Chapter one – The letter
It was hot. Renesmee or Nessie as she was known to her close friends and family lay sprawled across the bed, the fan placed precariously on her bedside table. She was wearing one of Jake's old, brown t-shirts, and some cream shorts. The woody smell was comforting to her; it brought back memories, both recent and new. The book she was reading was beginning to send her to sleep, and she could feel her eyes closing. She wished her mum would come in and give her a soothing, cool hug. Then there wouldn't really be any need for the whirring fan, but her parents had gone to their own special place they called the meadow. She didn't mind, she understood that they needed their alone time, and she was happy to oblige. Her eyes snapped open at the sound of the front door being wrenched shut, burning curiosity shot through her; no one she knew would be that noisy.
She ran downstairs as fast as she could, but when she opened the front door, all was peaceful, serene even. It was as she turned away with a confused expression on her face, that she glanced down and saw it. It was a letter, the bewilderment grew more pronounced, who on earth would send them a letter? Her hands trembling slightly, with a kind of nervous excitement she picked it up, it was an very expensive looking envelope, it seemed suspiciously like the parchment her granddad Carlisle's old letters were made from. In perfect, delicate handwriting was her full name Renesmee Carlie Cullen, and her address was inscribed underneath. She was frowning now, a letter was strange enough, but a letter addressed to her?
She stepped back into the house and shut the door, sitting down at the dining table to fully examine this rarity. It felt cool and smooth beneath her hands; turning it over she saw that it was sealed. The kind of seal you'd find on letters addressed to members of the royal family, the wax was red and embedded in the middle was an important looking H. Shaking her head, she tore the envelope open, and pulled out the letter which appeared to be made from the same material as the envelope. Opening it she saw the same immaculate script as on the front, and as she began to read, her bewildered expression turned to utter disbelief.
Dear, Miss. Cullen,
We hope that this letter finds you both in good health, and the greatest of spirits. You have been selected to attend the prestigious establishment that is Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As you come from a muggle (non-magic) family, we would like to take a moment to explain to you what this means.
At this point Nessie lifted an eyebrow as if to say "if only you knew about my family, non-magic my foot!"
You have exhibited behaviours which are unexplainable, impossible even in the eyes of the muggle world. We are sure you have often wondered why, and have come to no rational conclusion. The answer is a simple one, but one that can often seem difficult to believe. The long and short of it is that you are a witch Miss. Cullen. At our institution we wish to hone your abilities and cultivate your talents, in a nurturing environment. We hope to see you on the first of September. The Hogwarts Express leaves from platform nine and three quarters, at exactly 11.00 am, so lateness under any circumstances is unacceptable. A list of all the items first years will need has been enclosed with this letter. Also you must come to an interview beforehand, but there will be further information regarding that once you have confirmed that you will be attending. Conformation must be given through a letter bearing your parents signatures; the letter is to then be attached to the Hogwarts owl.
Hoping to see you soon,
Professor McGonagall (Deputy Headmistress)
Nessie slowly set the letter down, and her face broke into a wide grin, the lengths Jake would go to fool her were truly astounding. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry? "That boy has the mind of a genius" she thought out loud. I mean come on; she'd even told him about the "unexplainable" events mentioned in the letter. Like when Uncle Emmett kept on teasing her about never being able to beat him in any kind of staring contest, and she'd gotten really angry and thought "flaming vampire" and then his hair had turned flaming red. It was only afterwards did dad tell her that full vampires didn't need to blink, and because she was a half vampire she needed to blink more times, she had been six at the time.
Jake had laughed really hard at that one, because Uncle Emmett had freaked out, and was almost ready to resort to dye, when it magically changed back. Come to think of it, no one had ever really found an explanation for why that had happened. Don't be silly Nessie she told herself, you can't be half vampire, half human, and then a witch on top. It was a ludicrous idea. Besides didn't witches have pointy hats, moles and broomsticks? Then again weren't vampires supposed to be sickly pale, and melt in the sun? No, no, no, this is definitely Jake's idea of a funny joke. How on earth would some random school know that she was eleven, when in human years she was three and a half? Sure she looked eleven, but it's not as if they'd seen her. This in Nessie's mind was valid proof that this was a hoax, she would go to Jake's house right this instant, and confront him. How dare he play such a cruel joke on her, what if she'd believed all this nonsense about Hogwish?
She scribbled a note to her parents telling them that she'd gone to Jake's; they wouldn't worry because it's not as if a human could harm a hair on her head. As for the other vampire's they wouldn't touch her, she may be half human but they'd never hunt someone that was partly their own. And as for the wolves… well they'd do everything in their power to protect the hair on her head. She walked out into the scorching heat, only to be greeted by a pair of wise yellow eyes. The owl was perched on their wall, staring at her expectantly. She shook her head, and wondered where Jake had got an owl from. The sun was burning into her, and she felt tiny beads of sweat trickling down her skin as she ran. Flashes of lush green swept past her, and then before she knew it she was standing in front of the red house that she loved. She knocked once.
Jake opened the door and grinned at her, whilst she stood expressionless. Poor Jake's grin slid of his face, and he stood puzzled by her coldness, normally she was always so happy to see him. "What's wrong Nessie?" he ventured.
Nessie wasn't having any of it "Jacob Black, what if I'd believed your little joke? What if I'd been the happiest girl in the world that I'd been chosen? How upset would that have made me?" Jake just shook his head slowly, wondering if this was what puberty did to girls.
"Renesmee Carlie Cullen, come in or you're going to get burnt alive. And for the record I don't have a clue what you're talking about." Jake stood aside, to give Nessie way, but she stayed put.
"This is what I'm talking about Jake" she shoved the envelope into his hand. Jake looking dazed, carefully took the letter out, and began to read, ignoring Nessie's glare. Suddenly he burst into laughter, and then looked up from the letter to see if Nessie was being serious.
"What kind of a name is Hog-" he looked down at the letter and finished with "warts?" Nessie was fuming, but as Jake continued to read the letter his amused expression turned to shock, and then awe. Nessie was starting to wonder now, because Jake was not this good an actor.
"Where did you get the owl from Jake" Jake laughed.
"Nessie will you please shut-up with your freaky questions." Then thoughtfully he added "although this letter does say to reply by owl, where did you see it?"
"Outside my house, Jake seriously do you have nothing to do with this?" she tried one last time.
Solemnly, Jake said "cross my heart and hope to die, now will you please come in?" Nessie stumbled into the house in a dream-like state; her mind in the matter of seconds had gone into complete overdrive.
