First years watched in awe as I seemed a bit awkward. It was extremely especially awkward that most of the First Years were taller than me; ugh. Still I could spot Mir just a few feet in front of Rosie who led the First Years and me. I couldn't control my eyes as they led to his perfectly dimpled a—"nd then she just went up and said 'forget her; she doesn't need you and you don't need her'." A first year girl rambled to her friend with a scoff as we moved on. She was, indeed, taller than me with a long plait of envious black hair that shone with a smirk of blue and skin so tan it was russet. She was obviously Indian. Her uniform held the Gryffindor symbol yet the border was different from other badges; it held a blue background behind the lion and a black border.
"She's a 'Mixer'," A hushed tone whispered to me from my left. I turned, shocked only to find myself staring into the odd face of Albus Potter, my dear cousin. I rolled my eyes at him for having scared me. Still I questioned what he had just said. "What do you mean by 'Mixer'?" I asked my cousin as he glanced nervously in Rosie's direction (who would kill him if she found out that he was distracting me from the tour). I glanced in my sister's direction as well, praying that she wouldn't personally murder my cousin. "I mean that the hat couldn't decide which is very rare but not impossible. So he mixed her with both Ravenclaw and Gryffindor." Albus explained with a slight sigh of irritation.
"HE CAN DO THAT?"
Instantly I clamped my hands over my mouth as everyone turned to stare at me and my loud statement. Still God saved us by having Rosie be practically deaf in the ears when she's into something (like explaining a portrait's history). Albus narrowed his eyes at me in angry slits before going on. "Yes, he can do that and will you please not try to have me murdered by your insane sister?" Al hissed at me as I merely smirked. "My bad," I whispered to him with a hopeless shrug. "The first 'Mixer' was Demi Alison in '03. She was the rarest of them all; Slytherin and Gryffindor." He explained to me freshly. I frowned at him with a sigh. "After her there were more 'Mixers' but no one was a Gryffindor and a Slytherin." Al emphasized. Jeez…Al was intense.
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The hall bustled with one voice after the other, sounds of dishes and forks scraping against porcelain; every sound would have been heard for a mile away had it not been for the magical barriers that protected Hogwarts from Hogsmeade and other surrounding towns. I had been staring straight down at my plate that sat, side-by-side, with my textbook. "Your first day and you got homework?" Albus chuckled as he sat next to me. I frowned at him but only glanced up to him before returning to my book.
"Nope; I have my mom's genes." I muttered as I stared down at my textbook. Al rolled his eyes at me (I just know it) before he began to fill up his plate, eager to use his magic and summon the dishes instead of having them passed to him. Suddenly the bench beside me shifted for another person and a pale hand stuck between my line of sight and my book. I looked up, about to knock off somebody's head, when my eyes lay upon Mir. He smiled sheepishly at me but shrugged. "I think that someone so skinny should be eating right." He muttered carefully, his pale cheeks flushing. I grinned in his direction, nodding ever-so-absently. "Thank you," I breathed to him, feeling my own cheeks grow warmer. I turned to stare into Mir's eyes, feeling my hands absently trace my book until my fingers reached the defined cover. With a loud SLAP the cover was shut and Mir was smiling in approval.
Without another word both Mir and I reached over to the dishes and began to pile up our plates. This was one thing that Mir was not embarrassed about; food. He piled his plate so high it practically reached over my head (but then again I'm short so…). Al frowned in my direction, obviously disapproving of my choice in company. "So, Al, what's on the agenda for you?" I asked with a deep breath as to not react to the slight tension between Al and Mir, mostly coming from Al. Finally Al begrudgingly ripped his sight from Mir to purse his lips at me in a wry attitude. "Not cool, Jeanie; classes are not as fun as you would believe." Al said as he dug a fork into his cream corn. I frowned at my cousin before releasing a sigh. "I doubt that much; it can't be any more mediocre than Muggle school," I said as I began to bite at a biscuit.
"Oh, believe me; this is all bookwork and 'turn to page this' and 'turn to page that'. Seventh year blows." Al retorted grumpily. I snorted at his response before rolling my eyes and returning to my meal.
The meal went on without a hitch as everyone enjoyed their reunions with friends and the first years began to make their friends. The hitch seemed to wait until after the meal for Mir, Al and me. Each of us began towards the Gryffindor house, later than the rest because of the stampede of constant new students and so we had decided to stay back. Of course Caspar had passed us.
Caspar headed in the direction of the dungeons, heading directly to the Slytherin house whereas we all shared the Gryffindor house. However we would each have different dormitories; I would have the fourth year girl's dormitory, Al would have the seventh year boys' dorms and Mir would have fourth year boys'. Of course I had expected as much however I had wished for more time with Mir. "So, what classes do you have tomorrow?" Mir asked curiously as he peered over my shoulder at my schedule. Al peeked over my opposite shoulder, each catching a glimpse.
Tuesday schedule:
History of Magic
Care of Magical Creatures
"We only have two classes tomorrow?" I questioned, curious. In America we had at least six. "Well, they're longer classes than usual so yeah." Mir explained. I grinned gratefully in his direction as Al faked vomiting. I sighed in content as I took a look around. The corridor outside of the Grand Hall seemed to be elegant in a mixture of dark and light beauty. Crimson stones created the floor, shining with an unknown sheen, as the bricks seemed a ruby red. The four large house hourglasses stood against the wall in a glass framing. I had no doubt in my mind that the glass was reinforced with magic. I headed to the Gryffindor hourglass and sure enough what my parents had said was true.
"There really is a crack in Gryffindor glass," Al stated with a grin. "A memorial for the Hogwarts War," I breathed with a small smile. Of course the war had been a sad event that cost far too many lives however it had also created an end to the tragedy that was Voldemort's rein. "A shame," I breathed as I stepped forward, reaching forward and brushing my light fingertips against the smooth glass. I froze instantly as I watched the hourglass of Gryffindor and as the rubies glistened from the bottom, shining with the dim lighting. And yet one stood from the rest, in the very center of the hourglass's bottom lay a single ruby that attracted my eye though it seemed no different from the others.
I stiffened more (if that was even possible) as the glass tinted a crimson, so dark it seemed nearly black. But above my hand there was no crimson. I glanced down at my hand, lifting it from the glass only to stare on in shock and horror. "What's wrong?" Al asked, curious and concerned. "I didn't even…" I trailed off as I watched the blood drip thickly from my wrist, the slash evident against my pale skin. "What didn't you do, Jeanie?" Al questioned again, seeming more concerned than curious this time. I glanced back at Al only to find that he had my wrist in direct sight; he would have seen it. And once I turned back…all was gone.
The blood that had dripped from my wrist, the blood on the glass, the slash had all disappeared; evaporated into thin air. "What happened?" Al asked, his brow furrowed as his eyes were wide with obvious concern. I glanced between Al and my wrist yet the cut was still gone and hadn't returned. "I think I'm just tired." I whispered, more to myself than to my cousin or to the concerned bystander, Mir. "You just turned white as a ghost, Jean; what happened?" Mir asked, his voice quiet and wary. I smirked at Mir, turning to him and shrugging. "I always look white as a ghost, Mir, in case you haven't noticed." I responded as I began to head to the staircase.
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The weeks passed by and we filed into the hum-drum of school life. Of course the classes were exceedingly more exciting than Muggle School however I'd learned it would be there every day; the magic, that is. Mir stood at one side of me as Al stood at the other, both eased by the first trip to Hogsmeade. However unsurprisingly Al's guy-friends, Travis and Coy, were at Al's side and Mir was constantly apologizing. "I'm so sorry for my brother's attitude," He apologized again as he looked at me with the widest eyes in the world. "It's alright; if I was honestly bothered I would've kicked his ass by now." I admitted with a shrug. He was apologizing because Caspar had recently come up and told Mir that they needed to be at a certain spot in Hogsmeade to meet up with Scorpius and that their father had asked them to get something for him.
"Are you sure that you don't want to come with us?" Mir asked once more. I frowned in Mir's direction. "I am pretty sure I would rather walk around alone than spend my first trip in Hogsmeade with your brother. Scorpius is fine however Caspar…he's downright arrogant." I admitted to him. Mir gave a small sheepish and slightly apologetic grin in my direction.
"Besides I would love some alone time to think things over; let it all sink in." I reminded Mir as we walked to the center of the cobblestone floor of the center of Hogsmeade. The fountain sat just off to the side of us as the bridge was slightly off. Shops surrounded us, most recently added within the past twenty years or so because of the Hogwarts war and of his rein. I sighed slightly as Al gave my shoulders a slight squeeze. "We're off," Al said however I'd mostly forgotten him being here. I nodded to my cousin as I shrugged. "Then you're off," I said and waved my hands in the direction that Travis and Coy had begun to lead. Al nodded once, his eyes locked on Mir and sending an easy-to-read glare that said "you better not be lying".
And with that my cousin and his friends were gone, leaving Mir and me alone in the center of the small town as most were heading indoors for shelter due to the overcast-definitely-going-to-rain weather that loomed overhead. Mir grinned in my direction once more, a sheepish kind. "Go to your brothers, Mir," I sighed to him as I attempted to smile. As much as I truly did need to think things over I would rather have him near me. "I'll see you at the castle." I said to him as I gave him a light, playful shove. "Sure," Mir muttered as he grinned in my direction. I grinned back, able to fully smile as I saw that he was concerned with leaving me. "Go," I urged my friend as he simply stood there, debating whether to disobey his father and brothers' orders or to leave me. Finally Mir turned and began to walk away. Not long later I was left alone in the area.
Not long after I was left did I begin to hear the plunking and rhythmic tapping of the rain. I stayed a moment, deciding to merely stare at my feet and think. Mir had begun to become my best friend and without him I felt naked. I wrapped my arms around my body, thanking my good fashion choice for having chosen a thicker wool trench coat today as it had been colder than usual this morning. Beneath I had a red V-neck sweater and a set of jeans before finally I wore my high tops. My hair was left down, wrapping around my face in thick tendrils as now they were soaked.
I stared at the ground before me, wondering where I should go, what I should do; anything. However something chose that for me as I instantly spotted what may be one of the most horrific sights I had ever seen. A curved spot of scarlet showed what seemed to be a footprint, bare and showing all toes of a human; then I spotted another and another…all leading into an alleyway between Blunder's Breakfast and Dragon's Drinks (some of the newer shops). I instantly felt myself shakily stepping forward, following the footsteps yet not entirely stepping over them. The steps kept coming and coming, each beginning to make a pathway as the last began to fade. I now knew this could either be a spell or an illusion.
I still followed the steps shakily, wondering whether anyone else would've been able to see it or if it was like the blood I had seen before and no one could see it. Both ways the rain was not affecting the blood and therefore this was magical. I watched the alleyway grow thinner and thinner, seeming to wrap around me as I guess I got claustrophobic. Abruptly a hand of vines lashed out from the brick wall of one of the shops, lashing directly in front of me and so close I could spot each and every thorn and pattern in its burgundy spine.
A whimper escaped me as I began to turn, frightened by this however another hand of vines lashed out before me. I was now boxed in by the swaying hands of vines as I cursed myself for having followed the footsteps, for having gone into this alleyway. "Jeanette Lillian Weasley," A voice rang out through the alleyway I stood, boxed between the vines. And as soon as the words, my name, were spoken the hands disappeared, leaving me frightened and still. A boy stood at the mouth of the alleyway, his face a mask of blank expression. Long tendrils of shining black hair dangled lightly around his face as he stood, pale and indiscreet against the scenery. He wore a long black sweater and a silver and green scarf, dangling over his shoulders rather than wrapped around his neck. He wore a set of black pants and a trench coat that appeared to match mine yet more masculine. However what truly got me was the set of brilliant blue eyes with thick spindles at the irises, dipping in. They were frightening yet somewhat familiar.
"Yes," I announced, attempting to act brave though I was still frightened out of my mind. The boy stood his back straight and full. "What, may I ask," The boy spoke. "Are you doing in this direction?" He questioned. I frowned at this as I began to take a shaky step forward. My knees buckled beneath me as the boy stood, stock-still and un-helping. "Didn't you…" I gasped out as my shins touched the ground and I sat, weak and unable to stand. I was still utterly frightened out of my mind. I had thought I had been about to die. God, I felt stupid. I cleared my throat before speaking again. "Didn't you lead me here?" I managed to squeak out. The boy cocked an inky black brow, not answering however I took that as a no.
"I did no such thing," The boy confirmed. I blinked wearily as I sat there. I was abruptly tired and hazy.
Drip…
Though rain fought around me, that sound sounded so loud at the moment. I turned my eyes downwards, catching instantly onto my wrists. Once more thick scarlet gushes of blood began to spill from unknown slits in my wrists. I looked up to the boy, knowing for a moment that he would not be able to see the blood however his eyes were wide and set onto my wrists…locked onto the slits of my wrists. He cleared his throat for a moment.
"What did you do?" The boy breathed, his voice still shaky beneath his breath. My eyes instantly shot to the boy. "You can….you can see the blood?" I hissed at the boy. The boy flushed, paler than before. "OF COURSE I CAN SEE THE BLOOD!" The boy roared at me, blood rushing to his face as he flushed with anger. "I am not stupid nor am I blind," The boy hissed at me as he took a strong step forward. Finally I felt my mind become clearer.
"Who are you?" I asked the boy as I managed to shuffle to the bricks of one of the walls. Though I was cautious I leaned against it, still entirely shaken and still completely weak. "Why would I tell you?" The boy hissed at me though his eyes cast down to my still-bleeding wrists. Now the blood dripped, staining my jeans and leaving me tired. "Because it's only fair; you know my name so I should know yours." I answered. The boy glanced down at my wrists once more before clearing his throat. "Eris Ridfoy," The boy announced to me. I frowned in his direction before nodding my understanding.
"You're a Slytherin…" I breathed out as I noticed his scarf's colors. Eris nodded slightly as he took another step forward, still remarkably stronger than me at the moment. I wasn't used to being weak; I wasn't used to feeling this horrible. I felt like a damsel in distress at this moment, somewhat dying in an alleyway from some unknown cause. "I suppose I have to report you here," Eris muttered as he turned out of the alleyway. I watched as he disappeared from the alleyway, not caring about going faster, about running. Damn Slytherin…
I sat in the alleyway, feeling weaker than ever before and remembering every time that I had ever collapsed from exhaustion when I had overdone working out. I remembered every time that my dad ran to my side, looking so worried and so concerned about his youngest daughter. I remembered every time that my mom had rushed to my side, dropping all of her most-loved books in dishwater or in food and just staring, shocked and concerned. I remembered every time that my siblings had gone to the gym, begging me to stop because my hands had bled raw. Why I did that was because I was the youngest; I was the smallest. I wanted to be the strongest. I wanted to have something special about me. Hugo was the oldest son; Rose was the perfect daughter. I wanted to be strong, physically at least.
I remembered every time I had been in the gym, thinking about how one of my uncles had died in war. I remembered hitting a punching bag so hard because I thought of how Neville's parents had to be institutionalized and had died insane because of Bellatrix Lestrange. But then I thought of how my own grandmother had killed Bellatrix with her own wand for having nearly killed my aunt Ginny. I remembered feeling everything from the war and not understanding why I was so attached to it. I remembered being in Muggle School and wondering why so many people had to die. I still don't understand why I constantly felt these things; saw these things from the war. I still don't understand why I am so attached to it.
Clack, clack, clack, clack, clack….
I looked up, shocked to find Professor McGonagall standing at the mouth of the alleyway. The elder woman with whiter hair and softer skin seemed almost frightened at the sight of me on the ground in the alleyway. "Miss Weasley!" Professor McGonagall screeched out. "Hagrid! Hagrid, come quickly!" She shrieked as she stood a while away from me. "We'll have Madame Pomfrey fix you up in no time, Miss Weasley," McGonagall announced shakily to me before she turned back to shriek for Hagrid once more. Then I was out.
A/N: If you don't understand what's happening keep reading because eventually it will all explain itself in terms. Anyways, thank you for reading thus far and I promise that this will be a good story.