The Insider: the second book to Captivated

The Owlery

I walked to Lupin's in search for Addie to invite her to Hagrid's with Ron, Hermione, and I. she wasn't there. "professor, do you know where Addie is?" "yes I believe professor Dumbledore needed her in his office." Lupin replied. "thank you" I said and walked out.

Addie's POV......................

"Professor, I don't see the problem, I know just as much as any other 5th year in this school!" I pleaded playing every card to get him to allow me to continue learning from Professor Lupin. "Addilyn, I know you are an intelligent wizard, but the other Professors are worried you aren't receiving the proper materials from Lupin alone."

I was in disbelieve, "Look at all I've done in Professor Lupin's that no one else in this school has, I've created serums, and potions, and I know spells than my brother never learned in his classes plus he also teaches me Divination, Transfiguration, Charms-" "Addilyn," Professor Dumbledore cut me off, "why do you not want to attend any other classes? Would it have anything to do with your family? Perhaps your mother? Tell me about her."

"When I was little I was constantly bullied in school. Cedric was always the popular kid in the crowd. I never understood his friends or their friends. walking through the halls was extremely uncomfortable. The judgmental looks, insidious glances. I felt like I was different and not because I'm a wizard...they always treated me differently, picked on me because of it. Their vexation devoured me, I couldn't take it. They'd beat me up and leave me there bleeding out until I woke up and managed to find a way home."

I took a second to congregate my thoughts which took more concentration than I had hoped...

"I'd come home everyday close to tears or in tears. My mother always had music on in the house, it was the first thing you heard. She would take me into the kitchen and poured vinegar in a bowl. she would give me a piece of paper and a pen and told me to write down every mean thing that happened to me that day. When I was done she put it in the vinegar and added baking soda."

The sheer memory of my mother distracted me for a moment.

"Resulting your love of music and potions?" he asked I looked at him.

"Exactly."

I looked down trying to distract myself from the invasive thoughts of my childhood.

There was a brief moment of silence. Breaking that silence, Dumbledore suspired taking a second to gather his thoughts, "It appears to me that you are quite fond, proud, that you learn in such a personal, unique, way. I will allow you to continue your lessons with Professor Lupin, under the condition that you score average, or above, on the O.W.L.S."

I looked up astounded. "Thank you Professor" I beamed at him across the the room. I pushed the door open on my way out to the owlery.

I bit my bottom lip climbing the old wrought iron staircase to the owlery.its been a long time since I've been up here. This was where Cedric and I spent our days. We would escape from the commotion of weekend and evenings. This was our rendezvous. I miss him dramatically. Entering the dim, dreary room, ironically filled with life, I was greeted by many species of owls of all ages.

I wandered around the old hangout until I heard footsteps behind me entering the room. I whipped around delighted to see my insanely good friend, Viktoriya, but I just call her Vik.

I gave her a smile. She returned it. Vik kinda reminded me of Buckbeack, sometimes. You had to know when and how to approach her. We hugged and sat on the floor in the middle of the owlery. Soon we were encased with owls. Some perched on our arms when we held them out, and some landed on our shoulders.

It never took us long to engage in a conversation. "You know what sucks?" she asked. I smirked, "I'm going to steal your response...'what doesn't suck?" I laughed a little and her mood lighted a tad. "Continue, what sucks, Vik?"

"When people think or call me 'emo' or 'suicidal' because of the cuts on my arms. but really, I don't want then there, I don't want my father beating me and hitting me, scaring my skin for no apparent reason...just because...I Also hate when people call me goth. I mean I know I am, but it's a style, it's not bad. and just because you wear black, doesn't make you emo."

I felt her pain. "Yeah, I mean people judged me when we came back and still judge me because I came back with a bandaged wrist after my mother and brother died and my father became an alcoholic. Lots of people think I do self harm."

"Is that all your father did to you?" she questioned me. I sighed. "I wish I could say yes, but, no." she stared at me. "Well what else did he do?" The funny thing is, if I was with anyone else, I wouldn't have done this. I pushed my long curls over to one side placing them over my shoulder. I turned around so she could see the back of my neck.

There, was a white bandage that, undoubtfuly, had blood showing through covering the stitches madam Pomfrey had to give me. "Oh my god, Addie, what happened?" She was definitely more curious than panicked or worried. (another thing I liked about her) My dad swung an empty vodka bottle at me and it hit the back of my neck." I turned back and pushed back my hair and felt it tumble down my back. "I was out cold on the ground for I don't know how long. I woke up in a pool of blood on my kitchen floor."

"Have you told Harry about it?" I shook my head, "No your the only one."

"You should tell Harry." I looked at her questionably, "oh really, why?" She fixed her eyes on mine. "Oh, I don't know, I just think the famous 'Harry Potter' should just know everything, it's not like he's your boyfriend or anything."

I tilted my head up a little fighting a smile, "I see your sarcastic point my friend." getting back to the mood of the situation I asked her, "Why do you think it's important harry knows just because he is my boyfriend?"

"Oh my god Addie, your so stupid sometimes." she said rolling her eyes. "Alright genius, since you have all the answers...tell me." She stared at me in disbelieve because I honestly didn't think it was so important. "Addie, I watch him in class, he always glances at your wrist and at you to make sure your not in pain." I rolled my eyes and laughed at her story. "It's TRUE! He's in love with you and he can't stand to see you hurt or in pain!"

"Are you sirius?" I looked at her and she just glared at me. "Yes it's so damn adorable the way he looks after you." A smile unvoluntarily spread across my face. I looked down avoiding eye contact. "How am I supposed to tell him...what do I say?" That's another reason why I never said anything. My mind began racing, I didn't know how he would react or how I would tell him?

I looked up at Viktoriya. Around her neck was a diamond shaped charm with gold strings running across forming geometric designs. "That's beautiful, were did you get that?" she touched the charm and smiled a little.

"I picked up my books after class and this necklace fell out. Attached to it was a note that said,

Meet me in the courtyard right after class

Signed Anonymous

So I did just for the hell of it...Sure enough, when I was in the courtyard, I saw a blond hair boy emerge from behind the big oak tree." She sighed possibly trying to forget what happened but continued, "Basically, all Draco said was that he is in love with me."

"Omg.....Vik!!! That's awesome." I was trying to wrap my head around the two of them 'dating'.