Me: Sorry for the harsh Author's Note last chapter... and I forgot to put a dialogue.
Dani: Damn right you're sorry.
Me: Well, here ya go! I might be updating later than usual this time, so... yeah. Hopefully this will keep you until two to three weeks later. Got a lot of stuff to do.
Aaaanddd... here's the story!
"FREAK! COME OVER HERE!"
Dani closed her eyes and counted. 1... 2... 3... 4-
"FREAK!" she called, louder and angrier this time. Clenching her fists and gritting her teeth, Dani glared at the wall and seethed. After taking a well-needed deep breath, she walked down the stairs leisurely and calmly. At least, to an observer. For Dani, she was too busy wrestling her inner hatred and turn it into cool indifference to stopping herself from entertaining the idea of stomping. Plus, that will mean a death wish.
"Yes, Aunt Petunia?" she heard herself say. Her voice was falsely sweet, and all Dani could think about was how sweet the Dursleys' screams would be if they were tortured. Upon entering the pristine, immaculate living room, she was met with cold, judging dull brown eyes glaring at her.
"Two letters arrived," she spat. She threw two envelopes at her and jutted her chin out. After backhanding Dani who blinked her eyes close once more, she marched right off, leaving the witch behind. Dani sneered at her, then picked up the envelopes her aunt chucked at her.
She wasn't surprised about the first one, but she, however, was surprised about the second one. An unfamiliar wax seal shone brightly on the envelope, spelled to look like gold. The other was the Hogwarts letter, in which she stuffed in her pocket. Her rage was forgotten when she unsealed the envelope and read the letter inside.
Merry meet, Lord Potter-Slytherin-Black-Gryffindor,
It has come to our attention that you have not been receiving our monthly updates concerning your accounts. We apologize for our error, and had began to delve in the issue immediately. Your magical guardian, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, has failed to attend one of the meetings concerning your wealth, so we had questioned him. Of course, none of the answers completely satisfied us, but eventually he said something that put him in a verbal trap.
We had investigated, and found much to our embarrassment that Albus Dumbledore has never once shown you any of these. We had assumed you were aware of his many withdrawals. We deeply apologize.
Details will be discussed on August 25, 12 PM. Failure to arrive wouldn't mean total dismissing, however please remember we are the handlers of your wealth.
May the blood of your enemies and wealth always flow,
Ragnok, Potter Family Manager
It didn't take long for Dani to finally process the letter, and when she did, she closed her eyes. The anger was coming back. Sigh. She was starting to develop a migraine.
Second year didn't look as dull as it looks now.
This was going to take a loooong while.
She went up the stairs to grab her cap. She planned to go to Diagon Alley again to buy Tom's Christmas and birthday gifts plus her school supplies. Who knows? Maybe by the year they would get more expensive, the gifts she'd give to Tom, she meant. Practically bouncing down the stairs in her excitement to get in touch with magic once more, she opened the door and shut it, sticking out her wand in her right arm.
Ah. She loved magic.
"Good mo'ning, Miss! I'm Stan Shunpike, the direc'or of them Knight Bus!" he said happily. Dani waved at him to stop talking, knowing what he was going to say.
"Diagon Alley, please." she smiled charmingly. She handed him twelve sickles, and Stan Shunpike beamed at her. Nodding, he led her to a chair, and Dani rightfully braced herself.
"'Ere we go!" Stan cried. Suddenly, the bus lurched and they were on their way, two voices roaring with laughter. Dani herself had a peaceful, serene smile on her lips, while the other passengers looked at her dubiously. Dani relaxed and found herself closing her eyes, letting sleep take her to the deep, comforting blackness of... well, sleep.
She shot awake when the boss teetered dangerously then swayed, falling to the ground.
"Diag'n All'y, folks!" the shrill voice belonging to Shunpike said. Shrugging, Dani followed a few green-faced witches and wizards, looking as healthy as she'll ever be. Nodding to Shunpike, she made her way towards the doors of the hidden pub, the Leaky Cauldron. She pushed open the door and smiled at the bartender. She never called him Tom, though, even in her mind. Every time she tried, she would always get the disturbing image of Riddle in a white apron, wiping glasses. Slipping away to the brick wall she was already acquainted with, she tapped the correct bricks and the walls sprang to life, splitting in to two to welcome her to Diagon Alley once more. She subconsciously sniffed the air and relaxed when the familiar scent of magic sent her senses in overdrive. She heard the boisterous laughter of some teenagers, the excited giggles of some first years, the gasps of awe of some people and some mutters of how overpriced dragon skin was these days. Taking a deep breath, she stepped in the magical world.
After six steps, she started to feel a light tingle in her eyes. Rubbing her eyes with her hand and mentally cursing the harsh winds, (even though she loved the sensation at the same time) the black-haired girl went off in search of new robes. Smiling once she saw the wooden sign that read Madam Malkin's Robes for all Occasions, Dani calmed herself and let the coolness affect her aura, and she entered the shop.
She did not expect to see a burning blue surround Madam Malkin.
Dani blinked. She rubbed her eyes, and blinked again. Tendrils of blue smoke lashed around Madam Malkin protectively, promising great power. Staring at it disbelievingly, she almost choked when words came to her mind.
Exceptional at Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts
An excellent dueler
Mediocre in Divination and Arithmancy
Knows nothing about muggles, sciences, math etc.
Magical
Happy
She didn't know what the hell was going on, but she also knew this was one skill worth bragging about. She kept her mouth shut and faced the window instead.
Hundreds of auras clashed with one another's as wizards and witches walked down the street. Dani saw one with a cool grey in Ollivander's, and one look at it would make other people truly suspect it is Ollivander's aura. Horses ravaged around that one. Another random one was a murky green, and when Dani read the aura, it showed that he was mediocre in everything besides Herbology, which he was an expert at. He was also very excited, and has not touched the muggle world yet. Another was a bright yellow. Mediocre in Potions but exceptional in Charms and Transfiguration. Depressed. Knows the bascis of mathematics, sciences, everything muggle. Half-blood. Also, she was female. Wow, the longer she stared, the amount of information grows. Let's see... gah! No, never mind, definitely a hormone-driven female. Dani hoped she wasn't in her House. She attempted to see her own aura, but she wasn't able to.
She only realized she was at Madam Malkin's when a voice broke through her disgust.
"Hello, dear." the soft, gentle voice of Madam Malkin interrupted her train of thought. Train of thought and/or snooping at people's auras. Wow. That sounded so stalker-ish. "Hogwarts, too?" At Dani's nod, she was pushed into a stool. "New robes or a first year?"
"I'm a second year," Dani replied, knowing just why Madam Malkin seemed unsure of her age. She cursed her bloody height and wondered how Tom had become a giant, towering over her by a chest, neck and shoulder. She swore she would grow taller than him someday... or, at least the same height as him.
Madam Malkin smiled. "Okay, dearie." Dani wanted to scowl at the last word, but kept the charming look on her face she unconsciously applied when Madam Malkin spoke to her. "What House?"
"Slytherin." she said a bit shyly to fool Madam Malkin. She shifted her weight to one foot and clasped her arms in front of her insecurely, eyes downcast. She briefly say Madam Malkin's face softening.
"You know, I was sorted into Slytherin myself." she proudly stated. Damn, more acting. Looking up at her in shock, awe and admiration, Dani tried to read more into the aura of Malkin. No matter how long she stared up with those eyes, the only other information that popped up were Pureblood, sly, loyal, friendly
So... there's a chance to also find traits? This is one freaky skill.
"Really?" she finally asked. Madam Malkin beamed at her.
"Really." she assured, summoning Slytherin crests and spelling them to sew themselves on Dani's robes. She walked out of the shop and almost thought she was blind by the wild lashes of other's magic and auras. A violent red one just whipped at her, unlike the soft gentle tendrils of Madam Malkin's. She read that aura, looking for his traits, and was surprised to find them immediately. Scrolling through his traits, she rolled his eyes at the mentions of "violent" and "hot tempered". Obviously. He was also "sarcastic" too. Since when did magic detect sarcasm? Dani still found that a bit funny nevertheless, though.
Suddenly, she had an idea.
"Madam Malkin? Can I purchases a full wardrobe for boys?" she asked tentatively. "My brother, you see..." she lied, trailing off. Actually, for the muggle clothes, she got male clothes because the girl clothes... she shuddered to think of what she would look like with those skirts, dresses and blouses.
"Of course!" Madam Malkin smiled. "Muggle and magical?" Dani nodded.
When she exited the shop, she headed straight for the apothecary, saving the best (*cough* bookshop *cough*) for last. Purchasing both Tom's and her ingredients, she bought them and made her way towards a store selling trunks. She bought a normal trunk for him that was nearly identical to hers (sturdy, designs were painted black and red. Designs were dragons but the only difference was that his trunk had fire designs) and then finally went to the bookstore.
The first thing she noticed was that it was packed with people. Shouts and giggles were heard everywhere. She ignored them and inwardly scowled. Looking at her booklist, her eyebrow began to rise and rise as she read on. The list of defense books all had the same bloody author, a chap named Gilderoy Lockhart. At first, Dani was excited. Maybe their Defense teacher would finally let them study ghouls and vampires, werewolves and other creatures, as the titles of Lockhart's books suggest. She headed to the bookshelf and accidentally bumped into a black-haired man.
"Sorry," she apologized, looking up. Her bangs had fallen to her sides as she had done so, and she had mentally cursed her carelessness when she did so. Her scar was now in plain sight, and the light, blue eyes of the man widened in shock.
"Danyte Potter!" he yelled, and suddenly, and the people in the bookshop went silent. Dani cursed that man, too. He just had to blurt it out? Just like that? She cringed when she heard a high-pitched, but obviously male voice whisper her name. What the absolute heck? She swiveled around and faced a blond-haired, blue eyes male... or ponce.
"Danyte Potter!" he exclaimed once more, flashing him what was supposed to be a winning smile, but to Dani, it looked like a grimace. "Come here, up the stage! This will go down the history books!"
Dani was then pushed rather harshly towards the stage by cheering people, and she wanted to scowl. Instead, she planted a hesitating and confused face as she was shoved towards the wooden platform. Suddenly, an arm was wrapped around her waist and she was pulled towards the man. His aura was an ugly shade of muddy brown mixed with a vomiting green. Dani wanted to regurgitate herself after seeing it, and letting her aura mix with that. She read his aura quietly.
Gilderoy Lockhart
Specializes in memory charms and stunning spells
Mediocre in all magical, muggle subjects
Border-lining on Squib
Male
Slightly Magical
He was mediocre in everything! She didn't even bother looking for his blood status. She gritted her teeth and nearly scowled when a seductive voice whispered in her ear, "Smile for the camera!" What is wrong with this man?! And he was Gilderoy Lockhart? What an absolute fraud!
She zoned out a bit, charming smile on her face while she mentally throttled Lockhart. He was getting on her bloody nerves! Arrogant git. She, however, snapped out of her thoughts when Lockhart spoke,
"... Danyte would be getting free books! Signed! By me!" What an idiot. She twitched at the use of her first name. "I am excited to announce I will be returning to Hogwarts to fill the empty position of Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor!" WHAT?!
Okay, the Bumblebee might be insane and out of his rocker, but really? He must be intelligent enough to know just how incompetent the arrogant ponce is! Dani seethed. No, she refused to listen to his voice once more in the school year. At least make an effort to acquire intelligence!
A pile of books were crammed into her hand. Closing her eyes and trying to remain calm, she fought down the immense hatred she was feeling and stepped down the platform. Paying for her other books and Tom's own set, she scowled and went out, forcing her aura to give out calm and collected vibes. She sighed and walked leisurely to the pet shop, shrinking her bags when no one was looking. She entered the shop and was welcomed by a cheery looking woman.
"Hello, how may I help you?" she smiled.
"I would like to purchase an owl," Dani replied timidly. The woman nodded and showed Dani to the shelf where the owls were. Dani picked a snowy white owl and cooed at it, then purchased a lot of treats.
"Hey, girl," she muttered as she was out of the shop. "I'll show you to my room, and then can you go on your first assignment?" The owl hooted, amber eyes locking with her deep, green ones. Dani smiled. "Great," She exited Diagon Alley and headed for the Leaky Cauldron. Calling the bartender, she smiled and asked for a room. Once Tom showed her room to her, she thanked and paid him. She wandlessly added a charm so that once the package hit human contact, it would enlarge. She scribbled a letter and attached it to the owl's leg for good measure. She made the owl sniff the cap Tom had given her and she set him off, the confidence in her new familiar growing.
She lied down on her bed and drifted off to sleep.
LINE
It was a pain to get up in Wool's Orphanage.
The sight is depressing, actually. Hungry faces stare at you, deadened, eyes no longer filled with mirth, if they were ever, and you see grey everywhere. If the people in the orphanage taught you one thing, it was that you're almost on your own. You need to fight for the food you eat, charm the caretakers for the clothes you have on your back. You have to defend your rights starting from Day 1, and basically look out for yourself.
So, naturally, Tom reacted a bit differently than a normal person would when a snowy owl rushed at him. He cocked an eyebrow, knowing it was for him, and dropped his thick volume on the table. He stood up and reached for the owl, both eyebrows now raised when the owl nibbled at his finger. "Affectionate one," Tom muttered, while searching for any letter or package.
He calmly moved out of the way when several bags and a single trunk suddenly enlarged in front of him. A piece of paper flew in the air and began to swish around, falling on the black and red trunk. Tom blinked, and fingered the letter in his hands.
Tom,
I got your school supplies for you. I also got you a brand new trunk! Better thank your lucky stars that you weren't there. The git called Giledory Lockhart had the audacity to drag me by the waist to a stage. He was mediocre in all subjects. What the heck?! He should've at least tried! I sensed failure in his aura. The only good thing that happened was I got free books.
Oh, and I have this cool skill to read auras! I can't read mine, though. This nifty trick was the reason why I discovered Lockhart is a fraud. He specializes in stunners and memory charms, but is mediocre in everything else! Could you believe that ponce?
Before you give the stuff back to me via owl, I want you to know that I am filthy rich, and the money I would be spending my whole life wouldn't make a dent in my fortune. So, I gave you your school supplies. And shut it, Tom, whatever we have right now costs more than all the jewels in the world. I'm not trying to be sappy here, but it's late and I'm pissed at Lockhart.
Night, Tom! Er, I hope it's night there?
Dani
The letter was obviously hurried, Tom noticed off-handedly, staring at the letter dubiously. Did Dani do all of his shopping for him? Bloody paid for it, even?! Looking through the bags, his eyes widened when a full wardrobe stared back at him in one of the bags. Tom couldn't accept this. Signaling for the owl to stay, he brought out a piece of parchment and a muggle pen.
Dani,
I can't accept the stuff! You paid for it. I'm going to send them back. Besides, Hogwarts has a fund for me. I'll be able to purchase second-hand books and clothes.
Anyways, how's your summer? It's dreadfully boring here in the orphanage. I briefly remember telling you that in January. You say you live with your Aunt and Uncle? Well? How are they? Hope your Uncle gets that promotion he's been wanting! And tell your cousin you're in safe hands. If you ever meet Giddeons, tell her to back off and punch her in the face for me, okay?
Stubbs is being annoying again, and the caretakers have been beating me again. I hadn't left this room for eight hours! Sigh. Ah, well. Hope you get to read this letter! And do not send the stuff you bought back to me!
Tom
P.S. Wait... back up, aura-reading skill?!
Tom finished the letter, handing it to Hedwig. He shushed her, then latched the now shrunken wandlessly bags on the owl. The owl, however, shook the bags off, took the letter in its beak and flew off into the night. Tom scowled at it. It obviously had orders from its master.
Looking at the bags, he reluctantly slipped off from the grey clothes that resembled rags. Maybe he could accept Dani's gifts... just this once. He threw on a red shirt and some jeans, and grabbed a pair of trainers. Tom was surprised that Dani knew his size, and planned to question her later. Actually, he too knew her size...
Wow. That sounded worthy of a stalker.
Tom snorted, sorting through the bags. Hopefully Dani wouldn't be too smug when they see each other. He carefully opened his old trunk and lifted his pewter cauldron and leftover vials, parchment, ink and quills then stashed them in one of the trunk's compartments. He brought his new stash and set them alongside with the older batch of equipment. He placed all of his wizarding robes in the new trunk and half of his better muggle clothes in there, too, while the other pile of muggle clothes he kept in his old trunk. He left his first year textbooks in his old trunk, too, and put away all of the newer books.
After an hour of organizing and silently burning the now empty paper bags, Tom stretched with a smile on his face. This summer would brighten up greatly now that Dani had an owl.
"TOM, FREDRICK, BILLY, JILL! IT'S 6:01! GET YOUR ARSES DOWN HERE!" the awful voice of Mrs. Cole unfortunately reached his ears. Tom winced and sighed. He opened the door, feeling as if he was walking towards his doom. Walking the rickety stares, he was met with shocked stares. There was a deadly silence in the room. Tom ignored them and slowly walked towards his table, sitting down and placing food on his plate. As soon as he took the first bite, the slightly taller shadow of Mrs. Cole darkened his surroundings.
"Tom," she said coldly. Tom looked up to meet the head caretaker's eyes. "Where did you get those clothes?"
Tom swallowed the food he ate down. Actually, it wasn't really food. It was more like this disgusting mash of everything healthy yet cheap. "From a friend," he said, matching the tone of Mrs. Cole.
"And where did you get that friend?" she asked, eyes flashing dangerously.
"At Hogwarts," he smoothly answered, shoving a spoonful of muck in his mouth. Mrs. Cole slapped him, resulting in him choking and marched out. Tom glowered at her but didn't say anything.
Maybe I could tell her just how powerful Dani is...
LINE
The next morning, Dani woke up bright and early. She yawned, swinging her legs off of the bed and was surprised when amber eyes stared at her.
"Hedwig," she said, smiling. "Your name is Hedwig." Hedwig hooted in agreement and zoomed towards her, dropping a letter in her hand before returning to her seat. Dani smirked as she read the first sentence and grinned proudly at Hedwig, noticing the lack of promised bags, before reading the entire letter. Still smirking, she quickly penned a reply.
Riddle,
Merlin, learn how to accept things! I take it Hedwig hadn't been too keen on letting the packages be resent back to me. Smart girl.
Oh, I forgot to tell you that Uncle Vernon received the promotion! He was really happy, actually! Yeah, sorry about Dudley being too overprotective. He thinks I'm going to end up marrying you. I do not know why, but yeah. Life at Privet Drive. My aunt's also thinking about enrolling in gardening lessons. She always wanted to engage in agricultural stuff.
How's your summer? Tell Stubbs to piss of or something of the like, I don't know. Haven't seen Giddeons yet, but I promise I'll look out for her face.
This summer is boring. You know, the usual stuff. Well, except for the aura-reading. It's like I can literally see auras! Bloody awesome, right? I can read moods, statuses, what you're good at, etc.
Well, gotta send this off!
Dani
Passing the letter to Hedwig and giving her some treats, she watched the owl go, looking pretty happy. Dani sighed and sat on her bed, dreading the fact she had to go back to Privet Drive. Maybe if she stayed a bit longer... or never.
Dani shot up from her bed, eyes widening at her thoughts. Bracing herself, she prepared herself to be magically transferred to bloody Privet Drive, squeezing her eyes shut.
But the pain didn't come, and she was not thrown back to land on Privet Drive. Cautiously opening her eyes, she looked around. Still the Leaky Cauldron... did the blood wards really break?
LINE
I must be seeing things.
Tom's eyes widened when suddenly, brownish wires coiled around the area surrounding Billy Stubbs. From a girl, bright, emerald green ribbons soared around her, wrapping around her protectively as tears spilt. He closed his eyes because the lights were giving him a headache. All the people in the mess hall had their own.
He stood up and went to his room to pen a letter to Dani.
LINE
As soon as Dani thanked the bartender for the simple breakfast she had had and entered Diagon Alley once more, she once again cringed as a barrage of colors attacked her. Ah, well. She weaved through the crowd, only stopping to buy more parchment, and then heading towards Knockturn Alley, black robes billowing.
Dani thought of Knockturn Alley as the "bad part of town". In every happy, cheery town, there is one part that just makes any normal Joe's stomach turn. Said part of town is either called "the bad part of town", "Detroit" or "the gangster's paradise" by Dani herself. Believe it or not, every city, town, municipality, country, freaking universe has one or a lot more than one. Welcome to Detroit! Dani thought sarcastically.
She entered Diagon Alley, pushing her hood up. She inhaled the smell of burning wood and exhaled, relaxing in the surprisingly lovely smell of Diagon Alley's Detroit. A bunch of shoppers glared suspiciously at her before either scurrying, seemingly gliding like the pureblood aristocrats they are or ambling away. It was dark, and it was quiet, unlike Diagon Alley. Just the way she liked it.
She wanted to go and explore Knockturn Alley for a while, and probably buy her first illegal books. She planned to share them with Tom so they could be more knowledgeable.
Dani's brow furrowed. Since when had she began thinking about her and Tom's benefit, and not only hers? Dani sighed at the realization. Tom will give her another migraine by the end of the freaking year. He had already given in her one in the end of first year.
Has it really been only two days since she left Privet Drive?
She stopped by a bookshop and smirked, unconsciously morphing into a haughty pureblood heiress. Stepping inside the room, back straight, she greeted the bookseller with a nasty smirk.
"Good evening, sir. I would like to browse through your books, if that is possible," she said smoothly. The bookseller, already used to such tones, nodded at once, not even looking up from the newspaper he currently his nose buried in. Dani turned away snobbishly and glided through the bookshelves, picking an interesting book ever so once in a while.
Heading towards the counter, she pulled out her coin purse and spilled the coins on the counter, counting them. She swiped at the excess gold, smiled toothily at the bookseller, pleased to note the look of greed on his face. She inwardly cackled, sneering at the man, then stopped. A grin spread across her face as she tried her best to contain her excitement at her newfound discovery.
She no longer belonged to the Dursleys.
"Thank you for your service," she thanked insincerely, striding out of the bookshop gracefully.
Tom: That's it?
Me: Try writing your own story about yourself and Dani.
Dani: Cool power, though!
Tom: Ain't it?
Me: Remember I gave you that power. You'll see later on why... now, peace out, mah homies!
Tom: I didn't peg her as the type to throw peace signs around.
Dani: I... I don't even... screw it.