A
Year for Learning
By
Bianca Jenkins
J.K.Rowling
owns these things, they do not belong to me
Year
One of the Marauders Chronicles
Chapter
One:
The Letters
It was a beautiful summer day. It was neither too hot nor too cold outside. James opened his eyes, stretched lazily, yawned, and blinked. He then reached his hand to the table beside his bed and picked up his glasses. He put them on, then got out of bed and dressed himself. When he was finished, he looked at his reflection in the mirror.
"Comb your hair down, child, and tuck in your shirt." This was spoken by the mirror, and was not at all an unusual thing. James was a wizard, as was the rest of his family. They owned a mansion that was filled with many magical things that you and I might think rather peculiar.
James tried to flatten down his hair, but to no avail. He had raven black hair that went every which way no matter what, and the more you battled with it, the messier it was. James gave up the battle with his hair and bounded down the stairs into the kitchen.
"Morning, mum," He said as he plopped down in his chair at the table, "What's for breakfast?"
"Good morning, dear. There should be pancakes at the table. Help yourself." James did, and was halfway through his breakfast when there came a tapping at the window.
It was an owl, which surprised neither of the two present. James let it in through the window, and took the letter that was attached to its leg. Wizards, you see, use owls to send their mail.
Having its burden removed, the owl flew away.
"Who is it for, James?" his mother asked.
"It's for me. From Hogwarts! I've been accepted!" he replied, having already opened it and read its contents.
Hogwarts is a school where witches and wizards go and learn how to perform magic.
James, living in a magic family already knew about Hogwarts and had been eagerly awaiting the arrival of this letter all summer.
"Well then, James, if you want, we can go get your school supplies tomorrow."
"Mama! Mama! It's here! I'm going! I'm not a squib after all!" A very excited boy waving an opened envelope ran into the living room where his parents were. He also had been accepted into Hogwarts. This was a pleasantly surprising because his entire family, including himself, had thought he was a squib, someone who is born of magic parents but is not magic himself. Needless to say, this is considered a very embarrassing thing to be. Also needless to say, This family was much relived that the boy was not a squib.
"Why that's wonderful, Peter!" his father said happily. "We will get your school supplies on Saturday, If you'd like"
"Sure. That would be great."
A tall, thin boy gloomily opened a letter and read it. "Great," he muttered, "I've been accepted into Hogwarts." He went down stairs and silently handed the letter to his mum.
"Oh, wonderful!" she said sarcastically. "You'll probably end up in Gryffindor. I guess
I'll pick up your stuff when I go into town tomorrow. Now, out! I don't need you hanging around in here causing trouble. Be gone with you."
The boy gloomily went outside and plopped down under a tree. He had hoped he would be a squib, and not have to go to Hogwarts. He would probably end up in Slytherin.
A small, thin boy wearily looked up at the sound of an owl tapping at the window. He started to get up, but was immediately stopped by his mother.
"Don't tire yourself, Remus, my love, I will get it." He sat back down with a sigh and went back to his breakfast. She was right of course, he was exhausted, but he sometimes wished she wouldn't worry so. However, it was not altogether a misplaced worry. He had never been the healthiest of people, and was very small for his age. He looked up as his mother set the letter down in front of him.
"It is for you, my son." She said. He picked up the envelope. Sure enough, the letter was addressed to him in emerald green ink. He flipped it over and saw the seal. It was the Hogwarts crest! Hardly daring to think, he slowly opened the letter and read:
HOGWARTS
SCHOOL
of
WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: ALBUS DUMBLEDORE (Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear
Mr. Lupin, We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted
into 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. We have already made
arrangements for your condition to protect the other students. We
assure you that there is no danger of anyone getting hurt. Yours
sincerely,
Minerva
McGonagalll Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress
Remus pulled out a second slip of paper, which said:
HOGWARTS
SCHOOL
of
WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
UNIFORM First-year student will
require:
1.Three
sets of plain work robes (black)
2.One
plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
3.One
pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
4.One
winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)
Please
note that all pupils' clothes should carry name tags COURSE BOOKS
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The
Standard Book of Spells (Grade One)
by
Miranda Goshawk
A
History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical
Theory by Adalbert Waffling
A
Beginners 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 an owl OR a cat OR a
toad
PARENTS
ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR
OWN
BROOMSTICKS
Remus looked up at his mother uncertainly. Surely he would not be allowed to go. There was no way it was possible. No one in their right mind would let him come to a school. Was this some kind of joke?
"It said I have been accepted into Hogwarts." He whispered. "But it is not possible. Is it?" he asked uncertainly.
"I have already discussed it with Dumbledore, my son, and he has made it so that you can go to a school." His mother replied with a smile. "You do want to go, don't you?"
He looked at her, "Of course I do, mother, but would it be safe?"
"Dumbledore has assured me that everything will be safe. You will fine."
"But can we afford all these things?"
"I am sure we will somehow. I believe that we have some of these things from when your father went to Hogwarts. You can use those. And I am sure we can find enough money to get these other things."
For the first time in years, Remus thought that finally something good was happening. As he lay in bed that night, he wondered what surprises Hogwarts would hold for him.
