I stifled a laugh behind my hand.
"Come on, we'll be late for breakfast if we don't get going." I followed Ginny and Hermione into the common room where we found Ron and Harry engaged in an avid
talk concerning that year's Quidditch plans. Ginny and Hermione with ease jumped into the crowd with ease, and made their way to Harry and Ron, oblivious to the fact that I had not followed. I stood on the edges of the massive group staring at them all. I turned away in disgust. I walked over to the portrait hole and pushed it open.
"Mornin' Adri." Shiina called materializing on my right shoulder. Shiina had been there when I had first woken up in this world not knowing, or remembering anything. She was small, about the size of a kitten. She had long, floppy bunny ears; one covered her right eye. Her ears were tipped in black while the rest of her was pink. She had many long, thin tails fanning out behind her, but besides that, looked cute and harmless. However, I knew the truth. I had seen what she had done to some of the hospital workers after they had hurt me.
"How did you get in here Shiina? I thought there was a shield protecting the school and grounds surrounding it." I said, more than a little confused.
"There was, but being as old as it is, I was able to find a loop hole. You should be happier to see me, not suspicious, Adri." She replied.
"Hey, Shiina, can you tell me where the dinning hall is?" Shiina lifted her right ear up revealing the lime green eye underneath.
"This way," She pointed me right. I took off down the corridor. She pointed to where I had to go when we came to intersections and stairs. We met no one all the while we walked through the castle.
"I wonder where everyone is." I pondered out loud.
"It's their day off; they're all probably sleeping in, and doing last minute work for class tomorrow." Shiina replied nonchalantly.
"It just seems a little weird to me, there has to be some early risers." I argued. I closed my mouth as I drew in site of the great oak doors leading to the dinning hall. I stopped short. My heart was pounding in my chest. 'What am I so scared of?' I pushed my doubts aside and opened the doors with both hands. I kept my head down, not daring to meet anyone's eyes. I kept my eyes pealed on the stone floor and strode over to the Gryffindor table. I pulled out a random chair and sat down.
"Have you seen my toad, Trevor?" an annoyingly cheerful voice asked from beside me. I looked up.
"No, I have not seen your toad, Trevor. And you would be?" I asked in an unintentional chilly voice. He gulped.
"I'm Neville." he sputtered. I looked down at the boy. He was rather chubby with neatly trimmed brown hair. His blank, brown eyes stared up at me, a contrast with his flushed skin. "Who're you?"
"Someone of no importance." I brushed his question away. I looked up, right into the slate hued eyes of Draco Malfoy. I gazed at him; the guarded look on his face betrayed no emotions. He seemed to pierce and cut me open with his eyes. I felt naked under his intense gaze. I broke the contact, and turned away from him.
"Adrianna," I heard someone call my name. I whipped around, I saw Dumbledore calling me from the teachers table. He beckoned me to come to him. I stood up and walked down the middle isle heading to the teacher's table. "Mr. Ollivander is here to fit you with a proper wand now." I nodded and followed him to his office down the hall. He paused at the gargoyle statues guarding the entrance to his
office. "Droobles Best Chewing Gum," the door swung open, and I followed him inside. We stepped into a well-furnished circular room with a tall, wrinkly man in the center of it.
"So this is Adrianna Kaitou? Why yes, you do look like your late parents, my most heartfelt condolences about their deaths. Your father was a 13 inch oak with one unicorn hair, and if memory serves me, your mother a 16 inch maple with one phoenix feather. I think this wand will do nicely for
you." For a moment I stood there astonished that he had also known my parents, but before I could say anything, I found myself with a wand in hand. Nothing happened. He placed another in my hand.
"14" oak, one phoenix feather." Nothing again. "No, 10" birch, one phoenix feather and one unicorn hair." I waved it around, again, nothing. "Hmm, interesting, you'll be a challenge I see."
Sixteen wands later Ollivander was all out of wands that he had brought. He used a spell to summon brand new ones and sent the rest back. Twenty more later, none reacted in any way. He summoned more. Thirty later, nothing.
"Stop. I've had enough. Obviously there is no wand that'll react for me. You're just wasting your time." I finally said, exasperated.
"Nonsense, we'll find the wand, don't worry." Ollivander coaxed.
"How about this one; 14 1/4 inch silver birch with one suzaku feather." He placed it in my palm. I grasped it and flung my arm up in a wide arc. Bright green, blue, indigo, silver, gold, pink, yellow and other colored streamers burst out of the tip of the wand.
"It worked!" Ollivander and I chorused simultaneously. I grinned at Dumbledore who grinned back at me.
"Congratulations, you now have your very own wand." I beamed at him. "You can go join your fellow Gryffindors at breakfast now."
"Thanks Mr. Ollivander, Professor Dumbledore." I waved and raced for the door. I tore it open and raced own the stairs at break neck speed. "Wait, why walk when you can slide?" I hopped onto the banister and slid down the rest of the stairs. I landed in a heap at the bottom of the stairwell, right on top of someone.
"Ow!" someone yelped. Laughing, I untangled myself from the pile of limbs and robes. I stopped laughing when I noticed whom I had landed on.
"Er, sorry 'bout that Ron." I looked down at the floor blushing madly. "I didn't, er see you." I looked up, and he was laughing hard, hand clutched to his side. I cocked my head, "What's so funny?" When he saw what I was doing he laughed even harder. I had to crack a smile when I saw how stupid he was acting.
"You, you," wheeze, "you came down the stairs, landed on me, and you can only say, er sorry Ron." He answered, perfectly imitating my voice.
"I'm glad that you find it so amusing." I smiled and gave him a hand, and pulled him up from his position keeled over on the floor.
"Thanks. Tell Harry and Hermione that I'll be back shortly; I have some stuff to clear up first. See you later at breakfast." He smiled and started his climb up the stairs. I watched him climb out of view before I turned away.
"Where have you been? We've been looking for you Adri!" Hermione lectured.
"I was out." I answered coldly. Hermione looked at me with a look of contempt on her face. However, there was something else there too. I think it was determination.
"You were not 'out' Adri. Where were you?" she interrogated me, power and strength emitting from her voice. I cringed before her, my force retreating under the strength of hers. I sighed.
"I had to go get a wand from Dumbledore. Is that okay with you?" I asked her snidely.
"You could have waited and come down with us, you know. I know that you knew this, but you left us there anyways. What is your problem?" she questioned shrilly. Several heads swung our way, eager looks on their faces at the prospect of a scene. She stared at me; I turned away from her, not wanting to meet her eyes. I caught Harry staring at the two of us from down the length of the table, where he was previously engaged in yet another chat about Quidditch. I looked back at Hermione.
"Do you want the bare naked truth laid out before you then, as to why I didn't want to stay with you and your fellow Gryffindor friends?" I asked, adding un-needed emphasis on friends.
"Yes," she said tersely.
"Fine," I snapped. "Being around you people makes me uncomfortable, even sick. You all know each other and you forget about me amidst your busy lives. I just need your help to know a little bit about this place, and then I'm out of your perfect, meaningless little lives. Okay, are you happy now?!" I asked, raising my voice. I made an effort to reign in my rage emitting from me in tendrils of negative energy that I could just barely see. Hermione just stared at me in shock for a few moments. "Oh, by the way Ron instructed me to tell you that he will be back shortly. I'm leaving, enjoy your breakfast." I stood up, causing my chair to fall back and hit the floor with a loud crash. I didn't care. I half ran, half sprinted out of the dinning hall feeling the eyes of all the students on my back. I closed the doors behind me with a loud bang.
"Shiina!" I yelled hysterically.
"Here!" she materialized on my shoulder. "No need to yell." she scolded.
"Shut up," I bit off each letter. "Just get me out of here."
"Sure, whatever you say." she jumped down to the floor and I half blind, followed her outside. Once outside with the freezing north wind blowing on me, I felt much better, as if a giant weight had been lifted off my shoulders. The rising tension that had been mounting within me began to subside.
"Thanks Shiina. I'm sorry for snapping at you, I wasn't in the best of moods."
"No problem, Adri." We walked through the snow heading for the frozen lake, Shiina assured me was there. I collapsed onto the frozen, snow covered ground. I brought my legs up to my chest and wrapped my arms around my legs trying to keep warm. "It wasn't very smart to leave without a coat." I threw a snowball at her in response. I stared out across the frozen lake.
"Ah, I could have just ruined my one and only chance at regaining my memory back. I need to be friends with Hermione if I want to get close to Harry. I'm beginning to doubt if he can even help me at all. He doesn't seem to like me."
"Sure he will Adri, it's only your second day here! Give him a chance!" I stood up abruptly.
"I need to clear my head so I'm going flying." I told her. I read shock on her face.
"Are you insane, or just seriously unstable? You can't just go flying whenever you want! Besides, you don't know how to ride a broom!"
"Who said anything about using a broom?" I asked her, smiling.
"No, NO! Absolutely not! You're NOT doing that again!" she instructed me, in a strict tone of voice, leaving no room for discussion.
"No one's here to witness it anyway. Where's your sense of adventure?" I teased.
"You know what happened last time." The smile left my face at that comment. I turned away from her.
"I don't care. They can't hurt me here, Shiina." I finally uttered after awhile. "Even if you don't agree with me, the least you can do is keep watch for me." She turned away, furious at me, but none the less, walked a distance away and kept watch. "Okay," I took a deep breath. I cleared my mind of all thoughts except one, levitation. I opened my eyes; I was five feet above the ground. I giggled.
"Enough already, hurry up and clear your head, and get back down on the ground where you belong."
"You're just jealous." She gave an indignant huff and turned back. I rose higher and floated around the lake twice. I landed rather clumsily on the ground again. I fell face first into the snow, spread eagle like. I propped one arm up, and pulled my face out of the snow. Shiina was laughing extremely hard and had rolled onto her back. She turned silent all of a sudden.
"Someone comes." With that she disappeared, and left me out alone in the cold, with an unknown someone heading my way.
"Adri? What are you doing sprawled in the snow?" Hermione inquired. She held out her hand. I slapped her hand away and defiantly resettled into a more comfortable position.
"What are you doing here Hermione?" I spat. She looked directly at me.
"I came to apologize for my behavior towards you. I forgot that everything must seem awfully new to you. I guess I'm jealous, you were able to learn magic in a week that took me five years to learn. It just doesn't seem fair to me." she looked away from me and glanced at the lake. "Please Adri, give me another chance at being your friend." she fixed her piercing gaze on me. My mask crumbled and fell into pieces at the look on her face. 'Why, she's sincere.'
"Hermione, can you ever forgive me? I'm so sorry; I didn't mean to say such awful things to you. I don't know what came over me. I can't believe that I even said those things! Oh Hermione, I'm sorry!" with a laugh she silenced me.
"Don't give me that lachrymose expression." she scolded softly. "It's nothing. I'm sure it's all just nerves strung too tight. Forget it Adri. Let's go do something interesting, what do you say?" she stood up and gave me her hand. We started strolling towards the door to the school. "Say, have you read Hogwarts a History?"
"Um I don't believe so," I began.
"Well, there's no better place to start learning about Hogwarts!" she exclaimed excitedly. I rolled my eyes. We walked back in just as the students were leaving. Ron, Harry and Ginny stepped out of the stream and stood with us in the doorway.
"Did you resolve your argument?" Harry feverently whispered to Hermione. She smiled at him. An unspoken understanding passed between the two, and Harry smiled. I turned away from them.
"So what do you guys want to do this afternoon? Do you want to go have a snowball fight?" Ron suggested. "Maybe play some Quidditch. Adri, I don't believe you've played before have you? So why don't we teach her how?" I nodded my head in consensus. The rest of the group agreed and we all went back to the common room to collect our winter cloaks and boots. I tugged on my imitation fur lined cloak and clasped it securely closed and donned thick dragon hide boots with heavy woolen socks underneath. I slipped on warm, heavy mittens and walked down to the common room. I was the last to appear.
"What took you so long?" Ginny asked slyly. "Where you primping yourself in the mirror again?" I scoffed at her remark.
"Me, primping?" I burst out laughing. "No, silly, I had to borrow some stuff from some of the other girls. I wasn't exactly outfitted for winter."
"Adri, do you have your own broom?" Harry asked me.
"Nope," I answered embarrassed.
"Hey, Fred, George, come over here for a second will you?" The two twins I had met earlier came bounding over.
"What is it?"
"You guys are going outside and didn't invite us along?" one asked indignantly.
"Sorry, you guys never wanted to come with us before, we didn't think to ask. Can Adri borrow one of your brooms?" Harry asked them.
"Sure!" they both answered in unison.
"I offered first Fred!"
"No I did!" protested the other. I rolled my eyes.
"Please," they both ceased to bicker and turned to face me with rapt attention. "I just need to borrow a broom until I purchase my own. So can one of you please just fork your broom over for the afternoon? The other I'll teach," I bit my lip. "How to play cards." They groaned.
"We already know how to play cards!" Fred sputtered. George elbowed his twin.
"Some games can get you into close contact with the other player." He winked.
"You guys!" Ron hollered.
"Ooh sorry Ron, forgot that you have dibs." Ron turned crimson.
"Take it or leave it." I cut in. Ron looked relieved. Fred took off for his room and came back shortly, broom in hand.
"Thank you." I answered curtly.
"They can be such gits sometimes." Ginny commented. We walked out onto the pitch, it was clear of students.
"Are you ready to begin?" I nodded my head and Harry began to explain. "Place your right hand above the broom and say up."
"Up," the broom hopped into my hand.
"Now mount it and push off the ground like this," Harry demonstrated.
I learned all about playing Quidditch that afternoon. Even Hermione joined in, playing a friendly game. I was soaring high above, bat in hand. I was in the beater position trying it out. I looked down; there by the fringe where field met woodland stood Draco Malfoy. He stared up at me with an acidulous look on his face. Harry Potter's nemesis was beginning to get on my nerves. 'I hate the way he looks at me with that look on his face. It makes my skin crawl. It's so creepy, it's like he can see straight through me.'
"Adri! A little help please!" hollered Hermione from below me. A bludger was coming straight at her. I sped down and a thought occurred to me. This would be the perfect time to get even with Draco. I took aim and aimed the bludger right where Draco was standing.
"Adri, quick! The bludger is going to hit that person in the stands!" I looked over my shoulder. Draco was no longer standing there, instead some mysterious other person was there, straight in the path of the bludger. Harry and I sped down. I passed the bat to him since his broom was by far better and faster than the one I was borrowing. He knocked the bludger aside and landed by the boy. I landed along with the rest of the group.
"I'm so sorry; I didn't know anyone was standing there!"
"It's okay."
"Are you sure?" Ginny asked.
"Yes, quite sure." He answered her with ease. "What is your name?" he asked staring straight at me. "I'd like to know who to avoid during Quidditch practices in the future." I crossed my arms as the other laughed.
"Adrianna, you?"
"Jemson. Now I really must be going. Have fun and watch out for other innocent bystanders Adrianna. Won't want to kill anyone would you now?" he asked smirking. I decided then that there was just something about Jemson that I hated. I tried to shrug off the feeling of foreboding that was stealthy creeping into my mind. But there was just something about him that made me want to break out my wand and hex him senseless. He turned and swaggered away.
"Who was that guy?"
"That was Jemson. He's a Hufflepuff sixth year. Secretly the girls have nominated him the third best-looking guy at Hogwarts." Ginny whispered into my ear. I had to agree with her. Jemson was incredibly good looking but there was that something lurking below the surface.
"I'm tired of playing Quidditch and we really should study before tomorrow." Several snowballs pelting her cut off Hermione's suggestion. She put her hands up in front of her face to ward off the snowballs. Ginny and I stood beside her and took aim at the two boys. After having a brief snowball fight we all lay down in the snow exhausted.
"I'm hungry, when is lunch going to be served?" I complained.
"Soon hopefully, that way I can go in and warm up, I'm freezing!" exclaimed Harry.
"We also have to study, and you, Adri have to start reading Hogwarts a History." I groaned. I got hit with a half-hearted snowball by Hermione. I stood up slowly letting my tired legs and arms adjust to the change.
"I'm going to head back now and take a nice warm shower, what about you guys?"
"Yeah, we should probably do the same. We need to get changed for lunch anyways." Ginny said rationally. We all slouched back up the walk to the school. I slowed down so I could walk next to Harry.
"Harry, what do you know about Draco Malfoy?" Harry coloured lightly. No one else seemed to notice the change.
"Draco Malfoy," he said his name slowly. "What could you possibly want to know about him?"
"Oh, nothing." I laughed inwardly. This was going to prove to be interesting. I ran ahead to re-join Hermione and Ginny. Hermione and I went ahead and charged into the fifth year girl's dormitory. We grabbed up various articles of clothing and forced our bodies to carry us as fast as possible to the showers. I stood under the scorching spray and felt my skin begin to unfreeze. Stepping out thirty minutes later, I dressed in a plain white sweater and baggy jeans. When I came down to the common room everyone was assembled there already. Ron and Harry were engaged in a fierce game of wizard's chess, and Hermione and Ginny watched them play.
"What took you so long Adri? I would have thought you'd freeze to death when the hot water ran out." Harry joked.
"I used a warming spell." Harry lifted his eyebrows in surprise. "It wasn't that hard. My wand's just a little water logged at the moment." I shrugged, "it was worth it, now I'm nice and warm again." Harry turned back to the game to find that Ron had killed his knight.
"Should have been paying attention Harry." Ron smiled at the look on Harry's face.
"Adri, lunch should be served in an hour, by the way. So you can begin reading now." Hermione held up a fat book in her hands. I sighed and took the book from her hands and plopped myself down on a velvet red couch and opened the book.
An hour later the trio, Adri, and Ginny headed down to lunch.
"Yum! Pumpkin pie!" exclaimed Ginny in delight. Lunch was well underway and we were all enjoying our varied tastes in food. I had some Japanese noodle soup, my personal favorite. Harry and Ron had deserted us to go and talk about Quidditch strategy with some of the other boys that were seated at the opposite end of the table from us. I had by then finished all the food on my plate, and was just sitting there listening to my neighbors engaged in intriguing conversations. Lunch was ending, and the other students were beginning to leave so I seized the chance.
"I'll be back, I have some business to take care of." With that I pushed my chair back and walked over to the Slytherin table just as Draco and his cronies were getting ready to leave. "A moment Draco," I stared at his two bodyguards "in private please." He smirked.
"I didn't know that you were interested in me like that Adri." He drawled.
"Oh shut up you big git." I grabbed hold of the sleeve of his robe and dragged him out into the hall.
I failed to notice the fierce glare Ginny aimed at my back at the sight of me dragging Draco out of the great hall. Ginny, exercising self control stayed in her seat despite her rage.
Draco followed behind me cursing avidly. When we had exited the dinning hall, he grabbed my wrist and bent it. I let the course fabric fall from my hand. He dropped my hand and stared at his sleeve.
"Look what you did, you stretched it!" he whined.
"Shut up!" I yelled. "You listen to me. Stop following me around, do you here me?!"
"What, am I making you nervous?" he smirked. In an already furious mood I slapped him.
"Yes you are Malfoy. Now stop it!" I looked up at him with panic filled eyes. "Just stop following me around its creeping me out!" I hit him in the chest with both hands. "Just stop it!" I felt tears gathering in the corners of my eyes. I guess all the unwanted stress was reaching a crescendo inside me and was desperately looking for a way out. I glanced up at him. His face and eyes were unreadable. He didn't seem like he was going to strike me. The lack of emotion on his face chilled me. I stepped back from him, suddenly afraid. He just stood there looking at me, a critical look in his eyes, like he was calculating exactly what retort would inflict the most damage on me.
I heard a whoosh from behind me. I was about to turn around and see the source of the bizarre sound when I felt something strike me in the back. A white-hot, searing pain spread through my body. The pain was most intense at the point of origin, in the middle of my back. I pitched forward on to my knees; they hit the floor with a hollow thud. I realized rather slowly that I would have smacked my head on the floor if Draco hadn't caught me as I fell. I tried to concentrate on his face; however it swam before my eyes. His voice seemed to come from far away. I could only make out my name repeated over and over.
~end of chapter one~
This chapter has ended.