When Athena got back to the common room, not bothering to stop by Madam Pomfrey, the room was empty to her relief. She went back to her room, putting all of the candy the boys had given her in her trunk, and getting out her sleepclothes. These ones consisted of blue flannel pants, and a long-sleeved Led Zepplin shirt. She brushed her teeth and braided her hair, before collapsing on her bed and falling into a fitful sleep.
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The man stood above her, his smile anything but friendly. He slapped the leather of his belt against his hand a couple of times, the cheshire-cat grin of his shining in the darkness of her room.
"Daddy, please no more." she whispered, backed up against her wall. All he did was laugh scornfully
"Daddy, no, please!" He said, his voice high and tinny, mocking her.
He grabbed her by her arm, dragging her forwards and slamming her to the ground, holding her there with a knee pressed against the small of her back.
The young girl let out a pained whimper, until it turned into a scream of pain.
One slash of pain.
Another scream.
Two slashes.
Another.
Three.
Four.
Five.
Six.
Six until she had passed out from the pain. Six until she couldn't hear his laughter anymore. Six until she couldn't scream any-
"Athena, WAKE UP! ATHENA!"
She jolted up, into arms that wrapped protectively around her. Her chest was heaving, and she leaned into the warm embrace of Sierra's arms. This was the third night terror she'd had in two weeks. Christmas break was a week away, and even though she was staying, nothing but fear came to her mind.
"Shh, shh babygirl, I'm here, I'm here. It's alright, it's okay."
Athena sobbed into Sierras shoulder, when suddenly the door was thrown open, a very angry Irene Carrow standing there.
Irene was a fifth-year student, and she thought she owned everyone and everything. Delilah proved her wrong one day, when the rabbit had bitten her when she tried picking her up without asking.
"Could you keep it the bloody hell down? Some of us like looking good after sleep, instead of you hags!"
Yolandi and Jennifer were up within seconds, their wands drawn and pointing at the irate Irene. Professor Sharp was there just in time to intervene.
"Girls, put your wands away!" She snapped, crossing her arms and looking at them. "It's half past three in the morn', what is going on here?"
"That Weasley look-alike as woken us all of three times in two weeks with her bloody screaming! You'd think she was a Banshee!" Irene stomped her foot like a petulant child, and Sharp looked at the four girls in the dorm room.
"Is this true, girls?"
"She's having night terrors, Professor. She can't help it!" Jennifer came to Athena's defense, while the girl was still sobbing quietly against Sierra's shirt.
Professor Sharp nodded understandingly, and the three girls in the room let out silent sighs of relief.
"I-I'm s-sorry, Irene. I didn't mean t-to wake anyone up."
It was the first thing Athena had said, and Irene nodded tersly, walking back to her room with her arms crossed. Professor Sharp gave them all an understanding look, and closed the door as she left.
Sierra held Athena for awhile, and she felt the girl fall asleep in her arms. She lay them both down, falling asleep until the actual morning.
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That morning at breakfast, almost all of the girls in Slytherin were either glaring, or giving Athena pitying looks. It made her sick. She hugged her dorm-mates, thanking them profusely, before she went to sit by Rose, Albus, Scorpius, and suprisingly, James. She hadn't spoken to him since she'd told him off for being rude.
Awkward.
She sat between Albus and Scorpius, greeting them and buttering a piece of toast. She kept getting looked at by Albus and Rose, and if she didn't know better, she'd say they were trying not to laugh.
"What? Did I put my robes on backwards?" She asked good-naturedly, and they shook their heads quickly.
"It's nothing."
As Rose said that, a young owl came flying into the Great Hall, flying around until it suddenly dove towards Athena, pulling back at the last second and perching on her shoulder. It was a Great Horned owl, obviously not full grown, or Athena's shoulder would be bleeding by now.
She curiously took the letter tied to its foot, and pet it when it shoves its head under her hand. Very soft.
"Dear Athena Glas,
It would do us a great honor if you would join us for Hogwarts Christmas break, for we hear you're to stay at Hogwarts for the duration. Please send your response on the back of this letter, and give it back to Weiss, the owl it came with."
Yours truly,
The Weasley and Potter Families.
Athena turned and looked at Albus and Rose. They gave her innocent smiles.
"You guys really didn't have to tell your parents about me not leaving Hogwarts. It's too much, really. I'm sorry but I have to refuse." She took a quill out of her bag, and started to write her response.
"Dear Mr. and Mrs. Potter and Weasley,
"Athena, please? We can't stand to think about you all alone this Christmas!" Said Albus, clasping his hands together.
'Being alone would be better than any Christmas I've had so far.' She thought.
"No, Albus. I am not going, and that is final. Christmas is for family, and I don't want to impose. I'm sorry. But I promise to mail you guys your presents, okay?" They both looked forlorn, but they nodded.
"I'm sad to say that I will not be joining you, for I don't want to impose. I do promise that I will be fine, and you needn't worry about me. Thank you for your offer. "
Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year,
Athena Faebar Glas
She tied the letter to Weiss, and patted the raptor on the head, wincing slightly as she took off out the window, almost clipping her wings.
"Well, you could always come for a visit on Christmas Eve?" Said Rose hopefully, and Athena gave in.
"Fine. Christmas Eve, that's it." Albus and Rose high-fived, grinning. James just looked mildly uncomfortable, and Scorpius was too busy eating to pay attention.
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Christmas break was upon them, and the snow was falling gently. Athena again shot down Albus and Rose begging her to come with them, and she was now sitting in front of the fire in the common room. She was reading a book that was captivating her, so she didn't hear someone come in through the entrance. She certainly didn't hear them walk over, so she let out a gasp when they decided to plop themselves next to her on the emerald suede couch.
"Jethro, at least make some noise before you suddenly slam down next to me!" She groaned, putting her book in her lap, before she remembered Delilah was sitting there. Well, now the rabbit had a hat, and she could deal with it.
"Well excuuuuuse me, little miss pureblood-princess." He said, his voice holding a bit of snark. She helf back her sigh of frustration.
"What do you mean, aren't you a pureblood, Jethro?" She looked at him, her brows furrowing.
"Hah! Hardly! I'm a Muggle-born. Rare, in this house, I know." He seemed scornful, with his arms crossed. She bit her lip, trying desperately to hold onto her own secret.
"Well? Come on, out with it. Are you going to call me a Mudblood, some half-breed twit? I've heard it all." He seemed on the defensive, and she figured it would be best to tell someone she barely knows, first.
"Bothofmyparentsaresquibs." She whispered quickly, and Jethro's eyebrows shot up his forhead.
"Excuse me?" He said, his eyes wide.
"B-Both of my parents are squibs." She kept her eyes lowered, and in the light of the fire, he could see her cheeks were red with shame.
"They were both disowned from their respective families when it was found out neither of them had any magic. When my letter arrived from Hogwarts, they were furious. Then they were happy when they thought it would get them back into my grandparent's good graces. My grandparents on both sides said I could keep their names, but my parent's couldn't. My parents got really, really mad at me, and, and... Well, they were mad." She said all of this in a rush, her lips moving a mile a minute, and she was glad she was thinking enough to leave out her nightmares and scars.
Jethro was silent, and she looked up at him, her eyes wide, but at least there were no tears.
"I-I'm sorry, 'Thena." He smiled at the nickname he had given her, and she smiled too. Well, weren't they just a pair? The mudbloods of Slytherin House.
"That explains all the Muggle shirts you wear to bed." He stated, pointing at the Pearl Jam sweatshirt she wore. They laughed, and fell into a comfortable silence as Jethro sat on the ground, playing a game of "Pass The Ball" with Delilah, and Athena lay upon the couch, reading her book. It was another hour or so, when Professor Sharp came in, telling them to go to bed.
They said their goodnights, and Athena slept through the night, dreamless and dark.