Here is my new fanfiction 'The Tale of a New Beginning'. I hope you enjoy!
CHAPTER 1
Sophia jolted upright. "Just a dream. Just another dream," she muttered to herself. Except it wasn't just another dream. It was the same one that haunted her forever. She brushed off the familiar feeling, rolled out of bed, and grabbed one of the various books scattered around her room.
She opened to a random page and started reading. Part of her felt better almost instantly, but the other part was the nightmare still holding on. She tucked her auburn hair behind her ear and kept reading.
She read for hours, picking up different books, until the feeling drained from her system. Soon there was a gentle knock on the door.
"Sophia? Are you up?" called out the familiar American accent of her adopted father, Aaron Williams, from outside the door.
"Yeah," She called, not looking up from her book.
"Why don't you come eat?" he suggested.
"I'm not hungry," Sophia responded.
"You really should eat. We have a long day ahead of us," Mr. Williams called out.
Sophia placed her book to the side and opened the door.
"What do we have to do?" she asked.
"We are going into town."
"Are you serious?"
"Indeed I am."
"No thanks," Sophia said walking back and picking up her book. She began reading once again.
"Come on. It's a beautiful day," he pleaded.
"It's not beautiful for blind people," she inquired.
"Come on. We have lived here for almost three months and you have barely left the house."
"Your point is?"
"Do you really miss America this much?"
"Do I miss America? You mean the place filled with rude, ignorant, selfish people who hate me? Not at all."
"Sophia, I'm serious."
"So am I!" Sophia defended.
"Just get dressed," he said, walking out the room. Sophia forced herself to place the book down and opened up one of her dresser drawers. She quickly pulled out a plain purple shirt and black shorts. She slipped this and a few bracelets on her left arm to cover a scar there, and braided her hair to the side. When she was finished, she walked down the stairs to find Mr. and Mrs. Williams sitting on the couch, talking with a man sitting across from them.
He had long silver hair, and a very large beard. He was noticeably thin and appeared to be tall. He had brilliant blue eyes, shining behind half-moon spectacles which were perched on his crooked nose. His wardrobe was most extraordinary. He was wearing a long, royal blue robe, dotted with small silver stars.
"Who are you?" Sophia blurted.
"Sophia! Be nice!" Anna Williams scolded.
"Sorry. Who are you?"
The man laughed. "I am Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. But you may call me Professor Dumbledore," he answered.
Sophia nodded her head slowly, still wondering what this weird man was doing here.
"Professor Dumbledore is here to speak to you," Ms. Williams said.
"That's not weird at all," Sophia muttered.
"Come sit down," Aaron said.
Cautiously, Sophia took a seat in the chair across from Dumbledore.
"I am here to give this to you," he said pulling out a thick, yellow envelope. He hand it to Sophia, who looked over it. Written in emerald green ink was:
Ms. S. Williams
The Final Door on the Right
172 Ivy Lane
Canterbury
Sophia looked up at Dumbledore, to see him looking at her, his eyes filled with encouragement. Sophia flipped the envelope to reveal a purple wax seal bearing a coat of arms. A lion, a badger, an eagle, and a serpent surrounding a large H. Sophia pulled out the letter encased inside and read silently to her. It proclaimed:
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 Ms. Williams,
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 by no
later than July 31.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Sophia looked up from the paper and stared at Dumbledore. "Is this some kind of joke?"
"No," Dumbledore said softly.
"Yes it is! This isn't real!" Sophia shouted.
"What does it say?" Aaron asked.
Sophia read the paper aloud. "It's fake," she claimed when she was done.
Aaron and Anna both looked at Albus Dumbledore, their eyes filled with questions.
"What is this?" Mr. Williams asked.
"Hogwarts is a school of for witches and wizards, much like you, Sophia," Dumbledore answered.
"Me? I'm not a witch!" Sophia defended.
"But you are," Dumbledore replied simply.
"No I'm not!" Sophia yelled.
Dumbledore didn't seem fazed at all. He was still looking at Sophia with his gentle eyes. "Hogwarts is a school for the magically gifted. There you will learn how to control your powers, and take other classes such as, Potions, Charms, Transfiguration, and Defence Against the Dark Arts."
"Are you saying that Sophia has magical powers?" Anna Williams asked.
Professor Dumbledore nodded. "Indeed."
"How do you know?" Aaron asked.
"When a witch or wizard is born, the Magic Quill records his or her name," Dumbledore started. Sophia sank lower in her chair. "Then when they turned eleven, Hogwarts sends them their acceptance letter."
"Wait. I'm fourteen," Sophia added.
"Yes you are. You were in America when you turned eleven. We had to wait until you returned."
"Wow," Anna Williams muttered.
"I can't be a witch. You must be mistaken," Sophia said.
"Sophia, have you ever done something that you couldn't explain? It just happened," Dumbledore asked.
A sly grin spread across her face and she nodded.
Albus Dumbledore smiled.
"So that was magic?"
"Indeed it was."
Sophia turned to her adoptive parents. "Can you please leave so I can talk to Professor Dumbledore alone?"
Aaron nodded and he and Anna left the room.
"I guess I believe you," Sophia sighed.
Professor Dumbledore laughed.
"I need you help with something," she said.
"Like what?"
"I've always had this weird nightmare. Maybe you can help me with it."
"What is it about?"
"Well there was a face. It was always the face; staring down at me. It looked like a man. They had chalk-white skin, slits where the nose was supposed to be, glowing red eyes, and he didn't have any eyebrows. He would stare down at me for awhile then he took out a stick and placed it on my arm, where bright sparks shot out onto my skin. They made a snake-like pattern and it burned into my flesh, leaving the scar there," Sophia hesitated. Her gaze dropped to her left arm, covered in bracelets. She removed them, to reveal the same snake-like scar from her recurring dream. She looked back at Dumbledore and noticed he was watching her, waiting for her to finish. Noticing this, Sophia said, "That's it."
Dumbledore nodded. "Do you know who that man is?"
Sophia glared at him. "Uhh. No."
"He is known in the wizard world as Lord Voldemort. He is a murder and a villain."
"Well where is he?"
"Gone. He disappeared thirteen years ago."
"Why?"
"He was defeated by a one-year old, named Harry Potter."
Sophia laughed. "A one-year old?"
"Yes. It should have killed Harry, but instead it destroyed Voldemort," Dumbledore answered.
Sophia nodded, trying to take it all in. "What did he want with me?"
"I don't know."
"Why would he leave this scar on my arm?"
"I don't know that either."
"Alright then. Easy enough."
He grinned. "Well we should be going."
"We?"
"Yes. You are coming with me."
"To Hogwarts? The letter said term didn't start until September 1," Sophia asked confused.
"Not to Hogwarts. Diagon Alley."
Sophia cocked her head to the side, like she often did when she was confused. Instead of asking questions, she walked to her bed room and slipped on her pair of purple trainers.
When she went back into the living room, she saw Dumbledore waiting for her. Sophia paced over to him and they were both out the door.
Dumbledore led the way and Sophia followed silently. After walking for quite some time, Sophia noticed that they were heading towards the train station. Dumbledore paid the staring man at the ticket booth and they were both on their way.
The two sat in the very back. Dumbledore closed his eyes, as if thinking, and Sophia stared out the window, daydreaming. She thought of what Hogwarts would be like and where Diagon Alley was. She wondered why they were taking a train if Dumbledore was a wizard and she was a witch. But that didn't bother her too much. Instead, she propped her head on her fist, and watched the scenery pass by. When the train lurched to a stop, Dumbledore opened his eyes, walked back up the train, muttered a quick thanks to an employee, and left. Sophia followed close behind, trying not to lose him in the throng of people.
Soon they reached a small pub. When Dumbledore entered, everyone's head turned to face them. Some walked up to them and started talking. Sophia just looked around in amazement. Dumbledore talked for a few seconds to different people, but Sophia could tell he was trying to leave, but was too nice to say it. Eventually people allowed him to walk through.
"What is the place?" Sophia asked.
"The Leaky Cauldron. We're almost to Diagon Alley."
She followed him further, until they reached a wall in the back of the pub. Dumbledore withdrew his wand and placed them against a few bricks above a small trashcan.
"Three up," Dumbledore muttered. He traced his wand three bricks up. "Two across," He dragged the wand two bricks over. "Step back," he warned. Sophia did as told. Dumbledore tapped the brick three times and the brick wiggled. A small hole appeared. It grew larger and wider, until a large archway appeared. Dumbledore, silently, walked through. Sophia followed down the cobblestone path. She gasped. "Welcome to Diagon Alley," Dumbledore replied, grinning.
There you go! Please, please, please, please review. It'll make my day!
