The sliding door of my compartment slid against the floor, and in came Lily and Severus, looking exhausted but excited, their eyes gleaming with eagerness to get to the castle. They plopped down next to me and began to blabber eagerly about Hogwarts, assuring me I'd love it and that it'd be the best experience of my life. I listened to their chat with boredom. I avoided the arts of talking for several years now, before the bad thing happened, but Lily and Severus didn't seem to mind.
They understood.
"And wait 'till you see the Great Hall- they're these gorgeous candles that levitate in the air, and the ceiling is enchanted to look like a night sky, and there're humongous, steamy dishes on the tables made specially by house-elves- it's absolutely spectacular!" said Lily as she fingered a strand of fiery red hair between her fingers. It did sound amazing. I didn't show that I was the tiniest bit impressed- I stared at my fingers and chewed on my lip.
I felt her eyes on me. I looked up from my pale hands and saw her concerned stare, fixed pointedly at my face. I stared back.
"Hey," she said, her voice soft, "are you okay?"
I forced myself to nod and smile, blinking two times. About four years ago, right after the bad thing, we made up a language all of us could understand- one blink meant no, two blinks meant yes, three blinks meant shove it up your nose and ect. ect. ect., you get the gist.
"Nice try, but I know you're hiding something. Now tell me what's really up with you," Lily grabbed my wrists and made me stare into her eyes. But the scraping of the sliding door opening once more shattered the moment, and in leaked four laughing boys, completely ignoring us as they sat down, still joking and laughing. Lily's face contorted into utter hatred, and Severus growled under his breath. I fixed my stare upon the boy next to me, trying hard not to scream.
His steely gray eyes were familiar- too familiar. I wondered for a split second if he knew me from the before time. His dark curls framed his sharp, handsome face, his mouth the shape of a cupid's bow. He fixed his gaze on mine, and my eyes instantly darted down to my hands once more.
"Well, well, well," He said in a loud, clear voice, "who's the new girl?"
His voice was like Dad's. I winced and Lily protectively grabbed my hand and pulled it into her lap.
"Judy doesn't talk," She hissed between her teeth. She was wrong. I used to.
"Why, cat got her tongue?" Another kid smirked. His scruffy black hair almost hid his hazel eyes. Lily scowled at him, but I held his gaze steadily.
"Judy doesn't talk, Potter. You don't need to know the reasons."
Severus's voice was wavering as he addressed the boy, his eyes flashing with hatred. I put my head on Lily's shoulder, and her hand stroked my black hair with an affectionate air.
"Well, Mute, my name's Sirius," The handsome boy grinned, and I flinched as if he hit me. "And the prat over there is James. The two clumps in the corner are Remus-" He pointed to a boy with scars all over his face, which was hardly visible as he bent over a book- "and Peter." The boy he was pointing to was rather kind of fat, with blonde hair hanging over his watery brown eyes.
I just nodded. He was much too full of himself for my likings. In other words, I hated him down to the core. I wasn't a mute- I could talk, if I wanted. But I don't. I swore I'd never speak again, after the bad thing. But, a part of me still longed to sing those pretty made-up songs that Ronny and I used to sing, a part of me still longed to chatter excitedly like Lily and Severus.
And I hated myself for it.
"So," the boy named Remus asked me, smiling kindly, "you're a first year, right?"
I shook my head no. I came from the Salem Witches school back in America. My dad only moved me to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry this year. I wondered why he didn't do it sooner, staying in Massachusetts only made him more irritable. I remember right after the bad thing happened, the only thing he'd drink or eat was a bottle of beer and large slivers of cake.
"She's from the Salem Witches Institute of Magic, she's in fourth year like us."
"She's from the Salem Witches? But they're all so good-looking! And she's, well,plain, to put it nicely…."
For a second, I wondered about the consequences if I hit Sirius in the face.
"Shut up," Severus hissed at him, and he threw back his head and laughed. Instantly, a sharp piercing pain stabbed my heart. My brother's laugh rung into my ears, except it was more husky and low... and cruel. Ronny's laugh was melodic, rather than lyrical. Sirius's was lyrical, rather then melodic. I wondered if Sirius could sing, and tears swam in my eyes. I put my head on Lily's lap and shut my eyes tight, trying to hold the tears at bay.
"Oi, James, look- Severus has finally got a girlfriend! What's he paying you, Mute, 20 Galleons a day to pretend to be his girlfriend? Pathetic."
I tried to push out his hurtful words before I would whip out my wand and scream, Crucio. But no- I'd never use the Unforgivable Curses in my life; I'd rather die than become a monster like the Death Eaters.
"Sirius, stop." Remus's angry voice said, and I hear Sirius exhale.
"Fine, fine- see you around, Evans, Snivillius… Mute."
I heard the compartment door slam shut, and then silence.
Complete, utter silence.
Hey, people!
I'm going to make this quick and short: Judy Hallows isn't a Mary Sue. Or, at least, I don't think so. She's tough- I mean, try not talking for four years with your tongue still intact. Plus, she's going to show off her bad-ass side in the next chapter. And if you have a problem with the way I write, then just stop reading now.
As for the way Judy, well, narrated, I'm just going to say she's old-fashioned, because the Salem Witches Institute pretty uptight in those days. She can do nonverbal spells, and all in all she's a pretty powerful witch.
Oh, and one last thing: This fanfiction is based loosely on All the Truth That's In Me. I suggest you read it- it's a beautiful book, I think you can find it in one of your nearest Barnes and Nobles bookstore, if you're a Californian like myself.
Anyways, please review; I'd love your thoughts on Judy!
-Sarcastic Clapping, A.K.A. Queen Awesome of Epic Proportions, A.K.A. Lyricalyrics A.K.A. Potterhead Enthusiast, A.K.A. Proud RavenPuff (Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw, study on your Potterhead facts, people!), A.K.A. Mayor of Wackspurts and Head Chief of S.P.E.W., A.K.A. pure brilliance reincarnated into one divine form, A.K.A. President of the Sirius Black Fan Club, A.K.A. The girl with a thousand names but usually known as the way someone puts their hands together repeatedly in a snarky way