Sylvia Black woke up on her birthday with an excited feeling. Grinning widely, she slid down the banister to the kitchen where her ward was already sitting.

"Happy Birthday." He greeted her.

Sylvia grinned, "I know- what's that noise?" A soft tapping came from the window. She stood up and opened the window. A brown owl flew in, carrying an envelope in its beak.

"Whoa..." Sylvia stared at the bird in wonder, slowly approaching it. She took the envelope from the mouth and the owl flew off. Sylvia hesitantly opened the seal of the envelope and took out the letter.

At the top of the... parchment?... was a emblem split in four sections. One piece had a badger and was yellow, another was green and had a picture of a snake, another was red and had a picture of a lion, and the last was blue with an eagle.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore (Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorcerer, Chief Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confederation of Wizards)

Dear Ms. Black,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Enclosed is a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins September 1. We await your owl no later than July 31.

Yours Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress

An excited feeling shivered through her. Jacob looked over her shoulder. "Is that the letter you've been waiting for?"

As a muggle, he didn't know much about the wizarding world. Truth be told, Sylvia herself didn't know much about the wizarding world. "It has to be!" Sylvia practically beamed with happiness.

"I don't suppose-" Jacob began, only to be interrupted by a doorbell.

He frowned, getting up and opening the door to find an old woman in rather perculiar clothing. She wore black robes with emerald green trimming and a strange, pointy hat. "Good morning, I am Professor McGonagall. I understand Miss Black has recieved her letter? I am here to take her to Diagon Alley, as I assume you don't know where it is."

Sylvia looked up at Jacob with huge blue eyes. "Pleeeeeaaaase?" He rolled his eyes but nodded.

"Be back for lunch." he told her. There was suddenly a stampede down the stairs.

"SIIIIIIIIIIIL!" A voice screeched. Sylvia turned to see her many adopted siblings running towards her.

"Tim hit me!" Jason tattled, the nine year old looking ready to pound the stuffing out of his poor brother.

"No I didn't!" The six year old ebony wailed, clutching onto Sylvia's leg desperately, as though his life depended on it.

Sylvia groaned, "You two should really set a better example for Damian." She picked up the four year old, who squirmed in her arms.

"Put- Me- down- Black!" he snapped, with surprisingly good pronunciation.

She sent a pleading help at Stephanie and Cassandra, seven and eight respectively, who both grabbed a boy and dragged them apart. Sylvia suddenly realized something. "Guys... where's Ryan?"

Her adoptive siblings, all standing in a line in front of her, had the word CAUGHT written all over their faces. Ryan suddenly burst into the entrance hall, sliding down the banister just as Sylvia had. "Eh, hi?"

"Kids, we have a guest." Jacob gestured to McGonagall.

"Damian, Jason, don't threaten her." Sylvia warned them. The more rambunctious two scowled back at her.

She gently kneeled down to them. "Guys, I'll be gone for a few hours. Please don't kill each other-"

"You're going to that magic school, aren't you?" Ryan asked, the ten year old looking down disappointedly.

Her heart fell slightly. "I'm sorry, but I promise I'll write everyday."

Jason scowled, crossing his arms over his chest and looking down, probably trying to hide his tears. "Hmph." A small smile appeared on Sylvia's face.

"Aww, is little Jaybird going to miss me?" She mockingly ruffled his red hair. He sniffled. She hugged her brothers and sisters before following McGonagall outside.

"Hold onto my arm, and whatever you do, do not let go." She sternly instructed.

Sylvia nodded, holding onto her cloaked arm. Suddenly, it felt as though she was being squeezed into a pipe. When she opened her eyes again, she was standing outside a tavern. She quickly followed McGonagall inside, and was led through a door into a small, empty room with a brick wall.

McGonagall pulled out her want and tapped the bricks in a pattern. The wall split open and revealed a long road filled with busy witches in wizards lined up outside shops on either side.

"Whoa..." She whispered in amazement.

"Take out your list and find your way around. If you are to live in the wizarding world, you best find your way yourself." Sylvia nodded and hurried off to a bookstore.

Sylvia looked around the alley and walked into a large bank. A goblin- a goblin!- walked up to her. "May I help you?" He asked in a gruff voice.

"No I'm just looking around."

"You need access to your bank account?" he asked.

"I don't think I have one-"

"What's your name?"

"Um, Sylvia Black."

The goblin looked surprised. "You don't have an account? But you are a Black, aren't you?"

"Well yes-" Sylvia looked confused.

"The Blacks were and still are one of the richest pure-blood families in Britain." The goblin looked at her. "You didn't know?"

Sylvia shook her head, still shocked. "No."

"Well, come with me then." He took her downstairs and gestured her into a cart. Hesitantly, Sylvia stepped in and was followed by the goblin.

"The name's Griphook, I handle the Black's fortune." He introduced, before pulling a lever, sending them flying down hill.

Screaming in shock and slight joy, Sylvia thought the ride was like a roller coaster. As they reached the front of a vault, Sylvia was almost sad to stop. She stood up and climbed out of the cart. Griphook opened the door, revealing piles of gold, silver, and bronze coins.

The bookkeeper smiled down at her. "Looking for something in particular?"

"Standard Book of Spells: Grade 1 by Miranda Goshawk, History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot, Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffler, A Beginner's 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 Scamander, The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble."

"Ah, Hogwarts then?" The bookkeeper asked.

"Yes." Sylvia nodded happily.

"Here you go," The bookkeeper handed her a large pile of books strapped together. Sylvia paid him in galleons, before leaving the bookshop and heading to "Wiseacre's Wizarding Equpiment".

Sylvia found the brass scales, the crystal phials, and the telescope before moving onto "Potage's Cauldron Shop" and finding the size 2 pewter Cauldron.

She walked into "Madame Malkin's Robes for all Occasions" and was met by a plump woman who quickly ushered her into the back room, where a boy her age with black hair and brown eyes was waiting. Madame Malkin quickly measured Sylvia, before leaving to find the right sizes.

"Hello," The boy muttered to her.

"Hi," Sylvia greeted. "What's your name?"

"What's yours?" He retorted.

"Asked you first." She said.

"Blaise Zambini." He finally said.

"Sylvia Black."

Blaise's eyes widened. "You're a Black?"

"That's the second time I've been asked that today. But yes." She nodded.

"Who's your parents?"

Sylvia blinked. "I-I don't know." She admitted.

"Haven't you ever wondered?" He asked.

"Well, yes, but I was more concerned on the present than the past." She shrugged. "I was adopted once, and taken in as a ward another time with a bunch of little kids as new siblings. I never really had a reason to find my biological parents. But now that you mention it, I guess I do. Even if they're not alive anymore, I want to know. Apparently, they're pretty famous here in the wizarding world."

"You were raised by muggles?" he asked incredulously.

"Sort of. My adopted parents were gypsies, sort of like cousins to witches and wizards." Sylvia smiled sadly, "But my new ward is a muggle. He's trying to learn more about the Wizarding World though."

"I can help you, you know." Blaise said, surprising himself with the statement.

Sylvia looked at Blaise hopefully. "Really?"

"Yes, my mother taught me how to brew potions. We can do a blood ritual, if you'd like." He continued.

"Really?"

"Yes, where do you live?"

Sylvia quickly told him her address, learning that he didn't live that far, just past the mile of orchards behind her house. Madame Malkin came in, handed them both their robes, and Blaise left to find his mother. Sylvia slipped through the crowd, heading to "Ollivander's Wands".