Isaac Frimpong was without a doubt the most boring fifth grader in all of London. Of course, he knew the other kids were being dramatic when they said that, usually teasing him without much success before scampering off to do what children did best. Isaac didn't hold it against them though, after all he was rather boring. What kid sits around reading books instead of playing on the jungle gym, or volunteered in the library once a week instead of messing around with their friends outside? No Isaac would much rather sit down with a nice book and ignore the world. But then Jessica Rivers entered his life and tore apart his routine with all the grace of a pitbull.

Jessica was the new girl in their year, transferred from the states and with her came a whirlwind of changes to the social hierarchy. She was pretty, outgoingly tomboyish, and vocal. None of the other kids stood a chance. Isaac still hadn't figured out why she targeted or what she was trying to accomplish, but whenever Jessica came a calling it meant the end of his peaceful reading.

Her American accent flowed over the cover of his book from the field, "You're on my team Isaac!"

Said boy pointedly ignored her, instead he continued to read about the exploits of Brutus in Rome until the book pulled from his hands by the brown haired harpy. Scowling Isaac rose and reached for the book, "Give it back Jessica, I don't want to play today."

The girl evaded his hand with a smirk, "Why not? You're like the fastest kid on the field! I'm not going to lose to Henry just because you want to read a boring old story."

"I don't care! I don't want to play so give it back!" Once again he reached for the book, but was rebuffed.

"Come on, Frimpong! Kristy is already on vacation and if you don't play someone else has to sit out to make things fair, and since no one else wants to read a book on the last day of school it'll be torture. You can either play with us for one last time until September, or you can waste all that effort trying to get the book back from me while they play instead."

Isaac continued to stare at the girl while he weighed his options. Truth be told she wasn't wrong, she was just as fast as and it would be a hassle trying to catch her. Briefly the thought of fetching a teacher crossed his mind but he dismissed the thought quickly, Caesar wasn't worth breaking the code. A sour look on his face, Isaac gave into her demands, "Fine, let's get this over with."

Jessica offered him a grin as she skipped over to place the book on the bench before she threw her arm over his shoulder and guided him towards the field, "You should be glad to have a friend like me Frimpong, otherwise you might really turn into a worm!"

"Shut it you git!" Though he said the words they bore no venom and the smile on his face was greeted by ten others.

Mary Frimpong watched her son reading on the couch with a smile as she continued to sip her tea, thoughts of her late husband bubbling to the front of her mind as she did so. Isaac had his eyes, demeanor, and even his dark complexion. Sometimes it felt like her husband simply clones himself instead of the two of them having a child, but then her little boy would smile at her and melt away all the suspicion. That was her smile.

"I'll be right back, forgot my purse."

The words echoed in her mind and he smile slipped away as the memory of that dreaded day came forth. It was a family outing. Mary, Baako, and Isaac out for ice cream on a rather warm September afternoon. They laughed as Isaac got vanilla all over his face, his enthusiastic gibberish filling the air as the two of them shared a kiss. They finished their own cones and moved to clean up Isaac and his mess before leaving. They made it five paces before she realized that she'd forgotten her purse.

Mary heard the commotion outside, a pair of men screaming at each other about something she couldn't quite make out. Turing she saw Baako through the door, Isaac in his arms as he craned his head to look for the source of the trouble, only to find an world shaking explosion.

"Baako!"

"Mom?"

Shaking herself from her thoughts, Mary found her son staring at her with naked concern on his face. Trying and failing to place a smile on her face she answer him, "Sorry dear what was that?"

"I said there's someone at the door."

Sure enough a sharp rapping sprung from the front of the house bringing her to her feet as she moved to answer, "Coming!" The flustered mother fumbled with the lock before opening the door with a smile which changed to wonder as she greeted a very peculiar older woman in strange robes and a pointed hat. "Hello...can I help you?"

Unbothered by the change in tune, the robed woman gave a soft smile and spoke in a Scottish accent,"Hello, is this the Frimprong residence?"

Mary nodded still a little put off, "Yes it is, what can I do for you?"

"My name is Professor McGonagall, I represent a boarding school that has expressed interest in young mister Frimprong. I'm here today to speak with you about his possible attendance."

"Boarding school?"

"Yes ma'am, its located in Scotland and is very selective with who is offered attendance. Is it possible we speak more about it inside?"

Blushing from her lack of manners Mary ushered the professor inside, "Of course!" She showed the strangely dressed professor to the living room before making her way to the kitchen, "I was just sitting down for tea, would you like a cup?"

"That would be lovely, thank you. As I was saying this boarding school is very selective and normally only a few dozen students are accepted each year, though that is relatively new due to certain circumstances."

Mary couldn't help but feel pride welling up inside her as she heard this, her little Isaac must be turning a few heads, "Isaac is very studious, the best grades in his year. Though I rather thought that he wouldn't get such offers until high school. He's only going to the sixth year."

In the living room Professor McGonagall smiled at Isaac who returned it shyly, "Yes our school starts with eleven year old children and for seven years. And while I'm glad Mister Frimprong is the studious type, his grades are not what attracted our attention.?"

Mary, carrying a try with a tea and condiments, frowned, "Not his grades? Are you one of those gifted and talented schools then? I've heard about them, supposedly taking musicians or exceptional writers and such." She offered the professor a cuppa which she graciously accepted.

"Thank you. Yes I suppose it is a school for the gifted but not in the way you are implying."

Sitting next to his mother, Isaac gazed at the stranger with unveiled curiosity, "What kind kids do you take then ma'am?"

Professor McGonagall sipped her tea before answering, "Why Hogwarts is a school for Magical children Mr. Frimprong. Children like yourself."

Mary sputtered and choked on her tea while Isaac just cocked his head in confusion, "But I thought magic wasn't real? My book said that it was all just smoke and mirrors."

After clearing her throat, "Is this some kind of summer camp? I know there are people who take the whole magic business to heart, but this seems a little excessive."

The professor just gave them a patient smile, "I assure you this is nothing like the magic muggles claim to practice. For instance." Reaching into her robes, McGonagall produced a very long stick with a black handle before giving it a few waves and speaking what Mary was sure was latin.

Mary had expected her to turn the fake wand into flowers, or perhaps even produce a quarter from her cup. What she did not expect however, was for the woman to change one of the biscuits into a bird and cause her to drop her tea in shock, spilling the liquid on the ground and shattering the cup.

Isaac was of course impressed, "Wicked!"

His mother watched the bird with an ashen face as it bounced around the table, chirping out its song, "I-it's real?"

"As real as magic can make it. It won't reproduce but it can eat and muck about until the spell is canceled. Mrs. Frimprong, Isaac is a wizard. The Ministry of Magic has ways of tracing accidental magic and so does Hogwarts," she produced a small worn letter from within her robes and handed it to Mary, "Every year names are taken from the list of all magical children of age, and his name was on the list. Surely he's had some strange occurrences that just simply cannot be explained with common logic?"

Lips pursed, Mary racked her brain but found her memories lacking, "No, nothing. He has always been a easy going child. Sure he played and got scrapped knees, but usually he's just reading his books or playing with his puzzles."

McGonagall frowned as she turned her gaze to Isaac, "Can you think of nothing, Mr Frimprong?"

Isaac simply gave a slow shake of his head, "No ma'am, nothing that looked like magic to me."

The professor seemed to be mulling something over in her head, her eyes staring out a window as her lips thinned in concentration, "I see. Well perhaps...yes. Mr. Frimprong why don't you take my wand, that should clear things up."

Reaching out, Isaac gripped the handle of the wand delicately, as if it would break from his childish grip. When nothing happened he gave the older woman a panicked stare, "Well just give it a wave, it won't hurt you."

Doing as instructed, the boy waved the wand slowly over the table and to his surprise a small blue spark shot from the, not bright or vibrant but noticeable none the less. In his arm he felt a slight tingle, like a wintry chill dancing across his skin. Brown eyes widened in excitement, but when he looked at McGonagall he saw that her expression was one of concern, "Was that supposed to happen, professor?"

"Well, yes naturally, but it should have been...perhaps... , would it be ok if I brought in another Hogwarts staff member? I just want to confirm something."

Mary was still watching her son who was now waving his hand around trying to do magic, but managed a small nod, "Sure, that's ok I suppose."

"Thank you. The backyard is this way?"

"Umm yes just right through the kitchen?"

Before she could raise to show her the way, McGonagall was gone, a brisk pace set as she made her way out the back of the house. There was a strange popping sound, almost like bubble wrap and then she was gone from the fenced in yard without a trace. Mary closed the door and sat back into the living room, still watching the small bird peck at a biscuit as Isaac read the letter that was left on the table.

"Mom listen to this: Dear Mr. Frimprong, we are happy to inform you that you've been accepted into Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry. Enclosed is a list of required materials for first years available in Diagon alley. Parents should remember that first years are not allowed personal brooms. Familiars are limited to owls, kneazles, and toads unless given permission from staff. Term starts September 1st, we hope to have your confirmation no later than July 31st."

Isaac set the letter on the table and examined the list of materials that he was supposed to bring. There were cauldrons, quills, ink bottles, robes, books of all kinds, a wand, and several other materials that he'd never heard of. Once again he joined his mother on the couch, leaning against her as she wrapped an arm around him, "Mom was dad a wizard?"

Mary gave a humorless laugh, "No dear, he wasn't. Baako was a very practical man, he didn't buy into magic or superstition. I bet if he were here today he'd be locked in debate in an attempt to call it advanced science instead of magic."

Isaac craned his head to meet his mother's eyes, "But I have magic mom. I felt it when I touched her wand, like a tingling in my arm. Maybe I did do some magic when I was younger and just didn't notice?"

"Maybe but I don't remember seeing anything to strange with you love."

Their minds wandered to magic and possibilities before a rapping at the backdoor brought them back into the present. As Isaac stood nervously, Mary along with Professor McGonagall and another woman who looks slightly younger appeared in the room

"This is Madam Pomfrey, the mediwitch for Hogwarts."

The woman gave both of them a smile, "How do you do? As the professor said I'm a mediwitch, much like your muggle doctors, and I'm here to do an examination of your magic Mr. Frimprong."

Mary, ever the concerned parent spoke up, "And what does that require exactly?"

Pomfrey gave a patient smile, "Well it's quite simple really. I simply need to cast a diagnostic charm on which will cause a reaction from his magical core in a form of light to shine from his body. The brighter the light the healthier the magical core, though people often interpret the light to mean power and usually it holds true. Now if I may make things a little dimmer so that we can proceed?"

Receiving a nod, the mediwitch removed her wand from her robe and gave it a few flicks as the curtains drew together to stifle the sunlight, leaving the room significantly darker. "Now hold still, this will only take a moment." Another swish and a murmured latin was followed by a blue light flying from the end of her wand onto Isaac in a flash.

They waited for a moment, and then, "Oh my word..."

Surrounding Isaac was a small, flickering glow, one that might have been ignored as a trick of the light had he not been looking for it. His body felt warm and tingly, as if he'd just awoken from a deep sleep. In the dim light he could just barely make out the astonished face of his mother, and the grim faces of both the witches. Once the spell died they reopened the windows, but their faces remained unchanged.

The two spoke in hushed tones, sparking concern from Mary and Isaac. Finally Professor McGonagall turned to them, "Mrs. Frimprong, has Isaac experienced a physical trauma in his years?"

Her concern deepend,"Why do you ask, is something wrong with my son?!"

It was Pomfrey who answered, "Mrs. FrimProng your son's magical core is showing signs of exhaustion, and while it is not uncommon for active wizards or witches to have such a condition after performing great feats of magic, for it to appear in your son who does not even have a wand would suggest that it was strained very early in his life before it really had a chance to develop. Couple this with the lack of accidental magic and I would believe that his core was drained significantly due to protecting him from harm."

The two allowed the information to sink in, watching silently as Mary's face shifted from concern to confusion until finally here eyes widened in recognition, "Oh Isaac, how could I have been so foolish."

"Mom?"

Glancing sadly at her son for a moment, she turned to the women misty eyed, "Back in 81 there was an accident. A gas main suddenly ruptured and exploded killing twelve people and injured a lot more. My husband, Baako, was one of the twelve killed. He was holding Isaac at the time. I thought he was hurt bad but he wasn't, just screaming from the noise. The authorities and I thought it was just that Baako had reacted in time to take the force of the blast and shield him from it, but now..."

McGonagall paled, "Was this by chance August 1st?"

Mary nodded confused, "Yes, how did you know?"

Pomfrey gasped while McGonagall sighed, "Oh Sirius... , like the muggle world, our world is not free of conflict and war. Ten years ago we were at war with a dark wizard who terrorized families and killed those who did not follow in line. His followers were often the same. Needless to say circumstances brought his demise on october 31st, but before the Ministry could round up his followers there was an incident in muggle London. A man named Sirius Black hunted down and killed one of ours, Peter Pettigrew, with a blast hex that left but a finger behind from the wizard...and killed twelve muggles."

Mary felt numb, the memory playing before her eyes just as vividly as the day it happened. She fell to the couch staring at the wall as she tried to wrestle her demons. Isaac was not much better, his eyes filled the youthful accusation, "You mean, a wizard killed my dad?"

End

Hello fanfiction readers. I wrote this because I've never seen a story where one of the muggleborn to attend hogwarts was affected by the war with Voldemort before his return in Harry's fourth year. Honestly Peter's betrayal and escape seemed ideal to me. He was in a public, crowded, muggle location in the middle of the day, a child Harry's age getting caught in the crossfire is extremely possible. As of now it is a one shot, perhaps I might continue it, but really I have limited knowledge of the books (its been ages since I've read them) and I don't think I could do it justice at the moment. Maybe if enough people are interested.

Anyway, I like the idea of the accidental magic straining a toddler so much that it would nearly make him a squib. It adds another level of adversity of them to work through as a character, and of course it breaks the faux pas that is a super powered OC coming into the wizarding world to sex cannon-characters and mess up Death Eaters. Either way, thanks for reading.