Athena stood on Platform 9 3/4, her fingers swiftly moving over the buttons on her cellphone, sending her new foster parents one last text, thanking them for letting her stay, and promising to keep in touch.
She felt a hand on her shoulder, and she flinched out of reflex. It didn't hurt anymore, but it was a knee-jerk reaction.
She turned, and was staring at a family she never thought she'd see again.
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"A...-Athena?" Rose whispered, her eyes wide and shining in shock. She was... baffled. The girl standing in front of her was not the same one she had met in their first year, oh no.
The girl she had met girl was shy, happy, always putting others first, and never herself. With wild curls and shining emerald eyes. Always hiding behind baggy jumpers and long robes. At least, for the first half of the year.
This... This girl was not.
This girl had waist-length wavy, almost curly copper hair, with a long, bright green section behind her ear, tucked up into a tight, high ponytail. Her face had grown into it's baby-like fullness, and now it was all high cheekbones and pouty lips, which were covered in a silver lipstain that complimented the girl's eyes nicely.
And the outfit? It had to have been the biggest shock.
Athena wore tight leather leggings, that hugged the womanly curves of her hips, that were tucked into high-heeled, black ankle boots. Her shirt was a thin-strapped, black loose tank-top that bared her middriff a bit, and bit of gold flashed from her bellybutton.
And the girl's skin... Her back held the most beautiful masterpiece Rose had ever seen.
Down her spine, there was a sword, Excalibur, with the hilt starting at the base of her neck, and the rest going all the way down, the tip just barely reaching the top of her pants. On either side of the blade, there seemed to be watercolour paintings. On the left, there was a clash of angry red and yellows, with a willow tree burning brightly on the edge of a lake.
On the right, was the same scene, except it was cool and serene, the willow bending gracefully over the lake, and a small bird was perched on a branch.
Roses eyes wandered over the girl, and noticed tattoos over her wrists too.
There was a wand, tattooed from the inside of her elbow, to her wrist. It was surrounded by smoke, in every colour of the rainbow. The pink, delicate scars still standing out, but seeming to accentuate and compliment the tattoo, instead of ruining it.
On the other, there was a quote.
"Forgive, sounds good. Forget, I'm not sure I could. They say, time heals everything... But I'm still waiting."
Rose finally lifted her eyes to Athena's, and she saw tears there.
Rose opened her arms, and the other girl fell into them, her face pressed against her neck, and her shoulders shaking softly.
Albus walked up, and Athena looked at him, a single tear slipping from her lightly kohl-lined eyes.
"I, am so, so sorry." Athenas silver lips whispered. Rose pulled away and gently placed her hands on the other girl's shoulders. Athena looked at her for the first time, and she almost gasped.
The girl's wavy, brassy hair was curved around her face, then fell down her shoulders like a beautiful lions mane. Her face was free of makeup, and her azure eyes were shining with unshed tears.
"You have no reason to apologize to us. We are just so bloody glad you are back. You have to at least explain to us where you've been, Athena. We sent so many letters that returned unopened. So many questions unanswered. We were so worried that something had happened..." Roses voice cracked, and she pulled Athena into another hug.
When they were done, laughing as they wiped their eyes, Athena leaned in and gave Albus a hug, too. He certainly had grown, he had to be almost six feet by now, towering over her 5'4 stature. 5'7 in her boots, she proudly thought.
It was then, that James decided to show up. He stared at her, his mouth opening and closing like a fish, and Athena gave him a tentative smile, lifting her hand in a small, sheepish wave.
He blinked a few times, before he turned around, ignoring her. Athena's heart deflated.
"He... He was really broken up... When.. Y'know..." Rose explained, and Athena nodded, understanding filling her eyes.
Athena turned her head, and she saw The Weasleys and The Potters conversing, their eyes flashing to her every so often. She steeled herself, and walked over to them, her head high and her shoulders back.
"Mr. and Mrs. Potter, Weasley." Athena greeted, her voice sounding strong. They noticed a flash of silver on her tongue, a bar through it.
"I understand that my actions four years ago, will now affect how you see me today, and possibly the rest of my life. I also understand that what I did was unforgiveable, for there were children present. But I myself was a child, and in some eyes I still am. But I would like for you all to know that underneath all of the pictures decorating my body, that I am still the same girl you all met five years ago today. Except I have learned to love myself, and stop blaming myself for things that were never my fault, and taking responsibility for things that are. So I completely understand if you would like for me to no longer speak with you and your kin. It will pain me to no end, but I promise to respect any wishes you have for me."
Athena mentally patted herself on the back for managing to make sure her voice didn't crack. She clasped her hands in front of her stomach, and silently awaited their response.
"Oh, honey." Was all she heard, before arms were wrapped around her. She went stiff, before leaning into the embrace being given by Ginevra Potter.
"We would never, ever do that to you, or our children." Ginny whispered, and Athena nodded, blinking back unshed tears.
"Anyways, it's not like one of them isn't already dating a Malfoy." Ron said snarkily, and Hermione stomped on his foot, causing him to shut up.
Athena's brows shot up her forehead, and she turned to stare at Rose, who was excitedly conversing with a one Scorpius Malfoy.
"I see.." She said, hugging Ginny back before the woman released her.
She smiled and waved to them, kisses upon cheeks, before she walked back to there her friends were standing. And she grinned wickedly when she saw two new, but old faces.
Athena snuck up behind Hugo, ruffling his hair. He turned around, like he was going to yell at her, when he looked up, his eyes wide.
"Athena!" Lily and Hugo yelled in unison, wrapping their arms around her.
She grinned and hugged them back. Athena saw that Lily was already in her robes, and she was surprised to see a blue and bronze tie around her neck. The young girl looked self concious about it, and Athena squatted down, looking her in the eyes.
"You and your siblings are the smartest people at our school, Lily. It was just a matter of time before the hat got around to sorting you there. Never be ashamed of your house, Lily. I know I'm not." Athena tapped the dyed bit of her hair, and Lily solemnly nodded at her.
Athena stood back up, and the train whistled. After giving their families one last hug, one last kiss, everyone boarded the train. Athena protectively carried Delilah's carrier, the now nine-year old rabbit still as lively as she was when she was a babe.
When they were all settled in a carriage, She, Albus, Rose, and Scorpius, with James pointedly avoiding her and sitting with his friends in a different compartment.
Athena was asked to explain everything, but she refused to until she learned about everything that had happened first.
Rose explained that after Athena had... Fallen, the school was in utter chaos. Rose explained how Delilah had probably saved Athena's life, no, had surely saved Athena's life. They all told her how they were allowed into St. Mungos, and she had broken six ribs, and her neck had been fractured, along with both femurs.
They added, tears pricking Roses eyes, that the scars covering Athena's body scared them. That they were afraid for her. They all thought that she was going to die.
They said that by the time that Athena had woken up and they got there, she was already gone. Athena nodded solemnly. Rose told her about how the past four years were full of people trying to forget Athena. How they were all trying to forget what she looked like, laying on the ground. How they tried to forget how happy you tried to make everyone.
"They all were trying to forget how they were all too caught up in themselves to realize you were hurting, Athena. There's going to be some people who are happy you are back. But there's also going to be people who are furious. That even was truamatic, Athena, and some people aren't ready to forgive." Scorpius stated this, his fingers interlocked with Roses.
Athena nodded understandingly, her eyes unfocused. It was now her turn.
"My grandparents had taken me in, and they had taken care of me for awhile, before my parents demanded her back. They were forced to give up their only granddaughter." She started, a bit of scorn in her voice.
"At first, everything was better than it'd ever been, they weren't hitting me anymore, not like they were the summer after First Year. When I got back from Hogwarts, the abuse immediately started. It went on, night after night, the same belt, the same grin upon my father's face. The sam-" She suddenly looked up, shutting her mouth and looking at Lily and Hugo, who seemed terrified.
"Well, you get the gist of it. And it happened every night. All summer long. It was in the middle of August when the plan popped into my mind. I'd be free. I'd be free from them, from their pain. I'd be free as a bird." At this, she snorted. She had a few secrets she'd be keeping for a bit.
"So when second year came, I snuck off to a tower Jeth and I had found one night. The air was warm, and I felt at peace. I turned on my phone, and used a speaker charm, and then I just... Fell. I fell, and I felt at peace. I felt peaceful and happy, and then suddenly I felt nothing. I saw faces, blurry faces, and I heard screams, but they sounded so... Distant. They sounded like I was underwater. And that's the last thing I remembered." Athena shrugged, and she pet Delilah, who was asleep on Athena's chest, being held up by the girl's considerable chest.
Athena sure wasn't the thin, under-developed little girl anymore. She had gone through a sudden growth spurt between the ages of 13-15. She made a mental note that her birthday was next week.
"When I woke up, they immediately notified my family, and my grandparenst were there first. Like I said, I stayed with them for awhile, and all was fine, I guess. Until my parents demanded me, and I was handed over."
"When I got to Beauxbatons, they immediately called child services, because you are forced to dress and change in front of others. They saw the bruises and welts all over my body, and my parents are now still running free, just without me." She gave a small, sarcastic, humourless laugh.
"My homes... Have been a series of foster homes ever since. I've been constantly going through the motions... Fake a smile, a laugh, answer questions, do what you're told, wear this, wear that, turn in assignments, get top marks... It was all so... Normal, I guess?" She looked at them, and they were staring at her earnestly.
"W-Why are you back here?" Lily asked, her voice small and her eyes wide.
"Well, little Lily dear, I got expelled from Beauxbatons, because I snuck out with all of my money, and I got all these tattoos to cover all my ugly scars. I also got some extra holes." She stuck her tongue out and wiggled her eyebrows, which caused the young girl to giggle.
"Did you go to a Muggle shop?" Albus asked, his eyes wide.
"Yup. One right down in London. I handed him enough money that he asked no questions. Hurt like Melin, though. " Athena said, shrugging.
"Now, I'm gonna go get changed. Rose, gonna come with?" She placed Delilah in Hugo's lap, to his delight, and she and Rose went to the girl's lavtories.
Athena stripped, suddenly extremely self-concious. Rose glanced at her, and gasped. Athena was standing there in her boy-short cut knickers, and a plain black t-shirt bra, and Roses eyes were on Athena's thighs.
There was a portrait of Delilah, mid-hop on one, the tattoo looking like it were a mirror, not ink-on-skin. On the edges, there were long, pink, ugly scars that marred the art, but t seemed to give it more... Character.
The other thigh, held the very thing Athena hoped and wished for every night. It was Hogwarts, illuminated in the night sky, with boats floating on the Black Lake, torches lit, and a single tentacle from the Giant Squid popping out of the lake.
Athena rubbed the back of her neck bashfully.
"I got a job offer there, for my "Creativity and talent" she said, grinning and laughing. Rose smiled at her, and they both got dressed. Athena wore almost the same thing she wore first year, but this time she wore clothes that fit. Her blazer hugged her comfortably, and her skirt hit her just below mid-thigh, and her socks reached over her knees a couple of inches. She pulled on her robe, and brought her hair down. Unless you pulled her sleeves up, or you lifted her skirt, you would never know her ivory skin was covered in beautiful artwork.
They went back to the carriage, arm-in-arm, and they were just in time. The train had just pulled up to Hogwarts, and they all rushed out. Athena had tugged a sweatshirt over her head, covering her face. She wasn't really in the mood for any more questions.
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