Broken Together

Clouds had formed and rain was pelting my window. It's funny how the weather often reflected my mood and today was no exception. For some the day would hold adventure, excitement, and anticipation about the coming year. For myself it held pain, dread, and boredom. Hogwarts was not a place I held in high esteem. Sure the teachers were knowledgeable, and friendly. The students talented and fresh faced, and it had a headmaster that none alive could rival; however for a lonely teenage girl it was a living hell.

The day was quickly approaching, when I would embark upon my sixth year; I had become a master at being invisible. This was not a choice I made lightly, but rather a defence mechanism that had evolved over time. When I entered my first year at Hogwarts, I was an optimistic young witch, but that quickly evaporated. To say I was outgoing would be a blatant lie. Painfully shy, was a phrase that I was commonly associated with and I would not object to that. It wasn't easy for me to make friends. It took me a long time to begin to trust people and open up. Not many eleven year olds were willing to give me the time necessary, so I was written up as a snob and simply ignored.

For the past five years, I did nothing to try and change people's opinion about me even though they were wrong. I eventually grew up and became more outgoing, but still remained isolated at Hogwarts. My fellow Ravenclaws never gave me a second chance and by now I had become so accustomed to playing the shy girl; that now, I'm not even sure I could change. For these reasons, I always dreaded getting my textbooks and other supplies. Chances were that I would run into some of my classmates at Diagon Alley and they would promptly ignore me. I wouldn't be surprised if they had forgotten my name, Adaira Augustus.

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"Adaira, if you don't stop stalling we will never get your books in time. I can't believe I let you leave it till the last minute again," said an exasperated Mrs. Augustus.

"Mother, stop worrying. I still have plenty of time, but if it will make you happy I'll leave right now," answered Adaira.

"It would please me more if you stopped looking so depressed. Honestly honey, Hogwarts is not a prison. I can still leasant. Perhaps, this year, you will actually make some friends and maybe get yourself a nice boyfriend," said Mrs. Augustus.

" Of course mother because nothing but a man could make me happy," Adaira yelled sarcastically while picking up some Floo powder.

"Diagon Alley," Adaira clearly said as she stepped into the fireplace.

Cursing under her breath, she made her way through Diagon Alley. Mother knows nothing of my problems and not everything can be fixed so easily, she thought. Maybe she didn't want any friends. No, she knew in her heart that she was lonely and another year of isolation was more than she could handle.

One person who liked her and would talk with her would be enough. Most people would think that this could be easily accomplished but it would take a lot of effort on Adaira's part to step out of her comfort zone and start reaching out to people. All of the girls, in sixth year Ravenclaw, already had to many preconceived notions about her. Besides, they all have tight knit groups of friends that would be hard to become a part of.

She continued to buy her textbooks without much of a problem until she saw him. He was buying his potions text and was completely oblivious to the fact that he was being stared at. It was funny how she had gone to school with for the past five years but she had never really looked at him until now.

He was tall, probably six feet, and utterly gorgeous. He was toned and it was obvious he took pride in his physical appearance. His shoulders were broad and the muscles in his arms could just be made out through his robes. Everything on him was perfect, even every single strand of his blonde hair. To bad he's Draco Malfoy, she thought, He's beautiful but he's a wanker.

He walked by without a single glance in her direction and then he was gone. It was only a moment, but Adaira spent the rest of her day trying to get his face out of her mind.

It was insane that she should spend her whole day consumed with him, but she couldn't help herself. She had never felt this way in her entire life. She had thought some boys were attractive, but never before had her knees felt weak and her stomach dropped. It was perfect that she should pick the most unattainable boy in school to like. He was above her and even if he wasn't, he would never notice her in a million years. Even pretty girls, like Padma and Blaise could never get his attention.

She didn't want him; he was a conceited and arrogant bastard. Everyone knew that he was spoiled rotten. Few people had ever crossed him and remained unscathed. He had an acid tongue and used it whenever possible. Hermione, Ron, and Harry, from Gryffindor, seemed to be his favourite targets and she did not envy them, at all. Although she knew all of this about him, it did not stop her heart from beating rapidly whenever she pictured him. It's better if I forget about him right away, before I get hurt, she thought and with that she paid for the last of her things and made her way home.

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Packing up the rest of her things she took one last look at her room. A picture of herself and her cousin, Jake, caught her eye. It was taken last month, at a family barbeque. They looked so happy together. Jake was the only person she had ever felt connected to and now he was off at Penn State.

Yes he was a muggle; he was from her father's side of the family. Jake was the only person she had ever told about Hogwarts and he took it surprisingly well. Looking back at the photo, tears came to her eyes. Jake had his arm around her and she was smiling. They were almost the same height; she was at least 5'9". People often mistook them for twins because they both had green eyes with dark hair. Although his fell to his chin, while her hair went halfway down her back.

Enough of this! If she was going to endure another year, she couldn't be so emotional. She headed downstairs to begin the day.