I walk up to my room and give my spectacled owl my parchment in an envelope labeled mother. I dry of my face with a towel. I change shirts because my sleeve is wet with snot and tears. All the other girls have gone to breakfast. I hide my diary in a pink book box. I got it for my birthday.

I turn around thinking I will just go down to the main hall and get a muffin and leave but when I turn around I find Lily sitting on her bed looking at me.

"Are you okay?" She asks. Her voice is soft and sweet and soothing.

"Yes, I'm fine." I tell her. I hold my head high.

"Do you want to talk about it? That's what I'm here for."

"No, I'm fine."

I sit down on her bed and smile at her. I see why so many people like her. She's there right when you need it and she's offering to listen. Sometimes a person to listen is all someone needs.

"I'm going down to the main hall to grab a bite to eat, like a muffin or something, do you want to come with me Claudia?" Lily asks me. It is strange how much people can be like you sometimes.

"Sure."

I decide that even if I thought she was my enemy, if my mother was going to totally block me out, I'll let her have lots to block me out on. I do think it might be helpful to have more than just Daniel for a friend.

We walk down into the common room and out the portrait together. I don't feel like talking and decide not to break the silence. It's nice not to have her talk, plus I can't have us be too close of friends. My mother might have strong disliking feelings toward me but I don't want to walk too far onto enemy lines.

Why am I the bad guy to my mother? I didn't choose to be Gryffindor. The sorting hat did. Why is this my fault? Why is Gryffindor so horrible? Does it really make it that bad for my mother? Why did she talk to me like I'm a disgrace? Why does this have to happen to me?

Lily and I arrive at the dining hall. We sit down next to each other at the Gryffindor table. I was kind of following her instead of walking off and sitting somewhere else. She sat down across from James and diagonal from Albus. There is an empty seat next to Lily but I pause before sitting down next to her. I stand there for a second and then decide to sit down. Lily begins to introduce me.

"James and Albus, this is Claudia." Lily tells her brothers. She seems to talk slower than usual as if their brains take longer to grasp onto the words that come out of her mouth.

"Hi." I say.

"Hi!" James says. He seems to be 4 years older than us and he seems very energetic.

"Hello." Albus says smiling and looking more calm and peaceful than his older brother James.

"So- what's your last name?" James asks stumbling upon a question I prefer he would have left alone but he seems to purely be asking out of curiosity. I gulp before I speak, punching air down my throat.

"Lestrange." I tell them. James seems to realize he has brought up an awkward question which he seems to not like the silence because of his lively spirit.

Albus seems to be scared to talk to me even though he's older which he manages to get through with, "Are you related to Bellatrix Lestrange?"

"Yes, she's my grandmother. Don't worry I'm not some villain or anything. I'm ashamed of what she chose to do with her life." I say. Albus' tension disappears and so does James. Lily seems to be more cautious with what she gets herself into.

"My dad has a book about all the death eaters and stuff and stuff they did," James says as he shoves eggs into his mouth and showing me as he chews. I pretend to ignore his table manners.

"Oh, that's interesting. Harry Potter huh? World's greatest hero." This gets my mind off of things. I really liked talking to the Potters which I promised myself I wouldn't do as often. I chat with them a little bit longer about their dad and mother before I catch Scorpius staring at me. He doesn't look down he continues to glare at me with angry eyes. I stare back into his brown eyes with my light turquoise eyes. He looks away but I can tell he needs to talk to me.

"Guys, I'm going to go to the library." I tell the Potters and grab a chocolate chip muffin which I cram into my mouth.

Scorpius also gets up and I can see that I he got the message to follow me. I can see he's following me. After I get out the great hall and turn the corner I stand right on the wall. In a second Scorpius turns the corner and he jumps because I scare him to death.

"Hello, Scorpius." I tell him.

"Well hello, Miss Gryffindor." Scorpius rude remarks break my heart for I thought he was my friend.

"I wasn't the one who chose Gryffindor."

"It's based on what you value most."

"I wanted to be a Slytherin badly and you know that. Don't you act like I wanted this! My mother hates me and nobody really is being nice to me."

"I saw you with the Potters."

"Am I not allowed to hang out with them? Lily was offering to walk with me after I was crying thank you very much."

"Your mother offered me a bribe to spy on you."

"What? Did you accept?"

"Of course not."

"Thanks, but next year will be horrible with Avon around."

"Speaking of her, is she on your mother's side?"

"Of course, she wouldn't dare not be."

"I thought so."

"Sorry I was mean towards you before. I thought you were trying to trick me by pretending to be my friend."

"I forgive you."

I was going to go back to the Gryffindor common room but then I realize he's a Slytherin. I tell him goodbye and walk to my room. I find Lily in are room. I don't chat with her. I get out some textbooks and figure I should get ahead on my classes. Soon enough, all the other girls slowly come back to the room. Audrey comes in and asks to study with me. I accept, even though usually I prefer to be a lone star.

We decide to compare are classes. We find out we're in Herbology together. She looks happy. We study Herbology for a while and then move onto Potions. We pull out defense against the Dark Arts but we don't get far until all the other girls are demanding we get out our schedules and compare ours with theirs.

I have Transfiguration first. Then, I have Herbology and next I have Charms. I then have Defense Against the Dark Arts. Then I have Potions. Next I get to go to History of Magic. Last of all, I have Astronomy. All the classes don't look to bad. Nothing seems too hard. The hardest thing about Hogwarts is having social skills and making teachers like you. If they don't, you're still stuck with them for 6 more years. It works almost exactly like prison.

Turns out I have Transfiguration with Mabel. In Herbology Audrey is in my class. I'm alone in Charms. In Defense Against the Dark Arts I'm with Reagan and Annabel. In Potions, I share that class with Lily Potter. I'm in History of Magic with Genna. I am not exactly thrilled about having any certain ones of them in my classes but at least I'm not alone. I will have to check schedules with Daniel.

I decide to ask if I can have some alone time. Everyone says that's fine and I decide to get out my journal and pen. I go down to the common room and sit in one of the really big chairs. Daniel is sitting in one across from me reading some book about a Muggle game.

Dear Diary,

Today was horrible. I know I wrote an entry this morning, but that was before I received my mother's letter. I felt so horrible yet how was it my fault. It was quite embarrassing to cry in front of Lily and Daniel. Lily asked me if I wanted to talk about it and I said no. She kind of seems like a good friend but I bet she's not THAT nice. Plus, my mother probably has spies. I will be hearing from her about the Potters. I am not ready for friends. I hate Gryffindor. I really wish I was a Slytherin. I hate my life.

Professor Longbottom comes into the common room and calls for everyone's attention. He says that teachers have decided this year they will give you a seating plan so on Monday you will already know who to sit by. He goes through the names and finally he gets to the L's. I get my envelope and rip it open. Daniel sits next to me in one class. Even though it is annoying, it's 'awesome because he's my only friend. My potions partner is…..

Crap. I should have known my luck would kick in sometime.

Lily Potter.