Black Rose

2 ~ Quidditch and Duelling

The first few weeks at Hogwarts pass by quickly. 

Classes are a lot of fun, and it's especially fun now that we're actually beginning to use magic. I dislike potions class though, I enjoy the subject but Professor Snape is mean. Leo tells me that it's because he hates dad and not to take it personally. 

As happy as I am here, I'm quite homesick. I miss everyone. 

I'm often alone, the only friend I have is my diary - who tells me it's name is Tom Riddle - and that's lame. My only friend is a book. A book. That's just sad. 

My dormmates don't talk to me, most of them just think of me as the weird Metamorphmagus girl. 

One of my dormmates seems sweet though, her name is Luna. I would like to be friends with her, but I don't know how to talk to people. Why is starting conversations so hard? 

I spend most of my time talking to my diary, and I start remembering less and less. The days all blur together, there's periods of time where I have no idea what happened, it gets scary. 

I sometimes wake up covered in feathers. It's really weird. 

Suddenly, on Halloween night, Filch's cat is petrified. She is discovered by Harry, Ron and Hermione. I have no idea what happened over the last few hours. Did I do this? 

I begin panicking and I don't know what to do. 

I hide away in my room, closing the curtains around my bed. 

Tom, I think I might've been the one that petrified the cat, I write. I think I'm losing my memory. 

Sometimes people forget things. I am sure you're fine. And you love cats, you've said it yourself, there's no way you would ever hurt one. 

I'm scared. 

I'm probably just imagining things, but the word 'perfect' is the last thing I see being written across the page before I black out. 

I wake up dazed, confused and disoriented. I'm in my bed, the curtains are open, I'm still in the clothes I was wearing earlier. 

My four dormmates are still asleep. I glance at the clock and see that it's four in the morning. 

I can see my hair change colour as I begin panicking, trying to remember what happened over the past several hours. 

I stand up, going to look in the mirror. My hair, which was usually long and a bright colour, was now short and black. I try to change it back but I cant push aside the negative thoughts. 

Stupid emotions controlling my stupid hair. 

I ignore everything, getting into pyjamas and falling asleep. 

When I wake up again I'm exhausted. I didn't sleep well at all. I keep having nightmares. 

My hair is still black and I don't care enough to try and change it. 

As I'm eating breakfast, Leo comes over, sitting beside me and looking at me in concern. 

"Hey, are you doing alright?" He asks. 

"Yeah, I'm fine." I shrug. 

"You sure? Because I know that your hair usually reflects your emotions." 

"I'm just trying something different." I lie. 

"It's about the cat, isn't it?" He guesses. "Rosie, I know you like cats, but Mrs Norris was horrible."