Chapter 3:
At the end of classes, Amara walked through the hallways the long way to avoid people. As she rounded the tall, narrow staircase, her bag split at the bottom. Her books, ink, and papers flew across the floor.
"Shit," Amara swore under her breath.
She knelt on the floor and picked up her books, drenched in ink. A small glass bottle of orchid scented water had also been smashed. Amara's mother had loved the scent and so did Amara.
"Reparo," she muttered. The charm, however useful, did not restore the contents of the bottle.
A hand pressed her muggle studies book into her hands. She looked up into the light eyes of a handsome blond boy. His hair, almost white, was slicked back, as if plastered to his head. He was slim, tall, and smiled slightly.
"Hello," he said. "I'm Draco. Draco Malfoy."
"I'm Amara."
He helped her pick up the rest of her books and helped her up.
She brushed her brown hair back over her ear, and thanked him.
He watched her go, wondering who she was.
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Amara worked in the common room after dinner. Deep in her studies, she didn't notice when Hermione came up to her, standing near the edge of the couch.
"Ummm. cough ."
Amara didn't stir, or look up from her book.
"Amara?"
"Uhhhhh… yes?" Amara snapped to attention.
"Well," said Hermione, "me, an' Ron and Harry noticed you've been studying a lot alone in her, so we, uhh, wondered if you wanted to join us…" she trailed off.
Amara looked surprised. "Thanks. I'd love to," she answered warmly. Hermione helped her haul all of her book up to the library.
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"No," screamed Amara, "Don't! Take me. Don't kill her. Nooooooooooooo."
Hermione woke to the sounds of Amara screaming and wailing in her sleep. She slipped off to the boy's dormitories and woke Harry. She didn't even try to wake Ron. He could sleep through anything.
"Uuuuuh? What, Hermione?" Harry sounded annoyed.
"Come with me," she replied.
She dragged him, half-asleep, to the girl's dormitories, where Amara lay.
Harry stared at her. He had found her in the common room last night as well. She looked so tired, and so scared. There was something familiar about her, though he coulden't lay his finger on what it was.
She sobbed in her sleep, throwing her slender neck back, while Harry and Hermione watched in grim silence.