Poppy Dursley had everything. She had an older brother Dudley, who was awfully spoiled if you asked her opinion, but then again, so was she. And she loved it. She was her parents favourite. Dudley had all their parents' expectations on his shoulders, but she was excused from all responsibilities, on account of being their little girl. Today was her eleventh birthday, and she had created quite a list for them. First and foremost, she wanted a kitten. He was to be white and fluffy with blue eyes and if he wasn't, she would send him back. She wanted at least six new dresses (and she would be checking price tags, mind you). Hopefully, if this day went according to plan, soon she and her family would be leaving on a trip to Paris. Poppy absolutely adored Paris-she had never been, but she had seen plenty of Anne Hathaway movies and that was enough to know.

On this Tuesday February morning Poppy looked around her room, cluttered with gifts from all sixteen of her Best Friends that she had invited to her birthday party that weekend. After the gift-giving ceremony each year she decided which eight of them got to sleep over based on their presents, and those ones were her Very Best Friends for Until Next Year. The only person she guaranteed a spot on the Very Best Friends for Until Next Year was Kyla, and that was because Kyla and Poppy were Really, Truly, Very Best Friends For Life. She walked downstairs, where Mum would be preparing breakfast-French Toast, and she had better not burn it this time.

"Poppy! Happy Birthday, love!" Mum squealed, and Poppy reflected that it really wasn't a very flattering sound.

"Hello Mummy. Dudders"

"Happy Birthday Poppy" Dudley grumbled, and he didn't sound as enthusiastic as he should have. After all, it was her eleventh birthday! Dad came waddling in-a few weeks ago she had decided that he and Dudley didn't walk, they waddled. He handed her a stack of letters.

"Happy Birthday, Pops"

"Thanks Dad" She said idly, as she ripped open the card. It was from Aunt Marge, and she pretended to read the note as she counted the money.

"Mummy!"
"Yes, love?"

"Aunt Marge's given me twenty five less pounds than she did last year! It's only 150!"

"Well poppin, Aunt Marge's also sent you a present this year"
"She's still only given me £150!" Dad laughed.

"I'll give you 25 pounds, and that'll even it out" Poppy dropped the tears she was about to shed and smiled sweetly.

"Thanks, Daddy" She opened all her cards as they ate, collecting piles of money, until she finally came to the second last letter, thick and made of a heavy paper that she didn't recognize. It was even sealed with wax, something she had only seen in movies. Eagerly, she ripped it open, and a page fell out.

"What's in that letter?"

"Dunno. I think it might be a joke. Says it's from 'Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry'" Dad immediately snatched the letter out of her hands.

"That's my letter!"

"Not anymore. Go get ready for school."

"Not until you give me back my letter!"

"Go!" He raged, and Poppy turned and fled, in real tears this time. Dad never yelled at her! It wasn't fair! It was her letter!

Dad drove her and Dudley to school that morning, despite that normally Mum did. He didn't speak, the whole way there, and Poppy was very taken aback when she was nearly thrown out of the car at her elementary school. It was her birthday, and her letter that had been stolen from her! What right did he have to be upset? She cheered up a bit when all eight of her Very Best Friends for Until Next Year sang her Happy Birthday as soon as she walked in, and then again when Mrs. Rolsey introduced the new student, a girl named Tia. Kyla and Poppy looked at each other. They would have to test her at recess. Maybe they could incorporate her into Kyla's Very Best Friends for Until Next Year list at birthday in June. Maybe she wouldn't fit in quite right, and she'd be lots of fun to torture. Either way, she was sure to prove to be quite the form of entertainment. By the time Justin had given her a bracelet and chocolate as a combined birthday and five day anniversary gift, the incident was almost completely forgotten.

That recess, Tia, the new girl, sat down on the swings and pushed herself back and forth. Poppy, surrounded by her Very Best Friends for Until Next Year, stepped back in shock. The swings were her territory. Nobody went on them without her permission. They followed her as she headed over, not as quickly as a few other girls, who were obviously jealous that they hadn't been deemed a Best Friend and given an invitation to her birthday party. As they talked to Tia, one even sat down. It was anarchy, Poppy thought, a revolution happening right before her eyes! As soon as she stepped onto the turf, Tia flung off the swing and landed on her face. Looking up, the other girls scattered. Poppy primly stepped over her and took her seat on the swing.

"Ouch" She said, and everyone knew she didn't mean it. "Are you okay?" Kyla sat down on the other swing, and Poppy marvelled at her good luck. The fall was an easy way to enforce her status. Things like this always seemed to happen to people who questioned her, and she didn't have time to question it. Tia dusted herself off as she stood.

"I'm okay."

"Great. Would you like a seat?" She nodded towards the other swing, currently inhabited by Kyla. She wanted to interrogate her. Her mind was burning with a question after the near-chaos Tia had just caused. Are you the enemy? Or are you an ally? There was a glint in Tia's eye when she responded.

"I think I'll stand, thanks." Poppy was taken aback, but she slowly nodded.

"So, Mia-"

"-Tia-"

"Where are you from?"

"London" London. Bonus points for that.

"And-have you ever been to Paris?"

"Have you?"

"I asked you first!"

"Yes. Have you?"

"No-" Tia smiled slightly. "-but, well, I should be going there soon"

"Well, Daisy, was it? I know it was some sort of flower. I think I'll go play on the slide now." She walked away, and Poppy was left, mouth dropped in shock.

"Wonder who they've sent?" A tan man with messy black hair of approximately 31 years and ten months of age asked.

"They sent McGonagall for me, Petunia'd know her." His wife responded.

"Which means she might not let her in" Lily shrugged, then giggled a bit.

"Imagine if they sent Hagrid to Privet Drive!"
"She'd have a fit!" James grabbed a fistful of green powder and threw it into their fireplace. "Hogwarts!" In a rather strange manner, he stuck his face into the fire, and then emerged a few minutes later laughing harder than ever. "Moony says they didn't send anyone!" Lily shrugged.

"I guess it makes sense. Witch for a sister and all, they already know magic exists"

"Yes, but they don't know she's a witch!"

"Please James, we knew from the one time we met her, and she was two! Anyone with eyes could see she's a witch!"

"My point exactly!" She hit him lightly, and the conversation was dropped, but the Potters were both left wondering the same thing. What had happened when the Hogwarts letter for Poppy Dursley had arrived?