Isabella
Dear Miss Richards,
In reply to your inquiry about coming to Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft And Wizardry without your father's permission, I have to ask what caused this abrupt change of mind. We were under the impression that your mother was going to home school you until you were of age. If you believe that you would do better here than at home then by all means, come to Hogwarts. The Hogwarts Express is leaving on the 1st of September at Platform 9 ¾. Enclosed is a list of necessary books and equipment as well as the key to your vault. You will find adequate for all expenses in Vault 223 at Gringotts. We hope that you arrive safely and in due time.
Yours Sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore
Headmaster of Hogwarts
"Ouch!"
I looked up and realised that the owl was still sitting there. I looked down at my finger. There was a drop of blood.
"You bit me… Why'd you do that?"
The owl cocked its head at me.
"Alright, alright. I'll get you something for the trip home."
I folded up the letter and slid it back into the envelope, making sure not to crease or rip it in anyway. As I stood up, I silently cursed my bed for creaking and hoped that my dad didn't hear me. That would cause problems that I didn't need right now. Quiet as a mouse, I snuck out of my room, down the stairs and into the kitchen. I quickly grabbed something for the owl and a snack for me, and then started making my way up to my bedroom again. Everything seemed to be against me tonight because no sooner had I reached the top of the stairs, when a hand shot out of nowhere to grab me by the collar.
"What's all this?" my dad asked in a hissing whisper.
"N-nothing, d-dad." I could hardly breathe for the hold he had on my collar. "I j-just had to u-use the bathr-room."
"How dare you. How dare you lie to me? I watched you go down and steal that food! We need that food! Don't you understand you stupid girl! We don't have enough food or money for you to be sneaking around and having midnight snacks! Do you want us to die of starvation?"
"N-no." I was trembling.
"NO WHAT?!" I could smell the alcohol on his breath as he yelled in my face.
"N-no, S-sir."
"THAT'S DAMN RIGHT YOU UNGRATEFUL LITTLE BITCH!! AND DON'T YOU FORGET IT!" He added as he threw me across the hall.
I landed in a pile against the door of my room and felt blood trickle down my side. Tears welled up in my eyes as I slowly made my way to a sitting position. I saw him walk over to me through my haze and realised that he wasn't done taunting me yet.
"Are you crying?" He asked in a tone filled with mock-concern while crouching next to me. "Is the poor little baby crying? Does she need to be taught how to be strong again? Does she? Well… We'll just have to teach her won't we."
He stood up to his full height and looked down at me as if I were a bit of dirt on his shoes. Then before I could move or try to stop him, he pulled back his foot and kicked me in the stomach, hard. I hit the door again and slid down. Tears fell down my face. I couldn't stop them anymore. I knew it'd make him angrier but I didn't care. I only wanted to die. I closed my eyes and endured his ranting and abuse as quietly as I could. Sometimes it was all I could do not to scream.
'Please. Make him stop. Make it all stop. Kill me. Just make it stop.' I thought as he continued to pummel me into the wall.
And then as suddenly as it had started , it stopped. I opened my eyes and saw the monster that I have to call me father standing over me, breathing hard.
"That'll teach you. Rotten little stink worm. Just like your mother. A freak." He spat on me and then walked back to his room.
Once I heard his door close, I raised my head off the ground and crawled to my room. I stripped off my clothes and looked at myself in the mirror. Some of the old scars had split open and blood was soaked into my clothes. I went to the bathroom and got the first aid kit out. I did my best with the blood but the rest would have to wait until morning. I was too tired to do anymore tonight. I put my clothes in the bin and went back to my room. The owl was still there. It took one look at me and flew out the window. I laughed. A bitter, sarcastic laugh. Even the animals were scared of me. I must be hideous. I grabbed some comfortable clothes and slipped into them. My last thought before I fell asleep was, 'I wonder what it would have been like if mum hadn't died.'
Lucille
"Lucy! Can you come down here please?"
Ugh, I thought before adding out loud, "COMING!"
What did she want to talk about now? I mean, I hadn't done anything wrong had I? Not that I knew of… I wonder what she wants. My thoughts were up in the air as I slid down the stairs that had transfigured themselves into a slide for easy use. How I love magic.
I walked into the kitchen and saw both of my parents sitting at the kitchen table. Uh oh…
"Yes, mum? You called?" I asked so as to get this out of the way.
"Yes. Sit down please, Lucy." My mum had her 'I'm preparing for a serious talk' voice on.
I sat down and added unable to hold it in, "How many times do I have to tell you? It's Lucille or Luce. Not Lucy. It's way too childish."
"Fine, Lucille. We, as your parents, believe you need to know this before it happens. If you don't agree with our judgement then we will of course, respect your decisions and let you be."
I stared at them. What was this all about?
"Now, as you know, you've been going to Durmstrang for the last 4 years…"
I looked from one to the other, "Yeah…"
"Well. Your father and I think that it is time that you moved schools. You should not be learning the dark arts at school and we believe that if you move to Hogwarts…"
"HOGWARTS? ARE YOU SERIOUS?"
"Yes we are. If you agree then you will be starting there on the 1st of September. We've already written to the headmaster and he is in agreement. So, Would you like to go?"
I stared at them in shock. 'They honestly were going to move me? After my complaining for 4 years? Finally?'
"Of course I'll go!" I squealed, throwing my arms around both of them, "I can't wait!"
"Well, That's a relief! We'll go and get your school gear on Tuesday. You leave on Thursday and it will give you some time to pack." said my dad as I let go of them and sat down.
"Cool! I can't wait!" I replied with enthusiasm, then I remembered, "OH no! I have to tell Jen that I'm not coming back!" and with that I tore out of the room and called Jen, to tell her that I wasn't going to be there this year.
Katrina
'This was it! I could do this! I've convinced the headmaster to let me in and now all I have to do is tell my mother that I'm going to a boarding school. Shouldn't be too hard… Should it?' I thought as I reread the letter accepting me into Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft And Wizardry. 'But seriously… How can I tell her? Maybe I could leave a note and sneak out. Nah, that'd never work. I'm just going to have to tell her fast. Get it over and done with. Like pulling off a bandaid. It won't be too painful'
I shook my head and shoved the letter in my diary. I knew it wasn't going to go down well but hopefully she'd be busy enough not to fully comprehend until it's too late. With that thought, I walked across the hall and into my mum's study with a permission letter that she needed to sign.
"Hey Mum?" I said as I stepped through the piles of paperwork." Mum? Are you in here?"
"Yea, Hun? I'm over here!" I heard her voice coming from underneath her desk. "Hand me the screwdriver, would you?"
I leant down and gave her what she asked for. I then summoned up my courage and blurted it out, "Mum, I need you to sign this form… It's for school." I waved the pen and paper under her nose.
"Look Katrina, not now, ok? I'm busy, can't you see that?" She replied in a muffled tone.
"Yeah I can but I really need this signed now. I…I need to send it off before tomorrow." Hopefully she'd sign it now. She usually didn't hold out for long.
"Fine," She said resignedly, "Here, give it here."
I gave it to her and she proceeded to scrawl her signature where I had indicated. As soon as she'd finished, I snatched it back and kissed her on the cheek.
"Thanks Mum!" Then I ran off before she could question what the form was about.
It was perfect! I'd go and get the books that were indicated on the letter on Tuesday, and then I'd have Wednesday to pack and explain to Mum where I was going! She won't know what's hit her! And then by Thursday I'll be on my way to a new life!!! I glanced at my calendar. Shit! Tuesday's tomorrow! I better get everything ready!
