1. An Unexpected Letter
'What do you two want to do today? I'm afraid we'll have to cancel our day trip to the beach; the weather report says it's going to rain. Sorry girls.'
For once it looked like the weather report was right. Despite the heat and humidity, the sky was covered in thick, grey clouds threatening to burst open at any moment, making the great outdoors seem dull and uninviting. Being the last week of July – and the start of the summer holidays – the sun should be shining, invoking energy filled youngsters to play merrily in its rays, but it obviously had other ideas today.
Lily and Petunia Evans had been looking forward to a day at the beach all week and, at their mother's words, exchanged disappointed looks. Mrs Evans, who was placing cereals and milk, toast, butter, jam and marmalade on the kitchen table, noticed her daughters' expressions and immediately felt bad. She hated disappointing her children, especially as they rarely disappointed her.
'We can do anything you like,' she said apologetically. 'Bowling, swimming, ice skating – well, any indoor activity you want.'
'Bowling!' Lily and Petunia said in unison, their faces instantly lighting up again.
Mrs Evans smiled as she sat down at the table opposite them, thinking how easy it had been to placate her children.
'Bowling it is then!'
'Yeah, me and Petunia against you and dad,' Lily said nudging Petunia in the arm.
'Okay, we may just beat you this time though!'
'I doubt it mum, me and Lily are an unbeatable team,' Petunia said grinning.
'There is no disputing that dear. Eat up then, you can't play on an empty stomach.'
As they poured their cereal and buttered their toast, a loud clap of thunder sounded in the distance and the first drops of rain started to fall. It quickly turned into a heavy downpour, the rain lashing at the windows, obscuring the garden from view.
'Ah good, I guess I won't be getting buried in the sand today then!'
Mr Evans, a tall, stocky man with a receding hairline and a friendly face, had strolled into the kitchen just as a fork of lightning lit the sky and another crash of thunder boomed, nearer and louder this time.
'Not today dad, we're going bowling instead.'
'Bowling? And you agreed to this Rose? I don't think I could handle another defeat!' Mr Evans said, winking at Lily and Petunia.
'We'll go easy on you dad, we know you're getting old!' Lily said cheekily.
'I'll have you know I'm still in my prime, full of life I am.' Mr Evans replied. He sat down next to his wife and picked up the box of cornflakes, but put it back down and stood up again as the clatter of the letterbox announced the arrival of the post. 'I'll get it.'
Lily and Petunia giggled as Mr Evans hobbled out of the kitchen hunched over and clutching his back, muttering like an old man. They heard him shuffle down the hall, still in character. When he returned with the post he was walking normally.
'Anything interesting Roger?'
'Nope, it's all bills and junk mail by the looks of it,' he replied sifting through the mail. 'A postcard for Petunia, blimey Belinda's only been gone a week, she must be missing you already,' he handed Petunia the postcard with a grin. 'Ooh and a fancy letter for Lily. There you go love.'
Lily put down her spoon, took the parchment envelope her father was proffering, and gazed at it. There was no stamp, the address was elegantly written in emerald green ink and on the back was a wax seal with a large letter H on it, surrounded by a snake, a badger, a lion and an eagle. Who on earth could have sent her this, she wondered.
Petunia abandoned her postcard and looked from Lily, to the letter, and back to Lily again excitedly. 'Open it then Lily!' she said impatiently.
Lily carefully opened the seal, lifted the flap and pulled out several pieces of parchment, which she unfolded and began to read the top page.
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 Miss Evans,
We are writing to inform you that you possess a strong magical ability which has been registered with us. We are pleased to offer you a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed information about the school and the magical world, and a list of all necessary books and equipment needed.
I hope this has not come as too much of a shock to you. Term begins on 1st September; an owl will collect your reply on 31st July.
Yours Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
As she read Lily's eyes grew wide and her jaw dropped. She was a witch? She possessed magical ability? How could this be true? In disbelief, she looked at the other pieces of parchment. Just as the letter said, there was a list of books, uniform and other items, such as a wand and a cauldron, instructions on how to get to a place called Diagon Alley and on how to get on to platform 9 ¾ in Kings Cross, and a long piece of parchment outlining the statute of secrecy and other wizarding laws. This was too much for Lily to take in. The only thing that was registering in her mind was that she was a witch.
Lily was stunned and sat in a silent trance, staring at the letter, the sounds of the thunderstorm outside and the intrigued voices of her family blanked out. It was only when Petunia nudged Lily in the ribs that she was brought out of her reverie and realised that she was being spoken to.
'Who's it from Lily?'
'Don't keep us in suspense, what does it say?'
'Are you alright dear?'
Finally Lily looked up from the letter, pushing her vibrant red hair away from her face. Her family were staring at her, eagerly waiting to hear who the mystery letter was from.
'I… I'm a witch!'
'What?'
'The letter says I possess a magical ability and I've been offered a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry,' Lily said, still in shock.
Mrs Evans studied her daughters face, looking for the usual signs Lily showed when she was teasing or joking. She found none. The mischievous twinkle was missing from her, now wide – almost bulging, green eyes. Instead of a slight rouge to her cheeks, her face had paled. Her lips, rather than curling at the corners, were formed in a wide O. Mrs Evans knew instantly that her youngest daughter was telling the truth.
'Could I see the letter darling?' Mrs Evans asked calmly.
Lily handed the letter to her mother, surprised by her family's reaction. She had expected laughter and disbelief.
'It must be a practical joke, there are no such things as witches and wizards, except in fairy tales and fantasy stories,' said Petunia, looking at Lily as though she was mad. 'You don't actually believe it do you Lily?'
'It's not a practical joke, is it mum?' Lily said uncertainly, turning to her mother who was still perusing the letter.
'It certainly doesn't seem to be, a lot of effort and imagination has been put into it if it was,' Mrs Evans replied with a smile. 'Ooh Lily, how exciting!'
'I always knew there was something special about my little Lily!'
Lily looked at her father, checking to see if he was joking, and although he was smiling she could tell he truly meant what he was saying. Petunia was also looking at Mr Evans but with a mixture of disbelief, hurt and anger.
'It certainly explains a few things.' Mr Evans continued, not noticing his eldest daughter's expression. 'Like the time you didn't want me to go to work and my shoes shrank. Very strange that was! I thought I was going mad at the time.'
'And when we bought you the wrong coloured bike for Christmas, we woke up on Boxing Day to find it had changed from purple to pink overnight!' Mrs Evans added, smiling at the memory. 'You insisted Father Christmas must have come back and changed it because you'd been such a good girl.'
Lily laughed and tried to recall other strange occurrences that could have been caused by her magical abilities. She turned to Petunia as one came to mind.
'Do you remember when we wanted chocolate ice cream and mum only had vanilla,' Lily said excitedly, the shock ebbing away now. 'When she placed it in front of us it changed to chocolate.'
Petunia remained silent, playing sulkily with her cereals. Lily repeated, 'Do you remember Petunia?'
'No,' Petunia muttered. 'I do remember when my favourite doll ended up on the roof when I said you couldn't play with it though. And when I got locked in the cupboard under the stairs – even though there is no lock on it – just because you wanted to hide instead of seek!'
Lily laughed again.
'Oh I'm glad you think it's funny,' Petunia spat, slamming her spoon into her bowl and glaring at Lily angrily.
Lily stopped laughing instantly, realising that Petunia was not at all happy about the revelations her letter had brought. She placed her hand over her sister's, smiling at her kindly.
'I'm sorry Petunia, I didn't mean…'
Lily trailed off. Petunia had whipped her hand away, as though she had just been scalded, pushed her chair back and stood up.
'Can I leave the table please?' Petunia asked Mrs Evans.
Mrs Evans, who had watched the exchange between her daughters, looked at Petunia sympathetically. 'But you've hardly eaten anything dear.'
'I'm not hungry.'
Mrs Evans nodded and Petunia stormed out of the kitchen, avoiding looking at Lily. Lily heard the stomping footsteps ascend the stairs, cross the hallway upstairs and then the slam of Petunia's bedroom door.
Seeing the hurt, confused look on Lily's face, Mrs Evans said, 'Don't worry dear, she'll calm down. She's probably just a bit shocked.'
'Yes, don't get upset about it Lily,' Mr Evans added. 'I'll give her a while to calm down a bit then go up and speak to her. I'm sure she'll be fine again by dinner time.'
Lily wasn't so sure. She hardly ever argued with Petunia and Lily had never known her to storm off before the argument had been resolved. Petunia was obviously extremely angry at her and Lily felt sure that it would take more than a kind word from her father to cheer her up.
Lily was right. After breakfast Mr Evans spoke to Petunia, but to no avail. Petunia refused to speak to him, refused to leave her room and had decided she didn't want to go bowling anymore.
The following day Petunia had calmed down slightly. She was back on talking terms with Lily but became silent and sullen whenever Hogwarts was mentioned and her eyes flashed with anger every time her parents showed their pride in Lily. Lily tried several times to find out what was wrong with her sister but Petunia immediately changed the subject or simply ignored her and left the room.
July 31st dawned bright and clear. The windows in the Evans' house were thrown wide open to allow the gentle summer breeze to cool and soothe the occupants. Mrs Evans, Lily and Petunia were seated around the kitchen table, tucking into tuna sandwiches and a much needed glass of ice cold juice.
Lily had spent the morning nervously anticipating the arrival of an owl. Her reply, accepting the place at Hogwarts, lay on the kitchen side ready to be sent. As she ate, Lily kept glancing at the letter, wishing the owl would come sooner rather than later.
She didn't have to wait much longer. Halfway through lunch a large, handsome, brown barn owl flew through the open window, landing on the table, causing Petunia to scream and drop the glass she had just raised to her lips.
Petunia and Lily jumped up from the table at the same time; Petunia to grab a cloth to mop up the spilt juice, and Lily to grab her letter. Mrs Evans stayed at the table, feeding the crust of her sandwich to the owl.
Petunia quickly cleaned up the mess and hurried out of the kitchen without saying a word, abandoning her half eaten lunch. Lily watched her leave then moved round the table to stand next to her mother.
'I am doing the right thing … accepting the place, aren't I?' Lily asked as she started tying the letter to the owl's leg.
'Of course you are sweetheart,' her mother replied softly.
'But… but, I'll be away from you and dad, and Petunia. And it will be so different, everything will change. Petunia obviously doesn't approve – maybe she's right!'
'Lily, you are special. Very special! You need to go. If you don't you may end up regretting it. Of course it will be a different life to the one you know now, but as we are always telling Petunia – as you are always telling Petunia – change is good, in fact it can be wonderful! This is who you are Lily, you have to go.'
'I know. It's just … just a bit scary, I'll be entering a whole new world and you won't be there with me. I've never been away from you before,' Lily said. For the first time since she had received the letter, she thought not of the magic and the fun she would have, but of the fact that she would be leaving her family and friends.
Mrs Evans took Lily's hand affectionately in her own and said, 'There has to be a first time for everything Lily. I'm really going to miss you, but you'll be home for the summer and for Christmas. You are meant to be part of this "whole new world" and, as I said, you have to go,' she said earnestly, then looking at the owl waiting patiently to take flight, added, 'Get that letter sent Lily!'
Lily finished fastening the letter, then carried the owl to the open patio doors, Mrs Evans following, and the owl spread its wings and took flight. As they watched the owl fly gracefully into the distance, Mrs Evans pulled her daughter into an embrace, holding her tight.
'Looks like I'll be going to Hogwarts then.'
Mrs Evans smiled. 'Yes. You know, not just anyone gets an opportunity like this. You truly are special and I know you'll be a great witch, the best!'
Neither Lily nor Mrs Evans noticed Petunia standing in the doorway, watching them intently, looking small and forlorn, tears prickling her eyes.
