Everything felt so eerily quiet. It was five thirty in the morning, and I sat along side Filius in a tree branch in the backyard. The vast valley filled itself with humid fog all around, making it harder for anyone to see anywhere. I shivered as the breeze flew by, but didn't say anything. This was truly what I looked forward to every day.

The sunrise was always beautiful. The rays would shine between the clouds and the fog, creating a magical atmosphere as they changed color and gave warmth to the earth. It was now a beautiful pink and orange, it was almost surreal. "Are you cold?" Filius asked from his seat aside me in the branch. "A-a little..." I breathed, gazing down at my hands, whom were shaking slightly due to the cold.

"Let's head back inside, then. I don't want you to get sick," he stated, jumping down from his seat, making the branch shake slightly. I held on for a bit until it steadied itself, then slowly climbed down. Once I reached the floor, Filius wrapped his scarf around my neck, then stated, "Here. This will keep you warm."

I smiled and thanked him, walking with him back inside. I was, as always, barefoot, and the small rocks I stepped on had no effect on me, since I was used to them hurting me. After two years here, you get used to many things one doesn't like.

For example, getting hit with a rag to wake up every morning, as Ms. Perelman does to everyone here. She calls it discipline, and even if you don't believe it at first, after a few months, you start believing everything she says.

We entered the kitchen, where most children already were, to avoid the wrath of the rag.

We were six children in total, all from different families: Filius and I were the oldest of all, then followed Madie, Gabriel, Aries and Leone. The latter was still quite young, being around four years old, and needed the most watch and attention from us, since the Perelmans didn't really care for him.

They didn't really care for most of us.

Filius sat down at the head of the table, and I sat at his right, aside Gabriel. My feet dangled down the chair, with me not being tall enough to actually reach the floor with more than my toes.

"Shall we stay inside today?" Asked Filius with a smile. Madie nodded eagerly, brushing away strands of her curly brown hair out of her freckled face. She loved to stay inside and read books all the time, sitting near the fire in this time of year. "I want to play with toys," said Leone, and Aries told him they'd play together after breakfast.

Soon, Daisy, the house elf, came from the cellar and started to make breakfast.

We all ate in silence. None of us wanted to wake up the sleeping Perelman couple up stairs. Doing so would be a sin.

Madam and Mister Perelman, like the rest of us, were born squibs, and dedicated their lives to raise orphaned squib children in the muggle life style. Leone was given to them as a two year old by his mom, being born a squib in a pureblood family. Aries suffered the same fate, but she was completely abandoned as a new born.

Filius, Maddie and I were completely different stories. I came here around three years ago, when my parents were murdered. Maddie was just a year ago, and Filius four.

After eating, we all walked silently to the living room.

After a while of Filius reading American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis, he stood to find some fruit in the kitchen, leaving me to my book, Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. Madie was halfway through her thick book, head on Gabriel's shoulder.

Aries and Leone were coloring in the middle of the floor, the colored blocks scattered around their box, with the duo growing tired of those.

Mister Perelman had already left for work, not before yelling at Filius to get a job before slamming the door shut.

Madam Perelman was now in her study, up until later before lunch, when she would take it upon her routine to tend to the front garden.

After a while, we ate lunch, and went to play in the back garden. The Perelman Manor was situated in the country side of England, and the rest of the homes were wide apart from each other, so no one was really around to keep all of us company.

We were all playing tag in the back garden when we heard Mister Perelman arrive in his car. He hated to see us all dirty like this, so we scurried to wash our feet with the garden hose before going back inside to shower.

After a silent diner, we all sat back in the living room for tea, and to listen to Filius' stories. He was an amazing story teller. He was short and compendious, rather than circuitous. His voice was declamatory, and would always tell stories in an epigrammatic way.

He sat at the arm chair facing the rest of us with a warm cup of chamomile cradled between our palms. Everything was perfect; soothing; surreal. I sat back in my oversized light blue hoodie, being enveloped by a soft blanket.

Then we heard it.

A banging on the door.

As the oldest girl, I was supposed to open the door, as one of my house duties. I stood, getting out of the blanket and placed my cup in the low table. Before I stood, the person banged the door harder, startling us.

"Open the door, Miss Perelman! We know you're in there!" a man yelled, and the banging continued. I looked at Filius, who immediately read my face. We were all probably in danger.

He stood and grabbed a bat from the toy bin in the corner, grasping it on his right hand as Madam Perelman ran towards us, frantically waving her arms. "Hide! Hide! Or you'll be fed to The Dark Lord!"

Ah yes, The Dark Lord. The Perelmams used to be death eaters, but they got away with being arrested. They claimed they were under the Imperius Curse.

Filius took Leone in his arms and we all hid in a dark closet at the end of the hall. I looked around us, Aries and Gabriel were holding hands, and Maddie was taking Leone from Filius.

I peeked through the small gaps the wooden closet held, and thanks to it's location in the hallway, I was able to see directly to the door.

"Go away! You have no business with us!" Mister Perelman yelled, but the door broke open and five men came to my view.

One of them had a long, white beard and blue robes, and was rather old in age. Aside him stood a man with pale hair and a strict face, which held authority.

I didn't care much for the rest of them. They looked the same to me.

"Where are they, Valerianne?" The old one asked, and Madam Perelman retorted with rage, "Far away! I sent them far away where you will never take them!"

Lies.

I kept on looking at the strict man. I found him rather familiar, and I felt attracted to him in some strange way. He stepped forward and whipped out his wand, pointing it at Madam Perelman, who was agitated so much that Mister Perelman had to hold her back.

They were wizards.

Filius stretched his arm infront of me. I didn't notice I was moving forward, and at the edge of opening the closet doors and revealing our location.

"Where are they, squib? Tell me!" Je shouted, his wand glowing a dim green. The old man stopped him and locked eyes with me. He looked right into my soul, and I immediately broke eye contact, walking slowly to the back of the closet.

"What's wrong?" Filius mouthed, side hugging me. I looked at his handsome face and mouthed, "They found us."

Just as I had moved my mouth, the closet doors creaked open. Filius and Gabriel rapidly jumped infront of us, to protect us.

I hugged Aries and Maddie tight, and we looked to see the old man standing before us.

Was he The Dark Lord? Was he Voldemort?

"Children, I'm glad you are safe," he spoke softly, and a wave of calm rushed through me. "We won't do you any harm. We're here to take you away justly." Filius glared at him, but calmed down and took mine and Maddie's hands.

"No harm? Are you sure?" Filius asked, and the old man nodded with a smile, signaling us to follow him into the living room.

We did, just in time to see the Magic Council taking away the Perelman couple. The blonde man looked at me with a semi-soft stare as we walked by him in our bare feet.

The tapping of feet echoed through the room as we all walked in line to sit in the couch. I took Leone and sat him in my lap, using the blanket I had left to envelope his shivering body.

The old man sat at the arm chair in our left, and the blonde one stood in the far right, aside the arch that led to the hallway.

The old man introduced himself as Dumbledore.

He explained that we were all misplaced as squibs, or rather, Madam Perelman had help from someone within the Magic Council to take us in, instead of placing us with our familiars and were being returned to our respective homes. Aries, Leone and Gabriel were being brought back to their families, and Filius, Maddie and I were going to be assigned to guardians.

Our parents had died, and thats why we were there in the first place. A man came inside to take the three youngest away. We cried and said our goodbyes, promising to owl each other in the future. They went up the stairs to get their things, followed by people from the Magic Council.

"Now, you three. There is a very complicated problem with you. The three of you were sent letters to Hogwarts School of Magic and Wizardry, but Valerianne Perelman wrote back, saying it was you children, that you didn't want to attend."

We all looked at each other. Filius had his hand on mine reassuringly. Where was Dumbledore going with this?

"I'm Head Master of Hogwarts myself, and I'd like to know personally, if you are interested in coming to learn at my school."

"Yes," my hushed voice croaked out. The blonde man smiled. "Very well. You must be Alya Gaunt, yes?" I could tell through his eyes the fear hidden within. What was he scared of all of a sudden?

"Alya Melinoe* Gaunt, yes." Dumbledore stood and motioned at the blonde man, who walked closer to us. "Excuse me, but where will we live? At the Hogwarts?" Maddie asked, tilting her head.

"Well, you will be placed with your respective guardians. Madeleine Macmillan will be placed with her uncle and aunt. As to you both, Filius and Alya, you will live with your godparents."

"Who's my Godfather? And Alya's?" Filius held my hand tight. I knew how he felt. The distance was going to be unbearable for us. We had become very close, being the same age and all. However, going to Hogwarts meant we'd see each other all the time still.

A man entered the room, glaring at the blonde man. His hair dark as night, stopping at his chin. He, as well, was oddly familiar. "Filius Flint, your Godfather is Severus Snape, professor of potions at Hogwarts. He will be in charge of you for now on."

Dumbledore motioned at the black haired man, who stretched out his arm. "Come now, Filius. Let us talk up stairs," he said in a weird voice I could hardly describe with words.

Soon, Maddie was guided outside by a member of the magic council, and I was left alone. "Alya, this is Lucius Malfoy. He is your Godfather and, by orders of the Magic Council, will home school you this year. If you dont fall far behind, you'll be able to join the rest of the students by your second year."

Lucius gave me a smile and walked towards me while Dumbledore left.

"Hello," I greeted, and he smiled warmly. He knelt down on one knee, and looked me in the eyes. "Hello, Alya. Are you ready to go home?" I didn't respond.

I'm of shy nature, being cared by the Perelman family hadn't helped.

"Where will we go?" I asked lowly, rubbing my feet together. I was cold. "We're going to the Malfoy Manor, child. We'll take good care of you." He looked down at my feet, noticing it's bruises and marks. "Child, where are your shoes?"

"I don't have any, Mr. Malfoy," I crossed my legs under me, looking directly at his grey eyes. "Well then, we need to get you some. Come, let's go get your things. And please, call me Godfather. Alright, Alya?"

I nodded, taking the hand he had oh so kindly stretched towards me. His hand was big against mine, and his body was giany aside my own. We walked in silence until we reached our shared room.

There, Filius was packing his things with Severus Snape. Filius and I hugged the moment we saw each other come in. He laid his chin on my head and caressed my back.

"I'll see you soon, Alya."

"I'll be waiting, Filius."

---
Alya: The Theta Serpentis star system was first known by the name of Alya.
Melinoe: Greek Goddess of Ghosts