When two letters arrive in the post for the Potters inviting them to a school for wizards Pippa is beyond excited. She was ready to start fresh somewhere new where she could actually be someone, where she could be special.
However, Hogwarts was not...
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I was wrong. Today was not a good day. I'd already gotten two detentions and was pretty sure I'd get another the second I walked into Snape's classroom.
"Nice going brainiac you just lost us another 5 points." Millicent Bulstrode snarled as she barged past me. Professor Binns caught me fast asleep in the back. I don't know why he'd singled me out practically everyone was asleep. I bet it was Pansy or Daphne.
"It's just wrong."
"I know it's unnatural. A Potter in Slytherin. Has that like ever happened?"
"Do you think there's something... you know? Wrong with her?"
I glared at two older Gryffindor girls as they very obviously and very loudly gossiped about me. They immediately hurried off down the corridor when they noticed me like I was about to curse them.
They all acted like I was a wicked witch from a fairy tale like I was evil. I wasn't evil. Well, I didn't think I was evil.
"Ignore them, Pippa. They're just judgmental losers with nothing else going on." Celia said tugging on my sleeve gently.
"Yeah, come on, you love Charms." Aeysha smiled.
I nodded. Charms was probably my best subject we did a load of practical stuff so I didn't have to spend forever trying to pay attention to a boring lecture or trying to read those stupid essays with all their made up words.
Celia, Ayesha and I sat in our usual seats at the back of the room away from everyone else. Harry was sitting in front of the room chatting with Ron and some of his other friends. He looked so happy and comfortable. Why was it so easy for him and so hard for me? It was supposed to be the other way round. I was the oldest and the smartest and people liked me more (most of the time). Why won't they like me? I was cool, cooler than Harry anyway. Why won't they look at me the way they look at Harry? I just wanted them to like me.
You can't force people to like you, Pippa. I thought.
"Do you think she's going to sing Donegal Heart?"
"Surely, it's one of her best."
Celia and Ayesha were talking about their favourite witch singer again. Apparently, Billy Joel hadn't reached the wizarding world which I found tragic. What a sad, sad life. No telly, no football and no Billy Joel.
This place was hell!
Professor Flitwick cleared his throat. "Right, students today we're going to continue our work looking at the levitation charm. Please turn to page 475."
I immediately stuck my hand in the air. "Ah, yes, Potter. I'll explain your work in a moment."
I bit the inside of my cheek to hide my smug smile. I was ahead of the rest of the class. I loved Charms, it was easy really. All you needed to know was the wand movement. If I was being honest I didn't know why it was taking every so long to figure out. Swish and flick, come on people it's not hard.
