Alyssa was a small girl with long blonde hair, green eyes, and a small nose. She lived in a small home in London with her mother and father. She had an ordinary life with schooling. Nothing was strange about her.
The letter was quite clear. Although Alyssa still thought it was a prank. Hogwarts. School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She didn't understand a word of what was happening around her, she had no clue what to think. She read the contents of the letter carefully.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmistress: Minerva McGonagall
Dear Ms. Barondess,
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 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Headmistress
Alyssa couldn't believe a word of it. A magic school. There was no proof that a school like this existed. She folded the paper up and placed it on her desk, laughing at the joke that it was. Because Alyssa was sure there wasn't a drop of magical blood in her. And she knew it.
And the items on the list were ridiculous. Robes. A cauldron, pewter. All of it was stupid. Not what you would find at a school at all. She went on with her day as if nothing had happened, and her parents seemed to forget about the incident entirely.
She fell asleep, on May 30th (her birthday), not expecting what was to happen that morning. She dreamed and didn't notice the owls flying into her open window.
Alyssa woke with a start, and at first didn't see the notes lying all over her bedroom. In fact, she didn't notice the letters and notes until she placed glasses on her head. And there they were. All over her desk, on her dresser, in her closet, on her bedside table, and even at the foot of the bed. All of them the same. Her Hogwarts Letter. Her parents obviously had done this then. That's why they were so believing in this. They were trying to fool her.
She walked downstairs with piles of letters in her hand, confident in the fact that her parents were playing her for a fool. But still, her mother couldn't have done that signature, right? And her father didn't have time….
Alyssa grinned at her parents as she dropped the letters onto the table, none of them opened. Her mother gaped at her, and asked what the letters were. Her father looked up from his paper.
"What's the meaning of this!? Alyssa, how did you get so many letters?" her mother asked, furrowing her brow.
"What do you mean? You're the one who put these in my room. It's the only possible explanation."
"Alyssa, I did not put those in your room," her mother opened one of the letters, a look of concern on her face.
Her mother gasped and smiled widely. It was a fact that she had not placed those letters throughout her daughter's room. Her daughter had been accepted to Hogwarts, and Alyssa needed proof. This was her proof.
"Alyssa, we're going shopping," her mother ran to her closet and got out two jackets. She handed one to her daughter, and out of her own she pulled out car keys.
"Why? Do I have to?" Alyssa asked, confused.
"YES. Get in the car," she did as her mother told her to, and walked outside, to the car. Alyssa was eleven. Why would a school want her?
….
Her mother pulled up on the side of the road and walked Alyssa to a little pub, The Leaky Cauldron. Her mother walked briskly inside and nodded at the bartender. Alyssa hardly had anytime to comprehend what was happening. Soon she faced a brick wall, with a puzzled look on her face.
"Mum, why are we here? This is a wall?" her mother gave her a faint smile, and then tapped a brick three times with a beautiful stick. "What are you- Oh my god…" Alyssa was cut off when she saw it. A beautiful archway. Her mother held her hand and led through the cobble street.
"Alyssa, I have to tell you something. Your father and I decided to keep it from you, but you might as well know."
"What? What are you talking about?"
"Alyssa, I'm a witch. You are too," her mother said with a calm look on her face. "Your father, he's what is called a muggle. Not a drop of magical blood in him. We didn't know if you would be a witch
"So, we hid it from you. But you got the letter, and I'm so pleased. I went to Hogwarts too, it's such a wonderful place."
"Hogwarts is real then. It's real… Why are we here then?" Alyssa asked, gesturing her hand at the street.
"To get your school supplies of course! Everything a witch or wizard needs is here," she led her daughter to a store and handed her a list. "I'll be at Gringotts, wait at Flourish and Blotts." Her mother pointed at the bookstore and went off on her way. Alyssa walked to the store and smiled brightly. Books. She could live with books.
And the store was massive on the inside. Bookshelves rose to the ceilings, worn plush chairs, and tables we're everywhere. The smell of coffee and fresh parchment filled her nose and she let it surround her. Books around her with names from Standard Book of Spells to a strange book that looked as if it spoke. Here, Alyssa felt like she was home. Like she belonged.
She saw people in robes all around her, black and purple and green. Even some blues and bronzes. Then she saw a girl, she looked about 15. She had brown hair just past her shoulders, and blue eyes similar to the navy on a sailor's uniform. She wore a trench coat that matched her eyes, blue with black buttons, and it looked as if she got it online. Smiling, she picked up a book and opened it, taking it with her to a small chair. Alyssa turned her head, and when she looked back, the girl was gone.
When her mother returned, Alyssa had chosen to read The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1. It fascinated her. One spell caught her eye, though. Colloportus. It locked locks and doors. And it had a counter-spell. Alohomora, it unlocked doors and locks. It was peculiar, and Alyssa thought it could be improved. But how?
"There you are! I got all the money we'd need for your supplies. I haven't touched wizarding money in years!" her mother grabbed Alyssa's hand and walked her around the store. "We'll get you all the essentials, The Standard Book Of Spells, History of Magic, Severus Snape: The Life of a Hero, The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore, Magical Theory, Muggle Physics and Wizard's Magic…"
By the time her mother finished, Alyssa had already found half of the books necessary. And she grabbed one extra that caught her eye; The Making of Magical Spells and Charms.
"Well, come on then, we have so much more to buy!" her mother directed her to a clothing shop owned by a lady with the name of Madam Malkins. Her robes were long and black with silver buttons. Her mother bought a plain white scarf for her and a small witches hat.
"Mom, is this all necessary?" Alyssa asked, finally getting in a word before her mother cut her off.
"Of course, it is! Honey, you need the best. If you're getting into Slytherin, you need to look perfect!"
"Slytherin? What do you mean?" Alyssa wasn't sure what to think. Slytherin didn't sound too bad, but then again, Alyssa had no clue as to what Slytherin was.
"Oh dear, you'll understand when you get there, anyway darling, we have to get you a cat and an owl. I got all your other supplies, so we have to get your wand and then that's it."
When they got her cat, Shadow, and her owl which Alyssa named Lupin, a name she found in one of her books, they went on their way to Ollivanders.
"Clarisse, I haven't seen you in years. Ash, unicorn hair, 13"," an old man said when they entered the shop.
"That's correct sir, and it has always been very useful," Alyssa's mother, Clarisse, replied.
"You must be her daughter, you look just like her. Well, you're here for a wand then. Come here child," Alyssa stepped towards him and he smiled. He pulled out a long wand and smiled at Alyssa. "Vine, unicorn hair, 12"."
Alyssa couldn't get it to do anything and it dropped out of her hand.
"Try this one, Ash, Dragon Heartstring, 10"."
Again, nothing happened. But Ollivander got a look in his eye and held out a wand.
"Walnut, Phoenix Feather, 14"."
A light rose in the room and Ollivander smiled.
"That's it, that's the wand. Peculiar, it's not at all like your mother's, very flexible."
"Thank you, Ollivander," Clarisse said curtly as she placed ten galleons on his front desk," Alyssa and her mother left Diagon Alley, Alyssa carrying so many books, her mother carrying all the fanciest items imaginable. Her black cat followed, and her brown owl was in a small cage. They walked straight home, her mother in a bad mood the rest of her day.
