It was late and I was cold as I stumbled along the rocky surface heading towards the mountain ahead of me. Falling through what feels like some sort of barrier I struggle to stand again every inch of me aching with exhaustion, but a loud rumble and snort made me look up, it had sounded like a lion, or a whale or something. Moving forward I stop short when I come face to face with a fence and a dragon. A real dragon, I must be more delirious than I thought because dragons don't exist. They just don't.
"What are you doing here?" a voice asks and I spin around looking for the source before realising that it was the dragon talking to me.
"Oh my God, this can't be real, you don't exist," I say weakly, at which the dragon snorts derisively.
"Well clearly I do, and I'm here, what I don't understand is how you can understand me and you are clearly a muggle when all these wizards can't,"
"What's a muggle?" I ask confused before realising what else he has said, "Wizards are real too?" before he can answer a voice booms from behind me and I spin to see a man rushing towards me.
"Oh you're in trouble now," the dragon laughs,
"Help what do I do?" I ask fear evident in my voice,
"Okay I'll help but only because I've missed having someone to talk to," with that the dragon launches closer to me putting his head right by the fence where I am standing, "reach your hand through and pet my nose, don't worry I won't hurt you I promise," he says and I do too tired and scared to even doubt what I am doing and it works, I hear the man's footsteps skid to a stop and hear him gasp as he watches.
"You need to step back love," a voice says in a low whisper. It is deep and sends a shiver down my spine.
"But he told me he wouldn't hurt me," I whisper back still looking at the dragon as he winks at me making me giggle a little.
"He… he told you?" he asks in a shocked whisper,
"Yes. Is it true what he said, that you're a wizard, you can do magic and everything?" I ask awe in my voice as I do.
"Yes, aren't you a witch?"
"No," I laugh softly so as not to startle the dragon, "I didn't know they existed, I thought it was all made up," I confess.
"Then how did you find us? This place is protected from non-magic people you shouldn't have been able to get here," he says sounding a little worried.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I just sort of headed here, I… I needed to get away and I've been walking for days, and I stumbled through this barrier or something but I didn't realise that I wasn't supposed to… I just needed to get away," I finish in a mumble unwilling to tell a stranger and a dragon my story. Another loud rumble behind my dragon suddenly ruptures the silence and the dragon pulls back quickly.
"Get back," the dragon growls quickly, "that's my mate I need to explain to her she doesn't trust humans yet," as he says this a huge dragon takes flight behind my dragon and breathes a jet of fire at me. I am frozen to the spot and suddenly realise that not only will I be burnt but so will the man behind me who I can hear running towards me to save me presumably. Without thinking I throw my hands up and close my eyes feeling the heat around me but not the burn. Opening my eyes a tiny bit I can see the barrier glimmering around both of us, it's happened before when I've been really scared or in danger I throw my hands up and this thing appears that stops whatever it is from hurting me, like a shield.
"You can cast a wandless shielding charm, I thought you weren't a witch?" the man says in awe, his voice much closer now as I shield us both from the flames.
"I'm not, I told you I didn't know any of this existed, I didn't know much, I wasn't allowed to," I say, "I can't hold on much longer," I add panting slightly from my efforts to hold up the protection, feeling the fire licking the skin of my wrist slightly as it fails.
"Oh right," he says and quickly casts some spells with what I assume is his wand, which is all crazy. As the heat recedes my knees give out at the same time as the shield and I collapse to the ground holding my burnt arm to my chest, my breath coming in short gasps.
"I'm sorry," I manage to gasp out as I feel him kneeling in front of me,
"Don't be sorry, you just saved my life," he mutters as he examines my arm and then looks up into my face, just as my eyes are losing focus, I can feel his strong arms wrap around me at the same time as I lose any strength and slump forward.
Waking up I blink a few times as I try to remember where I am and what happened.
"How you feeling?" a deep voice says softly and I look up into the eyes of the most handsome man I have ever seen. He has dark, scruffy red hair and piercing blue eyes, his skin is tanned so deeply that you can barely see his freckles.
"What happened?" I ask groggily still trying to piece everything together, "Where am I?"
"It's okay," he soothes as I try to back away, fear clearly evident in my eyes and voice, "I won't hurt you, I promise, you're at my house on the reserve do you remember what happened?"
"It's all real isn't it, the magic, the dragons, everything?" I whisper and he nods a small smile gracing his features, "You have magic too," he adds,
"So I'm not just a freak that needs to be locked away?" I ask looking hopefully up at him.
"No, God no what do you mean, why did you never get a letter from Hogwarts?" he asks and I stare at him.
"What's Hogwarts?" I ask and he sighs,
"It's okay, we'll sort this out together, but I need help to work out what's going on," he mutters and I freak out at the thought of people knowing where I am, jumping to my feet and swaying on them quickly. The colour red glowing from me like it does when I have strong emotions, instantly draining me of energy and breath.
"I can't… they can't find me," I gasp and then his arms are around me and I am relaxing against his chest.
"I won't let anything happen to you I promise," he whispers and I nod slightly as he lowers me to the sofa again, "now rest okay, I won't leave you, I'll be right here," I listen to his voice as I drift off to sleep.
Waking up again I am aware of talking in the next room and my heart beat automatically quickens as panic begins to pulsate through me, "shhh, it's okay I promised I wasn't going to let anything happen to you and I meant it I'm right here," he says and I smile slightly instinctively moving closer to his warmth when I shiver and his arm reaching around me to hold me to him.
"What's your name?" I ask in a whisper,
"Charlie," he whispers back, "I'm going to look after you I promise you okay," he adds and I stare up at him and read complete sincerity in his face.
"Why? What if I put you in danger or get you hurt?" I ask shaking slightly at the thought, this man was already the best thing that had ever happened to me and I was terrified of it, of losing him, of him not feeling the same way.
"I can look after myself, we'll have others looking out for us, besides I always had a soft spot for those who have a connection to my dragons," he smiles before standing up and pulling me with him steadying me as I sway slightly on my feet. "Right now you need to come and meet some people that will help us understand what's going on,"
"Okay," I mumble letting him guide me through the door and in the kitchen where a sudden hush descends on the people standing there. A sea of red heads and a couple of others too.
"This is my mum and dad, my older brother Bill and his wife, my younger brothers Fred, George, they're twins," he whispers trying to abate the tension and making me giggle slightly, "My youngest brother Ron his girlfriend Hermione, their best mate Harry and his fiancé my little sister Ginny," he says as he introduces me to everyone and I stand shaking subconsciously moving further into Charlie's side as any of them step forward.
"What's your name love?" Charlie's mum asks me stepping forward slightly as the others watch.
"Persephone," I say quietly, as she pulls me forward to sit at the kitchen table with her opposite me, I glance around immediately but Charlie smiles encouragingly at me and sits beside me the others also taking seats.
"So Persephone, Charlie tells us that you didn't know about the magic world but you have magic ability," His dad says gently. I nod slightly,
"I just don't understand, I thought that all of this, dragons and wizards and magic was all made up and I was just a freak,"
"How old are you?"
"Twenty six,"
"You never received a letter for Hogwarts school?"
"No," I shake my head,
"Where did you live, where are your family?" at this question tears automatically pool in my eyes and I can feel myself shaking again until Charlie grips my hand gently in his and leans forward slightly.
"It's okay you can tell us," he whispers,
"I… I don't have a family. I mean I was abandoned when I was a baby, but when I was little strange things started happening around me especially when I was scared or angry or upset, they said I was a freak, that I needed to be locked up. When I was eleven they freaked out and beat me really bad. When I woke up I was in a kind of prison, I escaped last week," I finish and glance up as they stare at me in shock.
"Mum… what do you think…?" Charlie struggles to say his eyes never leaving me.
"I think it's quite straight forward," she says very quietly and everyone looks at her expectantly when Hermione suddenly starts as it clicks with her too,
"The first war," she whispers and everyone looks at her as Charlie's mum nods,
"She's the same age as us Ron, she would have been a baby in the first wizarding war, her parents must have been caught or killed during it like yours Harry, and when the people at the place she went to beat her they must have though she was… she was dead that's why she never registered for a letter, somehow she just missed the ministry's raider," Hermione finished and I gulp.
"Did they do anything while you were at this place? The people who kept you?" Harry asks eventually and everyone seems to hold their breath.
"Sometimes," I whisper, "they tried to a lot but I could usually hold them off with the things that happen when I need to protect myself, I guess its maybe magic, they only used to get me when my energy ran out and I had passed out," I say. We all sit in silence for a while.
"Okay first things first we need to clean your wounds and get you rested and fed," Charlie's mum says matter of fatly and I smile a little at her motherly ways as she walks around and helps me stand, "It's okay dear you will be safe with us, now tell me is there anywhere else other than your arm I can see here is burned?" she asks and I nod, hesitating before pulling my top over my head and turning around slightly so they could see the wounds I knew were reasonably fresh on my back and I hear the gasps behind me which makes me hang my head slightly, "Are these all of them?" Charlie's mum asks and I shake my head shuddering a little as I do so. "Right Arthur you and Bill set up international portkey's to the Burrow, Fred, George, Ron guard the room and set up more wards, Charlie organise some time off…"
"I'm not leaving h…"
"Charlie I'll be okay just come back," I say in a tiny voice and in two strides he is in front of me my head in his hands making my heart beat faster,
"I'll be back in less than an hour okay," he says and I nod, he smiles briefly and kisses me gently on the forehead before sprinting out the door.
"I've never seen him that caring or gentle with anything that's not a dragon or us," Fred mutters to George as they walk past me.
"Now dear it's just us girls now Hermione and I will heal your wounds as best we can and Fleur will make you something to eat while Ginny gets a bath ready okay," I nod again feeling mentally and physically exhausted.
Two hours later and I feel more relaxed and happy than I ever remember feeling in my life, my cuts no longer hurt or sting as they have been healed as far as they can be, Mrs Weasley says that some of the scars can't be healed but I don't mind. I have eaten the best food ever, although I could only manage a few mouthfuls as it has been so long since I ate anything. I have been bathed and had my hair washed and trimmed and styled and had a nap. When I wake up I sit up in slight panic and then see that Charlie is there and relax immediately as I settle back down on the bed and his hand brushes away the hair from my face.
"How are you feeling?" he asks and I smile up at him, my teeth feeling like they must be blinding him, they're so clean.
"Much better, I'm not sure how I'm ever going to be able to thank you, any of you," I mutter and he chuckles.
"You don't need to, just let me look after you,"
"I can look after myself," I say almost immediately.
"I know you can, I just… I want to be there when you need me," he says almost hesitant for the first time since I met him.
"Okay," I whisper and he chuckles again leaning down and letting his lips brush my forehead
"Okay so let me tell you the plan…" he starts and I sit up a little to listen to what was going to happen to me. "I've got a lot of leave left over from the last few years so I've taken a few months off to… well until everything is sorted. We're all going back to my childhood home in England and we'll speak to the Ministry of Magic sort everything out… don't worry Mya I'll be with you the whole time,"
"Mya?" I question and I could swear he almost blushes,
"A nickname, do you mind?" I shake my head and smile,
"Isn't a nickname supposed to be short for your name, that doesn't sound anything like my name?" I ask,
"Exactly it means no-one else will call you it, it's a nickname just for me to call you do you mind?" he asks again and I smile at him.
"No I like it," I whisper leaning up to kiss his cheek. Twenty minutes later we are all standing in the living room around what looks like an old can of drink, I am told what it is and what it does and a couple of minutes later am told to touch it along with everyone else and the next thing I know there is a pull behind my belly button and then I am on the floor outside an odd looking house in the English countryside.
"Persephone are you okay?" a voice asks and I look up to see Harry standing over me, I nod briefly shaking away the dizziness from my mind and taking his hand to stand up, almost immediately Charlie is be my side again.
"Welcome home Mya," he whispers in my ear making me blush.
"Right sweetheart, you're going to stay here, I'll make up Percy's room for you, its right across the hall from Charlie's and we'll head to get you some new clothes in the morning before we go to the Ministry," Mrs Weasley says cheerfully.
"Who's Percy?" I ask quietly and then regret it immediately as everyone tenses slightly.
"He was my other brother, between me and the twins, he… he died in the war that ended a few years ago," Charlie says quietly and I can see the pain on their faces.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to…" I start not knowing what to say,
"It's okay sweetheart you weren't to know he would have wanted you to have his room, I'll just go and get everything ready," Mrs Weasley replies.
"But… I… I have nothing I can't pay you back, I have nothing, I can't do anything, I…" I trail off not knowing how to convey everything I am feeling tears filling my eyes as I try and comprehend this much kindness.
"We don't care about that sweetheart you're in need of help, Charlie seems to trust you and that's good enough for us," Mr Weasley says making me blush and duck my head.
Its been two days since I arrived here, yesterday we went into this wizarding shopping place called Diagon Alley and it was incredible, Charlie had told me that there was a big war a few years ago and apparently Harry was the one who saved the world and is famous now and Hermione and the Weasley's are also famous now. I listen in awe and take everything in as I am led around, I get some new clothes and then we head to the Ministry. I am terrified when we get there and cling to Charlie like a lost puppy but as we are led into a room to be interviewed a nice lady comes in and waves her wand over me and then tells Charlie he has to wait outside while she examines me. Half an hour later we are waiting to hear the results when suddenly there is a great flurry of activity and then someone comes in who is greeted by the others warmly and introduced to me as the Minister of Magic himself, the head of the wizarding world.
"Ah Miss Black we've been looking for you for a long time," he sighs as he sits down.
"How do you know my name?" I stutter before becoming aware of the others suddenly staring at me in complete shock.
"Black… she's… you mean…" Harry splutters and I turn to look at him curiously.
"Yes," the minister nods and I stare around in shock,
"Will someone tell me what's going on please?" I ask feeling myself start to shake again.
"The Black family were one of the most powerful pureblood families out there and they were dark wizards…"
"I'm evil is that what you're saying?" I interrupt.
"No… no of course not, Sirius Black was as good as they come and a loyal member of the order right up to the end, he was your father,"
"What?" both Harry and I say at the same time,
"It was kept quite at the time, he was terrified you would be targeted by Voldermort and then we lost track of you, he never stopped hunting for you though," he says almost sadly.
"Do… do I have any family left?" I ask quietly almost holding my breath,
"You are the heiress to a great fortune, you're rich Miss Black," he says kindly,
"But do I have any family?" I ask, "Do I belong anywhere?" as I say this I feel Charlie take my hand and squeeze it and my heart does a funny little flip.
"The closest thing you have left to family is Harry here, a third cousin," he says and Harry and I both stare at each other in shock before smiles spread across our faces and we fly into each other's arms, I have family.
"I have family, I have family this is amazing," Harry is beaming and I suddenly realise that there are tears falling rapidly down my cheeks.
"You have us too, if you are Harry's family you are our family," Mrs Weasley says and that makes me cry harder if possible as I hug her too before sitting down.
"Now about the magic situation," the minister says and we all turn to stare at him again, I'd almost forgotten about that in the excitement. "You are a pureblood witch and a powerful one, we've sorted out your markers and made sure you are registered as living and your Gringotts account has been unlocked and is ready for you. I suggest you get yourself to Olivander's to buy a wand and then we have organised for the family and Hermione to tutor you, they are all more than proficient at this and can do it at home, you will then sit your NEWTS with me when you are ready," I am reeling by the end of this speech and by the time I have seen the huge pile of money I now have and have got myself a wand and got home I am feeling quite faint.
"Mya what's wrong?" Charlie says as I suddenly grip the side of the table,
"I… I just feel a bit faint, just a lot to take in," I manage as my knees buckle and he catches me.
"She is still weak, it's been an awful lot for her to take in, and we still don't know how much torture she went through, but she's skin and bone and clearly hasn't eaten a proper meal or slept a full night in a very long time, probably years," I can hear someone saying as my eyes flicker open. It was Hermione who had been talking and Charlie and Harry were both watching me with worried expressions.
"I'm okay… really, I just think maybe I should rest until tomorrow," I say quietly and they all agree as the two boys help me upstairs to my room,
"Night sis," Harry smiles kissing my on the forehead,
"I'm your cousin Harry," I laugh,
"Nope, sorry you're my sister now end of," he smiles and I smile too, Ginny blows me a kiss goodnight too and they both leave as Charlie perches on the edge of the bed.
"I'm right across the hall, if you need anything, seriously anything, call for me, or come and get me okay," I nod and he leans down kissing my forehead, a little voice in my head saying take what you can get, he see's you as a sister just like Harry.
It must be hours later when the nightmare hits me, and I wake up screaming in the darkened room, my entire body shaking and glowing a deep red colour which happens when I'm frightened, the door bursts open and nearly the whole family are standing there, in a second Charlie is beside me on the bed cradling me in his arms and whispering things in my ear about how I am safe and protected and the glow around me subsides as my breathing returns to normal.
"What happened?" Hermione asks stepping inside the now crowded room,
"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to wake you, it was… I had a nightmare," I stutter flushing with embarrassment.
"It's okay sweetheart, you are bound to have… effects, we all did after the war, you've been through a huge trauma, here…" Mrs Weasley steps forward and conjures a mug of hot chocolate before hustling the others back to bed.
"You sure you're okay," Charlie says from the doorway and I nod offering him a small smile as he leaves.
"he likes you," Mrs Weasley says as she sits on the edge of my bed and encourages me to drink up.
"He's been so kind to me, you all have," I whisper.
"You're family its what we do," she replies,
"No-one has ever been kind to me before, thank you," I whisper before yawning as I finish my drink which she takes from me and smiling she leans forward and kisses me on the cheek.
"You're most welcome sweetheart, now off to sleep with you," she says as she gets up, pausing at the door she turns back to me, "who knew I'd be getting another daughter, just when I think my family are all growing up and leaving me it grows again," she smiles and I smile back at her before closing my eyes and drifting back into a peaceful sleep.
It's been a month since my life completely changed and I am starting to really believe that things are going to work out okay for me for the first time, my studies are going really well and I'm learning quickly, just think a month ago and I didn't believe in magic or witches and wizards and now, well now I am sitting here levitating furniture around the room with my wand. I have started putting on a bit of weight as I can finally eat, and last night I ate a full plateful, granted it was a small plateful, but still I ate it all for the first time. The only thing that hasn't changed is the nightmares every night I wake up screaming at some point until Charlie comes to calm me down. Although two days ago I learnt a silencing charm and so everyone thinks I have stopped having them the last couple of nights and I have just agreed with them.
A week later and whilst everyone else is finally sleeping peacefully I am barely sleeping at all, every night still as bad as before, only with no Charlie rushing in now so no getting back to sleep. Luckily nobody seems to notice that I'm getting more and more tired, at least so I think.
Sitting up in bed screaming drenched in sweat, and with tears pouring down my face I try to catch my breath when I suddenly hear the door close and see Charlie standing in the doorway looking at me with an expression of concern, making my breath catch in my throat and my tears run faster.
"I told you to come to me if you needed me," he says almost harshly and I stare down at my hands still gasping for breath,
"I… I'm sorry," I stutter and before I know it I am in his arms again and I cling to him as I cry harder.
"Do you want to tell me about it? It might help," he says softly when I have calmed down and my sobs have become hiccups.
"I didn't want to keep waking you. You've been so good to me, you've turned my life around and made me feel like I have something to live for. For the first time ever I look forward to waking up in the morning. And what have I done to repay you, I've kept you awake at night with my stupid nightmares," I sigh more tears pooling in my eyes and running down my cheeks.
"Mya, since you came into my life a lot has changed, but it's all been for the better. Before you I was always alone, I didn't understand people, relationships, friendships not really, I had a lot of friends but none that I trusted properly or confided in, none that I wanted to spend all my time with. Just my dragons and then you appeared and everything changed. Almost as soon as I saw you I felt protective over you and all I want is to be around you and look after you," he says and then blushes as I smile at him slightly.
"I'm sorry," I say again in barely more than a whisper,
"Tell me about it," he says again,
"You should go to bed, I promise to not wake you again," I mutter,
"I'm awake now anyway and no-one else can hear… good silencing charm by the way, you really are an incredibly fast learner," he smiles and I giggle before I can stop myself.
"You need to sleep Charlie," I say eventually, "you don't want to hear about it,"
"Yes I do want to hear and I'm not going anywhere until you tell me, here…" and he pulls me back against him as he settles down on the bed next to me, grabbing my wand and enlarging the bed slightly and then turning me to face him, his arms still around me, his fingers brushing the hair back from my face.
"It's just memories really, flashes of what my life used to be. It's stupid really, I know I'm safe now, here, with you… with you all, but every night it comes back,"
"Tell me about it,"
"Tonight's one?" I ask,
"Yes let's start there," he whispers and I hesitate before finally nodding.
"I was in my cage. They, when I had been bad, they would lock me in a cage sometimes for days, it wasn't big enough to move in and I used to get sores on my body where I was lying on the floor. It was cement. They came for me, sometimes I used to wish they'd just let me die in there so I didn't have to do the next bit. They would pull me out and chain me to a wall and then they would punish me, it was usually whips and knives and sometimes just fists. In my nightmares it feels so real again, like its happening all over again. The worst bit is that I learnt not to scream, if I screamed they punished me more and so I don't understand why I keep screaming now," I sigh and I look up into his face briefly but can't hold his gaze as he stares at me with such pity and anger that it makes me shudder.
"I'm so sorry that you went through all of that, we were… we shouldn't have let that happen, you should have been in our world years ago… I'm so sorry," he says eventually and I sigh again and shift a little closer to him relishing in his warmth.
"It's not your fault, none of it and you saved me, I will owe you my life for ever, and I'll never be able to repay you for that. Ever. But can I ask you one more favour, I won't ever ask you anything again?" I say into his chest too nervous to look him in the eye.
"I hope it's not the last thing you ask of me, as friends we should be asking each other stuff all the times," he chuckles and I can't help the way my heart sinks slightly as he says the word friends, but of course why would he want me I am damaged goods after all.
"Oh," I say quietly after a while.
"What was the favour Mya?" he asks his fingers now tracing patterns on my back to soothe me.
"Will you… will you stay with me until I can sleep again," I whisper so quietly that I think for a second that he hasn't heard me.
"Of course I will Mya, I'll protect you, I promised remember," I can feel his smile as he presses a kiss to the top of my head and I sigh again as I settle down and close my eyes letting his heartbeat soothe me.
Waking up the next morning I feel rested for the first time in a long time and can't even bring myself to be too disappointed when I roll over to see Charlie has left already. That day I attack my studies with renewed vigour and within another two months I have sat my OWLS and passed them all and been pushed to get ready for my NEWTS, everyone is really impressed by how quickly I have learnt and how powerful my magic is. I have filled out and am looking more normal by the day now the scars are fading and I am happy. I am starting to be able to joke with the others, although the twins are still very careful not to sneak up on me after the first time when I had a full on panic attack and passed out. They were so sorry that they made me feel guilty. Even the nightmares are less now, Charlie held me every night for a month and then I noticed that I started to be able to sleep through for days at a time without getting them.
A month later and I take my NEWTS and pass them all, I am given a special recognition award for my achievements, power and brilliance in the face of what I have been through and we are all having a celebration tonight.
"Hermione can I ask you something?" I say quietly to her as we are getting ready, I have a new dress and am making a special effort as some of Hermione, Harry and Ron's friends are coming as well as friends of the rest of the family, they have all apparently heard about me and are eager to meet me which is scary in itself.
"Of course what do you need to know, although if I don't watch out you're going to outgrow me as smartest witch of our age and I'll lose my title to you," she laughs and I giggle back at her.
"I… When I'm… there's this person and every time I'm with them I feel all funny, but in a good way, I get like butterflies in my stomach and I feel safer and calmer but scared at the same time. What's wrong with me?" I ask looking at her nervously, my eyes widening as she starts to laugh.
"You're in love," she states and I stare at her open mouthed.
"Oh," I manage after a while, not really knowing what else to say.
"If I were you I'd tell Charlie how you feel, I think he feels the same," she smiles and I blush red hot at that.
"How did…" I start but she laughs again, "is it that obvious?" I ask smiling at last and she nods before we both start giggling.
Two hours later and we head downstairs to join the party, I am feeling confident as everyone comments on how lovely I look and search around for Charlie and seeing his head, I would recognise him separate from the rest of the Weasley's anywhere, taking a swig of my drink I glance at Hermione who winks at me and head his way and then he turns around and my whole world seems to stop. Standing next to him is a beautiful woman and he has his arm wrapped around her waist and she is resting her head on his chest.