Chapter 8
Amara didn’t often see people who adored her. Perhaps Mark but, Mark has always been an exception to most things. These people were wrong, in every aspect of the word. Amara knew that they’d adore her one minute then hate her the next. For she was a celebrity who held light above her head, not power in every step.
Their minds told them to touch her, to get a taste of this little food that looked and smelled so good but their instincts knew better.
These people were stupid and dumb but the human instincts are what kept them from being killed during the night, when fire was yet to be discovered and their minds yet to develop, their instincts know power, so they are held back.
“Merlin's left balls..” they muttered and tried to hold her hand like sinners trying to touch something holy.
They tried to touch her but most stopped before reaching her, their hands turning shaky seconds away from her pale skin. It was like Amara was the poisoned food the starved body needed to be away from but also fought with itself with the need to consume and eat and feel better.
Amara knew exactly how to deal with people, she enjoyed playing mind games and breaking them apart and analysing people, she enjoyed breaking their mind slowly and she relished in the way they seemed to fear her.
But this? This wasn’t just a spotlight, it was something else. Something that may as well have been ingrained in the people's brains and spread to life when they heard her name.
It was hope.
Amara didn’t do hope. She made her bullies tremble in fear of her name, made her allies smile at the memories she ought to give them, made her mentors puff their chest in pride for their apprentice. Her name would one day inspire many different things.
But hope? Never before had her name inspired such a thing.
Her magic cackled around her, the ocean has never been so close than now and she couldn’t help but wish she could just use these people as a stair for the top, they’d probably let her anyway.
Sheep, she sneered internally. She felt the bitterness she tried to suppress coming and making her chest tight.
Her blood rushed to her ears, she felt the rumble of the earth and she had to suppress the urge to let her magic explode and deal with those whispers.
Amara continued walking slowly, not hesitant but also not in a rush. She looked at the people and smiled at them, one of her beautiful ones, and watched as they melted in front of her.
Her name was nothing more than a whisper in the room.
An old woman stumbled and fell backwards, away from her but her hand was still outstretched towards her.
“Hayden P-potter.” she whispered like a prayer.
Men from varying ages helped her stand.
Amara couldn't help but shiver slightly as power and bitterness swirled in her chest.
Her magic swirled around her and she felt her hand curl into fists as she tried to hold back laughter that bubbled her chest. She could hear whispers of her name, some even prayed.
She walked slowly through the people, hearing them whisper her name;
“Hayden..” some called, as if they knew each other.
“Potter…” others did, her last name sending shivers through the spine of some and smiles to the faces of others. But none dared to get close to her.
She took a moment to look around the room more closely, inspecting it for younger children who she could strike a conversation with but found none close to her age range so she chose not to.
Amara breathed in slowly, smiling bitterly when someone else tried to touch her.
She would teach them true terror if they dared to touch her.
So she breathed in deeply, letting her magic flex slowly, knowing it would unnerve some. Making people edge away from her form before they seemed to be once again enamoured by her presence and try to do something, only to, once again, be stopped.
She smiled at the people around her, not raising one finger to greet them. She knew some of them wanted to, but she wouldn’t be giving them that. The world is expecting something that she'd rather die than do. She wasn’t about to give them satisfaction so easily.
So as the saying goes: She may smile but her teeth were meant to bite.
She walked casually up to the barman, who looked as if he was about to have a heart attack, — oh how she hoped he did — took the menu and went for a table.
The people followed her every step, every breath she took she heard their little gasps, as if it was a miracle to be breathing the same air as her.
The phrase: ‘No one had ever survived the Killing Curse before, only you.’ just got a whole new meaning to her.
Or maybe it was because of Voldemort. His reign was at its peak and then suddenly he was declared dead and the only thing that remained would be an orphan who would be hailed as a saviour. As a symbol of hope in those Dark times. Exactly like a certain Headmaster.
She felt her brows furrowing at the mere reminder that that man was supposed to be her Magical Guardian.
She resisted the urge to sigh and cleaned any expression from her face.
It didn’t matter now.
She needed to gain allies more importantly form the Neutral and Dark side as it was those who would be more welcome to some of her..less than light activities and inheritances.
But how?
She was the so-called 'Girl-who-lived' any titles she held would be doubted simply because of her parents' shadow and the stories that went around.
“Daddy? Is this Hayden Potter?” Children knew who she was, children knew who Hayden Potter, the hero and saviour, was. But they didn’t know Amara.
Perhaps that was good, children were not meant for blood, even if we were all once bathed in it when born.
She took a seat and decided to wait for her lunch to be made. She took a deep breath and swallowed down the bitterness in her tongue that made she want to bare her teeth at each one of these sheep.
She had enough time to deal with adults and children who needed to be disciplined.
She would start here, today then. Make a name, a true one, for Hayden. Perhaps she even ought to tell people she prefers Amara and already change their views of her by this simple thing. Yes.
Little things that wouldn’t matter at first but still make some noise would be very good.
She was just Hayden Potter. She was Amara Potter, goddammit and she would be remembered as her name means. Everlasting.
Her name would remain to be spoken for centuries ahead, no matter what.
Amara smiled at them.
The children watched in awe and fear.
—-----------------------------------------------------------------
She had spent the lunch trying to strike a conversation and gain more information over who came there often and who came there only sometimes with the braver ones, who looked positively brightened over being her source of attention if not a bit nervous about it too.
Then, contrary to anything that Amara had been expecting, Quirrell entered the pub and sat next to her.
Then he proceeds to try and hold a conversation with her.
But she almost spit her pumpkin juice because: what.
Though he had gone missing a few weeks ago;
Ah well, whatever he did in those weeks made him be determined to act like a fool because his voice was so undeniably flat and fake that she could gag and throw up.
Amara had seen children be better actors than that for Morgana’s sake.
But alas, the stutter seemed to distract people from the flat and fake voice.
Anyways, she felt like she could ignore the stutter, if only for a few minutes.
"Well sir, how does it feel to be the defence against the dark arts? I heard rumours of a dark curse placed upon the job. Aren't you a bit scared, professor?"
Amara refused to call him professor Quirrell. It may seem a bit perhaps rude but both of them knew Quirrell would rather die than be close to children, even if he was a teacher. The fact that he was nice towards her Ushed persona was just because he was at those times a bit too drunk and keen on making himself be seem all knowledgeable, and Amara also didn’t respect him that much.
But then Quirrell gave her a quirky little smile and for a brief moment, Amara saw true amusement in those eyes and she subconsciously straightened her posture even more than it already was. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion.
Now, Amara has already seen amusement in Quirrells eyes a lot of times. When she had done a joke of incest towards the purebloods in The Pub. Or when she had pranked Ryan.
But this type of amusement was different. It just didn’t look like Quirrell.
"W-well Miss-ss P-p-p-potter, you see-e, I was meant to have the position for some time really and the curse is just that, a rumour."
Quirinus smiled a bit, watching the Potter child crook her head in slow motion before looking at him with suspicion and wariness in those toxic green eyes that made him avoid them.
He swallowed, his nerves consuming him. How come this child was so– so wrong? How could she make the mere act of croaking one’s head make it look dangerous for him?
Quirinus would be lying if he said she didn’t unnerve him ‘til the point of feeling his limbs shake in fear.
"Well, Professor Quirrell, I was simply wondering if you could also tell me a bit about your travels, you see, I see, to have a passion for hearing stories and knowing more." She chuckled, the chuckle sending shudders down Quirrell’s spine. " My first mentor used to complain about how I could be such a bookworm even as a child."
Amara knew she wouldn't end up in Ravenclaw, —after all she had promised she’d annoy Snape hadn’t she?— but she also couldn't have thousands hating her for her house. They were stupid, but she had to deal with them. Ugh, adults.
"O-oh?" He stuttered before pailing as he noticed most people were watching them discreetly.
Quirrell fidgeted with the table cloth and Amara tried not to scowl furiously.
He smiled nervously and she smiled politely back.
She wanted to strangle him oh so much.
But she knew that it worked in his favour, some people simply prefer to be underestimated so that they can strike without much danger of being watched. And well, Quirrell could do his own things. She’d have the opportunity to watch him in Hogwarts if needed.
She did a quick job of finishing her food and paying what was probably a huge discount for her meal—not that she cared—and then left to buy her things.
Alas, she only needed to buy her uniform and catch up with Daphne Greengrass.
Ethan had told her that today would be the day him and his family would be going to buy Daphne her uniform and books and Amara planned on establishing since the very first second a friendship with Daphne, she missed talking with Ethan dearly, (Perhaps she missed Mark and found Ethan to be close enough, but it didn’t matter anymore) even if it has been only two days.
The breeze of the day passed through her as she made her way towards Madam Malkin. She walked in with a smile on her face as she spotted a now familiar blond hair. Albeit young, still familiar.
“Good afternoon.” She greeted him with a small grin and saw the boy blink towards her scar. Oh he was one of those quiet fanboys. She could work with that. She flashed him a cute smile and saw through her lashes that he blushed slightly.
“G-good afternoon.” he nodded after a while of staring to which she tried not to roll her eyes.
“Good afternoon children, how can I-” Malkin dropped the piece of fabric she had been holding as if it burned her “O-oh oh my, Hello Miss Potter.”
The elderly woman gave the children a half smile and seemed at the verge of having a heart attack—honestly what was that with people having heart attacks whenever she got close to them?
Amara smiled back a bit less brightly, her mood already turning sour and the same bitterness that she had tried to ignore crawling back into her chest.
There were minutes of silence before Malkin seemed to become very energetic and ask thousands of questions towards Amara.
Which fabric she preferred, which colour she preferred, if she needed anything else other than her uniform as the woman section of undergarments has just gotten there with new things.
Amara didn’t fail to notice the dimmer mood Draco has found himself in as the woman completely ignored him in favour of her.
“No ma’am it will just be the uniform really, but I reckon Draco here needs something more; Here are my measurements, I will pick my uniforms here at,” she looked at her wrist watch tsking at the time “3 o’clock.” She then smiled, gave the woman a parchment with her measurements before turning towards Draco again.
“I hope we meet again, Draco.”
He tried to nod but it came out too stiff and forced and she felt herself sigh as she was out in the street again.
Gods she was already regretting her decision to go here.
Nevertheless, Amara walked inside the bookshop and scanned through the books, watching the prices and feeling the widening of her eyes.
“Fifteen galleons for one copy of Alchemy:beginners guide? What the bloody hell are they selling this with? Unicorn hair?” She huffed under her breath.
“My,”
“My, Gred,” Familiar voices came behind her and she felt a grin overtake her features
“Forge, would you look-”
“At that? Our little Griffin
“Is finally in Diagon Alley!
“Wonder what made you-” George finally reached her and turned her around.
“Come here Little Griffin-” they all stopped.
Their eyes linger on her scar for a few seconds.
“Devil Twins,” she did a little half bow as best as she could with them still so close “did you know this bookstore sells Alchemy:beginners guide for fifteen galleons? What do you guys reckon they are selling with these books? Tickets to the next Quidditch World Cup?”
They blinked before grinning widely
“Itty
“bitty
“Ickle
“Ashy is not
“Ashy but Haddy” they smirked maliciously
“Haddy?!” She choked out loud then puffed her chest “It's Amy or Arie.”
They croaked their heads and she scoffed. “It's from Amara, that's my middle name.”
Then she held her nose high and did a posh pose “Because that's the name I prefer, got any problems with it, Ladies?”
“Them? Ladies?” A tall girl with long black hair and brown skin came up towards them with a smirk on her face. Amara’s hair came to her front again as she looked towards the girl. “Why must you shame us by comparing us to them?” she continued.
The twins gasped dramatically
“Oh Angelina,
“ how could you
“Insult us this way?”
A snort was heard and they all hurled towards it, a young man who could be described simply as burly was leaning against a bookcase. He was wearing an all red sweater with gold stars on them with a ‘If I don’t become the Captain I kill the next one.” In its front. He wore an old brown trouser that had yellow strips in it. Amara scowled at the lack of fashion.
“Since when did this become a circus?” Amara raised her brows as the twins and the girl ‘Angelina’ all laughed. The boy smiled sheepishly before his eyes seemed to catch a sigh of the scar. He stammered
“You’re–”
“Amara Potter, pleasure to meet you Mr?” she interrupted before he could make assumptions;
Silence followed her words as the two newcomers gaped at her outstretched hand.
She slowly retreated it but then the twins flung themselves at each side of her grinning
“Oliver
“Oliver,” Fred tsked slowly
“How impolite it is to
“Gap at a young lady”
Amara made a motion to think and then shrugged
“Sorry boys, this one is not exactly my type”
The twins cackled and Angelina covered her smile with her hands while ‘Oliver’ sputtered something or the other.
“Well then,” she turned to the Twins “Not-Ladies, Lady, Clown” she gave a little nod to each and then went towards the salesperson before stopping a little bit and grinning at them all “by the way, this may be fun to watch.”
The twins snickered and followed, dragging Oliver and Angelina towards them.
“Ash innit? Heard ‘bout ye. Terror of the salesperson.” The salesperson, a tall and imposing man grinned “ya aint getting shit here brat.”
Now, Amara would never stoop so low as to answer the man the way she wanted to, but it was very tempting.
“Let's see about that, shall we?” she grinned wolfishly and saw him take a step back. This was going to be very fun indeed.
—---------------------------------------------------------
Oliver stumbled outside the bookshop with a red face.
“Oh my go-od!” Angelina stuttered through laughs.
The twins were holding the stack of books she managed to buy while humiliating the man.
“Ashy!”
“Honestly, what's with the nickname ?” she muttered angrily and turned around to see Gabrielle, a girl she met at one of those Mastership for Herbology shops.
“Ashy!” She yelled again, getting closer this time “I can’t believe you lied to us.” she half whispered half screamed at her face.
“You see dear Gabi, I just needed to sort something out in that part of the town and I couldn’t do it using this face. It’d attract too much attention.” Amara smiled tight and saw the girl narrow her eyes at her before nodding.
“I can’t wait to tell the others, they’ll either be so mad or really hysterical.”
“A bit of both I reckon.”
Gabi smirked wolfishly.
“You’re going to Hogwarts then? Good, good. If you end up anywhere but Slytherin I’ll owe these two right there five galleons so you better get into it.”
Amara snickered while the twins and Gabi argued.
“Sorry children, I have to go and meet some other people from my year. Hopefully I’ll make some allies in that year too.” Amara watched as the colour drained from the twins face’s. They probably finally realised she’d go nowhere but Slytherin.
Gabi cackled and the twins gaped at her spot.
“Oh Goddammit!” she heard from outside the bookstore and she smiled while going inside Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour. At this point, most children would’ve demanded to be led there.
She soon saw the familiar figure of Ethan and his lovely family eating some ice cream.
She smiled and picked a table right beside them.
“Is that Hayden Potter?” she heard a voice outside and soon more and more started to look at her. Lots of people soon entered the Parlour and tried to talk to her.
Amara felt the little bits of good mood she had found herself in being washed away and felt her face pinching in clear annoyance, not that any of her so called ‘fans’ noticed.
She noticed the Greengrass family watching it all with analysing eyes and barely suppressed a smirk. This could be a test of her personality, not to mention if she was worth being an ally or not.
She let her brows furrow and her mouth shut in annoyance before she stood up and let her magic lay in the ceiling, successfully shutting everyone up. It was something she had been experimenting with. Apparently it would make the room seem much smaller than it truly was if she did that to the ceiling and walls but she didn’t need to inspire fear now. Not now at least.
“Ladies and Gentleman and Everything in the Between, please don’t be so disruptive to the customers in this Parlour.” She smiled coldly at them and watched as some children shrinked behind their parents.
She slowly went to the salesperson and smiled at them. She laid there the payment and turned to the other customers.
“I am sorry for this issue;” she said with her most sincere face and left the shop.
She walked out of the Parlour and made her magic linger in the shop. Some people shivered, other children cried. The rumble of the earth and the sound of the waves crashing followed her even after she retracted her magic.
Amara walked slowly in front of the crowd with a cold smile on her face and the knowledge that there were hundreds of eyes on her.
It was fine, after all, power would always be feared by some and revered by others.