« It's a girl. »

After hours of labour, one could almost sense the disappointment of the parents in the air. Pure-bloods descendants of a a big family, no doubt a boy would have been preferable to perpetuate the Greengrass name, especially considering they had no intention whatsoever to waste time creating another child, another mouth to feed. Not that money was ever a problem for them.

One should not think however that the Greengrass were entirely heartless. Once the disappointment passed, a smile - albeit a small one - spread on on the lips of the mother and the baby was put in her arms. She actually was quite happy she had a daughter she could mould after herself. A little porcelain doll that she could always relegate to the servants when she had better things to do. The man approached the bed, itheir/i bed since of course someone like Prudence Greengrass could not content herself with St Mungo's hospital to deliver. A mediwizard had been appointed to take special care of the mother at home. He drew a notebook from his pocket and caught the attention of the couple coughing politely.

« I need to know the name you'd like to give her. »

Mr Greengrass, glanced at his wife. They had had more ideas for males but hey had never entirely rejected the possibility of having a girl and so they did have an idea.

« Désirée Zoella Raven Greengrass. » replied Prudence without hesitating. Quite an ironic choice of name, however the child was to be cherished and treated like the princess she was. The mediwizard took the child back and proceeded to the usual test before giving it to the parents who in turn handed her to the nanny.

« Daisy would you please stay still? »

The nanny gave a little slap on the shoulder of the little girl with the palm of her hand. Once the child stood upright, she finally was able to dress her up with a beautiful tailored black taffeta dress. She then drew open a drawer and appeared to be actively looking for something.

All this time, Désirée drew closer to a mirror to contemplate her own reflection. She was not happy at all with the result. No need to be forty to realise that this dress was not putting her at her advantage. Black had never been her colour and she hated the fabric. She already knew silk was better.

« Why do I have to wear this piece of shit » she asked in a perfectly calm tone.

The nanny suddenly let go of the ribbon she had in her hand and ran to the girl.

« Don't talk like this! I already told you Désirée if your mother heard you she'd have a fit. »

The little girl needed only look up and meet the woman's stare to understand that it was better for her not to argue. She simply distractedly nodded. She had never understood why her words angered Bertha so much. As a girl of six she was only repeating what she would hear through her windows when she opened them wide and looked upon the world, envying the people in the streets, those that were really living. Bertha soon came close again to comb her hair patiently before attaching it with a ribbon.

« And don't criticise your outfit, your mother chose it and it suits you really well. You know you have to be elegant and especially when you go out. »

She pouted, failing to be convinced by the woman who had raised and loved her more than her own mother. She drew close to the window, a hand on the glass.

« Where are we going again? »

She actually knew fair well that it was the Black that the Greengrass were to visit. A family already linked to hers but with whom her parents saw no inconvenience in having a new alliance.

« Quick quick! They're going to arrive and everything must be ready! Stanislas I want the tree to be a little more on the right, yes closer to the foyer. Thingy you nasty house elf! Put the star higher and no it's not straight at all! »

On those words little leprechaun Daisy ran to the kitchen to check that everything was in order. The christmas pastries were extremely important to her and it was her duty to supervise their preparation. All had to be perfect. Her parents were so rarely present that she wanted to welcome them properly for Christmas. They always came for that holiday. For her birthday which was only a few days before that as well. Sometimes when they were in a good enough mood they'd stay for the whole time in between as well.

Daisy was now eleven and she already was so disappointed at her parents not having been there that previous 18th December. She had received all the gifts she had wanted and even more, but of course it is them she had wanted to see. However they had promised they would be there for Christmas and for the little girl one always had to keep their promises. Thus she was playing the little dictator so everything would be perfect for the dinner.

She would even gladly have participated by throwing some charms since she had discovered her powers some two years ago. But surely no one in the house was ready to let a wand anywhere near the future tyrant. All was finally ready and they were all waiting for the return of the was comfortably installed on the couch refusing all proposition of milk or biscuit. No, no she would eat turkey as soon as her parents were there.

Only at one in the morning did she realise they were not coming. She ran to her room before anyone could get to her. She locked the door. Of course anyone could have broken in with a spell but they decided to leave her be. For a week, the little ginger head did not leave her room, refusing to do anything, eat, drink, speak. It took Bertha much efforts to manage to feed her. She tried in vain to console her, taking her in her arms, kissing her, considering her like the child she never had. And eventually she put herself together.

At that moment I realised how my life was going to be. I had to prove herself worthy of my parents, those pure-blooded, rich, noble wizards. I had to be bright, the best, the prettiest too. I had always been a princess, I had to become queen. Queen of Hogwarts..