With a vision of green light burned into her eyes Rose Potter woke with a start.

"GET UP!"

She growled and buried her head underneath her pillow. She really really didn't want to get up. She knew what day it was today.

"Are you up yet?" Her aunt's voice sounded through the door.

"Almost, aunt."

"Well hurry up you need to prepare breakfast! Don't mess it up!"

Rose grunted, of course, it needed to be perfect for her cousin.

"Did you say something?" an angry voice demanded.

"No, no, I'm coming." Rose hurriedly said. She heard her aunt walk away and sighed. She slowly started to put on her clothes.

Ten years she had lived here, with her aunt, uncle and cousin. Petunia, Vernon and Dudley. Her family, if you can call it that. Rose had been put under their 'care' since she was a baby. She had never been under the pretense that they were her parents, oh no, absolutely not. It was made perfectly clear early on, that her parents were dead and she should be eternally grateful that they took her in. They died in a car crash 'because of their own stupidity' and Rose had the scar to prove it. They had thrown her in a cupboard under the stairs and never made her feel wanted. Only as a burden, something they didn't want in their house. Rose looked in a shard of mirror she managed to steal when Dudley had broken one of Petunia's mirrors. A scar in the form of a lightning bolt was etched in her forehead. The only tie Rose had to her parents. The Dursleys didn't give her anything else. She never saw a picture, never heard anything about her parents. The only thing she knew is that they died and her mother was the sister of aunt Petunia. When she asked about anything else she always got the same answer.

"Don't ask questions!"

She looked at her reflection and sighed. Rose had auburn hair, always with a reddish healthy shine in it. Her hair fell to her elbows and didn't have any form what so ever because of the curls that made it look messy even if she combed it. She had some freckles around her nose. But they were only clearly visible in the summer. Her eyes were light blue sometimes even grey. She was skinny, very skinny, because she never got as much food as the rest of the family. Rose sighed again and started combing her hair. Also with a hairbrush that Petunia wanted to throw away. Rose suspected though that she looked like her mother. She'd sometimes catch a glimpse of aunt Petunia watching her with a look in her eye. It took Rose years to name the look in her eyes – nostalgia. She had only been able to name it recently, because uncle Vernon was talking about his school years and he had the same kind of look in his eyes.

Aunt Petunia was also the only one that had shown some kindness to her. It was rare and in little things. Petunia did her best to hide it as much as she could. Like the shard of mirror, Rose had eyed it with longing and Petunia had caught her glance, she had left the room for almost 15 minutes for no apparent reason. Giving her time to steal a piece. The same with the hairbrush. She had pushed it in her hands and commanded her to throw it away. Even though it was a perfectly fine hairbrush and a new one at that. Aunt Petunia exclaimed that she didn't like the feel of it and started to use her old one again.

One time when Rose had dropped a glass of beer for Vernon, he had knocked the wind out of her and thrown her into her cupboard. Crying for 20 minutes because of the sting in her cheek, Petunia had come in her cupboard. Her eyes had flashed to her red cheek and the tears in Rose's eyes, she had sat down beside her and started caressing her hair. Shushing her to be quiet.

In little things and very rarely Petunia had shown a small bit of affection towards her. Otherwise she still felt their scorn daily, even from her.

"Rose!"

The tone of her voice told Rose that her patience was being tested and she hurried out of her cupboard. She started on the bacon and eggs for breakfast. The table was overloaded with presents and when Dudley came in he immediately started counting them. Spoiled little brat that he was. Rose would have been happy with even one present but of course she never got one. Although aunt Petunia always seemed to suspiciously notice that her clothes were getting too small around her birthday. Never on her birthday but always a day or two before it of behind it. They always went to a second use shop but Petunia seemed to guide her to the best clothes. Exclaiming that the rest seemed filthy and she didn't dare to wash those clothes. Rose had overheard a conversion once with Vernon who found it suspicious that even in a second use shop it was quite pricy. Petunia dismissed it by saying that they didn't have anything else.

Rose snapped back to reality when Dudley started to make a fuss about the fact that he had less presents than the year before that.

Rose rolled her eyes. Spoiled brat. She carefully straightened her face and looked at her cousin. He had a large pink face, not much neck, small, watery blue eyes, and thick blond hair that lay smoothly on his thick, fat head. A younger copy of his father. With a poker face she put her attention to the food again. She learned to control her face at a young age. If she dared to look at a member of her family with any negative emotion shown, they knocked the wind out of her and called her an ungrateful brat.

Rose carefully put the breakfast on the table where she could find room between the presents. She ate her breakfast quietly, trying to ignore Dudley who was opening his presents.

The phone rang and Petunia went to get it.

Dudley had opened the half of his presents when she returned with a worried look on her face. She eyed Vernon carefully and that gave Rose enough of a warning to hurry up with her breakfast before things went south ways.

"Vernon honey, bad news. Mrs. Figg's broken her leg. She can't take her." Petunia nodded towards Rose. Roses heart leaped. Every year for Dudley's birthday or any event they shipped her to mrs. Figg. A mad old lady who lived two streets away. She adored her cats and the house smelled funny. She'd show pictures of cats for hours which had made Rose officially immune against the cuteness of cats.

"We can try my sister, Marge."

"Don't be ridiculous, she hates the girl, Vernon."

"What about your friend, Yvonne?"

"She's in Majorca."

Rose started to get excited. Maybe she would be left home alone. She never got left alone. She would be able to watch television or even read some of aunt Petunia's books. Since she could read she'd been eying them with a longing that gave her a pit in her stomach. She knew better to propose this herself though. They would dismiss it immediately because it was her idea and it would please her.

They continued discussing it, even her staying in the car came up but Vernon would have none of it because it was a brand-new car. Petunia was the one who suggested her staying at home. Roses heart leaped. Vernon dismissed it out of fear she would blow it up. And her heart sank immediately. What was she thinking anyway? They would never leave her alone.

Dudley had been listening and started putting on a scene. Rose had to use all her willpower not to throw him a disgusted look. This was his way to get what he wanted, throwing a scene and fake crying.

"Dinky Duddydums, don't cry, Mummy won't let her spoil your special day!" she cried, flinging her arms around him.

"I… don't… want… her… t-t-to come!" Dudley yelled between huge, pretend sobs. "She always sp-spoils everything!" He shot Rose a nasty grin through the gap in his mother's arms. And Rose started to think about other things to control her anger.

Just then, the doorbell rang — "Oh, good Lord, they're here!" said Aunt Petunia frantically — and a moment later, Dudley's best friend, Piers Polkiss, walked in with his mother. Piers was a scrawny boy with a face like a rat. He was usually the one who held people's arms behind their backs while Dudley hit them. Dudley stopped pretending to cry at once.

A half an hour later Rose couldn't believe how lucky she was. They had decided that the best thing was to just take her to the zoo as well. For the first time of her life she was going to the zoo.

Before they departed uncle Vernon took her aside.

"I'm warning you now, Girl — any funny business, anything at all — and you'll be in that cupboard from now until Christmas."

Rose nodded.

There was no use telling them, promising them she wouldn't do anything. Because somehow, stuff, weird stuff happened around her, and nobody believed her when she tells them she didn't do anything. After a while she stopped believing it herself. One time aunt Petunia was tired of how messy and curly her hair was. Although Rose suspect it was because she reminded her to much of her mom. Anyway, she had taken the scissors and cut off almost all her hair, except her bangs to hide that 'awful' scar. Rose had cried herself to sleep, horrified of the reactions the students would give her the next day. Next morning, to her surprise, all her hair had grown back. She would never forget the horror on aunt Petunia's face. She had locked her up in the cupboard for a week after that.

One time she was fleeing from Dudley and his gang. She had tried so hard to get away and suddenly she was on the rooftop. The Dursleys had received a letter from school that she shouldn't climb buildings. She had tried to explain that all she did was jump to hop the fence but they wouldn't hear it and they locked her up in her closet. By that time, Rose had learned that she was the cause of the weird stuff and sometimes she would invite it. Even embrace it. One time, aunt Petunia had gotten an awful pink sweater with a unicorn on it from one of her friends. She tried to give it to Rose for school. Rose was again horrified by what the girls at school would think and she started wishing the sweater would be too small. Urging the strangeness to save her. And it did. The sweater shrank until it was only big enough for a toddler. Luckily, she wasn't punished for that one. Petunia though it must have been too small to begin with.

This time though she promised herself nothing would happen. She'd gladly put up with her cousin and his friend to finally go to the zoo once.

It was beautiful weather, the sun caressing Roses skin. She was excited because the sun would make her freckles come out and she liked them.

Once arrived, they stopped at a cart to get ice-cream. Rose even got one too. Ok given, it was only because the lady had already asked her before they could leave and it was a water pop with lemon. But Rose didn't care, she liked it.

She was amazed by all the animals she got to see and at lunch, she even got to eat a waffle. Dudley didn't like his waffle because it didn't have sprinkles, so Vernon bought a new one and aunt Petunia gave Rose the other one. She didn't want to waste the money she said. Vernon answered that is was wasted because she was eating it, but she got to eat it anyway. Rose was happy. This was the first time in her life that she felt happiness. Of course, it couldn't last.

After lunch, they went to the reptile house. The place where it all went wrong.

They were looking at all the snakes and lizards and Rose felt a weird connection to these animals. Dudley loved to knock on the windows to make them move and Rose sickly remembered all the times he would knock on her door when he knew she wasn't permitted to go out of her closet.

She clenched her fists in anger and felt sorry for the animals.

They arrived at a boa constrictor who was sleeping. Dudley kept knocking on the window to wake him up.

"Dad make him move!"

Vernon knocked on the window as well, sharp and rapidly. Rose had to look away to keep her wits. The boa lazily lifted its head and then went back to sleeping.

"Boring!" they moved on.

Rose approached it and looked at its card. He came from Brazil, born and grown in a cage. It's whole life behind glass.

"I know what it's like little guy. I wish I could do something for you."

To Roses surprise the Boa lifted its head and slithered towards her.

"You can, jussssst let me out."

Rose raised her eyebrows, surprised.

"How can I do that? I'm just a visitor."

Before the boa could react, a shout startled Rose.

"DUDLEY LOOK AT WHAT THE SNAKE IS DOING!"

Rose got knocked out of the way and landed hard on the floor. She looked up and saw how Dudley had his hands pressed against the glass. He must have pushed her. That was it, she was fuming and she wished she could put Dudley in a cage.

That was it, she should have kept her cool and she didn't with dire consequences.

Suddenly the glass disappeared. Since Dudley was leaning against it, he fell right into the cage.

The boa playfully napped at his feet and Dudley screamed, crawling into a corner. The boa left the cage and with another blink the glass was back.

The boa slithered towards Rose who was stunned.

"Yesssss. Thank you missssstressssss." And with that the boa left, while people were running away, screaming.

Rose looked back up and she saw aunt Petunia watching her with cheer horror on her face. Dudley was knocking on the glass, screaming in fear. Tears streaking his face and the zoo employees hurried over to free Dudley. It would have been quite comical but it wasn't. All Rose could see was how Petunia signaled to Vernon and how Vernon turned red with his vein popping out.

What have done? She thought to herself.

And sure enough, as soon as Dudleys friend left, Vernon pulled Rose by her hair and dragged her over to her cupboard. He slammed the door.

"Stay!"

Rose silently cried and cursed her family once more. Like she had done a lot of times in the time she lived with them.

When she was little she always wished that her parents would pick her up and say it was all a joke. A long joke. Later she wished that some other relative would pick her op. A long lost aunt on her father's side. But nothing.

Although sometimes she thought people would recognize her on the street. She long though they were just staring because she looked malnourished. Until someone had stopped walking dead in front of her and bowed. They were shopping for Dudley at the time. Petunia had furiously asked if she knew that man. Rose swore that she didn't. After that they were dragged outside and they went to another shop. On her way to school an elderly woman had waved at her happily from the bus. And the weirdest time was a bald man who took her hand and kissed it while bowing. Then he continued walking down the street. Each time Rose was totally stunned and afterwards she wished she had asked them to take her away from her horrid family.

She felt so alone. Even at school she had no one to confide in. The Dursleys told the school she had a mental disorder which caused her to lie all the time. And since Dudley went to the same school Dudley told every student that she was mental and stupid. Of course, no one dared to stand up against him, especially not for weird Potter.

Why me? Rose fell asleep while tears were still escaping her eyes.

This was her worst punishment yet. By the time she could come out of her closet, school was over and Dudley had broken half of his presents.

School was over but it didn't make a difference for Rose. Dudley and his friends were always at home, pestering her.

For that Rose always tried to be out of the house as much as possible. Avoiding everyone and trying to enjoy some of her freedom.

She saw a tiny light of hope thought. In September, she would go to secondary school in another school then Dudley. For the first time in her life he wouldn't interfere with her getting any friends. Dudly would go to the same private school as his father and Rose is going to a local public school. She didn't care, she was happy she would be free of Dudley.

Dudley already got his school uniform and it sadly came with a cane. Which he was carrying around all the time now. One more thing she needed to dodge.

One morning Rose was greeted by a horrible smell in the kitchen. It came from a tub. Rose went to inspect what is was and her heart fell. She already knew what it was but she asked anyway.

"Aunt Petunia what's in the tub?"

"You school uniform." Petunia said to her coldly. She had barely spoken to Rose since the zoo. As always when a 'freak' accident happened around Rose.

Rose's heart fell even deeper.

"Are you dying it?"

"Yes, I'm dying some of your clothes. They will look just like the uniform."

Rose highly doubted that and her throat tightened when she realized that her hope at any friend was washed away in that tub. She had some difficulty swallowing her toast while imagining the reactions of her classmates to her uniform.

Dudley and Uncle Vernon came into the kitchen both with disgusted looks on their faces when they smelled the clothes. Dudley was busy banging his cane against the table and Vernon was reading his paper when they heard the click and flop of letters arriving.

"Dudley, go get the mail."

"Let Rose do it.

"Rose go get the mail."

Rose sighed not even bothering to argue. She was just out of her closet. She didn't want to be put back in. She went to the front door and found the mail on the mat. She casually looked through them and her heart stopped. There was a letter addressed to her. No mistake possible.

Mrs. R. Potter

The cupboard under the stairs

4 Privet drive

Little Whinging

Surrey

The letter looked old and was heavy. It wasn't made from normal paper but out of parchment. There was no stamp nothing to indicate the who the writer was. Trembling she turned the envelope over and it was sealed with purple wax. It bared a coat of arms, a lion, snake, an eagle and a badger all surrounding a large letter H.

"Hurry up girl."

Rose panicked, she knew they would take it away the instant they knew she had it. On her way to the kitchen she passed her cupboard and she slid the envelope through the crack under the door.

"Here you go."

"Did you open one of them?"

"No."

Vernon eyes her with suspicion. Rose acted as normal as she could. After breakfast, she went outside without stopping at her cupboard like she always does. The whole day the letter was in her mind, she could wait to open it but she restrained herself. If they find it, she was sure she wouldn't get to read it. Maybe it was a long lost relative like she had always dreamed. They wouldn't let her go, not because they loved, she wasn't foolish, but because of the money. She often wondered why they would keep her even when they hated her so much. Then she read about it in the paper and heard about it in school. They get money for her monthly and she knows for a fact they use it all on Dudley.

At night when everyone was off to bed Rose carefully picked up the letter from her cupboard floor and tucked it under her pillow. She didn't have any light to read it now but tomorrow she will take it with her on her walk around the neighborhood and she would finally know what was written in it.

And as planned the day after she was sitting under a tree with her heart beating in her throat.

She had to keep her poker face on the whole time she was at breakfast but she made it. Rose carefully pulled the wax seal loose and unfolded the letter.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmaster: ALBUS DUMBLEDORE

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme

Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Mrs. Potter,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts

School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all

necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall,

Deputy Headmistress

Rose was shocked, she slowly unfolded the next parchment and it contained a list of supplies like the letter promised. This had to be a joke, right? It couldn't be real. Movement caught her eye and she saw an owl land next to her.

We await your owl…

"Am I supposed to give you a letter?"

The owl hopped closer and stuck out it's claw. Rose looked around to see if someone was playing a joke on her. But who would it be? Not her family that's a fact.

She attentively moved her hand to the owl and to her surprise the owl let her pet it. Rose looked around for a last time and she saw no one. She reread the letter.

School of witchcraft and wizardry.

She did make strange things happen didn't she. Could it be?

The little hope she had flickered away in an instant. Even if it was true, the Dursley would never let her go. A school for witchcraft? They would lock her in her cupboard for a whole year if she even suggest it. Rose sighed and pulled out a pen. She had tucked the pen and some stamps away in the middle of the night, in the case that she had to respond to the letter.

On the back of the letter she wrote her answer.

Dear Mrs. McGonagall,

I am pleased to have been accepted into your school. I'm sorry but my guardians already have a school picked out for me, I'm afraid they won't let me change schools. So, I won't be able to attend.

I'm very sorry.

Rose Potter.

Rose looked over her response and saw that the ink was washed out on some places. Surprised, she touched her cheek and felt her tears. She was crying. That made her sob even harder. She hated her family, really hated them. She resented them a lot over the past years but now she felt a searing hate course through her veins as she was forced to fold up a dream come true. The owl hopped closer again and softly bit her fingers, as if to comfort her. She gave it one last pet and the letter. Rose couldn't stop sobbing as the owl flew away. Her heart crushed.