The rays of the sun threw shadows down the length of Pitwood Green. It glinted of number 87's new solar panels and shined down in the eyes of the four children walking into the road. They wore their school uniforms but had large waterproof coats on to keep them dry form the earlier rain. As they walked they laughed and jostled each other. It was 4.30, 24th of July and they had just broken up from school and were trundling home to enjoy their summer holidays. There were 3 boys and one girl, the boys were all 11 and where doubly excited because next year they would be going to secondary school. The girl was only 8 and would be starting year 5 instead. The three boys were all of similar height and build, from a distance they could have been mistaken for brothers. But up close it was plain to see the difference. One had long thin cheekbones and deep blue eyes that looked out from under a mop of blonde hair, the second was also blue eyed but had a much softer face and his hair was a dark red colour.

The third one was completely different, his eyes were mostly a vivid green but there were patches of brown speckling his eyes in irregular blobs. His hair was black and permanently messy, no matter how much it was brushed. It also had the annoying habit of growing back very fast. Each month he would have it shaved right down to the scalp but within a week it was as long and scruffy as it had ever been. His face was rounded but hard all the same. He was the most serious looking of the three and held the girls hand tightly, their fingers entwined. She was nearly a foot short then him and her hair was a dark brown. Her eyes were a uniform brown and looked as if they could see right through you. It was said that she was more mature than the other three put together. The two of them had grown up together and were closer then family; there were no secrets between the two of them. Their names were Michael and Zoe.

"Going to have a nice holiday?" Michael asked as they reached the edge of the road. Zoe grimaced and looked at a large grey cat sitting on the wall over Michaels shoulder.

"Oh yea, just Me, Mum, Richard and Eleanor" she snorted and Michael giggled. She turned her mock-glare on him.

"It's not funny. Three weeks in Spain with a 3 year old and an old married couple" she said and her eyes stared at the ground. At this the other two boys took their leave. They hugged Michael and Zoe and headed off still laughing.

"It won't be too bad" Michael said, squeezing her hand to try and comfort her. She looked up at him and smiled.

"Yea it will. You will be here" she said, her voice lowering. Michael looked slightly embarrassed at her words but felt a surge of happiness at them.

"I know, but I will be here waiting for you" he said and she threw her arms around him and started sobbing. It was not the reaction he was expecting.

"What's the matter?" he asked and she started crying in earnest. She wiped her tears on his jacket.

"I'll miss you. I won't get any cuddles" she said and, for once, she sounded her age and Michael remembered that she was literally a little girl. He pulled her back to him and hugged her close. She nuzzled her head into his chest and he sighed.

"I will put one aside for you each day" he vowed and she pulled back again and looked up at him. Suddenly she stood up on tiptoes and planted a kiss to his lips. He froze for a second and then kissed her back. She pulled back and looked down at her shoes.

"Sorry, I don't know what came over me" she said. He took her chin in one hand and tilted her head up. He had a look of wonder in his eyes.

"Don't apologise" he said and he bent his head down and repaid the compliment. She eagerly responded to his lips, their teeth chinking against each other's and they pulled back after a minute and Michael massaged his front teeth.

"Need to work on that" he said and she beamed at him her face light up like a Christmas tree that he wanted to continue. He looked down at her and took her hand again and started walking towards her house.

"I better get you home. You need to pack" he said and she sighed and nodded.

"Yea. Mum has already done the others" she said. Michael shook his head and they walked in silence. When they reached Zoe's house, Harry reached up and pulled the spare key from the plant pot it was hidden in and opened the door.

"Hey Maria" he called as Zoe slipped her shoes off and stacked them onto the shoe shelf.

"Hello Michael, did you have a good day? Maria answered from the kitchen when she was clattering around, probably getting dinner ready.

"Yea not bad, glad it's now summer" he said with a laugh and she laughed with him.

"You staying for dinner?" she asked, poking her head around door to look at him. She was a tall woman with dirty blonde hair and brown eyes that always held a disapproving look.

"No thank you Maria. I better get home." She nodded and disappeared. He turned to Zoe who was standing at the bottom of the stairs. He took a step towards her and she stepped up a step to bring her face level with his.

"I am gonna miss you Zoe" he said and pulled her into a hug. She threw her arms around him and squeezed him tightly.

"I'll miss you" she said and locked her lips with him. This time there was no teeth clinking, instead she bit him.

"Ow, you bit me" he said and she nodded.

"So you don't forget me" she said and grinned.

"How could I forget you? You bit me and I Lo..." he said and then caught himself. She noticed what he had been going to say but he didn't know why he stopped.

"I bit you and you what?" she said, now playful, still wrapped in his arms. He was going bright red and he realised he should have stopped himself earlier. He couldn't say it, could he? It was wrong she was 8 and he was 11, they were still children and they were best friends. If he said it, it could ruin everything.

"I love you" he said, his voice almost a whisper. She went from pink to beet red in about three seconds flat. He realised he should have kept his mouth shut.

"I'm sorry I shouldn't have said anything, it just came out and I don't want it to spoil us or how we are and I don't want you to think that..." he was babbling now and she silenced him with a kiss.

"Shut up Michael. I love you too" she said and he smiled.

"Thanks. I better be off before your mum finds us." He said and untangled himself from her grasp. He walked to the door and opened it. A grey cat jumped up and streaked away from where it had been sitting on the porch.

"Why is there a cat here?" he asked and Zoe poked her head around the door to see it disappear over next doors fence.

"I saw it earlier, must be a new pet of someone round here" she said and pulled him down for a last kiss.

"Love you" she said and he looked around, as if he was afraid someone was listening.

"Love you too" he said and she laughed. He kissed her hand and left. What they didn't know is that they were being watched. In the tree over next doors wall a pair of yellow eyes stared out and watched as the boy left and the girl closed the door, with a quite flustered look on her face. The eyes belonged to the cat they had seen earlier. It sat in the tree and stretched, a strange expression on its face.

Michael got home and went upstairs. He had barely dropped his bag on the floor when there was a knock at the front door. He headed downstairs and opened it. Standing there was a man. He was wearing a black suit and his hair was slicked back into a ponytail.

"Mr Liennard" he said. It wasn't a question. Michael nodded and the man walked past him into the house.

"I am Professor Snape and I am a teacher at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry" he said all this quickly and in a low drawl. He sounded bored.

"I'm sorry" Michael said and the man frowned. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a letter. He handed it to Michael who took it and looked at it.

Mr Michael Liennard

The Front Bedroom

29 Pitwood Green

Tadworth

Surrey

He turned it over and saw a red wax seal, like on old fashioned parchment scrolls from fantasy books.

"Open it then" Professor Snape snapped and Harry broke the seal and a wad of papers fell out. He took the first one and read.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WHICHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed of Wizards)

Dear Mr Liennard

We are pleased to inform you that you have a place 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

Deputy Headmistress

Harry looked at the man standing in front of him who was now tying a letter to the leg of an owl that Michael had not noticed arrive. He looked back to the papers. There was indeed a list of required materials and books. His heart stopped when he read the word "Wand"

"Well are you coming?" Snape asked. Michael got the impression that he didn't want to be here. Harry nodded and Snape sent the owl off it flew out of the still open door and off into the distance.

"I can't do it today; I have other matters to attend to so it will have to wait" Professor Snape said and headed for the door. Michael followed him

"What will have to wait?" he said and Snape turned to him and gave him a look.

"Professor" Harry added under that glare. Snape nodded slightly.

"Buying your school equipment, I will see if that oaf Hagrid is coming to the area soon and get you to tag along with him." Professor Snape said and then strode out of the door. After a second Michael looked out of the door to see him go, but he had disappeared.