The Old Man

I sat in my room knitting while listening to the radio. My mother had always said it was good to have a hobby. I looked out the window of our flat and saw the busy streets of London beneath it. Father had left us two years ago to the day, and I thought today would be a day of quiet reflection. Mum took the day off work, even though we couldn't afford it, and said we would go do something fun. I started to think back when father left us.

We were in our house and my parents started to get into a fight about me. This usually happened when something odd had happened. That day, a girl twice my size came up to me with the intent of beating me up. I stood rooted to the spot, mostly out of fear. When she was within a foot of me, she suddenly was blasted off her feet. It was like I had a protective shield around me that she couldn't penetrate. She went to the teacher and I got sent home early that day for knocking her down.

I sat at the top of the steps looking down through the slits of the banister. Father had a few suitcases packed and he was throwing his hands in the air.

"There is something wrong with her!" my father had yelled.

"There is nothing wrong with our child! Don't you dare say that!" my mother yelled back.

"She is a freak! No one can just blast a fairly hefty girl off their feet. Can't you see it, Judy? One of these days she could end up killing one of us! We aren't safe anymore. We need to take her and drop her off at the orphanage, then we can just be rid of her and live our life."

Mother stared at him. She finally spoke, "I will not give my child to strangers. I have loved her since the day she was born. Maybe you are the freak and not her."

My father raised his hand in a motion like he was going to hit my mother. I looked towards the door, and a bolt of lightening hit his car. The car, that I could see clearly from the window in the door, flew up fifty feet or so into the air and dropped back to the ground. The car sat there smoldering, and slowly the fire started to burn out. My father looked up the stairs at me and started to come after me. For the second time that day, I just stared in horror. Again when he was within a foot of me, he flew down the stairs, hit the door, and slid down to the floor.

My mother ran up the stairs and held me. She began to slowly rock back and forth, and said, "I think you need to go, Jim."

My father made some rude gesture with his hand, and called a cab. Within minutes, he was gone.

Now today, here I sit. Even though we don't have a lot of money, mum and I are doing quite well. She's a nurse, and she tries to take as much overtime as she possibly can. We only live on about twenty pounds a week on food, but I don't mind. She has a little money saved up for occasions like this.

Today we were planning on going to the zoo to take our minds off of the day my dad left. I had been so excited about today that I had woken up quite early. I looked out my window and noticed that a small amount of sunlight was starting to creep over the horizon. I heard my mother starting to get up and take her shower. I sat there, continuing to knit. I felt something was going to happen today, and I couldn't put my finger on it. I sometimes got odd feelings like this, but today's was different. I shook it off and finished my potholder. I usually always made potholders because I got bored with a large project within a few weeks. I added it to the growing stack on my desk. I usually gave it to the few friends or family members for Christmas or their birthdays.

I heard my mom get done in the shower and go to the kitchen to get breakfast ready. I got up and went to take my shower and came back to my room to get dressed. After getting dressed, I went to my desk to grab the potholder I just finished, as I wanted to show my mum. I noticed something out of the corner of my eye, and glanced out the window.

There was a man standing there with long white hair and a long white beard. He looked highly out of place with an emerald green suit on. He had half-moon glasses perched on his very crooked nose, and he was looking at a piece of paper in his hand, as if checking something. I shook it off and went to the kitchen.

Mum had put on some eggs and bacon for breakfast. I sniffed in the heavenly scent.

"Mum, I made another potholder," I said, coming up behind her.

"To go with every other one you made," she laughed. She placed some bacon and eggs on my plate and I sat at our very small table. As soon as I was about to take a bite, the buzzer rang. Mum went to the intercom and said, "Yes?"

"Is this the residence of Drea Brotherton?" came an old man's voice.

Mother had an odd look on her face, and replied, "Yes, it is. May I ask who this is?"

"My name is Albus Dumbledore, and I would like to talk to you both about your daughter's education."

"Um…okay. Come on up," she said, pushing the button to let the man in. Within seconds, a knock came at the door, and my mother let

the man in. It was the same man I had seen outside my window.

"Please sit down. Would you like anything?" mum asked.

"Tea would be lovely," said Dumbledore. She started to busy herself with making the tea and the old man turned to me. "How are you doing, Miss Brotherton?"

I was shocked to know that this man knew my name. "I'm fine," I finally said. "I don't mean to be rude, but who are you?"

There was a slight twinkle in the old man's eyes as he laughed. "I'm sorry. I seem to have forgotten to introduce myself. I am Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts."

"I've never heard of that school before. Where is it and why are you here?"

"Well, I really can't disclose the location, but I am here today to offer you an opportunity. The school where I currently reside is a school for witches and wizards like yourself."

Behind me, mum dropped the teakettle and I just sat there with my mouth opened. "W-what?" I finally stammered.

"You are a witch."

"I can't be."

"Have you ever made anything happen that you couldn't explain?" he asked, the twinkle back in his eyes.

I thought back two years ago. I bit my lip as I knew this man must know.

"I've came here today to tell you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts." Mum returned with the tea, and Dumbledore took it. "Thank you."

"I assume that this is an academy, right?" mum asked.

"It is."

Mum looked down at her hands. "Mr. Dumbledore-"

"Please, call me Albus."

"Albus, I'm sorry, but I can't afford for my daughter to go your school. We barely have enough money to get by," she said, reddening at

the thought of their situation with money.

"That is why I am here. If a family with a witch or wizard in their family cannot afford to go to Hogwarts, we will pay for their schooling. We will set up an account for the child at Gringott's-"

"What's that?" I asked.

"Drea, don't interrupt."

"Sorry," I replied, blushing.

"It's no problem. Gringott's is a wizarding bank. We will set up an account there for you to buy all your books and your uniform from."

I looked at my mother. I wanted more than anything to go to this school. She looked at me and saw it in my eyes that I wanted to go. She turned to the old wizard and asked, "Where do I go to get her supplies?"

I made a squeak of excitement, and hugged my mother. I settled down, and waited for his reply.

"On August first, you will go to a pub called the Leaky Cauldron. It is a few blocks north of King's Cross Station. You should be there about eleven or so in the morning. Ask the bartender, and he will point you in the right direction. You will meet the deputy headmistress, Professor McGonagall, and she will help you. All you need to do is go to Gringott's and tell them your name. They will take you to your vault and there will be money in there for you. You will buy your supplies at this time. Here is a list of the books and equipment you will need." He handed her a list. "Also, the train to go to Hogwarts leaves on September first at eleven A.M. sharp."

I nodded my head, trying to remember everything he had just said.

"Any questions?"

Me and mum both shook our head.

"Good. I would also suggest that when you go to Diagon Alley, you buy yourself an owl. They carry letters and they are very useful in the wizarding world. I think that is all. I can't wait to see you at Hogwarts," he said, standing up.

I stood up and me and mum both shook his hand. He smiled at us and left our flat.