Moths to a Flame

17. The New Student

Aria pov

We returned the castle with not much more than a glance at us all. They were taking me to the Undercroft but I insisted I go to my common room so I can shower and change my clothes. They reluctantly agreed and they walked me there I went inside and I kissed each of their cheeks and let the door close. Now that I have time to myself I can think. I ran to my dorm and grabbed a change of clothes, my freshly laundered uniform, and then hurried into the shower. Under the rushing water and dim candle light. I looked down at myself and felt so self conscious and it was only me here. I broke down the salty tears running down my face mixing with the fresh water of the shower.

I felt those rough and harsh hands on me. A man who had no right too. I couldn't shake it. I grabbed the bar soap and scrubbed my skin. I scrubbed and scrubbed until the skin was red and raw. The water was hot and I didn't care to cool it down. Hoping the hot water would melt the unsettling feeling all over me. But it didn't. It just made me red and blistered. I put on my uniform and went to my dorm and went to my bed and pulled the curtains closed and covers over my head. I quietly crying to myself. Must have been hours later when Poppy came in and I heard her voice. She opened the curtain and I popped my head out from under the covers to see her.

"Oh my what's happened to you" she said looking at my red arms.

"The hot water" I croak out to her.

"Why" Poppy asks.

"I had to get it off, and it won't come off" I say.

"What won't?" She said.

"Him" I say and the tears started again. She didn't press. I felt her cover me again and she left the room. She came back not too long after and told me she asked Sebastian and Ominis. They told her and well at least I don't have to.

"They insisted I bring them into here to help you" Poppy tells me.

"You can if you want" I said. But Poppy didn't she didn't leave my side until the next morning. We walked to the Great Hall together where I was ambushed by the boys.

"Oh darling I'm sorry" Sebastian said hugging me tightly.

"Look at your beautiful arms, it's blistered and red. What have you been doing"

"I had to get him off and it didn't work" I said sadly. Ominis hugged me from behind.

"Oh dear, come let's go sit and get some food then we'll go get a tonic from Madame Blainey to heal your skin." Sebastian said.

I walked with them and they made sure I ate a little something then they went with me to get the tonic. I used it over the next few days, and my skin healed. But I still felt it. A looming shadow over me. However I learned to keep it to myself. I still would run the hot water but with the tonic no one would know about it now.

January rolled in with a new term and a new year 1893. The boys have been very protective of me as of recently. I understand why and it's most appreciated. I spent the day talking with Poppy. We were catching up and she was telling me all about her ball date; I was excited to hear about this boy who managed to catch her attention. The start of term feast came that evening and as we were eating Professor Black quieted us all down, and said that there's a new transfer student from Beauxbatons Academy in France and Professor Weasley I saw now had the sorting hat out. A new student?

Then a young lady came waltzing in. She looked as though she were floating as she walked. No one could possibly be that graceful? She had the most beautiful shade of golden brown hair and blue eyes. All the boys seemed to have started drooling the moment she walked in. I saw my boys across the hall. Ominis didn't seem bothered, but then I saw Seb with his eyes glued to her and slightly glassy. Something inside me sank. I hated his girl already. She didn't seem bothered at all either she had confidence and when she reached the stool and Weasley placed the hat over her head hat didn't waste a second it shouted it's decision.

"SLYTHERIN!" The hat said.

Oh brilliant, now she's sharing a house with them. I heard the cheering from the green cladded table, I scoff and roll my eyes. I didn't cheer. What do you know she sat right next to Sebastian. I sneered at her. But before I could do anything, Black dismissed us and we all were escorted to our common rooms. I left the Great Hall in a grumpy mood. Poppy tried to reassure me that it's nothing. As much as I want to believe that, I have my doubts about this girl. She seemed to have a very strong sense of purpose when she came. I think it's no coincidence. Only time will tell but something is suspicious.

Over the next few days I spent lots of time in the library doing school work. I didn't see the boys much outside of classes. Every time I tried to get their attention I always heard that either Sebastian or Ominis were helping her with something. Then Seb had the audacity to correct me. He said her name was Victoria Easton. We had a bit of an argument over that. I left and found solace in the room of requirement and with my beasties. I would confide in them. I know they can't answer me but sometimes it's better that way. So I stuck to Poppy. But even she has a boyfriend now and was with him a lot of the time. So here I am in the library.

I still can't figure out how she does it. There's got to be something. Boys don't just fawn over someone like that in an overwhelming sense in seconds. That's also why I'm in the library researching. So I found a siren like creature called Veela's. They often breed with humans and they are incredibly beautiful creatures and said to be irresistible to men. But since she doesn't quite look like the picture of the creature she must be a generation or two after. But I can't be positive that this is right, but I'm sure it's on the right track. I'll have to keep researching these. There was one day that Ominis joined me in the library. He held my hand under the table and I actually felt calm for once in a while.

"Omi what do you know about Veela's?" I ask.

"What? Why do you want to know about them?" He asks me.

"I've been researching them" I ask.

"Why?" He asks me.

"Just tell me" I ask.

"Uh, not much really only that when they breed with people they are some of the most beautiful people and have an aura that attracts men to them. Veelas are almost always women. It's extremely rare for a male to be a part Veela. Actually I don't think there's any recorded evidence of men being part Veela. Hm. Anyway they are similar to sirens, only they are not under water and don't sing to get their victims attention." He said to me.

"I think She is one of them" I say.

"Who? Victoria" he asks. Just her name irks me now.

"Yes" I said more annoyed now.

"Don't you think that's a stretch?" Om asks me.

"No but what would you know" I tell him with venom. Then I dropped his hand and stormed away.

I happened to bump into Sebastian who was holding a bunch of books that weren't of the classes he was taking.

"Seb where are you going" I ask.

"Oh Aria, hello, I was just helping Victoria with some of her books, sorry but I got to go and get these to her charms class" he said rushing away from me without a look or glance back.

I could feel my fists balling up and I wanted to punch Sebastian just for saying her name, but helping her with books and I wanted to. I left that encounter even more annoyed. I found myself rushing to the undercroft and blasting it to pieces with confringo. I didn't go to classes that day.