Author's Note: Hiya! I've managed to sneak up one more chappie; thanks to my friends, Hanna and Naz. And once more thanks for the lovely reviews!
Disclaimers – If you recognize it, I don't own it.
Chapter 10 – The beetle eyed giant
Mia Bridger sat by the serene blue waters of the lake; her head in her hands as tears trailed gradually down her pale face.
A pleasant breeze blew across the tranquil blue; causing the still waters to lap against the bank slowly; as it reflected the azure hue of the sky.
One question running endlessly through her head…
Why?
Why, in Merlin's name, had she incensed so quickly after what had happened in the Great hall?
It was, after all, natural that they should ask…
She glared at the lake through her tear-filled eyes; seeing nothing but a vast, blurry blue.
Why had the mere thought of her parents infuriated her so badly?
Who were her parents, anyways?
Did they have to ask …
She buried her head deeper into her hands, as a flurry of sobs escaped her.
Why…
Why didn't she know?
Why didn't they tell her…
Mia forced herself to look up; she never cried. She hated feeling feeble, she hated feeling weak…it just didn't work with her.
Nonetheless, as she strained her memory back to lunch at the Great Hall, envisioning their avid, eager faces, she only felt like crying more…
"Who are your parents?
Are you a pure blood?
Bet you're parents are really good!
Bet they're famous…"
'So what if her parents were famous,' she thought bitterly, brushing off a fly-away strand of raven black that had fallen onto her tear-stained face. 'She didn't know, did she?'
The thought only made her more miserable.
They didn't want her…
They didn't care…
Tears spilling down her eyes, she stared at the tranquil lake; feeling so betrayed, so lost…
If only she knew the truth.
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Mia wrapped her arms tightly around her self as the icy gust of wind blew across the lake, stinging her bare face callously. She hadn't the slightest proclivity to go back to the Great Hall; every time the thought penetrated her mind she could only envisage their shocked faces…
There was no way, she was going back.
'What are yeh doin' out here?'
Formerly preoccupied with grief and misery, Mia had barely noticed anyone arrive. Craning her neck to the source of the voice; she saw a tall giant of a man, his face mostly obstructed by a large quantity of very shaggy hair, though Mia could make out his beetle-shaped black eyes amidst the scraggly curls.
'It's rude teh stare, yeh know.' he remarked, perceiving that the young first year had not yet taken her eyes off him.
'Sorry' she apologized, feeling snubbed.
'Never mind.' he said gruffly. 'What are yeh doin' here?' Its cold, yeh know. Yeh should be gettin' back.'
'No' she replied shortly, turning back to the lake. 'I'm fine.'
''Course, yer not.' he returned baldly. 'Yer ruddy shiverin'.'
'I'm fine.' she repeated firmly; knowing perfectly well he wasn't listening to her.
'When I say yer not; yer not.' he said resolutely, wrenching her by her shoulders and lifting her up. 'Now get away from there.'
Mia allowed the man to haul her away from the chilly, lake side; apprehending that he wouldn't take no for an answer. After all, she thought to herself, as he dragged her by the shoulder across the lawn, any place was better than the Great Hall.
'Where are you taking me?' she asked curiously, after a while.
'To me hut' he returned unhelpfully. 'Yeh look like yeh could use a cuppa.'
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'So what were you doin' outside?'
Mia was sitting inside Hagrid's hut; sipping idly at a cup of hot chocolate he had offered her, along with a plate of fresh Ginger Newts to munch on, in between. Introductions had been made earlier on; the giant man turned out to be the 'Hagrid' who had lead them across the lake, just the previous day.
'Rubeus Hagrid' he had introduced himself gruffly when she had asked. 'Keeper of the Grounds and the Keys and Gamekeeper of Hogwarts. But yeh can call me Hagrid…everyone does, anyways.'
Mia had done likewise; putting in only her name and house affiliation as she took Hagrid's enormous hand in her own.
Presently however, Hagrid's question brought her back to the real reason why she was there in the first place; the eager and later, shocked faces of her fellow Gryffindors swam before her eyes as she gazed at the blazing fire burning in Hagrid's hut; not really seeing anything at all. Her eyes were burning again.
'What's the matter?' Hagrid asked, peering at her. He must have noticed that the cup had suddenly left her mouth.
'Nothing.' Mia replied in a choked voice.
'Wish yeh'd stop sayin' that' he said wearily, putting his own bucket-sized mug down. 'Somethin' botherin' yeh, that's crystal clear.'
Mia sniffed in reply.
'I don't want to talk about it.' she said shortly.
''Course you wanna talk' Hagrid told her patiently. 'No one's usually so glum on their first day, yeh know, yeh'll be the first one. 'Course some of 'em were missin' their families, all right…'
'I don't have a family.' Mia said shakily.
'…and other were catcalled by the Slytherins n' all but…' he stopped suddenly, looking at Mia as though he had only just registered what she had said.
'What?' he asked her, evasively.
'I don't have a family.' she mumbled; her head in her hands again.
'I'm sorry…' he said, sounding thoroughly repentant. 'What … er … happened?' he asked reticently, hoping he hadn't offended her; she looked morose enough, as it was.
'I … don't know.' she said without looking him in the eye.
'It's okay, if yeh don't wanna tell me' he told her gently. 'See, me dad died in me third year and …' his voice trailed off into nothingness.
'No' she said quietly. 'I really don't know.'
'Yeh mean, they died before yeh were born?' he asked her quizzically.
'No' she said tearfully. I d…don't remember…anything…I just cant…'
'Whadda ya mean?
Mia chose not to reply to this; instead she shut her eyes tightly, biting her lips as she did so.
Diagon Alley…
What had happened there…
She strained her memory back to the time before she had boarded the Hogwarts Express, Diagon Alley…
The bustling streets, witches and wizards huddled together everywhere…
Posters, shops, money bags…
Wands, books, ingredients…
Eyelops Owl Emporium, Ollivander's, Gringotts…
Who had she gone with?
She tried to envisage the times before Diagon alley…
…there seemed to be no memory left before that.
Mia buried her head deeper into her hands, not caring what Hagrid would think, not caring what anyone would think…she just cried.
It seemed a long time before she noticed Hagrid had his gigantic arm wrapped around her skinny shoulders; all this while she had been sobbing into his shaggy coat.
'Sorry' she mumbled penitently, drying her eyes with her sleeves as Hagrid patted her kindly.
'It's nothin' to be sorry about' he replied, attempting to dry her eyes for her, in means of a comforting gesture. 'Every one wants to know where they belong.'
Mia nodded mutely, her mind still on her parents.
They hadn't wanted her or else they…
Or else they, what?
'Hagrid' she asked shakily, turning to face him. 'Why can't I remember anything?'
'Well' he said contemplatively, screwing his face thoughtfully. 'Probably effects of a Memory Charm.'
Mia felt bitterness and aggravation well up inside her.
They hadn't wanted her…ever…they didn't care…
Why else would they use a Memory Charm on her?
Their daughter…
Their own daughter…
There was nothing else to it.
'Look' Hagrid said, observing her face contort with acrimony. 'I know what yer thinkin', that yer parents didn't want you…'
'So?' she said, a bit more aggressively than she had intended to.
'They'll have their reasons' he explained patiently. 'They're yer parents…they know what's best fer ya.'
'Do you know who they are, then?' she queried suddenly; her face shining with one last hope. 'Do I look like … anyone you've known?' she asked fervently.
Hagrid scrutinized her features for a few agonizing minutes before he declared, 'Well, yeh certainly do look like Minerva McGonagall.'
'Huh?'
Mia frowned slightly. If there was anything she had expected, it had not been this.
'You think I'm her daughter, then?' she asked, her brow still knitted.
'Well' he admitted ruefully. 'She's not really married as far as I know, so yeh can't put it that way.'
Mia sighed wryly. Her one last hope had just been snatched away.
'But' he continued loudly in an effort to distract her from her aggrieving thoughts. 'Yeh still resemble her a lot. Black hair, green eyes…'
'Oh' Mia gasped; abruptly apprehending why Hagrid thought her to resemble her Transfiguration teacher. 'No, wait, you've got it all wrong…'
She shut her eyes once more; on opening them, she had resumed her original appearance.
'Ruddy!' he exclaimed violently. 'Yer a Metamorphmagus!'
'Yeah' Mia returned resignedly. 'I know.'
'Oh…'
'Hmm.'
'Look' he said finally. 'Like I said before, yer parents probably knew what's best fer ya and then, they did it…doesn't mean yeh go aroun' hatin' them fer it. It probably hurts them as much as it hurts yeh, but some times yeh just gotta do what you gotta do. Yeh'll find out soon enough, just keep yer head. Tell yeh what, I'll see if I can ask Dumbledore if he knows anthin' about them, hows that sound?' he asked expectantly, in a last endeavour to cheer her up.
'Thank you so much!' she cried ecstatically, and Hagrid suddenly felt her arms grasp around his middle.
'It's nothin'' he replied gruffly, pleased to see that she was finally smiling. 'Just remember what I told yeh, it'll be fine.'
As she trudged across the vast grounds to the entrance, where both Cornelia and Alexannah had gathered, gesticulating frantically at one of the green houses, Mia thought, that perhaps, she had a lot to be thankful for.
A/N: What do you think? Is it good? I didn't try to make it descriptive because I was trying to focus on her feelings. This chapter is certainly not one of my favourites; but then, I didn't want to skip it as I wanted some scene to show what Mia' feels about her parents and stuff. May be it's too ironical, maybe not.
I don't think Hagrid sounds Hagrid enough, but I did my best. And sorry if Mia is a bit … sad … or whatever… that's the way she is. I mean, she's not easily upset and stuff, but come on, you've touched a nerve there.
Don't forget to review, please.
And yeah, the next chappie isn't even written, though the idea is in my head, so I doubt it will be up soon. I think it won't be up until March.
Up next – See what the Hogwarts staff is saying about Mia's brilliance; later, Minerva has a little chat with our beloved Headmaster on her return to Hogwarts and eleven years of absence.
See you then! And please, please, please don't forget to review!!! (Please, pray I pass the exams or I'll be skewered by my mom ;)