A/n: this story is written by two people! I'm K, and I'm writing this one.

*Neither of us own HP*

Ch. One: Kathryn's point of view

Kathryn awoke to a tapping on her bedroom window. She groaned, and glanced out the window to see the owl tapping on her sill. Wait- an owl? It… had a letter in its claws. Kathryn eased open the window, as to not to startle the bird. The tawny owl stood on the windowsill and stuck out its leg. The message was clear. Take this letter. So she did.

The owl promptly flew away, leaving Kathryn holding a heavy manila envelope, addressed in green ink to Ms. K Samuel, 14 Rosebud Road, Top floor, 2nd bedroom on the left.

Bubbling with curiosity, Kathryn ripped open the letter. "Ouch!" she said sucking on the paper cut she got when she opened the letter. Taking out paper that looked more like parchment Kathryn read.

Dear Ms. Samuel;

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on September first. We await your owl by no later than July 31st.

Yours sincerely,

Hermione Granger

(Deputy Headmistress)

Hermione Granger

Kathryn looked, and sure enough, enclosed was a list of books she had never heard of (and that was some feat: Kathryn had read almost all the books in her town's library) and ingredients she had never thought existed.

Then she reread the letter. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Like… magic? No… she thought it must be a prank by her little brother Rupert. Not funny. Kathryn yelled,

"RUPERT!"

The dark haired little boy of nine years soon appeared in Kathryn's doorway, rubbing his eyes.

"What, Kathryn? You woke me up!"

Kathryn groaned. The little twit was going to play innocent, wasn't he? Kathryn shook the paper in her little brother's face. "Rupert, you woke me up with an owl, along with some stupid letter that gave me a paper cut!"

Rupert scrunched his face up tight. "Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Never heard of it. Kathryn, I swear I didn't do it this time."

In her gut, Kathryn knew this was true. But if Rup didn't do it… her parents must be somehow involved, Kathryn knew. She thought she'd ask them.

Kathryn bounded down the stairs, mysterious paper in hand. Fortunately, Kathryn's scream hadn't woken up Mr. and Mrs. Samuel, in fact they were already downstairs. Kathryn heard tea being brewed on the stove. She ran into the kitchen, where her parents were, and shouted "Mom! Dad! What's up with this let- "oh!" Hi, um, Ma'am."

Kathryn faltered. Sitting at the table with her parents was an old woman, wearing an emerald green cloak, and a black, pointed hat. She had a stern look on her face, like she was used to being obeyed. The lady turned and nodded to Mrs. Samuel.

"Hon," Mrs. Samuel said, her voice thin, "Sit down." Kathryn did so. "This is Professor McGonagall. She is here to talk to you about… school."

Kathryn stuck her hand out to the Professor, because it seemed like the right thing to do. "Pleasure."

Professor McGonagall shook Kathryn's hand, and then spotted the letter clenched in her other fist. "Ah, Ms. Samuel, I assume you have already read the letter, then?"

Kathryn nodded numbly, as it all started to come together. Professor, school, letter, could this all be real…? No.

McGonagall continued. "As the headmistress of Hogwarts, it is my job to inform you that you have been accepted into a school unlike any other you have been to. This school… is a school of magic."

She let this sink in. Kathryn blinked hard. Magic? Yes, this fit with what the letter said, but magic, "Magic isn't real though, is it?" Oops. She didn't realize she had said that out loud. Professor McGonagall only smiled thinly, as if she had had this conversation many times.

"Yes, indeed it is. Your parents, and your brother, as a matter of fact, are what we call muggles; non-magic folk. However, you are what is called a muggle- born; a witch born to a family with no magical blood. Are you following?"
Kathryn nodded again. Her? A witch? No… it couldn't be. "Professor, with all due respect, I can't be a- a witch, I'm normal!"

Now it was Professor McGonagall's turn to nod. "Have you ever made something happen? Something you weren't quite sure how it occurred?"

Kathryn was about to deny that such a thing had ever happened, when she remembered, clear as day. Kathryn's third grade teacher. That test that she flunked because she used the wrong shade of blue ink. One moment the teacher was chastising her about it, embarrassing her in front of the whole class. The next, the class was laughing as the teacher's hair was precisely the same shade of blue as the color ink Kathryn had used on the test.

McGonagall must have seen the confusion shift from her eyes, for she smiled, and said, "You see?"

Kathryn nodded eagerly, to stunned to say much.

The professor rose from the table. "Then, I take it, you will be attending classes this fall. I shall be returning next week to help you buy some school supplies. Thank you, and I shall leave you to your breakfast."

She left the table, and said, "One more thing, you mustn't tell anyone- that is of utmost importance. Oh- and happy birthday."

Then Professor McGonagall was gone.

Kathryn faced her parents. Her dad looked dumbstruck, but her mom said, "Happy birthday, darling."

That was right. In all the fuss, Kathryn had forgotten. Yet today she was eleven.

After eating a great birthday breakfast of blueberry and banana pancakes, Kathryn put on her shoes, and ran out the door, screaming, "I'm going across the street!"

Her father nodded, knowing that there was only one "across the street" place that Kathryn would be going to. Hannah's house. And that was just where Kathryn was headed.

No sooner had she rang the doorbell than Kathryn was engulfed in a hug from a certain blond. Hannah squealed, "Happy birthday! You're eleven now!"

Kathryn responded just as enthusiastically with, "I know!"

Hannah was ready, with her shoes on, and the two girls walked around the block to the ice cream place that they always visited on Kathryn's birthday. Frozen Delights. The girls ordered the usual, (Kathryn got mint chip while Hannah had strawberry), and just… talked for a while.

Eventually, Kathryn could evade the dreaded topic no longer. She took a deep breath, and said, "Hannah, I have something a little more… serious to talk to you about." She bit her lip and broke eye contact with her friend.

Hannah looked concerned. "What?"

"It's just that… I- well- I got accepted into this prestigious boarding school called Hogwarts. I… won't be going to school with you next year."

Hannah blinked hard, taking in the news. "Oh… um, I guess- okay." She stuttered softly.

Kathryn looked up. "So, are you mad?"

Hannah forced a smile. "Mad? No…" She trailed off. Kathryn really hoped she wasn't mad. But still, the school year didn't start for another month and a half, so she figured it would be better to just treasure their time together before Kathryn left.

That night, Kathryn lay in bed with bittersweet feelings. She was going to Hogwarts! Her best friend wasn't. She was a witch! Her best friend wasn't. Magic was real! Not for Hannah.

Kathryn looked at the sky out her window, then closed her eyes. Above all, she wished that Hannah could share the joys of her newfound world with her. Maybe Kathryn's lucky star was listening that night, or maybe fate was just playing some tricks, but Kathryn could never have foreseen what came next.

A/N: First chapter, check! I hope you liked it, please review! Remember, next chapter H will be writing, not me (K).

Remember: reviews make chapters come faster, and constructive criticism is always welcome and appreciated!