Prologue

The uncharacteristically warm August breeze caught my dress as I sat on the tire swing attached to the ancient Willow in the garden. It was a bright cloudless day, a rarity in itself, and I was basking in it's beauty. This was my favourite place to be alone with my thoughts. The curtain of Willow leaves shaded me from the worry-worn face of my mother.

Sitting there, I began to think over the past few years of my life. I cannot believe all that has not happened. I have led a diffident and sorry school career. Never have I broken a rule. Never have I been in love. Never have I been anything but a perfect friend and daughter. It was getting old. I want to feel that rush of excitement, that merriment of doing something I was not meant to do.

I want to break free.

Life with my over protective mother and mild mannered friends is eating me up, day by uneventful day. I envy the Marauders to some extent. They may dilly-dally to wherever they want, break any rule, serve hundreds of detentions, and they are still happy and loved. I fear, that if I unleash this new attitude, I will be reigned unwillingly back into the monotony of perfect.

I vow to unleash my Gryffindor courage, and be who I want to be, even if it means losing my friends. If they love me for who I am, then they will come to terms with my change. If not, then they never truly loved me. Fifth year at Hogwarts will be different, one way or another.

Oh, how I want to be free.