Starling Darling, Harry Potter Love Story

Chapter Twenty-Four

Star and comment!

THINGS HURT, STAR REALIZED. But, when she was in the water, all of her mental, physical, and emotional pain vanished. And, as of right now, all the pain she had ever felt was gone, yet she wasn't in the water.

Her bright eyes blinked up at the ceiling, not endless oceans.

"Starling," The voice was wispy and light.

"Ave? Is that you?" Star looked around the room to find everyone was still asleep.

"Star, follow me," The same voice spoke again.

She looked toward the door, where a green ball of light floated. Her gasp was almost silent, and her weariness was overwhelming. She sat up and slowly crept toward the ball of light.

She stopped in her tracks when the ball of light went straight through the closed door. Was this a dream? A reality? Things like this don't happen in her reality, that's for sure. Maybe she had shifted to an alternate dimension in her sleep. Or was that too weird, even for her?

Star shook her head and continued onward, telling herself this was all simply a very, very weird dream. The ball continued down to the Slytherin common and headed out of the narrow hallway that led into it. She followed it loyally, pursuing it out of the dungeons and then out of the school.

Confusion slowly etched into her features as the ball quickened its pace down the hill and toward the Black Lake. She sighed and groaned as the puzzle pieces clicked into place. Aglaope.

"Aglaope," Star called into the darkness, the only light coming from the moon and the mysterious ball of light hanging in front of her.

A head came forth from the water. "Starling, you're here!"

"And Starling should be sleeping," She mocked.

"Oh, pish posh! You're 15, you should be bouncing off the walls with energy!" She raised her hand and the ball of light quietly slid over to Aglaope's opened hand and absorbed into her awaiting hand.

"Damn," Star's eyes widened to saucers.

Aglaope waved her off. "Simple party trick. You'll learn much more."

"Like what?" Star asked, confusion dripping from her voice.

"Later, be patient. You're going to be learning today! Ask me any questions you want," She said, beckoning Star forward. Which she obliged.

Starling sat on the sand, not caring if the clothes she wore got wet.

"Oh, you made this easy for me! Thank you!"

'What' is all Star could get out before Aglaope took her ankle and pulled her forcefully into the water.

"What in the hell, Aglaope?" Star sucked in a breath if you could even call it that.

"What do you mean? You love the water?"

"I like going into the water by myself not getting pulled!" She kicked her legs harshly.

"You look like a dog that can't swim," Aglaope deadpanned. "Float, Starling. Float."

Star's legs came to a halt and her heart rate slowed.

"You're a siren, not a baby deer," Aglaope giggled.

Star's face was stone. "Can I ask my questions now?"

"Of course! Shoot!"

Her jaw was clenched. "Where's my mom?"

Aglaope's face dropped and she sighed, the tone changing instantly. "Gone."

Star looked down at her feet and for the first time in her life wished something else were there. Something that was unique to Aglaope. "How?" Star asked.

"Stupid, stupid Jason and the Argonauts," Aglaope said, and Star hung onto every word she said. "He came to our island, where we lived. We mainly lived in the bay there but sometimes we would go onto the island, seeing what the land had to offer and messing around on human legs. We called the island Anthemoessa. It was gorgeous, our home. We had never truly had one before, always shunned for how we looked and how we satiated ourselves. We had a perfect routine, the sailors that came to our island always searched for us and our treasure, which for some reason they thought we had. The sailors were greedy, and we took the greedy ones for ourselves. Then, one day a ship came called the Argo, and onboard were the Argonauts their leader was a man named Jason. He was charming, funny, and mortal. When they came their ears were plugged with wax, our songs futile. But, they seemed different than the others, not greedy or vicious, simply yearning for knowledge on who we were and our kind. Jason latched onto Thelxiepeia, her captivating personality trapping him, or so we thought. Thelxiepeia fell in love. And fast. And their love made you, Starling. You were born exactly nine months later, beautiful, healthy, and our hope. But their love didn't last when Jason left for another voyage and got word of the treasure we might be concealing on Anthemoessa and he and the Argonauts turned on us. They came back to our island, and Thelxiepeia so was so excited, she held you, and rocked you, waiting for your father to come back and see how much you had grown. When the ship came, Jason jumped from it, searching for Thelxiepeia and when he found her he stabbed her. They killed many of us with copper daggers when we told them we had nothing to our names and Thelxiepeia was one of them, my sister. I tracked down the Argonauts and killed them one by one, leaving Jason for last, letting his fear consume him. I know you were expecting your mother to pop out from behind the kelp and swim up and hug you, Starling, but, it's just me and some others. The genocide of our brethren brought us together, Starling, and you're important to us too."

"My dad killed my mom?" Star's lip quivered. 

"Yes," Star couldn't tell if Aglaope was crying or not.

"My dad is a murderer? I'm half-murderer?"

"Starling, you're not like him. When I look at you, I don't see Jason, I see my sister. I see you. Who you are. And that person is no murderer. I see a smart girl, who is confused about her heritage and if she'll be accepted. I know you play the "I don't care" act, but I see through it."

"I- I think I know enough, Aglaope. Can I just go to my dorm?"

"Yes, of course, swim up. I know this is a lot to handle." Star and Aglaope swam up to the surface and only Star got out of the water.

"Oh, I kind of forgot I would be wet," Star laughed quietly.

"Here," Aglaope held out her hand once again and squeezed, the water evaporating off of Star's body.

Her eyes widened. "Can I do that?" Her voice was soft, the death of her mother still weighing heavily on her mind. 

"That and much more. I know you've had enough but, one more thing. Your mother was the best of us. Her voice captivated even us and she was strong, and you exhibited those powers even when you were little. With some time, Starling, you'll be able to do so many things."

"Thank you, Aglaope," She said, turning on her heel and walking back to her dorm. 

➟ Sorry for the sad story...