I woke with a start, confused. What had woke me? I was having such a wonderful dream too! A loud rap on the window showed me that the owl sitting on my sill was the cause of my dream ending. Irritated, I strode across my small bedroom to the window; pulling on my robe as I went. My bedroom was the largest room in my small cottage. A bed, wardrobe, chest and desk were in the room giving it a bit of a cramped feeling but I liked it, it was cozy. The tawny owl that sat on the sill looked at me as I opened the window and hooting, it stuck out its leg when I finally looked at it. A letter was strapped to its leg and I could just make out a bright red seal on the back. Excitement coursed through me as I unstrapped the letter from the owl's leg. It took off into the early morning sky as I ripped open the letter. Pulling the thick piece of parchment enclosed free I hastily read the letter I had been waiting to receive:

Dear Astral,

I have received and reviewed your résumé, which I might add I have been expecting to receive ever since you graduated Hogwarts, and am pleases to inform you that you will be filling the post of Astrology teacher this year! Professor Sinistra was pleased to hear I had found such a perfect replacement for her; you must have heard about her little accident on the Astrology Tower. I am happy to say all of the teachers here are not so old that they have forgotten you. Indeed, they remember you with such clarity and fondness that you may just have a very large welcoming party awaiting you. There is no need to reply to this letter unless, for some very strange reason, you no longer wish to peruse your passion of teaching young witches and wizards how to read the stars.

Expecting to see you soon,

Albus Dumbledore

I couldn't believe it! (Ok that's a lie, I could) I was going to be a teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry! I re-read the letter, laughing at Professor Dumbledore's wit. Oh, no he was Albus now; I was no longer a student! I could call him by his first name now. How odd that felt. I looked up from the letter, looking around my room. I needed to pack, now! I placed the letter gently on my desk and dashed to the closet just outside my room. Opening it, I was bombarded with dust. How long had it been since I opened this?! I wiped the dust from my green eyes and shook it out of my long brown hair. Using my wand I cleared the dust away revealing two large trunks, a broomstick, and a very large assortment of old spell books. I sent the lot flying into my room at wand point, setting the two trunks and the broom to rest on my bed and the spell books to the floor. I flopped down next the books and began sorting.

I wouldn't need my The Standard Book of Spells Books 1-7 or A Beginners Guide to Transfiguration. However, I just didn't feel right about leaving Hogwarts: A History or my Encyclopedia of Toadstools behind. All of my Astrology books, new and old, would be coming with me; in fact I had better pick up some new books and star charts in Diagon Alley before I leave. I sent the books I was taking along to Hogwarts flying into one of the two trunks, having them stack themselves neatly at the bottom. Standing up, I waved my wand again and the books I would be leaving behind flew out the door and back into the closet. I strode over the wardrobe and pulled open its doors and looked inside. All of my robes hung neatly from their hooks; Merlin's Pants what would I have done if I hadn't finished the laundry yesterday! Pulling on a set of deep purple robes over a silver gown I try to decide what robes I should bring but couldn't decide so, in true girl fashion, I waved my wand and sent the entire contents of my wardrobe, including shoes, socks and other necessities, flying swiftly and neatly into the second trunk. Closing the wardrobe I looked over at my desk, the letter lying on top of a stack of old Daily Prophets. Walking towards the stack I noticed the top most newspaper held the article about poor Professor Sinistra's accident. How awful of that Slytherin boy to trip her! Though he couldn't have known his little prank would send her flying over the side of the tower! I shivered, picturing the scene. She was lucky to be alive! And the boy, was he expelled? I assume so, but I'll have to ask Professor Dumbledore. Another sharp tap on the window brought me out of my reverie. Another owl, this time my own, was at the window. "Good morning Cleopatra" I said to the bird, walking over to her to stroke her head, "Your timing is perfect, we'll be leaving soon for Hogwarts and you'll need to be in your cage for the trip". You may think her name peculiar but the Ancient Egyptians were great Astrologers. Cleopatra hooted and nipped my finger lightly, showing her willingness to endure her cage for me; no bird alive likes being in a cage.