Different is normal for Mehana Leal.
Her Hawaiian mother, English father, and strange mash of Hawaiian and English customs weren't odd enough, apparently, and as "Hana" grew, she learned the universe had something even more strange in store for her.
Hana had always been able to do things. Well, all people can do things, that's simply part of being alive. But Hana could do different kinds of things. Like making things move on their own, or have her papers never scatter when they are dropped, or cause things to fall and shake when she was upset. Of course, she had noticed these things and she never did try to make them happen, they just sort of…did. Her parents didn't know what to make of it, so they just learned to accept their oldest daughter's little quirks, and taught the other children to do the same. The two older boys seemed to understand and accept, as did the younger twins. And really, they couldn't have done anything better.
On one mid-August morning of Mehana's eleventh summer, the air felt more alive and eclectic than it ever had before and everyone in the Leal household seemed to sense it- Something big was coming, and no one knew what. This something big came not in the form of an announcement or a news broadcast or a distressing telephone call but in the form of a man. A man in strange cloths, carrying a letter, addressed to a Ms. Mehana Leal. Hana's mom invited him in as her father pored tea and she watched, suddenly very nervous, from the bottom of her basement stairs, until half an hour later she heard her mother's call.
"Hana, come here, sunshine! There's something we need to discuss with you."
Quiet as could be, Hana scampered up the stairs and into the sitting room, where her Mother and Father were looking very happy as they conversed with the strange man who had the letter.
"Mehana," her father began, "this is Professor Longbottom. He has come to talk to us and deliver this letter."
Her father handed her the letter, which was written on not with type but what appeared to be actual ink as if a fountain or drawing pen had been used. Suddenly a feeling of intense permanence fell upon her as she looked at the letter. Taking a deep breath, she slid her finger under the flap, removed the piece of paper from inside, and began to read:
Dear Ms. Leal,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.