Magically Midnight: Taking Off My Mask

Magically Midnight: Taking Off My Mask

by BlooGrolilacan09

Chapter One: Somewhere Else

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. Even in an unconscious state I could hear the grandfather clock in the hall. I should have been used to it after six years of living with Gabe and Louie, but somehow the clock gave me an unsound feel, almost as much as the house itself did.

It was an old Victorian style, with a balcony upstairs and a polished marble staircase. Very melodramatic if you ask me. The house was abandoned by its owners over fifty years before, due to supposed 'evil spirits' who didn't bother me too much. But, I would rather be somewhere, anywhere else.

"Girl! Wake up!" an all-too familiar voice yelled. Cassiopeia. She was my best (and only) friend, even if she didn't know it. "You'll miss your train!"

I opened one eye, yawned and looked at Cassiopeia who leaned against the bookshelf in her photograph, as nonchalantly as a teenager today would, though she was taken during the 1930's. I reluctantly opened my other eye and stood, wobbily.

"Oy! Cass'! What time is it?" I hissed, after tripping over a rather large black text book. I looked up, my eyes meeting Cass's which were smudged by photograph ink, and not completely visible.

"A bit after seven," Cass' responded, in her thick Irish accent. "And my NAME is Cassiopeia"

"Sorry CASSIE," I mumbled up until the last word and than walked into my bathroom and stared into the mirror at my reflection. Sad teal eyes stared back at me, under some auburn curls which drooped across my face, as if they were wet. Maybe I should do something with my hair...I thought. It was never this untidy before mum died... I shook off the thought of mum's death and went on looking into the mirror. My lips were big, dark red, and almost pout-y looking. My small nose was perched between my eyes and on my left cheek, there were two small, tear drop shaped scars. My bites.

"CASSIOPEIA!" screamed Cassie from the other room, loud enough to break glass, and apparently loud enough to snap me back into reality. Cassie continued to blabber on, however I didn't understand a word she was saying, so I picked her up and threw her in my big black trunk, which dulled the chatter and slowly made it stop.

"Ah yes. That's better," I told myself, continuing to run a brush through my hair. It hurt. Badly. But at least I wouldn't have too many dread-locks on my first day at Hogwarts.

After smoothing out my hair, throwing on some random outfit (a black skirt, a tight red shirt, a short-sleeved white button-up over that with a black tie, plus clunk-y black boots) and putting my star necklace back on then grabbing my trunk, I ran down the staircase, looking around for Ian which I would normally never do. Ian came to live there when I was about nine. He used to be really nice and quiet but just a few months before, he started to be obnoxious and rude and...I didn't think I liked him at all anymore.

When I found him he was in our oversized kitchen, drinking fruit juice, fully clothed for once (He usually just ignores shirts).

"Ready?" I asked, giving him a look, obviously surprised about his attire.

"Duh," He responded, standing from the table. He stood just taller than me, with light blonde hair and icy blue eyes. His skin was almost as pale as mine and he had the same scars as I, only his were right beneath his right eye. He could have been handsome, if it weren't for the constant sneer on his face.

"Well, than, what're you standing around for?! Come on, lazy!" I rolled my eyes and picked up the trunk from the floor. "Let's go!

I turned and walked towards the fireplace.

"Oh, and try to keep your shirt on long enough to make an impression."

With that, I escaped through the fire, hoping that Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was ready for someone like me.