The Weirdest Girl in the School

Elsie Durham had never really had many friends. A history of children being cruel, Elsie being a bit "different" and a love for good books meant that by the time she was 10, Elsie was a natural loner.

This suited Elsie just fine, but her mum and teachers began to be a bit worried, saying things like "You've got to put yourself out there, Elsie. You can't hide behind your books forever."

This is an account of what happened one day when Elsie decided to step out from behind her book, and the events that followed.

Chapter 1

It was a bright, sunny day at St Wilfred's Primary School, and Elsie, a blonde-haired, buck-toothed girl in grade 5, hoped it was a day that would pass without incident. She had just borrowed "Alice in Wonderland" from the library, and looked forward to reading it at lunchtime. She also looked forward to eating her chicken sandwich that her mum had made that morning.

She had to get through class first though, and that meant putting up with David Lemon. David was one of those kids whose goal was to be as frustrating as possible to as many people as possible at the one time. Unfortunately, Elsie shared a desk with him.

"So Elsie, have you got a boyfriend?" asked David when she sat down at her desk. Elsie did what she usually did, and ignored him. They were working on spelling, which was (call her mad) Elsie's favourite part of school. This was because she usually got everything right. Maths however...

Some time later, David asked again, "So Elsie, have you ever kissed anyone?" Once again Elsie ignored David, which was for the best, because at this point he had begun miming a bad kiss, sticking his tongue out and wiggling it in the air.

"Elsie, have you ever kissed anyone? Ever snogged anyone? Ever pashed?" He continued badgering her like this for about 10 minutes, whenever the teacher wasn't looking. Sick of the badgering, and trying to concentrate on her maths work, Elsie snapped "No, I haven't!" in the hope that an answer would make him stop. But it didn't.

"I bet it's cos you're ugly! Everyone's scared of your horrible buck teeth, Elsie, you look like a rabbit! Want a carrot?"

Don't cry, don't cry! Elsie thought to herself, and thankfully, the lunch bell rang. In the rush to get outside no one noticed her furiously wiping away the one tear that betrayed her, falling down her face.

Elsie walked as quickly as she could to the library, only to discover with dismay that it was closed! She headed to the playground and found a seat under a tree, and settled in to read her book.

"What are you reading Elsie?" demanded a snide voice. Elsie looked up, and saw it belonged to Aleesha, the most popular girl in school. "Yeah, tell us what you're reading!" demanded the chorus of girls Aleesha never went anywhere without.

Elsie stood up, showed them the cover and calmly walked away. They followed her. "You moved it too quick, Elsie. Come on, we just want you to tell us what you're reading. We're not being mean, we promise!" Soon they had her surrounded. "Umm, it's Alice in Wonderland," said Elsie hesitantly.

The girls cracked up laughing, and Aleesha snatched the book out of Elsie's hands, and threw it to the ground. "Why would you read it when there's a movie already? Reading's a waste of time!" The girls, still laughing, kicked dirt over the book and walked away.

Elsie picked up her book and shook the dirt out of it, wishing she had a skill for comebacks like so many of her favourite book and film characters did. To be like the Doctor, always with a comeback, never without a few smart words to make his enemies look stupid, and cower in fear. Or to be like Peter Pan, and just fly away.

Nevertheless, the day was not over, and there was still the afternoon block of class to get through. The thought of David Lemon made her shudder. Perhaps lunch had subdued him, and this afternoon would pass without event. Elsie didn't know how much more harrassment she could take without exploding.

That afternoon the class was working on Maths, again, much to Elsie's distaste. The numbers kept wriggling around in front of her, donning top hats and doing an irish jig on the pages of her book, which was quite distracting.

Then David nudged her and said "Did you have carrot for lunch, rabbit-face?" Something inside her snapped, and she stood up, slammed her hands on the the table, and the strangest thing happened. Her copy of Alice in Wonderland flew into David's face, and began beating him about the head. Elsie looked at her hands. They were both on the table, the book was doing it of its own accord.

"STOP! MISS! SHE'S HITTING ME!" screamed David and the whole class turned around to look. Instantly the book fell on the table. "Elsie! Outside, now!"

Stunned, Elsie obeyed.

It seemed like an age before the teacher came outside. Elsie was sitting quietly in the hallway, and as the door opened she said "I didn't hit him, I swear. The book did it by itself."

"Elsie," she started calmly. "I know you've had a rough day. But that's no reason to hit people, and it's quite unlike you!"

"But I didn't hit him!" I wanted to, she thought to herself.

"I'll have to give you a detention, and a note to take home to your parents. This kind of behaviour just can't be tolerated, okay Elsie? If David's giving you a hard time, just tell me."

Sure, thought Elsie. Like that's gonna work. Unless... "Can I change seats, Miss? Can I sit by myself in class?"

"I'll think about it. We have to get you making friends Elsie, and sitting by yourself won't help. Come on, come back inside. You can sit at the empty desk until class is over," said the teacher, and at that they both went back inside.

Elsie daydreamed all afternoon, wondering what exactly had happened with the "book incident". Was it magic? Or had she really snapped and started hitting David herself? On her walk home she imagined all sorts of explanations, and wondered if anything else strange would happen next time she got angry.

When she got home, she dumped her bag on her bed and walked into the kitchen. Elsie's home was small, but comfortable. It was just the two of them living there, Elsie, and her mum, and this was their fifth house since Elsie started primary school. The kitchen was big enough to fit a dining table for six, and was painted yellow. It was on the side of the house, and overlooked the backyard fence. A lovely view of colorbond. Well, at least it was green, and the same couldn't be said for their backyard.

"Yuck. Fishcakes."

"Well tomorrow's pay-day, sweetie, I have to cook whatever's left over," said Elsie's mum, Linda. She was fair, round, but not large, with blonde frizzy hair and round glasses. "No hello? How are you?"

"Sorry mum. I had a bad day at school." Elsie poured herself a glass of milk and slumped in a chair at the dining table. "Hello. How are you?"

"Thank you. I'm good, and there's a letter for you on the dining table."

"I have a letter for you too mum." Elsie fished the letter out of her pocket and put it on the dining table.

"I'll read it after dinner's done. Open yours, it looks important!"

Elsie examined the letter addressed to her with scrutiny. The address was written, not typed, and it looked like it was written with one of those old fashioned pens they dipped in ink. She turned it over, there was no return address.

Elsie opened the letter carefully, and looked at what was inside.

Three sheets of paper. One looked like a list, another a map, and the last said in large, bold letters:

CONGRATULATIONS, YOU HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED INTO HOGWARTS

SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY

School will begin on September 1.

The Hogwarts Express will depart from Kings Cross Station, Platform 9 3/4 on this date, at 10am. Please be punctual.

Enclosed is a list of everything you will need for the school year.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please reply via owl.

"Er...what? Mum have a look at this."

Elsie handed the letter to her mum, who scrutinised it carefully.

"It must be some kind of joke. Your Uncle Ernie, up to his foolishness again."

Uncle Ernie was the odd one in the family, always playing practical jokes, never turning up anywhere on time, and always wearing the strangest clothes. "Yeah...it must be.." mumbled Elsie, but she was reminded of the book incident. Perhaps it was magic?

Something went wrong with the fishcakes, they got burned somehow, so Elsie and her mum had grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner.

Elsie conveniently forgot to give the school's letter to her mother, and went to bed pondering all that had happened that day.