11 year old Lily Evans skipped down the stairs on the morning of the 28th July and went into the kitchen. Her 16 year old sister, Petunia, glared at her as she sat down, but Lily knew not to take any notice of her. Petunia greatly disliked anything remotely out of the ordinary and Lily was a lot more than remotely out of the ordinary.
"Lily, be a dear and get the mail," her mother said from the oven, where she always insisted upon baking fresh bread for breakfast every morning. (This wasn't a good thing. She was a crappy cook.)
Lily jumped off her seat and ran down the hall, nearly knocking her father over as he came down for breakfast.
She collected the mail and brought it into the kitchen, shuffling through it, just in case there was anything for her.
Finally, she came to the last letter, which was addressed to her. The front of the envelope read thus:
Miss L. Evans
The First Bedroom on the left
55 Salisbury Avenue
Horsham,
Sussex.
"How does anybody writing a letter to me know where I sleep?" thought Lily.
She was back in the kitchen by this stage and sat down at the table once again. "Mum, I've got a letter," she told her mum.
"Well, open it dear!" her mother replied.
"Oh ok then," replied Lily in her usual slightly dreamy voice.
Lily ripped open her letter.
She read it, tilted her head to one side, walked over to the sink, and vomited. Not really very hygienic.
"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 Evans,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress"
"What do they mean, my owl?" asked Lily.
"What dear?" asked her mother (she was used to Lily being a bit weird.
"This letter, it says I have to send an owl." She said, handing her mother the letter.
The owl on the open windowsill made a noise as if saying "Well Duh, what do you think?"
" I think I'm supposed to tie my answer to its leg or something," Lily told her mother, "can I go?"
Lily's mother gave her father a look that said, "We need to talk."
After about 5 minutes out in the hall discussing it, her mother finally came back into the kitchen and said, "We'll go to this, "Diagon Alley" they speak of, and get your school supplies.
"Wahoo!" went Lily, and started doing a kind of war dance around the kitchen.
Petunia just rolled her eyes and muttered, "freak."