Disclaimer – Don't own anything, and I'm not profiting monetarily.
Chapter 1 - Magic
Allie Morgan was not an ordinary kid. She never considered herself an orphan, although, she did grow up in an orphanage in London, England. She believed her parents were out there, and every day she wished they would come back and take her away. Just away.
Her life at the orphanage wasn't dreadful or abnormally horrid in any way. There were good days and bad days throughout the years, but she never felt as if she belonged anywhere. Something deep within her told her she was different.
This is how she discovered her abilities.
When Allie was 8, she had an argument with one of the other girls staying there. She had tried to slam the door in the other girl's face, but realized she was too far away. The door shut anyway, but her hand hit nothing but air.
A few months of practice and she was able to open and shut the door without touching it. But she could never work out how to turn the knob.
When she was nine, she had been harshly reprimanded for "bending spoons". She had seen something on TV about psychics being able to do this. The problem was the spoon never wanted to go back to being perfectly straight after it was bent, no matter how long it was coaxed.
Allie constantly tried to improve herself over the next couple of years, and started going on long walks, so she could be by herself. The neighborhood she was in wasn't particularly bad, and she made it back alright, so she was rarely stopped.
The truth was, not many people cared about Allie, and what she was up to. She usually kept to herself as much as she could and didn't have any real friends.
In the dead of winter, just after her 11th birthday, she overheard the child care worker talking about putting her into foster care. The parents were lined up and everything, she would meet them tomorrow.
This spurred her to take her longest walk ever, thinking. What would having parents be like? Would they accept me if they knew I was different?
It was a cold night. Allie glanced behind her a few times to make sure she wasn't getting lost, but she was already pretty far.
Sometimes when she checked behind her, she saw a cat following her. She wasn't sure if it was the same cat, but it seemed to be getting closer, and she started to get a little creeped out.
She stopped at a bench, deciding she had gone far enough, and shivered. A night like this would be perfect to finally make some progress in creating fire. She had thought she had seen a spark or wisp of smoke in the nights previous, but really hoped she could get a flame tonight.
She concentrated hard with her hand extended in front of her. Something was happening, she could feel it.
While Allie was busy concentrating, a cat jumped on to the other side of the bench where she was sitting.
When Allie noticed she had an audience she nearly had a heart-attack. This cat was staring right at her, but kept its distance. It was watching Allie carefully, almost scrutinizingly so.
When Allie's heartbeat had returned to normal she leaned in for a closer look at the peculiar animal. The cat backed up slightly with a look that said clearly, 'I will not tolerate being petted'.
Allie eventually returned to her task and slightly enjoyed the cat's company, talking to it a few times even.
"Sometimes I feel it… ya know? And its just right there, but won't light." She muttered. "Just right… there!" She pointed to a spot over her right hand and a flame flickered to life there over her palm.
"Yes!" she exclaimed. She held the flame high and proud and stood up to take a fake bow.
BANG! A huge purple three-decker bus came out of nowhere and popped up the sidewalk slightly. Allie shrieked and tripped back over the bench falling hard on the other side.
There was no longer a cat on the bench. There was now a woman rushing to the side of the bus speaking too hurriedly for Allie to hear. All of this happened so quickly, she had forgotten about her fire, which was now burning her scratched hand.
"OW!" Allie yelled in pain and waved her hand, trying to get the fire out. But it wasn't working. The fire seemed content to keep on burning forever.
"Aguamenti" she heard a stern woman's voice, and her hand was soaked instantly with water, putting out the flame. She looked up slowly to see a woman in an emerald green cloak pointing a thin stick at her. Her eyes and glasses reminded her much of the cat's strangely shaped eyes.
Allie started sucking on her fingers and sobbing slightly. The pain was just enough to drive her curiosity away for a while.
"Well what did you expect?" The woman said matter-o-factly, but even in the dim light Allie could tell the woman's face had softened a bit. "Trying to conjure fire with no previous instruction or protection?" she continued.
The strange woman helped Allie up and back to the bench. The bus had disappeared.
"Give me your hand, I can help." The woman said, and Allie held out her hand cautiously wondering what she would do. She started to wave the stick around in small circles, pointing at her hand, and the pain eased away gradually.
"My name is Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry" she said while continuing healing her. Allie just stared at her with wide eyes, her mouth gaping slightly.
When Allie didn't respond McGonagall continued. "You, are Alexandra Morganroth. And you obviously know by now that you are a young witch." She said all of this very bluntly, not looking up at Allie's reaction. Allie nodded instinctually.
When McGonagall was finished, Allie looked down to see her hand wrapped tightly with bandages.
"Thank you…" she mumbled out, part of her wanting to bolt at the first opportunity, but her curiosity now glued her to her seat. "I've always been able to do strange things…"
"Yes, and its time you learned." McGonagall now had a small smile. "Magic…" she said dramatically pulling out a small button from her pocket. "Is both a very fine art…" she tapped the button with her stick and it transformed into a complexly colorful butterfly that glowed in the dark. "…and destructive force." The butterfly burst into flames and its singed corpse fell to the ground. "It is not to be trifled with." She finished firmly.
Allie was now staring in awe. "You killed it…" she said slightly accusatorily but mostly in wonder.
"Look again." McGonagall said simply.
Allie looked back at the ashes, but only saw the small black button again.
"Wow…" Allie stared at it impressed. She reached her hand out and focused, and the button flew straight into her palm.
"That was wicked" she said turning the button over in her hand and glancing back to McGonagall. She was looking at her sternly, and Allie felt as if she was being scrutinized again.
"Where do I get one of those?" she asked excitedly pointing to the stick in McGonagall's hand realizing it must be some kind of wand.
"That would be up to your parents… generally new Hogwarts students buy their wands in the summer before term." McGonagall said plainly, yet still looking at her thoughtfully.
Allie's face fell. "But I haven't got any parents… or money" she said dejectedly.
"Both of those problems should be solved tomorrow." McGonagall said, the small smile returning to her face. She pulled out a small golden pocket watch. "And seeing as it is already tomorrow, I think it is best for you to be getting back to your house now."
Had it really been that long? This was by far the latest Allie had ever stayed out before, but she still had so many questions, she wasn't in the least bit tired. McGonagall got up and gestured for her to walk back with her.
They started to walk and while Allie tried to figure out which question was best to ask, McGonagall started to chuckle to herself.
"I can't believe you managed to flag the night bus…" she recollected. "Who knows where you might have ended up if I wasn't watching tonight?" McGonagall turned to Allie with an amused look.
"What's… the night bus?" Allie asked confusedly.
"Just one of our many means of transportation" McGonagall explained. "There are so many things I imagine you must be curious about. And there are rules you must learn of course…" she continued. "You will probably think back on most of what has happened tonight as a dream, so I think it best to let your new mother explain how things work tomorrow."
Allie stopped dead in her tracks. "She's like me?" she asked incredulously.
"Of course" McGonagall said, but some righteous anger flashed behind her eyes. "A witch like yourself has no business being raised by muggles." She didn't pause long enough for Allie to question the term. "We have matched you with a couple you will meet tomorrow. Your new foster mother is a witch. Now come along before you catch a cold."
Allie started walking alongside her once again wondering what muggles were, and who the 'we' was. But something else was bothering her and thought it wouldn't hurt to ask.
"Do you know who my real parents are?" she asked in a hushed voice. "Do you know where they are?" She added because it felt right.
McGonagall continued to walk in silence and Allie thought she was ignoring her until she said, "I, honestly, don't know much about you Miss Morganroth." They were nearing the orphanage now. "I was given your name, and asked to come here to investigate why an abnormal level of 'accidental' magic was registering from you. Hopefully, things can be cleared up tomorrow, but as for your parents, it is still a mystery."
Allie huffed at that. She was sure her real parents must also be magical, and wondered why they had abandoned her.
"I expect to see you at Hogwarts next term, Alexandra." McGonagall said politely as they approached the house.
"But…" Allie still had so many questions for her, but McGonagall was already walking away briskly down the sidewalk.
She turned around at the street corner and cut her off. "I am sure Mrs. Finnegan will answer your questions tomorrow. Pleasant dreams, Miss Morganroth." She finished, and with a grandiose turn she whirled around and disappeared with a popping sound.
"Awesome…" Allie breathed, staring at the spot she had disappeared.