A TRYING LIFE
1.Letters To Future Students
Mrs Evans was making pancakes for the family when Mr Evans came in with the mails.
"Strange", said Mr Evans.
"Whats so strange honey?" asked Mrs Evans looking up.
"There is a mail for Lily. Its from some school called Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry .The address given here is Lily Evans,Attic,London... " said Mr Evans sounding perplexed.
"O come on honey, it must some kind of a joke. Maybe one of her frie..."
"I dont think so" said Mr Evans without letting her completing her statement. " Look its got a weird stamp and also look at the seal. I dont think a bunch of kids aged 10 could come up with such a thing."
"Lets open it up and see for ourselves what the mail holds" suggested Mrs Evans.
Mr Evans was opening the mails when Lily came downstairs,
"Breakfast ready mom? Whats it that u two are looking at?" she said observing them.
"I can't believe it." said Mr Evans, "I just can't believe it. This cannot be true."
Lily who was by now very much confused said, "what can't u believe dad? What can't be true?". When she got no reply but a stare from her dad, she looked at her mom,"what's the matter mom?"
Mr Evans now composing himself said, "Well Lily, we recieved a mail today which was for you.It says that you have been taken in as a student in the Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft And Wizardry!"
"WHAT" screamed Lily,"dad,did you just say witchcraft?"
"Honey, dont you get all pumped up, I still think that its a joke." Placing pancakes in front of Lily, "where is your sister? PETUNIA" Mrs Evans called for her.
"Ohh dear, dont you see, look, here is a list of subjects that they've given for the first years, Potions, Charms, Transfiguration... what kids can come up such names? It says that all the books, uniforms and other supplies can be bought from Diagon Alley.Look they've also given a map to reach there."
Lily snatched the letter from her father and began reading it wid eyed.
Down came Petunia,"I heard dad talk, whats going on here?"
"I had a letter this morning. I have been selected to learn witchcraft and wiardry at Hogwarts. We are going to this place called Diagon Alley. Dad are'nt we going there ddad? Plsssssssss"said Lily eagerly.
"We are. I too want to see what this is all about." Mr Evans was'nt insane, but he surely had an imagination and something about this gave him the feeling that this must be true.
"YAY! When do we go there dad? The letter also says that I would need a Wand.A WAND! And a cloak and look at the names of these books dad..."
"Pipe it down Lily. We will go there in a few days" said Mr Evans.
While Lily and Mr Evans were talking about their trip to the so called Diagon Alley, Mrs Evans just watched on bewildered and Petunia was reading the letter with a look of disbelief.
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"JAMESSSSSSSS", screamed Mrs Potter.
James who was playing outside didn't hear her.
The door flew open and out came Mrs Potter, "James Potter, I want you inside the house this very moment."
The minute he heard his mom call him 'James Potter' he knew that he was in big trouble and so he quietly went in without any protest.
James was planning to escape to his father when she called out loud,"Not so soon. James when i tell you to clean your room, I expect you to clean it and not have it piled up under the invisibility cloak, do you get me?"
James nodded, he did not dare look at her.
"Go to your room and sort it out in a hour. Do u get me?" she asked still furious.
"Yes mom", said James and ran.
An hour and half later Mrs Potter walked up to his room and said,"hmm, not bad.And by the way, you have recieved a letter from Hogwarts, we will soon be going to collect the items."
James knew that this letter was long over due.
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Remus was wondering as to how long he was lying on the bed. His body weak and aching from the transformation or as his parents say, their own little secret. He touched the scratches that he inflicted on himself. The pain was immense. Remus was bitten by a werewolf when he was a kid and since then he has had to go through this ordeal every full moon-Scrathing and biting himself. Today was just one of the days. Remus assumed sitting position,thinking about his father; and how his father would bring him to the store room at the time of transformation and take him back the next day. He was afraid of hurting his own dad, the thought of which brought tears in his eyes.
His thoughts were interrupted by a knocking at the door. The door opened and his dad stood before him.
" How do you feel ?" asked his dad worriedly.
" Its just as usual dad."
"Lets go, there is some good news for you" and they went into the house.
Remus was well rested now and his mom brought him a bowl of soup.
"Whats the news mom that dad told me about?"
"He'll tell you honey, he will be up in a minute", said his mom.
John(remus's father) stepped, with a pleased look and said,
"Well Remus, get ready to pack your bags son. You have been selected to go to Hogwarts."
"WHAT?!?!?!... Are you serious about this dad? The other schools didn't accept, o how come..."
"Ohhh son, the Headmaster of Hogwarts Mr.Albus Dumbledore, sent me a letter saying that he would be happy to have you study at Hogwarts and... and..." John couldn't contain his emotions,"...and that you do not have to worry about the transformations, that all will be taken care of " finished Mr.Lupin.
Remus was all flushed. He didn't know how to react. He was happy to be taken in, but that would mean to stay away from his parents and the only only ones who knew the 'secret'.
His parents left the room and Remus lay down the bowl of soup and watched through the window at the sky.
He decided that he will let things take their own course.
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At the Grimmauld Place, things were loud as usual.
"Where is this boy. Late as usual I guess. SIRIUS. COME DOWN YOU. SSSRRRRRIIUSSSSSSS", screamed Mrs Black.
'What is it now? What have I done now? I havn't even gone down yet and she is already screaming!" sirius wondered out loud.
"Maybe that is exactly why she is screaming..I mean calling you." replied Regulus in a jovial tone.
"Why are you here MOMMY'S LITTLE BOY, and stop bothering me. You do not want another cracker bursting under your arse do you?"
" O YEA! And do want another spanking from mum?" giving him a mocking smile.
From downstairs they heard their mother yelling,
"Sirius, you WRETCHED BOY, come down. NOW."
Both Sirius and Regulus hurried downstairs to find their mom at the dining table, with a letter in hand.
Kreacher was standing next to her, muttering, "young Mr.Black, how much he troubles my madam.That wre-- OUCH"
yelled kreacher.
"Master Black kicked Kreacher. Master Black kicked Kre..."
"What do you think you are doing Sirius" said his mother.
"Sorry mom. It was a mistake" lied Sirius.
"Look at your younger brother sirius and learn something from him. You are such a nuisance. The moment my eyes are off you, you run off to play with those half-bloods and mudbloods.Soooo against our family motto 'Toujours pur'. I know what to do with you. And its such a pleasure to have this letter finally."
Sirius wasn't listening to a word she said, it was the same as always. But as soon as the letter was mentioned he was fully alert.
"What letter mother?"
"Its from Hogwarts. You are to go there, i don't have to explain why, do I?" exclaimed she ans went on ranting as before.
Sirius knew exactly why he had to go there. Their's was a family full of Slytherins and his great grand father was also the Headmaster of Hogwarts, Phineas Nigellus Black.
Sirius though that at last he is going to the place he always fancied going. Away from home. A place where he wont have to wake up listening to his mother's screams. A place where he would be free. A place where he would be himself.
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A stout boy was nibbling nuts when his dad entered and,
"You have been selected to go to Hogwarts Peter. Lets have a little treat tonite."
Peter pettigrew was a stout boy, short for age and was a bit squeaky,
"WOw dad, thats great news. Mom, lets have a big feast tonite. Make sure that Its really big, I might take a lot of servings." said Peter and ran to his room.
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Jee Mason, was reading a book when her brother came upto her room,
"Dad wants you down this minute", said Henry.
"What's the matter?"
"I do not know.Mommy and daddy were talking about something now they want you downstairs"replied Henry.
"Okay." Jee was tall and very healthy for a 11 year old, with a liking to read.Her eyes were dark and so were her hair.
"Jee, are you in trouble?" he enquired.
"How would I know that Henry? Come lets go."
And they headed downstairs.
As they reached, her dad spun around and asked,
"Do you know anything about this letter?"
She took the letter from him and as she read it she couldn't believe it, her first reaction was,
"WOW BABY!"
"What?" asked her dad irritated.
" I mean, I do not know anything about the letter daddy. But isn't it great daddy that I am a W..."
Her father cut her off midway, "No. Do not get any weird ideas onto your head."
"But daddy, its given here that I am to go to this Hog..."
Her father cut her off again," No honey, you are not."
"But daddy..."
"Don't you 'but' me young lady, go to your room and I will find out who played such a prank"
"Plsssssss daddy..."
"I SAID GO UPSTAIRS" End of discussion.
The letter clutched in her hands she went upstairs with Henry right behind her.
Once in her room, she went straight to the window and read the letter once again.She flipped the envelope, to find a purple wax seal bearing a coat of arms; a lion, an eagle, a badger, and a snake surrounding a large letter H.
"WOW", she exclaimed.
"What's it?" asked Henry.
"Nothing, its nothing."
She also found another paper, in it was a map to reach Diagon Alley, a place from where they could buy all the stationary and uniforms.
'But daddy said this was some prank,how do I convince him to take me there?' she wondered.And as if a stroke of lightening hit her, she got an idea.
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At the Spinners End,
"Mom, are you sure about this?" asked a thin dark haired boy.
"Yes honey", replied she.
"Do you really want me to leave you alone and go to Hogwarts? I can stay here and help you."
"No Severus, you have to go. Its best for both of us.", said Eileen prince.
"But daddy, I can't..."
"You dont worry about him, I will take care of everything. Now, we go to Diagon Alley tomorrow and get all the items required", said Eileen looking at him.
"Okay mommy", said Severus.Tears running down his eyes.
"Ohh, Sev. Don't cry darling. All will be fine honey. All will be fine." she said hugging him, holding back her tears. Hoping that indeed All will be fine.
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