In third-year halls, their paths first crossed,
A Raven boy, a Blonde girl lost.
"Stay out of my way," she warned with a glare,
But something lingered in the frosty air.
Crimson with his scar and fame,
Emerald with her secrets untamed.
Two worlds ap...
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~August 26, 1993~
"Hey there!" I called out with a forced cheerfulness. "I'm Ariannabelle. Well, that's my full name, but everyone calls me Aria. My thirteenth birthday is tomorrow. I should be starting my third year at Hogwarts, but... well, I can't go because I'm a squib."
I looked down at the floor, shuffling my feet. "Yes, I said squib. It's a word used for people like me who don't have any magical ability in a family full of wizards and witches. Everyone else has dark brown hair and a peachy complexion, while I'm stuck with hair so blonde it looks like it's been bleached, and skin so pale it's practically glowing in the dark. My family says it's just a rare genetic thing, but I can't help feeling like I'm a vampire or something."
I sighed. "I've always been different from them. I live in my brother Toby's shadow, always being compared to him. And it drives me insane. His constant talk about Hogwarts, how amazing it is, it's like a knife twisting in my heart."
"Aria!" My mum's voice floated up the stairs, pulling me from my thoughts. "Dinner's ready!"
"Coming, Mum!" I shouted back, and as I descended the stairs, I skipped a few steps and leapt the last three with practised ease.
At the table, Mum set a steaming bowl of soup in front of me. Dad was already asking Toby about his year.
"So, Toby, how was your sixth year? Aren't you excited about starting seventh?" Dad asked, his eyes twinkling with interest.
Toby grinned, clearly relishing the attention. "It was amazing! Harry made everything a whirlwind of adventures. The last two years have been incredible. I'm going to miss it when I leave."
My teeth clenched involuntarily. "Yeah, you've told us. I don't need you to rub it in."
Toby rolled his eyes. "I'm just stating the facts."
"And I'm telling you that I don't want to hear them. Not when I know I'll never experience it myself," I snapped, taking a deep breath to keep my voice steady. I focused on my soup, trying to drown out the pain.
"Alright, alright. I'm just saying—"
"Stop saying it in front of me!" I cut him off. "You know it hurts."
"Why are you so sensitive about it?" Toby shot back, his face turning red.
"Kids, no arguing at the dinner table," Mum said firmly, her voice leaving no room for discussion.
Toby and I exchanged annoyed glances before he slouched back in his chair. Dad tried to change the subject.
"So, Aria, what do you want for your birthday tomorrow?" he asked with a hopeful smile.
