Chapter 1 - To be a witch
Leonora Smith was the odd ball if her family, her parents could tell she wasn't normal from the day she was born. From a young age, Leonora learnt the world was a horrid place, she was constantly bullied by her older brother, Ethan, and his friends. Their words caused Leonora to retreat inside herself, becoming self conscious and very conservative about her appearance. She grew her dark brown hair until it reached her lower back, but refused to tie it up. Instead, she allowed it to fall freely, part of her fringe covered the left side of her face. She used her hair as a shield, it made her feel slightly invisible to those around her. Once her little sister, Hillary, was born, Leonora's parents became disgusted with their strange daughter, they saw Hillary as the ideal daughter. This brought Leonora into depression, she put as much distance between her and people as possible. Leonora always wished she knew why she was so different from other children and her family. That answer came on the morning of Leonora's eleventh birthday.
Hillary, now eight, was sitting next to fifteen year old Ethan. Mr. Smith was reading the morning paper with his coffee, Leonora sat silently, nibbling on a piece of toast. Mrs. Smith entered with the post, without a word, she placed a small pile of letters before Leonora. Leonora knew what they were, cards from family members. She never got gifts, but got money instead. But, one letter was odd, Leonora picked it up , it was hand written with ink and had a wax seal. With the eyes of her family upon her, Leonora opened the letter and began to read.
"I've been accepted to attend a special new school." Leonora said "Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry." Her family pushed themselves away from her. Leonora just re-read her letter, used to her family's odd behaviour around her. "I'm going."
"Good riddance." Ethan sniggered.
"I believe that's my line." Leonora spoke in a silent voice. She found a list of items to get and directions to a place she could get the stuff. "I'm going to get school stuff."
"You better pay for it yourself." Mr. Smith said, Leonora didn't reply. She had already left the table and was heading to her room, letters in hand. She was thankful for all the money she received from Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles every birthday and Christmas. Crawling under her bed, she pulled out a chest with a heavy lock. She pulled on a chain around her neck, there was several keys hanging on the chain. She swiftly unlocked the chest and looked inside, inside was more boxes made of tin. Leonora picked up a box and opened it, she also opened her letter and added the money to the the box, before relocking the chest and returning it to it's place and putting the tin box in a rucksack. Leonora changed and packed some lunch as she consulted the directions. She was glad she lived near London's center.
Leonora stood outside the leaky Cauldron, she looked from the directions to the pub and back again. Was this the right place?
"New to Hogwarts?" A gruff voice asked, she turned to see a giant man, she nodded shyly. "Great! Ya welcome to come round with me and Harry." The giant introduced another eleven year old beside him, who smiled at her.
"T-thank you..." Leonora said quietly, she followed Harry and the man into the small pub. Leonora wasn't sure what happened, or how it even happened, but as soon as Harry's name was mentioned, he was swarmed by the pub's occupants. Luckily, the giant was able to get the children out through the back.
"What was that about?" Leonora asked quietly.
"Yeah, all those people..how do they know who I am?" Harry looked at the man.
"I'm not sure I'm the right person to tell you that Harry." The man replied, pulling out a flowery pink umbrella and tapped a few bricks of the back wall. The eleven year olds watched in amazement as the bricks began to move, making a passage way leading to a hidden street. As they walked down the street, the man turned to Leonora."I never asked ya name."
"I'm Leonora Smith." Leonora said.
"I'm Rubeus Hagrid, keeper of the keys and ground at Hogwarts." The gjanr smiled.
"So, do wizards use normal money?" Leonora asked as she saw two people looking through gold and silver coins.
"No, but you can exchange muggle money at Gringotts." Hagrid explained.
"Muggle money?" Leonora looked up at him.
"Muggles are non-magic folk." Hagrid looked down at her "I'm guessing you're muggleborn."
"Yeah, I guess I am." Leonora looked down at the cobbled street.
Once at Gringotts, Leonora exchanged half of her money in the tin into wizard money. Galleons, Sickles and Knuts. She bade a quick farewell to Harry and Hagrid, thanking them for their help and headed off alone. She got her books, a trunk, her potions stuff, her clothes, next was her wand. Sheventered the wand shop, the whole shop was just shelves and shelves of boxes. Leonora stood at the counter.
"Excuse me?" She called, an old man came around from the back shelves.
"Ah, good morning. Another new student, lets see." He looked along the shelves, and picked up a box. He opened it and pulled a wand. "11 inches, Oak with Dragonheart string core." He held it out, Leonora accepted it. She could feel its power, it was almost unbearable for Leonora. "Give it a wave." He said, Leonora. A set if boxes became ignited. She jumped and the wandmaker drew his own wand and stopped the fire. "No, lets see..." He took the wand and placed it back. He carefully looked at each box, before choosing on. Without a word, he passed her the wand. Leonora's fingers wrapped around the wand, unlike the power of the dragonheart, this wand seemed calm. Almost curious of the girl holding it. She waved the wand, a trail of gold magic sparkles were sent from the tip. Leonora smiled, pleased, it was the most amazing feeling she had ever felt. "12 inches, Yew with Phoenix feather core." The wand maker smiled. "This is a very stubborn wand, but it seems to like you."
"Really?" Leonora looked at him curiously "You speak as if wands have feelings."
"The wand chooses the wizard, little miss. We who studied wand lore are not sure why." The wandmaker said "I hope you have fun at Hogwarts." He called as Leonora left, she slipped her wand, in its box, into her rucksack. She stopped to eat her lunch, before moving to the last shop to get herself a pet.
She looked around at the different types of cats, owls, toads and there was even dancing rats. One Tawny Owl caught her attention, whilst the majority of the owls were hooting cheerfully, this one sat looking lonely. Leonora went up to the cage, looking at it.
"He's always been like that." The shop owner came over.
"Does he have a name?" Leonora asked
"We call him Orson. We've been trying to find him a home, but no one wants to buy a sad owl." the owner sighed.
"How much? I would love to to give him a home, and make him happy." Leonora looked at Orson, smiling.
It was late afternoon as Leonora walked down the street. She had packed her things into her new trunk, pulling it along behind her, whilst she held Orson in his cage. He had his back to her as she entered her home.
"You're back?" The voice of her brother came from the living room. Choosing to ignore him, Leonora took her school things up to her room. She was just pacing Orson on the bedside table next to a windows as Ethan walked in. "What is that?" He scoffed.
"My new pet. We who go to Hogwarts get a pet to bring with us." She replied, opening her window. Orson hooted softly at the breeze, Leonora smiled.
"Urgh, you're such a freak." Ethan left the room.
"Freak!" Hillary raced passed, she and Ethan laughed. Leonora closed her bed room door and sighed, she looked at Orson. His large amber eyes survayed her.
"I know what it is like to be alone, will you be my friend Orson?" Leonora asked her owl. She opened the cage, Orson flew onto the windowsill. He looked atbLeonora and hooted. She smiled "Let's enjoy our time at Hogwarts."