A/N: I've been working on this for a while and decided to put it up. Note, this chapter was written with in book six, it shows witches and wizards living with Muggles are visited by a staff member to explain everything, but also, Hermione says in the first book that she got a letter. So this is a mix of both.
And if you review, please, no flames.
Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognize, all that belongs to JKRowling. I only own the Watkins family and the Garcías.
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Eleven-year-old Bryt Watkins was stretched out on her bed in her room, staring at the ceiling with caramel-colored eyes as she tugged on the end of the sleeve of her oversized shirt. The sun was shining brightly outside, though, for Bryt, it could have been storming. Life had changed so drastically for her and she still wasn't use to it. Today was her first day in her new home, a small house a little outside of London, England. Of course, even at one story, the house was more roomy than the small two-story house she had lived in back in Charleston, South Carolina, but Bryt would have preferred the small, crowded house. At least then she would still be with her best friends, twelve-year-old Sofí García and her one-year-older brother Julio. Now, Bryt was in a completely different country, the only contact with her friends were emails and an occasional long-distance phone call.
Bryt let out a sigh, closing her eyes for a moment before sitting up on her bed, straightening her oversized shirt that hung down over her jeans. Of course, Bryt could have clothes that fit her well if she wanted, but she preferred baggy clothing. It helped to hide her small, scrawny form. Bryt was a small girl, after all, and shorter than most her age. Her hair was long and thick, often tangling easily, which left Bryt always keeping it tied back. She often found herself wishing she could be tall and elegant, like her friend Sofí, with her silky black hair and bright smile...
Bryt shook off the image of her friend, moving over to the chest-of-drawers that sat near her window on one side of her bedroom door, the other side of the door being where Bryt's desk sat. The young girl grabbed her brush and started pulling it through her tangled blonde hair, braiding it quickly and letting the braid hang halfway down her back.
Looking in the mirror, Bryt wrinkled her nose at her reflection. There was only one thing she liked about herself, and that was the light caramel color of her eyes. There was nothing out of the ordinary about them, though. Bryt just liked them because they were the exact same color as her father's.
Bryt turned from her mirror shoved open her window, letting the summer air come inside. It had just recently rained and Bryt wanted the fresh smell to fill her room, no matter how much her parents and younger brothers would fuss about it.
The blonde leaned forward, folding her arms on the sill of the open window, looking down the small driveway leading to a road nearby. After a few minutes, she suddenly straightened up with a start. There was a woman at the end of the driveway that Bryt could have sworn hadn't been there seconds earlier.
'Get a hold of yerself,' Bryt thought, 'You just zoned out and didn' see her comin'.'
But Bryt looked, she didn't see any vehicle nearby. It seemed the strange woman had walked, and now she was heading up the driveway to the Watkins household. Once she got closer, Bryt could see her better. The stranger was a small, plump woman with a mess of gray hair and dressed strangely in miss-matched clothing. Bryt cocked her head at the sight and the woman seemed to notice her as she approached the house. After all, Bryt's window was at the front of the house right against the hallway where the front door was.
"Hello there," the strange woman greeted, "You must be Bryttanie Watkins."
"It's Bryt," Bryt mumbled, "Um...Do y'want to talk to one of my parents? Dad's out right now with my brothers, but Mom's home..."
"Yes, I wish to speak with your mother," the strange woman grinned.
Bryt nodded and turned from her window, heading across the house to the kitchen.
"Mom, there's this weirdly dressed lady who wants to talk to you," Bryt said as she entered the kitchen.
Bryt's mother, a tall, slender woman with glasses and pale blonde hair, turned to Bryt, brushing flower off her shirt.
"Who is it?" she asked.
"Dunno," Bryt shrugged, "I didn' get a name, but she knew who I was."
"Maybe she's a friend of yer father's," Mrs. Watkins said, starting for the door. Bryt followed along behind.
"May I help you, ma'am?" Mrs. Watkins asked after she took in the stranger's appearance.
"Yes, my name is Pomona Sprout," the woman grinned (Bryt started to laugh, but covered it with a cough), "I'm sorry this is unannounced, but I was hoping to speak with you about a possible placement in a special school for your daughter."
"Y'mean a scholarship?" Bryt raised an eyebrow, "I didn' apply for anythin', and I jus' moved here, how would I already be up fer some school?"
"Why don't you come in?" Mrs. Watkins stepped aside, "We can talk in the living room."
Pomona Sprout nodded and followed Bryt and her mother into the living room where Mrs. Watkins motioned for the guest to sit down.
"What school is this, anyway?" Mrs. Watkins asked.
"It's a special school," Sprout said, "Here, this letter will explain it."
Sprout pulled an envelope, that seemed to be made of parchment, from her pocket and handed it to Bryt. It felt thick and heavy in her hands and she noticed her name and address was written in green ink on the front. Turning it over, Bryt noticed some type of seal holding it closed: a strange coat of arms that was the letter 'H' surrounded by a lion, badger, eagle, and snake. Bryt slowly pulled open the envelope and read the letter:
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 Watkins,
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 no later than July 31.
Yours Sincerely,
Minevra McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress
This time, Bryt didn't cover her laugh.
"Are you tryin' to say I'm a witch?" she asked, "I don' believe it."
Sprout gave Bryt a grin. "Have you ever been able to make things happen?" she asked, "Things you couldn't explain?"
Bryt frowned, thinking back. There had been several times when she had gotten mad or annoyed, strange things would happen around her. There was once when she had gotten annoyed with Sofí laughing over the fact she had been a witch one Halloween that Sofí, who was dressed as a dog, had got her tail caught on something and ripped her costume. For once, Sofí didn't find her misfortune hilarious, but she often gave Bryt strange grins afterwards and Julio seemed to watch her more closely as well.
"Well, yeah," Bryt finally said slowly, "A few things."
"It's because of your magic," Sprout explained, "Of course, you didn't know that at the time. Most young witches and wizards in your situation often have their magic get away from them. That's what Hogwarts is for, teaching you control."
"Hogwarts?" Mrs. Watkins echoed.
"The name of the school," Sprout answered, "That letter also has your school list, Bryt. If you wish to attend Hogwarts, I can accompany you to get your school supplies and bring you back home."
Bryt pulled a second piece of parchment from the envelope in her hands and read over it:
HOGWARTS SCHOOL
of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
UNIFORM
First year students will require:
sets of plain black robes (black)
plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
winter coat (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 Beginner's 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 of glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set of brass scales
Students may bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEAR STUDENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS
"You can get all this?" Bryt blinked, wondering what type of stores sold spell books, wands, and dragon-hide gloves.
"In Diagon Alley," Sprout grinned, "If you wish to go to Hogwarts. We aren't forcing you, though."
Bryt bit her lower lip and wrinkled her nose in thought. Attend a school to learn magic? It seemed like an unbelievable idea, how could she be a witch? Of course, there was all the weird things that had happened around her...
"It's up to you, Bryt," Mrs. Watkins' voice snapped Bryt out of her thinking and she looked to her mother, "You can go to this school if you'd like."
Bryt nodded and looked back to Sprout.
"Do you teach there?" she asked.
"Herbology," Sprout nodded, "If you chose to go, you will address me as 'Professor' or 'ma'am'."
Bryt nodded again. "Yeah, I think I will," she said, "Why not? Learn to do magic and stuff, it sounds interestin'. You said you'd take me to get my supplies?"
"We can go now if you'd like," Sprout grinned, "You will just need to get money from your mother to exchange for wizard money at Gringotts—"
"Gringotts?" Bryt asked.
"The Wizard Bank," Sprout answered.
Bryt nodded and looked to her mother with a grin.
"Can I go today?" she asked.
"Fine," Mrs. Watkins grinned, "Just hold on one moment. Professor? How much money will she need?"
"I don't know," Sprout answered, "I've never dealt with Muggle money—"
"Muggle?" Bryt asked.
"Our term for non-magical people, like your family," Sprout said.
"Here, just take my wallet," Mrs. Watkins handed it to Bryt, "Exchange what you think you might need and if there's anything left over after your supplies, get yerself something extra."
"Like a pet?" Bryt grinned, "The letter said I could get an owl or a cat, or a toad."
"Yes, get yerself a pet," Mrs. Watkins grinned.
Bryt grinned and hugged her mother. She pocketed her school list and the wallet her mother gave her before turning to Sprout.
"Are we goin' to walk?" she asked, "Is Diagon Alley in London?"
"Yes, it is," Sprout grinned, rising from her seat, "We'll walk, if that's what you'd like. Come along, then. Let's get going."
Bryt waved a goodbye to her mother before following Sprout from her house and down the driveway, starting the short walk along the road and into London.
"Are there many witches and wizards from Muggle families?" Bryt asked as they walked along. A million questions were going through her head and she was planning to ask them all.
"Not all," Sprout answered, "There's many witches and wizards from long lines of magical families, and many more from families with one parent a witch or wizard and the other Muggle, then there's plenty like you, where you're the first witch or wizard in your family."
"How do you keep Muggles from finding out?" Bryt asked, "If this Diagon Alley is in London, what keeps Muggles from finding it?"
"We have all different ways from keeping the prying eyes of Muggles away," Sprout replied, "And Diagon Alley's entrance is in the back of a pub known as The Leaky Cauldron. Muggles can't see the pub, only us witches and wizards. It keeps them from finding the alley."
"How will I get to Hogwarts in September?" Bryt asked.
"By the Hogwarts Express," Sprout grinned, "You'll get to the train by Platform Nine and Three-Quarters at the King Cross Station here in London."
"Platform Nine and Three-Quarters? That doesn' sound like a normal platform."
"It's hidden from Muggles, like Diagon Alley," Sprout said, "You'll have to go at the wall between platforms nine and ten, just pass right through that wall and you'll be on the platform."
Bryt's string of questions didn't end, even when they reached a small pub that Bryt almost missed seeing. Even if it wasn't hidden magically from Muggles, Bryt doubted anyone would notice the place. She followed Sprout inside, finding it to be much like outside: Small and dank. A couple of groups were scattered here and there and a little man was behind the counter.
"Good morning, Tom," Sprout greeted as she passed through to a small courtyard occupied by only a couple of trashcans.
Bryt looked around, but found no other exit. "Why're we here?" she asked.
"To get to Diagon Alley," Sprout grinned, pulling out a long, thin stick. Bryt took a guess that was Sprout's wand.
"Three up, two across from the trash can," Sprout said, "Take note of that for when you come other times, Miss Watkins."
Bryt nodded and watched Sprout count the bricks, then tap the wall three times. Bryt's mouth fell open and her eyes widened in amazement as, slowly, an archway grew in the wall, leading to a cobblestone street lined with buildings.
"Here we are," Sprout grinned, "Diagon Alley."