"So, here we are!" The overly-cheerful lady says. I don't see anything to be so excited about. I've been in these institutions, shelters, foster homes, and orphanages for as long as I can remember, maybe even longer. They told me that my parents died in a fire, and I was the only survivor. They left me with only a name, Lucretia Lydia Morgan, and heaps and heaps of money in the bank.
The carraige door opens. I could do that myself, but they must be 'proper'. I try to exit gracefully, as I've been taught over and over, but I stumble and fall. My dress is soiled and they chastise me as they lead me through the gates. "Madame Fletcher's School For Girls". I am just thrilled. Not really.
I am crazy. Or so they tell me... I'm not a normal girl, not hardly, I admit that. But I have feelings, too. Big feelings that come with big dreams. Too big for this building, too big for this town. The doctors in the institutions like to keep me on so many different drugs, that it makes me feel much worse than better. After a big dose, sometimes the walls breathe. "Stronger medicine" is what I need, apparently. But it never helped. Now they've sent me here. To "improve my behaviour in an effective, controlled enviroment" and "provide training for needed skills". Skills. Finding a husband, cleaning up after him, making his dinner, and having his babies.
I thought I was going to be there for very long, until I got a letter...
The house is empty now. No screams or the smell of pipeweed will haunt me any longer. The bastard is dead. Drank himself to death, the old fool. I know not why I did not take his fate into my own hands long ago... I will never miss that man --no, monster-- I called my father, but I shall never forget the beatings, nor the pain across my mother's face.
Another school year is beginning at Hogwarts, the same old job, same old students, with the execption of the insubordinate first-year brats soon to come. Oh Merlin I do hope the sorting ceremony will go by rather quickly. I am questioning Dumbledore's employment choices as of late; he's hired that big oaf, Hagrid to take on the Care of Magical Creatures job. I doubt that will last very long, especially if Lucius Malfoy has anything to say about it. And worst of all, if things could not become even more so, not only was I not granted the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, it was taken by Remus Lupin, of all people. I don't know if I'm going to be able to tolerate this year's changes let alone survive it.
Alas, I do regret not purchasing more Absinthe before I left. Bless that sweet green fairy.
A few years have passed since I recieved the acceptance letter to Hogwarts. Many things have changed since then. I have friends; Sicilia Fawn, a Gryffindor, and Luna Lovegood, in my house, Ravenclaw. She is the only other person I know who can see what pulls the carriages to the doors... the thestrals. Sometimes we like to go out and visit them. They are quite docile in our presence, and let us stroke their heads.
But even I cannot tell her about the little dead boy who haunts my dreams. His bones appear by my bedside at night, and he cries and sobs endlessly. Ever since I can remember, he has held out a bleeding heart in his withered hands. I don't know what it means, but I fear someday I will.