Part 1 of Slytherin Pure Bloods - Shadowed Past

Chapter 3

An Owl Delivers Mail

Grace awoke drowsy and sleepy-eyed the next morning. Getting changed into her new favorite T-shirt and jeans that she'd bought the previous day. Shoving on her favorite black shoes, (black laces with red and white dragons). She put her locket on, what was inside it was a mystery. Grabbing her bag from behind the door (she didn't bother taking anything out of it) and left her room. Because the orphanage wasn't getting enough money, the old building was very rundown. The roof always needed fixing, because it always leaked when it rained. The front left window (by the front door) was smashed and the middle step was broken.

After a quick breakfast (a bowl of cornflakes) Grace walked out into the hall. It was just as shabby as the rest of the building; the only item in the hall was a very small table for little things like, the mail, notes and messages. Although it was like every holiday's, Grace couldn't help but feel as if something was different. Leaving through the front door, Grace wasn't feeling like her usual cheery self.

Walking down the street she passed the sweets shop, (the street was acting and looking like the previous day had not happened, while Grace didn't notice) but Grace didn't feel like sweets today.

Maybe tomorrow, she thought. She walked past the clothes shop, but again she didn't feel like buying anything, which was strange since she always saved her money for some cool new clothes (even though she was wearing her new clothes). She felt like sleeping all day, but continued to walk, until she had neared the park, where some of the orphans ran past her shouting 'Witch, witch, burn her at the stake!' (A few people turned in her direction at these words, though no one approached) Feeling depressed she sat down on the nearest park bench.

She sighed, how could today be any different then any other day? Grace had been so deep in thought that she hadn't realised that someone was nearby, until she jumped when they spoke.

'Hi there.'

A little shaken Grace said, 'hi.' Turning around, she saw a girl with short blonde-brown hair, her hazel eyes watching her with a look she could not place. The girl (her arms folded, leaning against the seat), sat down next to her, she was smiling at Grace with such happiness it was a little frightening.

'So...' she said. Grace got the feeling that she was asking a question about something she knew not.

'And how may I help you?' Grace asked sarcastically, wishing to be left alone with her thoughts.

'You're a witch are you?' she asked, obviously curious. Grace figured she'd have to be thick. Sure, Grace believed in witches, but they didn't really exist, or did they?

'Oh, yeah something like that.' Grace muttered in a sardonic way. The girl's eyes seemed to light up; evidently the girl didn't understand Grace's odd way of black humor. 'What's your name?' The girl look excited, though Grace couldn't comprehend why. Grace stared at the girl, she was the same age, possibly younger than herself, and Grace thought that she was weird. Her clothes seemed oddly familiar, yet she had never met this girl before.

'My name is Erina Frangipani. What's yours?' She couldn't help but wonder if she was always like this with complete strangers.

'I don't have one.' she said simply, but to her disappointment, the girl didn't seem satisfied by this response.

'But, surely you must have a name, everyone has a name?' she had been expecting this response, although she didn't really want to explain her life's pain, she did say one thing.

'I'm an orphan, so I don't have one.' The girl looked embarrassed, her cheeks had gone a slight tinge of pink.

"I'm sorry.' she said. Grace could hear the truth in her voice. And because she truly was sorry, she changed her mind and attitude.

Smiling at the girl, Grace said, 'although you can call me Grace, everyone does.' Erina gave her a weak smile in return and nodded solemnly.

Grace had quickly fallen into a cheerful mood; so cheerful in fact that she was soon sharing her sweets from the day before. Grace was amazed that nothing had melted, though her bedroom seemed to always be really cool. It was never hot in there, even when it was the hottest day of summer. They were deep in conversation for several hours, that it was staring to get late when they realised the time.

'I hope to see you soon, Erina.' Grace was sure she had made a new friend that day.

'You too, Grace.' Erina said happily, smiling. 'See you tomorrow maybe?'

Now some distance away, Grace looked back at her and called, 'yeah sure, see you, Erina.'

Upon returning to her bedroom, she placed her bag behind her door, as Grace turned towards her bed to go to sleep, she discovered a tiny little owl sitting on her bed, it had a piece of what looked like old paper, which reminded her of a scroll, tied around its leg. Untying the letter from its outstretched leg, since it wasn't in an envelope, and she would be able to read this one, she carefully unravelled it.

'To Sarah Ella Prince,

'I may not know the name you have been called since the time of your disappearance, but considering that owls cannot be fooled, I know this will reach you. If you find an owl sitting on your bed with this letter, than come and meet me outside a place, near the sweet shop, called the Leaky Cauldron. Where I will reveal to you who you really are.'

From your mother's best friend, Serena.

P.S. Bring the other letter with you.

Grace was shocked, who she really was? She stared at the owl, which was still sitting on her bed, as she began to wonder. Was there something the orphanage hadn't told her about the night they'd found her? She had to find out!

Asking the owl to please stay put, though she thought she was crazy. She was talking to an owl like it could understand her, although animals had always seemed to understand her compared to human beings. She ran from the room and headed down the stairs, straight for Mrs Neely's Office, where she found not only Mrs Neely but Miss Melrose as well. They were sitting drinking cups of coffee. When they had spotted Grace, she stared demanding to know about her parents. Well, you could just imagine the looks of shock on their faces, at her outburst.

Finally when she had quieted down, Miss Melrose said, 'We believe that your mother was the woman who was killed that same night.'

She looked at her, her face white with rage, 'How'd you know my name was Grace?'

'We didn't know who you were, and since no one came to claim you, after we'd found you, we named you Grace for your beauty and elegance.' Explained Mrs Neely.

Grace took a deep breath, 'so what about my father?'

Miss Melrose and Mrs Neely exchanged concerned looks,

'What about my father?' she asked again, this time more firmly.

'We don't know.' Said Miss Melrose at a loss.

'I'm going to go to the sweet shop tomorrow, can I have some money please?' she asked quite pale and shaky. They must have understood what she was implying, because they gave her twenty dollars to spend, and let her go alone.

Back in her bedroom, Grace wrote a quick message on the back of the letter, saying that it was late and that she'd be there bright and early tomorrow. She tied it to the owl's leg; she then watched it fly away, out the window into the night sky, and out of site.

The next day...

When the morning came, Grace thought that the last few days had all been a dream, the mysterious letters, the incident at the bookstore, and Erina Frangipani, until she saw the letters sitting on top of the dark red "Are Dragons real or Mythological" book. Sitting up, she grabbed the mysterious letters, the book and her bag (having left the money in it), and then rushed quietly out the door, sneaking downstairs. Wanting to go see this Serena, but not wanting anyone to know where she was really going, she snuck out the front door.

Later, outside the sweet shop, she was looking around for the Leaky Cauldron, but to no avail. After a while, she figured that someone was playing a joke, and was about to leave, when a tall woman, with long black hair and cold black eyes that caused a chill to rundown her back, came over and said, 'you're Sarah, right?

'I think so,' she said to the woman, something about her made her want to trust her, 'are you the one who sent the owl?'

The woman smiled, 'yes, Serena is the name. Come over here,' she pointed towards a seat not far away, 'and we'll talk.'