So, I've been brainstorming this for about three months, just started writing last Friday. Tell me what you think, should I continue?
Finding Home
Intro
Because this is all about me, Ash-Lyn Lewis, I am going to tell the absolute truth. No lies, No bull crap. This notebook is written in invisible ink that I got from one of my best friends, Carrie. We're in the same grade level. I don't want anyone snooping around and reading things that they shouldn't.
But this is not the point.
I am a witch. Not Wiccan. Not some weird cult member freak.
I was born a witch. Only, I didn't find out until my eleventh birthday. I remember how it all went, clear as day. I'd been removed from my tenth foster home; apparently my foster parents couldn't handle what they called 'pranks'. Turned out all the 'pranks' my foster families complained about, weren't pranks at all. It was just uncontrolled magic. Well, now I can control it.
Anyways.
My caseworker led me to one of the rooms where I knew they held important meetings and introduced me to a woman called Professor Vita Turner, the principal of some posh boarding school. My caseworker, an annoying middle aged woman who I'd nicknamed Old Bat, told me I'd gotten a full scholarship and would be going shopping for school supplies with the Professor. Old Bat was acting stranger than usual that day and left me alone with Professor Turner. She explained to me that I was a witch, had been born a witch, and had a place in her magic school.
And now, three years later, I live permanently at the Canadian Magical Institute. For once in my life I belong, with people just like me.
Where are my parents, you ask? My mother died in a car accident when I was four. I don't know where or who my father is. I can barely remember either of them. I know he had hair as black as mine; it was messy. She had brown eyes. I remember a loud motorcycle, a shaggy dog.
And that's it.
Sometimes I dream of a woman with red hair holding a baby, and I'm not sure if it's a repressed memory or just my imagination.
I hope it's real.
I applied for an exchange student program, hoping to be accepted into Hogwarts, Britain's top magic school. A boy named Harry Potter goes there. He's famous throughout the wizarding world because at the age of one he defeated the darkest wizard ever known in our world.
A girl two grade levels above me was acccepted last year, and she told me it was one of the best experiences she'd ever had. Carrie applied too, once she found out they had Quidditch teams. I still don't really understand much about Quidditch, other than it's a sport played on brooms.
"Miss Lewis, have you heard anything I just said?" Mr Fletchley, the vice principal, glared at me. I was sitting in his office for reasons I can't remember. "I'll take that blank expression as a no. I know you have A.D.D., but you have to pay attention. This is important."
"Sorry." I smiled lamely and sat up straight.
"I got an owl this morning from the Headmaster of Hogwarts." He sighed, as if he had bad news to give me. "And I'm sorry to say that a week from now, you will travel by the Floo Network, with Professor Turner of course, to the home of your host family."
"You mean I got in?!" I jumped out of my chair and hugged Mr Fletchley. "Oh man! I wish I could leave tonight! What about Carrie? Did she get in?"
"They only had one spot left, and you got it. I talked to her right before calling you in. DOn't brag too much, Ash. Carrie is feeling pretty bad." he led me to the door. "Congratulations. I know you'll do well."
"Thanks, Mr Fletchley." I hurried off to the cafeteria for something to eat.
The reason some of us stay at the Institute is because we have nowhere else to go. There are three houses, one for girls, one for boys, and one for summer staff. The program began several years before I came, because a boy had died. He'd lived on the streets in the summer; some gang stabbed him and left him in a ditch not far from the Institute. He was thirteen, the same age as I am now.
Professor Turned and I left early; she wanted to take me out for a birthday breakfast before our scheduled Floo trip. We usually went somewhere on my birthday anyways. Once we'd ordered our food, she began telling me about the family I'd be staying with. There were five kids. The father worked for the Ministry of Magic, the mother kept the house in order.
"You have nothing to worry about. I've known them for years; they're the nicest family. They may not have tons of money, but they do have a lot of love and value family and friendship. You will be fine." Professor Turner gave me a smile and we ate. I was anxious, nervous, excited, and scared all at once.
"What if they don't like me?"
"Oh, don't be silly. Of course they will. The little girl, Ginny, has always wanted a sister. With six older brothers, can you blame her? Oh, she will just love having you around!" she left some crumpled Muggle money on the table and we made our way out the door. I held on to her arm and we disapparated into her office at the Institute, right next to the giant fire place.
"Where are we headed?" I grabbed a handful of Floo powder and stapped carefully into the fireplace, my duffel bag thrown over my left shoulder.
"The Burrow."
