A Muggle of Magic
Disclaimer: I do not take or pretend to take credit for any of the writings of the Harry Potter Series. The ideas of Hogwarts and Harry Potter are strictly copyrighted to J.K. Rowling, Arthur Levine Books, and Warner Brothers.
*Please excuse any minor spelling and grammar errors.
Chapter 1
Suddenly, a strong gust of wind sent her twirling about, arm up over her face and eyes shut tight, she felt her body spinning and spinning until finally, the wind stopped. Slowly, Jenova lowered her arm and opened her eyes. She found herself in a cheery looking room, warm and welcoming with a fire dancing merrily in the hearth. All around it were large, comfy looking chairs and there were some other children clad in the same robes as she, some even looked her age, but their faces she could not make out either.
She felt some warmth coming from her front pocket. She reached in and found a long thin piece of wood. She wasn't sure what she was doing, it was like an instinct, that she did know even though she didn't know why. "Harmlesio Ignito!", she cried and whipped the piece of wood in front of her. Sparkling orange flames shot out of the end and engulfed her, but they didn't burn. No, she felt the lukewarm flames licking her body as they swirled around her. She closed her eyes in a state of warmth and contentment.
"Honey, honey, wake up..."
Jenova blinked rapidly before she finally fully woke up and found her Mum sitting on the side of her bed, gently shaking her awake.
"Wah...oh....Hi Mum. What ti-i-ime is it?", she managed through a rather large yawn.
"10:30 Jen dear. Just thought you might want to catch some breakfast before you head over to Quinn's."
Of course, thought Jen, which was what most people called her instead of her proper name, Jenova. So far every day that summer she had gone over to Quinn's house. Quinn Keelan and Jen had been the best of friends ever since the first grade. Neither of them could remember how it happened or when it happened, all they knew was it just did and that they would be friends forever.
As Jen rolled out of bed, she realized her mother had been talking for the last couple of minutes.
"And what were you smiling about? I come in here and find you smiling in your sleep like you haven't a care in the world."
"I guess I was just having a good dream."
Then she remembered. She had been having a dream. Now what was it about? She could hardly recall. The dream was slipping away like sand in an hourglass, each little grain of detail slipping away. Something about a high tower ... and black robes with a logo ... and a piece of wood ... and a swirling fire. Nothing else would come. She sighed, "It probably doesn't mean anything anyway." she thought.
Her mum was still talking. Jen looked at her mother for a moment. She was loving and kind, but she didn't really understand Jen. They were never close, but still had respect for each other.
"Are you listening to me?" she said, snapping Jen out of her thoughts.
"Oh, yes Mum."
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After Jen had washed up and dressed, she came back into her room. Most people's personalities reflect in their room. This was not the case, however, with Jen. She had simple furniture, oak cabinets, and an oak nightstand. Her bed was canopied with pink frilly covers. Her walls weren't painted, but left a simple white. Although, if she had had her way her room would have looked much different. She had had the same room since she could remember. Her parents didn't adjust well to change and never changed much. She didn't argue because she knew it wouldn't do any good.
Jen shut her door shut her door silently and tiptoed toward her dresser. She opened the bottom drawer carefully and lifted up what appeared to be the bottom of the drawer. Underneath was a tiny little pouch. She carefully lifted it up and shifted it in her palm. Suddenly, she heard footsteps in the hall. She quickly replaced the bottom of the drawer, shoved the pouch into her pcoket and closed the drawer just as her father opened her door.
"Jen, breakfast is ready."
"I'll be down in a minute, alright Dad?"
"Okay, just hurry before it gets cold." he said before he went back downstairs.
Making sure the pouch was secure inside her pocket, Jen raced downstairs. She turned left at the bottom of the stairs and into the kitchen. At the table she found her father pouring over the morning paper and her grandmother hunched oover a plate of eggs.
"Morning Grandma Josie." she said as she took her place at the table.
"Oh good morning, dear." she replied with a smile.
Jen and her Grandmother had always been close. Since Jen and her mum weren't very close, Grandma Josie helped to fill the void that was left. They could talk about anything and she would always be supportive. Jen and her father had the same respect for each other as she had with her mum, but her father was a successful lawyer and was one of those very busy businessmen.
Jen raced through her breakfast of bacon and eggs so fast that she hardly noticed when it was gone, and made quite a racket putting her fork down just to find all that was there was plate.
"Well I'm off to Quinn's."
With that she raced out the back door from the kitchen.
Quinn lived just a few blocks down from Jen's so it didn't take long to get to her house. She was already waiting for Jen on her front porch when Jen came into view. Quinn was built much like Jen, small and fragile looking. She had a longer face and long, shining, coal black hair. Her nickname was Snow White because Jen thought that if she had had any acting talent she would make the perfect Snow White.
That afternoon found Jen racing up the stairs at Quinn's house with Quinn only a few steps behind. They raced to the top of stairs and into Quinn's room, which was the second door on the left. Quinn's roomwas exactly the opposite of what Jen's room was. Everything seems to be a different color, like a pastel rainbow had ran itself through. The walls were painted with different patterns on each one. One had stars and moons, another clouds, and another suns and planets. This was the room Jen wished she had, but her parents would never approve.
"Did you bring them?" , Quinn asked anxiously eyeing the lump in Jen's pocket.
"You bet." she replied spilling the contents of the pouch into the palm of her hand.
Out spilled two pieces of a stone. Each was clear and blue, as if the night sky was trapped within.
"Great, we better get going before my mum comes up and starts talking about her clients. You know having parents who are shrinks can have its downsides."
They raced back down the stairs. As they raced for the door, Quinn's Mum came around the corner. She looked as if she had something to say, but Quinn pulled Jen out door so fast she didn't get a syllable out.
The raced across an open field that lay beyond Quinn's backyard.
"Slow down, she's not coming after us you know." Jen plead, pulling her heavy-breathing friend to a halt.
"Phew, that was close. Before you came over she had been talking about Mrs. Fremont's childhood. Believe me, it wasn't pretty."
"Let's just walk the rest of the way to Willow please? Marathons really aren't my thing."
"Agreed," giggled Quinn "but walk a little faster" her face seemed to darken, "I need to tell you something."
Jen was about to ask what it was about, but decided to wait. If Quinn thought it could wait, then she would wait. As they walked across the grass, a tall willow tree came into view. It was located on the bank of a small creek, with its boughs drooping all the way to the ground on one side and into the water on the other. Quinn pulled back the boughs to reveal what looked like a room with walls made of beanstalks. Sunlight shined through the upper boughs of the ancient willow that they had been coming to ever since they were little.
Both girls entered and let the boughs fall back into place behind them.
"What is it you wanted to tell me?" Jen asked.
Quinn's face darkened even more.
"Come on, it can't be that bad. You know you can tell me anything."
Quinn looked on the verge of tears, then she suddenly burst.
"Oh Jen! Its horrible, just horrible."
"What? What is it?"
"M-m-my parents are sending me to boarding school next year!"
"B-b-but," stuttered Jen...
-End of Chapter 1-