P R O L O G U E

She receives the letter with the red seal on July 1st, one day before her eleventh birthday. Her surname was written in elegant script and she tore into the envelope with great haste.

Dear Ms. Cariff, (she began to read).

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 on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

She turns the letter over to see a list of requirements materialize on the back in equally fancy script.

UNIFORM

First-year students will require:

sets of plain work robes (black)

plain pointed hat (black) for day wear

pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)

winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings)

Please note that all pupil's clothes should carry name tags.

COURSE BOOKS

All students should have a copy of each of the following:

The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1)

by Miranda Goshawk

A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot

Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling

A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch

One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi

by Phyllida Spore

Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

by Newt Scamander

The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection

by Quentin Trimble

OTHER EQUIPMENT

1 wand

1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)

1 set glass or crystal phials

1 telescope

1 set brass scales

Students may also bring and owl OR a cat OR a toad.

PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS.

A roleplaying game of some sorts delivered to the wrong Cariff, the girl concluded. It was all that simple, her surname was easy enough to be misjudged it could have been a "Cardiff" or a "Careiff" but never, never a Cariff, who was simple in all aspects and not even that bright. Besides, her name was common enough in her community that something so silly couldn't be meant for her.

"Olivia" she called, stuffing the letter inside her jeans pocket, deciding that making such a joke known would not be beneficial. She liked the elegant script and pretty handwriting so she might as well keep the thing. "No mail has arrived!" the woman's voice called back to her: "Alright Penelope! Come inside and help me with dinner!".

"Yes ma'am!" she answered jumping slightly when she felt her pocket shift, something inside her pocket moved but yet, that was quite impossible.