Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling

Chapter 1-The Letter

July 1, 1991

On the first of July, 1991, an eleven year old named Sophie woke up to a normal morning. Well, normal for her. Every morning she would wake up at five-o'clock to switch the salt with sugar, hang the paintings upside down, or some other crazy thing. You see, Sophie liked to play pranks and trick people. She was a nice, caring girl, but she loved to trick people.

"SOPHIE BALATRO! WHAT DID YOU DO TO THE CREAMER? IT'S BROWN!" Sophie's mother Agnes called from the kitchen.

Sophie walked over to her mother, took the creamer, and poured it in a glass to drink. "Nothing Mum, I just switched it with the chocolate milk." Sophie replied calmly to her mother's screaming.

Agnes plopped down in a chair putting her head in her hands. "What am I going to do with you? You're going to drive me crazy one of these days. I think my hair is turning gray already from all your pranks." she said.

"No mum, that's just flour. I put it on your pillow last night. Maybe I should have told you about that. Whoops!" replied Sophie with her usual antics.

"SOPHIE!" her mother cried, "You know what, I don't have the energy for this! It's too early in the morning! Just go get the mail." she told her mischievous daughter, giving up on yelling until later in the day.

Sophie walked to the front door to get the mail, not knowing how much her life would change from that moment on. She picked up the mail, and started to look through it when she found an old looking envelope addressed to her. Sophie was confused why someone would send her mail, especially on an old paper, when she looked at where the letter came from. She shook her head, thinking she must be on the receiving end of a prank for once. Why else would she get a letter addressed to her from 'Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry'? She walked back to her mom, and handed all of the mail to her, including the letter from 'Hogwarts'.

"Ha Ha, you're so funny. You went pretty far to get back at me for all my pranks. But you know, that's a little unbelievable. You thought that I would fall for that trick? Well I didn't." Sophie dryly said to her mom.

Agnes picked up the letter, confused what in the world her daughter was talking about. "Sweetheart, I didn't send this letter. I've never seen this letter before. This isn't a prank, at least not from me. You should open it." she responded to Sophie's accusations.

"Uh Huh, I don't believe you." Sophie said as she leaned back on her chair, unhappy that her mom wouldn't admit to it. She thought for a minute, but then decided that nothing that bad could happen from opening the letter.

Just as she started to open the envelope, knocking came from the front door. Sophie placed down the envelope, and walked to the door to open it. Once she opened the door, she was met with a strange sight, one of the strangest she had ever seen. A woman was standing on the front porch, but she was wearing a dark green robe with a pointy green hat on her head. In her hand was a piece of wood and in the other was a handbag. The strange woman stepped inside and turned to Sophie.

"I take it that you have read the letter. Good, good, now we can go to get your school supplies. If get your mother we can head out now and still have plenty of time," the strange woman said.

Sophie felt her face grow red with anger. She stomped into the kitchen, and over to her mother. Once she got to her mother, Sophie exploded. "Seriously, this is going too far! Just admit to the prank, I know it was you! Why did you need to get some lady to put the prank into place? Originally it was a little funny but this is just too far! I don't even go that far with pranks!" she screamed angrily.

Agnes looked at her daughter, utterly confused, "What are you talking about? What lady are you talking about?"

Just then the woman from the door walked into the kitchen, finding Sophie's mother, "Ah, there you are. We should head out now if you don't mind Mrs. Balatro."

Agnes looked up at the strange woman, even more confused than earlier, "Who are you? What are you doing in my house? What is going on?"

The woman looked at Agnes, realizing why they were confused. "You didn't read the letter did you?" she asked,"I should have known, Muggle-borns are always a little confused and think that it's a trick. Very well, I shall explain. Ms. Balatro, you are a witch."

At that point, both mother and daughter erupted in anger.

"HOW DARE YOU ACCUSE MY DAUGHTER OF SUCH A THING?"

"THIS PRANK HAS GONE TOO FAR…"

"YOU ARE CRAZY, GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!"

"YOU ARE INSANE, WHAT WOULD MAKE YOU THINK THAT I AM A WITCH…"

At this point, all yelling stopped at the sound of a vase breaking.

The woman took the break in screaming to explain, "Ms. Balatro, I am not accusing you of anything bad. You are a witch, and have great magical energy. The letter, which you obviously have not read or even opened," she said eying the unopened letter, "would have explained this to you. Ms. Balatro, you are being offered a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, a school where you will learn to control your magic and teach you how to use it. I am Professor McGonagall, the Deputy Headmistress and Transfiguration teacher. I was sent to take you shopping to get your school supplies."

Sophie looked at her with amazement, curiosity, and disbelief, while her mother just sat in her seat with her mouth wide open looking totally confused.

"Prove it," Sophie demanded. "Prove that this magic stuff is real"

Professor McGonagall looked at her, not believing how rude this girl was. "Very well," she said. Immediately afterwards, she turned into a cat, then back.

Both Sophie and Agnes looked at the professor with pure amazement.

Sophie, for the first time quieted, said, "Well, I guess I should get ready to go shopping for Hogwarts."