Page 2 of The Banshee and the Warlock

"So, why purple?" she asks as we weave our way through the other students heading to their classes.

"It's my favourite colour," I respond. "You've never asked me any of this before."

"I don't try to start conversations about people's hair," she responds. "Even here. People have a lot of questions about the snakes."

"That's fair. Your hair is..." I trail off, not too sure where I'm going with the statement, and realising that our friendship is probably still a little too new for me to risk insulting her. Besides, I like Nati, I don't want to insult her.

"You can say it." There's a resigned note in her voice.

"It's pretty. I like how the scales reflect light," I respond honestly.

"That's a new one," Nati responds, but I can see the pleased surprise in her eyes. "So, what's your actual hair like? I don't think I've ever seen the roots."

"It's silvery-white."

"Because you're secretly a crone in disguise?" She leads me down a corridor that looks vaguely familiar.

I snort. "And that's the reason I dye it. Being called a crone is one of the nicer things people have said to me."

She lets out an amused laugh. "It's hardly even noteworthy here."

"I know. And maybe in a couple of years, I won't care about walking around with it being natural."

"I look forward to seeing that." She gives me a genuine smile that makes me think she's telling the truth.

Being at Rosewood is one of the first times in my life that I've truly felt like I could be the true me, and yet I'm held back by the fact that I don't know what I am, I've never known, and how can I embrace myself if I don't know something so fundamental?

"This is you," Nati says, gesturing toward the door.

"Thanks for showing me the way."

"What are flatmates for?"

I laugh. "Well next time you need showing somewhere in the academy that I know and you don't, I'll return the favour. Have fun in Divination."

"I'm going to try," she responds, waving as she heads further down the corridor, towards where I assume her lecture is. I'm not actually sure what happens in Divination, not having taken it myself.

I turn my attention to the door in front of me and take a deep breath and try to shed the weight of my mum's expectations, though I'm not sure if that's going to be possible. I'm just going to have to hope that I don't make too much of a fool of myself with all the things I don't know about brewing potions.

Chapter 2

Anja

There's a surprising amount of chatter in the room as I enter, though no one is paying attention to me. I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear and turn my attention towards the woman with frizzy hair and thick black glasses sitting behind her desk. She looks up, almost surprised to find me standing in front of her.

"Hi," I say with an awkward wave. She nods and checks one of the main pieces of paper spread over her desk.

"Name?" she asks.

"Anja Greystone," I respond.

She ticks a spot on her sheet of paper, that I assume must have my name on. "Take one of the spare seats. There's one over there." She gestures to the left.

I'm not entirely sure that over there is enough direction, but as I look over the long wooden laboratory benches, I realise there's only actually one spot free. I guess that tells me where to sit.

I head over to it, trying not to feel as if everyone is watching me, despite the fact I doubt anyone is. Most of the other students seem to be paying more attention to their friends than to me. A quick scan of the room makes me realise that I don't know anyone here. Maybe I should have waited to take Potions until I could do it with one of my friends, but it's too late now.

I take a moment to get a good look at the guy I'm supposed to be sitting next to. I'm guessing he's around my age, with dark grey skin. He pushes some of his black hair away from his face, revealing a batlike ear sticking out from beneath it. Despite the fact he's clearly tall and broad, I find the ears almost endearing.