Of Ghosts and Secrets PV Locked

For spending as many months as he already had at Hogwarts so far for the year, Adonis had yet to explore every location within the grand castle. So, he decided on doing just that and went from one location to the next, taking his time upon entering every room and scanning his surroundings. He appreciated the architecture of some of it and the setups within the rooms. The fourth floor was probably tied for his favorite floor as it had the Duelling Club room. He hoped to be in there one day for a relevant reason to it instead of just exploring. Adonis hoped to shine and stand above all of the others in that room.

Eventually, Adonis came across the ballroom, a rather large room with plenty of open space compared to the other rooms on the fourth floor. He passed by the group of kids that had just left the room to return to their common rooms, greeting them with a smile in acknowledgement while making his way through the crowd to go in the opposite direction of them. Why didn't he follow the crowd and just go back tot he common room? Adonis had no idea. He was insistent on finishing his exploration of the floor before going back. All it was was just a quick in and out peek of the room and then he would retire to his common room for the night to hangout with his dormmates until bed.

The ballroom sort of caught his interest in a way as well, growing up with grandparents who taught him and his siblings the arts along with being that he came from a pure-blood family. Despite his moms side of the family not being fanatics, they were still traditional and rich in their teachings, making sure to educate their grandchildren in a variety of subjects and performing arts for their home-schooling. Adonis knew how to sing, play instruments, dance, paint, etc. Did he like it? No. He hated painting and art in general. Playing instruments was whatever to him. What he did enjoy was singing and dancing though.

Upon entering the ballroom, Adonis saw a girl in the distance at the end of the room and seated at a piano. She had auburn hair and Adonis only knew one girl with auburn hair except the girl he knew had a teal streak in the front, but he couldn't he see that from the back. There were plenty of girls with auburn hair at Hogwarts so it could've been anyone. Plus, Adonis didn't really expect Katrina to be a piano player or singer if she was to eventually sing. The Slytherin boy simply leaned against the door entrance, crossing his arms while waiting for the girl to begin playing so that he could listen.

Except he was proved wrong upon hearing the girls voice. It was Katrina. How could that be? She sang? She played the piano? To be frank she was really good at it too aside from a few mistakes in the beginning but as the song continued, her voice and flow only became even better. Her voice was gorgeous. Though he could hear and sense the pain and longing that was in her voice. Adonis listened to the lyrics, connecting it with the emotion in her voice until he looked back on their first meeting in the library. She had referred to her brother in the past tense and it all made sense now. The girl had lost him. Adonis frowned at the thought with deep concern for the girl until the frown turned into a hardened look on his face. A look that was rarely seen on his usual happy self.

Pushing himself off from the entrance and taking a step forward into the ballroom, Adonis began to sing alongside her right as it went into the next verse. It was perfectly timed.

"Perilous night, their voices calling
A flicker of light
Before the dawning
Out here, the wild ones
Are taming the fear within me
Scared to call them my friends and be broken again
Is this hope just a mystical dream?"

Adonis' voice boomed throughout the hall with a melodic tune like no other in his voice, slowly making his way towards her while singing. Only time he ever really sang was in the showers whenever he was getting ready for school. He sang much more often back at home before Hogwarts though due to his grandparents. Whether she sang alongside him or not, Adonis made it known that he was here for her with the emotion he put into his singing as well, allowing both of their voices to echo throughout the ballroom.

Katrina wasn’t even thinking about the song, instead her fingers and her voice were leading her. She could almost hear Liam’s voice singing along with her like he always used to. Joining in the middle of the song, adding more depth and richness to the song than one person singing along ever could. She could actually hear Liam, the strong echoing voice. Wait, what?

Katrina missed a chord as she turned over her shoulder to see someone coming towards her. Adonis Thorn whom she had met twice so far. Her fingers kept playing and her voice did too, more out of muscle memory than anything else. But Adonis was singing along with her, and his voice was amazing.

The second-year had met Adonis a day or two before the Blossomball. He had lit a bookshelf on fire accidentally when trying to light a candle and Katrina had come to the rescue and put it out. They had both ended up talking for a while. Later, they had met again at a sort of popcorn party where a Hufflepuff girl— Crystal— had given out free popcorn.

Katrina found herself smiling as she sung the last verse, Adonis’ voice complementing hers amazingly.

“And the memories were lost long ago
So I’ll dance with these beautiful ghosts
And the memories were lost long ago
So I’ll dance with these beautiful ghosts”

Katrina pulled out the last note, almost not anting the song to end. She finished with a chord on the piano, and she pressed here eyes shut having to take a moment to appreciate the echoing silence in the grand room. At last, her hazel eyes fluttered open, and she put her hands in her lap.

“You have an amazing voice,” Katrina said at last, turning to Adonis. Her eyes were misty, and she tucked her teal streak of hair behind her ear turning away to wipe at her eyes.

Adonis continued to sing right alongside Katrina, keeping up with her pace and pitch to match her perfectly in harmony as they sang together. As stated earlier, he sang in the shower occasionally, but like this? It had been awhile since he had last sang like this and belted out a chorus even. He admired her voice as they perfectly matched each other in the middle of the song, continuing to make his way over towards her.

He couldn't relate to the pain she felt, not yet at least. What he could do though was try his best to support whatever it was that she was feeling with his singing hopefully. He hoped it would help make her feel better in someway or allow her to open up. Adonis wasn't too entirely sure himself as to what his role was in all of this.

The smile on his face while he sang only grew upon making his way across the room towards her with long and quick strides.

"And the memories were lost long ago
So I’ll dance with these beautiful ghosts”

He belted out with the last word with as much heart and emotion as possible in the chorus, matching Katrina once again and perfectly ending at the same time as her. Until there was nothing. It was silent. All that was left was the fading echo of their melodic voices until they rang one last time and emptied the ballroom, leaving it to be just the two of them once again.

Adonis offered a small smile in support, "As do you. Your voice is gorgeous and your piano skills are amazing," he told her before walking up to her and seating himself beside her on the piano with the space that was open, placing a hand on her shoulder for comfort.

Katrina appreciated his comment about her musical skills. The second-year looked down, a bashful smile on her face. Her musical skills had never truly been complimented. Sure, the one time she had played the piano back in December when there were four people caroling, but no one had really said anything about her skills.

Katrina slid herself down the bench so that Adonis could take a seat beside her. He put a hand on her shoulder, he must of heard the hurt in her voice. The lioness found herself somewhat leaning into him.

The Gryffindor sighed, “Thank you for, you know— singing with me,” She wasn’t quite sure what else to say, and she was still not sure if she should bring up her past. Making the decision, she reached her locket and pulled it out of her Gryffindor sweatshirt.

Katrina pried the silver locket open and angled the pictures inside so Adonis could see them. “My parents and brother,” On one side he would see her parents; mother with wavy auburn hair, light green eyes, and rosy cheeks and father with short dark brown hair, twinkling hazel eyes, and soft features. On the other side would be a picture of her brother with his dads dark brown hair and his mothers light green eyes. A curl of Boomerang’s fur tucked on the inside ridge of the necklace.

“There was— a fire last spring. A house fire. All of them are gone,” Tears threatened to fall, but Katrina refused to let them. Enough hiding from the hurt.

Whether she was ever really complimented or not, Adonis thought that she needed more recognition and that the compliment was a must a person of her caliber with such skills. She had never mentioned liking or knowing how to sing and play the piano in which Adonis came to the realization it seemed she was one to keep things to herself. That wasn't a problem. Some people liked to keep certain things to themselves and not share every little bit about them. Adonis couldn't blame her, especially with everything else. He respected it though if she wasn't one to share that much about the things she liked to do or her past at all.

The most he could do for now was be there for her and try to subside the hurt in her voice from the pain she felt. Upon feeling her lean slightly into him, Adonis allowed his arm to go to her other shoulder on the opposite side to rub in comfort, allowing her to do whatever she needed to do to feel comfortable and have support.

Adonis offered her a grin in response, "Of course. You're welcome. I'm just glad I was able to have the opportunity to do so. I hope to one day do it again alongside you." He said to her, giving Katrina a solemn nod before looking over at the locket she had just pulled out from her sweater.

The Slytherin boy tilted his head to get a good look at her family as she showed him them, taking his team to take in their features for each of them. He could definitely see all the resemblances in their family and who got what traits from who. A good looking family he had to admit. They too had hazel eyes like Adonis did that he got from his fathers side."They're all very handsome and pretty, Katrina. You have a beautiful family and I'm sure they're proud of you." Adonis told her reassuringly with a weak smile whether she was able to see it or not.

That was until she had dropped the truth on him. They had passed. Even her little brother with her parents. It made sense, of course. But no one ever wanted to hear such truths. Alas, it was reality though and they could do nothing to change it. Adonis felt bad for the girl. She had none of her family left, not even her little brother had survived it seemed. Adonis would've lost it if he had lost at least one of his family members, but for her to lose her entire family? He admired the girl for her strength this entire time in being able to keep herself sturdy and firm so far. "I'm sorry, Katrina. You're strong though, you can do this. You've made it this far. I wouldn't have even known or expected this to happen to someone like you after meeting you at the library and with how you were during that interaction and then the popcorn party. I would've never realized it. You've got to be one of the strongest people mentally to be able to keep that in and continue on with your day, smiling through it all." Adonis spoke softly to her in encouragement, rubbing the side of her arm in comfort and support.

Katrina saw the moment where he understood what had happened to her. It was that look of surprise and horror and pain, the moment when they wondered what they would do if it had been them. The second year had seen that look every single time she had told someone the truth. However, most of the time, she didn’t tell them the whole truth, maybe just that she had lost her childhood home, or that her brother was missing. White lies that kept them from feeling too bad for her.

But there was something different in Adonis’ face. He was more resolute and seemed to respect the fact that she had been able to keep herself together. He spoke with encouragement and rubbed her shoulder. It took everything in the 12-year-old not to cry. Instead, she gave a feeble smile. “Thank you,” People never really saw how much it takes for her not to curl up on the floor and sob.

“It took almost an entire year to get to the point where I’m not a blubbering mess when I talk about it,” Katrina admitted softly, “Especially since my extended family really aren’t in the picture, so I don’t really get to talk about it much,”

Katrina closed the locket and slipped it back in her sweatshirt. She found herself rubbing the inside of her left sleeve again. Her little embroidered teal dragon never failed to help her. The habit was soothing and Katrina became more comforted.

Adonis would've been dying inside if he kept such hidden truths to himself, just a time bomb ticking away at any moment and ready to explode with the dark and aggressive side deep down inside him that he unknowingly had. It would've been catastrophic to himself and possibly those around him mentally and emotionally. He had no idea what he was capable of if he were to let go of his emotions and allow them to be set free without restraints. Perhaps it was the blood he carried from a long line of dark wizards and witches. Or perhaps he was just a very passionate person?

"You're very welcome. I sort of like trying to help and being there for others I guess? I don't know it's weird, but I enjoy it. Especially when it's for a friend." Adonis admitted even though he might've sound less selfless or conceited because of it. It was the truth. It made him feel good about himself whenever he did so, it didn't mean he didn't actually care. Because he truly did care.

The boy couldn't help but chuckle a bit at her first statement. "But see! That just show's how far you have got since then. You're strong than you admit and show yourself to be. Keep up this type of attitude and just do you." Donnie couldn't help but nod in agreement at her last statement. He had problems like that on his dad's side mainly. Or so he did. Well, he still does technically but the difference was that he was staying with them currently. "I've had that problem for awhile too with my dad's side. My father never lets them be around us and tries to cut off all ties with them. Ironic enough... I went against my fathers wishes and traveled to my grandfathers manor via Floo Powder and I'm now living with them for the time being. And now I have this..." Adonis was hesitant at first to show out of embarrassment and being marked the way he was by his own family but he knew he could trust her. So, he pulled up his sleeve to reveal what was present on his forearm.

"It's my family's mark. For house Thorn it is at least. This thing hurt like hell, it felt like actual thorns embedding themselves into and around my forearm until it took the form of this tattoo-looking mark on my arm now. My other family, the Lancier's... they're much nicer. We're close to them and visit them often. They live in Riva del Garda, Italy. Perhaps I can take you sometime! It's gorgeous over there. There's plenty of things to do there and cliffs to jump off of into the lake." Adonis told her with a reassuring smile, nudging her slightly with his elbow. The mention of it kind of made him miss his actual home with his immediate family, which were his parents and siblings. They would always go there at least once during the summer break to visit their family in Italy. "Have you ever tried connecting or talking with your extended family at all though?" He asked with curiosity, tilting his head slightly in question.

Katrina was in a moment of incredulous denial. She was never this open about her past or anything to do with the real her. It was odd, the feeling of transparency and the complete trust that she could say absolutely anything. Normally it would take months or years to get to that point, but here she was without any of that time.

Adonis seemed to actually get it. Most people tended to instantly go the the pity side of things. The one thing Katrina hated was when all people did was feel sorry. Like, do something share something take the spotlight off of the one who is hiding from it! But without even having to mention that, Adonis knew what to do. Katrina nodded along with his comment about cutting ties with the family, her moms side of the family had died in a plane crash on the way to Alaska when she was a baby. Her dad’s side however, where just outright horrible. The second year remembered the first time her parents had to explain that her family didn’t appreciate others who were better off. It had been a weird day.

Katrina inwardly shook of the memories, refocusing on Adonis. When he pulled up his sleeve, Katrina couldn’t help but gasp. There was a rather large tattoo of a vine of thorns around his arm. “Oh my gosh,” Katrina sucked in a breath. Why would they do that to him? She couldn’t help but imagine her horrible family strapping her down and cutting into her skin making permanent marks. But he seemed so casual about it— Katrina knew better than to push, but it seemed having a unique family was another thing they had in common.

He deftly switched topics. Jumping into a lake. Taking a trip away from the school. Katrina couldn’t resist the growing excitement. She did need somewhere to go for at least a portion of the summer. The lioness pushed down the thought, she didn’t want to get excited about nothing. But even as she pushed the notion away, she made a mental note.

“That would be amazing. I have to say, I’m getting pretty bored of the same dozen rooms. I never thought I would get bored of a school of magic... but here I am,” Katrina lightened the mood some.

Adonis asked about reaching out to family and Katrina couldn’t help but scoff, “Well I took the hint at my parents funeral where they complained about the ‘spoiled brat’ who was a ‘witch’ and a ‘creep’ and begged to take me to an orphanage instead of taking me in. I mean, they were alway cruel and looked down on our family because they saw us as richer and better off than them. I never really talked to any of them because I always had my close family. I sort of wish I had though, then I would at least have a home,” Her tone was bitter, not at Adonis, but at her horrible family.

“But, I don’t know... there was the person who sent me the letter notifying me about my parents death, but they signed anonymous. But the owl came back to the school the first of every month so I sent letters with no response. But the owl still keeps coming. I stopped sending letters, but the owl still sits there on the first,” Katrina had stopped thinking about the owl recently, it was just a lot to think about. She couldn’t help but doubt that it was all a coincidence. She needed a better topic, something less deep.

“Tell me more about your home. I want to picture it in my mind,” Katrina’s tone was wistful. There must be some sort of happiness left in the world. Even if it was all the way in Italy.