Chapter 1: A Strange Beginning to a Stranger Summer

Disclaimer: I don't own Bill, the one Harry Potter character who's actually in this chapter, or Dumbledore, who is only mentioned. If you sue me, I'll sue you.

I had just opened my algebra book to slave over the dreaded quadratics once again when the doorbell rang. I ignored it, assuming it was just Maru, come to play with Kane. He ran to the door and looked out the window.

"Kirri," He called, "there's a stranger at the door!"

I rolled my eyes and went to open it to ask the guy who he was. Before I could unlock it, though, he strolled in. I jumped but figured it was one of my dad's clients and ran to go get him. I described the man to my parents, and they both grimaced.

"Go talk to him, Kirri," my mom urged unhappily.

I ran down the stairs and apologized for leaving him waiting, wondering why my parents didn't like him. He introduced himself as Bill. He had long red hair, which he kept in ponytail. I continued to study him for several minutes before my parents came in.

"Let's all go sit down in the kitchen to talk," my dad said. "Kane, go play Mario or something."

Kane slinked off to his room and the rest of us sat down at the kitchen table.

Bill said, "Now, Sarah, I've come to take you to school."

I was confused. I didn't know of any Sarah's sitting at the table. My mom's name is Emma.

"We haven't said anything yet," my dad told Bill to explain my unexpected confusion. "Kee… you're adopted. All we know about you is that your birth name is Sarah. I'm not sure if you have any family or anything."

I stared at him, my mouth hanging open like a whale at feeding time.

"I don't know much else," Bill said. "The only other thing I was told is that you have a brother. Dumbledore told me he'll explain it to you when you get there."

I didn't know what to say. All I could get out was a rough OK. I was almost too shocked to move. Bill stood up and went to the door.

"I have to go," he said. "I'll be back tomorrow to pick you up."

I nodded slowly. My dad handed me the phone. I quickly punched in Kev's number. Kev was my boyfriend. He still is, as a matter of fact. The phone rang slower than usual, and it took him forever to pick up. When he finally did, everything that had happened came spilling out. He surprised my by saying that the mysterious Dumbledore was the headmaster at his school. I was speechless for the second time that day (or that hour, whichever you prefer). I smiled, kissed him through the phone, and hung up. I was going to be going to school with him again.

You probably won't believe this, but the shock of the day wasn't over just yet. It got weirder when my mom came up to me after I hung up with Kevin. She told me the one thing I was least likely to believe. I'm a witch.