A Serpent's Heart

Chapter 1. Year One.

I had always known I was a witch, and I had been surrounded by magic all my life, but now I'd finally be able to use it myself made me tremble with anticipation! After getting most of my school supplies at Diagon Alley, my mother had finally taken me to Ollivander's. After a few wands that didn't respond to me, Mr. Ollivander handed me a redwood wand. A little shock went through me as I touched it. "Ah- that's the one. Redwood with a dragon heartstring core," Mr. Ollivander announced.

"Dragon heartstring?" my mother repeated, while frowning a little. I hardly noticed. I was too happy examining my new wand.

***

"Keira Tacendi!" Professor McGonagall called. It was my turn. I came forward and sat down on the stool. The Sorting Hat was placed on my head. I was nervous: my mother had been placed in Ravenclaw, but my father had been a Slytherin. I really had no idea in which house I would be placed.

The Sorting Hat thought for a few seconds and then assuredly said: "Ravenclaw." Relieved, I came off the stool and smiled at Luna, whom I had met on the train. She was also sorted in Ravenclaw.

Later that night, during the banquet, I watched the Slytherin table. I saw a few people cheering for a boy with platinum blonde hair. He looked very self-righteous. An older student saw me stare at him. "That's Malfoy. His father was a Death Eater," he said. From that moment on I disliked Malfoy.

Throughout the year I found out that, even for a Ravenclaw, I was exceptionally smart. Without much effort I got good grades for most of my tests. Even professor Snape complimented me sometimes, and Luna said I might be just as smart as Hermione Granger. She and I had both made it to the top of the class, but I heard she was always studying, whereas it came easy to me. Maybe it had to do with the fact that she was Muggle-born and I was pure-blood, but I did not like to think that way. I did not want to be like Malfoy, who looked down on anyone half-blood or Muggle-born.