Disclaimer: I don't own HP characters or places except the ones I create.

SPEECHLESS

CHAPTER 1: THE BOY

September third,

Ah, there's nothing like the sweet, sweet scent of the grounds after it's rained. I sit, staring out over the lake, watching the giant squid swim through the murky water. Felicity and Noah, my two best friends, are on either side of me, laughing at some stupid joke they have come up with. The wind blows a piece of my hair in front of my face and Noah tucks it safely behind my ear. I look at him and smile. He smiles back.

Izzie stopped reading to look at her mother. "This was you, wasn't it?"

She just smiled at her daughter before leaving the room. Her mother had been hurt in a magical accident when she was little that made her unable to speak with her voice. Izzie and her family used sign language and notes to communicate with Mum now. It was sad, really. Izzie had heard her mum used to have such a lovely voice…

She turned back to the journal and continued reading.

Felicity nudges me and says, "Why don't you take a break from that a while and come with us to the common room. There's a beginning of the year party!"

I shake my head and rip a page from this journal. Tempting, but no. You two go have fun. Maybe I'll meet you later. Felicity gives me one last look and I write, Go.

Reluctantly, she stands up, pulling Noah with her. They trot off to Gryffindor Tower and I watch as they go. I have never been one for parties, preferring to keep to myself. Someone's coming my way.

"Hello."

I look up. It's a boy, a Gryffindor, by the looks of him. He has straight black hair that reaches his pretty blue eyes. I smile at him.

"What is a pretty girl like you doing all alone out here?" He leans against the tree, staring at me with a tantalizing smile. Behind him, I see three boys who must be his friends.

I look back at him. Using the same piece of parchment I used to talk to Felicity, I write, I'm writing. Care to join me? I pat the empty space next to me.

"I- sure," He sits down and I smile. His friends drift closer, seemingly engrossed in the process of picking berries off a nearby bush.

Nice friends, I write, not looking at him.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see him glance at his friends and then back at me. "Yeah."

We sit in silence for a moment before he asks the inevitable. "So, why don't you talk?"

I look at him and smile sadly. I got in the way of an experiment gone wrong. Ever since then I haven't been able to talk.

He nods slowly. "Oh."

It's silent for a few minutes more before the boy asks, "Do you want to go to the party with me?"

I smile at him, thinking he is just like Felicity – a party animal. No thanks, I write. I think I'll stay here. Maybe another time…

Seeming to catch the hint, the boy says, "Yeah, definitely another time…"

I smile at him; he smiles back. Getting up, he glances at me one last time before joining his friends. I wonder what his name is. Then I realize I don't care.