This is my first ever story. One that has been circulating in my mind for a very long time. Please take the time to read and review.
Birthrights. Chapter 1
Sitting at the highest peak of the hill, Elizabeth loved how the land reflected all seasons in one landscape. Sweeping from the east to the west. She could appreciate the harshness of the summer heat and the toll it had taken on the crops. The flourishing of the vines clinging to the side of the manor and flowers that sprung from the earth. The large oak towards the north whose leaves now covered the ground. And on nights like tonight, the howling of the winds, alerting those around of the storm about to hit. All four seasons, built into the one horizon. It helped Elizabeth put her own feelings and thoughts into perspective. Another reason why she enjoyed the solitude of the hill.
Elizabeth, or Elle to her closest friends and family had just turned eleven. She had dark auburn hair with few freckles over her nose, her legs were long and her body lanky. Even for eleven, she was tall, however lacking the feminine features that she envied her older friends for.
Through the roar of the winds she heard her name in the distance, "El, please". Glancing towards the west, Elizabeth saw her father, Eric emerge from the manors back door. He was dressed in he's usual attire, a suit and shining back shoes. The only variations of he's appearance were the colour of he's shirt and tie. No matter what time of the day she saw her father, he was always dressed in a sophisticated manor. Elle once asked her father why, he's response was: 'Appearance matters a great deal because you can often tell a lot about people by looking at how they present themselves'. Elle always kept the little nuggets of wisdom her father shared close to her heart, referring to them when she approached an impasse. Usually she wore her school skirt with a white button shirt, stockings and occasionally a tie. Although she was naturally mature for her age, growing up with a father who worked full time and studying courses far beyond her age level, she liked to dress professionally. She liked observing the reactions she got depending on her outfit. When she met her fathers business associates, she dressed professionally and they greated and treated her like she is an adult. But when she was caught wearing her gym clothing, bed clothing or anything that outlined her age they spoke to her like a child, though she was one she resented it. However as she was on holidays she was dressed in three quarter jeans and a navy polo.
"Eli, come inside, you will catch a draft." He said as he approached closer. "Please honey, we can talk inside."
At the mention of the word honey, Elle stood from her perch and stalked inside, closing the door as her father tailed slowly behind her. Elle knew that he would find her on her hill, but she didn't want him to come. She had hopped the words she said prior would deter him away. What did he expect? He lied to her for 11 years.
Her potential was greater than she had known. Her mother didn't die in the birthing bed? Her mother left her. Questions and thoughts floated through Elle's head as she lay face first on her pillow. It had always just been the two of them, and now she was alone – unable to trust her beloved father no more.
Her room was painted light pink, it had colonial white features and bright purples and blues decorating. Large in size, with a walk in robe and adjoining bathroom, it further depicted the wealth in which she was accustom. Her life as she knew it was over. All her life she grew acquainted with her routines and strict lessons. She was home schooled at her London town house home in mathematics, Latin, literature, economics, history and science. She took classes in martial arts, gymnastics, piano and swimming. Her talents and intelligence rivalled those twice her age. Yet she was accustomed to this was of life. Her strict routines were enforced throughout the year, except during Christmas vacation and her birthday in May where her father took holiday leave and they spent their days together in their country manor.
Although Elizabeth was lucky to be heir to a wealthy estate, vacationed in the beautiful grounds of their manor and was educated by world renowned tutors; she always felt there was more to her life than her ridged schedule. All her life it was known that she would graduate college six years ahead of those her own age, and start working her way up the corporate chain of her father's company: Stage Enterprises. It was her birth right, but not her only one as she was lead to believe.
This morning, on her eleventh birthday, Elizabeth received a precarious letter. It appeared with the usual morning mail, except it had no stamp and was enclosed in a dusty parchment envelope. Inside it said:
Dear Miss Sage,
I am pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
If you accept your position within our school, please catch the train from Platform 9 ¾ on the 1st of September at 10am.
Sincerely Albus Dumbledore
Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witch Craft and Wizardry
Order of Merlin First Class
Of course she showed her father straight away. I bet it's from Mr McMillan, he joked about my talents been magical the other week. Yes this is all just a joke. However when she showed her father the letter, he's face grew white. He reread the letter several times before taking a deep breath, ran he's fingers through he's hair and asked Elle to sit down.
She was beyond anxious; why would this joke cause her father's usually carefully forged demeanour to crumple and reveal the shaking mess in front of her?
"Elizabeth, please. I need to talk to you about something I should have told you long ago. But you must first promise me, once I begin, let me continue until I have finished what I must stay." Her father said.
"Okay".
"When I was young, I met your mother. She was beautiful, carefree and had the most contagious laugh," he began, a sad smile beginning to form at the corners of he's mouth. Elle was astounded, in her eleven years of life she had never heard him speak of her mother except to say I'll tell you when you are older. And now, he was openly talking about her, without any prodding needed.
"We fell in love and were married. It surprises me, looking back at how quickly our relationship blossomed, how quickly we married. I knew she had her secrets and in hind sight I knew they were dark, but I did not care. I loved her. I loved the way her voice travelled when she was excited, I loved the energy that she emitted, but I loved that she loved me whole heartedly, putting everything she had into us, everything except her secrets." He continued.
"After you were born, a sadness gripped her. She loved you, I could see it in her eyes and the way she cried the night she left."
"Left? You told me she died!" Elle said, her voice quickening and increasing at the realisation of her words.
"Please, you promised to let me finish, there is much, much more," he begged.
"I remember, she was packing her belonging, taking anything that was hers, like she was not going to return. At first I was amazed how much she could fit into her tiny bag. It was at my pointing out this that she broke into tears. She told me of her childhood, how her family was from a line of powerful witches. Her father was Albus Dumbledore she said. She cried at the thought of he's disapproval at her actions. It was the mention of her actions that she began sobbing again. I did not know what to do, what to say. So I held her while she told me about a magical school called Hogwarts. How her father defeated a powerful evil wizard and was regarded as one of the most powerful wizards of all times."
"Wait, you mean to tell me, I am a wizard! And my mother ran away because of her powerful wizard father and he's disappointed. The same man who now is inviting me to attend this wizarding school?" Elle said, aware, yet not phased that her voice was bordering on yelling.
"Actually, you are a witch – been female. Afraid of him? I do not think so. There was another evil, another secret that kept her well-guarded from giving me details." The once composed man who sat before her in this study said. "But the fact remains, you are half witch and you need to decide if you want to join the wizarding world or continue to claim your birthright as my heir in the mortal world."
At that point, Elle leaped from her seat and ran. It was too much information to take in at once. She needed time to process, to think. And she did not want to see her father. She did not want to stare into he's apologetic face and watch the guilt sprawled across he's face. The lies. The betrayal.
Before the excitement of finding out she was a witch set in, Elle had one other thought. Where is my mother if not dead? That in part is what motivated her decisions, the decisions to join the wizarding world, seek the potential she always thought was missing, and find her mother and the secrets she conceals.
Once Elle was convinced she was composed enough, that all reminisce of tears were stripped from her face, she descended the stairs and found her father in he's study, sitting, staring at the paper in front of him but not actually reading.
"I have made my decision, I will go to Hogwarts on the 1st of September." Elle said, determined to keep her voice straight and even, "I will see this world my mother was too eager to leave me for."
I appreciate the time taken to read, please R&R. My update goal is weekly whilst on holidays and then fortnightly when Uni is back. I will also aim for a minimum of 1500 word chapters.
Regards A.A.A23