"Marnie!" squealed my little sister, as she clung to my arm like a parasite. "I don't like being here! It's way too crowded!" she looked around at all the bodies around us, just trying to pass through and get where they needed to just like us.

"I know Liz." I sighed, both of us where not use to nor very fond of so many people around us all at one time. It would put us both on edge, and for a good reason to. We muscled our way down the busy street of Diagon Ally, dodging all the possible danger zones we could, until we finally got to the first store we needed to stop in, the book store. I checked the entrance for anything that might harm us like, different kinds of ornaments, clocks; decorations that might fall on our heads, all the normal things people like me and my sister had to watch out for. When the coast looked clear I slowly hobbled inside –not able to go that fast because of my sister hanging on to me like a monkey- and right away looked up for danger. I saw the chandelier, not too big but could still do some pain, so I made sure neither my sister nor I was standing underneath it. Then I spotted the big book case just by are side, before moving away from that as well. People turned and stared at us, gawking in wonder why I was so paranoid about where me and my sister where standing, of course, they didn't understand. They would never really, even if I spent my whole life trying to explain. It was just one of those things you would have to live with it like me and my sister to truly understand it all.

I opened my bag and took another peek at my school supplies list, making sure I got everything. On the top of it was labeled 'HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY' in big bold letters. I sighed, still not thrilled about going this new school, after a life time of being home schooled and such, basically because, until now, no school would allow me through their doors. And the only reason they were letting me in now was because of "special" circumstances. Yeah, whatever floats their boat I guess.

I collected all my books for this horrid semester, keeping a close eye on Elisabeth, and walked up to the counter at the very back of the large room, placing my books onto the counter. The store clerk raised both big gray bushy brows at my purchase, and then up at me. "My gosh miss!" He looked at me in disbelief. "This is no weather to be dressin' like that!" He pointed one long bony finger at my long striped scarf wrapped around my mouth and nose, as well as my big hood pulled over my head, that I was both wearing to hide my face underneath.

I shook my head. "I have a cold." I lied smoothly, "Everything is chilly to me."

The small old man just shook his head, "Well, all right then. Here you go." He handed me my things and watched me go off.

I was just about to leave the store, as I started to think. Hum, no accidents yet, maybe today won't be so b-. But of course, I had spoken WAY too soon. I was already not very balanced by my sister still hanging onto me for dear life, but one of the decrepit women behind me stepped on a loose floor board, along with knocking me over from behind. Out of pure habit, I pushed my sister out of the way from the pain that I knew was about to become of me. I fell face first to the ground, at the same the same time the loose floor board flew up and got me right in my already-crooked-from-all-the-other-many-many-times-I-have-broken-it nose, making it bleed right away. I heard the woman behind me gasp, along with almost everyone else in the store. She quickly stepped off the floor board at let it fall back into place, me falling with it to the ground. But, as it slammed back to where it was as a part of the floor, the book case to my right was disturbed and started to tip over, all three glass vases fell from the top and shattered on my head, and back. I tried to get up and out of the way before I got flattened, but was then pelted with the falling books, before it was too late and the whole thing smashed right onto me.

The bystanders finally started to gather and help. One rather large young man, along with an older, but just a burly man lifted the big heavy wooden book case off me. As soon as it was gone, one small thin woman ran to my aid and picked me back to my feet, brushing the glass shards and dust off of my black cloths. All around me people where chattering and whispering in concern. "Are you all ri-?"

"Can you hear me-?"

"How many fingers am I holding u-"

"Answer us girl!"

"Her head is probably injured-"

They all spoke at once. I just let my head and shoulders hang, trying to become oriented again so the chattering –that was making my already pounding head ache worse- would stop. Finally, I raised my head, and another gasp echoed through the whole crowd. Then it went silent. And for a while, it stayed that way, until one teenage boy about only a few years older than me spook up. "Bloody hell! W-what happened to your face!" He exclaimed, pointing right at me. My eyes went wide, and I felt for my hood, it had fallen down, and then I reached for my scarf, gone to. My horrific, hideously scared up face was exposed. They all started to swarm at me once again, but this time it was not in concern, but in curiosity, like I was a living tourist attraction.

"It looks like a werewolf attack! How did you survive?"

"It would take more than a werewolf to do that kind of damage; it must have been a pack of them!"

"Wait! Look at the scar on her forehead! That's from no animal! Were you cut there with a knife?"

All these questions flew at me at once, making me feel even more like an absolute freak show. I needed to get out of here; it was just too much to take. I quickly ducked my head and grabbed my tattered black and gray scarf, wrapping it sloppily around my nose and pulling up my hood. The people still clamored at me for answers, some even tried to grab my shoulders and turn me to face them again. I just shook them all off and grabbed my little sisters arm, hoisting her up and dragging her out with me. When we were finally out and away, I looked down at her to make sure she was all right. That's when I noticed her bottom was full of dirt. "What happened?"

"You pushed me into the big flower pot." She let out a long huff.

I sighed to, kneeling down to brush off the back of her baby blue shirt and then wrapping my arms around her. "I'm sorry Liz." I was upset that that's where she had landed, but at least it was better then what I got. That's how this treacherous curse worked, after all. When we are young, it is not as bad, but as we grow, it gets worse and worse and worse until we die the most gruesome and horrific death you can imagine. That's why I have to cover my face and she doesn't, she still has all the fingers, looks, hair, and even a straight smile.

My sister shook her head and hugged me back. "It's all right Marnie. Not like you meant it or anything." She backed away from me a bit so she could see my face. "But, can we please go home now?"

I sighed, shaking my head. "I'm sorry Liz, but no. I still have to get the rest of my school supplies, even if it means we have to go through this."

Another long groan escaped her pale pink lips. "Why couldn't you have just left me at home?"

"You know why I couldn't do that."

Elisabeth let out an even longer and louder groan, pressing her face into my shoulder.

I patted her back. "Here, tell you what, we get though this horrible day, and I'll take you out for the ice cream. Sound good?"

Elisabeth pulled back from my shoulder lightning fast and looked straight into me face, her deep green eyes much, much brighter. "Do you mean it sister! Really!"

I couldn't help but chuckle just a tiny bit at her reaction, "Yes Liz, really, really."

My little sister then grabbed my arms and attempted to pull me back onto my feet. "Then come on!" she exclaimed. "Let's get this over with already!"