A/N: Alright, first-off, I'm sorry these chapters have been sort of filler-ish. I just want everyone to get a good grasp on the characters and their personalities. Second, I won't be posting as frequently if I don't get any reviews, so REVIEW! FEED MEEEE! Siriusly (see what I did there?), I work off of reviews and the less reviews I get, the crappier the chapters become.

Thats just how it works.

So, if you like this story, tell me why and if you hate it, also tell me why. It helps loads, trust me. Honestly, I know how many people actually click on this story because of the traffic reports.

Anywho, sorry for the long A/N. TO THE STORY (again, this chapter may seem like a filler. :3)

Chapter Two - Arrival

My patrol was over all uneventful, just little bit of yelling and, of course, retracting points from Gryffindor. Five, to be exact; a good way to start off the year.

I was striding down the hall when I, so unfortunately, had the displeasure of meeting Potter once more. I scowled at him as he stopped in front of me, looking down on me with those brown eyes.

Curse my shortness!

"Get out of my way, you daft toerag," I hissed, glaring at him venomously.

He smirked. "We haven't spoken all summer and those are the first words you say to me? Ouch, I'm hurt."

"I was beginning to get used to the quiet," I snapped, a head ache already pounding in my head. I was prone to getting migraines, but they were always at their worst when I was around James Potter. I gripped my wand, ready to jinx the shit out of him at a moment's notice.

"Well, then tough luck. I so... dislike being quiet," he offered, grinning stupidly.

"Oh, believe me when I say I know," I told him. "Get. Out. Of. My. Way!"

He rested his arm against the corridor wall, taking up the entire hall. "I heard you were made Quidditch captain this year, Rosie. But just so you know," he leaned down towards me to whisper, "we're gonna kick your asses."

With an inelegant snort, I retorted, "Is that so? Potter, you just full of hot air and arrogance. I'm not afraid to work hard for my team, and I can't wait to see your faces when we beat the snot out of you in the first Slytherin/Gryffindor match of the season."

"You keep believing that, darling."

"Move before I snap your leg!"

"Aw, come on! Aren't you having fun? I just love these heart-to-hearts we have!"

"Is there a problem over here?"

Matthias glided over to us, icy eyes watching Potter with a raging hatred. James turned to look at him, their eyes meeting at the same level but James' messy hair putting an inch or two on him. I crossed my arms, releasing my wand, the snide look on my face wiped clean.

I vaguely wondered which was worse: fighting with Potter or holding hands with Matthias.

"Well, well, Flint. Here comes your boyfriend to the rescue," James chimed.

Matthias clenched his jaw. "Stay away from her. She's mine," he hissed.

My chest cringed.

"Oh believe me, you've made it clear," James told him, backing away from Matthias, obviously not wanting any sort of physical fight.

"Then why the hell are you all up in her face? If I catch you one more time..." He didn't finish his threat.

Potter just grinned. "Alright, on that cheerful note, I'll be off then. See you later, Flint." He winked and sauntered off.

Matthias growled some profanities under his breath before wrapping his arm around me very tightly and possessively. "Stay away from him, alright Rosalie?"

I nodded submissively. "Believe me, it won't be a problem," I replied quietly.

Then he kissed me roughly, pushing me against the wall almost wildly. I saw James look over his shoulder just once before turning the corner. The smirk was no longer on his face and there was something in his eyes that was out of place.

Pity.

I shut my eyes. James Potter pitied me.

How could life get any worse?

I locked myself in the bathroom, sliding down to the floor and rubbing my shoulder gently. On the nape of my neck, there was a bright red bite mark.

It wasn't uncommon for Matthias to bite me, hard enough to leave an imprint but not enough pressure to draw blood. It was simply barbaric and I hated it; it was always painful, but I still allowed him to do it. It was like I was his property.

I rested my head against the back of the door, closing my eyes and just enjoying the quiet for a while. We were almost to Hogwarts, and that was an enormous relief. I just wanted to take a hot shower and go to sleep, to stop the pounding head ache and just dream.

After a minute or two, I stood and looked at my reflection in the mirror. A girl stared back at me, an expression of exhaustion on her pallid face. Her skin was so pale it was nearly white, but her hair was black, a drastic contrast. Her eyes were hazel, lit by nothing but the dull light of the bathroom.

She looked empty.

I sighed, fixing my hair and my make-up before reopening the door and stepping into the corridor. My new, black cloaks made a swishing noise as I walked. Then, the train made a sudden jolt and my mood got considerably lighter.

We were at Hogwarts.

Everyone filed off of the train without bothering to get their trunks, knowing someone else would collect them and take them to the dormitories. The frst years seperated from the rest of the students, boarding the small boats instead of following us to the carriages. Matthias took my hand and led me to an empty cart, pulling me up and letting Blake and Veronique get on with us. I rested my head on his shoulder gently, and he didn't seem to mind.

Blake gave me a look, which I proceeded to ignore.

The ride was quiet, not in an awkward sense. Veronique continued to make nasty comments about someone or something related to Hogwarts, but nobody appeared to be paying attention to her rambling and disdain.

I walked side by side with Matthias, steps in perfect sync, into the huge, grey-stoned castle with a large group of cloaked students. We all took our seats at our specific tables, and I sat down next to Matthias like always. On my other side, Blake sat down and Georgiana and Veronique sat across from us. Down the long table, I recognized certain people like Albus Potter, Scorpius Malfoy, and Freya Morkinton, her Prefect badge purposefully not hidden from Mariette, who sat with her close friend Regina King.

At the Gryffindor table, James was laughing and joking around with Fred and another Weasley, Molly. As Professor McGonagall, the Headmistress, came in with a group of first years stumbling behind her, she gave them a stern look and they stopped being so rambunctious for a moment.

"Welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," McGonagall began, stepping up onto the risen platform. "We will begin the night with the annual sorting ceremony. When I call your name, you will come forth and I shall place the Sorting Hat on your head. Then you will be sorted into your Houses."

The professor quickly went through the list of names, each child sorted into their rightful House. Some first years took longer than others: wizards descending from entire families of Slytherins were almost obvious, while muggle-borns took quite some more consideration.

After the ceremony, McGonagall announced the rules of Hogwarts, and the feast finally began.

Many first years gazed at the food with wonder, trying to figure out how it just appeared. A little Slytherin girl with ebony hair crooked her eyebrows at the platter in front of her, and I couldn't help but soften my expression: she reminded me of myself, except she looked so innocent.

I was never innocent.

"Aren't you going to eat something?" Veronique asked me, chewing some potatoes in her mouth.

I blinked, then realized that I had been staring into space. "Yes. 'Course," I mumbled, reaching out and grabbing a roll, placing it onto my plate. I wasn't terribly hungry, but I still ate some food. It was so much better than Mother's cooking.

I shuddered at the thought. Really, starving children in Africa wouldn't even touch her food.

All I wanted was just to go to my dorm. I wanted to be alone, and I hoped that I wasn't assigned patrol on my first night, though usually it was a seventh year.

Later that evening, I helped lead the first years to the dungeons. I explained how the wall opened up when the password was spoken, which changed every fortnight. The children 'oohed and aahed' before the seventh year prefects showed them to their dormitories.

I inhaled the scent of the Slytherin Common room; it smelled like a burning fire and old books, a smell I'd memorized since my first year. My memory had not done my justice, as I felt so rejuvinated by the actual scent.

"I'm going to my dormitory, okay? I'm exhuasted," I told Matthias, who was still towering over me by my side.

He pouted almost childishly. "You don't want to stay up for a little while?"

"I'm sorry," I told him. "Perhaps tomorrow night, okay?"

"Okay, babe." He kissed me, wrapping me into a rough embrace, before letting me go to bed. I found my trunk neatly in my dormitory, just as I'd expected. I opened it, revealing all of my Slytherin apparel, uniforms and toiletries, along with necessary school supplies. I removed my shampoo and body wash with my tooth brush and floss, and retreated to the bathroom where I enjoyed a steaming hot shower that relaxed my aching muscles. There were several other girls in the shower area, also, but it was mainly quiet as most girls were too tired or busy to shower.

After vigorously brushing and flossing my teeth, already dressed into my warm pajamas, I stumbled back to the dorm I shared with Veronique and Georgiana, climbing into my bed and laying against the pillow quietly and peacefully.

I had the blissful opportunity to just lay there and think. I loved to think, which sounds sort of strange, but thinking when I was alone and with no other distractions was quite a blessing. I could think about anything, I was free, and that night all I could think about was how much I appreciated Hogwarts. It was a home to me, unlike my own house which felt strange and uncomfortable. But I knew better than to take it for granted. It was a place to escape to, away from my parents.

I had everything here: a place to play Quidditch, a large library full of books, knowledge just waiting to be learned.

Strangely, it even felt nice to have Potter to bicker with, something I don't think I could ever admit. I guess he was an outlet for me, someone to release all of my bottled up anger at. I wondered with mild guilt if he actually deserved the insults and threats I hurled at him.

Then I decided that yes, he did. Stupid git.

I fell asleep that night feeling warm, grateful and content.