Johanna Borgin sits by her grandmother's old rocking chair. Her eyes flooding.
"Why?"
"We cannot choose things in life Johanna. Our path and destiny is already set out for us."
"But you don't have to!"
"Yes, I do. Remember what your mother did."
"My mother was killed by my own father because I wasn't a boy!"
"Your mother did it for the cause. You are the daughter of Gellert Grindlewald."
"He wanted an heir!"
"I have taught you everything I could Johanna. You can do what you like. The money will come from the shop. Your books are in your room, your trunk packed and your new robes on the bed."
How can she act as if it's a normal day? She is dying and all she can do is sit in her rocking chair!
"I'm going to miss you……."
"You are a good girl. You remind me so much of your mother."
Her grandmother closes her eyes. Johanna sits on the warm blue carpet staring at her. So peaceful. Death is just seconds away but she acts as if there is nothing wrong. As if she will wake up in the morning.
"Are you still here?" She asks opening her left eyelid.
"Yes grandma."
"Go and study! Where will you get in life if all you do is sit around daydreaming?!"
She waits a second before going to her bedroom. She has no intention of studying. She lies down on her bed. She refuses to cry anymore. She hasn't cried in years. She wipes her eyes with one swift movement. 'Crying shows too much emotion Johanna!' Her grandmother's words. But she is probably dead by now! So she cries herself to sleep……………
She knows she should have left the house earlier. She runs and rushes onto the train. She looks for her fellow Slytherin friends. She passes many compartments full of first years. None of the compartments are empty. Apart from one. Sitting inside alone is Tom Riddle. He is very good at magic. He is also in the slug club. She snorts as she remembers Slughorn and his always cheery smile. He annoys her. So do most of her professors. She takes a deep breath. Making sure that her wand is at the ready. She slides open the compartment door.
"Can I sit here?"
He doesn't look away from the window.
"Ahem!" She says quite annoyed. He turns his head to face her. She expects him to say something but he just turns around again.
"I'll take that as a yes then!"
"I didn't say you could come in, did I?"
"You didn't say I couldn't."
He swears. She sits down.
"And to think, every girl in school wants to go out with you."
"I never asked anyone to drool all over me."
She rolls her eyes as she takes her robes out of her trunk. She also takes out a book.
"Love stories, Typical. I bet you have had your life easy. Asking mummy to cook you your dinner and a dad who sits you down at the dinner table and talks to you about his day!"
"If you must know, my mother was murdered by my father who I have never even seen."
"Oh. Mothers mean nothing. Mine was weak and stupid."
"How can you say that about your own mother?!"
"How can I not?"
"You're sick and disgusting! I would do anything to see my mother, just once!"
His eyes turn red. They always turn red when he is angry.
"Sick? Me? You're the one who is going out with Riley Thomson!" Tom knows he sounded like a child and wishes he could bite back the words.
"Why would you care?"
"He's a half-blood!"
"So? So are you."
"I am the heir of Slytherin!"
"Is there a difference?"
"Of course there is! Your not going to cry now are you? Crying shows too much emotion." She does. "I thought you were different from all the other girls!"
"What? I'm not crying because of you! My-my……grandmother."
"What happened to her?" wait! Why is he asking? He doesn't care.
"Died….."
He doesn't say anything. He doesn't know what to. She wipes away as the compartment door opens.
Abaraxas Malfoy stands smirking at her. He winks at her.
"Get stuffed Malfoy!"
"Calm down Borgin. I just came to tell you to put your robes on. If you want I'll wait with you while you change." His smirk grows bigger.
"Hold your tongue Malfoy." His smirk suddenly disappears as Tom glares at him. He leaves before he can get himself into anymore trouble.
"I don't need you to stand up for me!"
"Yeah? Then why did you look so scared?"
"Can you go outside?"
"Why?"
"I'm not going to change in front of you!"
Tom rolls his eyes before leaving.