Chapter 1
The library had finally closed for the day, forcing me to start walking home. Well, home is a strong word. Ten years ago, when I was five, both of my parents had been killed in a car accident, and I've been in an orphanage ever since.
My father had gone to pick my mother up from the hospital while I waited at a daycare. She had just given birth to my baby brother and I was eagerly awaiting their return, but they never came. I was later told, by a very nice police officer, that they were gone and "in a better place". At five years old I didn't fully understand what that meant, but now I do. When no other family members came forward to claim me they put me in an orphanage.
It wasn't so bad. The only thing I could complain about was the quality of the food there and the lack of Internet. Although growing up there was one kid named Brian, and his two lackeys, Kevin and Lewis, who would always push the others around. Since I was the new kid they tormented me the most. They always made fun of how weird my eyes were. They were like a bright purple.
There was one time when Brian, Kevin and Lewis had sunk so low that they had started messing with a snake hiding in the bushes. They were laughing and poking at it with a stick. I had quietly walked up behind Brian and tapped his shoulder. When he turned around I socked him right in the nose. I felt it break beneath my fist and watched with satisfaction as he dropped to the ground with a cry, holding his bleeding nose. Kevin and Lewis helped him up and brought him inside, shouting insults at me all the way.
I looked under the bush and saw a small, orange snake with red stripes going down its back. It seemed to have calmed down so I coaxed it out from under the bush and allowed it to crawl around my shoulders. It was only about seven inches or so, still a baby. She's been with me ever since.
Apparently they had take Brian to the orphanages head caretaker and I was punished. Brian was only ever seen as an angel in all of the caretakers eyes and I was labelled a trouble maker ever since. It was totally worth it when I saw Brian's crooked nose the next day.
Ever since that day Brian had gotten even worse towards me. He began beating me up, but nobody would come to help me because they were scared Brian would start beating them up too. I learned not to make any pained noises while he did this because it only egged him on.
When I turned thirteen I would escape to the library after school and read whatever book I could find. I have probably read every book in that library, but my favorite was the Harry Potter series. After I finished the books I watched the movies on the library computers. And let me tell you, I totally feel for Voldemort. I'm not saying what he did was right, because it really wasn't, but he was in an orphanage just like I am and I can see why he would hate the muggles. Although his hate was way deeper than mine.
It was when I was fourteen I started reading all the fanfictions about Harry Potter. I've always
thought it would be really cool to be a wizard (technically witch but who cares) and I've always wished to go to Hogwarts. But it was impossible, not only was it a fantasy story, but I lived in America. I had no way to get there even if it was real.
I had barely made it ten feet from the library when I felt a drop of rain hit my head. I looked up, only for another drop to land in my eye. I ducked my head and rubbed at my eye, jostling the snake around my shoulders. I heard the irritated hiss. "Sorry Basil." I wasn't very creative when I have her the name, but when I read Harry Potter I decided I would make it short for Basilisk. Although technically that wasn't much of a name either but I didn't care.
The rain started coming down even harder until it finally it was coming down in sheets. "You've got to be kidding me." My dirty blonde, almost brown, hair was quickly soaked with no hood to protect it. And just as I thought it couldn't get any worse, lightning lit up the sky, followed by booming thunder.
I broke out into a sprint, hoping to get to the orphanage as soon as possible. But the rain was coming down so hard I couldn't see very far in front of me. I would have ignored and continued running, but I slipped in a puddle.
I was laying on my back, the air being knocked out of me. My dazed eyes were looking up at the sky, and the last thing I saw was a bright flash of light and an all consuming darkness.
AN: Just so you know she was struck by lightning
