Hiyo~! This chapter started out as a little bit like the original Harry Potter, but I promise it's an original plot lime. Lucy is also OOC in this chapter, but she's younger, so that was done on purpose. Any critique would be appreciated!

Beta Notes (Meerkat Moka)- I say hello to all the readers, and I hope you like the story!

I'd like to thank my two AWESOME betas, The Diamond Cross and Meerkat Moka!

Arigato~!

"Daddy! It's July the first!"

All she received was a grunt from her father and one sentence: "And why are you making such a big deal out of this? I'm busy, Lucy, and I need to get this paperwork done."

Lucy felt her eyes tear up. He had forgotten again. How could he forget her birthday?! It wasn't right, she was his daughter! She was eleven now, a preteen, and he still didn't remember.

"I-I'm sorry, Daddy. I'll leave you alone."

He nodded as she left without a word.

xxx

Esmerelda, the family maid opened the door to Lucy's room at around twelve with a present in hand. It was white with a large pink bow on the top, Lucy's favorite colors at that time. The other maids had told her that Lucy had skipped out on breakfast, which made the short old woman slightly worried.

"Lucy, dear~?" She asked in her cracked voice, before hearing the tiny sobs of the little girl laying on the bed who opened her eyes briefly.

"Hi, Esmerelda." Lucy's voice lacked it's normal luster.

"What happened sweetheart?" Esmerelda asked, frowning.

"Daddy forgot my birthday."

Esmerelda's face merged into a scowl. "Well, honey, he's probably busy with things now, you know?"

Lucy nodded. But that wasn't true, she didn't know. She didn't understand at all. Tears continued to stream down her face before Esmerelda handed her the small gift.

"Oh, Esmerelda, you shouldn't have!" Lucy smiled slightly.

"Oh, but I wanted to," Esmerelda stated, smiling.

Lucy carefully untied the bow and unfolded the wrapping paper, not wanting it to rip. Inside was a silver necklace with a pendant shaped like a triangle. There was a line straight down the middle and a circle inside the triangle, which the line also cut through. "It's so pretty!"

Esmerelda smiled. "I'm glad you like it. It'll always protect you, okay? It'll keep you safe."

Lucy nodded, but she couldn't help but wonder how much money Esmerelda had spent on it. She knew the maid wasn't a very wealthy woman. She looked up as her eyes grew moist again.

"I wish Daddy would have given me a present too."

Esmerelda took the girl into her arms. Even though Lucy was older now, Esmerelda still treated her like her own child. The room that they were in consisted of many furnitures. A wooden foot locker, a pink queen-sized bed, same color drapes for all the windows, a desk, and a small, unlit fireplace. And thank Merlin it was unlit, because at that moment, a pygmy owl popped in with an envelope encased in it's talons. It hopped around for a minute until it was on the bed and at her feet. Said preteen was busy gawking at it uncontrollably. It finally squeaked and nudged the envelope towards her with it's beak. She hesitantly picked it up.

The envelope was a pearly white and was sealed with a scarlet imprint of the letters HW. She silently popped it off and took out the piece of rough paper, unfolding it.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Hedmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Ms. Heartfilia,

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 1st. We await your owl by no later than July 31st.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva Mcgonagall

Minerva Mcgonagall

Deputy Headmistress

Esmerelda was reading behind her, while Lucy had a very confused look on her face. Witchcraft? A school? And she was accepted? She set it to the side and pulled out the second page.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

UNIFORM

First-year students will require:

1. Three sets of plain work robes (black).

2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear.

3. One pair of protective gloves (dragonhide or similar).

4. One winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings).

Please note that all pupil's clothes should carry nametags.

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, if they desire, an owl, a cat, or a toad.

PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS

ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICK!

Yours sincerely,

Lucinda Thomsonicle-Pocus

Lucinda Thomsonicle-Pocus

Chief Attendant of Witchcraft Provisions

Lucy put the other note down, her mind feeling strange.

"Is it true, Esmerelda?"

"I'm afraid so." Esmerelda nodded. "I have something to show you. But first, go get me a pen and some parchment."

Lucy nodded and went down the stairs.

There's no way that letter could be true... There's definitely no way!

She kept telling herself. When she got back with the supplies, Esmerelda was holding a letter. Lucy sat the parchment and pen down before looking at Esmerelda, who was holding out the letter. This had to be some sick joke. This was definitely a prank.

"Here. Read." Esmerelda told her."It's from your mother. She wrote it before she passed..."

Lucy took it and opened that same red seal.

My Dearest Lucy,

You're eleven now... I can only imagine how pretty you've gotten. You're a little mage now - isn't it great? But you're also a witch, my dear. And when you're a witch, you have to go to school to learn how to use your magic. My friend there is going to take care of you. Don't worry about Daddy, he can't know you're leaving. He doesn't know that both you and I are witches. I know it will be hard, but you have to leave. Make sure to make lots of friends at your new school for me!

I love you so much,

Mom

Lucy blinked. She would know her mother's handwriting anywhere. It had the same looping letters and almost had her mother's scent of perfume radiating off the page - the smell of lilac. So it was all true. Hogwarts was real. And somehow, she was a witch. She had only read about them in the fairy tales that Esmerelda would read to her while she went to sleep. But they were real... This really was too much to take in at once.

Esmerelda smiled behind her. "You're a witch, Lucy."

"I'm... I'm a witch."

Beta Notes (The Diamond Cross): I hope you liked the first chapter! Look forward to the rest of the story! ^^