Chapter 1
Diana was standing at the table next to Fred, and an envelope landed on her plate. After ten and a half years, Mrs. Weasley decided it would look indecent not to at least give Diana a plate, even if it was empty. If there was company, she insisted that Diana was a very fast eater. Most pretended to believe her, but offered her some of their portions.
Diana opened the envelope.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc, Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizardry)
Dear Miss Riddle,
We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find an enclosed list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins 1 September. We await you owl by no later than 1 July.
Yours Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Percy wrote:
Professor McGonagall,
As you may already know, Diana has no parents. I, Percy Ignatius Weasley, am her current guardian.
Percy Weasley,
Future Prefect
Diana smiled as an owl took the letter and flew away. Diana heard some stories about Hogwarts, all which made it seem great. All of these stories, however, had taken place in Gryffindor. None of the Weasleys had been in any other house. It was a preconceived notion that Diana was to be in Slytherin.
Everyone at the table was reading their letters. Percy was simply ecstatic about making Prefect. He kissed everyone at the table and ran up to his room, likely to send owls to all his friends. Ginny got bored and left the table. Ron kept asking Fred and George what the Sorting was like. After about a quarter of an hour of pestering, Fred finally told him,
"It's a painful test that involves wrestling with a troll."
Ron gulped, and Diana grinned. She had already been told that you have to try on a hat that read your thoughts and put you in a house accordingly.
When they all finished reading, vivid conversation about Hogwarts erupted. They talked about houses, food, Quidditch, and other various topics. At one point in the conversation, the tone darkened a bit.
"Then," Fred started dramatically, "there's the potions master."
"He's also Head of Slytherin," said George.
"Snape," they said together.
"Must be terrible," Diana said with sarcasm.
"Oh, but he is," George assured her.
And they went on about how horrible Snape was for what seemed like ages. Diana went up to her room, which she shared with Fred and George, as the topic shifted slowly back to Quidditch. Diana realized that one of the things Fred and George hated about Professor Snape was that he favored the Slytherins (and they wished McGonagall favored them). Diana figured she wouldn't have to worry do much about the wrath of Professor Snape.
She took out her notebook and quill and started writing. She wrote a lot; for it was something she enjoyed doing. It was sort of an escape for her. She wrote stories about places without Mrs. Weasley. They were wonderful places, at least to her. She also wrote poems about how she was feeling, some that she really wouldn't want Fred reading. She also drew in her notebook, but she enjoyed writing more.
She heard running footsteps and glanced to the doorway. Ron went the rest of the way up the stairs, and Fred and George came into the room. Diana just continued to write, minding her own business, as usual. Well, there were a few times she hadn't minded her own business, like when...
"Hey, Fred! Give that back!"
Diana chased Fred up the stairs and into Ron's room. She looked to Fred, who was grinning, and Ron, who looked fearful. She grinned, and suddenly, Ron was on the floor in a fit of giggles. He pointed to his trunk, which somehow caused him to stop laughing. His face was as red as his hair. Diana opened the trunk, where her notebook was buried slightly beneath action figures, mostly of the Chudley Cannons. The Chudley Cannons were Ron's favorite Quidditch team. The action figures ran off as Diana reached for her notebook. She got it quite easily, then she smiled.
She looked over at Fred, who grinned, taking a magicked copy of the notebook from behind him. She blushed as he flipped through the pages with curiosity. Diana decided she should witness the end of her world as she knew it, so she walked over behind him and read over his shoulder. At one page, she gasped and attempted to shut it.
He wouldn't let her, and he threatened to read the whole thing aloud if she tried any more. He read it to himself, smiling. She persisted on closing it. She blushed as he deeply absorbed the words on the page as if to memorize them. She felt as if this poem would forever haunt her. Fred decided to go through with his threat:
"I see him when I wake up
he's closer when I sleep
will I try and make up
for feelings so deep
so I am asked how
I would define love
it is here with me now
does not tower above
love is a precious smile
and a fond memory
love is not denial
but a great sight to see
love is seen in every
freckle on his face
with him, I'll always be
in a better place
love is beautiful
no matter where it is
not too colorful
a world, mine and his
love is a word so dulcet
not heard by all of them
what I feel when I sit
down right next to him
love is such a great thing
as it goes through my head
it is greater than anything
to me, love is Fred."
Fred smiled and hugged Diana. She blushed. Ron looked at the two of them, shaking his head. There was obviously something he really wanted to say, but he didn't. Actually, he decided to after a minute or two. He smiled and said,
"Nice poem."
"Yes, lovely poem," added Fred.
Diana tried to muster a "Thank you," but she was still kind of embarrassed. Diana followed Fred to their and George's room, where George was already asleep. It was rather late, so Diana got on the pile of blankets (which Fred, George, and Percy had given to her) that she used as a bed.
She had a dream that she was boarding a train and saw a boy with jet-black hair and green eyes. He had black, thick-rimmed glasses, and his very appearance made her nervous. She had a strange feeling in her right arm.
"Oy, Diana! Get up!"