Chapter 1: The Old Man and the Letter

Devin's POV:

I woke up to light shining down upon my face. I rubbed my eyes and looked over at the calender on my door and nearly fell out of my bed in shock.

Today is my birthday. Has it really been a year? I thought as I ran to my closet.

Within five minutes, I was dressed in a purple tanktop, under a cream colored plaid button-up long-sleeved shirt, dark blue jeans, a cream colored cowgirl hat, and a pair of brown leather cowgirl boots.(Pic link on profile)

I brushed my long blond hair, brushed my teeth, grabbed an apple from the kitchen, and headed to the barn. I entered the barn and went to the third stall and saddled up my horse Carli. We were soon riding though the fields of my fathers farm.

The wind blew in my face and through my hair as we rode though the rows of grape vines. I sooned turned Carli around and started back towards the barn. She slowed to a trot as we got to the barn and I hopped off and led her behind the barn.

Behind the barn was a small pond that had an old oak tree standing tall and proud with the wind ruffing the leaves. I sat down by the oak and looked around the little oasis.

The water was clear and glassy. The grass surrounding it was a dark green. It was silent, and the air was still. I glanced over to my left and then looked back at the shallow pond that sat in front of me.

"I turned fourteen today, mom. Its been an entire year,since you left I mean." I looked over again at the grave next to me. "I mean, sure its been a year since my last birthday, but it really isn't a day I like to remember." I said looking down. "Do you remember? I had run into yours and daddy's room to get you up for our daily horse ride. But when i tried to wake you up, you wouldn't open the pretty sea green eyes that you and I share. I tried and trid to wake you up, but you just wouldn't." Tears were slowly making their way down my cheeks. "Oh, wait, I'm sorry, of course you wouldn't remember!" I angrily whiped away the tears.

" Why didn't you tell us you were dying? Why didn't you look for help? Why didn't you prepare me for the heartbreak by telling? WHY?" I shouted. "I miss you mommy!" I whispered, hugging my knees to my chest.

It was silent for a moment or so until I heard the sound of someone walking around the side of the barn. Soon enough, I was engulfed in a hug. The arms pulled me to their chest, rubbing my back as I cried. Once I had calmed down, he began to talk.

"I was feeding the horses when I heard you yelling." I looked up at my brother Andrew.

"I had come out here to say hi to mom, but my emotions got the best of me." I told Andy as I sat up.

"Well, at least you didn't take your rage out on the tree again. I'm pretty sure the tree is so frightened of you right now. Heck, whenever I hear you yelling, I pretty much crap my pants in fear." He said chuckling. I laughed a bit, hitting him in the chest.

"Come on, we got to set up our stand at the market before it gets too crowded." I said pulling Carli to the barn.

"I'll put Carli away. You go get changed." Andy said pulling Carli into the barn.

"Okay! Thank you!" I yelled running into the house.

I ran to my closet and chose a white Forever 21 dress, brown vintage boots, and a brown Jones New York belt. (Pic link on profile). My aunt had given the outfit to me after her trip to New York. After I got changed, I ran down to the truck and Andy and I drove off to the farmers market.

oOoOo

It was almost noon and the market was coming to a close. As I was finishing up a purchase, a voice sounded next to my ear.

"You look delicious in that outfit. I just want to take you out of that wrapper and eat you up."

Gasping I turned around. Standing in front of me was the town player Jackson Wolf. He had been asking me out since the sixth grade and refuses to leave me alone. Annoyed I turned back to my costomers.

"What do you want Wolf?" I sneered.

"Oh, now is that anyway to treat you future husband?" He asked holding a hand over his heart in mock hurt.

"Jackson, we never dated, we never willl date, and I am never going to marry you." I stated. "Now I sugest you leave before I'm forced to use violence."

"Alright, alright! I'll leave. You'll come around babe." He said. But, before he left, his hand slapped my butt. Shocked and pissed, I turned around suddenly, Jackson's body was blown back. His body hit the stall next to mine and into a pile of watermellons. Half amused, half shocked, I turned back to the lady waiting to but a sack of tomatoes who was staring at me in shock.

"That'll be five dollars ma'm."

"I don't know what happened, Andy. One minute I was glairing at him for slapping my butt, and the next second, he was in the next stall covered in watermellon!" I tried explianing again to Andrew as we walked into the house. I headed into the kitchen with Andrew hot on my tail.

"But it doesn't make any sence! How can a guy be in front of you one second and be in the next stall over covered in watermellon?" Andy exclaimed.

"By magic."

We both turned towards the kitchen table where our father and an old man were sitting. The old man was wearing purple robes, had a long beard, and was wearing half-moon glasses.

"Kids, this is Albus Dumbledore. He is the headmaster of a school in England. He came to tell Devin that she will be attending the school on September First." Dad said. He handed me an envelope. On the envelope, it said:

Miss D. Grissom

Second Biggest Bedroom

37 Kelly Road

Troy, Alabama

United States

The envelope was thick and heavy, made of yellowish parchment, and the address was written in emerald-green ink. There was no stamp. Turning the envelope over, her hand trembling, I saw a purple wax seal bearing a coat of arms; a lion, an eagle, a badger, and a snake surrounding a large letter H. She opened the envelope and pulled out the letter inside. It 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 Ms. Grissom,

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

"What does it mean Witchcraft and Wizardy?" I asked, looking at the old man. He simply looked at me and smiled.

"You're a witch Devin."