Elsa 1

I sat looking out my window at another beautiful morning. Marshmallow, my fluffy white cat, sat content at my feet. Reds, yellows, and browns begin to capture the leaves on the strong trees, while the tree stands helpless waiting for winter to leave it barren. I sigh and turn away from the first couple cool breezes of the year. I take a last look at my blue and silver room, that I redecorated over the summer, before I headed back to Hogwarts, leaving this pristine, safe world behind.

I stood to get dressed in my Ravenclaw class shirt, cardigan, skirt, and black leggings. Before I headed downstairs, I went to my letter chest. Sitting on the top of the pile was the last letter I received about two weeks ago by a perky brown owl that belonged to none other than my best friend, River. The envelope was a crisp sexy blue with a clearly labeled silver number six. This letter was the sixth letter she had written to me over the summer.

I felt bad because I haven't been able to write much. I require a good editing period before it can be sent, so I only sent three letters over the course of the summer. Lifting it off the top gently, I brushed my hand against the crisp edges of the thick paper.

Just underneath River's letter sat Jack's... Jack; I melt a little every time I think of him. I was awoken from my thoughts by a loud thump coming from my sister's room. Of course she would be up this early; it is her first day of school.

I meticulously replaced Jack's letter, so as not to mess up my careful organization, but decided to hold onto River's letter a bit longer. Returning the chest back to its spot I looked around my room one last time. As an afterthought, I smoothed the perfectly made bed and headed down the stairs. I smelled a soft sweet smell waft from the kitchen, and I knew that this morning was going to go just as planned, the way I liked it. I took another deep breath of the sticky sweet smell then swept into the kitchen to find my mother stirring intensely.

She looked up when she saw me enter and smiled. "I'm making your favorite!" She sang cheerfully. "Chocolate pancakes!" Every first day of school without fail my mother gets up super early and makes us chocolate pancakes and every year I give the same response "chocolate!" in an awed voice. Eggs and batter was splattered everywhere since she insists to make everything from scratch like a muggle. She took a ladle to the batter that was still in the bowl and put it on the griddle with a satisfying sizzle. I went over to the counter where three hot chocolates sat lined up. I grabbed one and took my seat at the table. Taking a sip of my chocolate, I turned my attention to the thick blue envelope in my hands.

Moving slowly, carefully I pulled the manila paper out and set it before me. Attached at the top is a picture of River playing with her owl. The owl swooped in circles, did tricks, and meticulously snatched treats out of the air in its beak, as River laughed and shot me a sly smile. Underneath the picture there was distinct important writing that couldn't be described as either messy nor clean. I traced my finger over the words to feel the impress that was created by the pressure of the pencil on the perfectly formed paper.

I awoke from my trance to see Anna sitting at the table with her hot chocolate in her hands chewing on her snowmen, owl, and wand shaped pancakes. I didn't want to disturb her bliss, so I just averted my gaze. The eggshells that covered the counters had disappeared and the dishes were happily washing themselves in the sink.

I carefully reattached the picture to the paper and slipped it back into its envelope and tucked it under my light blue cardigan. Two plates were magically whisked away from us to join the others in the sink.

I looked up at our proud, smiling mother and thanked her lavishly. "My cats and snowflakes were exceptional this year. They were pastry like. New recipe?"

She smiled mysteriously, "Yep I think I'm really getting the hang of this cooking thing." After everything was cleaned up, we had about an hour remaining to get on the train, and it was a twenty minute drive to the station. Our parents grabbed our bags that were packed and set by the door in an orderly fashion and started the journey to the train station.

In the car we sat with our mother and father in the front, Anna, Marshmallow, Olaf, and I sat in the middle, and the rest of our stuff was wedged into the back.

I could see Marshmallow eyeing Olaf. As a rule Marshmallow hates owls. It can be any owl, but he has a special loathing for Anna's owl, Olaf. I told Anna specifically two days in advance that the owl's cage needs to be ready for a long trip to stay away from Marshmallow, but she insists that if Marshmallow gets to be free then Olaf should too.

I tried to explain that Marshmallow was a cat and can be free, and Olaf was an owl, so he needs a cage, but stubborn Anna wouldn't listen. That's why when Marshmallow jumps out of my lap, where he was sitting content and purring, and attacks Olaf in a flurry of claws it wasn't entirely my fault.

Even after I grabbed Marshmallow and plopped him back on my lap with a good reprimanding, our father piped in "You see Anna? You should keep Olaf-"

Anna very rudely cut him off "In a cage?!" I rolled my eyes as she blabbered a bit more about my cat being a demon. Like her owl is a saint. I stroked Marshmallow in defiance.

Before our father could say anything more about the cage, which really was an issue that needed to be addressed, our pacifist mother piped in, "Anna, I've been meaning to ask you: What House do you want to be in?"

Still sizzling from what she considered to be 'unfair' Anna replied somewhat non-enthusiastically, "I don't know. Hufflepuff, maybe? I don't really know which house I fit in."

Our father piped in "Wouldn't it be wonderful if you were put in Ravenclaw with Elsa?"

I groaned inwardly and was shocked that father would ask such a stupid question. Our father was one of the smartest people I know, and I aspire to be successful like him, but I already knew the answer to that question before Anna declared coldly "No. I wanna be in any House but Ravenclaw. I'd take Slytherin over Ravenclaw."

I shivered at the last part even though it's true. I couldn't stop the hurt that crossed my face before I reapplied the mask again. The two of of us don't really spend much time together because I have my problems with being different, and she despises being around me. She gets all angry when she is forced to be in my presence, so I try not to talk to her much. Even though it kills me inside, I know it's for the best.

Every now and then we have our connections, but they are rare, short, and widely spread, so of course she doesn't want to be in Ravenclaw. I wouldn't want her there either, she would be too close to what I have sacrificed so much to protect her from. That being said, I don't want her to be in Slytherin, so that only left two possible houses for her to be in: Hufflepuff and Gryffindor. My heart lept and the fear of today's outcome increased. She has a fifty percent chance of being in a safe house.

The rest of the trip was spent mostly with silence while I stared out the window memorizing everything. It was a mind game father taught me and it really does increase your mind capacity. It also soothes me on those awful nights of home sickness. As I did so, I noticed once again the leaves on the trees changing representing an incoming chill. It could be a bit chillier for my tastes, but I knew it was getting there. It always snowed at Hogwarts.

Pulling up to the station with Anna on my mind, memories resurfaced of my first year at Hogwarts. My parents didn't go to Hogwarts, so they didn't know quite what to expect, but they still were supportive. They went to some school called Durmstrang, since we used to live in that area until we completely uprooted and moved here, so we could could deal with my little problem without the world pressing in on us. I went with my very large suitcase and wandered between platform 9 and 10 for thirty minutes before a group of about ten girls appeared with similar large suitcases. I watched as they backed up and began running at full speed through a brick post. All but one girl, that is.

One medium sized first year with billowing brown curly locks stopped next to me. With my acceptance letter in my hands for comfort, it was obvious I was a Hogwarts student. The first words she uttered to me was "You're a first year student too?" All I could manage was a small nod at her ferocious aurora. "Thought so. You will kinda get used to all the strange magical quirks." She said matter-of-factly, then added as an afterthought, "Like running through walls."

With that she took off full speed toward the wall with a small hoot that resembled a "Geronimo!" I had decided that girl was very strange, but she had been helpful. I went to collect my parents who were walking back and forth with Anna, looking bewildered after being laughed at when they asked an attendant where platform 9 ¾ was.

I led them back to the wall where the ten girls of all ages had jumped through moments before. I hesitated for a moment thinking about the repercussions of throwing my body at a brick wall, but after just witnessing ten others do it I let my fear rise up and out of the depths of my body and went for it. My parents watched with a look of shock and fear as their oldest daughter ran straight for a brick wall, probably thought I had cracked, but when I hit the hard surface it didn't seem so hard, it was more of a jelly substance, and then I was through.

On the other side the peculiar girl stood with a sly smile. "Glad to see your not a chump sweetie." Seconds later Anna jumped through with a look of crazy excitement on her face, and I knew at that moment she couldn't wait to go to Hogwarts herself. Suddenly everything felt so real. I was leaving for almost an entire year to be with a bunch of strangers. To be with a group of people whom I have to hide from. I pulled at my gloves subconsciously.

My parents took a bit longer to follow suit, and when they came through dread covered their faces. "See mom! Told ya it would be fun!" Piped a mini Anna. My mother who looked slightly ill, couldn't help but crack a smile at her cute comment.

Putting my, and the other puffy haired girl's stuff, on the train we finally boarded. Together we found a compartment with two open seats and sat together in silence. As we sat there each daring the other to speak, I finally got so curious that I, for the first time ever, lost as I asked the girl her her name.

She responded proudly as every first year seems to"I'm Melody Pond Williams, but call me Riversong."She gave me a sly smile again before asking "And you?"

"Elsa Raina Arendelle." I responded with a smile. I popped up to the window to see a bouncy Anna and two proud, but sad parents waving goodbye. I tottered my hand back and forth in a wave as little Anna screamed "Bye!" The train began to nudge forward, and I waved and smiled while River sat next to me. Right before the train went out of view I saw Anna bury her head in our mother's pant leg in jealousy and sadness of my departure to what she would probably consider to be the coolest place on earth.

Sitting back down I noticed River had taken out a banana and busied herself peeling it while I probably looked like a dork waving. I blushed as she finally looked up with a smile tickling her lips. " I guess this is a mini party. We are finally heading to Hogwarts! I have heard so much about it from the other girls." She said nonchalantly.

She split the banana in half and handed me a piece. I took it and we tapped them together in a kind of toast to friendship, magic, and mini parties.

"Where were your parents this morning?" I finally asked awkwardly.

"Oh parents?' She asked in response seeming slightly caught of guard, then regained her composer as she responded. "I don't have any. Well technically we all have parents, but I guess mine just didn't want me or something." She paused, thinking, before concluding the topic with "It doesn't matter." The response shut me up for a little bit as I fell deep in thought again. I pondered what it would be like to not have parents to help deal with my… issue. I still have a hard time saying it to myself.

I looked to River once more "Well it's a good thing you have me then. Anna once told me…" I trailed off as I thought of Anna when we were really close and she would reprimand me for acting like a mommy. I shook it aside and said with a smile " My sister once told me I act too much like a mother."

Riversong smiled and inquired about my sister and family and my life. I in turn asked her questions about her and the other girls at the orphanage. River had so many stories to tell, and she still does. We talked until it was time to get our robes on, and I had never remembered being so chatty before in my life.

We reached Hogwarts as it was growing dark, but the school lit up at our arrival with candles, lanterns, and light that flooded from the school windows and doors. I had forgotten my fears and things began to look up. For once I made a friend, and we have been friends ever since.

Anna 1

I'm lying in bed when Olaf starts hooting at me. I'd been dozing for a while, not really awake, not really asleep, just enjoying my warm blankets, and he starts kicking up a racket. I ignore him, mostly, until he starts pulling at my messy hair. I groan and roll over, trying to shake him off, and then he dives at my pillow, trying to worm his way under it.

"What's with you and mornings? You're like a rooster with an overactive bladder." I moan at the little owl. What's he so excited about? Nothing special going on today. I kneel on my covers and pull my pillow off of the bed, and my pet, and my wand. Wait a minute; my wand.

"First day of school Olaf." I yawn. Then it hits me like a bulldozer being driven by a monkey. "It's the first day of school Olaf!" I shout. The little bird gives me a look that says 'well duh', but I ignore him. I need to get ready! I glance at my clock, and see that its unplugged. Rats! That's why I didn't hear my alarm! And, that's also what I must have tripped over when I was going to the restroom last night. I dash around my room, pulling off my nightgown and putting on the outfit I had set out last night. I comb my coppery-red hair, pull it into my two signature braids, and check that I have my bags packed before turning towards the door. Olaf lands on my shoulder and I grab my bag and throw the door open - and walk right into my father.

"Is it time to go to Hogwarts?" I ask him as I regain my balance. "Did I make us late? My alarm didn't go off when I wanted it to, and-"

"No, Anna, sweetheart. You're right on time. I was coming to get you for breakfast." My dad laughs a little. His clothes are spotless, as always, I think the word Elsa would use is emmaculeet? Something like that. His hair, almost identical in color to mine, is parted neatly, and not a hair is out of place in his mustache. I have no idea how he and Elsa stay so perfect all the time. "Your mother's making your favorite." He says with a wink.

"Chocolate chip pancakes?" I ask, already knowing the answer.

He nods "Uh-huh. You run downstairs, and I'll get your bag."

"Thanks Dad!" I kiss him on the cheek and run down the hallway, taking the banister down the stairs, giggling in excitement. Moms in the kitchen, her dark brown bangs plastered against her forehead with perspirings (I think that's right) from hovering over the hot griddle. She greets me with a warm smile, a kiss on the forehead, and a hot plate of pancakes. Mom likes cooking like a muggle, so her wands sticking out of her bun. And the whole kitchen is a mess. Elsa's already finished most of her breakfast, and she's sitting reading a letter at the table. I sit and try to summon the courage to try and start a conversation.

I eat my pancakes in silence, and wonder how it is that two people who are so different from each other could be so closely related. I look more like Dad, but I act more like Mom. Elsa looks more like Mom, but acts more like Dad. I'm dressed in a well worn sundress, with my wand stuffed into one of my new boots, and my hair pulled back hastily. Elsa's got her school shirt, vest, and skirt on, all neat and clean under a light blue cardigan, and her beautiful white hair pulled back into a bun identical to moms in all but color. And her gloves. Those spotless snow colored gloves that she never gets dirty, but never seems to be without.

I glance over her shoulder with my mouth full of food and watch as Dad puts my bags next to Elsa's. Elsa's evil cat Marshmallow leaps off of her blue Ravenclaw trunk and onto my plain brown one. Marshmallow doesn't like me. I don't like Marshmallow. We haven't liked each other since Elsa got him for her first year. He was a little white fluff ball back then, and I thought he was cute. Then I tried to pet him, and he tried to tear my arm off. Now, we just try to avoid each other as much as possible. He's also been trying to eat Olaf since I got him. No one believes me when I tell them that he sits outside my room at night, his blue eyes glowing as he waits until I make the mistake of leaving the door open, leaving Olaf all alone, so he can strike. He hates everyone, really, except Elsa. He just hates me a bit more than everyone else.

"Morning Elsa!" I try. She ignores me, absorbed in the letter she's reading. "Excited for your third year?" Silence. "Weather looks nice! Wish me and mom had time for a broom race before we have to go!' I think she blinked at that.

"I wish we could too Anna!" Mom called over her shoulder. She was waving her wand, making batter disappear and dishes fly into the sink and start scrubbing themselves. Mom had me on a broom before I could walk. She did Quidditch when she was younger, and im gonna be on my house's Quidditch team as soon as I can. I hope I make it; Mom might die if neither of her daughters is zipping around on a broomstick, dodging bludgers and chasing snitches. "But you're just gonna have to wait until break before we can."

"Idun, it's time for us to go!" Dad calls. He and Mom grab our trunks. Elsa and I grab our bags and pets, and we pile into the car. The first few minutes of the drive are uneventful, until I notice the way Marshmallow is eyeing Olaf from his seat on Elsa's lap. I raise a hand up to my shoulder, to shield him, and just in time too. Marshmallow launches out of Elsa's lap like a Snitch out of the grasp of a really bad Seeker. His claws scratch the back of my hand, leaving three small bleeding scratches, before he retreats to go skulk in Elsa's lap some more.

"Ow!" I yelp. Olaf flutters over to my other shoulder and Mom passes me a band-aid from her purse.

"You see Anna?" Dad says "You should keep Olaf-"

"In a cage? He hates it in there Dad! And you don't make Elsa keep the demon cat in a cage!"

"Anna, I've been meaning to ask you-" Mom cuts in. Me and Dad have been arguing over the whole 'cage' issue since I got Olaf a few weeks ago, and Mom doesn't want us to start that conversation up again "What House do you want to be in?"

"I don't know. Hufflepuff, maybe? I don't really know which house I fit in."

"Wouldn't it be wonderful if you were put in Ravenclaw with Elsa?" Dad asks

I glance over at Elsa; she looks startled at Dad's words. Which really isn't surprising. Why would she want to hang out with me at school? She pretends I don't exist at home, so why not school too? The nervousness I'd been feeling turns into hot anger as I snap back. "No. I wanna be in any House but Ravenclaw. I'd take Slytherin over Ravenclaw." Elsa looks at me, hurt mixing with the shock on her face. I turn and look out the window, wishing I could take the words back, but knowing that I can't. I risk a small glance up at Mom and Dad, and catch them sharing a sad look before turning back to the road. The rest of the car ride passes in silence.

*We over here at SassyPrincesses have noticed a small glitch which seems to completely delete words from the sentences. We have done what we can to alleviate the problem, but if you find any such places please let us know via a private message, so we can get that fixed pronto. Thank you!* ~SassyPrincesses