The warm July sun shined through the bedroom window of a small window in a flat outside of London, the birds chirping and the glitter along the bedroom walls glistened. The bedroom walls were a light pink with dark purple curtains and the bedsheets were a midnight blue with stars on the comforter. The ceiling was black with a moon in one corner of the ceiling and stars filling the rest of it. A body stirred in the bed, turning onto its back and slowly opening its eyes. It was girl, eleven years old, thin, average height, her long black hair pulled back into a ponytail, dark green eyes and fair skin. She rubbed her eyes, looking around her room, smiling some.
This is Aurora Winchester. A normal eleven year old growing more and more excited as school is quickly approaching. Best in her class and sure to be Valedictorian when she grew older, she dressed and prepared herself for breakfast with her parents. Her family was normal. Her father was a retired military officer and her mother was an accountant at a local bank. Her life was perfect, but on this particular morning, everything would change.
After brushing her hair out and pulling it back with a headband, there was a knock at her door.
"It's open," she said, looking herself over in the mirror.
The door opened and her mother entered. Her mother was tall and thin, with dark brown hair, blue eyes and fair skin. Aurora didn't look like her mother very much, but very much like her father. However, she did have her mother's fair skin.
"As soon as you're ready, we need you downstairs. You have a visitor."
"A visitor," Aurora asked, looking at her mother curiously. "At nine o'clock in the morning?"
"Yes. He's waiting downstairs."
"It's a he? Don't you think I'm a bit young to start dating," Aurora joked, laughing quietly.
Her mother, however, did not laugh. "Just come down as soon as possible," she said sternly, leaving the room.
You can't even joke in this house anymore, she thought, finishing her look over and leaving her room, coming down the stairs.
The stairs led to the living room, which was nicely furnished and modernly decorated. In the living room were her mother, father and an older man that she didn't recongize. Her father was tall and well built, with black hair slicked back and green eyes, but they weren't as green as Aurora's were. The old man stood up from the couch. He was very old, with a long white silvery hair and beard, average height, bright blue eyes and half moon glasses. His attire was quite odd. He was wearing robes, with moons and stars all over and a pointed hat to match, almost as if it was a witch's hat. He smiled softly, but stayed where he was as she made her way into the room.
"Dad," she asked, turning to her father, "what's going on?"
"Maybe," he said softly, rubbing her arms, "you should sit down."
She nodded, sitting down between her parents on the couch as the old man took his seat in the chair again.
"Miss Winchester," the old man spoke looking at Aurora, "my name is Albus Dumbledore."
She looked at her parents, who didn't say anything, leaving Aurora to speak.
"Are you my great grandfather?"
Dumbledore laughed gently, his eyes twinkling some behind his glasses. "I'm afraid not. I'm here to give you this."
He reached into his robes, pulling out a white envelope with a red seal that looked like a sheild. A lion, a raven, a badger and a snake occupied it. She turned the envelope over and it was addressed to her. She turned it back over to the side with the seal, slowly opening it, pulling a letter out from it, unfolding it and reading it aloud.
"'Dear Miss Winchester, we are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.'" She looked at Dumbledore, who just smiled. "Is this some kind of a joke?"
"I'm afraid not, Miss Winchester."
She shook her head in disbelief, looking at her parents. "Mother? Father?"
Her mother smiled gently, rubbing Aurora's back. "It's going to be all right, Aurora. From what Professor Dumbledore has told us --"
"Professor? He teaches there?"
"Actually," he said, still smiling. "I'm the Headmaster."
"Oh. Well, I'm sorry, Professor. I didn't mean to be rude. This is just...a lot to take in."
"It's perfectly all right, Miss Winchester. Hogwarts is a fine school, the best in fact."
"Will I have to leave home?"
"I'm afraid so. You'll be provided a dormitory with whatever House that you are placed in. A list of the supplies you need are enclosed in the envelope."
"Will I be able to come back? At anytime?"
"Holidays will be more than likely. Hogwarts is very nice. We have a hospital, a great hall, ghosts."
Aurora slipped off of the couch and landed with a thud on the floor. "G-ghosts?"
"Oh, yes. The ghosts are very real indeed."
"I don't understand. Why me?"
"Well, Miss Winchester, you were chosen because you are a very special person. You may be ridiculed for what your parents are, but not to worry. The other professors and myself are aware of your talents. We know that you can make things happen when you don't mean to make them happen."
"What do you mean, I'll be ridiculed?"
"Well, in the wizarding world, there are three types of witches and wizards. There are those who are pureblood, which means that the parents of the child are both a witch and a wizard. There are those who are half - blood, which means that a witch or wizard married someone who doesn't have magical gifts. Finally, there are those who are, like you, Muggle born."
"Muggle?"
"It's another term for people who do not pocess magic."
"Well, what's so bad about being Muggle born?"
"Well, to be frank, the pureblood students at Hogwarts believe that Muggle born students shouldn't be there. In fact, there is a very harsh term they use when they come across a Muggle born student."
"And that is?"
"Mudblood."
"It sounds disgusting."
"Well, it means impure or dirty blood."
She stood up from the floor, turning to look at her parents. "What do you think?"
"Aurora, this school could be great for you," her mother said, standing and going to her daughter. "And don't worry about that 'mudblood' thing. We love you no matter what you do."
She smiled, hugging her mother, then turned to her father. "Father?"
He sat there for a moment, then got up, going to her as well. "I'm very proud of you, princess," he said, kissing the top of her head as he hugged her. "And you'll be the best in the class at Hogwarts as well."
She nooded, pulling herself away from her parents, turning back to Dumbledore. "Professor Dumbledore, I would love to attend Hogwarts."
He nodded, standing. "I look forward to seeing you when you arrive."
And with a loud pop, he was gone.
Once September the first finally came, Aurora and her mother made their way to King's Cross and onto Platform Nine, looking for Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. Aurora had all of her supplies and she was very nervous.
"I told you this was a scam," Aurora mumbled as she pushed her cart with her luggage.
"This isn't a scam, Aurora. We just have to find the archway."
Aurora rolled her eyes as she watched the people move past them.
"Ginny, dear," a woman's voice rang out, "please hurry! We don't want you to miss the train."
Aurora looked around, seeing a family, all with red hair. A mother, a father, four boys, a girl and another boy who didn't look like any of them. He had black hair and blueish green eyes, who looked about twelve years old. The oldest red headed boy looked about sixteen, the middle siblings, two who were twins were thirteen and twelve, and the girl was about Aurora's age.
"Mom," Aurora said, picking up her pace and following them. "We need to follow them."
"Aurora, wait," her mother yelled, chasing after her.
The woman turned around, smiling as she saw Aurora. Aurora stopped dead as the rest of the family turned around, blushing. Aurora's mother caught up with her and the woman smiled.
"First year," the woman asked, looking at Aurora's mother, smiling.
Aurora looked at the rest of the family, shrugging and smiling, waving slightly. The twins waved back and smiled. Aurora could feel her cheeks turning red.
"Yes," Aurora's mother replied, placing her hand on Aurora's shoulder. "I'm Maria Winchester and this is my daughter, Aurora."
"I'm Molly Weasley," the woman replied, "and this is my husband, Arthur, and our children: Percy, Fred, George, Ron and Ginny. And this," she said, going over to the dark haired boy, "is Harry Potter."
"It's nice meet you all," Aurora spoke up, smiling some.
"You too, Aurora," Fred and George said in unison.
"I was just wondering," Aurora's mother spoke again as they all began to walk down the platform, "where in the bloody hell is Platform Nine and Three Quarters?"
"Oh, it's just right over there," Mr. Weasley said, pointing to an archway.
"But that's looks like an archway," Aurora said, looking at it.
"Well, let's see...we'll need to go with Ginny to help her find her seat, Ron and Harry can go last, Percy can go first...Aurora, would you mind going with the twins?"
"I don't mind," she said, turning to her mother. "Is it all right if I say goodbye first?"
"Of course," Mrs. Weasley said, going to lecture the twins.
Aurora turned to her mother, scared and nervous, tears in her eyes.
"I don't want to leave you and Father alone, Mother."
Aurora's mother smiled, trying not to cry as she knelt down in front of her daughter. "Don't you worry about us, Aurora. You just go and be the best witch that you can be."
"I don't know if I can."
"You can. I know you can."
Aurora nodded, hugging her mother tightly. "I love you. And I promise, I'll write."
"I know you will," her mother said softly, kissing Aurora's forehead, standing, turning on her heel and leaving.
Aurora wiped her eyes, then turned back to the family, seeing that the oldest one was gone.
"Where did Percy go," she asked, looking around.
"He went through," Fred replied, getting on the left side of Aurora.
"Went through to where?"
"To Nine and Three Quarters," George said, getting on the right side of Aurora.
"How do we get through?"
"Go straight through the wall between platforms nine and ten," they said in unison, getting in ready position.
"On the count of three," Fred said, looking at Aurora, flashing her a charming smile. "We all run to the wall. Okay?"
She nodded nervously, holding the handles of the cart tightly.
"Okay. One, two, three."
All three broke out into a run, going through the wall. She stopped once she got through, looking at the train. Next, Ginny and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley came through.
"Come on, dear," Mrs. Weasley, placing a hand on Aurora's back. "We'll help you and Ginny find some seats."Aurora nodded, boarding the Hogwarts Express with Ginny and Mrs. Weasley.
"You can sit with me," Ginny said with a gentle smile. "I'll tell you everything you need to know about Hogwarts."
"But aren't you a first year as well?"
Ginny nodded as they found an empty compartment, hugging Mrs. Weasley goodbye, then Mrs. Weasley left, leaving the two girls alone. Ginny sat down on one side and Aurora on the other, running a hand through her hair.
"I know a lot about the school because all of my brothers have attended or are attending Hogwarts."
"How many brothers do you have?"
"Well, the oldest boy is Bill. He works at Gringotts."
"The bank?"
"Yeah. I assume you had to go there to get money for your supplies?"
"Well, we didn't really have much of a choice. The only money my mother had with her was Muggle money."
"What's your blood status?"
"Muggle born."
"Oh, well, just a warning: beware of the Syltherin House. It's all pureblood students. They think that they're better than everyone else, but you never know what house you're going to be placed in. It's up to the Sorting Hat."
"They put our names in a hat?"
Ginny giggled, crossing her legs. "No. The Sorting Hat is this magical witch's hat that decides which house that the student who wears it will be in."
"Oh. I'm sorry for all of the questions. I'm still trying to get used to this."
"It's okay. Do you want to know more about my brothers?"
"Sure."
Ginny smiled, tucking some hair behind her ear. "The second oldest, Charlie, lives in Romania and works with dragons. Percy is one of the Prefects in the Gryfinndor House. Fred and George are the comedians of the family and Ron's a second year and best friends with Harry Potter."
"The boy with you and your family?"
"You don't know the story of Harry Potter, do you?"
"Of course she doesn't, Ginny," Fred said as he opened the compartment's door, entering with George and sitting down beside Aurora as George sat next to their sister.
"What's the story of Harry Potter," Aurora asked, looking at everyone.
"Well," Fred began, leaning back against the seat, "about eleven years ago, Harry's parents, Lily and James, were at home with Harry and they were getting him ready for bed. There was an intruder who came into the house. A wizard so dark that even today, we don't speak his name."
"Harry's parents died protecting him that night," George said, looking around the compartment. "Harry was supposed to die, but something happened and the wizard lost all of his powers and he disappeared."
"Ever since," Ginny said, getting some snacks out of her bag, "Harry has been known to the Wizarding World as The Boy Who Lived because he is the only one known to have survived the Killing Curse."
Aurora looked around, looking at the Weasley siblings.
"What was the Wizard's name," she asked, looking at Fred, but before Fred had a chance to answer, another person came into the room. He was about Harry and Ron's age, with blonde hair and green eyes. He was followed by two boys, both just slightly taller than him, with dark hair and dark eyes.
"His name is Voldemort," the blonde haired boy said, his hands dipping into his pockets, looking around the room, and then at Aurora. "Why are you sitting in here with the Weasley scum? The way that you look, you should be with us."
"Excuse me," Aurora replied, standing up, "but I don't believe I caught your name."
"It's Malfoy. Draco Malfoy. And you are?"
"Queen Elizabeth."
The Weasleys snickered at Aurora's sarcastic reply. Malfoy, however, just sneered at her.
"I know who you are," he said, looking her over. "Black hair, thin, dark green eyes. Yeah, I've heard about you. You're Aurora Winchester, one of our newest first years."
Aurora nodded simply, folding her arms across her chest.
"Well, just so you know, Mudbloods never get into Syltherin. And if you do, we'll be sure to make your life a living hell."
"You know what's a living hell?"
"No. What?"
"Staring at your face."
The Weasleys laughed even harder as Malfoy looked at Aurora, sneered and turned on his heel, but before he left, he turned back to her and said the same word again.
"Mudblood."
The compartment door slammed shut as the laughter finally died down. Aurora sat back down by Fred, rubbing her hands up and down her arms, shaking some.
"Hey, I think we're going to have to introduce you to Lee Jordan, our best mate. He'll get a kick out of you burning Malfoy like that."
She didn't reply, looking down at the floor.
"Hey," Fred said softly, placing a hand on her back. "Are you okay?"
She shrugged, not looking at him.
"Listen, Aurora," George said as she brought her head up to look at him. "Just because Malfoy calls you a Mudblood doesn't mean that he's better than you. Don't worry; you'll show him and all of those Syltherin freaks."
"And Malfoy's a git," Fred chimed in, rubbing a hand up and down her back. "Don't worry about what he says."
She smiled some, nodding, hoping that they would arrive to Hogwarts soon.