Chapter 3: Lies

Disclaimer: I own nothing but plot elements and Ocs.

Sorry for the lateness! I've had exams, culminating projects, and my internet has been on the fritz for awhile. I've been procrastinating to, which is normal for me but I've kinda lost my muse for the story. This does NOT mean that I won't finish it, it just means I'll be slow updating. I have lots of ideas, they just refuse to come out right. Anyways if you hate me and don't want to continue reading this, fine I understand but I would really appreciate you sticking around!

MUST READ THIS: I read over my posted chapters the other day and I realized that I had put them in the wrong year! Originally I had meant for the story to take place in their Seventh year so I apologize! I've changed it so yeah...

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My dorm mates started to stir at about seven am. Sensing that this would be a 'normal' time for me to "wake up', I got up, showered, put on my uniform, grabbed my books, and went down into the common room to wait for them. Sitting down on one of the squishy, red arm chairs I started to wonder if being friendly with the humans would be hazardous to their health. I almost ate Sirius last night! And humans are known to be affectionate and touchy feely. Would I be able to keep my thirst under control between now and when I hunt? Should I just close my self off from them or give in to my selfish side and keep their company? My inner argument was cut short as I heard students starting to come downstairs talking about classes, teachers, and… food.

Shit. I don't want to have to eat again, I shot out of the common room already making up an excuse that I'd overheard people talking about the kitchens and wanted to check it out. There was still a good hour before classes were to begin, so I went to check out the Library. I had looked around the Library briefly last night and I was eager to check it out thoroughly. I pushed open the heavy oak doors and was greeted by the smell of musk that came from the ancient tomes. It reeked of knowledge.

Stepping into the old room I waved in greeting to the Librarian and began to wander the aisles. I had to resist the urge to go and look at the section on vampires. What? I wanted to see if any were correct. I made my way to the advanced spells section. Ah, this is a section I could actually use. Picking five heavy spellbooks I carried them over to the nearest table and sat down. I had begun to leaf through them, picking up new spells here and there, when a frantic Lily came rushing into the Library.

Seeing me, she relaxed instantly. Walking over she spoke in a hushed voice, "There you are, we've been looking all over for you. We'd thought you'd gotten lost."

I put down the book I was reading, and looked up at her smiling. "Oh I was coming back from having an early breakfast and stumbled upon it, I got sucked right in."

Smiling back she replied cheerfully, "I know the feeling. Now, we have to get going or we'll be late for class!"

…

Our first class of the day was Potions which I really hated because I had never been good at potions. Think of the worst potion brewer and multiply that by oh, bout ten-ish and you come out with my skill level. I can prepare the ingredients, but putting them together is just a little bit harder.

As Lily and I walked to the dungeons she told me all she knew about everyone that crossed our path. It was nice just being able to talk with someone without any cares except getting to class on time. As we gossiped we stepped into the dank classroom. There were tables set up with students readying cauldrons and pulling out text books. Lily, completely comfortable walked over to a table that people seemed to avoid.

I followed her while looking around for Alice. Sitting down beside her I asked, "Lily, where's Alice?"

Not looking up from her preparations for class she tucked a piece of her scarlet hair behind her ear. She spoke distractedly, "Alice? She prefers Herbology to potions. She is an absolute genius when it comes to all things in the dirt. Me, I like putting things together."

I nodded and took the seat next to her. I was about to tell her about my horrible potion skill, when a booming voice could be heard, "Welcome back to Potions class everyone! Now, for today's lesson..."

At that point I began to zone out. It was just so boring, I sat there cursing myself for deluding myself that I might actually improve at potions. I should've taken Herbology. We sat there listening to the fat teacher talk. I think his name was Snailsnout or something like that. As he finished his speech, he flicked his wand and instructions appeared on the board.

The Drought of Childlike Innocence. Meant to create a safe space for a child's soul to heal and then, to grow up strong and well. Uncommon and only used if the child has had a traumatic experience. Difficulty level: Extremely hard.

Wonderful.

Lily looked excited at the thought of making the complex potion. I poked her shoulder. "Uh, Lily. I have to warn you I'm absolutely horrible at potions. I can get the ingredients and prepare them, but thats about it..."

She smiled. "That's alright. The only way to get better is to practice and have a good teacher."

I mentally rolled my eyes. I've had over four hundred years of practice, what could one more possibly do?

I went and got the required ingredients and ran into Sirius. Literally. For all the grace I got when I became a vampire I still had the fault of being horribly unobservant at times.

Attempting to back away, get the ingredients and make a break for it, my plan was foiled when he grabbed me by the arms and whispered in my ear, "Making a habit of being in my arms love?"

I took a deep breath and was about to let him have it, when that nearly uncontrollable need once again came roaring to the surface. His blood pounding through his veins, so close. Hot, thick, delicious.

I wrenched myself from his grip with a bit more force than strictly necessary. He looked slightly confused as if I was supposed to blush and giggle, instead of forcibly removing myself from his grasp.

Balling my hands into fists to keep myself from draining him I spat out, "Don't touch me."

Raising up his hands in mock-surrender he spoke quickly, "Hey, no need to get testy. I'm just trying to be nice."

I sent him a withering glare. "I don't get testy, I get angry. And if I was angry you'd know."

He grinned at me. "Well what can I do to see you angry? You seem like the type of girl who looks her hottest when she's angry," as he finished he waggled his eyebrows at me.

"Ugh! You're such a pig!" I yelled at him. Grabbing the things I'd come for, I stormed back to my and Lily's desk taking deep calming breaths.

Slamming the ingredients down on the table, I took my seat and viciously began cutting up Mandrake roots.

Lily raised an eyebrow at me. "What's got you so mad?"

I sent a death glare in the general direction of Sirius. I muttered one word, "Black."

She nodded sympathetically. "He goes after anything with a chest really. Your probably his newest challenge since you just transferred. The only reason he doesn't hit on me is because his best friend -James Potter- has been insisting he loves me everyday for the past seven years."

As she spoke about James, she cast a barely noticeable glance in his direction combined with a barely audible sigh. The gears in my head were working overtime. Looking between her and James it clicked. Lily liked James but wouldn't admit it. A wide grin spread across my features.

"You like him don't you?"

Her shock was evident. "H-how did you know? Not even Alice knows!"

I shrugged. "It's not that noticeable, but you can see it if you really pay attention. They way you glance at him when you talk about him, and the small sigh. So the real question is; what are you going to do about it?"

She flushed bright red. "I don't know. I mean I want to but..."

I nodded. "You don't how to."

"Yeah."

I thought for a moment. How could she yes and make it memorable?

"Lily," I began slowly, "How have you rejected him all these years? I mean was it just a straight out no, or did you accompany it with an insult?"

She looked thoughtful for a moment. "I've almost always insulted him. Why?"

I smirked. "Well how about the next time he asks you to go out with him insult him then say yes?"

Her face lit up like a firecracker. "Charley that's perfect! He'll never see it coming! Oh I can't wait to see the look on his face!"

I smiled at her then turned and started to cutting the mandrake roots again, but with a much calmer pace.

Class passed quickly after that, and as we handed in our finished potion the bell rang and the class rushed out the door, eager to leave the depressing place.

As we walked to our next class, we met up with Alice who began talking animatedly about the new plant her class had started working with. We went up what seemed endless amounts of stairs until we were outside our next class, Defense Against the Dark Arts.

Walking into the class room, I was chatting pleasantly with Lily and Alice. As we sat down near the front of the class, our teacher stalked in from her office. She had on a black leather jacket, dark tight pants, and black leather boots. She had a weathered face riddled with scars. Her brown hair was pulled back in no nonsense plait going down to the middle of her back.

A hush fell over the class as she walked, with a slight limp, to the chalkboard at the front. Our professor pulled her wand out from a concealed holster in her sleeve, and flicked it at the board. In a neat military-like script, the words appeared, "Professor Kasia."

Ah, her appearance made sense now. She was one of the greatest Aurors of her time. Weathered and beaten she'd taken the job here at Hogwarts to 'Teach the idiots who will inevitably control our country how to protect themselves.' It had been all over the Daily Prophet during the summer months.

She leaned forward on her desk and spoke in a voice that, depending on the circumstance, would send shivers down your spine, "Now I'm Professor Kasia, and since I don't know what your previous Defense Against the Dark Arts professors have taught you -and my teaching method has yet to be approved- we're going to be starting with something simple; Bogarts."

A groan came from the class.

She raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You think that Bogarts are harmless? Well I'll just give you a moment to think of how to make your fears... comical."

It was silent at that point, everyone was thinking about greatest fears and how to make them funny. Speaking of which , what was I afraid of ? Nothing in my present 'life' scared me and I think that the fears I had as a human would be long dead and buried.

As I pondered this, Professor Kasia had us line up, and we had begun to tackle the Bogart. There were snakes, spiders, clowns, heights, and other common phobias. Before I realized what was going on, my turn had come. I walked forward with caution, not knowing what the bogart was going to turn into. As it faced me, it began to grow taller, and take on the shape of a man. In the instant the 'man' set his eyes on me, I was no longer a strong, nearly invincible vampire, but the fragile, terrified girl of sixteen years old that had lived over four hundred years ago. My bogart advanced on me with an evil glint in his eyes and the cruel smirk I remembered pulling at his lips.

My wand slipped through my fingers and fell to the floor with a clatter as I backed away from the man I had once been promised to.

Brayden Kirkwood.

I backed up into the wall as memories flooded my vision. The abuse physical and emotional that he had inflicted on me flashed before my eyes. As he got closer I could hear him insulting me, "You'll never be strong enough, you'll never be good enough. You never conceived enough."

He came face-to-face with me and the stink of cheap wine was exactly as I recalled. There was an malicious glint in his eyes as he yelled, "I knew it! You witch, have you found someone else to sleep with, or are you still consorting with that Baldwin boy, filthy little whore?"

I could hear the shocked gasps coming from my classmates but they didn't register to me. All I could see and hear was my worst nightmare come to life.

His hand raised and even more memories I had locked away were coming back with a vengeance. I could see him raise his hand. Whether it was a painful memory or reality I could not tell. All I could do was brace myself for what I for what I knew was coming. His hand collided with my face and my head whipped to the side hitting the wall with a resounding CRACK!

As I slid down the wall, Professor Kasia herded the bogart back into the closet it had came from. My knees were pulled up against my chest and my hands were covering my face as I shook. Whispers broke out throughout the classroom, Professor Kasia walked over to me cautiously.

"Miss Addison, are you alright? Do you need something?"

Her questions broke me out of my painful memories. I shot up, leaving my things behind in my haste to leave.

I ran through the corridors, not paying attention to where I was going, pushing past various students and teachers while my eyes burned with tears that would never fall. I came to huge oak doors, and pushed them open and breathed in the fresh air. The change in air quality calmed me. I took a deep breath and headed for the forest. They always made me relax, probably because I could be myself without hiding anything. Magical creatures didn't fear my kind necessarily, they left us alone and we left them alone; It was in the chain of command.

I found a tree that looked relatively comfortable, climbed it and sat there for how long I didn't know, until I could see someone running towards my tree. As I stared out at the Black Lake, Sirius came upon my tree. He looked up relieved that he had found me.

"Hey, Addison! Get your arse down here!"

I jumped down from my spot on the tree, landing on my feet in front of him. "Stalking me now Black?"

He smirked at me. "But of course my fair lady! Such a pretty thing should be noticed!"

I rolled my eyes at his antics. "You make no sense Black. One minute you're completely infuriating, the next you act like we've known each other our whole lives!"

He laughed. "That's just who I am love. But really, we were worried about you. You know after what happened in class..."

I looked away and wrapped my arms around my torso. "I'm fine-"

He walked over to me and pulled my chin so that he could see my eyes. "No you're not fine. Anyone who had that kind of bogart cannot be fine with it! It's clear whoever that man was hurt you pretty bad before, and you're not going to get out of telling us who he is!"

I sighed. There was no way of getting out of this, but I could buy some time. "Fine, but I'm only say it once, so let's go gather the others."

We walked back to the castle in silence, my mind filled with plausible excuses and stories because there was no way I could tell them the truth. As we entered the stone halls of Hogwarts Sirius led me through a complex series of passage ways and corridors, which were meant to make the journey shorter.

Wonderful.

Instead of going to the Gryffindor common room, we stopped at a tapestry of a man attempting to teach trolls how to do ballet. He ushered me through a door across from the silly tapestry, and shut the door with a click.

In the room sat Lily, Alice, Remus, Peter, and James all with worried looks on their faces. I sighed, this was going to take awhile. Sitting myself down on a unoccupied chair I readied myself for the onslaught of questions I knew where coming. We sat in awkward silence for a few moments, until I broke it.

"What do you guys want to know?"

Lily asked the first question, "Charley, who was the man your bogart turned into?"

"Brayden Kirkwood, he was a friend of my father, he also was my father's favorite suitor."

They gaped at me. Alice looked horrified as she managed to get out, "But he was so much older than you! And he looked as if he didn't care about you at all!"

I shrugged. "That's because he didn't. It was going to be an arranged marriage the only factor in it was that my father wanted to combine our fortune with his. Neither of them cared anything for me at all."

Remus asked a question next, "When did this happen?"

Shit. I can't just say, Well Remus, this happened over 400 years ago! Though I thought my new and improved vampire self had long since got over the abuse. Oh! Don't run away, I swear I won't eat you!

Yes, that was definitely the way to go. So I went with the first thing that came to mind, "A long time ago..." Vague? Me? Oh not at all!

He gave me a look that said tell-me-or-there-will-be-consequences, yeah bring it on Wolf-Boy! Do your worst! Bet you'd be surprised when I called in the cavalry and whooped your arse into the next century (not saying I couldn't do it myself of course). But anyways.

I answered truthfully, "I was sixteen if you must know."

The shock returned to their faces.

The pudgy boy (I can never remember his name) squeaked out, "But that was only a year ago! How is that a long time ago?"

I resisted the urge to snort. Why do they insist on knowing? I mean we've only known each other for a day! How could they become so attached? Some things about humans I would never understand.

But this was where the half-truths turn to lies.

I didn't meet any of their eyes, I couldn't. I never liked lying, kind of ironic seeing as keeping what I am a secret relies on a complicated web of lies and deceit.

"I guess it wasn't that long ago, but I don't let it get to me. It's what he wanted. Me continuing to live normally is just another way to spite him."

The group was silent for a few moments then James asked, "Why did he hate you so much?"

"He was a muggle. My family goes back generations of purebloods, my father didn't care all he wanted was to combine our wealth with Brayden's. A few days before the... official betrothal my father was killed while traveling to London. Brayden accused me of having a hand in his death. He thought I was a 'witch'. Although his definition of the word and ours are on opposite sides of the spectrum, he still beat me to a bloody pulp for something I had no control over."

Their stares were uncomfortable to say the least. I didn't feel like I deserved the pity in their eyes. I had been saved by someone who cared for me and who had been my family for over four hundred years. Other than having the memories breaking free from their confines, I had been and still am perfectly fine.

Sirius spoke up for the first time since this whole attempt at being the Spanish Inquisition began. "How did you get out?"

I sat down on the floor cross-legged, the ends of my red hair suddenly became overwhelmingly fascinating. "My...godfather James Baldwin walked in on him abusing me. He threatened the monster and whisked me away never to see the bastard again. I've been living with him ever since."

Alice looked at me with sad eyes. "Charley, I'm so sorry-"

My head snapped up as I interrupted her, "I don't want your pity, the only reason I reacted the way I did today was that it caught me off guard. I'm perfectly fine. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have classes I have to go to."

I pushed past James who tried to keep me from leaving and rushed off to my next classes.

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I finally posted it! -GASP- I feel awful, but on the bright side I already have about half of chapter four done! So as long as I don't procrastinate to much it should be finished pretty soon!

A thousand apologies,

-Leslie