Read My Mind

Quidditch World Cup

Lucius Malfoy's stretched, overly dramatic voice brought Ria back from her rumination. She saw Malfoy stop the Weasleys to talk to a boy. The boy with black hair, green eyes, and...That's Harry Potter.

"Enjoy while you still can." Malfoy dropped his empty words, Ria didn't understand why he felt the need to intimidate a boy, in such an inconsequential manner. Some aristocrats.

"Aren't we all though? Mr. Malfoy?" She pulled her arm out of her father's hands, who was trying to stop her from proceeding up.

"Perhaps we should keep walking, Mr. Malfoy, if you don't mind." Ria smiled politely against Malfoy's anger, it's rather amusing to see his eyebrows twitching slightly.

"Perhaps we should." Malfoy gave in, "Ladies first." He made way for Ria and left Harry one last cold stare.

"Who is that?"

"Dunno, but she is with Malfoy, so probably not so good herself."

"She seems..."

Ria could still hear their whispers long after they had left. The curse of being a legilimens, the constant intrusion of other's intense, negative thoughts, the perpetuated tortue of hearing secrets, betrayals and judgements, the eternal suffering of seeing people act, pretend, and lie throughout their lives. She could tell the Weasleys hated Malfoy and whoever he is involved with, in this case, herself. Perhaps for good reasons though, Ria thought as she kept hearing the Weasley siblings' discussion on Malfoy's misuse of authority in the ministry and how Malfoy was trying to sabotage Mr.Weasley's career.

They arrived at the top cabinet, greeted the head of Ludovic Bagman and Bartemius Crouch, and listened to Fudge announce the beginning of the game. Lucius Malfoy invited Ria, claiming to celebrate her birthday for her, however, Ria knew he just wanted to see if she had the same skill as her mother. A legilimens would find a crowded, loud environment like this unbearable, as she is right now. Her years and years of meditation practice in Asian only helped her to narrow the range of thoughts she is receiving to a few people. The Weasley brothers are both thinking and talking loudly, Ria recognized the two twins to be the elder brothers, who were currently explaining the rules and players to the girl next to them. While their little brother was still sulking over the unpleasant encounter with Malfoy, the twins seemed to be completely over it. They were happy, excited, energetic--they are lively. Ria really admires that.

However, her selective attention stopped working as the game got more and more intense. Thanks to the Weasley comment, Ria knew the Irish were winning, not without price though. Multiple players were injured and the audience were getting more and more involved and emotional--even Lucius Malfoy stood up from his spectator seat. Her father wouldn't let her drink the potion because he was afraid that's something Dumbledore will use to control her. Ria sighed, it's a good thing that she smuggled it out of his den before departing. She looked around, making sure no one was looking at her and stepped away to go drink her potion somewhere more enclosed.

SO...CLOSE...SO CLOSE...

A young man's thought popped into Ria's head. His voice sounds young but strangely hoarse.

IF ONLY I COULD REACH IT...

He sounded desperate, but perhaps it's normal for a dedicated fan. Although, there is a shade of anger and grudge in his thought. Ria wanted to be free from those nonsense and she chugged down the potion.

Later on that night, Ria regretted that decision. Her father yanked her out of bed in the middle of the night, furious to see from her reaction that she had drunk the potion. Her head is exploding and she couldn't help but keep collapsing.

"What's going on."

"No time to talk, we have to leave right now."

On their way to the portkey, there were death-eaters roaming by, laughing at people's petrified reaction, and there was a dark mark in the sky, radiating its luminous green, dark energy.

For the rest of the summer, Ria was grounded for her reckless behavior during the Quidditch Cup, not that she had anywhere else to go anyway, she doesn't have a single friend even if you count Draco Malfoy.

She spent her time organizing the room, editing her notes and practicing using her wand. She is by far more used to using Asian magic than Merlin's wisdom, but she does not plan on revealing that in Hogwarts, not right away.

On the day of school, her father dropped her off at the train station, still upset about her decision.

"Ria..." He was still hoping that she would change her mind.

"Father," She kissed him on the cheek and gave him one final hug, "I will be okay. I will write to you every week."

"You always say that."

"Well, I meant it this time."

He finally gave her a small smile, "Just be safe, Ria."