Alongside Harry's entourage I was escorted to my new living quarters. My surrounding amazed me and I felt as though my breath was taken away. The cold stone walls echoed with history, it's smooth finish making my fingertips numb as I dragged my hands alongside the walls. I had happily fallen to the back of the group, listening quietly whilst the people ahead of me squabbled amongst themselves.
"How much further are the…" mid-sentence, that's when I see him, that's the moment the world stopped spinning. And for that single moment in time, only the two of us resided. The universe completely barren except for us two beings, intrinsically connected with a silver string tethering our two souls as one. As a flash of blonde and grey passes by I can feel his eyes bore into mine, creating concaves in my face where relief pooled. I know him… I do.
I felt this stabbing sensation in my heart, it felt a lot like finding out a loved one had passed, emptiness and longing washed over me. A feeling of dread and loneliness filled me to the brim. My stomach dropped and I had to lean against the wall to support myself. Hermione noticed me stagger and looked to the floor to see if I had tripped over something. But I swatted away her worrying, I noticed the blonde boy also stood still. His mouth was set in a straight line, I wasn't sure if he was angry but his face projected that of a scowl. He must have felt what I felt because his hand was holding his chest where his heart was. He took a step back also as if losing his balance and steadying himself.
"Piss off why don't you, nothing to see here you nosey prick." Ron hissed, noticing the heir to his families' sworn enemy. Much to everyone's surprise however the blonde did just that. He took one last sweeping look at me and stalked away. Everyone was silent for a moment, no one sure what exactly had just happened but the atmosphere felt tense. "Well that was bloody awkward." Ron finally speaks up, the twins start cracking jokes regarding Ron's inability to read the atmosphere and soon everyone starts laughing, heading in the direction of the common room. Everyone except Harry.
I turned my head to the right and see he has fallen into place alongside me, just staring. I rub my hand on my arm and feel uncomfortable under his gaze. He was staring at me like he was worried, the fear and worry was painted in his eyes. My eyes must have mirrored his because I could feel the horrible sensation of dread in my stomach, it was sickening and I needed to sit down as soon as possible.
When we reached the common room the first thing I did was ask where my room was because it had been a rather long day and if I didn't lie down soon I was bound to collapse.
Sometime around four in the morning I woke up from a restless sleep, my stomach had settled and I didn't feel like being sick anymore. The room suddenly felt stuffy and hearing the other occupants breathe made me feel even more claustrophobic. I wrapped a blanket around myself, the soft velvet caressed my skin and I planted both of my feet firmly on the ground. The stone floor was cold to touch and welcoming on my skin and as I trudged toward the seating area, I left my slippers where they were, enjoying the soothing touch of stone against the balls of my feet. Standing on the balcony above the seating area the room looked daunting to say the least. The fire was lit creating all sorts of insidious shadows to be cast across the walls.
Lying on the sofa with one of his arms draped over his eyes I spotted Harry. I wasn't sure if he was awake but I made my way towards him anyway. I sat in a comfy beat up chair next to the sofa he laid on. Clearing my throat, Harry shoots up in to a sitting position. He looks relived when he realizes that it's just me. "Aria." He breathes. I smile at him and he returns the gesture. "couldn't sleep huh? I was the same on my first night." He says quietly, the small talk wasn't necessary, I didn't mind the silence. It was strangely comforting.
"yeah, it's all a bit… much." I continue
Harry nods seeming to understand. "I know the feeling." A thick blanket of silence befalls us once more. "Hey, tomorrow if you want I could give you the grand tour, a proper one, without all the bickering of those lot, they can come on a bit strong, but that's just what it's like growing up in a family of so many people I suppose." Harry finishes, chuckling to himself.
"I'd like that." I respond back whilst also stifling my laughter. And just like that our conversation wasn't awkward anymore, me and Harry stayed up for the duation of the night just talking. He told me about his aunt, uncle and cousin the Dursely's. I didn't mention anything regarding my family life and Harry didn't push me to. Instead he told me about the rivalries surrounding the four houses, he told me about quidditch and what it's like being on the team and all about all the adventures he had in the past five years. His face lit up any time he talked about his friends and it was clear to me that they meant the world to him. I could only hope that I can make a friend like that, one who's eyes glisten at the thought of the good times we shared.
When a string of sleepy looking students started to slink into the common room it was clear that it was too late to catch a quick power nap. Instead me and Harry parted ways and I went upstairs to get ready both physically and mentally for the day ahead.
The day was not as bad as I had first anticipated, other than the fact that I was severely sleep deprived, it started off fine, for breakfast there was a glorious concoction of syrup drenched pancakes and smooth orange juice. Alongside me, Hermione was going over my schedule trying to figure out which classes we had together, which wasn't an awful lot. Non the less I had been reassured that no matter what class I had the Gryffindor's generally look out for each other so I should be okay.
The first class on the agenda was DADA. A professor named Umbridge held the class and she didn't seem all that friendly. She looked frumpy and over stuffed in her couture pink suit. I took a seat besides Harry and Umbridge nattered on about counter curses. I had been home-schooled for the better part of my life, because of this I had a lot of one on one teaching from my mother and it had payed off because I seemed to have an answer for all the questions. I kept my knowledge to myself. I had already been receiving strange stares from people all morning due to me being a new face and I didn't want to attract any more attention.
The whole day I kept an eye out for the blonde boy, I didn't ask Harry about who he was. Afraid of that sinking feeling I had felt, I don't think I was ready to experience that again either.
Let me know what you think so far, Draco will become more integrated into the story soon, I just need to paint the picture, ya know?