Love's Worst Element
Introduction

"Kay, get up! You're going to miss your own birthday party!" my father shouted.

"Ugh! Too tired! Tell everyone to come later!" I yelled back.

"Now, Kasiss!" he replied. I groaned and rolled out of bed, padding to the bathroom in my pink fuzzy slippers. I took a cold shower and brushed my teeth while the flat iron was heating up. As I was drying my hair I heard my brother call me. "Caca! Caca!"

"Don't call me that, David!!!" I ran the iron over my wavy, brown hair. I pulled on some light jeans and a black spaghetti strap top and after nearly leaving the room, decided to take my hair back into a high ponytail. "Perfect…" I walked downstairs, noticing all of the balloons and streamers hung up in my honor. As I reached the first floor, I saw a banner hung up, blocking the entrance to the kitchen. It read 'LOVE YOU KASISS!!!' with stars and smiley faces drawn all over the white spaces. As I took a closer look, I noticed it was all drawings by David, and the writing was my dad's. I smiled slightly.

"I'm up!" There was no answer. "If you're trying to make this a surprise, it's too late!" It continued to be silent. There was a pop in the kitchen. I ducked under the banner and looked towards the kitchen counter. My blue eyes widened and welled up with tears. My chest was rising and falling deeply and quickly.

"Miss Cameron," someone said behind me. I turned quickly. "Allow me to introduce myself."

"Did you do this?" I asked, cutting off the man's words.

"As a matter of fact, I did not," the man said, his sad eyes twinkling behind his half moon glasses.

"Then who did?" I demanded.

"How about you come with me, I'll explain everything."

"No. If you have anything to explain, it's here."

"Your choice," he said. "My name is Albus Dumbledor. I'm the headmaster at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."

"Uh huh… I don't care!"

"Lord Voldemort came to your house a few minutes ago. I trust you know who he is?"

"Who doesn't?" I said snottily.

"He's the one that-"

"Yeah," I interrupted.

"Since you now don't have any guardianship and the school year starting in three weeks, you will attend Hogwarts, until then you will be staying with the Weasley's," Albus Dumbledor said.

"No! This is my home! I live here! My friends are here! I'm not leaving!" I shouted.

"I'm sorry. But at your father's wish, you must come to Hogwarts."

"Oh, well I guess if my dad wanted it, I must," I said sarcastically.

"I did not choose to have you come to Hogwarts. Your mother and father wanted it. I am simply carrying out their wishes."

"My…my mom?" I asked sadly.

"Yes, your mother."

"When do I leave?" I gave up. No matter how much I fought against it, my heart couldn't take going against my mom. And my dad, when I really thought about it.

"As soon as possible," Dumbledor said. I turned to grab some stuff, catching a glimpse of my brother's foot and my father's hand sticking out from behind the kitchen island.

"Could you, uh…" I said, stopping in my words. But Dumbledor seemed to know what I wanted to say. He nodded his head, and I left the room.

My bedroom seemed to be empty, though it was not. I shoved my lamp, books, and full glass of orange soda off of the trunk I used as a bedside table, giving them a nice, new place on the clean, white carpet now covered in broken glass and orange wet spots. I removed my underwear drawer and dumped its contents into the trunk, along with all of my socks. I scooped up the clothing from my other drawers and stuffed them messily into the trunk as well. My shoes were piled on top of the clothing, and on top of that were all my toiletries and make-up bags. I closed the lid of the trunk with some difficulty, picked up my oversized backpack and started filling that with a few of my books and all eight of my photo albums.

If my room seemed empty before, it looked like it wasn't even there now. If a giant boulder smashed the wall facing the outside world at this moment it wouldn't look much different. I took one last look at my room before shutting the door. I walked down the stairs for the second time that day, again looking at the birthday streamers and balloons. They didn't seem as cheery as they were earlier. They reminded me of my birthday, which I didn't want to think about anymore. I used to love my birthdays, but after this morning, I wished I wasn't born at all. I walked straight to the back door, leaving my heavy trunk by the stairs.

"Sammy!" I called through the open window. I turned to the cabinets over the washing machine and started filling a duffle bag with monthly medications, a few boxes of cookies, two spare collars, a spare leash, and a twenty pound bag of dog food. Just as I was zipping up the bag, there was a scratching noise. I opened the door to let my golden retriever into the house. "Hey, girley!" I attached the leash to her collar and led her out of the room, duffle over my shoulder.

"Ready," I said quietly. Dumbledor looked over at me, then down at my dog. At first he looked disapproving, but after a moment smiled slightly.

"I noticed you had a fireplace," Dumbledor said, his silvery hair and beard shining in the light. "Have you ever taken the Floo Network before?" I nodded my head. "So you will have no problem with your transportation." We started walking to the living room.

"One last thing. I'll be in there in a minute…" I stepped quietly to the kitchen, wrote a note on a sparkly pink napkin and taped it to the front door. I then carefully pulled the tape that was holding up my poster off the wall, folded up the long piece of paper and put it gently into my backpack, being extra careful as not to tear the thing. I dragged my things into the living room one by one, turning off the hallway light, feeling as if my light was being turned out too.