The Heart Is Not Black or White

Chapter 1

"Dad! Dad!" I squealed, running through the hall of my house. "My Hogwarts letter came!"

This was the day I had waited for since my parents told me about Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I was eager to learn about Patronuses, charms, curses... I wanted to be great like my parents. They were known for their strong spells, and I was determined to be great like them.

I ran through the hall to the parlor where my father was stepping out of the fireplace. He had just come home from the ministry where he worked as an auror. The Floo Network was his preferred way of travel. Me, I can't stand it. Hogwarts was where I could learn to apparate.

"Daddy!" I said, brushing floo powder off his shoulder. "I got my Hogwarts letter!"

"Did you now?" He questioned with a smile. "Are you sure they accepted you?"

"Well why ever should they not accept me?" I asked, concerned.

"What if I told you that... You were a squib?"

"Oh Daddy!" I scolded while playfully whacking him. "Of course I'm not a squib! Remember that time I got angry at you and Mum for not getting me the new Cleansweep broom and then the whole cellar got flooded?"

"Of course I remember that!" He chuckled lightly. "Anyway, the Cleansweeps may finally have a run for their money. The Nimbus 2000 is a pretty fast flyer."

"Cleansweeps were never fast anyway," my mother said, coming in from the kitchen. "Marissa only wanted a Cleansweep because Fred and George Weasley had them."

I blushed, thinking of the last time we had visited the Weasleys. Fred and George were my closest companions. I loved their jokes and pranks, which I was usually part of. Last time we were at the Burrow, George had blurted out that Fred had a crush on me. I could tell Fred was embarrassed, but he covered it up pretty well. The only reason I could tell was because I had known them since birth, he couldn't hide much from me. Nevertheless, I acted like nothing happened and the three of us had a great time together. Somehow, Mom and Dad had heard about the little secret.

"That reminds me," Dad smirked. "You'll be going to school with the twins now. What are they, seventh-years?"

"Third-years," I corrected him.

"Are you an expert on them now?"

Once again, I blushed. Seeing this, my dad said, "Does someone have a crush on Fred Weasley? Or is it George? Anyway they're too old for you. I don't want your future husband to be a day older than you."

"On, that note," my mother said, a tight look on her face. "There's something we need to talk to Marissa about." Mom gave dad a pointed look.

"Of course," my father agreed. "How about after dinner? I'm starved. What are you cooking, Bea?"

"Spaghetti, Marissa's favorite!" She said in an effort to be cheerful. "In celebration of her Hogwarts letter!"

"Yes! Spaghetti!" I cheered, paying no attention to the tension in the room. Whatever my mom and dad had to talk to me about was probably being alone at Hogwarts. Maybe they would just miss me since I'm their only child. It couldn't be anything too bad. I was just a normal 11-year-old witch going off to Hogwarts in a week. There was no reason for me worry... at the time.