Prologue
Lacie sat at the top of the stairs with her elbows on her knees. The small window at the top of the stairs let the sunlight filter in and she was becoming uncomfortably warm. Their family Kneazles didn’t seem to think so and was sprawled out, his tail giving a small flick back and forth. His belly was exposed and she had the largest urge to reach out and pet him but past experiences had told her that wasn’t a good idea.
She had given up trying to listen in on the conversation in the room below as her parents had learned that if they didn’t want her trying to eavesdrop they needed to use magic.
The door stayed shut for long enough that Lacie gave up and went outside to their large garden. She went to the wooden swing that was attached to the large tree although she didn’t put much effort into swinging. The rope dug into her palms as she gripped them and waited.
Eventually, her parents, Anna and Lev Farlow, opened the back door and stood on the porch and waited for her to approach them. Her mother's golden hair seemed to almost glow red as the light hit it from the side. It was a stark contrast to her father’s mostly dark brown hair.
“Lacie, we wanted to discuss Hogwarts again.” Lacie’s mother motioned them all inside to the kitchen where they sat around the square table.
Lacie fiddled with the table cloth. “I want to go to Hogwarts.”
“We know you want to go. But we are concerned about your condition,” Anna replied.
Lacie was, for the most part, like any other ten year old child going on eleven: curious about the greater world, finding her own interests, and above all, seeking her own independence. However, for the past five years, bouts of migraines and dizziness would cripple the young girl which could last anywhere from a handful of minutes to the worst hours.
“I’ll be okay!” Lacie insisted. This conversation wasn’t the first nor did she think it would be the last. “Last time the healers said I just needed to watch the weather, make sure I eat and drink enough, not to stress too much-”
Her father held up a hand to stop her from listing everything the healers had mentioned. “Your mother and I just wanted to make sure that you still wanted to go.”
Hope bubbled within Lacie’s chest and she held her breath waiting.
“We will let you go,” Anna continued before Lacie could interrupt, “if the healers at St. Mungo's give you the okay. And I will be contacting the Hogwarts staff about your migraines and see if they can supply potions if you need them.”
Lacie nodded eagerly and jumped up to give both her parents a hug. “Thank you! I’m so excited.”
It was during dinner, when the excitement had died down a smidgen that she started to really think about the upcoming school year. What house would she end up in? Would she make friends? Her brow furrowed as she twirled a strand of hair between her fingers.
“Is something wrong, kiddo?” Lev asked his daughter.
“Do you think I’ll make friends in Hogwarts?”
“Of course you will, Lacie,” her mother replied. “And you already know Alice and Marlene will be starting this year as well.”
Lacie perked up, she had, somehow, forgotten that Alice was already there and it was nice to know that Marlene would be a first year as well. Lacie didn’t have many longterm friends and was looking forward to making more.
“Can we colour my hair before I go?” Lacie asked, playing with the strands of silvery-black hair. Her long locks were like her father’s, very dark brown, but streaks of grey could be found shimmering throughout. “I’m already going to stand out.”
Her parents exchanged a look. Her father finally said, “We don’t want to use a charm.”
He was referring to the hair colour changing charm they refused to use on her. Something about being comfortable in her own skin with the added nuance that she wouldn’t be able to remove it or recast it herself.
“We could get a hair-dyeing potion, it would only last a few weeks,” her mother said. “We want you to be comfortable with your appearance though.”
“Think about it,” Lev said gently, running a hand through his own hair. “If you want to dye your hair, we’ll support you, but maybe now’s the time to come into your own.”
Lacie ducked and dodged her way into the kitchen to set her plate into the sink. A stream of dirty dishes hovered around the kitchen as her mother waved her wand while her father set about storing the leftover food for later.
A cool breeze blew in from her open window as she lay on her bed. Lacie had abandoned the book she was trying to read as her thoughts raced. She didn’t mind her hair, not at all. In fact, a number of compliments that came her way were about her hair, but she was still uneasy about going into her first year at Hogwarts with it on full display. Wasn’t she going to be different enough with her other condition? Although she intended to hide that for as long as she could.
The last thing Lacie wanted was to stand out. As much as her parents and even Alice told her that standing out isn’t a bad thing, she just wanted to have a normal start to her schooling.
A faint pulsing began in her temple and she could feel the tension start to spread. Taking deep breaths, she took a sip of water, and closed her eyes hoping to sleep it off.