❝ The truth is, every monster you have met or will ever meet, was once a human being with a soul that was as soft and light as silk. Someone stole that silk from their soul and turned them into this. So when you see a monster next time, always remember this. Do not fear the thing before you. Fear the thing that created it instead. ❞ -Nikita Gill

"Do you think she knows?"

"Shh. She-she may be awake."

The sound of approaching footsteps was the first thing my brain registered. No longer than two seconds later, I could feel someone's breath fanning the side of my face. My eyes, which had just sprung open a few seconds ago, fluttered shut immediately.

"Is she asleep?" whispered Sibi.

"I suppose so," Michael said after a while, his footsteps growing lower in intensity.

"What are we going to do, Mike?" Sibi asked. "Do you think it's safe to keep someone like her at home?"

"I don't think she's any real threat," Michael said. "I mean, come on. She-she's been living a muggle life for years. She had absolutely no idea that the wizarding world existed before receiving the letter. She probably doesn't even know the basic spells, Sibi. What can she do to us?"

"I don't k-know," Sibi stuttered. "But I'm scared, Mike. Can't deny that. You know what happens to people like her, and there's a reason why they're treated that way. Because they're dangerous."

"Well, no offense or anything but . . . you'd probably be treated similarly if they found out you're-"

"HUSH!" Sibi hissed. She paused, lowering her voice, "I just . . . don't know what to think. But Mike, it's different. I didn't choose to be this way."

"Do you think Polly did?" Michael snapped, his voice suddenly rising.

"Mike, come on. In her case . . . well, it's different. But I still remember clearly what I did to you-"

"For goodness sake, Sibi! That happened ages ago. Besides, you weren't even on your right mind that day. But come to think of it, wouldn't it be sort of the same for Polly? I mean . . . I don't know. Maybe I'm nuts for even suggesting this, but what if-what if she's just . . . normal?"

"You're too positive, Mike," said Sibi, heaving out a sigh. "You never know it with these sorts of people. With all the havoc they've caused in the past, where's the guarantee there may be decent fellows out there? You know what they're capable of. That's why the government treats them that way. Because it's better to be safe than sorry."

"Still," Michael persisted. "We have to get to know her a bit these days. I'm not defending her, heck, I'm probably as terrified of her powers as you are. But she-she's clueless. Like, let's be reasonable. If we act nicely, she won't have a reason to harm us . . . if she's even capable of that in the first place."

"Of course she is, Mike," Sibi said. "She ran away from her bloody home. I don't even want to think about what could have possibly happened to make her do that. What if-what if she's bloodthirsty?"

"Don't be ridiculous." He snorted. "Her? I highly doubt it. She'd be globally hunted by now if so."

"Huh. You're right, maybe I am being a bit too paranoid," Sibi admitted, but a slight tremble still lingered in her voice. "But when she said yesterday that she was called Polly Kin, I almost had a heart attack. I didn't know she even existed. I mean, I didn't know Robert Kin had a daughter. How is this even possible?"

"I don't know. I mean, the guy was supposed to be dead a long time ago. Something about this entire situation is certainly fishy."

"Well, I hope he's dead now," Sibi muttered in utter revulsion.

"He-he must be," Michael said. "But maybe Polly is nothing like him. After all, she has been raised only by her mother, who I presume must be a muggle. I don't know what to think, honestly. I wish professor McBon had told us more."

"Well, we'd have heard of her if the Ministry was aware of her existence. Who'd have thought, huh?" After a humorless laugh, she continued, "I am still scared, though. Everyone fears those sorts of people, Mike, and I can't help but think . . . What if-what if their blood is different from ours?"

"Is yours any different, Sibi?"

She sighed. "We aren't in their shoes. How do we know what they are like?"

"I mean, they're just humans, Sibi. Like each and every single one of us. The only difference is their Patronus animal."

"Not the only one," Sibi said. "After all, the Patronus animal more often than not takes after one's personality. They think differently from us. They are different from us. They're cruel. Merciless. Dangerous."

"Let's not make hasty assumptions. It's the first time we ever meet one in person. Let's get to know her first. Like I said, we've got to be reasonable. Maybe from her words and actions we can discover more than she thinks."

"All right," Sibi agreed, breathing another sigh.

The sound of their footsteps became more distant, soon followed by that of a door closing shut. When I made sure they left, my eyes sprang open in an instant, as if someone had just stabbed me with a blade right through.

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gif of sibi and michael made by moi :)