I do not own Harry Potter.
A/N: I know, I never do this, but this is mainly a warning that this chapter is going to contain a ton of flash backs.
It's not filler, but it does explain what went on after the previous chapter.
I don't really plan to follow much of the third book's story line from here, warning you about that also.
BUT I DO PLAN ON MAKING A SEQUAL! [And more books after that ;D]
So if you feel like skipping, you're going to need to sit tight for a few weeks while I juggle schoolwork and writing!
Thanks!
Rose xx
...***...
Over the past two weeks, my life had definitely taken a turn for the better.
When I ended up in McGonagall's office, I made a promise to myself. A really, really important promise.
To be honest, it was hard to explain. McGonagall is more like a mother to me than a teacher. She and I share something teachers and students rarely do.
She was more like a mother to me than anything. The mother that I never got to have. The one that was stolen from me as an infant.
Sadly though even her comforting couldn't steal my thoughts away from him. There was just no hating him for me. My thoughts constantly lingered on him and how happy we always were together. The laughs, the smiling, the cuddling and the nights spent curled up on the couch comforting one another.
No matter how hard I tried I just couldn't get over him. Especially knowing that he didn't even want to cheat on me in the first place.
Just thinking about it made a heavy guilt twist in my stomach. How I unfairly yelled at him and told him to get the hell out of my life. Not my best moments.
Along with guilt, I felt shame, and a lot of it. I couldn't get over how cruel I was to him. I mean, yeah he cheated, even if he wasn't the one to start it, but I could have at least allowed him to explain.
Right?
I've been desperately missing Hermione and her bucket load of advice. She always knew what to tell me when I felt down.
See, while I've been recovering I've also been hiding out.
Eating all meals in the kitchen, staying out of classes, even sleeping away from the Gryffindor room. I have a special room in McGonagall's private living quarters that I've been taking cover in so that I wouldn't have to face any people.
Yes, I sound like a coward but give me a break here!
I'm getting over something large in my life.
...***...
Flashback;
Raising my hand in front of me I paused, pondering on whether or not I should actually go through with this, but before I could even make up my mind the door was thrusted open.
McGonagall stood there with a dumbfound expression on her face before speaking.
"Mia, what's wrong? Were you crying?" She asked in a motherly voice, ushering me inside her office.
It was rather small containing only a desk and two chairs. One behind the desk the other in front.
No decorations of any sort. Not even a window.
"Y-yeah, I mean... I guess... I mean... I broke up with Harry!" I blurted out and my hand flew up to my mouth as I hastily covered it.
"Oh, dear. It's alright." She softened and began using a motherly voice that rivaled Mrs. Weasleys, something only I ever got to hear.
I shook my head with my mouth open. "How?"
"Because if you broke up with him, you had a reason." She replied and placed a comforting hand over my own.
"I did but I completely regret it now." I sighed.
"Whatever do you mean?" She furrowed her eyebrows together in confusion.
"Professor, are you sure you want to hear me ramble on about stupid teenager problems?" I raised an eyebrow. She couldn't actually want to be bothered with these stupid things.
"Yes. It's better than seeing you wallop around in misery." She mused with an amused smile before allowing her face to become serious again. "I'm serious about that though Mia. If talking about it and even crying about it will make you look less upset and troubled then I'm all ears."
"So you see, I was walking through the halls and I found this new corridor that looked vacant. Out of curiosity I wandered in only to see Harry and Ginny kissing right there." I cried and threw my hands in the air dramatically. She gave me a sympathetic look and I continued. "I flipped out on him in the common room the next morning and didn't let him explain before doing so, only to find out that Ginny snuck up on him."
"I remember my teenage boyfriends. I also remember all the drama they brought," She sighed, "but you and Harry seemed different. You looked more in love even for your age."
Wait, after she said teenage boyfriends, note the plural, I tuned out. Well I heard it all but I was still in disbelief about the first part.
"Boyfriends?" I asked, stressing the plural.
With a slight blush she said hastily, "Yes! I was a teenager too you know, and a rather attractive one at that."
I laughed. I hadn't exactly pegged her as being the beauty queen, or the dating type.
A picture of her in her teenage years that was sitting on her desk caught my eye and I picked it up out of sheer curiosity. Wow, she really was beautiful.
I let out a low whistle, holding up the picture with a suggestive smirk.
"Mia, why I would never!" She exclaimed and snatched the photo back from me with a slight blush appearing on her face.
"Whatever you say Professor." I smirked. "I feel so much better than I did just five minutes ago."
"You know, when your here with I don't mind if you call me Minerva." She said.
I liked it. It's a pretty name.
"Thanks. I still don't know if I can face Harry or anybody else at this moment." I sighed, shaking my head.
"You know, if you really want I can help you with that. I know how much it hurts when a boy breaks your heart." She said with a tone of sympathy in her voice.
Relief rose up in me. I wouldn't have to face him just yet, but there was no avoiding the confrontation eventually. I knew it would happen but I wasn't ready now.
"I really need it. You can't even know how grateful I am right now." I heaved a deep sigh and allowed me shoulders to relax, not even noticing how tense I was.
"I think I can. Now, come along. I'll show you where you're staying. I have room in my personal quarters here, and I can keep you out of class. I will be bringing you your homework though." Minerva winked and led me over to her area in the castle.
It was a pretty room. The walls were a soft lavender with white floral designs that accompanied them. The queen sized bed had covers that were the same lavender colour and the floor was a soft carpet. Even the desk was in perfect sync with the room, white with a spinning desk chair of the same colour.
It was a teenage girl's dream room.
"I love it! But, Minerva, why do you have this room?" I inquired, running over and plopping down on my bed, bouncing softly on it. She smiled at me calling her by her first name. It really rolled off the tongue well.
"This room shapes itself to however the inhabitant wants it to look. Since it was declared your room for the time being it decorated itself to look however you want it to." She explained.
"Again, thank you so much. I really can't even explain how grateful I am for you giving me a route to escape the world." I smiled.
She gave a dismissive wave of the hand, brushing off my constant thank-yous. "Don't mention it dear. Now you're going to be eating your meals in the kitchen with the house elves unless you're willing to face the rest of the school in the Great Hall."
"House elves." I said automatically. The Great Hall was absolutely out of the question.
With a slight smirk she left me to my thoughts.
...***...
See, that important promise was for me to forget all my problems. No more crying too. I had cried so much more than it could probably be considered hazardous to my health.
I groaned and slammed my head against my desk. "Minerva!" I called desperately.
She shuffled over to my door, peeking her head through the crack as she opened the door, just like she always did.
"Yes dear?" She asked.
"I need your help." I sighed and she walked over. "Can you explain to me what this word is?" I pointed to a rather long word.
"Ah, that word is improperly. It means something that is not done properly. Remember, words with either 'im' or 'in' mean that it's not done however the word is." [I don't care on whether or not that's correct xD] She smiled. Thank God this woman had more patience than I had brain cells.
"Thanks! You're a life saver!" I exclaimed and grinned, finally completing my essay. To most people that may not have made sense, but her ways of teaching always helped me out.
"No problem dear. I assume you're done your potions essay?" She assumed and I nodded eagerly, proud of my work. "May I check it over?"
I handed her the paper and she looked it over approvingly, giving a few pleased nods of her head every once in a while.
"So, how is it?" I asked, biting my lip nervously.
"Perfect. Some spelling mistakes, but just use the charm I taught you. It should correct those pesky little problems." She replied and walked back out of the room.
I wonder why she was this nice to me, and not everybody else. I looked at her like my mother when most kids thought she was incompetent of withholding a favourite.
Although she only treated me differently when we're alone, which I'm perfectly okay with. This was my final day in this room. Tomorrow I head back to Gryffindor tower and start classes again the next day.
The main upside though was that my grades had gone up.
I couldn't help but get the nagging feeling that everybody was starting to get worried though.
Even cooped up in here the rumors reached my ears. Some people thought I'd suddenly gone missing, others thought I had just magically died. Honestly it was bloody insane!
...***...
"So Dobby, what might you have for me?" I asked the little house elf, skipping into the massive kitchen.
Dobby turned from what he was cooking to face me. His little face lit up with a smile as he motioned to the frying pan currently sizzling atop the stove.
"Hello there Mis - I mean Mia." Dobby quickly corrected himself. I'd began forcing him to call me Mia when I began coming here three times a day. I absolutely loathed being called Mistress. To me, it was just like announcing to him that he was a slave.
I couldn't handle that after living with my father my entire life.
"Are you going to tell me what you're cooking or am I going to have to guess?"
"I'm cooking Mia pasta with a creamy sauce and steamed broccoli on the side." He replied looking rather proud of himself.
"Yay! Thank you everybody!" I exclaimed, something I was now known for.
Dobby somehow figured out that steamed broccoli and that really creamy sauce with pasta was my favourite meal that they made here.
He was almost finished too and I could already here my stomach growling in anticipation. The smell was killer.
When Dobby finished and handed the plate to me, I finished it in around three minutes. Dobby smiled and made me as much as I asked for. When I hit third helpings however, I had to cut it there.
"Alright Dobby, I think I'm finished." I laughed and pushed my plate away from me.
"I'll take your plate then Mia. I assume you don't want desert then?" He inquired. I shook my head and got up to leave the kitchen.
I heard the door swing open and turned to face whoever just walked in.
"Mia?"
"Is that really you?"
"Fred? George?" I raised an eyebrow.
What are they doing in here? Nobody but the staff, the house elves and I know how to get in.
"Where have you been?" George asked and pulled me into a tight hug that Fred soon joined into.
"Staying with McGonagall." I admitted sheepishly taking a sudden interest on the paintings on the wall.
"That was unexpected. Harry, Ron and Hermione have been worried out of their minds." George exclaimed and gave me a suspicious glance.
That familiar feeling of guilt welling up inside me returned. That's really just adding insult to injury right there.
"I had a feeling they might be. I just... I just couldn't face Harry right now. Not after what I did to him. McGonagall let me stay with her and keep from classes for a two weeks to let it all settle down." I explained and saw their eyes widen in shock.
"How? She never plays favorites with anybody!" Fred whined and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Maturity of a five year old." I muttered, receiving a pointed glare from Fred.
"He's right though. How did you manage it?" George pursued further. I shrugged.
"Well, she's sort of like a mother to me I guess. You know, the mum that I never had. Apparently she knew what it was like to have boy troubles." I sighed and made my way to leave. "Oh, and I'm returning tomorrow morning!" I added as I walked out the door.
Well that was an odd encounter.
My suspicions were confirmed though when I when George said that. I hated having them all worry about me for nothing, but I just hoped they'd understand!
Hermione probably will. I'm very sure Ron and Harry are going to be completely clueless though when Fred and George tell everything they just heard. Like I knew they would.
They're like teenage girls the way they gossip.
...***...
I groaned and rolled out of bed. The last thing I wanted to do right now was move back.
Everything just seemed so much worse than it really was. Why do teenagers always have to be so dramatic? I may be included in that but still!
It makes life so difficult and complicated. Much more so than it should be.
"Are you done packing?" Minerva asked, poking her head through the doorway as she always does. I nodded and smiled.
"I'm really going to miss it here you know." I smiled. "I've grown quiet attached."
Minerva chuckled and gave a nod, "Yes I know what you mean. I'm going to miss having you here."
I gave a soft smile and I finished packing in silence.
...***...
Thankfully the common room was completely empty when I walked back in. Everybody was at breakfast, so I wasn't actually expecting them in here any time soon.
Finally I had to go back. I wasn't getting the option, because I knew that I couldn't run away forever.
I walked up to my room and slowly began putting my stuff away before hearing a squeal from behind me.
"Mia!" Hermione cheered and ran up behind me, tackling me into an extreme bear hug.
"Jeeze Hermione, let me breathe!" I wheezed and detached her arms from around me waist.
"Sorry." She said sheepishly, looking down at the floor. I chuckled and placed the last shirt in my dresser before closing it.
"Don't worry about it." I smirked and hugged her this time. "Did I miss anything while I was gone?" I asked.
"Not really. Everybody was really worried about you though! You just left without telling us anything!" She exclaimed. "And you should have heard Harry tell Ginny off. It was incredible!"
I laughed at the scene as it played out inside my head. The bitch deserves it! Jumping a guy and kissing him when he has a girlfriend!
"I really am sorry about worrying you guys like that. I just, needed some time you know? I wasn't ready to face him after how mean I was." I sighed. She nodded knowingly before glancing down at my wrist. I followed her gaze and noticed the bracelet that adorned my wrist.
"You're still wearing that?" She inquired with a raised eyebrow.
"Well, yeah. Why?" I bit my lip nervously. What was she getting at?
"Oh I get it. You still like it." She answered with a smirk.
I blushed slightly, but didn't even bother denying it. I already could tell how I felt about him. Even after I said that I didn't want to be near him I knew that it was wrong.
Something about him just made me always want to be near him. My heart was drawn to him and I felt that tug whenever I looked at him.
Listen to me! I'm thirteen and talking about love.
"I guess I do. But I don't think he likes me back anymore." I sighed and walked over to my bed, plopping down on it lazily. "No normal guy would after how rude I was to him. I know we had our argument but it never got as bad as that had. Neither of us had gotten as bad as I had."
Hermione frowned at me. "You're being so depressing. Be happy! Come on, I don't want anybody else fighting."
"Who's fighting?" I shot up, suddenly all ears.
"Ron and I." She admitted and went on to explain everything that had been happening lately.
About how Harry and Ron had begun ignoring her not long after I left because she turned Harry's broom in that he had gotten and decided to not tell us about. He was going to hear from me about that. And also that Harry had forgiven her, but Ron still hadn't.
"Wait, why did Ron suddenly change his mind?" I narrowed my eyes. He's probably being a prat about something.
"You see Ron was going to forgive me, but Crookshanks killed Scabbers. Ron found a bloodstain on his pillow along with two ginger hairs. He blames me for having his beloved rat dead." She explained.
Wait, what?
"Scabbers isn't dead." I scoffed and shook my head. It was true. While I was in Minerva's private quarters I could sense his presence.
In my free time I had begun trying to hone my skills more with animals. I could even manage talking to them like I would talk to a normal person now. Minerva let me into a secret garden that very few students and staff knew existed, and I had a ton of sketches of it.
Tons of animals lived there and I enjoyed talking to them all.
"What? How?" Hermione asked in disbelief.
"I could sense his presence around the castle." I sighed, before adding something else I had noticed. "There's something different about Scabbers. Something I really don't like. I've never really told anybody, but he almost seems human in some respects."
She raised an eyebrow.
"You're telling Ron this." She said with a tone of finality and grabbed my hand, dragging me down to the common room.
"No I'm not!" I said defiantly and grasped onto the doorframe to keep her from pulling me out of the room. "I can't tell him yet. When I'm ready I will. Ok? Trust me." I frowned and she finally released her tight grip on my arm.
"Fine. You are telling him though." She said and practically stomped out of the small room.
...***...
I sat cross legged in the garden, my sketch book in front of me.
This was my favourite area of the entire castle. It was serene.
All the flowers were charmed to grow in either red, white, purple or pink. In the middle of the room was a pond filled with two catfish. One black and white, the other orange, white and black.
I just felt completely safe here. Like nothing could get to me or harm me.
Whenever I needed calming down I just came here and instantly calmed down. I even named the fish!
The black and white one was YinYang and the orange, white and black one was named Nino. My special sketch bag was now bursting at the seams from everything that I had crammed in there.
My thoughts had been cramming my head and here I could sort them all out.
Luckily I had managed to sneak out of the common room without anybody seeing me. To keep from having to talk to Harry I had kept myself cooped up all day in my room, even though I had classes.
Minerva said that if I still wasn't up to it classes today that I was allowed to take one last day off. Tomorrow though I had to suck it up and face them all.
Absentmindedly I began sketching a pink rose that was tinged white on the edge of the petals.
It was nice, feeling all my problems slowly drifting from me and allowing myself to be immersed by the beauty of the garden.
"Ahem." Somebody cleared their throat from the entrance of the garden, causing me to jump slightly.
I whipped my head around, catching a glimpse of who was talking to me.
"Oh, hi Harry." I said awkwardly, standing up and brushing myself off.
"Hey Mia. I just came to tell you that curfew was half an hour ago." He smirked and walked away, leaving me standing alone in the garden.