Author's note: I decided to write a new beginning for this story. I got some ideas that I didn't have when I began writing it six years ago so I thought I should write a better opening chapter.

Enjoy!

The sun was just up when I decided to sneak out of the manor. I took a quick look behind me to make sure neither my parents nor my brother noticed me and I made my way to the gardens. It was a beautiful summer morning and I had planned to hide outside to avoid my mother all day long. Why you may ask? Well, she has invited Mrs. Parkinson and her daughter Pansy over for tea. I was expected to be nice to Pansy but I didn't like her very much, she was an annoying and mean girl, and all she ever wants to do is to watch my brother fly around all day. To say she as a thing for him is an understatement; last time she was here, she visited she referred to me as her sister-in-law!

Anyway, I chose the garden because my family hardly ever comes here so I knew that they would leave me alone for a little while. To pass time, I had brought a book with me. It was The Tales of Beedle the Bard, which a had stolen from my father's library last night. Normally I am allowed to read certain books of his but I was never permitted to read this one. All I knew is that it mentioned interactions between muggles and wizards and that my father being my father found it unacceptable.

I was halfway through the book when my twin brother Draco jumped out of the bushes. He had a smirk on his face and I knew that I was in trouble since he has always been my father's favorite and had a lot of fun telling on me when I stepped out of the line.

"You know that you're not supposed to read that," He said shaking his head with a fake look of disapproval on his face and a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I wonder what mom and dad would have to say about that."

"You wouldn't" I challenged.

"You'll have to catch me to find out!" He said snatching the book from my hands and running away with it.

I chased after him but he always had been faster than me. Staying true to myself, I slipped and fell I few times so when I finally caught up with him and my parents, I was covered in mud.

I looked up at my father and knew that he wasn't so happy with my book choice. My mother on the other hand was deceived by how unladylike I looked with sweat and dirt covering my body and clothes.

"I thought I warned you about this book" My father hissed and I nodded nervously as an answer. "You have lost my trust for now and you are banned from my library until I feel like I can trust you again"

I looked down at my feet. I didn't like to deceive my parents but it seemed like nothing I did was good enough for them. My brother's attitude and actions usually pleased them more and he seemed to fit the family's mold better than I did.

"Look at yourself!" my mother scowled. "Rolling in the mud is not a way a young lady should behave herself! Go clean yourself up, don't forget we have guests coming over."

I repressed a grunt at the mention of the Parkinsons, there was no escaping it now. I made my way to my bedroom to change and clean up and not long after I was done, the door slammed open.

"We got our letters!" Draco exclaimed gleefully. "I can't wait to be at Hogwarts! I will be the best Quidditch player Slytherin has ever seen."

His excitement made me smile and for a little while, we chatted about our hopes and dreams for the years to come. We wondered about the ghosts, the moving staircases, and the Great Hall ceiling and even made some predictions about the welcoming feast. It was nice to talk to him without bickering all the time. I loved my brother and we used to be quite close, but he liked to get on my nerves once in a while. Our parents interrupted our conversion as they entered the room.

"What is going on in here?" My mother asked, smiling softly at the sight of us getting along for once.

"We got our Hogwarts letters mom!" We both answered at the same time.

My mother's smile grew while my father gave us one of his rare smiles.

"I think we will have to take a trip to Diagon Alley then," he said lightly. "I am quite busy at the ministry at the moment but I could take a day off at the end of the month"

I couldn't believe it; I was finally going to Hogwarts! I had always been on the curious side and was eager to learn about something else than the few books I was allowed to read at home. Maybe I would be able to do what I truly wanted to do without being scowled at all times and the thought of it made me smile.

The rest of the day went smoothly. I was so happy that Pansy Parkinson was almost endurable this time. We got to talk about Hogwarts which was a thousand times better than hearing about her dream wedding with Draco.

I still had a month and a half to wait before heading away to Hogwarts and I hoped the time would go by quickly.

We had a lot of school supplies to buy in one day so we arrived on Diagon Alley very early on the morning of July 31st. To make it a quick trip our parents wanted to send us to buy our robes while they took care of the books and wands but I managed to change their minds because I really wanted to go to Flourish and Blotts in hopes that I might be able to buy myself a book of my choice too.

Our parents then left us to go buy cauldrons and parchment rolls while Draco and I made our way towards Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions to get our school robes fitted. At first, it was only the two of us and the witches fitting us. I didn't like the way my brother was bossing the witches around and I told him off for being rude which did not change his behavior that much.

Then a small boy with black hair entered the room. He looked a little bit nervous so I smiled at him to reassure him. He seemed nice and I wanted to get to know him but my brother got in the way and acted like a spoiled brat going on and on about being a great Quidditch player and about how Slytherin is so much better than the other Hogwarts houses. The black-haired boy looked like he wasn't enjoying this conversation very much.

"Stop being so rude Draco" I scowled at him before turning towards the boy. "Don't listen to him no house is better than the others. It's all about what you value the most so you'll be fine no matter where you end up"

"Thanks," he said smiling.

I thought that my brother would leave that poor boy alone but instead, he asked about his parents' blood status and began to rant about muggle-borns and how they shouldn't study at Hogwarts with us.

"You are wrong" I argued. "Magic is magic and you are not a better wizard if you come from a pureblood family"

"Dad wouldn't be so proud to hear that" he hissed.

Before I could add anything, Madam Malkin told us that we were done and my brother dragged me out of the store as I waved the boy goodbye.

We joined our parents outside and then walked over to Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 BC to buy our first wands. I tried a few but none of them felt right then, Mr Ollivander handed me a cypress wood wand with unicorn hair as it's core. When it touched my hand, a warm and powerful feeling flowed in me and I knew I had found the right one.

Finally, we headed to Flourish and Blotts which was amazing. I don't think one would have enough of a lifetime to read all of the books that were in there. All my school textbooks seemed very interesting and I was able to buy Hogwarts: A History with my allowance. I was very excited to go to school and happy that I had new books to pass time for the month to come. Merlin did I wish September 1st would come quick!