Shadow of a Star

Chapter 01

Shadow of a star

Let me explain to you some things you need to know before I take you into my life. My dad is James Potter's younger brother. He was never mentioned in the tales of Harry Potter or any story book. I wouldn't even know that I was related to Harry if I didn't have the same last name. I look nothing like the other Potter family, my hair is bleach blond and my eyes are black. My dad and his side of the family didn't really get along. My dad even took himself out the family tree. I don't know what happened between them, but it must have been big.

Dad has been talking about me going to Hogwarts my whole life, my letter arrived last week. He has been going over all of the rules I will need to follow while I am there. Most of the rules are about the other Potter in my family.

"Are you listening to me?" Dad is talking my ears off of my head.

"Yes, father," I don't know exactly what he was saying. I know the general content of what he was spouting at me. "don't look at, speak too, or stand by cousin Harry. Don't talk to his friends and never look him in the eye." I have a habit of getting annoyed very easily, a trait I assume is gifted to me by my father.

"Don't be wise with me, Rosabell. This is all for you. My brother and his family are seen as heroes, but they are just cowards."

"Dad, why do you hate my uncle and aunt so much?" Contrary to my father's beliefs, I like my aunt and uncle. I never had the chance to meet them of course, but the stories my mum tells me secretly are amazing. Mum and I agree that my father goes a little overboard with despising his brother.

"Rosabell, we have gone over this so many times and every time I tell you the same thing-"

"It is not something I should be concerned about," I roll my eyes and pick up my luggage. "He is a third year this year anyway, I probably won't even see him."

"Fine. By the way, your mum told me to tell you she will miss you and wishes she could be here to see you off." I just nod my head and smile. I know she is working, but it is my first day leaving my parents for so long. "Well, see you in a year. I will send you letters by owl to tell you what is happening here. Good bye." On that, dad nods and turns on his heals, leaving me in front of the platform, all alone, surrounded by parents hugging and crying for their kids.

"Bye." I sigh then take my first step onto the train. I want to say I will miss my dad, but I really can't. Dad is not the most emotional person that I know. Mum on the other hand is the most kind and amazing person I have ever seen.

I get a chocolate frog off of the trolley that is being pushed by a skinny young witch. I can't imagine getting a job on the train right after I end school. I think my dad would disown me if I did.

"All first years, leave your things on the train and follow me to the docks, please." I look up at the tall, full man who I can only assume is Mr. Hagrid.

I join the other first years by the dock and stand next to a tall girl. We manage to generate some small talk and I soon learn her name is Kate. She wants to be in Ravenclaw like her older brother. She says all of the smart people go there. To me I think she is a bit of an entitled snob but it isn't like I can tell her that.

"Alright, four to a boat please. Be careful not to fall in, docks tend to be quite slippery at night." Mr. Hagrid's low voice cuts through all of the other chattering kids.

The view of the school is breath taking from the boats. All of the lights are like little stars. They outline the castle looking school that I'm going to be calling my home for the next year.

The inside looks exactly like the pictures I found in my old dads' trunk. He was more of a collector when he went to school. He was in Hufflepuff, imagine that! Thinking of my own father in a Hufflepuff robe makes me laugh. The qualities of the Hufflepuff House is kindness and patience, both things, my father doesn't possess. He must have been way different when he was younger. My mum even told me about him when he was first sorted. She said, "When he walked up to the sorting hat, he was smiling and was very kind when he talked to me." I asked "What happened?" so, she had sent me to my room for the rest of the night. My mum was in the same house as dad. I think she truly belonged there. She is the sweetest person you would ever meet.

Dad wants me to be in Hufflepuff like him and mum. I expect I will be; kindness and patience are very important traits that I take a lot of pride in.

I'm not much of a talker. I like to read and be in my own bubble. I'd rather stay in and study than go out with other people to have dinner. I have friends but not the closest ones. I lived in a muggle city, so being buddy-buddy with people around wasn't my main goal. I was waiting to make life lasting friendships when I was old enough to go to Hogwarts; muggle school was so boring for me. To me there was no point to learn all about the muggles' history. I can't wait until I can connect with other witches and wizards.

"Alright, first years please come and gather around." Ms. McGonigal yells in a gruff voice for a lady. The other students and I close in at the top of the stairs. "Well, aren't you a promising group? I know all of you are eager to get sorted, but I will ask you all not to talk to the other students until you have been seated." She looks around the crowd of kids then nods once. "Yes, well, please follow me into the Great Hall to be sorted into your houses."

When the extremely tall doors open, in unison, cheering and clapping erupt from the large hall. All of the houses' flags are hanging in midair just above the long tables that are seating the different houses.

We walk until we are right in front of a set of small steps. Ms. McGonigal puts a hand out to stop our group from going any further. "I will call your name and you will sit on the stool. I will set the Sorting Hat atop your head. Houses, hold your applause until after your first year sits. Thank you." I feel like Ms. McGonigal is very a straight forward person. She looks very stern and almost stiff.

Less and less first years are standing next to me until only fifteen of us are left awkwardly looking at the others making friends, already.

I look at the Gryffindor table and I spot him. I find the man my mother has shown me over and over again. Harry Potter is sitting next to his friends and talking to a first year whom was just sorted.

"Rosabell." I keep my eyes on Harry even though my ears are picking up my name being yelled. "Rosabell Potter?"

The room goes quiet for a millisecond, then is filled with questions and lots of stares towards Harry including my own.

My name is called once again.

"Oh," the fact my name has been called finally hits me like a bludger. "that's me." I turn my body from the table to the professor looking around for me.

I take a step forward onto the stairs in front of me, again, the hall quiets then rapidly gets louder. When I turn to sit on the stool, every eye in the room is matched on my place in the hall.

"Please sit so I can place the hat." I look up at her. "It won't bite you. Now, sit." I follow Ms. McGonigal's instructions and sit because she scares me. The hat is so big on my head it falls down past my eyes.

"You will be hard to place; you can be put into different houses. Hmm." The hat is moving on my head! I guess this is magic.

I try to look around but the hat is preventing me from seeing anything other than the dark brown leather, but I can feel the eyes of very person. The Sorting Hat moves my head from side to side thinking of where to place me.

"You are very kind," I take a relaxing breath out. "but you are very ambitious and have a need to be respected. What will I do with you?" Unlike my cousin, I don't wish to ask for a house. I feel that I will be placed in the right house by the Sorting Hat. Partly because my father was horrified when the Daily Profit came out and the front page was all about the young wizard whom had a choice in the matter of his house. He told me "The Sorting Hat will choose the best house for you. The boy was just being spoiled." At the time I didn't have the guts to tell him what I thought and I don't think I ever will.

"I will place you in...