Chapter 1
The grass was still dewy beneath her bare feet as she padded her way through the forest. She was well aware of the dangers that lurked amongst the trees and the whispers of ancient magic that dwelled within, however the call of adventure pulled her ever deeper into the mysterious wood. She breathed in the fresh morning mist and watched as the sun began to rise behind the distant mountains, painting the world with its brilliance and warmth.
The young girl could hear a distant voice calling her name, her mother no doubt. With a sigh she picked two white daisies from the forest ground, placing one in her long blonde hair before wandering back.
Soon, an old, ivy ensnared, stone cottage nestled against the entrance to the woods came into view. She was home.
"Samantha! What have I told you about running off like that!" Her mother scolded. The older woman's dark, yet graying hair was pulled up into an elegant bun, and she wore a tea length pastel blue sundress that matched her pale blue eyes. The woman stood in the garden just beyond the house with her hands on her hips, her eyebrows furrowed, and her lips pulled down into a disapproving frown as she watched her daughter trot back towards their home.
"I brought you something!" The girl said brightly, arm out stretched with the other daisy in hand. Her mother's eyes softened and her frown was replaced by a sad smile.
"That was very kind of you," the woman said, "but you really shouldn't be wandering around in forest alone. It's dangerous." She said sternly. "Now, go inside and get washed up, we're going to go shopping for your school things today."
"Oh! I forgot!" Samantha said wide eyed before sprinting back to the cottage to get ready. Once showered and dressed she held her mother's hand as they aperated to the busy street full of magical shops.
After a few hours (and couple of ice cream cones) Samantha and her mother had collected everything needed for her first year of learning magic. Everything except for her school books. The door jingled as they entered the cluttered and crowded book shop. Samantha pulled out the list of required textbooks and began flitting about the shop picking them out one at a time. Her mother stood near the center of the room, amused by her daughters determination.
"She really takes after her father doesn't she?" Said a familiar voice. The tall man with blonde hair and hazel eyes watched with fond amusement as the young girl ran about from book case to book case, excitement shining in her pale blue eyes.
"In more ways than one." The woman replied to her husband. "Nice of you to finally join us Jack!" She said in mock annoyance, a smile playing on her lips.
"My meeting with that foreign ministry man ran a bit late." He said grimly. "Betty, things are getting worse." He said so softly that only his wife could hear.
The woman looked up to her husband. "How much worse?" She whispered.
"He's gaining power, but they have a good team there to fight off his followers for now. It's the panic that we need to worry about." He said quietly. She nodded.
"I think I got them all!" Said Samantha holding a very tall pile of books in her arms. "Oh... wait no, I still need to find Chadwick's Charms Volume I! Er- can you hang on to these? I'll be right back!" She said shoving the books into her parents arms and running off without waiting for a reply.
o0o0o0o
It was a few weeks later and little Samantha was finally walking into the school she had dreamed of attending since she was a small girl. She entered the marble doors flanked on either side by the founders and walked into a circular room topped by a glass cupola. Once inside the room, she looked up to see a wooden balcony running around them a floor above where the older students stood clad in blue and cranberry robes. The hall was otherwise empty, except for the giant carving of each of the school houses mascots. Samantha went with the other first years to stand against the wall and waited to be sorted.
One by one, the new students were called to stand on the symbol of the Gordian Knot set into the middle of the stone floor. One by one, they were each sorted by the giant stone carvings that came to life.
"Scamander, Samantha" Called a jolly plump woman with happy green eyes and wispy grey hair.
Samantha walked into the middle of the room, nervously playing with her fingers. She began to worry what would happen if none of the statues wanted her. But her fears were soon quelled, almost immediately.
The thunderbird began to flap its wings majestically and Samantha thought she may die of happiness. She was a thunderbird. An adventurer through and through. Of course. But then she noticed movement of another statute. The Pukwudgie had raised its arrow into the air. A moment later she was startled by the sound of the roaring Wampus Panther.
And to think she was worried she wouldn't even have one house want her.
Now she had three to decide between. Now she had to decide which part of herself she would embrace; the adventurer, the healer, or the warrior.
She chose adventure.