Chapter 1
THE LETTERS
Lil and I woke at the same time. Not an uncommon occurrence, being twins like we are. Dad yelled from the bottom of the stairs, "Hey! You two get up. Breakfast is ready!" I heaved myself into a sitting position and looked at Lil beside me. Her hair was a red mess, although, so was mine. "Morning Cait!" she yawned, stretching.
"Morning," I replied.
"Oi! You two come on!" We both sighed and got up. I reached for my clothes but was very surprised when they floated over to me. "Woah! Cool!" I exclaimed as Lil lifted her right hand. "Let me try!" she squealed and started giggling when she lifted my shirt out of my grasp and made it float. We both and laughed and laughed while we levitated random objects. Then a mock angry face appeared at our bedroom door. "Jeez you two… Hey! Girls you're doing wandless magic. Yes! My daughters are witches! In your face, Remus! Hahaha!" Dad has lost it. He came in the room and helped us get dressed before bringing us downstairs for breakfast. We drank our coffee and ate pancakes when Hodge, our white owl, flew in the door and dropped a letter onto my lap and one onto Lil's.
"Ooh, what could this be?" Lil asked. Dad gave us his trademark smile. The smile the Black family was known for. Everyone knows it was our dad, Sirius, who created it though. "Open it." He urged us and we tore at our letters.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL
of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Miss Black,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
"Oh. My. God!" we squealed. We screamed and hugged our dad and each other. Then Dad interrupted. "Um, aren't you going to read the rest?" Uncovering the other pages, we ran and started reading.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL
of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
UNIFORM
First-year students will require:
Three sets of plain work robes (black)
One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
One winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupil's clothes should carry name tags.
COURSE BOOKS
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble
OTHER EQUIPMENT
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
Students may also bring and owl OR a cat OR a toad.
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS
We carefully placed our letters down and then we entered another load of laughing and frantic squealing. "Well, to Diagon Alley then." Dad said, a bit confused as to how to control us. Approaching our Floo Powder Fireplace and we stepped inside and said, "Diagon Alley!"
