Hey guys! Here is you Christmas present from me to you. I hope you enjoy reading this chapter as much as I loved writing it. All usual disclaimers apply and please review as they are always appreciated!
Chapter 10: The Daily Prophet
The rest of February passes without any more notes from Eliza. I don't really have time to worry though as my OWLs are looming. The teaches assure me that I don't need to worry much as I was a passing grade student. All except for Professor Slughorn. After the unfortunate accident with Salamander blood he has been icily cold with me. He, grudgingly, gave Eli permission to tutor me this evening which I guess was a positive. But, I don't think it will help as I completely suck at potions.
But right now I'm late. I find myself dashing towards the Great Hall, uniform lopsided and bright hair messy. I already know I have slept in without looking at a single clock. There are already some eager Ravenclaw students waiting outside a charms classroom when I zoom by. As enter the great hall I get a few odd stares, but it is probably because my hair is turning a bright, hungry orange. A Hufflepuff boy bumps into me as I rush to the Gryffindor table. "Watch it" he hisses. I'm a bit taken back from his rudeness, but when I spot James sitting right at the end of the table, I quickly forget about the boy
"Morning Potter" I say grabbing a slice of toast. He stays silent which is unusual of him. He is also clutching a copy of the Daily Prophet rather tightly.
"You know Potter, its rude not to say Good Morning back" but my attempt of a joke falls on seemingly deaf ears. He starts to shake slightly which is unnerving. "Ja-" but James suddenly gets up from his seat and briskly leaves the Great Hall.
"What the hell" I mumble to myself as I rise from my seat too and quickly stuff my piece of toast in my mouth. "Potter!" I call when out of the Great Hall. I see him brushing past some students. He seems to be heading to outside school grounds, so I run to catch up with him. "Potter, Potter, Potter!" I keep calling out, he doesn't turn, but keeps walking ahead, hand still holding the Daily Prophet. The other students, waiting for Professor Longbottom outside a greenhouse, stare at our spectacle. What is his problem? I am tired to death at the moment and I don't need James acting like a drama queen. It better not be anything with Eli again because I have just had enough with their fallouts. Hair now a fed up burgundy I scream "James!". He stops dead in his tracks.
" What...The...Hell...Potter!" I pant out a few steps behind him clutching my chest. "What the hell? What the hell!" He repeats turning around to me. His eyes seem to wide almost in shock and his skin is pale. He walks towards me until he is right up close, but I stand my ground. "Maybe this will explain" he spits through gritted teeth. He thrusts the newspaper into my arms and takes a few steps back, waiting for my reaction. I unfold the newspaper and begin to read.
Harry Potter in St Mungo's!
Harry Potter is currently staying at St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries after being hit by several dark stunning spells. The incident happened late yesterday night when the auror office raided several Andrews households after some intelligence came to light.
It has leaked that many members of the pure blood family, the Andrews, are apart of a dark circle. The apparent leaders of this circle are Edmund Silas Andrews and Atticus Devin Andrews. We have limited information about this dark circle but RUMOURS are flying around about them aiding another dark uprising. Based in Berlin, the Andrew family seems to be in the middle of this dark circle and said to be torturing wizards and witches that are not 'pure'. It has been 21 years since the fall of Lord Voldemort and the ministry urges people not to panic.
The now older boy-who-lived, is said to be in a dark coma. Healer Angelina Weasley said that he had been Injured very badly due to the darkness of the magic, but please keep your large noses out of other peoples business. There will be more on this 'dark circle' in the Evening Prophet.
Everything stops. My thoughts, my voice and I'm sure my heart for a moment or two. I just stare blankly at the piece of printed paper. Atticus Devin Andrews...that's dad. My dad. A ring leader with Uncle Edmund?James laughs maliciously. 'Surprised Andrews?" He says. I lift my head to see his brown eyes darkened with worry and... Betrayal?
"J-James I-I"
"Where did you go last summer Andrews!" He asks folding his arms. Berlin. I groan in my mind. This isn't going to get any better. "I recall Rose telling me it was Berlin. Another big clue is your last names, Andrews"
"James"
"I'm sure your blood status is as pure as gold as well. Or is that just what your father says. I mean Voldemort also claimed to be pure blood, but we all know he was lying"
"Don't you dare try to compare my father to Voldemort" I say fiercely. I don't know why I'm defending him, but I have to. He is my father.
"My dad is in St Mungo's if you haven't noticed" He shouts.
"I know and I'm sorry" I say suddenly quiet. Knowing that my family did this the famous Harry Potter, to James dad is sickening.
"Yeah, well sorry isn't going to make him better! Your family...your parents"
"I didn't know they were doing this!" I protest, but James wasn't even listening anymore.
"You know what I need to get to Herbology" James turns to walk away but I grab his arm.
"James I really didn't-"
"Just leave me alone" he spits out and tugs his arm out of my grip and continues walking to the 5th year greenhouse.
I stare after him, not even bothering to call his now out. The students begin to file into their respective greenhouses, most of them sending me dirty looks.
I begin to pace, without myself even realising. A dark circle? A dark uprising? Was this what Eliza was talking about? Eliza! Whats happening to her? What about Selena? I can't really call her Grandma after this? What if she knew about this? Will the ministry come after me now? This can't happen. Stop, stop, stop, stop "Stop!" I scream out loud. I fall to my knees. I'm pretty sure I'm alone now, but sure the students of Hogwarts are still thinking of my dark family.
Put yourself together, Orianna. Slowly, I rise from the ground and make my way back towards the castle. I have herbology too, but I don't feel like going to lessons at the moment. I walk quickly through the castle, my footsteps echoing off the stone walls. The castle is awfully quiet, but I don't think I would like it busy and noisy either.
"Shouldn't you be in lesson?" The fat lady asks.
"Maybe you should just ask the damn question" I bite back.
"Password?" She asks a bit hurt but still haughty.
"Knotgrass" and I climb through the portrait hole and dash up the stairs that head to the girls dormitory.
I stay here for a couple of hours. I soon get a headache from the theories flying through my mind. The professors were probably wondering where I was, but the students were probably rejoicing over my absence. The family name tainted by dark magic. I lie in my bed and bring my knees up to my chest and let the tears fall uninterrupted. My hair turns into pathetic blue. I realise now that I am alone. Even if I hated my mother she was still there like every mother should be. The Hogwarts castle isn't comforting anymore, but strangely intimidating.
I lie in my bed determined to forget about the rumbling in my belly. Its probably dinner time now. I try not to think about dinner, but of course images of chicken legs and treacle tarts start invade my mind.
"Orianna" says a gentle voice. I peek outside the sheets and see Eli frowning at me. "What do you want?" I croak out.
"Umm maybe my friend back" she tries to joke but I just bring the sheets over my head.
"Orianna please-"
"No, Eli. Just hang around with your boyfriend he needs all the helps he can get right now" I say jealousy.
"I know that he's being a little cold right now-" I interrupt her with my scoff.
"So I don't think he would appreciate you being here at the moment" I know I am being a complete jerk right now, but I don't want to be pried out of my bed or talked to. I just want to be alone.
"Well do you blame him?" Eli says with a bit of annoyance. "I mean your family-"
"I know about my family, Elizabeth" I spit sitting up in my bed "so I don't need your or the Daily Prophet telling me about them"
"So you knew about them being the Forgotten or doing dark magic"
"Course I didn't...well I knew they were doing something dark"
"You what? You knew they were doing this kind of stuff and you didn't tell anyone!"
"I didn't know it was this serious Eli" It's excuse. I should've told someone. I should have told the ministry. Was I just protecting my family? You're a selfish little witch I think and I don't deny it.
"Well looks what it has escalated to! I mean you can't choose your family but-"
"Stop acting like you know everything Eli because you don't! You don't know about me or my family according to the Daily Prophet so just go away!" I'm standing up now. There is a tense silence when Eli's brown eyes just stare at me. They seem hurt, so I look away. "Eli-"
"Here you go" and Eli throws a copy of the Evening Prophet down on the floor "Just thought you would like to know what the press have been saying about your pure, angelic family" and she leaves slamming the door.
I sigh heavily and sit back down again on my bed. I am in two minds about reading the Evening Prophet. I mean, its just going to bashing my family and who wants to read that. But, grudgingly, I pick up the paper and read the article.
The Forgotten the new Death Eaters?
New information about this dark circle, how attacked Harry Potter, has leaked out. Apparently, they are called the Forgotten and target any blood status which is not pure. A phrase that kept coming up with the Forgotten is not tainting their blood. The Forgotten are said to have taken muggles, muggle-borns and half bloods hostage in the Andrews Manor in Scotland. The information is very scattered at the moment, but it is said that they have been experimenting with the hostage's blood. More information to follow soon.
I feel sick. Knowing my dad had allow this to happen is even more sickening. Knowing that I share the same blood as my mother is infuriating. Knowing I have lived with them both is humiliating. I feel like shouting out loud that I'm not one the 'forgotten', I'm not one of those animals. I'm not one of them! I mean what kind of stupid name is that anyway. The forgotten. The shock and loneliness that I felt before has been replace with unmistakable anger.
My hair is now a flaming red which can rival the Weasleys. I start by lining up all of the fine China my mother had got my over the years as stupid Birthday presents. I know now I wouldn't be getting any birthday presents in the next two days. What a happy birthday that will be I think sarcastically.
"Reducto!" The curse hits a blue vase and it shatters into pieces.
"Reducto! Reducto! Reducto!" A teapot, a tea cup and a saucer. It felt good smashing up my possessions. Knowing that at least I could try to remove my mothers presence felt better. Half an hour later and my trunk noticeably lighter, I fall into my bed exhausted. I'm not going to bother cleaning up the mess. I will leave it so Eli can see it. A visualisation of my frustration.
"Oh Hi Leala" I say when my grey owl flutters in with a dead mouse. I stroke her absent mindedly after she wolfs down it "I wonder what its like being a owl. I bet you don't have to worry about dark magic or having friends or people in general" Leala hoots acknowledgingly.
"Well I'm acting like a mad man, aren't I?" I chuckle and decide to take a shower.
I try to comb out my wet, brown hair, but my tired eyes start to droop,so I stop. Brunette eh. Probably because I'm exhausted. I am too tired to think or feel now. My thought are a mess, and I can't be bothered to sort them out. I fall into an uneasy sleep, my dreams being consumed of images of my blood hungry father.
Another chapter should be out before New Years. I hope you have a very merry Christmas and stay tuned!