So like i wrote this story a long time ago before i had a fanfiction account. and now i'm publishing it. i have most of the chapter ready but i won't publish without reviews

Disclaimer: i do not own hogwarts or any of J.K Rowling's characters, but i do own Isabella and her family

Gifted

Isabella was nine. Strange things happened to her. She was a witch. But she didn't know. This small, black-haired, blue eyed, pale-skinned little girl's powers are more developed than any other witch or wizard ever. How will this young witch deal with going to Hogwarts two years early?

Chapter One

BEEP BEEP BEEP! Isabella got up and switched off her alarm clock. She went to the bathroom combed through her elbow length, raven black hair, and brushed her teeth. She got dressed and put her shoes on and ran down the stairs two at a time. She got a bowl of granola and sat down at the table.

Just as she finished her breakfast she heard the doorbell ring. She got up and ran to the door just as her dad stumbled out of his room.

"I'll get it, Dad," Isabella yelled.

"Thanks, Honey," her Dad replied.

Isabella walked to the door quickly. They almost never got visitors and she was excited. She opened the door and standing in the doorway was an older woman with cat-like green eyes. "Hello, How can I help you?" She asked.

"Hello, Isabella. I am Professor McGonagall. I have some things to talk to you and your dad about. May I come in?" She replied.

"Sure, come on in," Isabella replied confused. She led the Professor into the kitchen where her dad was eating breakfast. "Um, Dad," she said, "This is Professor McGonagall. She wants to talk to us."

"Come on in and sit down."

After her Dad sat the Professor down and got her coffee. She said," As your daughter has informed you I am Professor McGonagall. I am here to talk to you about Isabella's future."

"What about it?"

"Your daughter is a very developed witch. I have come to take her to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The term starts in three days. Most kids don't start at this school for another two years, but your daughter is especially gifted. I understand that you live alone with Isabella and you could get along fine with her for the year. Of course, she would visit on holidays and summer break. I also understand that you probably knew this was coming because your wife was a witch as well," Professor McGonagall stated.

"Mom was a witch! Wait a second there are no such thing as witches," Isabella exclaimed.

"Oh, I assure you there is and you are. You need to come to Hogwarts to learn how to use your powers before they develop too much and cause troubles. Even though you will be two years younger than all the other students in your year, I believe that you will understand everything that the other students due and you might even be ahead of them"

"Wow, this is so much! I am only nine years old and you're telling me I am a witch and am going to some boarding school to train. Not to mention you also told me my mom was a witch and she died two years after I was born," Isabella said incredulously.

"Yes I am. You are going to be a very gifted witch when you are trained which brings me back to the point of getting you to Hogwarts. As I said before, the term starts in three days but, I would like you to come with me today so we can get your proper supplies. Then you can come with me to Hogwarts and can stay in a guest chamber until the term starts."

Then Isabella's dad who had been quiet the whole time spoke up, "Isabella, honey she is telling the truth. I knew you would end up going to Hogwarts eventually but I wasn't expecting it to come two years early. I am going to miss you so much and I'll write to you every week. But right now you need to go pack up what Professor McGonagall tells you to and go with her."

After she told Isabella what she was going to need, she went back upstairs to get it. She needed clothes and toiletries and all that stuff. Everything else, McGonagall told her, she would get when they went school shopping. She quickly packed her things in a small duffel bag with ease. Despite her age, Isabella was very independent.

She ran back down the stairs to her waiting father and engulfed him in a hug. "I love you so much" Isabella whispered.

"As I love you, more than my own life. I will miss you so much, but now you need to go and learn. Be good and don't forget to write to your old man," Isabella's dad finished his speech and pulled her closer.

"Sorry to interrupt, but really we must be going. I am expected back by this evening," Professor McGonagall spoke up from the corner.

"Okay, go on baby, I'll see you at Christmas," Isabella's dad pushed her toward the professor with a forlorn look on his face.

"Bye daddy, I love you," Isabella smiled at her dad but her eyes were sad. Professor put a hand on her shoulder and led her out the door. They walked silently to the car and Isabella slid into the back seat. She lowered her gaze to her lap to hide the fact that she was close to tears. Ever since her mom died seven years ago her father had never been the same. He had relied on Isabella more than ever. And now that she was leaving him, she wasn't sure that he would be able to handle himself.

But, it was time for Isabella now. It was time for her to do what was best for her and not her father. She was her own person, not her father's babysitter. With that thought she held her head high and asked, "Where are we going?"

"We're going to Diagon Alley to get your school supplies. I realize that you only have a small sum of money so the school will provide sufficient funds so you can buy the needed textbooks and robes. I will personally buy your wand so you don't have to buy it second-hand like you will for everything else. The money that you have will be converted to wizard money and you can buy a pet with it," Professor McGonagall answered.

"Oh" Isabella replied and let her mind wander. She thought about magic and wands and Hogwarts, but mostly she thought about her mom. With her mind lost in thought she didn't notice when the car stopped outside a small pup in London. The Leaky Cauldron was its name. Isabella wandered why they were outside some weird bar but didn't ask because just then Professor McGonagall stepped out of the car so Isabella followed. They walked inside but instead of sitting down or ordering something, they walked straight back into the courtyard behind the pub. McGonagall walked straight up to a wall and pulled out her wand. She then tapped a precise sequence of bricks on the wall above a trashcan.

Then right before her eyes, Isabella saw the wall crumble back on it, leaving a gap the size of a walkway. And behind that wall was a most magical sight in the world. It was a busy street with wizard shops galore. There was so much. Candy shops, bookstores, wand shop, a big tower with a sign that read, Gringotts Bank, and restaurants were lined sown the street.
"Wow, what is this place?" Isabella asked in amazement.

"This, young Isabella, is Diagon Ally, the wizard and witch shopping center, as you might call it and we are here to buy your school supplies."

Then with the professor leading the way, they walked through the gap and started shopping. First they went to a bookstore called Flourish and Bolts to buy on a very stretched budget, all the books were very tattered and used. But, it didn't bother Isabella, because she was engrossed in the knowledge inside. She wasn't paying attention as Professor McGonagall bought a battered cauldron, a set of scales and a telescope for her. She didn't take her head out of them until Professor McGonagall led her into the next store. Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions was where he would get his black school robes. Isabella had to strip down to her undershirt and panties and try on countless second hand robes until she found ones small enough to fit her slender boney figure. After at least an hour, they left the store with three sets of old black robes that still were slightly too big for her, a pair of very tiny dragon hide gloves, a small black hat and a warm winter coat.

Then they went to the Apothecary to buy ingredients for potions. It smelled rather horrible in there but Isabella didn't complain, she just settled into a chair in the corner and stuffed her nose back into the textbooks until Professor McGonagall had gotten everything she needed.

Finally, it was time to purchase a wand, the part Isabella was especially looking forward to. "One thing you should know is that a wand chooses the witch or wizard, not the other way around. Mr. Ollivander will let you try out various wands to find the one best for you. Okay, off you go," she said giving Isabella's shoulder a small shove.

"Wait, you're not coming?" she called but when she turned around the professor was nowhere to be seen. Isabella turned back around and walked slowly into the wand shop alone. As she walked into the dimly lit store she realized that no one was behind the counter. "Hello, anybody here?" she called in a small voice.

Then from somewhere back among the various selves of wands a small wizard called out, "Are you a Hogwarts student?" he asked.

"Yes"

"Welcome," Mr. Ollivander said, "Come, come, let's find you a wand" He gestured for her to come forward and she obliged. "Now, let's see, what is your dominant hand?"

"Left," Isabella answered. Mr. Ollivander nodded and went to work measuring her arm and other various places. When he seamed to have enough measurements he disappeared back into the shelves of stock. After about five minutes he came back with a pile of wand boxes in his arms. He stacked them precariously on the counter and lifted the first wand off the stack.

"Mahogany, unicorn hair, seven inches" he informed her as he handed the wand to her. She picked up the wand and gave it a wave as McGonagall had instructed her but she had barely done anything before he quickly took it back and handed her another with a similar size and weight but, it too felt wrong in her hand and Mr. Ollivander snatched it away quickly. After more wordless tries of similar wands he spoke up, "Perhaps I have been going about this all wrong. Because of your small size I went with small lightweight, unicorn hair wands. But, maybe you need a longer heavier weight wand." And with that thought he scurried back into the stores of wands. About a minute later he returned with a single wand box. He opened it and wordlessly handed the long wand to Ivy. "This is a very special wand. It's the only of its kind and I believe it was waiting for you. It's made of petrified oak wood, a dragon heart string center and is fifteen inches long," he informed her with a hind of pride in his voice. As Isabella grasped the cold stone-like wood and warmth spread through her arm. The wand was heavy but the weight was welcome in her small hand. The wand's long length felt so right in her hand. She waved the wand and a shower of golden sparks poured out the end.

"Oh, wonderful! I made this wand long, long ago and it has chosen no one yet. It is the only wand in the world made of petrified wood. You are probably the only person to who the wand does not feel like cold hare rock. I would venture the guess that it feels like a smooth stone that has been lying in the sun and warms your whole arm," he says excitedly.

"Oh, yes it does! It's amazing! Thank you so much," Isabella says gratefully.

"Well your welcome, young Isabella. Wait to you hear this. I've taken a liking to that wand and I could think of no better first year to have it then you, and judging by those tattered books you're carrying you are on a tight budget and that wand is rather expensive. So, I've decided to give it to you free of charge."

"Oh thank you Mr. Ollivander. This is the best gift anyone has ever given me! I will be forever grateful. Good-bye now," Isabella exclaimed as she dashed out the door.

As Ivy expected, Professor McGonagall was waiting right outside the door to the shop. She listened patiently as Isabella told her of everything that had occurred inside the shop. When she had finished Professor McGonagall asked, "I've never heard of a wand made of petrified wood before, May I see it?" Isabella nodded as pulled the heavy wand box from on top of her books, opened the lid and gingerly handed her unique wand to Professor McGonagall. She grasped it firmly and shuddered slightly as it chilled her arm. She turned it over a few times and quickly handed back to Isabella. "That is a very unique wand. I've never seen anything like it. You should be proud to have it, Mr. Ollivander must have seen in you the same thing that I do and that is why he gave you the wand," she concluded.

"What do you see in me?" Isabella asked curiously, no one had ever glanced twice at this small girl and she wandered what anyone could she in her.

"We see a pure innocence that not many children have these days, and we see great potential in you."

Because Professor McGonagall didn't have to pay for Isabella's wand, she wanted Isabella to put her small sum of money into Gringotts to start an account and allow her to buy Isabella her pet. So, first they went to Gringotts. Professor started an account with her small sum of money. The goblins assigned a vault number to Isabella and asked for her money. She gave it to him to put in her account because there was no point in going all the way down to her vault just to put a little money in her vault. Plus, it needed to be converted to wizard money. The goblin gave her a small silver key for future use and then they left the bank.

Finally it was time for Isabella to get her pet. She had never had a pet before and she was extremely excited. They walked into the pet store and pets of all species were hopping and running and slithering around. Then Professor McGonagall informed her that the only pets allowed at Hogwarts were cat, owls, toads, and rats. She wasn't really sure what she wanted until she felt something on her leg. She looked down and there was a small pure white kitten batting at the end of her shorts. The little kitten was so adorable with it's brilliant blue eyes that were not that much different from her own. She knew at once that this was the pet she wanted. She picked up the small kitten and she snuggled into Isabella's arms. She turned to Professor McGonagall and said, "This is the pet I want, please"

"Very well, I am particularly fond of cats myself. Come now, lets go adopt her," Professor answered. Isabella decided to call the cat Wisty. She cuddled Wisty in her arms all the way back to the car while Professor McGonagall carried her bags. She gratefully climbed into the back seat and settled back for the long ride to Hogwarts with Wisty by her side.

Despite Ivy's independent nature and advanced intelligence she was still only nine. And after a long and exciting day, she silently fell asleep in the car with Wisty lying on her lap.