LOST ORCHIDS: Through Forget-Me-Not Eyes

Pairing: Gilderoy Lockhart/Amara Orchis (Original Character)
Rated:M
A/N: Part of "Lost Orchids" series, but can be read by itself. Takes place during HP Order of the Phoenix.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter 1: The Visitor

Wednesday, December 25th, 1995

It was Christmas at the St. Mungos Hospital, and Arthur Weasley was a patient there that holiday ever since last week he dozed off at the Ministry and had been attacked by a very large snake, well an allegedly large snake Harry dreamt of, yet Mr. Weasley did not see.

Standing just outside the Janus Thickey Ward (Ward 49, it sometimes would be called), looking up at the sign just above the ward doors stood one of Arthur's visitors biting her dark lipsticked lip and fidgeting with her raven tresses of hair as she pondered whether enter or not to enter. She was a fair skinned beauty with a heart-shaped face and squared upon her forehead was her distinct family birthmark of a pitch black crescent-shaped moon. She was around Percy's age and was the Weasley family's first foster child before Harry. Her name was Amara.

She heard their voices from behind the other side of the door. Of all the places they had to wander, why here? She muttered softly to herself.

Suddenly the door opened and emerged two figures, one particularly wearing a hat topped off with a stuffed vulture one could not miss. It was old lady Augusta Longbottom and her grandson Neville. Amara gave them a polite smile and wished them a happy holiday, and with that she hugged Neville goodbye sympathizing with him. "It's okay," he whispered as always, wiping her tears before he and his Gran walked away.

Amara clasped her palm over her mouth and sobbed, choking loudly in tears. She was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. She heard their footsteps approaching, their voices getting louder from the other side, and Amara quickly regained her composure.

"There youguys are," were the first words that popped out of her mouth as the door was pushed back and held out by Ron. Harry stepped out along with Hermione and Ginny in tow. "I thought you all were heading for the tearoom."

"We were, but we got a little side-tracked," explained Hermione.

"Yeah, that idiot over there bumped into us," said Ron pointing to an energetic man with golden waves of hair unaware that he's flashing his pearly white teeth as he etched upon his side-table top with his luxurious feather quill.

"I see," was Amara's only reply as her steady gaze never drifted from the demented man.

"Are you coming?" interjected Harry as he and the gang had walked around her and headed towards the tearoom. It was as if she couldn't hear him. Amara just stood frozen.

"Amara," Harry said slightly nudging her arm with his poking finger. Her gaze broke and looked at him. She seemed lost. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, I was just… thinking."

"Okay," Harry understood reveling in the sad moment Neville had earlier with his mother. He assumed she felt the same way too. "Are you coming, Amara."

"Sure, just give me a second. I'll meet you there."

In Amara's complicated life so far, she had found only two loves. Her first love was Percy, whom she's known since she was eleven. At the moment, she and Percy were not on speaking terms due to his obnoxiousness and recent falling out with his family. Amara was the one who in fact introduced Penny, his ex, to him three years ago. Her second love was the reason why she had an introduction take place between the two in the first place.