Ch Nine: An Old World Part I

A/N: This is like a new story. I want it intentionally to sound like a new story. Anything titled An Old World Part has to do with the story of Charlotte Rove and Evan McKally–the names Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy went by to fall in love. You're basically learning what Leniera is learning (she was sucked into the diary in case you hadn't caught that). This was initially the first story I wrote, until I came up with this one. And then I stopped writing for a while. And then I figured out a way to combine them. (It might seem awkward at first but think of these as being the story from the diary. There will be a few chapters like this. And then its going to go back to Leniera and maybe Maliegha, though I will admit that part's still unwritten so I don't know how/how much I will include her. Once it shifts back to Leniera, things should be a little clearer. (Hopefully. If not please feel free to ask any questions)

Quick Reminder: Charlotte Rove is Hermione Granger and Evan McKally is Draco Malfoy.

A mysterious boy with jet-black hair entered the bar at one o'clock in the morning. The boy had aura that made people avoid having any contact with him, whether it be as complex as a mere conversation or a simple as holding a gaze in his direction for more than a moment. Maybe it was the shocking black that consumed every hair on his head or maybe it was his piercing grey eyes, which were so clearly seen through the strands of hair which covered half of his face that almost dared anyone who looked in his direction to tempt him. Whatever it was that made the boy so furtive, no ever tempted him. They were either too terrified, or too wrapped in their own lives to bother with the shell of a boy who wandered around London in hopes of finding something, anything. What he was looking for when he started out on his journey wasn't to clear, but it had become obvious to the boy that whatever he was in need of, whatever was to give meaning back to his hopeless life, was not in London.

He had entered the bar early that morning to have on final drink in the city he had come to depend on in the last month. It seemed difficult to comprehend the fact that it had only been a month, for it had felt like decades had passed since, though he remembered every detail perfectly, for everything about that day was burned into his memory. It had all happened on the seventh of April, and having looked at the calendar the previous day, the boy knew that it was now the Seventh of May.

He sat down on the bar stool at the very end of the counter, making sure he was far enough away from anyone who looked panic-stricken upon his entry, that way they wouldn't be able to scurry away like pathetic mice. His eyes darted around for several seconds before landing on the bartenders. There were three of them and they seemed to be having a dispute. The gaze of his empty eyes faltered only slightly at the sight of a slender girl, whose hair color matched his exactly, approached. As she drew nearer, he noticed her long bangs covering rich, chocolate eyes and a name tack that read CHARLOTTE pinned to her black, v-neck blouse. For some reason, the girl entranced him

"What can I get you?" she asked, trying hard to not be intimidated by the figure in front of her.

He instantly awoke from his stupor, and ordered his drink. Charlotte forced a smile, and said she would be back with it in a moment. The boy watched her walk away, his eyes taking in every inch of her body. Soon enough, the girl returned, drink in hand, this time her smile was more real than any other that had been cast in his direction.

"You've got quite a presence. Several people have left in a huff since you've entered. Now, I've only worked here a couple weeks, so I don't know all the ins and outs of bartending, but I'm quite sure that isn't normal," Charlotte said, talking to a boy who hadn't engaged in a real conversation in over a month. Most people could barely bring themselves to ask what he wanted to drink without stuttering or turning away. But here she was, talking away in a calm, casual voice. "Not much of a talker. I see. Well I'm Charlotte Rove. I would advice you to not call me Charlie; that nickname is unbelievably ridiculous in my opinion. If you need anything, just say the word." Her accent was so unlike his own; it was gentle and sweet, making the boy feel as though she had grown up in a place far away, a place in which heavenly angels reside. Charlotte made to turn away when he spoke. "I'm Evan. McKally. You're the first person who's tried to have a conversation with me in… hmm… well it's been far over a month."

"Really?" Charlotte inquired with a small laugh. Evan McKally nodded, flashing a slight smile. He hadn't truly smiled since he was a little boy; he hadn't had a reason to since, but something about Charlotte was familiar and comforting.

Charlotte and Evan talked endlessly for nearly an hour, though she was constantly going off to tend to costumers. The seconds she could spare, they were learning what felt like everything they needed to know about the other. They soon discovered how much they had in common. Charlotte had been raised by her both parents, though they found more interest in each other and their love for medicine than they had for her. "Sure they loved me, I know they did. But what was I as compared to the many patients they saw and treated daily?"

"I can sort of understand that," Evan countered. "Though I know father never loved me. Mother did, I'm sure of that, but father stopped her from showing any affection. I had a rough childhood. That's why I was so keen on going to boarding school. I started when I was eleven."

"That's Interesting. I started boarding school at age eleven as well. I loved the school itself; it had a magical quality about it which made me yearn for it during the holidays. And classes were so lively and enchanting, I was a fairly high ranked student throughout my years, though I failed to ever make top of everything. I'm not so sure I even wanted to. But outside of class, you know, the whole socializing and extra curricular activities aspect of boarding school, that's where it lost its appeal. Sure I had friends, but my two best friends happened to be boys, and I guess you could say our friendship wasn't always too stable…"

"You know, I had the same problem. I was always one of the top students of my year, but I was a pretty quite kid. I didn't like to draw attention to myself during classes. But during an examination, I was nearly perfect most of the time."

"Nearly perfect? Trying to be modest are we?" Charlotte paused, and looked at straight at Evan. "I don't really understand why everyone was so worried about you. 'Threatening' I think I heard a couple of times. You just seem like…" Her voice faded into nothing.

"Seem like what?" Evan questioned after a moment.

"No, it's nothing."

"No, it's not nothing. Please Charlotte, what were you about to say?" Charlotte's eyes focused on the rugged tiles on the floor; the words formed on her lips, about to come out, when someone yelled out, "Hey Rove! Your shift is over." Before Charlotte turned to leave, she whispered in his ear, "It was nice to meet you Evan McKally. Maybe we'll meet again. Soon." Her cool breathe made an unfamiliar chill run up Evan McKally's spine. She walked away, leaving the boy more captivated than ever. Without Charlotte to talk to him, Evan felt no reason to remain in the bar. He paid for his drinks and made his way home. The dead of night consumed the city as he entered an eerie, secluded alley. Before anyone had a chance to look twice, Evan was gone.

Back in the safety of his manner, Evan McKally collapsed on his bed for what was supposed to be his last night in London, but he knew he couldn't leave now. There had to be some reason he had met Charlotte Rove. Everything about her mesmerized him. Her last words echoed inside his empty body. "Maybe we'll meet again. Soon." She had wanted to meet again, and Evan couldn't think of anything he wanted more, except maybe to make that day not have happened. It was almost like she had been sent to help him get over it. Evan got changed and stumbled over to his bed. He climbed under the covers as he realized had finally found what he had been searching for this past month. Once he was comfortable, he mumbled, "If only they could all see me now," and he drifted off into his first long, relaxing sleep in too many months.

A/N: Much love to ImperialGoddes-123 and Contagiousbeauty for being great reviewers. But what about the rest of you? Apparently you aren't great reviewers.

Note: The story of the necklace(i.e. who gave it to her and the importance of it)and the identity of the kidnapper willberevealledin due time.As for where Lenie went, shewas sucked into the diary.

xxo Sera Evlin Thinly