To Slytherin, or not to Slytherin?

Prologue

It was a day like any other in privet drive number 4. A content couple was asleep in the master bedroom, a boy was playing video games even though he should be asleep. In a cupboard under the stairs lay a girl, curled up on a bed made of clothes. That girl was abused by the very couple that was peacefully asleep a floor up and bullied by the horrible boy upstairs. Her name? Rose Potter.

Rose was very much used to being abused and beaten by her so-called "family". In fact, she had become very adept at trying to avoid her uncle's bouts of anger, her aunt's quiet nastiness and her cousin's cruel moods. She had to wear clothes that were way too big on her, but she had tediously cut and sown them to fit her properly, to the dismay of her guardians. She was quite thin and small for her age, being underweight and severely malnourished. She had honey-brown, unruly wavy hair and flashing green eyes. Her aunt and uncle had always commented that she was very lucky not to look that much like her parents,  as she shouldn't want to bear any association with them - they were "Alcoholic whores" - especially her mother. Now, Rose was a smart girl. She was good at school and aced her classes although her aunt and uncle didn't like it. But they had reluctantly agreed that if she would do Dudley's homework, they wouldn't punish her for it. Or rather, she had coaxed them into agreeing. Over the years, she had become quite good at tricking her family into allowing her things, as it was the only way to survive.

Rose awoke from her less than peaceful sleep- she had been having nightmares about her family again- by the screeching sound of her aunt Petunia's voice. "Get up, you lazy girl, it's 6:30 already, you're supposed to cook breakfast!".  Rose stood up, sighing. She patted the dust off her pyjama (An old oversized shirt of Dudley's) and changed into her usual attire: a short sleeve black T-shirt that she had sown to fit her, and a knee-high green skirt from the thrift shop. She braided her unruly and slightly dirty brown hair and proceeded to cook her family's breakfast. 

Breakfast was a quiet affair, as usual. Uncle Vernon required absolute silence while reading his morning paper, and Dudley wasn't up yet. "Why are you just standing there, freak? Go make yourself useful, get the mail!",  her uncle snapped. She left quickly the room. The mail was boring, as usual, a bill, a card from Maddie (her aunt's friend) who was in Mallorca, and some advertisement. But then, she saw another envelope. It seemed to be old paper, parchment even. "Rosaline Elizabeth Potter, cupboard under the stairs, Privet Drive 4, Little Whinging, Surrey", it said. A million thoughts ran through her head: who would write her a letter? And how did they know she lived in a cupboard? Nobody was supposed to know that, she would be punished! She turned it, it was sealed with a wax seal, a shield with 4 animals on it. "What in god's name is taking you so long, you freak?!", shouted her uncle from the living room. As fast as she possibly could, she tucked the letter in her cupboard, and hurried back inside the dining room. "Nothing uncle Vernon, I'm sorry", she said, as innocently as possible. Her uncle rolled his eyes and dismissed her. She raced to her cupboard, eager to open the letter. "Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry", the strange letter said. She began to read, growing more and more curious with every single word she read.

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Miss Potter,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on September 1st. We await your owl by no later than July 31st

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress

HOGWARTS SCHOOL
of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

UNIFORM
First-year students will require:
1.Three sets of plain work robes (black)
2.One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
3.One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
4.One winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupil's clothes should carry name tags.

COURSE BOOKS
All students should have a copy of each of the following:

The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1)
by Miranda Goshawk

A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot

Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling

A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch

One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi
by Phyllida Spore

Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
by Newt Scamander

The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection
by Quentin Trimble

OTHER EQUIPMENT

1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales

Students may also bring and owl OR a cat OR a toad.

PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS

Just as she finished her letter, the bell rang. "Go get the door, Girl", her uncle shouted from the living room. She tucked the letter away and proceeded to open the door. At the door was a most peculiar lady. She wore dark green robes that went well with her equally colored eyes, and a black pointy hat like that of a witch. She was a tall, thin, stern looking lady who had greying black hair and wore silver framed glasses. "Good day Miss, I'm looking for Rosalie Potter". Jasmine quickly regained posture, and said with her most polite voice: "That would be me ma'am, how can I help you"?

POV Minerva McGonagall

Today was an interesting day. Minerva normally introduced muggleborn students to the wizarding world, but today she would be helping Rose potter, who had been living with muggles ever since that fateful day in October of 1980. Why Albus had left the girl with muggles was beyond her knowledge, but Albus' plans were often incomprehensible at first glance. He surely had not gained all those titles doing nothing. While walking towards Privet Drive no. 4, she noted a certain neatness in the gardens and houses. It was clear that neatness and order was expected from the inhabitants of Little Whinging. She pushed the doorbell of privet drive no. 4 and waited for the door to open. She vaguely heard a man shouting something only moments before the door opened. She then saw something far beyond her expectations: A girl, small, scrawny and way too thin, obviously severely malnourished opened the door. She saw the girl stare at her, but less than a second later she had regained posture as if she didn't want to come off vulnerable. Still struck by the obvious neglect this girl must have suffered, she told the girl she was looking for Rose Potter. She hoped this was NOT Rose, but that hope flew when the girl politely answered (way too politely for a child her age, really) "That would be me ma'am, how can I help you?". 

"Sweet Merlin Albus, what have you done?!" Minerva thought to herself, but continued after quickly regaining posture. "Well, first off, Happy birthday, Miss Potter", she said, smiling sincere. She noted that the girl was slightly off guard, like no-one ever said that to her before. Wondering what the bloody hell was going on, she continued her story. "You have been sent your acceptance letter, of course, and as you have been muggle raised, I've come to take you to Diagon Alley to get your stuff for Hogwarts." "Diagon Alley? Hogwarts? I mean, yes ma'am, I've been send a letter, but I thought it was just a joke!" The girl blurted, trying helplessly to stay as polite as possible. Minerva's poor head was dazzling now, how could the girl not know about all of this?! She was the bloody girl-who-lived, for Merlin's sake!

Rose is supposed to look like Amira van Willigenhagen (look it up), only with bright green eyes, and of course she is malnourished and less well-kept.