I was lying in front of the flickering fire on a soft, worn couch. One hand was being used to prop my head, and the other was draped uselessly over my side. Summer and Arielle sat on the floor in front of the couch. Summer was giving Arielle makeup advice for tomorrow, our first day of classes. Earlier that evening, we had all been sorted into Gryffindor, much to both my happiness and dismay. I was happy to be with my new friends, but then again, I could also clearly picture my Father's expression of rage.
I shook it away. I was inot/i looking forward to that experience. But then, almost as if Father had heard what I was thinking, as his golden owl appeared at the small window and began tapping away with its inch long, fatal talon. Groaning, I slowly fell to floor with a thump, upsetting a blush. Summer stared at me upside down, my light blonde hair covering my face and my feet still on the couch.
"You really that tired, Mariah Rosalie Malfoy?"
"No." I pointed to the window. "It's Father. He is going to go ballistic when he discovers I'm in Gryffindor, I can hardly wait." I added sarcastically.
"There won't be much left of you, will there?" Arielle said, staring at the ceiling as Summer applied a touch of mascara.
"Nope. Probably not, considering his temper. I have the misfortune of looking exactly like him."
"Ah, don't say that, it's good you share resemblance with him. And I've seen class pictures, you do look like him ia lot/i"
I stood up and walked to the window, carving a path through the few second years who recoiled in surprise at seeing me in ithe Gryffindor Common Room/i. Oooooooooo... ithe Gryffindor Common Room.../i. A surly looking boy tried to be tough by standing in front of me and saying,
"I'm not scared of iyou/i, you filthy Death Eater."
"Oh, really, 'cause you want to see what iI/ican do?" I just took a step in and said loudly enough for the whole room to hear,
"Boo." I said this in a flat voice, but wouldn't you know it, he ran off. Summer and Arielle let out a scream laughter.
"G-good one, Mariah." Summer barely choked out.
"Go Mariah! Whoo!" Arielle yelled, her red curls bouncing and frizzing with excitement. I smiled, and then turned to open the window. I got the letter safely from the bird's leg and pushed it back out.
I ran back to the couch and jumped on it. I collapsed into its cushiony softness. The letter was addressed "Mariah Malfoy, From Draco Malfoy.
"Here it goes, wish me luck!"
I opened the letter, wishing that it would not be a bad one.
i Dear Mariah, I am writing to let you know I hope you were sorted into Slytherin. What are your friends like? I hope they are well connected, please tell me their names. This is a brief letter, and I am in a rush, so I must be sending this. Sincerely, Father. /i
I was nearly in tears by this point; he didn't even take the time to write a good letter to his only daughter! I held the letter in my hands, my sadness turning to rage. I crumpled the letter into a little ball and whipped it to the fire. It fell among the logs satisfyingly. I laid down face first into the couch, and began speaking.
"I am dying my hair and getting contact lenses. I hate looking like ihim/i."
Summer looked sympathetic. "No, Mariah, don't. Your hair is beautiful. I wish my hair was blonde."
"And it's so straight, you never have to worry about ithis/i" Arielle added, pointing to her own bushy red mess.
I groaned. "I'm just so tired of being a reject because of what he did. It's not my fault he was a Death Eater. And he still has not forgiven me for..." I stopped, scared of saying what I was about to say.
"Hasn't forgiven what? It can't be that bad."
"I-I killed... her."
"Who, you couldn't have!" Summer seemed very concerned.
"My mother." Suddenly, all stops where pulled and I poured out the guilt I had kept inside for twelve years. "She d-died when I was born, and my father loved her more than anything. It's all my fault!" Tears were streaming down my pale face out of my light grey eyes.
"Oh, Mariah, don't be silly." Summer came up onto the couch and gave me a hug. "It's not your fault. Since when you were in control of whether you were born or not! It's most defiantly not your fault! Now write back to your father." I smiled. Sure. Show him that I can do things a different way. I grabbed a piece of parchment and began scribbling. I finished fifteen minutes later.
i Dear Father, It is quite difficult for me to write this, but I was sorted into Gryffindor. My friends are Summer Potter and Arielle Weasly. I hope this does not distress you, but I am mature enough to select my own friends. I wish you well, Mariah. /i
I felt quite smug as I took my own owl to the window and set that cheeky little letter free. Feeling in much better spirits, I proudly walked to group of chairs, clapped my hands, and cheerily yelled, "Who thinks we should go to bed?"
Summer looked at me and Arielle. "We might as well, it's getting pretty late." She gathered up her things and put them in a small bag. "Make sure you wash that off, Arielle." Arielle nodded. We all linked arms and headed up the stairs to the girls dormitory.
"Wow, my mother might have used this bed!" Said Arielle, who had walked over to the bed she would occupy every night for the next seven years. She jumped onto it, then plopped down and lay spread-eagled on the soft quilt.
"Well, my father has told me that he had a theory that your mother didn't sleep at all. He said she spent most of her time doing homework at the library!" Summer chimed. Arielle laughed and threw a pillow at Summer.
"Well, my family has always been in Slytherin. And my father..."
"Was enemies with our fathers..." Summer said, trailing off. A moment of silence followed, making me think iOh, perfect. I have just created another awkward moment! Just goes to show your intelligence, Mariah. /i"But, it's all behind us now! We are friends, and it's time for new things." Now let's get to sleep! G'night all!" Summer jumped into her bed and closed the curtains. We all did the same. Sleep came fast, and It was not too long until morning dawned with dim promises.
It was raining hard, and we got the new robes out of our trunks on donned them with the curtains on our bed closed. It was a mess, with seven girls all preparing for their first day. I had my uniform on soon enough. It was very cool, in my opinion, with (for girls) and dark grey skirt and shirt, with red and gold along the bottom and collar.
"Wow." Arielle said as she examined her uniform in a full-length mirror. "Holy..." She realized what she had been about to say and stopped. I was examining my own pleated skirt when I said,
"We should go. Breakfast will be cold before we get there if we don't hurry." And we did hurry. And my day, iour/i day was off to a great start.