A/N: Here's the second chapter. Please review!
Disclaimer (I forgot to add one for the first chapter, oopsies!) I am in no way associated with J.K. Rowling. I am only a rabid fan of her writing. All characters belong to her except for my original characters. I do not own Harry Potter (heck, I don't even have a copy of any of the books!) (I'm a strong believer in libraries.)
After the feast, Professor McConagall led Aloria to Dumbledore's office.
"Fizzing Whizzbees." A spiral staircase appeared from behind a statue. McConagall motioned for Aloria to go up. She hesitantly took a few steps. Looking over her shoulder, Aloria saw McConagall had already left. Taking a deep breath, she continued climbing to the top.
Dumbledore was sitting behind his massive desk, stroking a phoenix on his shoulder. He looked up when Aloria knocked softly on the door.
"Ah, Aloria. Please, sit down. Lemon drop?" Aloria took one, and stuck it into her mouth. Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "Now, Ms. Krym, I know how painful your past is," Aloria stiffened slightly. "But I assure you, none of your fellow students know anything, and the teachers will do their best to avoid the topic. Now here is your schedule. You will have a free day tomorrow, to get accustomed to the school. You are allowed to wander around the castle, as long as you are back to the Slytherin common room before nine. Any questions?" Aloria shook her head. Dumbledore smiled, and dismissed her. As she left the room, Dumbledore mumbled to his phoenix, "Fawkes, when will she ever learn?"
***
Tears trickled down her face.
"No, daddy, please no!" She sobbed. The man standing over her grinned, the picture of insanity. His sharp barks of laughter echoed around the cold stone room.
"And tell me, why would I not?" He tapped his stubbly chin with his wand, still smiling at the small crumpled form on the floor.
"Please, just don't!" The girl tried to stand up, but stumbled and collapsed back onto the ground. Bruised and battered, she hadn't had any sleep or food for two days. Kneeling on the floor, she sat protectively in front of another small body. The man's smile was swiped off his face and was replaced by a scowl.
"You slut. Don't tell me what to do!" He picked her up and threw her against the wall, just as a flash of green light spread around the room.
Blinking, the girl saw herself lying on the floor, not moving. The man had disappeared. Crawling over, she felt for a pulse. Three tears fell from her eyes rolled down the corpse's face, before the world faded to black.
Aloria sat up abruptly. The dream hadn't come for two weeks. She was hoping that it would be gone for good. Peeling the green sheets away from her sweaty body, she swung her legs over the edge of the bed and slipped her feet into soft white slippers. The sun that had just risen and it would be a bit too early for breakfast. She grabbed a towel and a change of clothes from her dresser. She crept into the bathroom, careful not to wake up her roommate Pansy, who was currently mumbling something like "Mm...yes...Draco...love you....whipped cream?" After turning on the shower, Aloria took off her sweat pants and over sized t-shirt. She stepped into the steaming water, washing off the lingering feeling of fear on her skin.
Half an hour later, Aloria turned the flow of water off and changed into a baggy gray sweatshirt and jeans. She walked back to her bed and tugged on her worn sneakers. She pulled her hair into a messy bun and stuck her wand into her sleeve, hidden from view. Aloria tip-toed down the corridors that led to the bigger common room. Not expecting anyone to be up this early, she yelped when she spotted a figure leaning casually against the stone wall.
"Sneaking off so early in the morning, are you?" The deep male voice reverberated on the stone walls. He stepped into view smiling, showing off his straight, white teeth. "Lynk Pawson. Nice to meet you. You're probably the legendary Aloria Krym." he said, sticking out his hand. Aloria smiled and nodded, placing her hand into his.
"Right. So why are you up so early, Master Pawson? I couldn't sleep, before you ask." Lynk beamed, glad Aloria had warmed up to him. He scratched the back of his head, tussling his blonde hair.
"Not much. Couldn't sleep either. Where were you headed? I could give you a tour, if you like." Nodding happily, Aloria followed her newfound friend out into the corridors of Hogwarts Castle.
***
"Up those steps are the Divination classrooms with Professor Trelawney. If you keep on going straight down, you'll eventually get to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classrooms. This corridor here is bewitched, and you'll end up where you started. The Hufflepuff dormitories are somewhere down there, and down these steps are the dungeons, our dormitories, and the Potions classrooms with Professor Snape." Lynk had already showed her where the library and all the other classrooms were.
By now, many students had begun to trickle out their common rooms. Gryffindors and Ravenclaws gave them strange looks as they passed, whispering amongst themselves. Aloria ignored them, preoccupied with her grumbling stomach. Lynk chuckled.
"I'll go down and change. You go ahead and eat some breakfast." Aloria didn't need a second word before bolting down the corridor and toward the general direction of food, leaving a still laughing Lynk behind.
***
"Lori!" Aloria spun around.
"Keah! What's up?" Keah smiled and hooked arms with her friend.
"Oh, nothing much...So, Slytherin, huh." Keah glanced at Aloria, who's lips turned down in a slight frown. "I mean, there's nothing wrong with Sly-"
"They're okay. A few of them are insufferable gits though. Draco Malfoy in particular." Keah giggled at Draco's name.
"I know he's a prick, but isn't he just plain...hot!?" Aloria glanced in surprise at the taller girl.
"Not you too! The only thing any of the Slytherin females talk about is him! He's apparently slept with all of them at least once."
"Really? Even the first years?"
"Keah, that's disgusting! He's an ass, but I don't think he's a pedophile."
"I heard he's starting to work his way through the Ravenclaws."
"Ugh, I do not need to know this. Change the subject please."
"Okay. Are you headed for the library?"
"No, not at this early hour. I'm going to get me some grub."
"'Kay then. I'll talk to you later."
"How do you survive without eating for eight hours?"
"We're not all like you, Lori. What kind of human eats enough food to feed a giant?
"Shut up."
"But you asked!"
"Bye Keah!"
"Bye Lori! And don't eat too fast, or you'll have trouble going to the loo later! There's this pain near your stomach and it starts sque-"
"You can stop now, Keah!"
"You just don't appreciate me enough."
***
Aloria was working through her fifth plate of french toast and sausage when Lynk stepped through the Great Hall doors. Aloria took a break from eating and waved her hand over her head. Lynk spotted her and smiled. Strolling over with his hands in his robe pockets, he raised an eyebrow lazily at the mountains of plates surrounding Aloria.
"Jeez, woman, how much do you eat?" Aloria stuck her tongue out childishly at him.
"They're not all mine. Half of them are Parkinson's, anyways." Pansy scowled, stuck her nose up in the air, and moved over towards where Millicent Bulstrode sat.
Lynk sat down, his robes swishing behind him.
"Lynk, do you know you tie is crooked?" Lynk looked down and shrugged.
"I've always been bad at that kind of thing." Aloria rolled her eyes and turned to face Lynk. Taking the tie in both hands, she fiddled with it until it was satisfactory. Lynk sat still, waiting patiently for her to finish.
"Aw, isn't this sweet. Are you practicing for after you get married?" Aloria's mood soured considerably when she heard Draco's voice. Without turning around, she muttered, "Piss off, Malfoy." Patting Lynk between the collarbones, right over his tie she said (in a tone a lot warmer) "There. All done." Aloria deliberately ignored Draco and turned to her half-finished breakfast. Hoping he would just go away, she took her fork and stabbed a slice of ham, pretending it was Draco's face. Draco just sat across from her, where Pansy had been sitting, in between his two thugs. (A/N: Imagine what Pansy's expression must be like now. * giggles *)
"Wow. No wonder you're so round. Eating that much can't be good for your health." Lynk sniggered at Draco's snide comment. Aloria smacked his head with a glare, shutting him up.
"I'm a growing girl. And I am not round." She said simply.
"What? But you hit puberty and start growing when you become a teenager, not when you're just starting primary school," he said.
"Funny. I don't suppose you would know anything about maturing, would you? You being, well, you?"
"I would certainly know a lot more about maturity than you would, Krym."
"Of course. Knowing every single sex position possible is very mature, Malfoy."
"Not only that, but I know what color knickers every girl in Slytherin, besides you, wears. Pansy wears cream, Millicent wears b-" Aloria jammed her fingers in her ears.
"Note to self: Never, ever, bring up Malfoy's sex life again. Way too much info." Malfoy smirked, thinking he won the verbal battle. Aloria stood up.
"I know someone whose underwear color you'll never know." She walked briskly out of the Great Hall, determined to have the last word. Malfoy's silvery eyes watched her flounce off, his thoughts unknown to those around him. Quietly, so no one else could hear him, he whispered, "Is that a challenge?"
***
Aloria walked out into a worn courtyard, breathing in the fresh mountain air. The yard was abandoned, all students currently eating breakfast or on their way to class. A few pigeons cooed and flapped about, only to be chased away by a large orange tabby cat.
Glad to be rid of the noisiness of Great Hall, Aloria stepped down the worn steps, away from Hogwarts castle. The winding path trailed toward Hagrid's Hut. The pumpkin patch was full of the orange gourds, all of them ten times the normal size. Aloria smiled. They would probably be made into Keah's favorite pumpkin pasties.
Aloria quickly left the area when she spotted students walking down the stone steps she had just come down, probably headed towards Care of Magical Creatures class. Aloria didn't want to be seen by others; solitary was what she wanted the most at the moment. Her disappearance was a tad late though; Keah noticed her slip into the edge of the forest, who nudged Lynk. They had become acquainted during breakfast.
The forest was quiet except for the occasional cawing of a crow. The sun was covered by thick gray clouds; only a few beams of light hit the leafy forest floor as Aloria walked towards the Black Lake, eager to be away from other human beings until her anger had subsided.
The clear water lapped at the stones dotting the lake's shoreline. The Astronomy tower's peak was just visible over the ancient treetops. Birds that inhabited the area called to one another. The giant squid's tentacle flopped lazily, breaking the smooth surface of the lake.
Aloria sighed, wishing it was this peaceful all this time. A voice rang in her head.
Nothing is ever calm for long, a soft voice whispered. It's the calm before the storm, but its a storm that you can bear through. However, this storm is definitely going to take you out. The voice changed, it's tone changing from maternal and caring to harsh and cruel. Aloria's eyes widened in panic as it kept on murmuring.
I know your secrets, Aloria. I know you past, Aloria. I know your secrets Aloria, your deepest darkest secrets... the voice kept repeating over and over again. Aloria whirled around, her fingers tugging at her hair, looking for the source.
I know you, Aloria. I know you more than anyone else, even you. And I'm coming. Coming to get you. Aloria let out a shriek, clutching her head and then falling onto the ground.
"Stop it! Stop it, please, just stop," she sobbed. Her tears ran thickly down her porcelain cheeks, but the voice didn't listen.
I'm coming Aloria. I'm coming, the voice said in a singsong voice. I'm coming for you, Aloria.
Aloria screamed desperately, pleading for the voice to stop. It got softer and softer, until it finally faded away. Exhausted, Aloria fell asleep, curled up on the beach. That was the way she was found the next morning.
***
The taste of blood made her cringe.
It was dark; she couldn't see her hand in front of her face. She hadn't seen anybody in a few days, besides her father.
"You stupid slut. Get up here." The harsh voice echoed in the cold chamber. She meekly obeyed, afraid of the excruciating pain that would hit her entire body if she didn't.
"Yes, daddy?" The man's lips twisted into a sadistic smile. The girl noticed another person in the room.
No, she thought. No...not again...please, don't! The girls eyes widened, knowing what was to come. The man held up his wand, pointed at the other girl. Her body suddenly stiffened, then started writhing on the ground. She cried out in pain. Tears streamed down both of their faces. The man watched in delight, savouring their pain and suffering.
Scrambling over, the girl tried to comfort the other child on the floor. She was suddenly lifted into the air magically, and tossed back to her original spot.
"No one said you could move, bitch. Just watch."
She sobbed and didn't listen. Running back over to the other girl, she dried the tears on her face, unable to do anything more.
Pain whipped through her entire body, harder than anything she had ever felt. It rang in her skull, and tore at her muscles. Screaming, she covered the other body, who's cries had quieted. She was willing to take the pain for her twin.
***
Aloria awoke to bright sunlight and soft white sheets. The high stone ceiling was unfamiliar; dazed, she tried to sit up, only to collapse back on the bed because of the pain in her head.
A soft snore drew her attention to the messy mop of blonde hair lying on the bed adjacent to hers. Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. She was just about to shove them awake when the mysterious individual woke up.
"Oh, thank goodness! You're alive!"
A/N: A little bit of Aloria's past is revealed. Please review, and tell me what you think!!!
The blonde is probably not who you think it is. But I don't know what you think. So why am I still talking? I'll shut up now.
Huggles,
Q. Mika