Merwoman
SEPTEMBER 4TH, 1974
What good is living life if someone has already determined your fate? There is no point to hope or to dream if your future has already been set in stone. Adalia looks over at the camera on her desk. It’s new. Her parents gave it to her as a Christmas present. How cruel of them. They expect her to get married straight out of Hogwarts and produce an heir for the Malfoy's. There is no future in which she gets to become a popular photographer or famous journalist. The only thing waiting for her at the end of 7th year is marriage and motherhood.
Adalia removes the silky green sheets from her body and gets out of bed. She walks over to her desk and grabs the expensive object. She analyzes it as her fingers trail along the smooth metal. She closes her eyes for just a minute when a merwoman appears right outside her large windows. Her ghostly skin glistened in the water. Her golden eyes flickered over Adalia, examining her the way Adalia examined her camera. The Slytherin’s eyebrows furrowed and without much thought, she lifted her camera, steadied it, making sure to find the perfect angle and click . A poof of green smoke emitted from the camera.
When Adalia lowered the object and the smoke cleared, the merwoman wore a wide almost sinister-like smile, showing off her tinged teeth. She soon swam away, leaving the girl with a beguiling picture of the Slytherin dormitories. Adalia then looked over at her carriage clock and began getting dressed. Today was the first day back in school after summer break. It was bittersweet considering how she was academically challenged but preferred staying at Hogwarts rather than at The Avery Manor.
Once the girl was done getting ready, she grabbed her books and slung the strap of her camera over her shoulder. In the Slytherin common room waited her brother Nicholas. He was conversing with Barty Jr. and Evans. “It’s good to see you again, sunshine.” The Ravenclaw said.
Adalia smiled softly. “Oh, how I’ve missed those dimples.” Evan added.
“It’s good to see you guys too.” She said before giving them each a side hug.
“We didn’t see you at dinner last night. What was the rush of getting to your dorm?” Barty asked.
“I was just really tired.” Adalia answered with a half-truth. Barty only nodded, not buying completely into it. Although Adalia kept to herself for most of her time at Hogwarts, there was one person who was able to break through her aloof exterior, Barty Crouch Jr. He was so persistent when he first met her. There was something about Adalia that drew him to her. It was an indescribable feeling. All he knew was that he had to know Adalia, he had to make her his person.
“Did you get any sleep?” Her brother asked, his tone low.
Adalia had to hold back a look of disgust as she nodded. While Adalia had only recently discovered her soon to be engagement with Lucius Malfoy a few days ago, Nicholas had known since the summer of 1971. It wasn't fair, really. Since he was the Avery Heir, he was entrusted with so many of the family's secrets. It sickened Adalia to know that her brother was fully aware of her destiny while she went on and on about all the amazing things she’ll do once she graduates. She felt like an utter fool.
Adalia wonders how different her life would've been if she had been born first, if she had been born a boy. There is no doubt that Lucius will continue to pursue all his goals and aspirations while Adalia stays home raising babies and running the Malfoy Manor. She had potential and deep down she still knew it.
The four soon made their way to the Great Hall. At the Gryffindor table sat Remus Lupin and his best friends. His eyes lit up in an instant as she walked towards her table. His mouth was slightly agape as he carefully looked over her. His favorite thing to do after winter/summer break was figure out all the small and big changes Adalia had gone through. Some notable ones were her attitude and how quickly she dimmed out in their second year, another one was her hair. There were times she’d show up to class with four inches less from the day before.
Remus wanted to get to know her. He wanted to exchange words with her, understand her on a level so few get to. But he was terrified. Adalia was everything they had warned him about. With Voldemort on the rise, it was getting harder and harder to trust those who were suspected to run in his circle. Her father was a known close friend of Tom Riddle. And when it came to pureblood families in Slytherin, the apple didn't tend to fall far from the tree.
“Oh, there goes the prince of evil ville.” James chuckled as Nicholas walked in.
“I still don’t understand how Adalia is related to him. She seems so nice compared to her entire family.” Remus scratched the back of his neck.
“What if she isn’t so nice underneath?” Sirius proposed. “People pretend to be something they’re not all the time.”
“Well, she hates us so it’s not like we’ll ever truly know.” Peter stabbed at his eggs.
“She hates James and S-Sirius.” Remus smiled. “We’re innocent.”
“Hey, you two were involved in the pranks as much as we were.” James pointed a finger at them. “And we’re not 100 percent sure she hates us, I mean, she’s never told on us…”
“Maybe she’s compiling a list so that when she does tell on us, we’ll get a harsher punishment.” Sirius suggested.
“Stop saying ‘us.’ Peter and I have never taken part in anyone of your dumb pranks involving Addy.” Remus blurted.
“ Addy ? Oh, Remus, have you given the girl a nickname?” James smirked.
“Merlin, you’ve never even spoken more than two words to her since first year.” Sirius laughed.
“Shut up.” Remus rolled his eyes. “And change the subject.”
“How about we don’t. Now that we’re on the topic of Adalia, we need to figure out what prank we’ll pull on her this year.” James thought out loud. “It has to be something better than the ones before."
“We could try just leaving her alone… maybe?” Remus suggested.
“Nope.” Sirius shook his head. “She’s too fun to mess with. Remember in first year when we covered her quill in super glue?”
“It was hilarious when she tried shaking the thing off and just ended up smacking herself on the forehead.” James laughed.
Remus only looked at them in disappointment and shook his head.
“How about second year when we enchanted her hair conditioner?” Sirius brought up.
“Her brother's reaction was funny. He was genuinely more upset by her hair constantly changing colors. She, on the other hand, rocked it.” James couldn’t help but admit.
“Her brother is such a weird guy.” Remus tracked back. “I mean, he’s always looking over her shoulder. I’m surprised he hasn’t discovered your guys' odd relationship with her.”
“The creep won’t let her have any friends outside of Slytherin.” Sirius said before taking a drink of his orange juice. “I bet you, she goes to lengths to keep our pranks a secret from him.”
“What? You don’t think she actually likes them, do you?” Peter asked.
“Sirius and I wouldn’t keep messing with her if we thought she didn’t.” James admitted.
The boys then finished up their breakfast and headed to their first class of the day, Potions. Adalia had this class with Evan’s and all four of the marauders. Every so often she’d glance back at them, wondering what stupid joke they’d play on her this year.
Adalia wished she could say she hated it but in reality, it was diverting. Although the brunette herself was quite serious like the rest of her house, she enjoyed the boy's playfulness. It tapped into her own, reminding Adalia of her younger self. When the professor stepped out of class, James and Sirius sent Adalia a note in the form of a paper bird. She hid a smile as she opened it. Evan looked at her questionably.
CHIN UP RATTLESNAKE, YOU LOOK MISERABLE
At the bottom of the writing was an exaggerated drawing of her in tears, sobbing. Adalia chuckled before peeking her head over Evan and slightly sticking out her tongue. Adalia sometimes wasn’t sure whether to laugh or tell them off so she just did both. The boys only chuckled at her response.
“What’d the note say?” Evan asked.
“Just some stupid joke.” She shrugged as she folded it up and slipped it in her pocket. “No big deal.”
“Are you sure? Cause if they’re being mean I can tell Professor-” Adalia wouldn’t even let him finish. “No, Evan, truly, it's fine.”
The 13 year old boy gave James and Sirius a spiteful look before going back to his assignment. “Oh, I’m so scared, Sirius hold me!” James whispered, making his best friend laugh.
Behind Sirius and James sat Remus and Peter. Remus couldn’t help but wonder how it was that his friends were so confident. From day one they had pursued their strange infatuation with Adalia. They weren’t fond of her in the way Remus was so that must’ve been a part of why it was so easy. Remus had a firm fear of rejection. It was hard enough to let his close friends in but the thought of letting her in? Well, the idea almost scared him to death. He scolded himself for being over dramatic as they were far worse things to fear. The scar on his face reminded him of so every time he’d look in the mirror.
Once classes ended for the day, Adalia headed to the dark room to develop the photos she had taken over summer break and of this morning. The rush of dopamine she’d feel after taking a picture could not compare to the rush she got after developing it. There was so much pride in all that she created. Her hands could make magic without actually making magic . Adalia admired that about the muggles. They didn't need magic or pureblood supremacy to be greater than. All they needed were their minds, their hearts and their souls.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t Adalia Sol Avery.” A blonde witch perked her head up. “Back in the dark room already?”
The girl shut the door behind her. “I have pictures to develop, Skeeter. What’s your excuse? I thought you were a writer.”
“I am.” Rita crossed her arms. “And if someone who loves taking photos just as much as I like writing would just accept my partnership, I could be in the library right now instead of here, where it’s dark… and cold.”
Adalia dryly chuckled as she set her belongings down. Rita was older than her by two years and she had been running the gossip column in the school's newsletter since 1972. Her column did more than just spread rumors, it ruined people's self-esteem and image. “I already told you; I have no desire to work the gossip column with you.”
“But why?” Rita asked in an annoyed tone.
“Because I don’t want to, so please stop bothering me about it.” Adalia demanded.
“What better things do you have to do?” Rita questioned. “I mean, you have the chance to actually get other people to see your work and care about it. For once in your sad little life, do something. Do this with me.”
Adalia looked her up and down. Her words echoed in her mind. Rita was so observant, so nosy that she actually realized just how little Adalia does. The girl is aimless and there was no covering that up, not from Skeeter. “Rita, I’m going to be completely and wholeheartedly honest with you. You and your gossip column are beneath me. I would rather take pictures of centaur shit then follow people around as if I’m some bottom feeder paparazzi.”
Rita opened her mouth to say something but stopped. How does one even respond to something like that? Especially when it came from someone like Adalia, someone who was usually kind and a bit of a pushover. This all started last year when Adalia took a picture of Rita when she wasn't looking. Adalia thought Rita looked so beautiful in the courtyard, when it was dark out. Her pale skin almost glowed in the moon light as did her usually light green eyes. When Adalia developed the photo, she gave it to Rita. She was the first to truly notice just how talented the younger girl was.