Nikki sat in front of her mirror, running a brush through her long, black hair. Her pale face stared back at her and her eyes moved to the trunk sitting on her bed. Tomorrow was the day. Her father had put it off long enough. She was finally going to Hogwarts. She'd never been to the wizarding school in her homeland. Her father had sent her abroad to study at Beauxbaton for her first few years, and then brought her back to England when he realized that Nikki didn't exactly fit in with the crowd of French ladies.
There was a quiet knock at the door. Nikki bade the person enter. When the door swung open, it was the family house-elf.
"Beggin' your pardon, miss," he said in a trembling voice, "but are you prepared to leave in the morning? We have to go quite early so we don't miss the train."
"Yes, I'll be ready," she replied quietly. The elf bowed and closed the door. "I'll be quite ready."