Just as I thought my life couldn't get any better, it was put on hold.

Okay, so that was a little dramatic. My life wasn't put on hold, per say. My career was. To me, though, my career was my entire life. Up until about six months ago, I was the youngest professional Quidditch player in the league, playing for one of the best teams - the Ireland National Team. It was a huge accomplishment for myself and my family. It was all I had ever wanted to do.

My injury came as no shock to me. A selfish duel left me temporarily paralyzed from the waist down. Now, for any normal witch, it would most likely be permanent, but I was surrounded by the best muggle and wizard doctors in the country. With a little help from both, I was walking again in five and a half months. My quidditch career, however, was going to be postponed for a while longer. My doctor hadn't cleared me for Quidditch yet. He told me it could be another year before I was able to play again.

After my injury, I stayed in Ireland and worked at a small cafe to bide my time until I could play again. It wasn't the best job but it kept me busy. A distraction was all I really needed.

It wasn't until I got a personal letter from Minerva McGonagall that my life seemed to be looking up again.

A small tapping on my window woke me from a short-lived nap. I sat up in my bed and checked the clock on the wall. Noon. I opened the window to see the family owl, Malice, a beautiful, brown Great Horned Owl. She flew inside and landed right on my desk. She waited expectantly for me to take the rolled parchment from her mouth. I gave her a pat on the head and she cooed before flying back out the window.

I opened the scroll to see the large Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry crest at the top.

It read:

"Miss Hudson Orth

2nd floor, 13 Acacia Trace

Galway, Ireland

Dear Miss. Orth,

I am pleased to inform you that we at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry do hereby invite you to complete your final term with us during our grand reopening. It is to our knowledge that you have sustained an injury and are unable to play quidditch this year. We would love to fill your time and have you here with us to finish up the schooling you've missed.

Attached is a supply list for your 7th year should you accept our offer.

Please address your response to me personally no later than 1 August and I hope to see you in due time. Term starts 1 September.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress"

Immediately I took the parchment down the hall to my fathers office.

"Father?" I asked, knocking gently on the open door.

He looked up at me with a raised eyebrow. His green eyes were tired. "Yes, Hudson?"

"I got an owl." I told him simply. My father was hard to predict.

His name was Carmichael Orth and he was an infamous professor at Ilvermorny . For his first ten years he taught a basic potions class to first through third years. From his eleventh year onward he started teaching a high level defense against the dark arts class.

For all of my life we lived in Salem, Massachusetts so dark magic was an apparent theme throughout our town. My father was obsessed with all things dark magic from a very young age. He finished school at Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry top of his class. He went on to be an auror for a few years before deciding that he'd rather teach dark magic than fight it.

He was a stern and prideful man. His soft side wasn't a side he showed often but when he did you knew he was serious. I couldn't count the number of times he told me he was proud of me, but I could count on one hand the number of times he told me he loved me.

"Oh? Who from?" He asked, looking back down at his parchment.

I took a deep breath before I spoke, "Minerva McGonagall"

He looked up with a shocked expression. "McGonagall? What does she want?" He asked

"She invited me personally to finish my studies this year while I'm on leave from Quidditch."

"Well... what are you thinking?" He was fully engaged in the conversation by this point. He sat his quill to the side and had his hands locked together on top of the desk.

I paused. What was I thinking? I hadn't had much time to think about it. "Well, on the pros list... it gives me something to do. I also get to finish school, which is something that I've wanted. I may get to play quidditch again for my house. I would study under some of the best professors in the world..." i paused for a second and sighed. "But on the flip side, I wouldn't be at Ilvermorny, which is my home. My friends are there. You're there. I'd be away from you guys for a while once you go back to the states. Plus, I'm already cleared by the ministry as passing my schooling. I don't technically need it."

He looked at me and I could tell by the look on his face that he was thinking hard about this. "Hudson, love, let me tell you something. You going to Hogwarts would not affect your mother and I. We would be proud of you. We are proud of you. It sounds to me like we're the largest reason you don't want to go. But let me tell you... Minerva McGonagall is the smartest, most incredible witch I have ever met. You being under her care and protection makes sense to me. I think it sounds like an amazing opportunity. You've always loved school. You could learn so much more this year. Plus, this way you're still close to Ireland and your team. I say, if you want to go, go."

I paused for a moment and nodded. He was right. Headmistress McGonagall was written into history as one of the brightest witches and she was now in charge. Hogwarts had just gotten remodeled and completely renovated after the Battle of Hogwarts and it was like a new school. My father was right. It was an opportunity I couldn't pass up.

"You're right. I'll go..." I said after a moment. "I'll send an owl to mother." I said, turning to walk back to my room.

I wrote:

"Mother,

Hello! I hope all is well in Belgium! Father and I sure do miss you. I have some good news to tell you. Headmistress Minerva McGonagall from Hogwarts has sent me a formal invitation to finish my last year there. I spoke with father and he thinks I should go. I think I'm going to. I think it might be good for me to get back to school and focus on something new for a while. Maybe I can play Quidditch for my house and get back in to the swing of things!

Anyways, I'll see you next week. Have a safe trip home.

All my love,

Hudson"

My mother, Matilda Orth, was a mediwizard so she was often traveling to different Quidditch matches and tournaments to work. At the moment she was at a regional tournament in Belgium.

Traveling with her at a young age is what founded my love for Quidditch. I'd watch her take care of the injured wizards and nurse them back to full health and it amazed me how strong, willing and capable they were. I wanted to be just like them.

She taught me how to fly and the rules of Quidditch before I could walk, seemingly. It was amazing that my first word wasn't "quidditch" or "snitch." (In case you're wondering it was "lumos" because I was always afraid of the dark and thought that I could conjure up some light. Spoiler alert, I couldn't.) My mom also taught me everything I needed to know about life, from boys to magic to how to not be an asshole. She was truly my best friend growing up.

Malice flew back in the open window when I called for her. She cooed and landed on my desk again. I gave her a treat and tied the letter to her ankle. I knew her trip would take multiple days there and back so I promised her extra treats when she got back. She cooed happily and flew back out, starting her journey.

I sat back on my bed and looked at the moving photos, newspaper clippings, and posters on my wall. The famous (and infamous now after the Battle of Hogwarts) witches and wizards I looked up to - Merlin, Newt Scamander, Salazar Slytherin, Morgan le Fay, Tonks, etc. In just a few short months I'd be where they studied. I'd be part of the narrative of post-war Hogwarts. I had never thought that I'd get to do that and be a part of a school so famous.

It was like I was entering a dream world.