Prologue:
Laughter echoes throughout. Green Grass. A blue ball, eager hands, upraised, ready to catch it when it descends in a graceful arc toward the ground. Two boys, two girls. The black-haired girl squeals as she catches the ball between her hands. She squeezes her large emerald eyes shut and throws it to the other girl.
"No! Maya! Pass it here! She can't throw!" A young blond boy waves his arms as he points. A ring is noticeable on his right hand. She throws, and as soon as he catches it, a sly, mischievous smile flits across his face. He throws the ball again.
"Catch the ball, Maya!"
The girl stumbles backwards, arms ready to catch. She jumps, then falls. The ball tumbles to the ground beside her. She feels the cool grass on her palms, and glares from under her exotic hair while trying to shake the grass out of her ebony curls. The other girl heads toward her to help her up. She notices the dark-haired boy glaring at the blond. A sense of protection from the dark-haired boy.
"Sorry, Maya." The blond helps her up with a cocky smile.
"You meanie…" The name-calling is lost in the wind, and they hold hands, secretly known that all is forgiven. A gold ring with a single white stone is present on her right hand as well…very similar to the boy's. Their fingers intertwine as a symbol of trust and care.
The dark-haired boy races toward them and hugs Maya. "Are you okay, Maya?"
The girl lets out a small giggle, her eyes sparkling with merriment, and her long wavy curls shakes to the rhythm of her laughter.
"Of course I am, silly. You worry too much…."
Once again, the wind snatches all meaning of words spoken far, far away into the distance. The brunette girl makes her way toward the trio and slips her arm into Maya's.
"C'mon, Maya. Let's go play house again."
Maya smiles, and shakes herself in remembrance. The previous day was filled with shattered plates, broken glass, disaster, and yelling. All this took place in their "house".
Suddenly, the blond boy tagged Maya, "You're it…again!"
Maya races after him, laughing the whole time. Laughing. Joy. Playing. Friends. Games. Childhood. Love. Symbolism. Memories. Two rings….
--Hermione gasped as she sat straight up on her bed. Her unruly brunette curls certainly complimented her surprised and confused façade. "What was that?!" Hermione blindly made her way to her bathroom, squinting due to the whole 3 hours of sleeping deeply….in the afternoon too.
She didn't see the great white bathroom door, with her eyes closed, that is, and unceremoniously bumped her forehead on it. She rubbed her now pounding head and opened the door. She was met with her reflection in the mirror.
She splattered freezing cold water over her face to heighten her senses and looked back into the mirror.
Her smooth tan skin and her brains were probably the only good things about her. OH, and not to mention the newly developed curves, which caught the eyes of some neighborhood guys.
However, even though her hair fell down her back as cascading curls, she hated the color. It was a dull, murky brown, not that beautiful brunette some girls had…like that other girl in her dream….
But she didn't dwell on that matter for too long. The great grandfather clock downstairs chimed to another hour spent. Oh shit…I'm late! she thought She quickly patted her face dry, put her hair up in a simple ponytail, and went to her closet. She picked out a pair of navy shorts and a white tank top and put them on after taking her pajamas off. She put on her workout shoes and made her way downstairs toward the fireplace.
Her parents were gone for the evening, for some dinner at her father's boss's place. She picked up some floo powder she had purchased last week from Diagon Alley and threw it into the fireplace. She stepped in and drew a nice, long breath before saying, "Malfoy Manor."