(NOT FINISHED) Curiosity Mirrored the Black Bird.

Eleven.

     I stood there in the cold corridor, my face trying desperately trying to avoid the eye contact coming from three surprised Gryffindor's I had walked in front of. I could not gather the courage to say the first words, whether it was of apology or forced hatred. I stood in silence. Harry, Ron, and Hermione stopped motionlessly once they spotted me in the corridor. All three of them had unreadable faces. I was unsure if their feelings were plastered obviously on their faces or if I had already turned cold from the mark on my arm.

      "Amortia?," Harry spoke, taking a cautious step forward with confusion lacing his voice. I stood my ground, but my eyes had a mind of their own as they trailed up and met emerald, brown, and blue orbs. The trio walked toward me together, their steps becoming more pronounced as they began to run towards me.

      "Harry, Hermione, Ron," I smiled, unable to show my three greatest friends any hint of sadness or despair. "I-I missed you guys," My voice trembled as I shook my head, holding back thick tears that were threatening to fall. "I-I'm still recovering. Dragon Pox. That's why I was gone so long, so I wouldn't come too close." I felt guilt encase my body, feeling uncomfortable with lying to the greatest people in my life.

      "We were never told why you disappeared. We all feared the worst, even Padfoot." Ron explained, talking dramatically with his hands. The trio stood before me, only a couple feet away. it took every ounce of energy I had to not go running to them.

      "I had to be escorted away at the smallest signs of symptoms or else I would have mentioned it to you guys." I responded quietly, my arms crossed across my chest protectively. "Enough about me though, how are you guys? I heard Filch talking about an inquisitorial squad and Dumbledore was missing. What happened?,"

      Within hours, I was completely caught up with the current affairs at Hogwarts. Umbridge took over after Harry and Hermione's Defense class was caught and Dumbledore took the blame. Everyone had received months of detention consisting of writing "I must not tell lies" with their own blood. A massive breakout of Azkaban prisoners including my cousin, Bellatrix LeStrange. Harry was scheduled to start occlumency classes after Arthur Weasley attack and torture was broadcasted in his mind and now that Snape was back, also sick from Dragon Pox.

      "I definitely missed a lot. Quite a bummer I was gone for Dumbledore's Army." I sighed, repositioning myself in the small chair that was seated across from the trio. "I don't think things could get much worse,"

      "It definitely can for you," Hermione interjected, handing me the O.W.L schedule. The tests began next week and I have not learned absolutely anything this term, literally. "I can help you cram study if you're feeling better tomorrow,"

      "Well since it is late and a completely appropriate time to go to sleep, I'm heading up to the dorm. See you guys in the morning," I forced a yawn and grabbed my bad, slowly treading upstairs where I collapsed onto my four-poster.

      I heard a familiar set of wings sway into the room and through the curtains around my four-poster.

      "Bran-girl," Light exclaimed, landing on my thigh and immediately laying down, his feet resting comfortably below his wings. "I was so worried, I thought only the worst. For the longest time I thought you were dead," He squawked out, nipping at my knee. "But after a month I realized I still felt our connection, I couldn't find you though. There was some sort of magical barrier that was hiding you, it lead me all the way to the Sahara." Zeusius rambled on.

      "Relax, Light." I said, my fingers finding his soft spot and slowly stroking above his beak "I was only sick and couldn't risk anyone getting what I had," This lie was beginning to sound more real the more I said it, but I knew Zeusius would see right through it.

      "I know whatever it is, you're struggling to talk about, so when we sleep tonight, I'll just look at your memories." He purred, his beady eyes closing and cuddling up to my touch. "It will be tough to relive, but I have to know. As you are my master, I will carry your burdens,"

     That night, darkness swallowed my mind and I relived the worst moment of my life, over and over again. That familiar feeling of never waking up, suddenly squashed as I woke up at 5am, drowning in my own sweat.