Hello, my name is Piper Aleysburg. I live in London. I have a handful of close friends, Zara Terrison, Hope Parker, Allie Harp, Maddie Gray, Angela Harrison, and Arianna James. Okay, more than a handful. I'm light-brown-haired and green-eyed. I'm pretty average-looking, but I wear "nerd" glasses.

I'm eating breakfast, a bowl of cereal on the table, when a large owl soars in through the open window. It is a tawny owl, and in its beak it holds a letter. Curious, I take the letter out of its beak. It fluffs up its feathers importantly and flies out the window.

I carefully look at it. It is a thick envelope with emerald-green writing. It is addressed to:

Ms. Piper Aleysburg

The Smallest Bedroom

13, Greenfield Drive

London, England

There's no return address. There was a red wax seal. I slowly open it, wondering how the writer knew I have the smallest bedroom. Out falls a letter that says this:

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore (Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Miss Aleysburg,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

I read it five times before understanding. Witchcraft? Wizardry?, I think, Is this a joke? Out of the envelope, I see another piece of parchment, which read:

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

UNIFORM

First-year students will require:

sets of plain work robes (black)

plain pointed hat (black) for day wear

pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)

winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings)

Please note that all pupils' clothes should carry name tags.

COURSE BOOKS

All students should have a copy of each of the following:

The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk

A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot

Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling

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

OTHER EQUIPMENT

1 wand

1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)

1 set glass or crystal phials

1 telescope

1 set brass scales

Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad.

PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS

My mom comes downstairs, a steaming cup of tea in hand.

"Mom.", I say, "I got a letter."