Abused

Sorting hat

We all make our ways off the train, hopping into the thestral-drawn carriages. Keira spread her wings, studying the shape of her's compared to the thestral's.

"You can see them?" I wonder aloud. She nods her head.

"Our parent's passed away last year, that's why we were admitted here. Most Kinnarras are homeschooled. We were, until the accident." Bianca explains.

We sit in silence for a while, before Hermione breaks it. "Are you two being sorted?"

"No," Keira responds, "Dumbledore said We would have been sorted into Gryffindor anyway, given that Kinnaras are usually exceptionally brave. I however, believe that Bianca should be in Ravenclaw, given how intelligent she is and the fact that her wings are those of a raven." Keira laughs, as Bianca blushes.

We pull up to the front of the castle, hopping out of the carriage. We walk through the open doors, Ginny and I hand in hand.

Arriving in the Great Hall, both Bianca and Keira gasp. They stare in awe at the huge room. Bianca beats her wings, causing a small gust of wind. We walk through the hall, finding six empty seats, three on each side of the table. I sit between Ginny and Ron, as the other three girls sit across from us. I face Bianca in front of me.

"What was the accident?" these few words, turn her slightly paler than she already is. "Er, uh I'm sorry. It's none of my business."

"No, we know your story. It's only fair if we tell you ours." Bianca looks over to Keira. "We are twins. Our mother fell ill, and our father had to find a special potion ingredient to save her. A large hurricane struck as our father was away, he was hit and died in the sky. Our mother soon passed too, the sickness engulfing her. Dumbledore came to take us somewhere, it was a cliff. We  lived there with a house elf named Winky, Dumbledore sent us to find your train car, and now we're here." Bianca finishes and Keira twitches her wings a bit.

My attention is drawn as way by a certain Slytherin's voice.

"Psst, Potter. You've got more freaks, do ya? I bet they're some pets of that oaf Hagrid." He chuckles.

"Shove it Malfoy." I hiss.

"Why should I? It's not like your awful Godfather can do anything to me now, he's dead, remember?"  I don't know why but these few words send me over the edge and Draco gets what he deserves, I punch him in the nose, hard, years of experience from Dudley tells me I've broken his nose. I throw more punches, effectively knocking him out cold. I run out of the Great Hall, just as the first child is sorted into Gryffindor.

I know there are people following me. I stop at the portrait of the fat lady.

"Password?"

"I don't know." I whisper.

"Gillyweed" a voice that I recognize says behind me. I turn around to see Ginny. She walks toward me and laces her fingers with my own. We walk through the portrait hole, and she motions for me to sit in the chair next to the fireplace. I sit down and she places herself in my lap, pecking a small kiss on my cheek. "Don't worry, Malfoy was really out of line, are you okay?"

"Yes... No, I'm not." I feel tears welling in my eyes. She hugs me tightly and I cry into her. Her hair smells like lemongrass. I kiss her and her lips taste of peach. She means everything to me. I can't imagine how this moment would be different if she didn't follow me, if we weren't together. I let myself relax as tears continue to stream and I feel just how exhausted I really am.

"You can sleep, I know how tired you are." She kisses my forehead, and I let myself sleep.

I wake up to the voices of Hermione and Ron, talking with Ginny.

"We're going to get in a hell lot of trouble!" Ron exclaims.

"Harry shouldn't be punished, it's that git Malfoy's own fault. He needs to be put in his place, right out prat." Ginny's voice is strong.

"I agree, Malfoy needs to rot in the dungeons." Hermione says.

"Harry nearly killed him, I was surprised, honestly. He's never blown up like that. I was even scared." Ron whispers the last bit.

"Harry! you're awake."

I grimace as a dull ache runs through my whole body. Ginny's smile faulters a bit. "What's wrong?"

"I'm sore, all over. I have a headache." She feels my forehead with the back of her hand.

"You're warm. Follow me." Her voice says in my mind. She grabs my hand and pulls me gently toward a wall under the stairs. She walks through the wall, just as you would to get onto platform nine and three quarters. I follow as we enter a small hallway. There are eight doors, and she pulls me through one of them.

"What is this place?" I ask aloud. It's a room with gold walls and a four poster bed with red bedding. A window, which I guess is enchanted, shows the outside.

"I'm guessing it's some kind of private quarters that was abandoned. I found it last year. It was full of dust and cobwebs and grime, took me months to clean up, even with spells. There are two bathrooms and three bedrooms along with a dining room, a small kitchen, a sitting room and an office. I've slept here a few times after fights with Dean when I wanted to be alone. Anyway, lay on the bed, you're warm and I don't want you to have to go to the hospital wing. I'm sure you want to get away from the other boys in the dorm after the thing with Malfoy." She smiles and I obey, lying down on the bed, she tucks me in and kisses my cheek. "I'll be right back." She leaves and returns with a dreamless sleep potion. I take the vial and drift into the calm sleep.