Dear Ms. Halliwell,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Enclosed in this letter will be the list of items you will need in your very first year of Hogwarts. We await your owl no latter then July 31st, we hope to see you. Term starts on September 1st.
Yours truly,
Professor M. McGonagall
This wasn't the only piece of parchment that was in the envelope, another one was handwritten by the headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. I have seen him on occasion whenever my Aunt Paige needed help with a certain mission or Charge.
Pandora, I will be picking you up today to take you school shopping so it wouldn't burden your mother, Piper. I'll be there around late afternoon, it won't be as crowded in Diagon Alley at that time. Don't worry your way will be paid for.
I groaned a little when I saw the last sentence from Dumbledore. I hate having people do this certain kind of thing for me. It made me feel like I couldn't do anything right or do it by myself. I have never lived a sheltered life. When you live with Halliwell Charmed One's life is always going to be a little hectic. There's always a new demon, a new innocent to save, never have alone time with your family when you need it or want it for that matter. Giving a heavy sigh I made my way up the three flights of stairs to the attic where I know my mother and aunts will be. My brother's, Wyatt and Chris, were out doing a mission of their own and Dad was at American Magic School, teaching a summer lesson for those that failed a class. When I finally got to the attic, all three of them were huddled over the Book of Shadows, trying to find a certain spell. Aunt Phoebe was the only one who noticed me.
"Pan! Did you need something sweetheart?" Aunt Phoebe asked as she went back to the Book.
"Yeah actually I do. I was just letting you all know that I got a Hogwarts acceptance letter today." After I told them, all of their heads shot right back up. Aunt Paige was grinning from ear to ear, Aunt Phoebe was looking from my mom and then to me, not sure how to react, and my mother, well she was worried like I knew she would be. My mother was very over protective of me. Unlike my brothers who started showing signs of magic when they were toddlers and even younger in Wyatt's case, I wasn't so lucky. According to the Elder's I probably won't get my powers until I turn thirteen at the latest. I might also get them sooner, in spurts. One ability I do have is being a Whitelighter, but that won't help me in the long run like the rest of them. Mom left the book and hurriedly over to me. She snatched the letter from my hands, quickly scanning it. When she was done, she looked to me. She almost seemed mad for some reason.
"Are you sure you want to go?" Mom asked. Ever since I had heard about Hogwarts from Aunt Paige all of those years ago, I always dreamed of what I would be like. A less violent world, a world where you can practice charms and not have to worry about defending yourself later. That was a world I always dreamed and never thought could happen.
"Of course I do, ever since Aunt Paige told me about it, I've wanted to go." I told her. Mom turned to face her younger sister with a knowing look. One that I knew too well but sometimes didn't understand.
"What did I do? The girl wanted to know, and anyway, Hogwarts is a very successful school. She will get the best education any Wiccan witch would get." Paige persuaded my mother. She smirked to me as well as Aunt Phoebe, no matter what they were always on my side. I couldn't help but smile but it went away when my mother turned to me.
"Okay, looks like I'm out numbered. When will Dumbledore get here?" As soon as Mom asked that question, I heard a squeal coming from down stairs. It almost sounded like my cousin Athena, one of Phoebe's twin daughters. All four of us hurried to down stairs. When we got there , Athena was fine just startled as Professor Dumbledore smiled down on my cousin. Aunt Phoebe gave a sigh of relief as she went to make sure she was okay.
"We thought you were a demon Albus." Paige smirked as she went to greet the headmaster, he only grinned. In the light of the sun room I was able to see his crystal blue eyes that were shinning from excitement under his glasses. He gestured for me to come join him.
"I don't blame you for that one Paige," he turned his attention to my mother. "She will be back before bed time. Even sooner if we get things done quicker." Dumbledore explained. He outstretched his hand for me to take. I almost didn't want to, knowing the way certain Wizards travel. They travel by the means of Aparation, where your body feels like its being torn apart at some points during the traveling period. I have only done it once with a friend of Aunt Paige's. I swore to myself I would just stick to orbing but it looks like I won't be getting that opportunity to orb. I looked to my mother one last time as I grabbed a hold of Professor Dumbledore's arm. The sensation was back much to my displeasure, we were swirling in and out of different places from what I was able to see, but from keeping myself from throwing up, I had my eyes closed almost the entire time. Both of us had finally arrived at a very dark lit pub. Professor Dumbledore seemed to know where he was going so I followed him, not wanting any drama right away. He stopped to see some people here. Everyone immediately recognized me, much to my displeasure. My family was not only famous for saving innocents in America but here in all parts of Europe as well. Aunt Paige was assigned to Charges in Europe and still is to this day. Most of her Charges are older magical folk. I guess she talks not only about her own triplets but me and everyone else as well.
After saying goodbye to the people in the Leaky Cauldron, I was glad to see some sunlight. In silence, Professor Dumbledore, with the help of his wand, tapped the wall in four different places. Eventually after doing so, the walls began to move opposite of each other and I could see an alley. An alley full of shops, people dressed in wizard robes and even some kids like me dressed in normal clothing. It boggles my mind that the wizards who wear these robes in public aren't worried from looks from Muggles (non-magic people).
"Professor, "I began as he started listening, "Why aren't some wizards more careful about getting caught from Muggles? Won't they get in trouble from the ministry?" I wondered. Professor Dumbledore only grinned as we continued walking towards a book store.
"Yes they would but these days Magic isn't so monitored or worried about. Unlike your world where you have to watch what you do, these people don't. Especially here and at Hogwarts."
"So if the Ministry of Magic isn't really watching them, only for serious reason they do, wouldn't the Elder's intervene?" The Elders who are higher up in power then the Ministry of Magic will get involved if the case is really great. I remember a story from my father; Wyatt was always targeted from Demons who were trying to turn him evil. They intervened or tried too, since they were also dealing with my mother. Like I said she us very protective us three. Especially me for some reason, whenever there is an attack she won't let me stay and help. Sure I don't have physical powers but I can still be of use.
"Not necessarily, like you said it would have to be a dire situation." He explained. I never said anything afterwards, letting the conversation drop. The early afternoon consisted of going to a book store called Flourish and Blotts, where I can tell I'll really enjoy just by looking at the topics, clothes shopping for school uniforms at Madame Malkin's-which I can tell I'll despise-, potion shopping and gathering equipment that I'll need as a first year student. As I was waiting for Professesor Dumbledore to leave the shop for animals, (I got a beautiful tawny owl I named Xenia.) I decided on taking a look in one of the books. Flipping through I noticed half of this stuff I have known since I was six with stuff like potions and curses and how to create a spell for advanced wizards. While I was curiously flipping through, the headmaster finally came back out and started leading me farther south of Diagon Alley. "all we need left is for your wand Pandora." He said as he looked at his pocket watch, we were almost there now. He stopped as he looked and then put it away. "I am incredibly sorry Pandora; I just realized I have important things to attend to. Here is the money you will need for the wand. Tell your family hello for me and I'll see on the first." He explained in a quick hurry. Another second later and with a very loud annoying pop, he left. Great, now I'm alone, it's a very good thing that I knew how to orb home or I'd be screwed. A couple of pace later I finally was able to find the wand shop. Olivander's wand shop, being around since the b.c era. I entered the shop to find a couple of people were getting there wands. There was a boy who looked to be around my age, he was a little taller than me, very blond hair along with his father. When I entered I sat down quietly till they were finished. The boy was on his fifth wand and I could tell Olivander was starting to get little annoyed with boy. I don't blame him; I would too with the way his attitude was around him. His father stayed silent as his son continued to try out wands. It took two more wands later before the boy's father turned around to leave the shop. He stopped in his tracks when he saw me on the bench. His face, which was pale to begin with, turned as white as a sheet. The boy turned around after paying Olivander. It was a very long time before the man was able to move or speak. It took his son, who pinched his arm, to bring him back.
"I'm so very sorry for staring." He began with an apology, "But do you happen to be related to the Charmed One's? Whose daughter are you?" he curiously asked.
"My name is Pandora Halliwell. My parents are Piper and Leo Wyatt." I told him, even though I was wondering why he wanted to know such a thing about me during our first meeting I answered him anyway.
"Oh." He said after a minute or two of staring. "My name is Lucius Malfoy and this is my only son Draco, he'll be starting school with you this year." I shook both of their hands, remembering to smile. Draco I can already tell, I was going to have issues.
"Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Malfoy." Smiled politely as I shook his hand. As I did I felt something negative coming off of him. It wasn't entirely evil, he was just someone who I would have to watch out for. He son gave off of nothing after they left. For a minute or so it looked like he had seen a ghost or something. I shook my head as they exited the shop and then turned to Mr. Olivander. Like with everyone else he recognized me.
"I was wondering when a Halliwell Charmed One was going to come to Hogwarts." He said as he started looking around for a wand for me. "Are there anymore of you coming?" he wondered as he continued to look.
"As far as I am concerned I'm the only one, sir." I told him. He came back to the front desk with a tiny little box that contained may contain my wand. He handed it to me. I have never held a wand before, and to my astonishment I actually felt like I was supposed to have it. It made me feel a little more powerful from what I already was. It astonished me to the point where I forgot where I was. I waved the wand into nothing, not knowing any incantations just yet. Where I point was to the couch I was just sitting, it ended up exploding with cotton from the couch flying everywhere in the room.
"No, No that one won't work for you." He said as I put the wand down on the front desk. He got another wand from one of the back shelves but lingered for a brief second. He seemed to be deep in thought as he pondered about giving me the wand. He walked back up to the front of the desk and leaned against. Still thinking. "I wonder if it maybe too much power." He finally said as his beady little eyes locked onto my light blue. He ended up giving me the wand, and within that instant I felt a very warming chill go through my body. Holding this particular wand made me feel invincible. "Curious." He said as eventually the warming in my body and in the room went away.
"What's curious?" I wondered.
"One for having a Halliwell Charmed One coming to Hogwarts is suspicious to begin with; it normally means something will happen. But no one will know till it does For this wand to be yours and connected to you so quickly, it would be have to have a Dragon Core, one of the most powerful but yet dangerous. In battle if you should lose your wand, the wand will become the opponents whether good or evil. It all depends on the master of the wand, Ms. Halliwell." He smiled as he went back to the front desk. "That will be 7 galleons please." He politely asked as I gave him the remaining change from Dumbledore. Leaving the shop I couldn't help but wonder about what he had said. It all depends on the wizard who uses the wand? Why do I have a feeling he was trying to warn me about something? Out of habit I made sure the cost was clear before I orbed all of the way home to California, then I remembered where I was and just orbed home without really caring who saw me do it. For them it wouldn't be out of fear but out of wonder on how I could do this wonderful thing.
I reappeared in my room, dropping off all of my new school stuff, trying to get organized, I heard some very loud arguing coming from downstairs. I ignored all of the stuff for now and hurried the three flights of stairs, almost tripping along the way . I stopped when I reached the sun room but far away enough to where I could still hear them and not get caught. I heard my father's comforting voice, my mother's yell, both of my aunt's, and one Elder. It was the Elders turn to speak. I knew this voice anywhere, her name was Rosalind, and she was one of those type of people you didn't want on your bad side. When she was young, she was raped and killed by some man she knew in her neighborhood. The Elders decided on giving her a second chance at life since she was only twenty at the time. Through very hard work, Rosalind eventually gained her status as Elder and now gives future assignments for new and old Whitelighter's. So why was Rosalind here? Wyatt, Chris, Patricia, and Penelope already have their assignments. Normally the Elders wait for a certain age to give natural born Whitelighter's their Charges.
"Pandora will do wonderfully at Hogwarts, Piper. She will be well protected especially with Albus as headmaster. He is the one thing you-know-who hates and actually fears." Rosalind told my mother. The name Rosalind said threw me off guard. I have never even heard of him or maybe I have heard of his real name and she was just too afraid to use the other? I'll go with the latter.
"She shouldn't be going, one she doesn't have any physical powers to protect herself if something happens, and two, she'll discover who she really is and then hate us for not telling her! Every day it kills me for lying to Pandora!" Mom yelled. I heard something like glass exploding and a small shriek coming from Aunt Phoebe who was right behind it. I guess for a minute she forgot her powers were related to her emotions.
"Dumbledore promised Miranda and us that she will not find out who she really is until she is of age or if the time is needed. Albus will keep his word Piper." Paige defended Rosalind. From where I was I can kind of see some of their faces and Rosalind was thrilled when Paige stood up for her. "Remember Gryffindor's are trustworthy and loyal to those around them." Paige reminded her as she joined my mother where she was sitting. "And with the upside being at Hogwarts means the teachers will teach her how to use her wandless magic as Albus calls it." Paige persuaded. It was silent again as I heard some movement from the love seat. I heard a sigh and then my mother speaking.
"He's not going to come back alive is he? You-Know-Who I mean?" My mother asked Rosalind. I couldn't see Rosalind at the moment since she moved, but from the way she spoke she was comforting and yet clueless like me at the moment.
"As of right now we aren't suspecting anything." In Elder language that means it could be a possibility but he is very weak. Why won't they just tell her yes or no? This is the only thing I hate about Elders, they're always so vague and annoying when it comes to 'protecting' us it almost goes too far. Before I was going to get caught I decided on heading up to the attic to see if he-who-must-not-be-named is in there. He has to be since he is technically evil. Right? All evil things are in the Book of Shadows. Thankfully no one was in the attic so I had the book all to myself for the time being. I had no idea why this name was calling to me so much, but it did and I wanted to learn everything I could about him. Finally searching through the demon section I started flipping faster and faster and eventually getting frustrated. I was kind of surprised he wasn't in here. As I was looking for the name I heard the sounds of orbs entering the room. Both of my older brothers were in the middle of the attic trying to wipe off some green blood off of each other. I raised my eyebrows, wondering what demon they must have been fighting.
"Banshee's. Those things are the death of me." Chris flinched as he recalled the battle.
"And to think you actually like the girl that became the banshee." Wyatt teased Chris. I only rolled my eyes and went back to the book. They noticed something was up with me after a minute or so and stood behind me as I continued to search.
"What are you looking for Pan?" Wyatt wondered as he started looking with me.
"Some dark wizard in England, the local folk call him you-know-who, or, he-who-must-not-be-named. I'm trying to find him to see if I should worry about him when I go to school in September." I explained.
"Oh so you got your letter? So cool!" Chris cheered for me. Pushing Chris and I out the way he started looking into it himself.
"I think I know who you are talking about; I've heard his actual name at Magic School a couple of times from the Professors. I think his real name is Voldemort." Wyatt explained as he flipped to the way back where more recent entries have been made.
"Voldemort, Wyatt?" Chris asked. "Never heard of him."
"You won't until your fifth or sixth year at Magic School Chris, as for you sis you may never hear about him unless you do your own research the Wizarding folk down there really hate his name." he paused after another couple of flips later. Then he found the page I was looking for, the Voldemort page. "There's not a lot of information on him apparently, that sucks."
"Well something is better than nothing." I told him as I took the Book of Shadows off of the stand and to the window seat, the boys followed me. "Voldemort, also known as Tom Marvolo Riddle. He attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry many decades ago. He turned to the dark arts shortly after graduating as a Slytherin. The only known magical power he has is Parseltounge, the ability to speak to snakes." All three of were silent for a brief second before Wyatt said anything.
"I'm sure you have nothing to worry about Pandora." Wyatt reassured me. "He's been gone for more than 10 years if he wanted to attack or anything he would have." He hugged me for a brief moment and then left. Hearing the same orbing sounds, both Chris and I immediately rose from where we were sitting. I hurriedly handed Chris the book. He returned the book on the stand as Rosalind entered the room.
"Hey, Rosalind, why are you here?" Chris wondered as he went to shake her hand. She took it and then sharply let go. What happened after I left from the sun room? I bet my mother probably pissed her off.
"Christopher, can I have a moment alone with Pandora please?" Rosalind said as her dark green eyes zoomed in on me. I have to admit, she was one of the best looking Elders. Most of them were very old and looking like they were graying, even though they couldn't age at all. Rosalind was in her robes, an all-time requirement unless undercover, her hair was down in golden curly locks, flaying over her shoulders. Right now I can tell she was irritated. The mom pissing her off theory was coming true, now I was going to have to hear it as well. Chris finally left and we were alone. That was not a good thing.
"So I hear that you got accepted in Hogwarts? Congratulations, it's very prestigious school; I know you'll do great." Rosalind complimented me, trying to ease the situation. A moment of silence ensues again before she speaks. My head was still reeling with the things I heard my mom yell earlier. It almost had Rosalind repeat what she said if I hadn't to stop to think about it. "I have your very first Charge, for a while now he might be your only one until we know you can handle more." I wish had stayed for more of the conversation. Why are they giving me a Charge while I was this young? I didn't question so I smiled accepting the offer of the new Charge.
"What is his name?" I asked Rosalind.
"Harry James Potter." She told me as her tone turned into a worried one. "He lives with his Aunt and Uncle since his parents were murdered at a very young age."
"By who?" I wondered, even though I already had an idea on who it was, the man everyone in Wizarding world feared.
"Lord Voldemort, somehow the barely a year old boy was able to withstand a very powerful counter curse. He was the only survivor out of the massacre." He grew up with his aunt and uncle no real family to call his own. I bet he doesn't even know he's magical at all living in the human world for as long as he has been.
"Do I need to protect him? Is a future Whitelighter?"
"No but he will need protecting. The Elders have little feeling that Lord Voldemort's return will be soon." She told me. Why would she tell me and not my mother? So I could have real mission all to myself? I liked the idea but I may need some help in the long run. But with the way Rosalind was staring me down with her green eyes, I had a feeling I wasn't supposed to tell her. Or anyone for that matter.
"Maybe he never died from Harry's attack at all? He could have been just incredibly wounded." That was what I kept hearing today while I was at Diagon Alley. But for some reason I believed that was true with where this conversation was heading. The next seven years with Harry as my Charge were going to be a wild one.
"You could be right." she slightly grinned, only making her natural beauty more noticeable. "I wish you the best of luck, Pandora. We will be watching." She gave me a knowing look and then in the same swirling blue and white lights, she disappeared, back to the clouds.