A bell was ringing somewhere from the center of a small town in Connecticut. The ringing cut clear through the tree-lined avenues of the town, now green with leaves on the early spring morning. The last snows had melted a few weeks ago and flowers were beginning to bloom in the front gardens of all the fine houses of the street.

On this particular street, Inverness Lane, in a lovely home wedged between a large house with a string of greek letters on the front and a small brick cottage there lived a wizard. Well he didn't know he was a wizard yet, in fact he wouldn't know for a few more weeks, but today was a very special day. An important day for all witches and wizards, the day this young boy turned eleven. However, he and his family were unaware of the importance of that day in this young man's life.

The young boy in question, the wizard-to-be, awoke as he did every morning, to the sound of the university's bell ringing out from a few streets over. The sun was creeping into his room as he rolled out of bed and stretched a little. The young boy looked about his room and smiled. Around the room there were littered all number of things; a few old action figures sat collecting dust on a shelf, a few novels blocked the sight of an old teddy bear from when he was a toddler, on the floor were several uncollected pieces of laundry and textbooks from school, a desk across from the bed and beneath the room's window there sat a computer (his sole Christmas present from this year) as well as all of his homework neatly arranged and completed in a meticulous scrawl. The young boy's eyes settled on the mirror on the backside of his door.

He was staring at his reflection, his hopes of hitting an early growth spurt were dashed away again as he stared at himself. For the past two years, the young boy had been hoping to grow bigger but now once again no miraculous change had occurred on the eve of his birthday. He was small, now one could tack on the phrase for his age to that statement. He was thin to boot, with slight shoulders and spindly arms. His hair was a sandy mop upon his head framing his face that was with each passing day growing from rounded to angular, at least one part of him was maturing. The young boy grabbed the glasses that sat on the small table next to his bed and put them on, they placed thin oval wires around his pale blue eyes and he sighed. The young boy had hoped that maybe his blurry vision had kept him from seeing how much he had grown but still nothing. As he prepared to run a comb through his hair and get dressed there was a knock at the door.

"William," the voice of a woman called through the door, "Are you up yet?"

"Yes Mom," William called back, "I'll be down in a minute!"

"Alright dear," There was a slight pause, and then she said, "Happy birthday!"

William smiled a little when his mother wished him a happy birthday. He then got himself dressed for school, wearing the new clothes his grand parents had sent him for his birthday. William shrugged, they were a little dorky but not too bad, and he knew his mom would look at him weird if he didn't wear them. He opened the door and stepped out into the second floor of his house.

As he made his way through the hallway, William smiled as the light hit all of the objects lining the walls. William's dad was an anthropology professor at the nearby university and he had adorned the walls of their home with a number of objects that he had been gifted over the years; spears, masks, and a few sets of artwork hung through the second floor where everyone's rooms were, and every time

William passed underneath them he couldn't help but smile. As he passed by the bathroom at the top of the steps he could hear his sister singing horribly in the shower, William shuddered as he made his way away from the horrendous sound.

Entering the kitchen he found his mother cooking breakfast. William smiled, his mother rarely cooked, normally she was out the door quicker with appointments or the like, she too was a professor at the university but she always made an effort to keep her schedule as clear as possible on her children's birthdays. She was a tall woman, made even taller by her heels, with long blond hair kept pulled back from her angular face, which she shared with her son along with his pale blue eyes. When he entered she was staring out the window into their back yard and towards their neighbor's yard.

"Those boys threw another party this weekend," She murmured. Two years ago, a fraternity from the university had begun renting the house next door. They were pleasant enough most of the time, but every so often they would have a big party, and while they tried to be respectful of the noise and garbage, something would always happen. It was at times like these though, towards the end of the semester that things got worse.

William sat down at the table and asked, "What'd they do this time Mom?"

His mother jumped a little and turned, "I'm sorry William I didn't see you come in." She smiled at her son, and then turned back to the yard. As she lifted a few perfect golden brown pancakes from the pan and onto a plate she shook her head, "They left something in our yard, and I'd really like to know how it got there."

William stood up a little to look into the backyard. Laying on its side was a large metal drum with what looked like a pipe or a pump sticking out of it. William's eyes went a little wide as he asked, "Mom, is that a...keg?"

"Yes William," she said through clenched teeth, "Yes it is." She let out a quick breath, "But don't worry about it. Here, I made your favorite." She smiled at him again and set down a shortstack of pancakes in front of him. William knew that while they looked completely normal on the inside of them they were bursting with strawberries and bananas. He smiled as she said, "Now eat up, you can't be late for school, birthday or no birthday."

As William began to tuck into his breakfast, he heard his sister rush down the steps. She was in her last year of middle school and had turned 14 a few weeks back. She was tall like her mother, and moving with lightning speed. She rushed in and grabbed a glass of orange juice and a piece of toast, mumbling that she was late the entire time. As she rushed to kiss their mom on the cheek, her mother cleared her throat and whispered, "Elizabeth aren't you forgetting something?"

The girl stopped dead in her tracks as she was moving out the door, and then said, "Right..." She turned to William and said, "Happy birthday squirt!" Elizabeth then rushed out the door as her mother called out in frustration after her.

William frowned a little, it wasn't his fault that he was short he thought to himself. He kept eating his birthday breakfast as he thought about the coming day of school. One of the last days before he started middle school, he was starting to dread that concept. He'd probably be the smallest kid in the school. William shook his head trying not to think about it.

As he was finishing off his breakfast, he heard his father coming in. His father was also tall like the rest of the family, and he looked sleek and fit rather than merely thin like his small son. He moved with a slight limp as he kissed William's mother good morning and then ruffled his son's hair, "Happy birthday m'boy!" He called, his father always seemed a little louder than necessary, as if his voice was permanently stuck on lecture volume.

As he plopped down across from his son, his wife pointed out the keg sitting in the back yard. He murmured, "Oh don't worry 'bout it Danielle, a few of them are in my intro course I'll be sure to speak with them after class. No reason to worry about it right now." William's mother grumbled a little as she set down two more plates, one for herself and one for William's father. "So excited school's almost over, William?" His father asked excited, "Ready to spend time with your dad this summer?"

William nodded uneasily. Every year his dad would promise to do something with him, but he was always roped into teaching some summer course, or sponsoring someone's research, or any number of other things. This year, his plan was to take his son fishing like he had learned to do on one of his expeditions, "Sure Dad, I can't wait," William responded.

"Great!" His father smiled broadly. And then he looked down at his watch, "Oh boy look at the time son, you don't want to be late for school."

William looked up at the clock, and nodded, grabbing the last few bites of his breakfast before rushing upstairs to brush his teeth, grab his books, and rush for the bus stop. As he stood waiting for the bus, he met one of his few friends in the school, Megan O'Rourke. She was smart like he was and got picked on a lot for it, along with her braces.

As they stood there waiting she asked, "Do you think that they'll still bother you, even today?"

William sighed and with resignation said, "Especially today."

Every morning after he got on the bus, after twenty-two seconds exactly, the school bullies would make a point of acknowledging his presence in the worst way possible. This morning was no different, just as he hit twenty-two mississippi in his head, the big brute of the fifth grade Eric Grossman towered over him. "Happy Birthday Fraser," to emphasize his greeting Eric gave him a shove in the shoulder.

"Please leave me alone," William asked, his voice small and meek.

"Why should I?" Eric asked leaning in a little.

"Cause it's his birthday can't you lay off him for one day?" Megan asked anger in her voice.

"Oooo," Eric's cronies said in the background as Eric asked, "What Fraser your girlfriend protecting you?" There was a ring of chuckles as other students turned around and crowded in the aisle to watch the morning ritual.

"She's not my girlfriend," William said flatly, "Just leave me alone."

Eric shoved him in his seat again, "Or what?"

"Just please leave me alone," William said again his voice a little stronger.

"No come on Fraser what you gonna do?" He shoved the smaller boy again.

"Leave me alone!" He shouted this time, making a meek attempt to fling the boy's thick arm away from him.

"Oh come on Fraser, what's wrong?" Eric grabbed his arms and shoved him down a little. The bus turned letting his weight press down on the smaller boy. Megan shouted for them to leave him alone.

Then something really strange happened.

William wanted to tell him to leave him alone again but instead a roar like some sort of big animal, like a lion or cougar came out instead. He wasn't sure what happened, but Eric stumbled backwards and a few other students quickly turned around. Eric just backed off and sat back down in his seat, his cronies sitting down with him.

William was panting as the school bus pulled into the parking lot. As the other students got off, Eric rushing past him, William turned to Megan and asked, "Megan...what, what happened?"

Her face looked really scared, and a little shocked, "Uh...you...your face...it was...scary."

William shook his head, "What do you mean scary?"

"Like...like a werewolf or something but like...a lion?" She shook her head. "Probably some weird trick of the light."

William nodded, "Yea, trick of the light." As he stumbled off the bus with Megan behind him heading to their classroom he couldn't help but wonder what had happened. After all if it had just been a trick of the light, what had happened to his voice.
William knew that he had really embarrassed Eric on the bus and that he was going to pay for it. The whole school was talking about how William had scared the crap out of him somehow on the bus. Eric was scowling at him in the cafeteria that day at lunch, William was just happy that Eric was in the other fifth grade class and not his. Of course that didn't do anything to protect him during recess.

William was sitting under a tree, trying to read a book, he really didn't want to be bothered this afternoon. Not today, and not after what happened on the bus. Megan hadn't tried to talk to him since what had happened that morning. William began to wonder just how scary his face had looked. As he finished a chapter and looked up William saw Eric and his cronies coming across the playground. Everyone was parting their way before him as he came. He looked really mad, was all William could think.

"You think you're tough now Fraser?" Eric called out when he got close to the smaller boy.

William shook his head, "No..."

"Oh yeah?" Eric said, "Well that's not what I heard. Everyone's saying you're talking big now." The bigger boy was balling up his fists at that moment.

William got up, looking around for an exit but quickly found that Eric's cronies were closing around him. Beyond them a crowd of fifth and fourth graders were starting to gather to watch. William gulped, wondering if any of the teachers could see what was happening.

Eric had raised his fists now, "If you want to fight me Fraser, then let's do this."

William shook his head, "I..I don't want to fight you Eric."

"You say that now, but it's time to put your money where your mouth is Fraser." Eric ran in and swung out his fist.

William shrieked and dropped down to the ground. Eric's hand slammed into the tree William had been sitting against. Eric let out a shout of pain, and only when he did had William realized what was wrong with dropping to the ground in a fight. Eric's foot caught him square in the stomach and knocked the wind out of him. But instead of slamming into the tree, William swore he went right through it, and rolled out on the other side. He clambered up onto his feet, staring at the tree in front of him. Eric came around it shouting in surprise as he tried to jump on the other boy. Students were already chanting fight when Eric seemed to bounce into him, and then the two of them seemed to rebound away from each other.

Eric slammed into the tree, and William slammed into a nearby fence. As they both landed, the teachers arrived shouting for everyone to go back, and quickly staring down at the two boys. The teachers knew there had been a fight but all they found were two boys several feet apart looking really tired, and not really dirty. Eric was sent to the nurse for some minor cuts on his hand, and William was told to just go back to reading his book. The teachers apparently felt it was too close to the end of the school year, plus it being William's birthday, to send the boys to the principal for fighting.

On the bus ride home, Eric didn't bother him, he just kept scowling at him. Megan sighed, "At least next year we'll definitely be in different classes from him. We won't have to worry about him at all."

William nodded, "I really can't wait for middle school, it's going to be so much better."

Megan smiled, "Yeah, it should be really great. I can't wait to get a new calculator for math class. We're supposed to learn a lot of cool stuff next year." She smiled and looked out the window as she thought about it.

"Definitely," William added, "Plus we get to start really doing like experiments in science courses." He smiled as he thought of it. They got off at their stop and bid each other good bye, Megan wishing him a happy birthday as they wandered off thinking about the year that lay just a summer away.

As William came to his house, he waved to a few of the fraternity members who were standing on their porch, the keg that had been in the Fraser family back yard now sitting in front of them. They waved back, one raising a big mug to him and smiling. William swore there was a giant bird flying over the frat house as he grabbed the mail. He ignored the mail for his parents, and began grabbing more of the birthday cards his extended family was sending. That was until he got the bottom of the pile, there was a thick heavy enveloped addressed to him by his full name (William Abraham Fraser) and had an additional line above his address that was labeled The Front Yard, and there was no return address. He turned it over and saw that the envelope had a big official wax seal on it, the seal had a cat standing in the center of it with an S overlaying it, curved along the top was the word Salem, and along the bottom was the word Institute. William didn't know it, but this letter was probably the most important piece of mail he had ever received.

William was staring at the letter as he entered the house and called out, "Mom! Dad!" He entered into the kitchen setting the mail down on the table with the exception of the thick letter he had received.

His mother stepped out of the family's living room and looked down at him, "What's that William? Another birthday card?"

"I'm...not sure," He answered, turning over the letter again to the thick wax seal, "It's addressed to me though." William slid his finger under the lip of the envelope and brought it across the seal of the Salem Institute and carefully lifted it open. He didn't know why he felt the need to be so careful with this letter but something made him feel like it was very important. From the inside he pulled out several other pieces of paper and a thinner envelope.

William set it down on the table and took a seat, ignoring the concepts of doing his homework right that instant like he normally did as he stared at the sheafs of paper. He opened the first one and began to read it, then made a small sound. His mother, who had moved to stand over him, slipped it out of his hands and read aloud, "Dear Mr. Fraser, A very happy eleventh birthday to you, and congratulations. We are very pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into the Salem Institute For Magical Study for the Fall 2009 semester. Term begins Monday August 31rst with move in day for all students August 30th. Please respond by post owl by July First so we may be prepared for your arrival. Enclosed you will find the needed list of supplies, the closest suppliers to your residence, and a brief letter for your parents explaining your situation. Sincerely, Assistant Dean Michael Tall Elk." His mother was fighting back fits of laughter as she finished it, and setting it down on the table so she could laugh some more.

William wasn't sure what was so funny, and said, "Mom, mom I'm a wizard!" He smiled waving his hands as if he were casting some kind of spell.

His mother merely smiled and then kissed him on the forehead, "Sure you are dear." She ruffled his hair and said, "Your uncle has definitely outdone himself this year with a gag gift."

"But Mom, Uncle George's card came two days ago," William said. She laughed as she walked over to the stove where she had apparently been brewing some tea.

He heard the door open and his father come in, as he arrived he once again called out, "Happy birthday sport." As he approached the table he took note of the mail, and small pile of birthday cards, "Nice haul this year William." He ruffled his son's hair as he gathered up his own mail and moved to greet his wife.

"Oh John," She said as he approached, "You need to see your brother's gag gift this year." She gestured to the letter.

William's father moved back to the table, where William was still sitting wondering why his mom thought this was a joke. Was it that weird that he was a wizard, didn't his father write an entire book about magic only a few years ago. William shook his head and thought that this sort of thing happened all the time in books and movies, why couldn't it happen to him?

His father thumbed through the letter, and frowned, "This is a little complex even for George." He began to move to the second letter, with school supplies and chuckled, "I mean the list of supplies is amusing but still." William could sense that something about this was nagging his father. He walked away from the table and said, "I think I'm going to go and give him a call..."

William's mother raised an eyebrow but smiled adding, "Alright be sure to keep him on the line I'd like to congratulate him on this one, and I'm sure he'd like to say hello to the birthday boy." She smiled in her son's direction as she poured herself a cup of tea.

William thumbed over to the list that was now sitting on the table in front of him. He quickly began to scan it. There was a heap of books, as well as a wand, cauldron, and all sorts of other things finally ending with a school uniform: robes in the school colors. The list said that he could retrieve all of these items from shops in Dragon's Plaza in New York City and provided directions to get there. As his mother began to walk into the next room she patted him on the head, and said, "Start on your homework William." He absently nodded as she passed.

After about fifteen minutes, his father passed by and smiled at him before entering into the living room. William had finally put the letters aside and was starting on his math homework when he heard his parents whispering in the other room. He stopped and strained trying to hear them.

"...got him a singing tie for the gag gift this year," His father said.

"What?" Responded his mother.

"I know, when does William ever wear a tie..." His father replied.

"No," He could hear the frustration in her voice, "I mean if he didn't send it, who did?"

William could imagine his father clearly shrugging in response, "I don't know." There was a pause in the conversation, and William could feel the tension build as his father asked, "Do you think it could be real?"

"What?!" His mother half-shouted, before returning to a whisper. William had edged over to the doorway between the two rooms now, hugging close to the wall. "Real? It's a letter saying our son has been accepted into a place to study magic, and says he needs to buy a wand."

"Stranger things happen, and people believe all sorts of things," His father responded calmly, "It could be an eccentric school for geniuses or...something." William's father seemed almost to be gripping at straws with that comment.

"We are not going to feed into some fantasy just to find out it's some..." His mother struggled and sputtered, "New reality show or prank or something."

"Maybe we should read that letter for parents," His father suggested and there was a pause in their conversation as he began moving to the kitchen.

William shot back into the chair and tried to look as if he was concentrating on his homework. William's dad smiled at him and asked, "Hey mind if I take your..uh...letter there son?"

"Sure Dad," William responded, trying to act disinterested as if the joke had already stopped being funny.

He heard his parents talking even more quietly, so quietly he couldn't even make out the words till finally his mother nearly shouted, "We're not doing this today, we'll wait till the school year's over. End of discussion!" And it was the end of the discussion, William didn't even see his letter again for several weeks.