Mother always said, "Education is the key to success". But ever since she died, I've not been even able to touch a book nor wand. But as the sun sets over the horizon and the mountains rise around me, the urge to run away and never coming back to this gloomy castle and miserable life overwhelms me. I have lived up in Scotland with my father for as long as I can remember, isolated from wizards and muggles alike. Father (Alistar March) is a rich muggle; he is bedridden as he has been ill for years, and I must tend to him at all times. He has jet-black hair, tall and very thin, you could say he was once handsome, but his grumpy, selfish manner would put off anyone.
As the time ticks, I know father will be needing me to tend to him once more. So I reluctantly walk up the dirt path and up to the castle where I would soon hear the usual, continual complaints and moans:
"Rowena, fetch me lemon tea"
"Will you stop making so much noise, I need sleep!"
"Shut up and take care of yourself! Children and their complaints!" . . .
After about two hours of tending to his whims, I was sure that I would escape from here- as I lay in my bed. I do not deserve this life, I am not even a child! I long to meet a wizard, witch or other muggles; to possess a wand, books and not to be restricted by my father. Though, in my mind there is always a continual battle:
He is my father: I must stay!
No, he hasn't done anything for me, so why should I stay here.
Rowena, you can't just leave him, he will surely die without your aid!
I suppose I'm stuck here: Until father passes. . .
So I lay there restlessly, never decisive but- what a difficult decision to make. Perhaps, I will never make up my mind- bound to my father, with only my conscience stopping me. With that uncomforting thought in my head, sleep soon overcame me.
I was running through a thick forest. Free: my hair flowing behind me. Twigs and moist leaves littered the ground- tickling my feet. Barren mountains of the Scottish highlands surrounded the area. I have been here once before, though I am not completely certain when. Suddenly, I stopped at an extensive clearing: A grassy meadow filled with bell heather and cropped grasses. Looking straight ahead, I saw a peculiar and rather ugly hog. Warts covered it's back, and it began to run. Curious I followed close behind. I'm not completely certain how far I ran, but I found myself on a cliff. Looking around me, I saw the thick forest where I had ran earlier and the grassy meadow below. The warty-hog stood behind me and stared, then disappeared into thin air. I was alone, but then I realized, there was something magical about it amongst this barren landscape- I was free.
I woke with a start. It was a dream- a rather wonderful one as well. How strange how I remembered it so vividly. . . It was then that I realized what this dream meant: I must leave. I grabbed an old leather satchel, and carefully dropped money that I have saved over the past years- 12 Knuts and one Sickle. I ran down to the kitchens and grabbed a couple of scraps of bread, wrapped them in thin parchment and put that in my satchel for the long travel ahead.
"Rowena!"
I completely forgot - father.
"Rowena! Will you come here now!" he wheezed
Carefully, I scaled the wooden stairs up to my father's quarters and put my satchel down. As I peered inside, I noticed father was very pale.
"Yes. . ."
"Listen, I know what you're up to."
My heart dropped, "W-what are you talking about."
"It doesn't matter. I must show you something." he replied firmly, "Help me up!"
"Bu-" I objected.
"Now!"
He was shaking very much as his feet hit the floor but managed to keep a stable balance. He steadily placed one foot after the other until he made his way into his old study (the connecting room). Dust was thick which made it very difficult to breathe. He finally stopped at a wooden box carefully placed in a cabinet. It was a small chest engraved which read "Ravenclaw."
"Take it and open it once you are far away from here, child."
"Why?" I questioned.
"Take it, leave, and never come back."
"I don't understand."
"That's what you wanted, isn't it?" he whispered distantly, "That's what Catherine would have wanted."
I must leave, I suppose mother would have wanted me too as well. . . Mother. . .
"Fine," I replied, I left and never even glanced behind my shoulder. I know it seems cruel, but I can't bare being in this castle for one more moment, and be reminded of my dear mother and my sick father. I grabbed the leather satchel and carefully placed my new possession in the satchel as well. It's going to be a long trip and a very difficult one at that.
