Chapter 3 Magic? What.

Aaand I was wrong.

It took me getting lost in the church connected to the orphanage around Easter of 1883 while I was reading and walking. I read while I walk to avoid my dormmates, they were girls who have somehow formed a close bond through the intricate art of gossiping, and often valiantly try to push or trip me when I happen to be in front of them. But luck was on my side, as my little journey led me to stumble upon someone playing a violin. Turns out, there is a music room, near the actual chapel. The person playing wasn't that great, but I was lost, and they were playing music. It was an old lady, I think she is a nun, but unlike the others, she seems older, and calmer. I stood there, listening for an hour before she noticed me, and gave a startled exclamation.

"Goodness gracious! Are you lost dear?" She asked.

I inclined my head and furrowed my brows.

"Yes."

"Well then, come dear, I will bring you back to the main orphanage." She said, while reaching out for my hand.

I hesitated, seeing my hesitation, the nun paused.

"Is there something else troubling you my dear?"

"Well…" Okay, deep breath. "I heard you play, and I was wondering if you can teach me?" I asked, deploying the best puppy eyes I could.

Instantly, the old nun's eyes softened even more.

"Certainly my dear."

She turned around and grabbed her violin.

"Come, now see this is a bow…"

1884

The year is now 1884. I have been learning how to play the violin from Sister Alice for the past year and a half. I practised every day under the tuition of Sister Alice, it was one of the few things I could do, since the books were pretty much always under the lock and key of Sister Elise. During one of the practice sessions, Sir Cunningham happened to be checking in on the orphanage, to see how his investment was implemented. He overheard me playing, and instantly decided that I would be able to be a performer. So he brought his acquaintances in the entertainment industry as a scout. They did like my playing, even if it was mediocre, but hey, how often do you see a two year old play a violin adequately.

So they decided to hire me for one of their charity balls. Before they did however, they needed to get me a violin. Since Sister Alice was adamant that her violin does not leave her sight.

It took a month of bargaining and arrangements, but in the end, the Sisters decided to allow me to perform for them for their Christmas charity ball.

On my third birthday, I received a brand new violin during breakfast, while studiously ignoring the heated glares and whispers around me. It was beautiful, with black polish that almost gleamed blue that seemed to be made to fit the crook of my neck perfectly and a white bow, carved with black roses. I rosin up my bow, then tested out the notes. They were clear and crisp, it was much harsher than Sister Alice's older bow, but still, perfectly tuned. I thanked the nuns, then proceeded to practice.

I practised as much as I could every day. They forbade me from staying in the music room after six. I considered risking taking it back to my dorm, but Sister Alice's adamant attitude and the enmity between my dormmates and I quickly shut down that idea. The month quickly passed by, as I learnt Christmas Carols at a much faster pace than before, now that I had my own violin. Everyday was interceded with etiquette lessons, per the insistence of Sir Cunningham. Before I knew it, it was Christmas…And the day of my first performance.

"Now, remember to straighten your back, and be confident when you play." Sister Alice instructed, as I stepped into the carriage.

"Sister, I believe she will be fine." Sir Cunningham laughed, as he too stepped inside the carriage, along with my chaperone, Sister Ida. We rode the carriage in silence, until we arrived at a large and fancy manor.

The performance went without a hitch. In fact, it was quite boring. After having dinner in the dining hall, seated next to the other performers, it was time for the dances.

"Ladies and gentlemen, may I present our first performer of the night, Seraphina Astrum from Angel Haven Orphanage, who will be playing the violin."

Most people gasped in surprise at my appearance on stage. They became awed at my performance, because I played extremely well for my age. So they talked to me for a bit before I left by carriage.

Our carriage came across Crown Street, and in front of a dingy old place, was a metal sign. A sign that read in bold words, THE LEAKY CAULDRON, that the few people who were out in the snow walked past without even sparing a second glance. My brain short circuited.

I am only three in this world for crying out loud! A ball of dread settled in my stomach.

Fate has a terrible sense of humour, because I have somehow been reborn in the world of Harry Potter.

Any doubts of which world I was in were dropped a few weeks later.

1885

It was a normal day, I woke up, then was pushed promptly back onto my bed, a trail of giggles following behind a few of the girls in the dorm. They have been mean to me for almost as long as I have been here, partially because of my features, and partially because of the fact that I get to learn instruments and they don't. While not all of the girls here were blonde, there were very, very few here with black hair, and no one with my blue tint, pair that with my almost glowing amber eyes. They made me an oddity in this place. With a sigh, I got up, again. After grooming myself, I walked towards the music room, intending to practice the violin for a few hours before the mass tonight, during which I was expected to play some of the hymns. Having been granted free access by Sister Alice during the day, recently. Not long after I started, I closed my eyes, losing myself to the tune. Before I was elbowed hard in the stomach.

I grunted, doubling over, the violin and bow clattered from my hands onto the ground, accompanied by a chorus of giggles. Ignorant fools who do not understand the beauty of music! I felt two small pairs of hands grab hold of me, forcing me to my knees. I looked up, and saw Anna walk towards me and my violin.

"I wonder…how mad the nuns will be if you break your violin?" She giggled out, as she put her foot above the bridge of the violin. She is not obese, but as a six year old, she is more than heavy enough to break it.

"No! Please!" I begged, knowing that I will not get a chance to play again if the violin broke, not to mention my plans of saving up and getting away from there as soon as I come of age.

"Hmm…How about…NO." She laughed, her foot rapidly closing down on the bridge.

Time seemed to slow down, as I watched in horror, her foot about to crush all my plans in one fell swoop. No no nononononono! Not my ticket to survive in this world! I am desperate, the only thing I could think of was for everyone to move as far away from me and the violin as possible. I did the only thing I could, I screamed.

At my scream, a rush of energy seemed to burst out of me, the girls all flung away from my violin, without thinking, I crawled towards my violin, clutching it to my chest. That was too close, way too close to losing it all. Not too long after, I heard the pattering of footsteps as the nuns came running to the music room, what greeted them was a relatively bizarre sight.

The girls were all getting up from various corners of the room, while I was curled up in the middle, clutching the violin to my chest and crying. Then came the even more bizarre accusations, that I had performed witchcraft and flung them away. When questioned why they were even there in the first place, they told the whole story, thinking that this would lend truth to their tale.

…Aaaand landed themselves in detention for two weeks for trying to break my expensive instrument.

Obviously, the nuns did not believe them, I mean, who would? I was a perfectly behaved child and an infamous prodigy, on the other hand, they were famous bullies and they were spinning a wild tale. There is not much they could do anyway, if I am too severely harmed in any exorcisms, they will lose a major source of income, both from my performances, and from the interest of the upper class and they can't have that! So they stayed away from me, even as they took to watching me like wolves. Except for Sister Alice and Sister Elise, Sister Alice behaved the exact same way as before. Sister Elise seldom even leaves the library to talk to anyone anymore, not even at meals.

I was able to escape the chore of working in a factory mainly due to my very apparent genius. Sure, the nuns did not really like me, but if I can play any instrument well as a young child, they get more money at the church, because obviously they must be very devoted, if god was to bless them with such an angel who not only looks angelic, and can play angelically, too. So they insisted that Sister Alice teach me how to play the piano as well as the violin. After all, the more instruments I can play, the better the spectacle, and the more blessed they seemed.