Swallowing Stormclouds

Chapter 2

Accompanied by Harry's entourage I was escorted to my new living quarters. The surroundings themselves amazed me and It felt as thought I was transported to a time long before my own. The cold stone walls echoed with history, it's smooth finish making my fingertips numb as I dragged my hands alongside the walls. I had happily fallen to the back of the group, listening quietly whilst the people ahead of me squabbled amongst themselves.
"How much further are the..." mid-sentence, that's when I see him, that's the moment the world stopped spinning. And for that single moment in time, only the two of us resided. The universe completely barren except for us two beings, intrinsically connected with a silver string tethering our two souls as one. As a flash of blonde and grey passes by I can feel his eyes bore into mine, creating concaves in my face where relief pooled. I know him... I do.
I felt this stabbing sensation in my heart, it felt a lot like finding out a loved one had just passed, emptiness and longing washed over me. A feeling of dread and loneliness filled my entire being. My stomach dropped and I had to lean against the wall to stabilise my shaken form. Hermione noticed me stagger and looked to the floor to see if I had tripped over something. But I swatted away her worrying, I noticed the blonde boy also stood still. His mouth was set in a straight line, I wasn't sure if he was angry but his face projected that of a scowl. He must have felt what I felt because his hand was holding his chest where his heart was. His knuckles turned white as he gripped through the pain cause creases to form in his form fitting jumper. He took a step back also, as if he too found the gravitational pull beneath him teeter.

"Piss off why don't you, nothing to see here you nosey prick." Ron hissed, if I didn't currently feel the sudden sadness of a thousand widows wash over me I may have said 'how rude, expect that in this moment I found myself speechless. Much to everyone's surprise however the blonde stranger did just that. He took one last sweeping look at me and stalked away. Everyone was silent for a moment, no one sure what exactly had just happened but the atmosphere felt tense. "Well that was bloody awkward." Ron finally speaks up, the twins found this hilarious and began to tease Ron regarding his inability to read the room and soon, this turned into an onslaught of jokes bought fourth all at Ron's expense.
I had quietly resumed the position at the back of the group again, finding myself utterly drained by my last altercation with that blonde stranger. I rub my hand on my arm and feel uncomfortable under Harrys gaze. He was staring at me like he was worried, the fear and worry was painted in his iridescent eyes. My eyes mirrored his, I could see them in the clear blue of his eyes, like mirrors into my souls, I had to blink and break away from his intense stare.
When we reached the common room the first thing I did was ask where my sleeping quarters were located. It had been a rather long day, even without that person making me feel as thought a death eater had feasted upon every shred of happiness that I had accumulated throughout my short life and if I didn't lie down soon I was bound to collapse into a pile of dead bones.

It just have been sometime around four in the morning when I woke up from an already restless sleep, the silver lining was that my stomach had settled and I didn't feel the urge to be sick anymore.
The room suddenly felt stuffy and hearing the other occupants breathe irregularly made me feel even more claustrophobic. I wrapped a blanket around myself, the soft velvet caressed my skin and I planted both of my feet firmly on the ground. The stone floor was cold to the touch and welcoming on my skin as I trudged toward the seating area, I left my slippers where they were, enjoying the soothing touch of stone against the balls of my feet. Standing on the balcony above the seating area the room looked daunting to say the least. The fire was lit creating all sorts of insidious shadows to be cast across the walls.
As I peered down at my common room I spied Harry, he laid on the sofa with one of his arms draped over his eyes, he appeared unconsidered, his steady breathing causing his chest to rise and fall ever so delicately. As I approached his location I sat myself in a old beat up chair. Clearing my throat, Harry shoots up in to a sitting position. He looks relived when he realizes that it's just me. "Aria." He breathes. I smile at him and he returns the gesture. "couldn't sleep huh? I was the same on my first night." He says quietly, the small talk wasn't necessary, I didn't mind the silence. It was strangely comforting.
"yeah, it's all a bit... much." I continue
Harry nods seeming to understand. "I know the feeling." A thick blanket of silence befalls us once more. "Hey, tomorrow if you want I could give you the grand tour, a proper one, without all the bickering of those lot, they can come on a bit strong, but that's just what it's like growing up in a family big enough to start your own football club, I assume so anyway." Harry finishes, chuckling to himself.

"I'd like that." I respond back whilst also stifling my laughter. For some reason with Harry our conversations didn't feel awkward, this led to myself and Harry staying up for the duation of the night, simply... talking. He told me about his aunt, uncle and cousin the Dursely's. I didn't mention anything regarding my family life and Harry didn't push me to. I appreciated that. Instead he told me about the rivalries surrounding the four houses, he told me about quidditch and what it's like being on the team and all about all the adventures he had in the past five years. His face lit up any time he talked about his friends and it was clear to me that they meant the world to him. I could only hope that I can make a friend like that, one who's eyes light up the at the mere thought of the good times we shared.

When a string of sleepy looking students started to slink into the common room it was clear that it was too late to catch even a quick power nap. Instead me and Harry parted ways and I found myself trudging up the well beaten stair case to the girls dormitory I found a small piece of confidence blossoming in the crevice of my mind that this may actually be the fresh start I needed.
That inkling I felt earlier seemed to be correct and despite feel sleep deprived I found myself enjoying the motion of the day. For breakfast there was a glorious concoction of syrup drenched pancakes and smooth orange juice. Alongside me, Hermione was going over my schedule trying to figure out which classes we had together, which wasn't an awful lot. Regardless of this though I had been reassured that no matter what class I had the Gryffindor's generally look out for each other so I shouldn't worry about being alone.
The first class on the agenda was DADA. A professor named Umbridge held the class, her aura glowed dimly and staring at her for too long felt wrong, as if it were a crime to lay your eyes on someone of such stature. She looked frumpy and over stuffed in her couture pink suit. I took a seat besides Harry as Umbridge prattled on about counter curses. I had been home-schooled for the better part of my life, because of this I had a lot of one on one teaching from my mother and it had payed off because I seemed to have an answer for all the questions. I did however keep my knowledge to myself. I had already been receiving strange stares from people all morning due to me being a new face and I didn't want to attract any more attention.
For the duration of the day I subconsciously kept an eye out for the blonde boy, I couldn't bring myself to ask Harry who he was. I was too afraid of that sinking feeling and found myself in rush to experience it again.