The Quidditch League Fanfiction Competition

Round 3

Appleby Arrows

Beater 2

Song Burn from Hamilton: Write about someone cutting someone else out of their life

Prompts used:

3. (restriction) only female characters

6.(relationship) sisters

Lyrics used: I saved every letter you wrote me, I'm re-reading the letters you wrote me, I'm searching and scanning for answers in every line, I'm burning the memories, Burning the letters

Word Count: 1,002

My hands shake, and the letter I'm holding becomes blurry. What did I do wrong? I can only wonder how it has gotten to this.

I saved every letter you wrote me

All of the letters you have sent me are kept under my bed. I have every letter going back to first year. They are still in the same box, too, the one you made for my 11th birthday. You gave it to me, wrapped in purple paper, the morning before I got the letter. The letter that changed my life and tore us apart. The top of the white box is worn from use, but the painted pink petunias that trail up the sides are still bright. I wish I knew if you still have your box-the one you painted with lilies so they would go together.

I always admired your art skills. I thought you could do anything. I remember the one time you tried to teach me to paint. You tried to help me paint a lily, but it ended up looking like a purple starfish. You were always better at gymnastics, too. You loved to teach me. I wish I could go back to those times. I wish I could go back to the summer days of swimming and picking wildflowers. Go back to the winter days of sledding and building snow forts.

I always looked up to you. You were my big sister, how could I not?

You meant everything to me. I thought you were perfect at everything. I thought we would be best friends our entire lives.

When we were little, I would spend countless hours watching the clouds and daydreaming about the future. We would grow up and have kids and our kids would be best friends. That was my plan, anyway.

How could this happen? We were so close. I thought we were still close. I knew you were upset, but I didn't think it would last. I really thought that you were just jealous and that you would get over it and everything would go back to normal.

I'm re-reading the letters you wrote me

I'm searching and scanning for answers in every line

When did you begin to hate me? I take the box from under my bed and slowly open the lid. Carefully, I retrieve every letter and spread them out on my bed. The older ones are worn, and some have ripped where they were folded. I read through all of them, trying to figure out when you began to hate me. The very first one is a response to my letter about the sorting. You wrote that you missed me and you wished you could come to Hogwarts, too. I guess even then you were a bit upset. I thought that had changed. By second year, the letters sounded happy. You liked your school, and every letter would talk about your group of friends. I guess third year was when it started to change for the worse. It happened subtly. I guess that's why I never noticed it. The first letter that I realized things had changed was the one asking why I was still at this school, and how I wasn't tired of being around these people. Slowly, 'those people' changed into 'your kind'. The letters started getting shorter. They started coming less often. Last year was my fifth year. You sent only six letters.

Still, I thought we were friends. Then, I got your letter today. I walk down the stairs to the common room, white box in my hand. The bright red and gold room is deserted, everyone in their rooms for the night. I walk to the fireplace and sit down in front of it. Fire is beautiful. Fire is free. It is unstoppable.

Why do you hate me? What did I do? Nothing separates us except for going to different schools. I'm a witch, but we're still not all that different.

I want to be able to forgive you, but even if I do I know this will continue.

I'm done.

I'm done sending you letters every week, just to get a reply in a couple of months calling me a freak. I'm done with caring about you. I'm done looking forward to spending time with you.

I'm done with being your sister.

I'm burning the memories

Burning the letters

I take your most recent letter out of the box. I lean towards the fire, and within seconds it catches. The fire's tongues dance across the letter. The corner of the letter shrivels in retreat, charring black. I can see your words scribbled on the paper: 'freak' 'hope to never see you again' 'sincerely, petunia'.

The fire eats at your words, and I have to let go before I get burned. It falls into the fire and is reduced to dust within moments.

I do this to every letter, except one. I leave the first one you wrote to me. I know I will still need to look back at the first one, just to remember how it once was.

Along with the letters, I'm letting go of the memories. With each letter I burn another memory: going to the park, playing by a creek, stargazing in the summer, camping in our backyard. When I felt alone, I used to go through the letters. As they burn, I can feel a part of myself burning to, but that's okay.

I will miss you, but I won't miss who you are now. I will miss the big sister

I lost, I will miss my best friend, but I won't miss your harsh words and judgment. In the future, my children will not see your children. They won't be friends. My children will not grow up being judged by you and your family.

I'm not your sister, and your not mine. I no longer look up to you.

You will no longer be a part of my life.

A/N: The text in italics are lyrics from Burn.