That night, Skuld was restless.
It had started that morning when the exams ended, and her gaze had drifted to the Golden Trio murmuring quietly at the castle door.
Things had worsened when she crossed paths with them again while running to the third floor.
Now, she couldn't sleep due to her general discomfort.
What if they had gone in search of what lay behind the three-headed dog, risking their lives?
Yes, she was a person who, by not speaking, listened.
She listened as they talked about the three-headed dog in the forbidden hallway on the third floor, heard them express their belief that Snape wanted to steal it, and listened to the arguments that ensued.
They had argued because of her.
For the fine line of friendship they shared.
And tonight, she knew something big was going to happen.
And if…?
They would never slide through a dangerous trapdoor.
But what if…?
No.
. . . . . .
Arming herself with determination, she placed a card on Ron's bedside table.
He was her brother, she was worried after all.
What she didn't count on was that he would wake up.
"G-Ginny?" he muttered, eyes wide with a look of disgust. "It's you."
She was there, concerned for him.
And she didn't know what to think.
She was sure he wouldn't have visited her if she were the one on the stretcher, unconscious after risking her life.
"How are you?" She asked, ignoring the fact that he was practically throwing her out.
Hermione Granger listened attentively to the two of them.
She had already spoken to Skuld and was becoming more comfortable with her.
She had brought her favorite sweets, even though it wasn't necessary.
"Apart from being a nuisance, are you stupid?" Ron blurted out, looking away.
Skuld sighed.
She would be lying if she said she hadn't expected it.
"Just… I was worried about you." She gestured to the stretchers in the school infirmary. "But I see that I am not welcome. I hope Harry wakes up soon. See you, Ronnie."
She walked away slowly, greeting Pomfrey along the way, who appreciated the sight of the lonely girl who sometimes observed the medicines while treating a bewitched student.
Pomfrey noted the curiosity in her gaze, reminiscent of two former students who had suffered through the war.
Oh, they might as well confuse her for the daughter of Remus Lupin and Lily Evans in another situation.
. . . . . .
Skuld stopped the urge to applaud.
If she did, she would be in trouble with her house.
Applauding Gryffindor when they won for breaking the rules? All madness.
But she was aware that they deserved it more than her house. Her house was full of cheats, liars, and traitors.
And she didn't want to become one of them.
She played with the emerald green rope bracelet that R.J.L. had given her on her birthday, inscribed with his perfect handwriting wishing her a fun and unforgettable day, and smiled secretly at Hermione Granger.
Hermione deserved every good thing that could happen to her.
And so did Harry. Harry was just a good boy to whom horrible things happened.
. . . . . .
Skuld entered the back compartment accompanied by her thoughts and took out her mythology book to reread a passage that had left her pondering.
"Skuld was one of the three main Norns of Norse mythology. Together with her sisters, she wove the tapestries of destiny.
[T/N: Norns is the correct term]
Her name is associated in Old Norse with 'debt, fault, guilt, or responsibility.' Etymologically, the word derives from Icelandic/Old Norse skola, meaning 'need, being necessary.' This word shares the same origin as certain German modal verbs such as 'skulle' in Swedish—'what could be'—or 'should' in English—'what shall be.'
Skuld is usually interpreted as the aspect of destiny related to or reflected in the future, that is, 'what we will need, what must be, or what needs to happen.'
She reread it again.
Her name had great meaning.
Why did they hate her? Yes, it was kind of strange that she had the name of a Norna or Moira, but she wasn't one to pretend that her name was taboo.
[T/N: Moira are the Greek Fates, the Greek version of the Norns]
Skuld now thought it all made some sense. They hated her name because it meant destiny, death.
But why did they hate her?
Someone knocked on the compartment door, and she jumped.
A boy from her class whom she had never spoken to entered, somewhat shy.
"Can I sit here?"
She nodded, hoping he wouldn't suffer the same fate as Seamus and Dean.
"Sure, there's free space." She nodded, her voice a little hoarse from lack of use.
She cleared her throat slightly, turning her all-important green bookmark to remind herself that she needed to look into this further.
"I'm Blaise Zabini," he introduced himself, extending his hand for her to shake.
"Skuld Weasley," she replied, shaking his hand.
A shiver ran through Blaise. This girl was intriguing.
"And… what is your favorite color?" he asked, feeling silly.
Skuld smiled warmly again, and he stopped feeling stupid.
. . . . . .
"Hey, Weasley, I've seen your sister with Nott, Zabini, Malfoy, and the orangutans," Lee Jordan said, peering into the compartment with a gadget. "I didn't know she had friends."
"she doesn't," George Weasley said, confused by the information.
"Yes, who would want to approach her?" her twin mused.
Harry felt like shouting that he would love to sit with her too.
"It looks like the weeds are gathering," Ron remarked with his mouth full of licorice sticks.
The train gradually came to a stop, and Harry, along with everyone else, took their luggage to cross the magical barrier that separated him from his daily life outside the fantastic College of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
He watched as the Weasleys gathered, and the one he believed to be Ron and Skuld's mother hugged everyone with affection, except the redhead who stood aside, observing the environment.
Avoiding the sight of the rejection directed at her.
Just like what happened with Harry.
They were both rejects.
Skuld was aware of everything happening around her, but if she didn't look, it wouldn't hurt her anymore.
She just wanted to receive the love they were given every day.
The only one in her family who appreciated her more than the others was Bill.
But Bill wasn't there now, and she needed him.
He listened to her. He didn't exclude her.
He was ten years old when she came home.
He knew what had happened, what must be happening, and what would happen.
He knew that even if Skuld tried to understand things and strive to be normal, she wouldn't succeed.
Because she was pursued by something dark.
Something that had been stalking her since those Death Eaters kidnapped her.
[T/N: ...I always feel depressed after editing one of these chapters. Oh well. If you like this chapter then leave a comment, write a review, and drop some stones! If you want to read some advanced chapters then check out my Patreon.]
[p@treon.com/PuddingLord]-replace @ with a