Time stood still. The locket slipped out of my hand and seemed to fall back onto the mattress in slow-motion. How did it do that? What the hell happened?
What was I supposed to do? I didn't understand a bit of it. The screaming was gone still, and at the moment, everything seemed normal, as if none of this had even happened at all. My ears weren't hurting, there were no noises, it was just quiet. Like it should be. My legs were shaking, my hands too, and I felt light-headed. Was it all a dream? Had I been imagining things?
The golden chain was dangling off the side of the bed, the hanger dangerously close to falling off the edge. The center was made of the clearest of glass with a flower in the middle. The flower looked oddly brown, where it should have been a deep shade of red.
My father had given the locket to my mum, when she was eight months pregnant with me. Remus had told me the story a million times.
My mother had been weak, and depressed during the last stage of her pregnancy. She wasn't doing well, she felt sick and she could barely do anything except for lying in bed all day, reading fairytales to her unborn child. Sirius had come home one day, bringing a small package.
"Diana," He'd started, "I know this is a tough time for you, and I'm truly sorry that I can't to anything to make the pain go away. I've brought you a present. I know how much you wish for the baby to be a girl, and I thought this would be a nice gift to her, when she is older."
My mother had gratefully taken the box, wrapped in a shiny red paper, and carefully opened it. She'd loved the necklace so much it made her face light up the room. Her famous smile had been plastered on her face and for the next month, she had been doing so much better than before. She had felt more energetic and she had even gained the strength to get out of bed. It was as if the necklace had cured her of all that had been wrong with her before. Until the day she went into labor.
Slowly, my shaking hand reached for the locket and clasped it into my hand.
"Please Alex, don't be afraid." A voice rang through my head upon touching the jewel. I looked around the dorm. Had someone else heard it? It didn't seem so, as the girls were all in bed, sleeping peacefully. It must have just been in my head, surely it would've woken somebody up if it hadn't.
"It's me Lexi, it's dad." The low voice said once more. My heart started beating faster, I could see my chest moving up and down through the thin shirt covering my upper body.
It was my father. He'd found me. He'd found a way to communicate with me. A smile spread on my lips, as moisture made its way out of my eye and down my cheek in the shape of tears.
Turning the locket in my hand, I inspected it thoroughly, trying to find a clue as to how it was possible that this was happening. All magic leaves it's traces. But there wasn't anything unusual about it. No strange patches, no glimmering, nothing out of place.
How was I supposed to reply? I couldn't speak to it, I wouldn't even know how to speak if I could. Obviously Sirius wouldn't be able to see me so signing wouldn't work either... besides, I would imagine his signing would be a little rusty after so long.
"You need not worry, Love. I can understand you perfectly fine."
He can? How does that work? I didn't even do anything..?
"That would be because this way of communication works through thought, Lex. I can hear your thoughts."
Brilliant.
I considered going to see Remus, tell him about this, have him speak with my dad, but as soon as the thought entered my mind Sirius' voice screamed at me in my head.
"NO! You can't tell anyone about this! Not even Remus." I was confused. I didn't understand why I shouldn't tell. I hated hiding things, I wasn't good at it. Everyone always seemed to know something was going on before I did and it frustrated me that my father asked the impossible of me.
"It's not safe. You never know who might be lurking in the dark, Love." He felt upset. Regretful even, it was strange to hear that in his thought. It must've had to do with that god forsaken prison.
My next thought was of Fred and George. How would I be able to keep this from them? They would know right off the bat, those two. Merlin this was going to be just bloody brilliant.
"All in good time sweetheart. Now I need you to help me with something. Do you think you can do that?" Dad asked then.
Depends really. But I can at least try...
♦
In the morning, I took my usual shower and changed into my school uniform once more. I chose to wear a pair of slacks instead of the skirt as I felt more comfortable in pants anyway. The girls in the dorm didn't really seem to have noticed anything last-night as they all just acted as usual, which was super grumpy and slow in the early morning hours. Angelina smiled as me as I exited the shower room.
The books I would need for the first two periods were stacked on my bedside table, and I collected them after making the bed. The elves deserved a break now and again.
The common room was fairly empty, only three students were scattered across the room, probably waiting on their friends before heading to breakfast.
As I made my way to the portraithole there was a tap on my shoulder making me jump and drop my books.
Clumsy fuck.
As I stood there disappointed in myself for being so retarded, George gathered my books and handing them to me with a smile.
"There you go, Love." He signed, making me smile. I was so happy the boys wanted to learn sign language and showed interest in my life. It was honestly the sweetest thing.
I thanked him by pecking his cheek with a blush.
George too, turned slightly red in the face as I pulled back. His eyes fell onto the locket around my neck, and his hand reached up to take the pendant into his palm. I studied the boy as he inspected the jewel, and I noticed how his eyebrows furrowed and he bit the inside of his cheek as he did so. It was cute.
What? No it wasn't, what are you talking about.
When his eyes traveled back up to my own, I was already looking at him.
"That's really nice. Is it new?" George asked as he pointed at the necklace.
"Oh, no it was my mother's. My father gave it to me." I replied, finding it hard not to say more about it.
"Where did you disappear to last night after astronomy? Fred and I looked for you but we couldn't find you anywhere."
"Oh, I got held up." My hands signed vaguely, as I refused to look into his eyes. It must've looked pathetic.
George nodded skeptically, "If you say so."
This was going to be horrible. Wait until I have to face Fred too. Oh god, and dad.
Brilliant.
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A/n: I hope you enjoyed the chapter, please let met know what you think! Oh and also, how do you guys like the new book cover?
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I hope you all have a marvelous day!
(on the desktop this chapter looks like crap because the enters don't work for some reason, so.... sorry about that!)
