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I don't own any of J.K Rowling's characters or places! I only own the characters I created!
Note:
Please feel free to fiercely criticize my writing! It is extremely helpful to have honest views on it.
Chapter 1: A Strange Birthday Card
One, two, three… he jumped, from 12 meters, landing incredibly, unbelievably on his feet without even a wince of pain, or the crack of a breaking bone!
Bradley Murphy was a boy who NEVER refused a dare… why? Simply because he never seemed to get hurt no matter what it was, he just had to want to succeed at whatever the dare was badly enough and he would. He couldn't explain it, nor could other kids. All he knew is he was practically king-of-the-school in elementary school, and he certainly was none to worried about heading off to high school next summer, he was certain he would be just as looked up to, and praised there as he was here. He started to head off home, walking jauntily a mischievous smile on his dirty face. He was a normal height for his age, with a broad figure and dark-brunette hair. His eyes were another thing that set him apart from his fellow 10 year old friends… one stormy grey eye, one emerald green… he couldn't explain it, no one could.
It was his birthday the next day, and he had suspected, ever since a few days ago that they all wanted him out of the house to get presents done etc. so he had obliged… after all, who was he to get in the way when there were presents involved! The day of June 23rd was his birthday, a day he looked forward too unreservedly each year. Because it meant the whole family would be home, the twins, who were 20 and both at university, always made the time to come home for his birthday. So it was with a light heart that he entered the house whistling a jaunty tune. "Oh, it's you" a voice sneered, "I thought it was a cat being slowly tortured."
"Oh your one to talk Sarah! At least I can get noise out of my mouth unlike YOU!"
His older sister, at the age of 13 she had taken extreme prejudice to the fact that he was so popular in town and decided to take it out on him whenever she could.
"How dare you! You little twerp! Why I'll…."
"You'll what Sarah?" he jeered "Shout at me some more? Ooooo maybe you will call all your friends and moan to them about me… scary!"
"You little…" but she stopped before she could go any further, their father had just walked in.
"Ahhhh, how are my angels doing today?" He asked in a strong Irish accent.
"Great Da, how was work?" Sarah said quickly, evidently attempting to make it look like nothing had just gone on between her and Brad. "Same as always thanks love. Now where's Doreen?" Doreen was their mother, standing at 5'9" she was the beauty of the neighbourhood, her blue eyes, dark hair, and model shaped body made her a stunning figure. This, however, made her no less homely and loving, indeed, Brad often thought (with that unnatural intelligence, and understanding that only a few children are ever gifted with) what a perfect life he had, with a loving family around him, barring Sarah perhaps but he often told himself, she'll come round eventually!
He made his way upstairs to his room, it was small, but that's the way he liked it, littered with all the things he loved. His clothes, his swimsuit, his posters of famous athletes, of course his massive poster of Gareth Bale, Tottenham Hotspurs star winger the posters were stuck on every available bit of wall space. He loved it, with the sloping roof, the skylight, and the window that looked across the meadow at the back of their house. One of his favourite hobbies was to climb out of this window and jump into the grass pile below, and then sneak up on his sister while she sat listening to music, oblivious to the rest of the world.
It was with great excitement then, that he climbed into bed that night switching off his light, and stared out of his skylight at the twinkling stars, as he slowly drifted off to sleep he saw something very strange, an owl sitting on the sill of the skylight, staring down at him with large yellow eyes, almost as if it knew who he was, and all about him. But no! That was silly, it was just an owl looking through his window, nothing strange about that, after all there were quite a few owls in the area around this time of year.
The next morning he woke up and, without a thought about the owl the night before, he jumped out of bed and headed down stairs with a broad grin on his face. The smell of cooking waffles met his nostrils and he sighed with pleasure, he loved waffles.
"Good morning dear! Happy Birthday!" His mother called over the sound of boiling water. "Thanks Ma!" He replied turning a shining face up to her.
"Well… sit down and have breakfast first then we can do your presents!"
"Mam?"
"Yes dear?"
"The twins… aren't they coming?" His mother looked forlorn at his words.
"I'm so sorry dear, I meant to tell you, but they can't make it… I'm sorry love!"
"Na, mam, don't worry… it'll be fine." Again Doreen had that strange feeling she got sometimes that it was her son, her newly 11 year old son, who was comforting her, instead of the other way round.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of the post. "Only three letters today Brad, here, ones for you… it does look strange." She gave it to him and he examined it. On the front of the envelope his address was written in old fashioned emerald ink:
Mr. Bradley Lewis Murphy
11 Puddlesmere dr.
The small room at the top of the stairs.
Limerick
Munster
The Republic of Ireland
United Kingdom
Europe
The World
The colour of the envelope was that of old parchment. "This is weird, it doesn't say who it's from mam!"
"Well, umm, open it I guess… only way your going to find out!"
"Right!"
He opened it with slightly trembling hands, and half curious, half apprehensive look on his face. The letter was the same type of paper as the envelope, and the same slanted hand had written the words, again in emerald ink.
Dear Mr. Murphy,
Headmistress: Mz. Rosaline Hawthoorn
(Order of Merlin 1st class, Deputy Head Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, Chairwoman of the international witches rights committee.)
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into "Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizadry".
You will find the list of all necessary books and equipment enclosed.
Term starts on September 1. We expect a confirmation Owl no later then the 31st of June.
Yours sincerely
Mz. Hermione Weasley
Deputy Headmistress
P.S We understand that as your family are muggles (non-magical people) and you no doubt thought yourself a muggle to this point, you will probably be suspicious as to the origin, and real meaning of this letter. Therefore you can expect a visit from a Hogwarts teacher before the end of the month
Bellow is the list of all the required supplies and books for your first school year:
HOGWARTS SCHOOL
of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
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.
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 for the New Age – By Hermione Weasley
A Beginners Guide to Transfiguration – By Emeric Switch
One Thousand and One Magical Herbs and Fungi by Neville Longbottom
Magical Drafts and Potions for Beginners – By Horace Slughorn
Beautiful beasts or Dangerous Monsters? – By Rubeus Hagrid (actual writing by Hermione Weasley, orated by Rubeus Hagrid)
The Dark Arts: A Guide to Defence Against the Dark Arts for 1st years – By Harry Potter
Students are also allowed either an Owl, a Cat, or a Toad.
Parents are reminded that 1st years are not allowed a broom of their own in Hogwarts.
Other Equipment:
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
1 Sneak-o-scope
All items may be purchased in Diagon Alley.
Brad stopped reading his heart in his mouth, confused, and dazed.
"What does it mean?"
His mother only shook her head speechless…
"Do you think its for real mam? I mean all the things I can do, how I never seem to get hurt" he said earnestly, and then as an afterthought "How I turned Sarah's hair green that time." He added this last part with a grin.
"I don't know… no, it can't be, I'm sorry Brad it must be a prank, maybe from the twins, you know they are always playing pranks!"
"Mam, who ever heard of these places…? That's allot to make up for one prank!"
"Well, listen we will wait to the end of the month and see if anyone turns up like the letter said… okay? And honey!"
"Yes mam?"
"Until we know let's not mention this to the others okay?"
"Sure mam!"
Inside her mind she was in turmoil, she knew, for sure that this was a load of crap that someone had shoved through their door as a prank… all the same, it was allot to make up for a prank, and that paper and old fashioned ink cost a fortune. So maybe…? Nah, she'd just have to wait and see, like Brad, if anyone turned up!"