FHB: Chapter 29

Lucius did not expect it to be so soon. Barely a week after his little meet up with the Dark Lord, he was called to Professor Dumbledore’s office. Lucius never liked Professor Dumbledore and was rather glad Professor Slughorn was also present when he entered the circular room.

“Professor, you have requested for me?” Lucius asked.

“Yes, I’m afraid something has happened,” Professor Dumbledore said as he handed Lucius a letter.

Without hesitation, Lucius tore the letter open and gazed at the words on the brown parchment.

“Your mother. She wrote us a letter too, explaining-”

“Professor, this is…” Lucius interrupted Professor Slughorn, but immediately stopped himself from continuing. What he intended to say would have ruined the Dark Lord’s plan of getting him out of school, and it was a good thing he caught on fast.

“Don’t worry, Lucius. You will board the train right away,” Professor Slughorn said as he placed a comforting hand on Lucius’ shoulder.

“Thank you, sir,” Lucius replied, keeping his gaze on the handwriting that was clearly not his mother’s. He was afraid that if he looked up, he would not be able to hide the truth from Professor Dumbledore.

“Pack what you need and I’ll send someone to escort you to the station,” Professor Dumbledore said.

“Thank you, professor,” Lucius said, quickly turning on his heels.

“And Lucius,” Professor Dumbledore called out. When Lucius turned but did not look him in the eye, there was a short awkward moment of silence. Professor Dumbledore did not speak until Lucius forced his gaze upon him. “Your father will be fine.”

Lucius gave him a firm nod before he hurried off. Letter still clutched in his hand, Lucius headed to the empty dungeons and went straight to his room. Once alone, he heaved a sigh of relief; relief that no one called the letter a bluff. What would happen if Professor Dumbledore knew he was working for the Dark Lord? Lucius can only imagine the horror his family would have to go through.

After a few minutes of complete silence, Lucius changed into something more muggle-like and began packing. The letter said he would be away for one week, so he decided to pack light. One suitcase should suffice, so Lucius swiftly grabbed what he needed before running into Professor Slughorn outside the common room.

“I told Dumbledore I’d escort you. Better if no one else knows what is going on,” Professor Slughorn said.

“Thank you, sir,” Lucius replied.

“So much gossiping among the students these days, this is the least I can do for you.”

Lucius gave a nod and followed after Professor Slughorn. As the two made their way to the train station in Hogsmead, an unwanted conversation took place.

“Ms Lovegood has been writing to me, you know,” Professor Slughorn said. “She’s doing very well in her training. They even sent her on field!”

“That’s good to hear,” Lucius responded shortly.

“Don’t you two write to one another? I thought you were friends.”

“Well, sometimes. She’s been busy,” Lucius lied, not knowing why he did.

“Yes, yes. A clever girl she is.”

Lucius merely nodded.

“I wish she could have finished her studies here. But I guess it is better for her to start her training now.”

“It is.” Two words that were the opposite of what Lucius was thinking.

“Can you believe it? I do not even have a picture of her!” Professor Slughorn exclaimed.

Thankfully, the conversation could not continue on the Hogwarts Express, as Lucius thanked Professor Slughorn again and boarded the train. When the train started to move, he heaved another sigh. This time, it was not a sigh of relief but a sigh of uncertainty.

As the train chugged into the night, Lucius found himself slowly drifting off into dream world. The scenery could not keep him awake and the thoughts he had became tiring. When he finally realized he had dozed off, the Hogwarts Express hissed and screeched as it came to a stop. Pulling himself up, Lucius wasted no time and hopped off the train.

Platform 9 ¾ was awfully quiet that night. The last time he stood on the platform, it was full of noisy students. Now, it was dead with not a single soul lurking about. Lucius did not like how the atmosphere felt and headed straight for the pillar. Once through, the stillness was ripped from him.

King’s Cross Station was busy, with muggles transiting home after a long day. Lucius blended in with the crowd and casually strolled to the exit. The moment he stepped outside, he felt lost. He always had an escort, but that night was different. Even though the letter said he would have a pick-up, he did not see anyone waiting for him. Lucius looked up and down the sidewalk he was on, hoping to see a chauffeur and a car, but when no one fit his mental description he gave up.

Lucius decided that since waiting did him no good, he should start walking. As he headed down his right, slipping past strangers, he kept his eye out for someone who might be waiting for him. When he saw someone leaning against a car, he decided to try his luck. But just before he could approach that man, a stranger brushed past him and whispered in his ear.

Not catching the whispered words, Lucius spun around to see who it was, but it was impossible to play the guessing game in such a crowd. A few seconds later, the same stranger bump into his shoulder and whispered again. This time, Lucius heard him.

“Follow me,” he said, as he continued walking ahead rather slowly.

Lucius was not sure if he could trust that man. He had never seen him before, and he couldn’t help but doubt. Things could go wrong very quickly if he made the wrong decision. Was following the stranger the wrong decision?

To Be Continued…

(Leave a comment below or vote on whether Lucius should follow the stranger or keep on looking!)

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Unbreakable Vow

Ro was a special girl, with black hair and dark eyes that stood out from her pale complexion. Not only was she clever, but she was gifted. Though her parents thought of her as extraordinary, society thought otherwise. Ro was living in a time where being special meant death, hence, her parents constantly reminded her to never use her gift in public.

Because of Ro’s condition, she and her parents moved around a lot. Her parents were looking for a place where they would be accepted and that Ro could grow up without living in fear. But finding such a peace haven was becoming more impossible as the years went by.

Ro once thought that there were many others like her, and that when they found those people, she wouldn’t have to lie her way in life. But when she saw her parents losing hope, Ro was losing hers too. Maybe she was alone and there was no one like her, or worse, the king had killed all those who were like her already.

Sometimes, Ro would feel a tear rolling down her cheek, and when she realized her sadness had made her cheeks wet, she would pull her hood over and keep her head down. Loneliness was something she hated and yet it was starting to be the only thing she understood.

Ro thought her future was as straight forward as surviving day to day, but it was on one fine night that things changed. When her parents decided to stay a night at a town they were passing through, Ro discovered she was not so alone anymore.

Ro was having a hard time falling asleep that night, and she decided to sneak out when her parents had fallen asleep. She had learned how to sneak around that even old floorboards could not betray her. Once she was in the clear of any humans, Ro walked towards an empty field behind the inn. She heard the town’s people talking about an upcoming tourney, and Ro secretly hoped they could stay long enough to see it. Though she was certain they wouldn’t.

Closing her eyes briefly, Ro imagined the field being set up with tents and benches. She saw knights, horses, swords and a loud and excited crowd. When she opened her eyes, the field lay quietly under the dark sky. Ro felt the same sadness within her and she knew a tear would soon be coming. Thankfully, someone stopped her.

“Lovely isn’t it?” a girl asked.

Turning around, Ro saw a girl around her age with red hair and blue eyes, and with skin almost as pale as hers.

“It would be, when the tourney starts,” Ro said, forcing a smile.

“Well, that depends. But I prefer it quiet,” the girl replied.

Of course she did, she was never alone. Silence was bliss for a girl like her, Ro thought.

“I haven’t seen you around, are you new here?” the girl asked.

“I’m just passing through with my parents. Do you live in this town?” Ro asked in return.

“Yes. But I want to leave. I hate it here,” the girl said, as she took a seat on a log.

“Why? Isn’t it nice here?”

“No. No one understands me. The only one who did left me,” the girl answered sourly.

Ro thought for a while before she spoke. The girl felt alone too, and it must be horrible to feel alone even when there were so many people around. At least Ro never had to deal with loneliness that way.

“Who left?”

“My father. He died,” the girl replied softly.

Ro sat beside her, and watched her closely. Was she going to cry?

“How about your mother?” Ro tried to sound comforting.

“She thinks I’m a freak.”

“Why would any mother think that of her child?”

“Because I can do things. Things normal people can’t.”

Immediately, Ro felt a surge of happiness, which she felt bad for feeling at the same time.

“What kind of things?” Ro asked, trying to hide her excitement.

“Strange things. Things my mother said the King would burn me for.” The girl turned to look at Ro and asked, “Can you do strange things too?”

There was the same glinting hope in the girl’s eyes that Ro could sense, but Ro just stared at the girl, unsure if she should admit it.

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone. I can do strange things too remember?” the girl said with a sweet smile.

Ro nodded and smiled. But her smiled soon died as she said, “I will be gone in the morning. My parents will not let me stay, and they won’t let you come along either.”

“I know. But we can always find each other, because we are special,” the girl said confidently.

“How?”

“A vow.” The girl took Ro’s hand and continued, “I promise to find you when I’m old enough to leave. I promise that we will find others like us. And I promise we will be together till the very end. Do you promise the same?”

“I promise to go with you when you find me. I promise that we will find and help others like us. And I promise we will be together till the very end,” Ro said her own vows, her hand still tightly gripping the girl’s.

“Good,” the girl said as she pulled her hand away, and gave Ro a hug.

Once they sat back, Ro curiously asked, “What’s your name?”

“I’m Helga. What is yours?”

“I’m Rowena. But you can call me Ro.”

They sat there long enough to share their dreams, desires, and even their gifts, that when morning came, Ro felt like crying again, not because of loneliness but because she might have to wait a long time before she could see her new sister again.

Almost 10 years later, the wait was over when Ro received a letter from Helga. Not thinking twice, Rowena packed her bags and left the small school she was learning magic from. She was not going to break her vow, as vows were never meant to be broken. Maybe when she has obtained a wand, Ro could come up with a spell for vows, so words were not just spoken but binding to the souls.

Chapter 35

Joanna hurried to a small closet before she apparated to five different places before she headed to Tom’s house. She didn’t want to be followed and she knew Dumbledore still did not truly trust her. When she entered the house, she started shouting his name, but she heard no reply.

Entering the reading room, she found the darkness and the cold so unwelcoming.

“Tom?” Joanna shouted but the only reply she got was dead silence.

Immediately she headed to his bedroom, and when she entered, it was the same; dark and cold.

“Nagini?” Joanna called, and even the snake was no where to be found. Joanna felt like she had just missed them and there was a sudden tightness in her chest. She was afraid for him, she was afraid of loosing him.

“Tom, where are you?” Joanna whispered as she sat on his bed and stared blankly at the floor. She was trying not to panic, trying not to give in to the fear, trying not to cry.

Just when she thought she was just wasting her time, she heard him.

“What are you doing here?”

 “Tom?” Joanna looked up and saw him standing by his desk. Immediately, she got up and ran to him. She threw her arms around him and she felt him return the hug.

“Tom, the ministry knows about the muggle attack,” Joanna suddenly pulled back and warned.

“The ministry knows about what?”

“Don’t try to play dumb. That muggle town, you were planning for a muggle attack weren’t you? You have to call it off! The ministry are sending aurors in the moment the attack happens!”

“I’m not calling it off,” Tom replied with a straight face.

“People will die if a battle starts!”

“It is too late to call it off. Everyone are at their positions waiting for my orders.”

“Tom please,” Joanna whispered her plea, hoping that it would have a different effect on him.

“Sorry,” Tom said as he made some distance between them.

“Tom, don’t do this. I can’t lose you,” Joanna said.

There, I said it, I admitted it, Joanna thought to herself.

“I won’t die. You’ll see me again,” Tom replied as he shifted his gaze away from her.

There was a short moment of silence before he walked up to her, placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, before disapparating.

Immediately after he disappeared, the tears fell, because Joanna knew she wasn’t going to see him again. Falling to her knees she attempted to control her sobs, but it was impossible. She had a very bad feeling and she couldn’t shake it off.

After multiple attempts of trying to calm herself down, Joanna forced her way back to the ministry. Even at 6 in the morning, people were still bustling around, but the crowd was thinner than it was before.

Joanna slumped on her desk and caught a couple of hours of shut eye before she was wakened by her colleague.

It was 10 in the morning when teams were being sent off one by one into the small town. There were easily 50 of them up against a rough estimate of 30 dark witches and wizards.

Joanna was in team B. The team where 10 of them were to try and get as many muggles to safety. She was glad she didn’t have to be in the battle, but she was still afraid she might have to watch it all go down.

At 10:10, she apparated into an alley where she charmed a mother and child to return home. Just as she watched them disappear into safety, she saw a sign on one of the shops on the main street. The sign read, ‘Erlton Motel’. Was that where Tom was staying?

Ignoring the shouts of her teammates as she dashed across the soon to be blood wet streets, all Joanna could think about was stopping Tom. Entering the strangely empty motel, Joanna hurried up the stairs and onto the first landing. Was she going to knock on every door? She had to try.

When it came to the fourth door with no answer, she felt like crying again. Just then, the next door opened and Joanna’s draw dropped.

“What… Joanna?” Malfoy managed to ask in shock.

“Malfoy?”

“What are you doing here?” they asked each other simultaneously.

 Neither of them answered.

“Where’s Tom?” Joanna quickly asked.

Malfoy did not answer her question. He just stared at her, unsure on what to do. Just before he could say a word in reply, they heard it. Screams, yells and eruption of spells; the fight had begun.

Malfoy immediately said, “I’m late.” Before attempting to walk pass her.

Joanna pulled out her wand and pointed it right in his face.

“Where’s Tom?!” Joanna demanded.

“Where else?” Malfoy answered, backing away from her. When he realized Joanna had lost her interest in him, Malfoy ran pass her to join the rest.

Where else, Joanna thought.

She had to save him. Or she had to trust he would be safe, like he assured. Whichever she had to do, it was no easy decision.

To Be Continued….

(Leave a comment below or vote on whether Joanna should wait for the fight to end, or attempt to do something!)

Chapter 33

Joanna got up and Nagini immediately exited the room. Hurrying after it, Nagini waited for her at corners, just so Joanna would not lose sight of it, before it continued slithering. Finally, after a few turns, Joanna found herself standing in front of a white door. The knob was not dusty like the rest which meant Tom used it.

Nagini hissed at her, as though urging her to hurry up. After hesitating for a moment, Joanna turned the knob and entered the unlocked room.

The room was Tom’s bedroom. Clean and tidy like the reading room, there was a table, with books and papers scattered on them, and a fireplace with ashes. Nagini did not stop to look around like she did, as it slithered to a chest at the corner of the room and hissed for her attention.

Giving into Nagini’s demands, Joanna headed over and attempted to open it, but it was locked. There was some locking charm around the chest which made Joanna even more curious of its contents.

Should she open it? Joanna was tempted to. She had learned a lot of unlocking spells and she was certain she could get this chest opened in no time, but that would mean intruding Tom’s privacy. Nagini didn’t seem to care though, as it kept on hissing.

Not really thinking it through, Joanna pulled out her wand and tried a few spells on the chest. Third time was indeed the charm as the chest glowed around the gaps. Excited, Nagini slithered onto her lap and waited for her to open it. Not wanting Nagini to stay any longer on her lap, she pushed the top over and found herself starring down at a folder and a square cage, covered with white cloth.

Pretty sure Nagini had no interest in the folder, Joanna took the cage out and pulled the white cloth off. A sudden shrill came from the contents as blue Cornish pixies began shaking the cage. Accidentally dropping the cage, Nagini hurried towards it and started striking at the pixies.

“You eat pixies?” Joanna asked in disbelief.

Joanna reached for the cage, pointed her wand and jinx the afraid and noisy pixies. The pixies started to fall into a dreamy state and that was when Joanna opened the top and pulled out one pixie. Placing it on the ground, Nagini immediately grabbed for it and slithered away to a corner.

“So much for a thank you,” Joanna said as she placed the cage back into the chest.

Naturally, she reached for the folder and when she saw its contents, Joanna wished she had not.

There were names, places, spells, and internal information about the ministry of magic that even Joanna could not get her hands on. Joanna told herself to stop reading and put the folder back where it belonged, but her eyes and hands worked in harmony to disobey her commands.

“Erlton Motel?” Joanna asked herself more than the audible. The motel was located in a muggle town outside the city. Why was Tom so interested in a muggle town? Unless…

Joanna’s thoughts were cut short when Tom entered the room. Immediately the file and its contents fell from her hand.

“I can explain,” Joanna quickly said.

Tom merely stared at the papers on the floor before turning to Nagini and casting an inaudible spell at it. Nagini hissed and attempted to slither under the bed. But Tom’s second spell caught it by the tail and sent it up onto the ceiling before falling to the ground.

“STOP! Don’t hurt it!” Joanna shouted.

Tom seemed to have not heard her as he cast another spell, followed by a sentence in parseltongue.

Nagini curled up at a corner as Tom headed up to it, wand still pointed at the terrified snake.

“No!” Joanna ran towards him and pulled him away from Nagini. He looked as though he was about to kill his own pet.

There was fury in his eyes when she finally looked him in the face, but a few moments later, the fury left.

“You shouldn’t have read that,” Tom said as he looked past Joanna.

“I know. I’m sorry. It’s my fault, not the snake’s. Please don’t hurt it anymore,” Joanna pleaded.

Tom did not reply. He simply turned around, waved his wand at the papers sending them back into the chest, before exiting the room. The chest sealed itself with the same glowing edges, and Joanna stared at it for a while before wondering if she should go after him.

She was afraid to face him, because she knew she was at fault. She could have just jeopardized their relationship for knowing too much. Turning to Nagini, hoping for an answer she knew she wouldn’t get from the poor baby snake, she found that the snake had disappeared under the bed, leaving her to decide.

Should she try to explain, or should she just leave and come back when she had her words figured out?

To Be Continued…

(Leave a comment below or vote on whether Joanna should go after Tom or come back another day!)

Chapter 21:

Joanna crept down the stairs slowly with renewed energy she had just obtained through her curiosity.

When she heard the front door shut softly, she hurried down the steps, made a grab for her cloak, scrambled into her boots and peek through the main door’s keyhole.

Joanna watched as Tom hurried out of the front gate and into the cold and deserted town. Without hesitation, Joanna went after him. As she tailed him not too far behind, she forced herself to take bigger strides and draw deeper breaths, hoping not to lose sight of him.

When she saw Tom enter a tavern, Joanna slowed down, and eyed him through the old glass window panels. Tom took a seat at the far end of the tavern, where a hooded figure joined him shortly after.

Making sure not to be spotted, Joanna sneaked into the tavern and sat at a table behind a half-giant. She was close enough to spy on Tom, but not close enough to eavesdrop.

As she peeked over the old, dog-eared, menu, she watched Tom get into a private conversation with the hooded figure, as they bowed their heads low, over what looked like a list of something. Finally, after watching them converse for nearly an hour, Tom stood up, shook the figure’s hand and watched as the figure left.

Just as Tom was to leave as well, Joanna sunk deeper into her chair, burying her head behind the menu. But when she heard someone clearing their voice, she was pretty sure it wasn’t a waitress.

“Pleasure meeting you here,” Tom said.

“I needed a drink,” Joanna lied unconvincingly.

“Oh? It must be silly of me to think you were spying on me then.”

“It is,” Joanna quickly said as she looked away.

“I don’t understand you. Why don’t you just ask me, instead of spying on me?” Tom asked as he sat down across from her.

“Fine. What were you doing talking to that person?”

“That wasn’t a person. And I was asking on where to obtain certain items.”

“What items?”

“Rowena Ravenclaws diadem. And other special items for my horcruxes.” Tom said it so blatantly as though he didn’t care if anyone overheard him.

“I see. Was he the one who saved me from Rose?”

“No.” Tom chuckled. “He’s incapable of duels. I saved you.”

“Oh. Thank you.” Joanna almost whispered her gratitude.

“Don’t worry about it. She won’t be bothering you anymore.”

“Why? What did you do to her?” Joanna asked, but immediately added, “Wait, I don’t wanna know.”

“I didn’t kill her if that is what you’re worried about.”

“Right, well, good. Let’s go back now, shall we?” Joanna asked as she stood up and waited for him to follow. There were old rugged men staring in their direction and Joanna did not want to stay any longer.

After the short silent walk in the cold, they finally reached home, and Tom did the same thing he did before. He made sure Joanna was in bed before he went to his room. And this time, he shut his door loud enough for her to hear it.

When morning came, Joanna quickly forgot about the night before because Rose had a miraculous turn around. She gave Joanna her room back, and became the goody two shoes no one would have expected her to be in her lifetime. It was all thanks to Tom. He mentioned about speaking to Rose, but Joanna knew he was lying. Joanna was certain he did something to her, but she couldn’t be bothered in finding out what.

When the holiday finally ended and school was back in session, everything took on a different turn. Joanna realized that she did no good to Tom, but rather, he did good to her. And the moment she settled down in her dormitory she had a feeling the year was going to go by very quickly.

And though she was happy to be able to finish her studies, without being expelled again, Joanna knew that when it came to Tom, she was running out of options, and she couldn’t think of graduating when she knew her friend was going to commit such a hideous act.

Joanna was at the end of the road as she could not convince Tom to stop what he was doing, and she failed miserably at proving that being good paid off. So what was she going to do next?

After a week into classes, Joanna found herself bombarded with homework and she didn’t even have time to think about Tom. Their final exam was happening earlier this year as the ministry of education made a mistake with their scheduling, and this was such a horror to most students.

Tom, however, was rather relaxed. Apparently, he had already prepared the year before and he just couldn’t wait for it to be over. It was in that very same conversation that they were having, at their secret tower hideout, that Tom asked about her future.

“Where do you see yourself after you graduate?”

“I don’t know. You?”

“I’m still planning,” Tom answered.

“World domination and the disposal of muggles?” Joanna asked jokingly.

“That’s part of it,” Tom replied without addressing the question as a joke.

“I see.” Joanna immediately regretted her question.

“Part of my plan is to have you with me.” Tom caught Joanna off guard, and continued, “What are plans if you don’t have anyone to share it with?”

“But, I’m not really excited about you splitting your soul,” Joanna replied quickly.

“Then you have to make a decision now,” Tom said as he turned to look her in the eye.

“What decision?”

“Are you with me, or are you not?”

Joanna didn’t know how to answer Tom. It was a tough question, but deep down, she wanted to be with him.

“I can’t contradict my beliefs,” Joanna said softly and Tom heard her.

“Then I’ll make you the exception. You don’t have to help me with my plans, you just have to be in it.”

“How does that work? Are you asking me to be… your girlfriend?” Joanna asked, extremely confused at his statement, yet secretly hoping that that was what he meant.

“Just say yes,” Tom replied.

To Be Continued…

(Leave a comment below or vote on how Joanna should respond!)

Home Schooled

As he sat staring out of his room window, he wondered what life would have been like, if he was accepted to a magical school. But the more he thought about it, the more he hated his life. He couldn’t understand why nobody wanted him, why nobody would accept him for who he was, and deep within him, sparks of anger was growing.

But as of now, he had to push away that thought, because in a few minutes, he would have to sit with his relatives who would ask about him, and why he wasn’t in school. He would have to pretend he didn’t like public school, and that he preferred to be home schooled, to save his parents the embarrassment. And though he thought his parents were being selfish, he knew that that excuse would save him the embarrassment as well.

Finally, the knock came from the door, and he knew it was time. The moment his aunts, uncles and cousins were all settled down in their cosy living room, with the fireplace mildly burning with scented wood, he knew that  though the environment was perfect for good stories and laughs, it will soon turn to him.

“So, still being home schooled I assume?” his eldest aunt asked.

“Yes,” he replied, forcing a smile as he nodded

“Oh, it’s better for him. He can focus more,” his mother quickly added.

“Ah, yes, boys at his age are easily influenced. You’re fifteen now aren’t you?” His eldest aunt turned to him.

“Yes,” he replied, with the same plastic smile.

“Well then, you should show us what you could do,” one of his cousin suggested.

“Oh, we know what he can do, there’s no need to show,” his father answered before he could.

“No, he must show. A boy like you, with such talented parents, would definitely have great talent hidden under your sleeves. And since you’re home schooled, we expect greater things from you!” his eldest aunt said.

“I… I’m not sure,” he said, as he watched his parents exchange quick glances.

“Oh, look at the time, it’s late!” his mother quickly said, as his father waved his wand from his back at the nearby clock.

“Yes, you must get going,” his father added, standing up ready to usher them to the door.

“Oh? I think your clock is off uncle, we just got here,” his cousin said with a laugh.

“Oh, stop trying to be funny Artie,” his eldest aunt said to his father, and waved for him to sit back down.

Immediately, his mother gave him a nudge, and acting upon her actions he got up, ready to excuse himself, with a reason that he needed to get some homework done.

“Where are you going?” his cousin immediately asked.

“I have some homework to do,” he replied, trying to make himself believable.

“Oh, you’re home schooled boy, you can do it anytime,” his eldest aunt said.

And when his mother tugged at his sleeve, he sat back down. Confused at what his parents actually wanted, he sat through the excuses they came up with to put him in the clear and when they finally succeeded, they went on to talking about the ministry, quidditch, and everything magic related.

Through 2 hours of rambling, laughing and complaining, he somehow felt out of place. They seemed so happy, and in him, more seeds of anger began to plant itself. He didn’t know why, but he hated them for being so happy, their laughs became too loud to bear, and they complaints felt so petty that he felt as though they were being so ungrateful with the life they had.

Then, when they started talking about how they wished they could actually live a muggle life for one day, he could not believe what he was hearing. Were they kidding? Do they know what they would be missing out if they were muggles?

“Oh, wouldn’t it be nice to drive a muggle car, ON the road? And those special things they call telephone, it looks so fun to use!” his cousin said excitedly.

“It would be nice to experience it. No ministry talk, just tea with a game of tennis,” his eldest aunt added.

“What’s tennis? It sure does sound interesting” his mother asked.

At that very moment, he just couldn’t take it anymore. He knew what tennis was, because he learnt about it in school, muggle school. And when he told his parents about it, they couldn’t care less. Now, they were on the bandwagon about living a muggle life?

“Oh, it’s a game-“

“It’s a muggle game. A muggle game you probably would not play, mother,” he interrupted his eldest aunt, and sent the room quiet.

“Oh, don’t stop on my account. You all seem to want to live the muggle life, so go ahead! Go to muggle schools, learn about muggle art, and BE A MUGGLE! Then when you’re bored, you can go back to being magical, cause you can!” he continued, and everyone in the room merely stared at him, speechless.

“Argus, please,” his mother whispered.

“Don’t PLEASE me mother, you want to live a lie, go ahead, but I’m done living a lie.” Argus paused and turned to his eldest aunt. “Do you know why I don’t perform magic? It’s because I’m a squib! I CAN’T do magic. I DON’T have it! I’m a muggle, living in a magical world, and it is horrible. So stop being so ungrateful with what you have!’

Immediately after his outburst, Argus ran to his room, slammed his door as loud as he could and buried his face in his pillow, muffling his shouts of anger. But even when he was done, his anger never left, because he just couldn’t understand why those who were given special giftings would take it for-granted.

If only they knew how it was like being the only one not special. If only they could stand where he stood. If only they could see the difference, then he wouldn’t be so angry at all of them.

Chapter 6:

Joanna sat in the second floor girl’s bathroom. Tom had asked her to meet him there the day before, because apparently, no one visits this bathroom anymore. And Joanna was oblivious to the fact why.

As she sat alone, an occasional wave of sudden chills ran through her body. Joanna had a feeling something was not right, and when she heard a soft moan coming from one of the cubicles, she stood up with confirmation.

“Who’s there?” Joanna asked loudly, suppressing the urge to run.

But instead of a reply, the moaning grew louder and Joanna slowly backed towards the exit. She was about to turn and make a dash out, when she bumped into someone. Immediately, she spun around, only to find Tom standing behind her.

“Are you scared?” Tom chuckled.

“There’s something in this toilet,” Joanna quickly answered.

“Get out of here Myrtle,” Tom said as he walked pass her.

A ghostly figure of a girl came swooping out of a toilet cubicle. Her hair was tied up in two ponytails and she screamed in such a high pitch that Joanna instinctively covered her ears.

“I told you to get out you filthy mudblood!” Tom raised his voice.

The ghost stopped and choked on her cries. “Fine!” she said as she wailed into a cubicle and splashed into a toilet bowl.

“Who was that?” Joanna asked as she peered into the cubicle where the ghost disappeared into.

“Some dead mudblood,” Tom shrugged as he sat down and placed the thick book he carried around on his lap.

“Right,” Joanna said as she joined him.

They spent their entire evening break in the girl’s bathroom, with the surprising absence of the moaning ghost.

Joanna told stories of how a few of her uncles were trying to make a Horcrux and each of them had different results, all bad of course. But strangely, as their conversation left the room of dark arts, Joanna started to fear him less.

A week into secret toilet hideouts and Joanna had gotten Tom to talk about his childhood. It was her way of trying to get him to stay away from the Horcrux topic as long as possible, hoping he would forget about the idea all together.

But when Tom spoke of his younger days, he seemed to be loathing it.

“Bloody orphanage muggles thought I was sick! Got me muggle doctors and all,” Tom scoffed.

“Then who told you about magic?” Joanna asked.

“Dumbledore. He came for me one afternoon.”

“But, Dumbledore…” Joanna had noticed the way Dumbledore looked at Tom, and it wasn’t the same way most of the other Professors did.

“He doesn’t like me I assume. He’s always watching me, trying to catch me or something,” Tom finished her sentence for her.

“You’re not afraid of him are you?”

Tom didn’t answer, instead he changed the topic with a question directed to her, “Why were you expelled?”

“I set the headmaster’s office on fire.”

“Why?”

“He’s a muggleborn, who made us read books ONLY by muggles.” Joanna rolled her eyes at the memory.

“He said muggles were the best in arts. But he doesn’t know what he is talking about. Shakespeare and DaVinci weren’t muggles and they were famous! Yet he chose not to teach about them,” Joanna continued. “So one day, I decided to set his office on fire.”

“Was he in it?”

“No.”

“How unfortunate,” Tom sighed and Joanna chuckled.

“I know, but I would be in prison if he was. I’m somewhat thankful he didn’t die,” Joanna said.

“I would break you out if you were.” Tom smiled.

“You didn’t know me then, how could you break me out?”

“That’s true. I guess it would be horrid to have your life sucked out by Dementors everyday.”

“Horrid indeed. My aunt’s in prison,” Joanna conveniently stated.

“Wicked family you have, and yet you don’t practice dark magic?”

“My mother has lost a lot. I don’t want to be another lost to her. I am after all, the only child.”

“That’s one reason I don’t have to worry about.”

Joanna went silent at the thought of how her parents would react if she had died. Even right now, her mother was constantly grieving as one after another, her brothers and sisters were suffering, disappearing and dying because of dark magic. And though it was in their family heritage to practice it, her mother never promoted it. The lost was unbearable and the only good thing that ever came out of dark magic was death.

Tom must have noticed her drift away as he asked, “You still here?”

“Sorry, I was thinking,” Joanna replied.

“About?”

“About the Christmas ball.” An excuse she made.

“Are you going?” Tom asked.

“I don’t know. No one has asked me yet,”

“It’s a little too early to be asked don’t you think? It’s a full month away.”

“Yes, but I don’t really have a lot of friends.” Joanna realized it was a fact the moment she said so.

Since she started in Hogwarts, the only Hufflepuff she knew by name was Annoria. The rest were just “hey”s and “hello”s. And for those who weren’t in Hufflepuff, she knew no one but Tom and Malfoy, who had suddenly became awfully nice to her.

“I”m a friend,” Tom said, and he sounded like he meant it.

“That’s nice to know.” Joanna smiled, as she deciphered his tone.

“Do you…” Tom’s voice trailed off in uncertainty.

“Do I what?”

“Do you… want to go to the Christmas Ball with me?”

Joanna was caught by surprise. She wanted to go but should she?

To be continued…

(Leave a comment below on vote on whether Joanna should accept Tom’s request and go with him to the Christmas ball!)

Magic Never Again

It was a perfect day to go outside. Or so Ariana thought, as she ran down a meadow. The sun felt warm on her skin, and the clear sky was in a perfect shade of pastel blue that Ariana wished she could use it as paint.

As she sat down under a tree, Ariana couldn’t wait to do her little tricks. Tricks her brothers called magic. Something her parents said to be a gift, and boy, she loved this gift!

Raising her small palm, she closed her eyes and thought of a butterfly. And as expected, what came fluttering out of her hand was a small yellow butterfly. Her blue eyes sparkled as the butterfly took off from her palm and into the sky.

“More!” Ariana said to herself with a giggle as she closed both her hands this time. Making two more butterflies.

Her excitement made her continue. More butterflies she made, and every time they appeared on her palm, her blue eyes would light up.

Being six, bliss was found in everything she saw. Even in the butterflies she made. But her bliss was short lived when she saw a few boys staring at her from across the meadow.

Ariana watched them as they watched her. They whispered to one another and though she was rather curious on what they were up to, she decided to ignore them and return to making more butterflies.

One after another, butterflies escaped her palms. She was getting better at it and she was ecstatic.

Giggling as butterflies filled the tree above her head, she had not notice the boys walking towards her. And when she finally did, they were only a few feet away.

“What are you doing?” one of the boys asked skeptically.

“Making butterflies!” Ariana smiled from ear to ear.

“It’s a trick, isn’t it?” another boy asked.

“It’s magic!” Ariana innocently answered.

“There’s no such thing as magic you freak!” the same boy shouted.

Ariana who was shock by the accusation, quickly got on her feet.

“Yea! You must be a freak if you can do magic!” the other boy added.

“Freak! You’re a freak!” They began taunting her.

Ariana, who was confuse and hurt, started to sob. Was she really a freak? Ariana thought as she watch the butterflies in the tree slowly fluttering away.

“I’m special! I’m not a freak!” Ariana shouted at the boys.

“Oh yea? Who said so?”

“My mother and father!” Ariana bravely answered.

And as she did, one of them pushed her to the ground, “Shut up freak!”

“Yea! Shut up!” another boy added as he gave her a kick.

His action triggered the rest to follow after, as one by one they started kicking her. Taunting and calling her a freak as they did.

Ariana, quickly curled up as she took their blows. Tears falling down her cheeks and her constant plea for them to stop did not help. She was scared and confused. She didn’t know why they hated her. All she did was make butterflies. Was it so wrong?

The boys finally stopped after what seemed like a long time of kicking and stomping the young girl.

“Freaks should die!” one of them shouted as they backed away from her and started to leave.

“I hope you die” another spat at her before he followed after his friends.

Ariana, still curled up, didn’t dare to move. And as her tears kept falling, she kept wondering. If she had to die for being special, she didn’t want to be special anymore. She didn’t want to make butterflies or make flowers bloom. She didn’t want to make colorful fishes or heal the baby bird’s broken wings. She didn’t want to do magic. It was a horrid thing.

As day became night, Ariana stayed curled up till her brothers shouted her name. When she looked up and saw Albus and Aberforth hovering over her, she only said one thing, “No more.”

Her brothers, who immediately noticed the bruises and wounds on her body hurriedly brought her home. And as her distraught mother patched up her wounds, her father left the house without a word after she told him what had happened.

And though Ariana was a bit confused with her parents reaction, she was clear on one thing. She was never doing magic again. Magic was bad. It was horrid. And she will die if she made another butterfly. With that, Ariana slept and never again would you see her little hands make that day’s delights ever again.