frostbite [fred weasley] [editing]

prologue

❛ prologue | the letter ❜

▽

Her mind proclaimed that Dumbledore was mad as she stared in shock at the shiny object that was nestled in the palm of her hand. It had a dazzling glow to it under the sun, which was dappling light through the roof, the trees outside making a patchwork of shadows flicker on the walls and on the ground.

It had happened in a flash; Olivia was tired of her family's antics so she had walked outside to the greenhouse to take a few breaths of air that wasn't tainted. It smelt of soil and budding flowers - it smelt like home. To her it was a sign of warmth that could not be found in the household of Grey.

When she was five they had abandoned the greenhouse when they saw that their muggle neighbors had one in their back garden. They had forbidden  Olivia from venturing inside, but they hadn't done anything about destroying the greenhouse.

Soon the neglected plants had grown wild, vines snaking on the ground, winding around the wooden legs of tables which now creaked under the weight of the potted tomato plants that were hanging heavy with the overripe vegetables.

It was a paradise - maybe because it was the opposite her household. Shadows, dark wood, and a chilling cold that stung her bones. Her strict parents, with their ordered manner, their faces devoid of any emotion. In a family that believed they were flawless, Olivia was an imperfection. A flaw. A spec of dust on a polished trophy.

The greenhouse was the opposite. When Olivia was seven, she started to take refuge in the greenhouse to hide from her parents. She liked it in there, alone but of the gentle hum of the bees pollinating the flowers and the melodious chirps of the birds that nested in the trees outside. She could let her thoughts wander out of her mind and let them loose in the cool breeze.

On that particular day, when the sun was up in the sky, Olivia had sat in between two large potted plants. The furry moss underneath her was like a soft carpet to sit on. She had been intensely watching a butterfly that was fluttering around a yellow daisy when she had heard something scraping frantically at the door.

Jumping up from her spot, Olivia had ran to the door, avoiding tripping up over the snaking vines. She opened it, and in swooped a large tawny owl that had a letter grasped in its sharp talons.

"Hello," the girl murmured to the bird, coming over her state of shock. The bird dropped a letter that had the Hogwarts crest on it, and let out a hoot before flying back out again. Olivia bent down and picked it up. She opened it and briefly scanned the letter that had said that she was enrolled to Hogwarts for another year.

The girl frowned when she noticed another letter in the envelope.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, Supreme Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Ms Grey,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been elected by your head of house, Professor Snape, to have the qualities of being Head Girl for Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

We expect you to be at the front of the train when you board the Hogwarts Expresss, where you will be informed about your duties. Abuse of your power will instantly loose your position as Head Girl, as well as many points from your house.

Yours sincerely,

Professor McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress.

Olivia stood still for a moment, her breath caught in her throat. She slipped the badge onto her palm and stared at it incredulously. Dumbledore was mad. No - he was insane. Sure, she had been a prefect - but being Head Girl?

She was a completely different person at Hogwarts. She had built up walls around her heart. Nobody dared approaching her for she had a cold glare that would ward off anyone. Most of the time she hid in the library, immersed in books.

Perhaps the Daily Prophet was right about Dumbledore being addled in the brain.

She sighed before slipping the badge into her pocket. At least her parents would be pleased. Maybe - just maybe - they might show some emotion towards her. Also, she could easily use her power to take away points from other houses, especially Gryffindor. And more specifically those two Weasley twins who were in her year at Hogwarts.

Olivia walked out of the greenhouse, suddenly feeling an emotion that she had never felt before - joy. For once, something in life had went right for her.

She was going to have a great time at Hogwarts, even if she was going to be alone.

A/n
YikEs spring break is over.
Sry if this was crap I gtg I got a
netball match to play

Kind of edited
Word count: 831