Disclaimer: All Harry Potter stuff belongs to J K Rowling the rest is mine.
One morning in early June, a red-headed, eleven year old Lily Evans woke up with a start. It was only 5:00 in the morning and her sister Petunia and their parents weren't awake yet. She quietly walked down the stairs and into the kitchen to wait for everyone to wake up when she heard the sound of a letter sliding though the mail slot. "It's a little early for the mail to be coming," she said to herself as she walked to the front door. There she found a letter addressed to her in emerald green ink laying on the carpet. When she turned the envelope over she saw a purple wax seal bearing a coat of arms: a lion, an eagle, a badger, and a snake surrounding a large letter H. She pulled out the letter and read:
HOGWARTS SCHOOL
of WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Headmaster:Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Walock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Miss Evans,
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 September 1. We await your owl by no later
than July 31.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Minerva McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress
This must be some kind of a joke, she thought. There is no way I could be a witch. Then she remembered what that her friend Snape had told her. She had been at the park with Petunia, jumping off the swings when she got as high as they could go without hurting herself at all. Severus Snape had been hiding in the bushes watching her when suddenly he came out and told her that she was a witch. She didn't believe him when he had told her about Hogwarts and that she would be getting her letter soon. After that they had met many times and Snape told her about the castle the school was located in and all about the four houses; Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. She slipped the letter back into the parchment envelope when she noticed a second piece of paper.
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 (dragon hide or similar)
4. One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)
Please note that all of pupils' clothes should carry name tags
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
A Beginners' 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 Scammander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection
by Quentin Trimble
OTHER EQUIPMENT
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set of crystal or glass phials
1 telescope
1 set of brass scales
Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS
ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS
Just then Lily's parents walked down the stairs. She bounded towards them exited to show them.the letter. She saw the look on their faces change from shock to surprise. Soon Lily and her parents were sittting in the kitchen talking about this letter. "Lily," her father began," we are so happy for you. From the moment you were born we always knew that there was something different about you, in a good way of course," he added seeing the look on his youngest daughters face. "We would never dream of trying to stop you from going to learn magic, but I have no idea where you can buy any of these supplies. A telescope and brass scales maybe but how are we supposed to find you a wand?"
"Dad, I'm sure we'll be able to find them somehow. I really want to go to Hogwarts." Lily paused as if trying to remember something. "I know, I can ask my friend. His name is Severus Snape. I met him at the playground one day and he told me all about this. He told me that he's a wizard and his parents are magic too. I'm sure he knows where I can buy this stuff."
"That sounds wonderful, honey," said her mother as she got up from the table and started making breakfast. "All that we really have to do now is contact this boy and his parents and ask for directions. We should be able to find it that way. So its settled then, you can go to Hogwarts." Lily was exicted until she saw the look on Petunia's face. Usually her older sister was excited when something good happened for Lily, but if looks could kill Lily would have been dead.
"Petunia, whats the matter aren't you happy for me." Lily asked cautiously. She didn't want to say anything to set Petunia off.
"Of course I'm not happy, I don't want you going to school to learn magic. You'll be a freak. Besides, how come I never got a letter. I want to learn magic to. " Petunia answered.
"Well maybe if you write a letter to Professor Dumbledore he'll tell you why, and maybe he'll let you come." Lily said with tears in her eyes. Petunia had called her a freak.
Petunia sounded happier already.Thanks, Lily. I think I will write to Professor Dumbledor. He'll know why I didn't get that letter when I was your age." The rest of the morning was rather uneventful. After eating breakfast Lily and Petunia watched TV while her parents finished cleaning up. Lily managed to invite Snape over and soon they were excitedly talking about Hogwarts, and what they would learn when they got there. "Severus, where can I find my books, robes, and equipment. None of the shops I know about sell stuff like that. Especially a wand."
"That's not a problem," he answered quickly. "You can get it all in Diagon Alley. There's this old pub in London called the Leakey Cauldron. If you go to the back door and find a certain brick you can get it. It think its three up two across. You have to tap it three times. The first place you need to go is Gringotts, the wizarding bank, to get your gold. Its run by goblins, just to let you know. You can exchange muggle money for wizard gold. All the shops you need are in Diagon Alley."
"Thanks Severus, you've been a lot of help. I never would have been able to do it without you. Before you go, how do you get onto Platform 9 3/4. I haven't seen it before."
"Oh, thats easy, all you have to do is walk straight into the barrier between platforms 9 and 10. Don't worry," he added seeing the look on Lily's face," the wall isn't solid it'll let you right through. Well, I have to be going now. See-ya on September 1 Lily."
"Yeah, bye Severous.
Lily told her parents where she could get her school supplies, and they told her that they could get them next weekend.