I had always been second to Scorpius in terms of favor with our father. So naturally, he was considerably less than pleased to learn that I had schizophrenia.
The way Father saw it, my, ah, issue was an illness that had to be kept hidden, particularly in the wizarding world. After all, who knew how they would react to a witch with a mental health problem that usually only afflicted Muggles? We did our best to keep it a secret, even from Mother and Scorpius. But there was no telling what would happen at Hogwarts. After all, sometimes hallucinations are hard to tell apart from reality...
Scorpius ran through the wall that marked the entrance to Platform 9 ¾, and I moved to take the place where he had been standing. I pushed my cart through the wall, and our parents soon followed.
My father leaned down to tell me goodbye. "Have fun at Hogwarts, Virgo. And remember, don't let anyone know about your...affliction."
I narrowed my eyes. "It is not an affliction."
He furrowed his brow, as if he wanted to say something. "Well...goodbye."
I boarded the train after Scorpius. A boy with jet-black hair and green eyes smirked at us as we walked past, and Scorpius and I simultaneously turned to glare at him.
"That's that Potter kid," Scorpius murmured in my ear as we headed to a compartment. "James." I could hear the disgust in his voice and I nodded.
We walked into a compartment and he took out a book. I unzipped my bag and pulled out my bottle of pills, popping two in my mouth. The last thing I needed was for my schizophrenia to act up now.
The train started to pull away. Parents outside waved to their kid and last-minute reminders. Our parents yelled their goodbyes and good wishes for the school year (mainly toward Scorpius.)
But then, I had always been doomed to a life of being second-best.