Diana Agrona's blue-green eyes fluttered open and little did she know that today was the end of life as she knew it. Without a care in the world she sat up and stretched, rubbing her sleepy eyes. Her steps guided her to a mirror and there a long, dark haired young woman stared back at her. The room sported green and silver, the colors of her house: Slytherin. There was no doubt that she took pride in who she was and where she came from. Underneath the many banners of green and silver were hidden walls of pink and purple. She glared at the visible spots, that was just not who she was anymore.

She hated being reminded that she was a woman and therefore weaker by nature. At least it was the misconstrued fact implanted into her mind by her father before she even understood the difference between right or wrong. She shook her head, took a deep breath and told herself there was no time for self-pity. The floor she stood on was made of a white marble that shone bright and spotless underneath her well-trimmed feet. Long, delicate fingers removed the hairs that rested on her face. Hurriedly they joined her mane of long curls.

"Diana dear, hurry up! We're running on a late schedule as it is," Diana's mother called from outside the door.

"Shove off, it's barely 9 o'clock," she yelled back. The woman outside the door did not answer. "Spineless," Diana spurted out staring daggers at the locked door.

Vanilla filled the room as Diana stepped out of the shower and into her room. It was the scent of her choice; simple, yet mixed with her natural scent it was almost intoxicating. Sighing she sat in front of the cherry wood vanity combing back her long hair as she stared at her reflection. When her curls were finally to her liking she turned to her bed with a groan. A long, black pleated skirt and a white button-up blouse was neatly laid on her four poster bed.

"Since when does she take the time to pick out clothes for me," she mumbled to herself as she glared at the clothing her mother had set out for her. With a flick of her wand they vanished.

Diana stepped into the enormous walk in closet she had magically enhanced by coping a spell from her Witch weekly magazine using her father's wand. The punishment however was not worth the price. Grimacing she pushed those thoughts away and focused instead on the choices in front of her. After much deliberation she decided on a short black skirt, a white blouse, a pink tank top, and pink earrings to match with black laced stilettoes. After one final look at herself in the mirror she looked down at her wrist watch and a shriek left her lips. It was 10:35. "Fuck," she muttered as she flicked her wand and her trunk was magically levitated, following her down the stairs.

"Finally, it's about time!" A young, long haired girl exclaimed from the bottom of the stairs. Aideen, was staring up at her older sister with a scowl and hands on her slim hips.

"Sod off, Aidy," snapped Diana.

Aidy rolled her eyes and mimicked her. "Aideen I saw that, don't let me catch you doing that again," an elegant woman called from beside Aidy.

"Mother, why do I have to wear this," Aidy hesitated for a moment and then added, "outfit when she doesn't have to?"

"Because little sister, you're stupid enough to," Diana answered with a grin.

"Diana Eris Agrona, watch your tongue and apologize to your sister," her mother said with an air of authority that did not suit her.

"No," the stubborn seventeen-year-old said simply.

"Dia-"

"Alice, shut up!" A moment of silence followed the words. Diana was not at all sorry for her outburst. That woman had no right to want to act like a mother now. She had lost Diana's respect long ago.

A deep booming voice interrupted the silence. "Is everything all right in there?"

"Of course, daddy, how can there be anything wrong with our lovely family," Diana snapped sarcastically as she stormed out of the hall and into the porch shoving her trunk to her father.

Spitefully in Diana's opinion the sun shone beautifully on the neatly trimmed, forever green grass. Picture perfect.

"Princess, what's wrong?"

"How can you even ask me that?" She hissed at the tall, well-dressed middle-aged man.

"What's wrong with her?" Aidy asked her mother as they stepped into the porch.

Luka Agrona grabbed his eldest daughter's upper arm and dragged her inside the manor, slamming the door behind them.

"We don't have time for this, father the train…" but her last words came out in barely a whisper as she looked up at the tall man in fear.

"It is done Diana, and it will not be undone. Do you understand that? I don't ever want to hear you mention it again, especially not in front of Aideen! Do you understand?" snapped Luka, nose flaring.

When Diana did not answer, he wrapped his fingers around her throat and lifted her up to meet his gaze. "Do you understand me?"

With tears staining her face she nodded. He let her go, and said. "Now, are you ready to go?" Diana nodded, and before they stepped out into the neatly trimmed lawn her expression was blank.

Aidy turned to them as they emerged, "Are we ready to apparate daddy?"
He nodded as Aidy held onto their mother. Luka went for Diana's hand but before he could grasp it with a fake and ugly smile, she pictured the grandest and busiest underground station, concentrated hard and disappeared. Within seconds she had arrived at her destination; Kings Cross. No one seemed to have realized that a young woman had materialized out of thin air. Everyone was ushering their families along and minding their own business.

"About the only time they do." She muttered to herself.

In between platform nine and ten stood a solid brick wall that she gracefully walked through without feeling the slightest amount of pain. It was as if there had never been a wall there at all. This did not come as a surprise; after all, she had done this same thing for seven years.

A scarlet roaring engine met her on the other side. The station was packed with young witches and wizards hurrying into the train or giving their parents a teary farewell. Unsure of whether she should or not she waited for her parents to walk through the wall, not because she wanted to, but because she simply had to. After what seemed like a life time they emerged from the brick wall and grudgingly she made her way to them.

"All right then, girls, as we've planned your coming home for the winter holidays. I will be writing to the both of you as much as I-"

"Mum, why lie, you never write-"

"Diana, stop talking to mother like that," her fifteen-year-old sister hissed.

"I will talk however I choose to-"

"You will not-"

"I want to see you try and stop me-"

"Enough," boomed her father, and silence fell. "Now get inside the train before it leaves."

Luka Agrona handed his daughter a cart and without a second glance Diana turned, practically running towards the train in her desperation to put as much distance from her family as she could. Hurriedly she stepped into the train, bags ensue. She hadn't been searching for long when a tall boy with olive skin and a brilliant smile stood before her blocking her path.

"What took you," said the handsome boy with the charming smile. She shrugged. "Not worth talking about."

His smile faded and before she had the chance to react he was embracing her, she however did not return the embrace.

"We hug now?" A young man drawled from behind them. She did not need to break the embrace to know it was Draco Malfoy but she did anyways.

Draco turned his all too famous smirk towards her and slid the compartment door open. Grinning in spite of herself she walked towards him. Pansy Parkinson's brown eyes stared fixedly at her as she entered, short brown hair caressing her rosy cheeks. Pansy feigned a smile extending her arm towards Draco as he walked in behind Diana. He ignored it.

"Morning Diana," said a nervous Millicent.

Taking a seat Diana greeted back.

"How was your summer Blaise?" Pansy asked turning to give what Diana thought to be a hopeful look at Millicent. She ignored it and turned to the window instead.

She loved the window seat because with every glance she was closer to her home; Hogwarts. She missed sneaking out of the castle in the middle of the night to swim in the black lake's icy depths. Of course she was completely insane for jumping in, in the first place, but she needed something to make her feel real, alive. There were always other safer and not so physically demanding activities but those cold swims awakened every fiber in her being like nothing else ever had. It was almost as if water washed away all her shame.

"Diana, Diana?" As if in a trance she turned to the culprit who had interrupted her reminiscence.

"Yes?"

"How was your summer?" asked Pansy.

Diana shrugged. "Well, at least half of it was worth my while," she said with a smile at Blaise. Blaise grinned back at her.

Pansy stared from Diana to Blaise. "Wait, you mean you spent your summer with Blaise too?"

"Excuse me?" Diana asked confused.

"Well," Pansy began smugly. "I was under the impression that he had spent all summer with Mil-"

"Pansy-" Blaise interrupted not all too friendly.

Diana turned to a fuming Blaise, to a peevish Millicent, and then to a grinning Pansy. "And what is the point you're trying to make Pansy?"

Pansy turned to Diana with one of her feigned and smug smiles. "Not trying to make any point I was just attempting to clear my confusion. Like I said, I thought Mil and Blaise had spent all summer together that's all."

"Pansy, I think you forget that you are only in this compartment because Draco likes how easily available you always are," said Blaise staring daggers at Pansy. Draco chuckled and Pansy turned towards him affronted. He shrugged.

Diana shook her head in annoyance, then turned her head towards the window. They were no longer in London; all she could see were fields on top of fields of green.

"Diana?"

"I have to change into my robes and go to the head girl compartment," she said automatically. They were yet to set foot in Hogwarts and already the lies were jumping off walls. A typical day with the Slytherins…everyone always has a secret. She did not care if Blaise spent the summer with the bloody Queen of England. She had fun with him and yes things had stirred and yes she will even admit to have feelings for him. But Blaise is a charmer, Blaise is the sweet talker! He was no better than Draco, both the greatest womanizers in the history of Hogwarts. So who was she to blame but herself, she should have known better. She knew better.

Diana turned to Draco and he stood up looking passive. He was never silent in moments like this. He always had some stupid remark on the tip of this tongue.

"Isn't that like a little later?" Draco whispered as she passed by him so only she could hear.

"Get out of the way or I will knee you on those family jewels you so cherish," she said icily.

"I'll get your bag for you, Draco shove out of the way." said Blaise. Diana didn't fight it, if he wanted to fetch her trunk good on him.

Minutes later Blaise pulled out her robes and handed it to her.

"Thanks," she said before she grabbed it and walked out of the compartment without a second glance.

It didn't take long to reach the Head compartment. The whole way there her head had been filled with thoughts of the Slytherins she had left behind. She gave a deep breath and shaking all unnerving thoughts out of head she slid the Head compartment door open. What she found there was not at all to her liking but honestly had she really expected it to be anyone else?