Hello and welcome to my new fanfiction !
First I must tell you that I'm french and mistakes might find their way into my writings, so correction is always welcome (let's improve that english !)
The story begin in Harry's second year at Hogwarts, with a new face, my OC : Rae.
Enjoy !
Everything is dark and fuzzy, but I know for sure that I killed at least three of them. I saw fear in their eyes and their screaming still ring in my ears. I couldn't help myself, there is darkness inside of me that just take control, and I became a ghost and I became death.
My breath returns painfuly in my lungs, when I first hear them. I don't raise my head, aware of the pitiful picture I give to the passers-by. Red eyes, the tears on my cheeks have dug furrows in the filth of my face. My hair is tied in braid but the knots have accumulated since the last time I was able to put my hand on a comb or a brush.
So no, I'm not raising my head, and let them leave with their disgust and their scorn.
But they don't leave. They come closer.
« Albus !
-Yes dear, it's her. Hello my child »
I'm watching them behind the curtains of my interlaced locks. Funny couple, that old man with his long white beard and the woman with the pointed hat. Freaks, no doubt.
« Can you speak ? »
I don't answer that, I'm feeling the presence of Ryn. I change position to hide his arrival, people respond very badly to his view. He sneaks quietly behind me and goes up by my sleeve to curl up around my neck, his head next to my ear.
« Who are these people ?
-I don't know, but they're talking to me. I killed today Ryn. It's gonna end up badly, I'm telling you, this thing is killing me.
-Don't be scared, I'm here. We'll find a solution, we always do.
-Don't be so optimistic, it's disturbing
-Don't be so pessimistic, it's so ordinary
-Go eat rats
-Well, that is a good idea but i'm not leaving you with those freaks »
Peeking at them, I notice the choc on the woman's face and doubt on the man's. I'm good at reading emotions on people, even without having Ryn smell their temper
"She's a Parseltongue !
-Yes I saw that Minerva. Do you speak english young lady ?
-Of course.
-Great. I am professor Dumbledor and this is professor McGonagall. We came here to help you."
I get up, annoyed to be dominated by these people whom I fear to be bad news. I heard stories of street kids taken away, and I don't want to be one of them. Professor, my ass !
"I don't believe you
-It's a school for witches and wizards.
No, not that. I won't turn crazy again. Are they here to take me to an asylum, or a prison ?
"I know you must be scared, of that darkness inside you. We call that an Obscurus, a magic entity which take over young sorcerer trying to repress their magic powers. But as I said, we are here to help. With your permission, we can go to a safe place and try to get you rid of that burden, before it kills again.
-He's telling the truth
-You're sure about that ?
-Yes, I can smell it
-So, I'm a witch ? I just can't picture it, that means everything were true ! And that thing in me...
-You know I killed. People.
-Yes we know. We also know that it weren't your doing and you probably feel very confused and lost, but you can find answers in Hogwarts.
-Hogwarts ?
-That is the name of my school.
-And you take bums in hogawrts ?
-Everyone who wish so, yes.
-And what do we learn there ? Make potions, fly on a broom and sew pointed hats ?
-Oh well yes some of that, even though sewing is not on the program, but that would be a great idea. There is also charms, astrology, transfiguration, taught by professor McGonagall here.
-Transfiguration ?
-To transform an object in something else, it's fascinating. I myself was once a trasfiguration teacher, before being headmaster. Can you tell me your name now?
-Rae"
Their offer seems very tempting. I don't want to follow them, but the idea of a school, a real education and not the one I have to struggle to obtain everday through force and cunning. And there is magic, I could do amazing things, and get rid of that thing, the Obscurus. But I need proof.
"Prove it. Prove me that magic is real"
The old man takes a wooden stick out of his sleeve and declaim some sort of phrase in Latin. A pale bird comes out of it and fly around us a moment before disappearing. Not very impressive. I turn to the woman and ask :
"Can you turn this rock into a rat ?"
His mouth pinches as if I had just insulted his abilities. Which I probably did, but that was not the intention. The moment Ryn heard the word rat, he slipped to my feet and swallowed the rodent only a few seconds after McGonagall transformed the stone.
« Clever, but I don't know if your friend belong with us.
-There is no question here, sir. If he doesn't come, I won't either. He is my friend and my family
-Well, I suppose I will have to make some king of exception. We'll see.
-Speaking of family, Rae, are you sure you don't have anyone ? A great aunt maybe ? Or a medallion that could help us find your ancestor ?
-No, nothing like that. But I do have a memory of who I think is my mother"
It's my only memory before London. I can't recall how I got here or my life before living on the streets, but I always have this flashback of a brown hair woman with an elegant velvet green dress. It's in a large room with walls covered with books, and it smells like leather, wood fire and lilac. I like to think that the lilac smell is coming from the woman, my mother.
She is speaking to a man, but I can't remember their faces. They speak english and french-which I can't understand- but there is only one word that I do memorized, unfortunatly it doesn't mean anything. That's where I found the inspiration for Ryn's name.
I relate all of this to Dumbledore and McGonagall.
"And what was the word, dear ?
-I don't know, it's weird, it's start with sly and end by ryn. It can also be several words and not one...
-Slytherin ?"
I raise my eyes to meet his gaze, shocked. That's the word. Never did the library seem so real to me at that moment. I remember. Slytherin.
"Slytherin is one of the four houses of Hogwarts. Maybe your parents went there."
That is way to good to be true. But I don'tcare.
"All rigth, I'll come with you. Can I take my stuff ?
-Only the things that you didn't steal."
I look at him ironically. I leave in the street, nearly everything I own is because I stole it. The only things I didn't stole are the ones I found in the trash. So just three items : a coat, a book and the reste of an apple pie I acquire this very morning.
I walk to what I like to call my boudoir, a four walls' ruin with a tree in the middle, and all of my posessions scattered around the room. I just take the coat, knowing that there will be books in the school, and this one wasn't very interesting anyway. I leave there the clothes and jewels. I love jewels. But before leaving by the door, I put the coat down.
I'm not taking anything of the old nasty life.
"Let's go Ryn, nothing can keep us back here.
-Yess !
-I'm ready.
-Good. Hold my hands, we're gonna Apparate. This might be a little uncomfortable, and I'm very sorry for it."
Apparition being "a little uncomfortable" was like saying London is a "little bit croweded". A frickin lie. My body just went through the most unpleasant moment of its existence. And for a reminder, I live in the gutter.
But there was no time to complain, because when I open my eyes I find myself in the prettiest town ever seen.
"Hogsmeade. We are not far from Hogwarts now, we'll take the train after we got you fed and cleaned up,that sounds all right ?
-Yes sir, that sounds perfect."
Smiling at me, he tooks the lead to escort us into a house nearby. Roses everywhere, all sorts of colors and sizes, are growing and shrieking in an eye beat. The door opens to let a good looking woman come greet us.
"Thank you so much Rosmerta
-Oh please, if I can help I will Minerva! Well hello you !
-Hello.
-Would you like to come inside ? I made diner
-Yes, thank you"
The house was clean and pretty big. She showed me upstairs were I can take a bath and change clothes : the Hogwarts uniform, a plain black robe with a white shirt, a grey v-neck jumper and a skirt, also grey.
The bath took me a long time, changing water and untiyng the knots in my hair, but I didn't care, for I had all the time in the world now. I feel like my life is finally beginning, and I intend to live like I want to.
After what seems like hours, I go down the stairs to see the three of them chatting with a cup of tea. Behind them in the kitchen, tools are working in the air, cutting bread and pourring gravy. The smell is amazing.
They invite me to join them, and once I'm sitting at the table, they continue their conversation, with an occasionnal look to see if I'm eating. And I am, because that thing is delicious. A big bird, not a chicken but something else, maybe a turkey.
I feel good, music is playing and my stomac is 's dark outside, I don't know what time it is when we step out and say our goodbye to Rosmerta, and the two words that make me realize what time of the year it is : Merry Christmas
The train station is empty, and when we reach the huge red locomotive, I realize we're the only passenger. They must be rich, or really ride is not long, but professor McGonagall manage to teach all the ground rules in Hogwarts. But first, we got to get the Obscurus out of me.
The first time I see Hogwarts, it's illuminating the night with its thousands windows. It looks like the kind of place where fairies and mermaids live. When we arrive, a giant is waiting for us. He is as alrge as tall and is beard meets his hair in a huge blak mess.
"Good evening sir Dumbledor, professor McGonagall !
-Good evening Hagrid. This is Rae.
-Hello littl' Rae !
-Good evening sir.
-Hagrid is the Keeper of Keys and Grounds of Hogwarts. Let's go to the boats"
I just freeze when I see the little boats on this vast black lake. There is no way I'm going there, and the headmaster notices that :
"A problem Rae ?
-I'm not comfortable with that. Deep water is a fear I've been carrying for a long time, and this lake appears to be just that.
-I see. Well, we'll take the carriage then
-Chicken
-Shut up"
The carriage seem safe, except for the fact that there is no horse to help them move forward, they just do. Magic.
The castle is gigantic and everything is silent, it must be very late. They lead me through an empty classroom on the first floor to my bedroom for the night.
"Now Rae, tomorrow a few professor and I will deal with the Obscurus. Professor McGonagall will come wake you up around eight. Have a good night.
-Goodnight sir"
I though that I would never be able to close my eyes after this all changing-life-day I had, but the moment my cheeks touch the pillow, I fell asleep.