‘Lily?’ Harriet asked nervously, as they walked up the imposing stones steps that led to the enormous castle. ‘You know this Sorting that you were talking about? Are you sure we just have to try on a hat?’

Harriet woke early on her first morning in the castle. She had not slept well, unused to a bed that wasn’t her own, and she was tired.

‘It’s for you, Harriet!’ Lily shouted breathlessly, accidentally slamming the door behind her in her eagerness to get to Harriet’s side. ‘Look who it’s addressed to – “Miss Harriet Dursley, Gryffindor Tower, Hogwarts”. That’s my dad’s writing – your dad must’ve written back!’

‘Halloween is awesome,’ Lily said. ‘When I was at home Mum and Dad would let me go around to all the houses in the village asking for sweets. Even the Muggle ones!'

Although no-one said it, having only three people around the table for Christmas lunch was strange, but Harriet found it oddly peaceful without her grandparents.

Harriet knew exactly what she would say to Adira, and she was confident that once the girl had heard what she had to say she would be extremely grateful and welcome her support.

‘If I tell you, will you tell me?’ Harriet asked. Adira didn’t need to ask what she meant.

The Memorial Garden in the grounds of Hogwarts was usually out of bounds to students unless they had written permission, so Harriet had never been in there before. 

‘Grandma,’ Harriet replied, a little more stiffly than she intended. Then, ‘Do you want to come in?’