I closed my eyes, counting to ten in my mind, hoping that when I opened them I would be a different person, maybe in a different world if I was lucky. I opened my eyes. No such luck. My mum was still talking about me.

I'm a disappointment.

My big sister, with her sleek dark hair and dusty glasses, was reading a book titled "Goblin Rebellions". She was the oldest sibling of mine. She had completed her Hogwarts years and had recently acquired a job as a healer at St Mungo's. She worked hard in school, and achieved the highest grades. Her name was Bethany. We all called her Beth. I know. Such a boring name. She was plain, and simple, and lacked imagination.

This was the opposite of my older brother. He was the second oldest sibling. His name is Casper. He's a year older than me, and is going to go to Hogwarts for his second year this year. He's bright, he's mischievous, he's kind, and he's really popular. And my best friend.

Next are the twins, Billy and Lilly. They're six years old, and they're really naughty and fun. Everybody seems to unconsciously consider them as one person, because they're never seen without each other. They are always getting in trouble. They are giggling and playing with toy broomsticks. They haven't eaten their food.

"Why can't you be more like Beth?"

"It's Bethany, mother."

"Yes. Bethany. Why can't you be more like Bethany."

I stand up. "I'm not hungry anymore," I say angrily, putting down my fork.

Everybody stops what they are doing to stare at me for a few seconds. They are confused. I nearly never speak. My parents think I don't have feelings. Maybe I don't. Sometimes I seem blank, and I don't speak about how I feel. Except to Casper. But I do feel. I just don't show it. In fact, it's my parents' fault that I'm shy, and don't really speak. It's how they feel about me, thinking I'm a disappointment. Being outshone by my siblings.

"What?" my mother asks. She is tall with the same dark hair as everyone else in my family. Except me. My hair isn't straight. It's curly. I have coppery curls. I was born strange. Everyone thinks my hair has been dyed. But I was born with crimson hair. But at the bottom it's silver. Then gold. Then pink. I don't like my hair. It's really weird. One of the things on the infinite list of things I hate about me.

"I said, I've had enough," I repeat loudly, although I know she's already heard me. "I've heard enough of what you think about me. Fine, I get it, I'm a squib. I'm not magic. I'm born into a family with high-achieving, magic people. And I'm an oddball. I don't fit in. I get it. You don't have to spend hours rubbing it in! I can't help being a muggle."

And I stormed off to my room without even touching my lunch.

I dive onto my bed, and stay there for about an hour. I hear a knock on my door.

"Come in," I mumble. My voice is muffled because I am lying face down on the blanket.

Casper comes in. "Hi, Charlotte. I'm sorry about what mum said," he said, rolling his eyes. "I know she can be really annoying sometimes."

"You don't have to apologise for other people," I mumble.

Casper sat down on my bed.

"What do you want?"

"I… I had an idea."

I sat up. "What is it?"

"Well… first of all… do you like Hogwarts?"

"Yes. I've always wanted to go. But squibs can't."

"Are you really a squib? You don't know."

"Look, strange things happen to you guys. Not me. You can do magic. Stuff like accidentally exploding stuff. Accidentally turning a teacup into a worm. That kinda stuff. Magic shows itself by the time you're seven years old. I'm eleven. I'm not magic. I haven't got an invitation. The invitations came three days ago. Acceptance letters."

"Hm…. Well… what do you say… I… ok, this may be a bad idea. But there is a room in Hogwarts that nearly nobody knows about. The teachers know. The students don't. Except me and my mates, when we went exploring once. It's the Record Room. It says everything. Student information, parent information. Blood status. Everything. Magic or no. That's how they know. So… I could change the Records and make it out as though you're actually a witch."

I stood up. "Casper, are you insane!?"

I know that Casper is extremely adventurous and daring, but never would he ever dare try something as risky as this.

"Yes. You could say I am. And what's wrong with that? Think of it this way. You can either live a squib life not fitting in, or, you go to Hogwarts. Mum and dad will be ecstatic."

"Really? What about everything else? I won't be able to perform spells. A wand won't choose me."

"I have it all thought out. Do you trust me? It's your choice. I can't decide your future for you. But if you want to… I can make it all work out."

I frowned. "Yes. I will. I choose that. I don't know what's gotten into me," I say with a smile, shaking my head. "I'd say your daring is rubbing off on me."

There was a scream. All four of us— me, dad, Lily, Billy— all came running to the porch to witness what had happened. There was another scream, coming from dad. Except this time, I knew that it was a scream of glee.

In my mum's hands was a piece of paper.

Mum thrust it into my face. A sentence caught my eyes.

'…place at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry…'

A few minutes later, everybody was animatedly discussing me.

Me.

They thought I wasn't a disappointment.

I might cry.

Somehow I feel bad.

The school year had started a week ago. Beth was at work. Casper was at Hogwarts. I made a mental note to thank him. But weirdly, I felt like this was a bad idea. And anyway, the acceptance letter arrived one week late. Wouldn't mum and dad be suspicious?

Casper left the Hogwarts grounds this weekend. I told ya he's daring. Nobody knows. Obviously, mum and dad can't know. But he tells me. Because I can be trusted.

I begged my parents to let me go to Diagon Alley with some friends. I told them not to come with me. I know, that was rude. But still. They can't know Casper's there.

"Ollivanders next, huh?" Casper checked my letter.

I nodded.

"OK!"

"But… Casper… the wand…. It won't choose me."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"You don't know. And I seem to remember you telling me a few weeks ago that you trust me?"

"Fine. I do," I sighed.

I walked in.

"Hello, hello! What is your name?"

"Charlotte Danton."

"Ah! A Danton! Why, I made wands for your mum, your dad… your grandparents… and your siblings of course! Bethany Danton, Unicorn hair core, 13 ½ inches, surprisingly swishy, made of black walnut wood… Casper Danton, phoenix feather core, 10 ¾ inches, slightly yielding flexibility, made of ebony. And you, Miss Danton… "

I bit my lip, waiting while Ollivander went to get a wand. He held it out to me. I took it and took it out of the box.

"Just give it a wave."

And so I did.

Nothing happened.

And the same thing happened for many wands. I glared at Casper, who was watching.

"Do you have any idea what you are doing!?" I hissed at him while Ollivander went to get what seemed like the millionth wand.

"Yeah. It takes ages to get the right one. Took me two hours. So yeah. Have to be convincing. Fine, this one will be the one. I'll do it."

He gave me the wand.

"Hazel wood with a dragon heartstring core, 12 inches with unyielding flexibility. Try this."

"Mr Ollivander, I feel a sudden connection with this wand," I recited as I held it, pretending to look amazed. "I feel the bond that people feel when the wand is the right one. I feel the power flow through me, like other people like me who are magic feel when they find the right one."

Ollivander frowned.

"Good," Casper whispered. "Now… wave your wand…Incendio!" he whispered from behind one of the shelves.

I waved my wand as he said it, and a shelf came on fire. Ollivander extinguished it with a jet of water from his own wand.

"Incredible. It's almost as if you did that on purpose, with the incendio spell," he laughed.

"Yeah… incredible, isn't it?" I sighed, relieved.

I paid with the money my parents had given me. And me and Casper walked out, laughing.

Next, I decided to get a pet. My mum didn't give me permission, but Casper said I could use his own money to buy one.

I pointed to one. "That one. A cat. Look. It's beautiful."

"Really?" he smirked. "A cat?"

"Yeah. Look at it!" I sighed admiringly, watching the snow-white feline pace elegantly around in a circle inside its cage.

"Ah. I suppose it's cute," he agreed, and we bought it. I was ecstatic. I named her Pearl.

After buying all of my books and robes, I returned home by muggle train, and Casper returned back to Hogwarts.

"Yes. I do think that is the case," a voice agreed. I came into the room to see my parents talking to a head in the fireplace. Professor McGonagall.

"Sometimes, magic does make mistakes," her stern voice said.

"We always thought she was a squib," my mum smiled.

"Yes, some people show their magic later in life. It's only normal. But Hogwarts decided last-minute that she was a witch. I do apologise for the lateness of the letter. She will have missed some of her first year, but we can work around that. Since there are only a few days left till the holidays, I think it would be preferable if she could come after the holidays."

"Actually, I'd prefer to come during the holidays," I said. Everybody jumped. "I think I'd like to get used to the place a bit."

"Are you sure? You'd rather not spend time with your family?"

Embarrassed, I mumbled "Casper's at Hogwarts".

"Very well. Mr and Mrs Danton, are you alright with that?"

"Sure, Charlotte… I mean, if you want…" dad shrugged.

"Alright. Well, if that's it, I best get going. Thank you for speaking to me. Goodbye, Charlotte. I'll see you at Hogwarts soon."

I smiled, watching as her head slowly faded.

AN: Thanks for reading so far! If you review, I will be so happy! I love advice. Also please follow and favourite this story if you like it. More chapters coming soon.