Outcasts
by Azkaban’s Guard
Chapter 5-
Insolitus (Strange)
They deceived me, the lying tricksters that preyed on my fixation! How cruel to
pick upon someone's weakest moment. Barty had always
told me how he despised people that fired a spell when their victims back was
turned.
There was a reason for this, there's always a reason. People learn things
through experiences, even imagination helps. My brother has no lack of
imagination or knowledge of past events, such a deadly weapon...
"Sis," Barty called softly.
I looked up to the sofa where he was sitting, and acknowledged him with a
short- "Mhm."
"When you're old enough for Hogwarts-"
"Yes?" I interrupted excitedly. I couldn't wait to see the
castle and explore its grounds let alone learn magic like my ancestors.
He smiled lovingly, he knew I couldn't wait. "Just remember that you
should always face those who are untrustworthy." I raised one eyebrow
questioningly and smiled slightly. My brother would protect me, even if he
looked thin and weak he still would- through advice.
"I mean to say- watch out. Even to those you think would never harm
you."
"So you're
saying I should be twitchy and paranoid and have eyes in the back of my head,
right?"
We laughed
together, he knew I'd taken heed of his words and relaxed once more. I switched
the Wireless down a bit, although the Weird Sisters were playing my favourite
song: 'Summer Quidditch Trials'.
"What made
you say that anyway?"
"Nothing. Just a
little advice for my baby Sis."
I punched him
playfully and continued to pursue the thing he tried to avoid. "Come on,
Bart. You can tell me."
He sighed
heavily, and once again I looked into his troubled eyes. I couldn't help
wondering how such a beaten, unloved person could have a heart like him.
"Well it
was in the Hogwarts Dungeons..."
I shivered
delightedly, I loved tales about the dark and mysterious- and the dungeons
seemed just the place.
"I was
picking up my quill and my Arithmancy book that had
just fell through my bag-"
"Fell
through?"
"I'll get
to that. I bent down, picked it up and heaved them back into my bag. And then
to my annoyance it fell straight down again."
"A
hole?"
"A hole, yes. Anyway, I slung down my bag as I had now noticed
a trail of various belongings that had formed a trail behind me..."
I laughed- it
wasn't like Barty to drop things.
"The
usual- Spellotape, parchment and a spare bit of
Dragon's wing. So I clambered along the pebbly floor picking it all up, but when
I went to pick up one last thing-"
"The
Dragon's wing?"
"You got
me. Anyway when I went to pick that up the next thing I knew was I lying on my
front surrounded my towering professors."
I gasped
melodramatically.
"I'd been
stunned."
"Ouch! Who
did it? Was it that older boy- you know whats'is name..er Snivellus?"
"No, he left six years ago- I only saw him in my first year. But
then again you never know he could have crept back in the school to get
me!"
We both laughed
loudly at this ridiculous theory.
"Or the
Dragon's wing, someone might have been after that. Did you get it back?"
"Nope, it
was gone. You're probably right about someone wanting it though, Sis."
The memory faded once more from my mind, and I was left with the thoughts of
such longing and somehow a tinge of freedom. Tales of Hogwarts- little did I
know then that the Dragon's Wing was the top claw from a Peruvian Vipertooth. An ingredient used in Dark Magic. He had
started his transformation that long ago-when I thought him to be noble and
kind. At least he was to me and probably would have always been, if he hadn't
of died first...Died in Azkaban. My wonderings of what had happened while I was
lured into deep slumber drifted away, for the second time I had reason to pay
attention to the present.
I'd been allowed into the vicinities gardens and freed from my prison. I never
knew how beautiful it was out here. I could feel the wind tickle my neck and
whisper words of kindness in my ears. I could almost here Barty's
voice among the gently breeze and as if his smile was the sun that shined upon
me.
A well preserved chestnut fence bordered the gardens lush grass that swayed
slowly with the flowers huddling tightly in their beds. I smiled reminiscently;
it reminded me so much of my quaint little garden. The bird song was so rich
that only the intermittent burst of a police car's siren could be heard over it,
here in this Oasis. I wondered what the birds said and how they felt. Did they
know that below them lurked a deadly disease? My mind glided to the siren that
had faded away. Was someone hurt, suffering in a distant corner somewhere? Was
there a chase of tremendous speed that risked lives of civilians that
mindlessly crossed a normally deserted street? I wished to know instead of
forever ponder. But the gates were barred, and I was doomed to puzzle from
sounds and nothing more. I rested in the scorching sun and burrowed my chin
into the soft pillow at the top of the sun lounger.
My face melted down the coarse fabric and pointed down to a section of grass
shadowed my silhouette. Most blades reached high, leaning towards the
sweltering sun. However one little shoot could not
reach the light. It was less developed, and sickly looking- the deprivation of
sun was obvious- making it stand out from the rest like a runt in a litter.
Just like me.
I relaxed and tried to shut out all thoughts. I didn't want or need the
constant reminder of my condition. I rolled over until I was content and
completely comfortable. I lay there facing the liquid blue sky.
The sun danced over my smooth, pale skin, highlighting the faint freckles on my
cheeks and nose. My forehead was hot and moist, but starting to sizzle and
burn. At home I would have given up and gone inside, but I'd rather be fried
than trapped inside my claustrophobic cell. I stayed firmly where I was,
wiggling a bit to find a cool piece of fabric to cool myself down. I drew my
sleek black hair that was until a day ago thick with grease and dirt over my
face. "Maybe I have an ounce of magic in my veins," I wished, looking
directly at a blackbird ruffling its feathers on an evergreen tree.
"Maybe," it chirped back. And just as I sat bolt upright in
amazement, it swooped down on the grass and plucked the blade that was
different...