C.T drummed her fingers on the table rhythmically. She turned to the clock for the 10th time in the past half hour. She could hardly believe it was only five to ten.
Frustrated , she got up and paced around the room. Back and forth, back and forth. It was wearing and the eyes of the portraits on the walls were having trouble keeping up with her. As C.T paced about the room she remembered her nightmare from the previous night.
***
She found herself in her old room, laying on her simple bed. All of a sudden her room door burst wide open, her mother running in.
"Cristiana! Love, we need to leave! Quick!" Her mother motioned for her to get out of bed and follow her.
C.T rushed out of bed, and followed her mother out of the room.
"Mum? What's going on?" C.T and her mother had gone down the stairs, and towards the front door of the house.
There, was her father. He was looking out of the window as if he was waiting for someone.
"We don't have much time, they'll be here soon," her father said worriedly.
"Who's going to be here soon?" C.T asked. But her parents continued like they couldn't hear her.
Just as her father moved to open the door, the door was blown to pieces.
"Get back!" he screamed, shielding C.T and her mother from the blow.
Two figures clad in black robes and wearing masks stepped through the doorway.
C.T's father was whispering something to her. "You'll be alright darling. You must go to Hogwarts, they can't hurt you there. You'll be alright."
The two figures started to cackle, as they raised their wands. Their lips moved, and C.T shut her eyes, embracing death.
***
After what felt like another several hours, she heard a whooshing sound from the fireplace. Her uncle Kingsley stepped out.
"Took you long enough," C.T. said. She was in a foul mood. She had hardly slept after that horrible dream.
"That is no way to greet your Uncle," Kingsley said sternly.
"Morning Uncle Kingsley,"C.T. replied brightly and gave him a big hug. She looked up and asked, "How was the office?"
Kingsley grinned. "Your mother used to do that to our Father all of the time. Such a charmer, she was," he said wistfully. "You remind me of her more and more everyday."
C.T. smiled, trying to mask the pain she felt in her heart at the mention of her mother.
The feeling passed and she tugged on her uncle's arm, "Can we go now?"
Kingsley raised his eyebrow at her suspiciously. "As I recall, yesterday you were throwing a tantrum because I am making you go to school. Did you have a change of heart?"
"I did not throw a tantrum! Besides, whether I want to or not, you're going to make me go back to Hogwarts anyway. I might as well embrace it," she shrugged.
Her uncle Kingsley just shook his head and sat to eat. C.T sighed loudly and glared at him. He looked at her with an amused expression.
"Come on, come on! Let's get going!" She gave him a sheepish look. "Please?" she added nicely.
Kingsley shook the house with his booming laugh and nodded. "Alright, lets go."
Just behind her Uncle, C.T. stepped into the fireplace with her Floo Powder. "Diagon Alley," she pronounced the word loudly and clearly.
A moment later, C.T. and her Uncle were in the hustle and bustle that is Diagon Alley. It was much busier than last year. C.T. shuddered as she tried to forget the horrible memories of Voldemort's regime. She smiled took a deep breath of fresh air and followed her uncle, who pushed through the crowds with ease. They finally reached Flourish and Blott's bookstore. While the pair were looking for the books on the school list, they heard a voice calling their names.
"Kingsley!" It was Arthur Weasley, with family and friends in tow.
" How are things going at the Ministry? Must be a huge load to have to clean up the mess Fudge and Scrimegour put us in," he said, shaking his head.
"Arthur, my dear man, you have no idea."
C.T. looked at the man her uncle was talking to and instantly realized he was Ron Weasley's father. She introduced herself, and gave him a respectful handshake.
"Cristoph and Maria would be so proud of you" he said wistfully.
C.T. gave him a tight smile and then turned to the people who were next to him.
"Hi." she said softly. She had classes with the fellow Gryffindors, but the only one she had ever really talked to was Hermione. When C.T is in the comforts of her own home, well Uncle Kingsley's home, she is as loud and outspoken as she pleases. However, in front of her schoolmates she is painfully shy.
"Hi! So you're coming back too? I was so worried I would be one of the only Seventh year girls in our House to come back, especially because I heard from Parvati Patil that Lavender won't be coming back."
Hermione gave her friend a hug, while Harry,Ron, and Ginny looked at each other in confusion.
Hermione broke the hug and introduced C.T. to others. "This is C.T. , she's in our House. Actually, she has been in my Ancient Runes class since Third year."
The other three Gryffindor said a polite hello.
"Well would you like to come with us to get the rest of your school supplies?" Hermione broke in.
C.T. gazed up at her uncle. "Can I go?"
He gave her an encouraging smile and handed her some gold. "Of course!"
As they stepped out of the bookshop Ron asked, "What does C.T. stand for?"
Hermione slapped him on the shoulder and scolded, "Ron!"
"What? I just want to know what it means, is that a crime?" he said defensively.
C.T. smiled. "No worries, I get asked that a lot. My full name is Cristiana-Teresa Bella Ronaldo. That tends to be a mouthful, so I go by the initials of my first name: C.T."
"You're Cristoph and Maria Ronaldo's daughter? The famous Aurors? "Hermione asked in hushed tones. "You never told me that before!"
"I see you've heard of my parents," she said tightly. She felt anger bubbling up in side her, but with great effort she pushed it aside.
"I've read all about them! They put Bellatrix Lestrange and her Husband in Azkaban, not to mention a few others of Voldemort's followers," Hermione said excitedly, "How are they?"
"They. . . passed away. This past year, during the war," C.T. said. She felt the tears forming in her eyes.
"I'm so sorry," Hermione replied softly. Hermione rushed to give C.T a hug. The other three Gryffindors looked on awkwardly. They didn't know how to comfort C.T, seeing as how they just met her.
"Do you know who killed them?" Harry asked quietly.
" No. I don't remember anything about their murders. I don't know why," she said sadly.
"We really are sorry," Harry said sincerely.
"Yeah. . ."Ron echoed.
"It's fine." She forced herself to smile. "So, where to next?" she asked.
The group of Gryffindors headed towards The Three Broomsticks, talking about who they knew were coming back, when a cool voice interrupted them.
"Just as I was starting to enjoy this day this nasty rodent comes to ruin it "Ron said angrily.
"What do you want Malfoy?" Harry asked quietly.
"What? I can't even come over to try and have a friendly chat without you Gryffindors growling at me?" Malfoy smirked.
Ron stepped to him, " You should watch who you're talking to, Malfoy. Or have you already forgotten that without us you'd be dead right now?" Ron hissed.
Draco's eyes went a little wide as he remembered that day. He stepped back a little as he mumbled something.
Ron smirked at Draco's discomfort, as he turned back to his friends. Pretending Draco wasn't even there.
C.T hadn't met or talked to Draco personally. But since the others were talking to each other and Draco looked awkward standing there by himself; she introduced herself.
"I'm C.T., and you must be the infamous Draco Malfoy I have heard so much about," she said, trying to break the tension.
"Charmed to meet you" he said with a slight bow.
C.T. felt herself blush. Draco smirked and wordlessly left.
"Glad that's over. I can't stand to be near that ferret more then I need to," Ron said.
"Ron, maybe he has changed," Hermione reasoned.
He snorted. "Right. Malfoy's changed and I'm part hippogriff."
The other four Gryffindors began to laugh. C.T laughed weakly.
" I didn't think he was that bad," she shrugged.
The four friends gave each other knowing looks. Hermione quickly came to C.T.
" None of us have ever been on good. . .terms with Malfoy," she explained.
Ron snorted again. "That's an understatement."
"Ron," Hermione said reproachfully.
"What? He's a right git and you know it. Look here C.T, Malfoy is a bigot Slytherin "pureblood" just like his father. I'd stay away from him if I were you."
C.T. forgot about the warning as she and her schoolmates browsed through the stores. They moved on to more pleasant subjects, with Ron cracking jokes and Hermione scolding him. It made C.T smile. She felt like they could all be good friends.
By the end of the day, C.T. found herself having fun. Finally, after spending nearly the whole day together, the group of Gryffindors found Kingsley Shacklebolt and Arthur Weasley waiting for them.
"So we'll see you on the first day back?" Harry asked.
C.T. smiled. "Yeah, see you Monday!". As Harry and his friends turned towards the Burrow, C.T. and her uncle Apparated back to their home.
"So did you enjoy yourself?" Kingsley asked his niece with a smile.
"It was great! Harry, Hermione, Ron and Ginny are really nice! I'm actually excited to go back to school now. I think once I get to know them a bit, we all could be great friends. Although Draco Malfoy seemed a bit sketchy at first, from what I've heard of him, he really is nice."
She saw the cold look that had appeared on her uncle's face and paused. "Are you alright Uncle Kingsley?" she said with concern.
Kingsley ignored her and smiled. C.T. raised her eyebrows at the quick change of expression. There was something her uncle wasn't telling her. It wasn't the first time either.
"I'm fine. I'm glad to hear you had fun."
"What was that about?" she pressed. Something had struck a nerve and she wanted to know what it was.
"It was nothing," he said sternly, " I think it's time for you to go to bed."
"Men!" She rolled her eyes. "You never want to talk," she sighed.
She kissed him goodnight and started up the stairs to her room. She changed into her pajamas and got into bed. Instead of falling asleep quickly, she went over what had happened today.
It was nice to have some new friends. She remembered Draco Malfoy. He's not as bad as everyone says he is, actually he's pretty sweet. She smiled to herself. The year might be better than she had thought. C.T. fell asleep smiling.
A/N- Whew! That rewrite took much longer then I anticipated. Much thanks to my amazing proofreader/beta- Frannie! So I hope you like the rewrite, and keep reviewing and reffering to other FanFiction members! Buenas Noches!
