AN: Hey, welcome back to An Unforeseen Relationship! Fred, George, you two know what to do!
Fred & George: Romana Vargas 96 does not own Harry Potter!
Fred: She only owns Atlantia and Miya.
George: And Marluxiaisagirl owns Steven!
Romana: Thanks, boys. Now, onto the story!
I kept running until I was in the middle of the Dark Forest. I fell to my knees, crying onto a large rock. Why would he say such horrible things? Why would people be so…mean to others just because they aren't the same? "Why are you crying, Atlantia?" a female voice asked. I jolted up, turning to see a small girl with silver hair. She was wearing a white dress, no shoes, and sunflowers were in her hair.
"I-I'm crying because people are so mean. I don't understand how people can be so cruel." I whispered, turning back to the rock. I never had liked for people to see me cry. It was unbecoming for a young lady.
"People are strange. They make others feel bad about situations. It is nothing to worry about, Atlantia." The girl said.
"H-how do you know my name? I've never met you before." I asked, confused.
"You may have never met me, but you have seen me before. Atlantia Malfoy, Gryffindor. Your parents weren't pleased, were they?" The odd little girl asked me.
"No… Wait, I didn't see you." I said, looking closer at the girl.
"Yes, you did. Come, I shall show you the way out." She said, and walked off. I followed quickly behind.
"Where's your home?"
"Nature is my home. I live here, in the Dark Forest."
"Where's your family?"
"I don't have one."
"…" I stayed silent as we walked through her Forest home. "It's so… beautiful." I finally said as we reached a lake.
"I'm glad you think so. I've always liked it here." The girl said, looking at me. We walked along, and before I knew it, we were outside the Dark Forest. "You should go on back to Hogwarts. If you ever need a friend to talk to, there's always Hagrid. He doesn't care about Blood status, Houses, or names." She turned around and walked back to the forest. Realizing that I didn't catch her name, I turned.
"Wait! I didn't catch your—" I stopped, seeing a white fox run into the forest. "…That was you?!"
"That was who?" A boy's voice asked me. I turn around, caught off guard, to find a tall Ravenclaw boy in front of me.
I stood there in silence. He stood there in silence. It was all very awkward. "Umm…" I bit my lip, trying to make a conversation. "I'm—"
"Atlantia. I know. You're the Malfoy girl." He laughed. "Don't worry, I'm not one of the ones to judge before knowing."
"…" I stayed silent. I wished all people were like that. Not judging you until they fully knew the way you were.
"… I'm Steven." He said, throwing his hand out for me to shake. I looked at it for a moment, before smiling and grasping it.
"It's nice to meet you!" I said.
"So, come, sit." The Ravenclaw boy led me to the lake, and we sat. "So…tell me about yourself."
"…" I was silent yet again. I didn't know what to say. "Well… I was born Atlantia Celestia Malfoy, the first child of Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy. As I grew up, I found an interest in magical creatures, especially Unicorns. I also had an involvement in Muggle books… Especially ballets and novels."
"You like Muggle things?" Steven asked. "I thought your parents would never let you have those kinds of things."
"I used to sneak off and go to libraries… I found so many interesting things about Muggles. So many interesting things. Did you know they were the ones that made cameras…and cars… and ice cream… and –"
"What is ice cream?" He interrupted.
I gaped at him. "What are you even-? I can't—I… You are going to get ice cream with me one day. It is literally frozen heaven."
"Okay…?" He sounded unsure. I laughed, my eyes brightening in the way they always do. "What else about you?"
"…I learned how to dance at a young age. My parents hold many balls, so… it's common for me to dance. I also sing, but it's unbecoming of a young lady…" I trailed off, my eyes shifting away as I watched the water.
"What? No, it's not." He said, looking straight at me. "It's a great thing. Trust me, if you can sing, it's better than a lot of people. Maybe you should join the chorus group here…"
"…I could, but…" I looked at him, my icy eyes not looking directly at him, nervous. "I'm just not used to singing in front of people."
"So? Everyone gets stage fright." He said, smiling.
"…you're right." I said, "So what about you?"
"Well, I'm Steven Griswald. I'm a second-year Ravenclaw…" He continued telling me about himself. Finally, it became a conversation about random topics. We stayed like that until it was dusk. "Well, we should get back inside the castle. Do you remember the way to the Common Room?" He asked. I shyly shook my head. I had barely been paying attention to the prefect. "Don't worry, I can show you the way."
"Thank you!" I said, hugging him. It was odd for me to be affectionate towards many people, but at the moment, I couldn't help myself. He smiled, and we started our trek back to the school. He led me up a few staircases, and finally the familiar portrait of the Fat Lady came into view. Steven left me there, making sure I got inside safely. I gave him one last wave and turned to sit on the couch.
"Hi, Fred!" I said smiling as I sat next to him. "Hi, George!" I said to the twin.
"GAH!" Fred jumped, covering something. I blinked.
"Huh?" I asked. "What are you covering?"
"T-that's beside the point. Where were you?!" Fred asked. "We got worried when you didn't come back to class."
"Yeah, we looked all over for you." George said.
I nearly face-palmed. "Might have helped if you looked outside the castle…"
"You were outside?!" George asked.
"What happened?" Fred asked, concern all over his face.
"…" I looked away, tears threatening to pour out. I felt someone pull me into a hug.
"Tell us… We'll do something about it for you…" Fred gently whispered into my ear.
"F-Flint…" I whispered. "He said something, it set me off, and I ran into the Dark Forest."
"You ran into the forest?!" George exclaimed. I quickly covered his mouth.
"SHH! I did, but it's not as bad as we thought… In fact, I met a girl there." I whispered.
"Who?" Fred asked.
"That's the thing, I didn't catch her name. But, she turned into a fox when she left." I explained.
"Do you think she's an Animagus?" George asked.
"I don't know, maybe…" I trailed off. "She seemed different. She looked our age, if not younger. She also didn't attend the school."
"How…" George began.
"Odd." Fred finished.
"Oh! I also made friends with another student; a boy named Steven. He's really nice. Can you believe he's never had ice cream before?" I said, excited to tell them about my new friend.
"Really?" Fred and George said.
"Really! He said he'd like to try some with me." I said, before looking at the fire. I didn't know what the two were thinking, but they smiled. "So, Fred… what were you doing?"
"N-nothing!" He exclaimed.
"Oh, really?" I asked, before looking at Fred, quoting one of my favorite lines from Alice through the Looking Glass. "First boy!"
"No." He said, hiding what he was holding.
"Next boy!" I said, looking at George.
"He was drawing." George said.
"GEORGE!" Fred exclaimed.
"Sorry, Fred. You know she'd find out sooner enough." George shrugged. "Just show her what you were drawing…"
"No!" Fred said.
"Please…?" I asked. He turned to me and saw my big pleading eyes.
"….Fine…" Fred finally gave up. He showed me the drawing. It was a wonderful drawing of a unicorn. I nearly gasped; it looked so lifelike. It was like it could come right off the page any minute. "...Well…? What do you think?"
"I think…" I looked at him, a serious expression on my face. "It's an amazing drawing!" I said, smiling. "I didn't know you could draw so well….or at all…"
He sighed a breath of relief. "I'm glad you like it…" He said, smiling. "It took a long time…"
"Really?" I asked, "Well… I love it~!" I smiled, giving it back to him.
"No, you have it…" He said, pushing my hands back. "I drew it for you."
"Really?" I asked, eyes widening. No one had ever drawn anything for me in my life! "Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!" I hugged him tightly. "I'll treasure it forever!"
I noticed a slight blush on his cheeks after I pulled away. "U-uh… O-oh! You missed some classes, so we got your homework for you." He said, handing me some parchment with instructions written on it, and an adorable little drawing of a cat.
"Thanks, Fred! I owe you one." I said, smiling. I yawned and stood. "Well, I'm tired. I'm going to bed. See you two in the morning."
"See you, Tia!" George called, as Fred said, "See you at breakfast, Celeste."
I went up the stairs and collapsed in my bed, consumed by dreams of curses and Fred.
"No, NO!" I screamed, pain hitting me. "P-please! No! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to get Gryffindor!"
"Yes you did. You were always different." "You're just like Sirius." "And Andromeda." "Don't forget Nymphadora." "CRUCIO!" Different voices shouted in my head.
I jolted up, tears streaming down my face. I looked outside; it was still dark. No one would be up yet. I walked downstairs to the Common Room, to see Fred still sitting downstairs. "What are you doing still up?"
"Couldn't sleep." He replied.
"Me either. Nightmares." I said, sitting next to him.
"Want to talk about it?"
"No… Trust me, you don't want to know." I said. Looking at the fire, I let myself calm down. I didn't know why or how, but his presence comforts me. I feel…safer around him. Finally, we both drifted off on the couch together.