Hey Midnight:
I'm so, so, so, SO sorry to say this, but I'm going to have to miss the first day of school. I've come down with a severe illness and my parents are going to keep me home. I hope you can handle Hogwarts on your own. Actually, I hope you don't get caught or else your ghostly nature will be destroyed and I know you don't want to ruin that! Oh! I'll most likely be at Hogwarts by seven, so meet me in the courtyard by then, okay? Don't forget me in our time apart!
Love always,
Saffron
Midnight folded up the note before sliding it back into her full-length black trench coat pocket. Peering out from her closed trench coat was a long-sleeved black turtleneck and baggy black cargo pants, which draped over her black shoes. Her brown skin was paling in color, but only slightly due to the lack of sunlight over the summer, and her misty violet eyes were glazed over with strong concentration. Underneath her black FOX hat, some of her long, silky, soft raven black hair that was both straight and wavy, naturally, was flowing beautifully down her shoulders.
'My last year at Hogwarts and Saffron isn't even here for the first day. How crappy.' She thought sadly, sighing heavily before looking out the window.
The moon was just beginning to rise over the horizon, sparkling the waters like sapphires under a jeweler's light. The sky had a beautiful tint that night, looking like a soft light fire in paintings of gods or goddesses. The entire setting outside that one small window was just so magnificent that it could even make the gods green with envy.
Upon admiring the beautifully painted landscape, Midnight began to remember the first time she had ever met Saffron.
It was their first year at Hogwarts; Midnight had been sorted into Slytherin and Saffron had been sorted into Hufflepuff. Unlike her fellow Slytherins, Midnight was working past curfew on her ten-page essay on "Who started Transfiguration and why it is still used today" in the Library. Somewhere in the Potions section, Midnight had heard someone drop his or her books, followed by malicious laughing. Out of curiosity, Midnight had carefully slid over to the specific section, peering in to see Saffron crying as she slowly began to pick up her schoolbooks. Feeling some sort of pity towards Saffron, she began to help pick up her books, startling Saffron immensely once she had seen Midnight's house badge.
"Please don't hurt me. I'll just pick up my books and leave." First-year Saffron pleaded, pressing her books close to her, tears still rolling out of her ocean blue eyes and staining her beautifully creamy white skin.
"Hurt you?" First-year Midnight asked confused, holding Saffron's Care of Magical Creatures book. Suddenly, it hit her. The people that were bullying Saffron were obviously Slytherins. "Oh. I see. I'll just go now." She stuttered sadly, handing Saffron her book and getting up.
Ever since Midnight had been placed in Slytherin, people from the other houses either resented her or were scared to death of her. It did hurt her emotionally, but she was so used to being a shadow that it didn't bother her too much; she had no friends. Tears began to form on the rim of her eye as she began to turn away from Saffron.
"Wait!" Saffron called out, feeling guilty that she had treated Midnight so heartlessly. Midnight turned around to see Saffron already up on her feet, her eyes staring guiltily at the ground and a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry for acting like that. I just thought-"
"That I was like every other Slytherin?" Midnight interrupted sorrowful.
"Well, yeah."
"It's okay. You're not the first one who thought that. I'm guessing that the people who did this to you were girls and the three that did it were Pansy Parkinson and her followers."
"How did you know that?" Saffron asked curiously as Midnight dropped to her knees picking up the last of Saffron's books.
"Being in the shadows allows you to observe your surroundings." Midnight answered, rising back up and handing Saffron her books.
"Shadows? Don't tell me you don't have any-"
"Friends?" Midnight finished her sentence. "Honestly, no."
"I'm so sorry." Saffron paused, thinking of how she, herself, didn't have friends either. "Would you like one?"
There was a short moment of silence between the two girls. Then, a smile began to form on Midnights lips, making Saffron smile as well. From that moment on, Saffron and Midnight would always be friends, almost sisters.
Fading back into reality, the first thing she heard was the sound of footsteps and voices approaching her compartment. Her head snapped towards the door as the people began to draw nearer and nearer. She backed up into the corner tightly, her heart racing out of fear. The only person she had ever been in contact with, not including her foster father, was Saffron. Other than her, she was too afraid to speak to any one else.
Before she knew it, the door knob began to jiggle and the voices had become louder, almost so loud for Midnight that she was almost ready to scream. As the door began to slide open, she jumped to her feet, preparing to run.
"I knew father would get it for me." Someone said once the door was open.
Standing in the center of the compartment, frozen with fear, she faced four people she had known very well. The leader of the pack was a tall boy with paling white skin, ice blue eyes that never showed warmth, and loose platinum blonde hair. His name was known widely through Hogwarts as Draco and he was wearing an expensive, all-black suit, revealing his wealth.
Beside him, to his left, was a pug faced girl with slightly paling skin, doll-like black eyes, and cropped dark brown hair. Midnight's eyes widened when she realized that she was finally facing Pansy Parkinson.
Behind them were two gorilla looking boys, both with dull expressions on their faces. As she had observed over the years, they were known as Draco's bodyguards, Vincent Crabbe, the short chubby one, and Gregory Goyle, the tall dumb one.
"Who are-" Draco began.
"I… I have to go!" Midnight softly and worriedly said before running out of the compartment, sliding past Pansy.
She ran down the hall, her heart racing and tears began to form on the rim of her eyes. At that moment, all she wanted was for Saffron to hold her and tell her that everything would be alright because she would always do that when ever Midnight felt afraid or alone. So, without Saffron there, she continued to run until she ran straight into a passing student.
"I'm so sorry." Midnight apologized after landing hard on her butt, wincing in pain.
"It's okay. I should have been watching where I was going." The person said warmly.
When she opened her eyes, she was stunned at who she was staring at. His emerald eyes were hiding behind round black glasses, a lightning bolt shaped scar was carved above his right eye. His skin was creamy white, some of his jet black hair swimming across his forehead. He was wearing a blue shirt with dark blue borders and nicely fitting jeans and he was smiling right at her.
"Hi." Midnight smiled widely.
"Hi." He replied, smiling as well. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine. You?" she wondered, her thoughts racing with anticipation.
"Same. Oh! My name is Harry Potter." He introduced himself.
"I know. Not telling by your scar though." She told him straight out, making him confused in every way possible.
"Wait." He confusingly said, looking at her suspiciously. "How do you know me by not telling by my scar?"
"Well, it's kind of a long story. I'll just let you know that my dad knew your parents during their years at Hogwarts and he showed me pictures of them. If I remember their pictures correctly, you have your mother's eyes." Midnight softly flattered him.
When she complimented him, he blushed heavily and turned his head to the ground, trying to hide his red cheeks. Unfortunately, Midnight saw, but began to blush when she realized what she had said. Just like Harry, she as well turned her focus to the carpet. There was a moment of silence between them, both too afraid to say anything. Midnight's thoughts and hearts were in unison now, racing faster than light.
"I think we should get off this floor now." Harry laughed.
Midnight turned to Harry to see that he was still too nervous to look at her, but he forced himself to look at her when he wanted to help her up. Their eyes met again, but this time, both their hearts raced.
"Do you need some help up?" He asked nervously, holding out his hand.
"Yes. Thank you."
She took grasp of his hand, noticing the warmth in it. He pulled her up, but by accident, he pulled her straight into him. Out of reaction, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close to him, her hands on his chest. She could hear his heart beat, it was pounding nervously and loudly.
"Not to be rude or anything, Harry, but can you let go of me now, please?" Midnight worriedly asked, blushing heavily.
"Oh yeah. Sorry." Harry nervously laughed, letting her go.
They were both blushing, not looking at each other and hearts speeding faster than they could imagine.
"Do you already have a compartment to stay in or are you looking for one because my friends and I have an extra space in our compartment if you are?" Harry asked, not making eye contact.
Looking up at Harry, who was still staring at the ground out of shyness, she smiled, her heart calming down and her face going back to normal. This was the first time for her to ever be in contact with some and she was so happy that it was someone so kind.
"To be honest, I am looking for one and if you mean what you are offering, I would greatly take up that offer." Midnight warmly replied, Harry turning towards Midnight, his face as red as a cherry; Midnight was smiling at him.
"Um… Okay. Just get your things and meet me back at this spot." He bravely said, smiling widely.
With that, Midnight hesitantly turned back to the direction of her former compartment. As she began to stride on back, she remembered the people that had arrived at her compartment earlier. Her smile faded, her skin growing cold and her hands shaking nervously.
'I wonder if they're still there.' She thought to herself. 'If they are, what am I going to do? I don't want to face them, especially Pansy. Oh God! Please help me.'
In a few seconds, she had reached her compartment; the curtain was pulled down. She stood in front of it for a few seconds, thinking fearfully that they were in there. Her hand shakily crept towards the door knob. When she opened it, there they were, the four from before, staring at her intently, but when her eyes met the blonde one's, his eyes went big and his mouth dropped.
"I'm sorry for intruding. I just came to get my stuff." Midnight shakily told them, summoning her black suitcase with the image of a purple faerie on it and her metal owl cage with her tiny Screech owl, Gem, sleeping peacefully inside it. "I promise to never bother you again."
She ran out of the room, not knowing that the blonde had jumped out of his seat to stop her, but it was too late. She stopped running when she was getting closer to Harry. Slowing her breathing, she calmly walked up to Harry, who was pacing back and forth trying to ready himself.
"Harry?" Midnight quietly called out when she was standing near him, scaring him out of his trance-like state.
"Oh! You're back!" Harry stated the obvious. "Let's get going then."
They walked down a few feet before Harry slid open one of the compartments. She followed him in, but only stopping at the doorway. Inside the compartment were two people. One was a girl with creamy white skin, bright brown eyes, and frizzy brown hair. The other was a boy with fiery red hair, fair white skin, and mischievous brown eyes.
"Welcome back, Harry." The fiery red head greeted him.
"Harry? Who is she?" the girl asked curiously, eyeing Midnight suspiciously.
"Oh! That's… um…" Harry tried to introduce her, realizing that he didn't even get her name as sat down beside the red head.
"Midnight. Midnight Shadows." She introduced herself, smiling shyly. "It's nice to meet the both of you."
"Nice to meet you as well, Midnight." The girl happily accepted Midnight. "My name is Hermione Granger and that there is Ronald Weasley."
"But call me Ron." Ronald said, interrupting Hermione, receiving a glare from her.
"Okay, Ron."
"Well, just don't stand there. Have a seat." Hermione generously said, smiling.
Midnight walked in, sliding the door closed gently. After putting her things up, she sat down beside Hermione, who closed her book to ask more questions for Midnight.
"So, are you a transfer student?" Hermione curiously asked.
"No. I've been attending Hogwarts since 1991." Midnight softly answered.
"Really?" Hermione asked surprise. "What house are you in?"
"Slytherin." Midnight answered, making the entire compartment go silent. "I don't know why though. I don't act like all the other Slytherins."
"Well, we're all in…" Ron started.
"Gryffindor." Midnight finished, confusing the trio.
"How did you know that?" Harry curiously asked.
"You three were in some of my classes. I was the one hiding in the back. That's why none of you remember me." Midnight answered, looking down at the ground sadly, thinking of Saffron.
"Well, we know you now. I don't think we'll ever pass over you again." Hermione kindly advised Midnight, making her smile.
They talked and talked, Midnight finding out so much about the trio, even though she already knew. They couldn't really get anything out of Midnight like her family or personal life, but they did get her school life information out of her.
By the time they had reached the station, they were all dressed in their school robes, talking about how Hagrid was an amazing teacher and how they all missed Professor Lupin. They would talk about things that usually Slytherins wouldn't talk about. The trio couldn't understand why she was placed in Slytherin because it seemed like she would fit perfectly in Gryffindor.
When they stepped out of the train, both feet firmly on the ground, a sudden wave of one emotion attacked Midnights heart. She grabbed onto the part of clothing that was covering her chest, her eyes wide with pain. It felt as if something was trying to get out of her body, ripping violently and maliciously through the flesh.
"Midnight! Where are you going? Midnight!" Harry called out once Midnight had run off at great speed.
The trio tried to catch up to her, but she was too fast. In the vast crowd of people, Midnight had been able to work her way through and into one of the front carriages, the poignant pain still slashing at her. Her breathing began heavy and her vision began to switch from normal to fog.
When she reached the second one, she threw the door open and jumped in, the door slamming behind her. She sat down in the back with sweat dripping down her head. Her hands were shaking and tears were starting to form.
'I have to make the pain stop. I must.' She cried in her head as she pulled a pill bottle out of her robe pocket and summoned a water bottle.
As fast as she could, she swallowed five pills. In a few seconds, she began to go back to normal. First it was her vision; the first thing she saw was the threstal pulling the carriage. Then it was her hands and her breathing. Last was the pain. She dropped her hand to the seat, closing her eyes.
'Thank goodness. It's gone.' She thought relieved.
When she thought it was over, it wasn't. There were multiple stinging pains going up her left forearm, making her wince in pain. By the time she opened her eyes, she saw something that scared her more than ever. Her heart raced and her eyes widened.