The Truth About The Girl Who Loved

written by: Hermione Granger

Alisha Aries van der Austrelle was only nine years old when she headed onto the spotlight for the paparazzis of the wizarding world to take. Her face became the headlines of the Daily Prophet then for two-and-a-half weeks simply for walking her familiar, Cat the cat, who had sadly died before she could step foot into Hogwarts' School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. And when she did, everybody knew her as the star of the school, the It Girl. She would hang around with the now deceased Bellatrix Lestrange, and former Death Eaters; Lucius Malfoy and Avery the 2nd.

She held one of the most famous names of all time, one of those reasons were due to the fact that she mysteriously disappeared before she could turn 17 on October 18. Many reasons were named, one of those being that she could no longer deal with the pressure of being famous, with parents who are abusive toward her brother. Her death was ruled a suicide for the longest time. Up until about twenty years after her death, several years after the First Wizarding War, where her case was reopened once again.

More evidences implied that the Dark Lord, Voldemort, who was formerly known as Tom Riddle Jr., killed her. During her fourth year, she had formed an intimate relationship with him and it had carried on until her seventh year, when she disappeared. Though no more evidences than that had risen then, her death was favourably ruled a homicide.

Until four months ago, at the time of the Second Wizarding War, when Harry James Potter - famous for being the boy who had defeated the Dark Lord as a baby boy, left with nothing but a scar on the forehead - invaded the Dark Lord's mind and saw what Voldemort had hidden all along in the cave by the seaside.

Alisha van der Austrelle's body was recovered soon after the Dark Lord's death and the inferi that covered the lake banished. She was given a proper burial where nearly half of Great Britain's wizarding world attended to shed their tears and thanks to the legendary girl, whose heart was so pure that she was able to love the most dangerous wizard of all time.

Early Life 1927-1937

(Source from Brent van der Austrelle)

Alisha was the youngest child of Anika and Arthur van der Austrelle, as well as the younger sister of Brent van der Austrelle. Born on October 18, 1927. It has been revealed from insiders that Mr. and Mrs. van der Austrelle displayed their favouritism toward her openly. They were far more strict in their eldest's life than they were to her, placing immense amount of pressure on him to be Head Boy and Prefect, as well as to respect and worship their blood purity. Although they neglected to teach the same lessons to the younger van der Austrelle.

It is widely known that Alisha was one of the few Slytherins in her time to ever befriend a Muggle-born (see issue 497 from 1949.) She also wasn't raised to be involved in politics and was taught that her life would glide easily through her beauty and money.

Lestrange, Avery, Malfoy and her had befriended each other through their families' closeness. Though unlike her, they were raised very differently and much stricter. This was never known to be a cause to any strain in their friendship as it has been said by insiders that they all remained close until the very end of all their lives.

1938-1945

Alisha met Tom Riddle Jr. when Lucius Malfoy invited him over to their group, where he immediately became their leader. Tom apparently took a liking to her and pursued her effortlessly, in a very oridinary way, on their fourth year into Hogwarts. They proceeded to date normally until their sixth year, where insiders (who prefer to be kept anonymous) have said that they have noticed a deep and unsettling change in the usually cheerful girl.

Alisha was described to be the prettiest girl they'd ever laid eyes on. A professor had even apparently retired for having feelings for her. But it turned out, that this was also Tom Riddle's plot to run the professor out of school. Alisha was said to not be very academically bright but always saw the best in people, namely; Tom Riddle.

Though they have said that they never saw anything different about Tom, they have guessed that it was something that has happened behind closed doors. The same insiders also assumed that the reason as to why Tom had kept her in the cave was because of a public kiss she had shared with Malfoy (who was Tom's best friend at the time.)

1945- unknown

Alisha never graduated from Hogwarts as she was kidnapped by her lover barely two months into seventh year (when Tom was Head Boy.) His very enemy, Harry Potter, intruded his mind to find out the intricate details about the life of Alisha in isolation. Tom had proceeded to hold two people captive; Hepzibah Smith and Dennis Bishop to stay with her for months before eventually forcing her to use the killing spell on them.

After that, no other known people had ever set foot into the cave whilst Alisha was there. Harry Potter also found out that Alisha had only survived through the fishes that would occasionally pop up from the water. She would use the bones of Hepzibah and Dennis to make fire to cook her meal. Tom eventually became who would be known today as Lord Voldemort, doing all sorts of heinous acts all the while having Alisha trapped in an Inferi-filled cave. And eventually, with her heart on her sleeve and body demoralized, she would die of malnutrition and dehydration.

In memory of Alisha van der Austrelle

Harry set the newest issue of the Daily Prophet down on the Gryffindor's table. It was the only Prophet that immediately sold at least 500,000 copies within the first day all around Britain, and he wasn't surprised at all. Headmistress McGonagall informed him that the deceased's name was worth a million galleons. And she was right, people were willing to pay any amount to read all about her.

But it wasn't about the money. Everybody needed to know her story. The right one.

Ron Weasley munched on a chicken wing beside Hermione, who looked at him judgementally. She rolled her eyes and shook her head, leaning her head toward Harry across the table. "I still don't get why I had to be the one to write it."

Harry was fiddling on the edges of the paper as he scooped a spoonful of chili. "Because you're the only person who I trust — "

Ron gave him a look.

"Besides Ron," he quickly added, to which Ron nodded to and proceeded to eat his food. "who wouldn't enhance the story for money. Alisha paid for something she couldn't control, like all of us did. She deserves to have her story out there."

Hermione's expressions saddened. "I can't imagine being trapped in a cave filled with disgusting dead bodies that would crawl out and drown you if you got thirsty."

Ron scrunched his nose and held the chicken strip away from his face and dropping it down on his plate. "Why would you say that while I'm eating?"

Hermione glared at him and gave him a slap in the arm, causing Ron to moan in pain and Harry to chuckle. "Shut up, Ronald!" hissed Hermione.

"It's hard for me to imagine anyone ever loving Voldemort," Harry scoffed.

"Oh, terribly," Hermione commented.

"Wasn't he handsome then?" Ron asked.

"I met him in the 2nd year, he looks like a muggle supermodel," said Harry with a laugh at the end. Only Hermione laughed as well while Ron sat there very much confused.

"Seventh year is gonna be fun," said Hermione. "The first year with no Voldemort, no death eaters, no mysteries. It's all over."

All of then sighed at the thought, especially Ron. Harry nodded determinedly.

"We'll finish this year for Alisha."