"Mother!" Haylie Granger jumped out of bed and flew through the door and down the hall to her parents' room. Her father and mother lay there sleeping quietly. Haylie sighed and ran over to shake her mother's shoulders violently.
"What? Is something wrong Haylie? Are you okay? Is Hermione okay?" her mother gasped, looking terrified.
"Yeah! Do we get to go to Diagon Alley again this year?" Haylie asked, her hopes rising. Her mother fell back onto her pillow, breathing steadily. Once she had gotten herself back together she smiled at Haylie and nodded.
"Yes dear. Once we get Hermione's letter we'll visit Diagon Alley." Mrs. Granger glanced at her clock and waved her daughter away.
"Now go back to bed." Haylie nodded and walked slowly down the hall to her room, smiling brightly. Hermione waited outside her room, leaning against the wall, her arms crossed.
"Did something happen?" Hermione, her older sister, said. Haylie grinned and ran into her room. Hermione just rolled her eyes and entered her own room, filled with books and pictures of her best friends Ron Weasley and Harry Potter. Haylie's room, though, was very different. CDs, clothes, and posters of Robbie Williams hung on all inches of the walls. Unlike Hermione, Haylie hadn't gained magic powers, which was common. Most likely, Muggles wouldn't have two magic children. Haylie hopped onto her bed and pulled the covers over herself once again. She had always wished she could be a witch like her older sister, but for some reason she had never showed signs of magic. She smiled as she thought about her eleventh birthday, which was the very next day.
"Happy birthday to me! Happy birthday to me!" Haylie sang, as she skipped down the steps toward the kitchen. When she entered Hermione was sitting at the table reading a book, and her mother was frying bacon.
"Happy birthday to me! Happy birthday to me!" she finished, pulling out the wooden chair at the end of the table next to Hermione.
"Happy birthday Hay!" Hermione reached over and gave her little sister a big hug. Haylie pulled back and smiled. Their mother walked over, a huge stack of pancakes drowned in syrup wobbled on the large plate she held in her hands. Then she carried over a pan of bacon and sausage and then finally omelets, filled with cheese and tomatoes. Haylie and Hermione glanced at each other and dug in.
"Thanks mum!" Haylie cried, dumping the bacon on her plate. Her mother stood, proudly, watching them eat and then sat down.
"Well girls I have a special surprise for you…" she pulled out an envelope and Haylie shrieked, "Here you go Hermione. I guess we will be making a trip to Diagon Alley today!" Hermione snatched the letter and tore it open as Haylie clapped happily.
"Sixth year is going to be great," Hermione said, putting the letter in her pocket, "but it won't come cheap, as usual." Haylie sighed.
"Don't be such a party pooper!" Hermione glared at her.
"You don't even know the meaning of money, you're only ten!" Hermione growled, pierced the pancakes with her fork.
"I'm eleven!" Haylie shouted back, stabbing her sausage.
"Would you two stop!" Their father walked in. Hermione and Haylie both shut their mouths and straightened in their seats, looking down at their plates. Mr. Granger walked to the table and sat down. All were quiet. He peered around the circular table and shrugged.
"What?" he asked, a slight smile appearing at the edge of his mouth. All the women just shook their heads.
"She is calling me ten!" Haylie screamed, pointing to Hermione.
"Oh, grow up!" Hermione answered, picking up her book and opening it.
"You girls are rather annoying," their father said, "did you give Hermione her letter yet?" Mrs. Granger nodded. He reached over and ruffled Hermione's bushy brown hair.
"Another year huh? I'm sure you'll have fun with Harry and Ron." Hermione smiled. They continued to eat as Hermione retold her many stories about Hogwarts.
"And then Lavender said…." Hermione babbled on and on. Haylie just put her head in her hands and listened intently. Suddenly, after her story about the "Weasley is our King" song, Hermione grabbed Haylie's arm and pulled her out of her seat.
"Come help me pack!" they ran up the stairs and into Hermione's room, where they started to frantically pull the clothes out of the drawers.
"You're so lucky Hermione! You get to practice your magic and you get to ride on brooms and everything!" Haylie glanced at the picture of Hermione with Harry and Ron, " Plus you have two great friends, who are extremely hot as well! I fancy the red haired one, but Harry is not so bad looking at all!" Hermione's jaw dropped and she started to laugh.
"First, that is so weird to think about, second, they are way too old for you… and they're my best friends!" Hermione said, still laughing.
"They aren't my best friends, so it really doesn't matter does it?" Haylie answered, smiling as she folded Hermione's robes and placed them in the huge black suitcase. Suddenly, Haylie heard a tapping. Her head jerked to the left, where she saw a tiny owl pecking at the window.
"Hermione!" Haylie yelled. Hermione looked over at the window and ran across the room. She opened the closed window and the owl flew in, dropping the letter to the ground. Hermione bent over and picked the white envelope of her carpet and carefully ripped it open. As she read, her eyebrows rose higher and then higher. At one point towards the end of the letter Hermione glanced up at her little sister and smiled. Once Hermione finished she handed the letter to Haylie.
"It's for you," Hermione said, going back to packing. Haylie read the letter and started to shake. It was out of happiness though, not fear.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and WizardryHeadmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. Of Wizards)
Dear Miss Granger,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins September 1. We await your owl no later than July 31.
Yours Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
"Omigoodness!" Haylie wailed, "I'm a witch! I'm a witch! I'm going to Hogwarts with you! Oh no! It's July 28! I have to get that owl to them now!" Haylie rushed down the stairs, followed closely by Hermione. She ran through the doorway to the kitchen and flung the letter at her father.
"I'm a witch! I'm a witch! I'm going to Hogwarts! I'm going to be like Hermione!" Haylie screamed, jumping up and down, "But I need to get an owl! Now! I have to send them a letter before its too late!" Hermione glanced between her parents and found that they didn't look upset or happy. They just stared at the letter, and glanced back and forth to each other as if to ask each other if it was okay. Then they smiled.
"Congratulations Haylie! Another witch in the family!" her father said, smiling and giving her a quick hug. Her mother followed his lead and they were all immediately discussing their plans.
"So Haylie can use Hermione's old books…"Mrs. Granger was saying, calculating prices in her head.
"But we have to get Haylie a new cauldron and a wand and robes and…" Mr. Granger added, also adding numbers silently.
"Can I have an owl? Or a cat like Hermione!" Haylie yelled, smiling. Mrs. Granger gave her a weak smile.
"Maybe for Christmas dear. I don't think we will have enough money to extras after we buy everything we need…" Mrs. And Mr. Granger continued to discuss their plans and options as Haylie and Hermione made their way up to Haylie's room to begin packing.
"You really need to clean this room," Hermione mumbled, picking up a dirty sock and throwing it on Haylie's bed. Haylie grinned and dragged her chair to the closet and tried to find her suitcase. Hermione was already pulling out all the clothes Haylie would need for her first year at Hogwarts. After Hermione had finished she ran into her room to gather her old first year books that were placed on one of her bookshelves. When she jerked the first year transfiguration book out, the dust that had collected on the books flew in the air and entered her nostrils. Hermione sneezed three times and her hands flew through the air.
"Ew." Hermione whispered, wiping the dust off with a paper towel. Besides the thick layer of dust, her first year books looked brand new. Then Haylie walked with her full suitcase.
"So… where are my books?" Haylie looked way too excited for a child going to school. Hermione handed her a pile of leather bound books and walked over to her own, half-full, suitcase and continued to pack. She took the pictures that stood in frames on her nightstand off it and placed them carefully in tissue paper, then tucked them under some clothes.
"You are always so careful," Haylie sighed, throwing her books in her suitcase, "Live a little!" Hermione rolled her eyes and continued to carefully place all her belongings in her suitcase. How could she live a whole year with her sister at Hogwarts?