I've always looked forward to Hogwarts. It was the time when I would be free to do whatever I wanted and not have to worry about keeping my guard up with Ginny. It was an escape and I was not going to let anyone come and take that away from me.

By age 11, I was still not talking. I refused to do so and I also still refused to eat. I was painfully thin. You could see the bones of my body when I wore tank tops, so I always wore T-shirts and long pants. I wasn't insecure about my body, I knew weird girls would kill to have a body as thin as mine, but I didn't want the probing eyes or the crude remarks.

My father was worried about me. He was now always urging me to eat, but I couldn't. I couldn't bring myself to eat anything or to say anything. It wasn't time. I wasn't ready to put myself out there yet. So I didn't. By now, Tonya had learned not to even put anything on my plate. It would just be blank, but she'd always have silverware for the off chance that I'd reach over and take something.

"She's so thin," Hermione murmured.

It was about a week before September 1st, and Hermione and Ron had come to visit. James was now 5 and little Sirius was 4.

"She's still not eating or talking?" Ron asked incredulously.

Harry shook his head. "I can't force her to do anything, but I don't know what to do. Technically she should be dead by now."

Hermione shook her head. "She's supposed to be very sick. But I think she inherited her mum's magical abilities. Her magical core is the only thing that's keeping her alive and going."

"Her magical core, but even that can't be keeping her alive," Harry said.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "She's your daughter, Harry; her magic is not exactly like anybody else's. I'm sure that she would be able to do a Patronus at this age, if her magical core wasn't the only thing keeping her alive."

"But won't it come to a point that even that won't keep her alive?" Ron asked.

Hermione frowned. "Of course, but I'm just hoping that because of who her parents are she'll come to her senses before that time comes."

"Hogwarts is going to be brilliant," Ananda cried.

It was September 1st and the two girls were in the car on the way to King's Cross. Harry had decided to drive the two of them to the train.

Maleah nodded.

"We're going to have so much fun, I can't wait!"

Ananda's bubblyness didn't die down until they were halfway to Hogwarts and she was nodding off in her seat. Maleah took the time to stare out the window and just hope for the best.

She took out her wand and looked at the piece of dust on the window sill. "Wingardrium Leviosa," she thought. Nothing happened. Of course it wouldn't. She needed to talk to do spells, but what-? The dust began to rise. She could do it! She wouldn't be the dumb one. But suddenly she felt exhausted. She leaned against the window and closed her eyes and slept the entire way.

"Wow! This is beautiful!" Ananda whispered to Maleah as they walked into the Great Hall for the sorting.

Maleah nodded her agreement. The place was magical. There were thousands of candles floating everywhere, and she read in Hogwarts, a History (recommended by Hermione) that the ceiling was bewitched to look like the night's sky. It was clear and full of stars.

"Manuel, Ananda," Professor Scott called. They were going through the sorting and it was now Ananda's turn. Professor Scott was the new Potions Master since the promotion of Prof. McGonagall to Headmaster years ago when Maleah's father had been in school. Maleah also saw Hermione up in the staff section but she didn't know what Hermione taught. Cassandra Humphrey had already been called and was sorted into Hufflepuff.

"Gryffindor!"

Ananda smiled brightly and ran off to the Gryffindor table winking at Maleah on her way.

"Michaelson, William!"

A boy with curly brown hair and blue eyes ran to the stool and put the hat on his head. "Gryffindor!"

He smirked arrogantly and sauntered off to the Gryffindor table.

A few more names were called and then, "Potter, Maleah!"

Maleah walked to the stool among whispers. "Potter? As in Harry Potter?"

The hat slipped over her head. You have power, potential power, let go and you can see what you can do. There's a thirst for acceptance, you would do well in Slytherin, but…

"Gryffindor!"

Maleah sagged in relief before going to join Ananda. The two girls high-fived each other and waited for the end of the ceremony. Mitchels, Donovan was sorted into Slytherin and Dominic, Enri was sorted into Ravenclaw. Finally all the new students were sorted and Prof. McGonagall stood to make her speech.

"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts," she said warmly-but briskly. "For the incoming students, and those who need reminding: the Forbidden Forest is off limits. You are not to be there without a teacher or permission from a teacher." She looked to her teachers and smiled-kind of. "Let's welcome back out teachers." The students applauded. "And now, let us eat!"

The golden plates before each student was now filled with food and Maleah felt sick to her stomach. She made a disgusted face and pushed her plate away. "Don't tell me you're one of those girls," that Michaelson boy said to her.

She looked up and stared.

Ananda sighed. "Don't mess with her; she's not in the mood."

The boy raised his eyebrow. "What are you, her speaker? Can't she talk?"

Ananda now held the same look as Maleah-disgruntled. "Leave us alone. Who are you, anyway?"

"Michaelson, that's what they call me," he said proudly.

"Okay, whatever," Ananda replied. "Go away."

But Michaelson was curious. He looked at Maleah and poked her face; she slapped his hand. "Ow! Merlin, you hit hard for an anorexic!"

"She's not anorexic!" Ananda huffed with flared nostrils, Maleah's were flared too.

"Why can't she talk for herself?" Michaelson fired back.

"Because she won't waste her time on someone like you, which I've stupidly been doing, so bugger off!"

Michaelson peered closely to Maleah face. "You're ugly."

Maleah's eyes widened. She nearly flew into a BF-bitch fit.

But Ananda spoke first. "And you're fat, so whatever. Bugger the bloody hell off!"

With innocence, Michaelson backed off with his hands in the air. "Whoa, little lady, there's no need to get the claws out. I'll see you both around," he said before going down the table to sit with the first year boys.

"I hate him," Ananda whispered to Maleah.

Maleah could only agree.