Chapter 15B

Inside Our Scars

All was quiet on the Hogwarts grounds as many students were still asleep. A lone girl in the Gryffindor common room sat somberly by the fireplace in deep thought was surrounded by the many gifts she had purchased for her friends. It had been almost a week since that incident had occurred and she had been avoiding Abraxas and Riddle's gang, but severely avoided Riddle like the plague.

She could feel their eyes on her lone figure in every class they had together. Abraxas tried his hardest to make conversation with her, but she would just look down at her feet and walk right past him. She could still feel the scars of the throbbing pain that she had never ever felt in her life and she planned to never face it once more.

Tom Riddle of course didn't make any sort of contact with her except she could feel the burning sensation of his lingering gaze upon her back. She could clearly still remember the one time she had actually returned his gaze only to see his gaze turn cold. A lingering threat still rang deep into her mind.

She couldn't understand, she never would have imagined, Tom Riddle was not only a murderer, but a psychotic monster. Had his good morale that he had portrayed all these years been a facade to hide what truly lay beneath?

As her thoughts transpired leaving her unaware of her actions, she had nipped the tip of her finger on the wrapping paper. She watched as blood slowly secreted from the little yet throbbing cut, nothing could compare to the pain of that curse she had felt from the very wand of Tom Riddle.

-Line Break-

It was now seven in the morning as students slowly made their way down to the common room and by then, she was completely finished wrapping the presents. She grabbed her wand from her school robes and muttered a simple levitation spell at the presents as she sent them back to her room in a very good hiding place where no one would find them.

She began to make her way to the Great Hall when her stomach had started to growl quietly from hunger. She frowned when she nearly bumped into a first year that seemed to be looking around with great curiosity. She blinked and felt her eyes grow when she recognized the first year as the boy who was in Hogshead just last week.

She opened her mouth, but closed it when the young boy had squeaked, "Blimey! Do you know where the Great Hall is?"

Arianna didn't respond at first but merely studied the young boy before her. From what she could tell from his measly four foot height and skinny build, he was certainly tiny for his age. She examined the yellow and black crest and tie, he was from Hufflepuff. His unruly dirty blonde hair was in tight ringlet curls had signified that he had just rolled out of bed. He shifted from foot to foot under her calculating gaze as he looked down to the ground with his doe like brown eyes. She watched as his freckled cheeks had begun to turn rosy.

"Right, it's just down the hall to the right." She mumbled as she pointed in the direction he had come.

He frowned as he looked up at her curiously once more and exclaimed, "I just came from there! No one seems to want to help; in fact everyone has been pointing in different directions!"

It was now her turn to frown as she sighed. She knew there were some pretty rotten people in this very castle, but she did not expect people to be this unkind. She looked down at him and a thought suddenly hit her.

"It's the beginning of December, haven't you memorized this castle yet?" She pointed out as her frown had now deepened. "Or even the way to the Great Hall from your common room?"

She saw his cheeks and ears had now begun to turn red as he squeaked, "Blimey! I'm not sure why but ever since a week ago my heads not quite right!"

She frowned at his words as she wondered, what had happened after she had passed out. It seemed he couldn't remember the incident last week; perhaps it was a side effect of the curse. However, she could clearly remember what had happened. Something wasn't right at all.

"Well I'm heading there now, might as well join me," She mumbled as she began to make her way once more towards the Great Hall.

"I'm Dugald McPhail!" He squeaked as he grinned up at her with a big toothy smile. "I'm a first year!"

"Oh?" She replied, her tone was devoid of emotion. "I am Arianna Abel, Seventh year."

"Well it is nice to meet you Arianna!" He exclaimed, practically jogging to keep up with her pace. "I plan to become someone important!"

She paused as she looked down at him with a raised brow, "Important?"

"I want to become someone who will make a difference!" He beamed excitedly.

"Like what? The minister of magic?" She shot out sarcastically.

She immediately regretted her words as soon as they had left her mouth.

"Oh Merlin, yes!" He squeaked excitedly. "I was thinking auror, but that is just perfect! Thanks Arianna!"

She felt her shoulders sag as they made their way towards the Great Hall while she half listened to her new little friend chatter with zeal.

-Line Break-

It was a sad sight, she had figured there would be more students in the Great Hall, but from what she could tell, there were only maybe ten students including herself and Dugald. She wasn't quite sure why but she felt her gaze linger towards the Slytherin table and froze when she saw the ever familiar shade of silver.

She didn't even notice Dugald head towards the Hufflepuff table in great glee. Abraxas' eyes met hers before he looked back down at his breakfast. She swallowed the lump in her throat as she slowly made her way towards her house's table.

She took a seat and stared down at the white plate that had magically appeared before her. She let her gaze linger towards the great selection of foods that lay in the center of the table. Suddenly she didn't feel quite so hungry anymore.

After grabbing a few pieces of fruit and slowly munching it, she rose from her spot and began her way out of the Great Hall. She heard footsteps from behind and from the corner of her eye she noticed Abraxas had started to follow her. She felt her breath quicken as she began to pick up her pace.

"Wait a second Arianna," He drawled.

She had now broke out into a sprint and could hear his footsteps falling right behind her. Abraxas had now grabbed her arm firmly, she had begun to struggle.

"I said wait," He sneered quietly, his breath was slightly uneven.

"No!" She exhaled; her eyes were wildly searching around the Great Hall for an exit of some sort.

Many onlookers of the Great Hall watched the scene quietly. Her eyes shot towards the professor's tables and panicked when she noticed it was completely empty.

"Let go!" She shrieked, looking around at the few students that were actually in the Great Hall.

"Let her go!" Dugald shrieked as he jumped from his spot in the Hufflepuff table.

She had never felt more than happy to see someone. She would take whatever she could get, even if it was a tiny four foot tall first year. He had now shoved himself between her and Abraxas.

"Stay out of it Hufflepuff," Abraxas sneered as his eyes were now narrowed down at him.

Dugald stumbled back slightly as fear now emitted from his eyes, but he pushed the tall Slytherin away with all his might. Abraxas hardly budged but he was now glaring dangerously down at the first year.

The tiny Hufflepuff waveringly stood his ground as he tried all his might to stand his ground against the seventh year Slytherin. Abraxas had now started to chuckle as amusement had now settled upon his face. Arianna had clenched her fists by her side.

"Do not mock me little boy," He snarled, drawing his wand out of his robes and pointed it at Dugald.

Arianna in turn drew hers and pointed in Abraxas' direction. He shot a stern look at her before eyeing her wand.

"I suggest you put your wand away, fiancé," He sneered, his nose was now turned up as he withdrew his wand back into his robes.

Arianna in return sneered and pocketed her own wand in suit. They both eyed each other wearily, before he turned on his heels and strut high and proud back to his housemates. She finally let out the breath she had been holding in. Without a single word, she finally made her way back out of the Great Hall, Dugald had followed suit in silence.

Once they had departed from the Great Hall, The first year and let out a loud sigh of relief.

"I canot believe I just did that!" He quietly squeaked. "Merlin,"

Arianna felt a small smile creep onto her face as she turned to face him. She patted the top of his head.

"I had my doubts about you, but I was wrong. You have my vote for minister." She stated quietly. "Thank you"

Dugald in return grinned up at her.

-Line Break-

AN:

Yet another chapter done in 3 days straight, though this wasn't originally in the original plot line. However I thought this would be more crucial because I forgot to actually add in the after effect of how Arianna handled the situation after the last chapter so this is 15B.

No Tom, but only a few references to him. Dugald McPhail is a character that isn't in the main story line, but I kind of don't mind him, plus we need a bit more of a character who can slightly brighten things up. He'll be making a few more appearances in the story but I cannot say how much.

Plus, Dugald is actually in "HP history". Just wasn't quite clarified when he attended school.

Anyways I hope you guys enjoyed the extra chapter!

Reviews, favorites, follows, and alerts are very much appreciated!

Thank you so much guys!

Sincerely,

Tragedy of the Writer.