The Letter
It was a clear July morning, the sun was out and the birds were chirping merrily in their nests. Lily Evans descended sleepily down the stairs and into the kitchen where her mother was busy preparing breakfast for the family. Lily's father was already at the breakfast table reading the morning paper and Petunia, Lily's older sister, was nibbling on a piece of toast beside him.
Both sisters had started their summer holidays and Lily was due to start secondary school that coming year. However, deep down she hoped that she wouldn't have to. The truth was, that in fact, Lily Evans was a witch. She knew this because her best friend Severus Snape, who lived down on Spinner's End, told her so. He too was a wizard and had spotted Lily while on a playing field. He had instantly recognized her magical abilities and they soon became the best of friends. Ever since the summer holidays had started, Lily had waited for her letter from Hogwarts to arrive, just as Snape had promised it would.
On that bright July morning, the doorbell rang. Mr. Evans peered over his morning paper curiously and both Petunia and Lily glanced swiftly at each other.
"Must be the milkman" said Mrs Evans brightly, removing her apron and making her way towards the front door.
Lily heard her mother open the door, ready to give the milkman his money but instead she let out a low gasp. There, in the doorway, stood a man with half moon glasses and a long white beard that reached halfway through his billowing blue robes. He was accompanied by a Ministry official who wore a plain black suit with the Ministry of Magic insignia emblazoned on his chest. Mr. Evans strode swiftly towards the door just as Mrs. Evans ushered them in. Lily rushed over to the sitting room followed closely by Petunia, the former beside herself with excitement.
The tall man introduced himself as Albus Dumbledore, and went on to explain to the Evans that their daughter, Lily was a witch and that she had a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. At first, Lily's parents were speechless but as Dumbledore started to point out all the unexplainable events that had probably been happening, they started to believe and understand. After a few more minutes of reassurance from the strangely dressed man, Mr and Mrs Evans swelled with pride for their youngest daughter. Lily, who was beside them, couldn't believe that it was actually happening. She glanced over at Petunia who was standing beside the window sulking and gave her a sympathetic smile.
A movement by the window caught Lily's eye and she noticed that Severus was hiding right under the window peering in. He gave her a swift thumbs up before, Petunia, who was furious, pulled the curtains shut and sulked out of the room. Lily made to go after her, but was too keen on listening to what the two wizards where telling her parents. It's real, she thought, I'm a witch!
"Well Ms. Evans I won't keep you waiting any longer" smiled Dumbledore with a twinkle in his eyes, "I believe young Mr. Snape is waiting for you outside your window"
Later on that day, in another town, Mrs Pettigrew carried a heavy breakfast tray up to her son's bedroom. It was 10 o'clock and Peter was still fast asleep. She entered his bedroom quietly and laid the breakfast tray on his bedside table, trying hard not to make a sound. She flicked her wand at the curtains which opened slowly allowing the sun's bright rays to seep in. Peter Pettigrew groaned and opened his eyes a fraction of a millimetre.
"Morning pumpkin" said his mother brightly, as she sat down on the edge of his bed and laid the breakfast tray across his lap, "I have a little surprise for you" she sang.
Peter groaned again and sat up taking the breakfast tray greedily from his mother; completely oblivious to the fact that his Hogwarts letter was propped up against his orange juice.
"Petey, pumpkin aren't you going to read your letter?" she asked sweetly
Peter, his mouth now full with a combination of toast and eggs, realised that his Hogwarts letter had arrived and ripped it open, scanning the contents. He looked up at his mother who was surveying him anxiously and swallowed his food. He smiled at her and she immediately pulled him into a rib crushing hug.
"Oh Petey this is just wonderful!" she cried feeding him more toast and fondling his hair, "I must feed you well before you go…Merlin knows if you'll be alright without mummy to take care of you"
"I'll be fine mum" he said vaguely, thinking about his knew found freedom longingly.
Over in Godric's Hollow, James Potter sat at the breakfast table with his mother and father who were discussing the current affairs at the Ministry of Magic. James was about to get up when an owl flew in and dropped a letter into his cereal bowl; his parents stopped in mid-conversation as they both had recognized the Hogwarts insignia. James tore open his letter with a big grin on his face and read it eagerly.
"YES!" he cried as he jumped up and down and hugged his parents.
"Oh darling this is wonderful!" cried his mother as she took the letter from her son and read.
James turned towards his dad who had remained seated and was now beaming at his son.
"I am so proud of you son" he said, "You will make an excellent Gryffindor"
James swelled with pride as his father pulled him into a hug.
"Now, now let's not put any pressure on him Charlus" smiled Mrs. Potter
"Come now Dorea, would you rather see him in your old house?" teased Charlus Potter.
"Despite the fact that I was in Slytherin, you still married me" teased Dorea Potter
"Well yes, you are nothing like your family" smiled Mr. Potter, referring to the Black family.
"Darling, whatever house you're in we will be proud, won't we?" she said turning to her husband and giving him a reproachful look.
"Yes we will" said Charlus, although James knew that his father would be upset were he to be placed in Slytherin, "Now run along and see if Marlene got her letter too"
James, the excitement building inside him once more, tore out of the house in search of his childhood friend Marlene McKinnon.
In the house next door to the Potters', Marlene sat on a stool by the kitchen counter, as the housekeeper Romilda prepared breakfast for her. Mrs McKinnon, who was French, came from a pureblood family who had been poor for a number of years and hence, did not believe in keeping a house elf – instead she had hired a Squib to do it. Just as Romilda handed the girl freshly baked croissants, an owl flew through the window and dropped a letter onto Marlene's lap. Marlene beamed as she recognised the familiar letter which her three older brothers had received before her, and tore it open. She scanned the letter and yelled with joy as she ran across the house and into the ballroom where her mother was practicing ballet. Renee McKinnon stopped abruptly as her daughter bounded into the room yelling the great news. She caught her in her arms and twirled her around, hugging her.
"Mon petite chouchou this is wonderful news" she said in her soft, French accent, "we must write to your father immediately" she added rushing to get a quill and parchment so as to write to her husband, who was an Auror currently working abroad for the Ministry.
"I'm off to find Jamsie mum!" cried Marlene as she ran out of the room.
"Don't forget to tell your brothers!" called Renee after her.
"Who cares about them?" called Marlene as she bounded out of the house, slamming the door behind her, causing her mother to shake her head and smile.
Marlene ran out and was knocked right onto her back as she and James ran into each other. They both got up hurriedly and started yelling the news at each other, all the while jumping up and down.
"It's going to be amazing Marbles!" he cried
"You have to stop calling me that once we get to Hogwarts" she laughed
"Never!" he teased
"Ooo look it's ickle first years" teased Marlene's second eldest brother Benoit (known as Ben), causing both James and Marlene to turn around.
"Ben stop teasing" called Marlene's eldest brother Matisse (known as Matt).
"Since when have you become so moral?" cried Ben
"Since he became mummy's ickle Head Boy" teased Jacques (known as Jack), Marlene's third eldest brother as he joined them.
"You became Head Boy?" asked James in awe, causing Marlene to roll her eyes.
"Yes I-" started Matt
"Yeah whatever" said Jack cutting through, "care to allow us to flatten you in a game of Quidditch little ones?"
"Or are you too scared?" teased Ben
"You're the ones that should be scared" said Marlene defiantly, her jaw set.
"Bring it on little sis" laughed Ben, as the five of them made their way through the McKinnon household and out on the back lawn.
Across the lake, Remus Lupin sat perched in his bed reading Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. Remus loved reading; especially these muggle classics his mother left lying around. Jazz music was playing in the background, it was coming from the kitchen where Mr and Mrs Lupin were having their breakfast. It was usually very quiet in the Lupin household and Remus liked it that way. His life had been turned upside down ever since he had been bitten by a werewolf; his parents were constantly anxious and discussed the situation in whispers causing Remus to feel even more upset about it. Therefore, he generally confined himself to his room and to his books; where he let his mind escape into a whole new world.
That morning, a tawny brown owl swooped through his open bedroom window and dropped a letter onto his lap. He put aside his book and surveyed the letter with curiosity. He immediately noticed the Hogwarts insignia on it. His heart started racing as he tore the letter open and read his letter. With the excitement building in his chest, he leapt off his bed and bounded into the kitchen jumping up and down in front of his bewildered parents who took the letter from their son's hands and read.
"Oh Remus darling…" sighed his mother
"Son, you know that it is impossible for you to attend" explained his father slowly, all the while hating the way his son's happiness vanished in an instance.
"But I got the letter" said Remus hopefully
"Yes but…" they started, but stopped suddenly as a second owl swooped in and dropped a letter addressed to Mr and Mrs Lupin, it too had the Hogwarts emblem on it.
"It's from Dumbledore he…" started Mr. Lupin
"Yes, I would very much like to discuss your son's future" said Albus Dumbledore whose head had appeared in the kitchen's fireplace.
"Professor Dumbledore!" fumbled Mrs Lupin, "please join us"
Albus Dumbledore smiled and climbed out of the fire, dusting his robes off. He sat down with the Lupins and explained the arrangements he had made in order to allow Remus to attend Hogwarts like every other witch and wizard of his age. He assured Remus' parents that their son would be safe as long as he kept to these arrangements and keep his condition to himself as much as possible, so as not to cause panic among other parents. Before leaving, Dumbledore turned to Remus and smiled warmly.
"No student should be deprived of an opportunity to learn" he said, and with a swish of his robes he was gone.
Yet none of these children were as excited as Sirius Black. Over at number 12 Grimmauld Place, he was on the third floor in his mother's bedroom quietly letting a Niffler loose in her closet, while Regulus watched the stairs; ready to warn his brother if his mother were to approach. Both their parents were in the formal dining room having a late breakfast. Suddenly Sirius' heart skipped a beat as he heard his mother's voice ringing up the stairs. He hurried out of her room just as Kreacher, the family's house elf, appeared with a crack on the landing.
"Kreacher has been asked to summon you down Master Sirius" the elf said, before realizing that Sirius had just been leaving his mistress' room, "Ooo but Master Sirius is in trouble now…he will get the Crucio yes he will" the elf cackled.
"Kreacher no, please" pleaded Regulus who was genuinely scared
"Kreacher I order you to keep your mouth shut about what you have just seen, you are in no way allowed to warn my mother about this" ordered Sirius with contempt, as his brother stared at him in awe.
"Yes Master Sirius" said the elf grudgingly, as he disappeared to the kitchen.
The two boys made their way down towards the formal dining room on the ground floor where their father had just vanished through the fire.
"Well now that you have decided to grace us with your presence, here" said Mrs Black from the table, handing Sirius a letter with the Hogwarts insignia emblazoned on it.
Sirius tore the letter open, his heart about to burst with excitement. Finally he thought. He read through it quickly and smiled widely; he was finally going to Hogwarts, he was escaping this horror house. The boy looked up at his mother, who had continued to eat her breakfast clearly indifferent, and then at Regulus who suddenly had a downcast expression on his face.
"Your aunt and cousins should be arriving shortly" announced Mrs Black, "Sirius I will say this once, don't you dare play any tricks on Bellatrix-"
"She asks for it" said Sirius cutting through
"She does not! Don't you dare use that tone with me young man! You have been warned, don't make me use my wand on you" she threatened, "We will be going to Diagon Alley to buy your school thing. We might as well buy your uniform in Slytherin colours" she went on, causing Sirius' heart to drop. The doorbell rang and she left the room hurriedly.
"Maybe I won't be in Slytherin" he mumbled scowling
"Sirius don't get into trouble" pleaded Regulus
"Don't worry about me Reg" said Sirius
"I'm going to miss you around here" said Regulus simply
"Don't let her get to you" said Sirius, just as his aunt Druella and cousins Bellatrix, Narcissa and Andromeda walked in.
Both Sirius' mother, Walburga, and his aunt, Druella, were reminiscing about their own time at Hogwarts in Slytherin house, while Bellatrix narrated the time her first letter from Hogwarts had arrived late and the panic that had arisen. Andromeda gave Sirius a swift sympathetic look as she walked over to him.
Sirius observed his family with contempt; the way they spoke about Slytherin and all the connections he was expected to make made him weak at the knees. The truth was that he didn't want to be in Slytherin even though his whole family had been. He didn't agree with their ideologies and behavior to the extent that he would do anything to defy them; especially his mother, who had never shown an ounce of affection towards her sons. His defiance towards her had been partially to gain her attention, yet over the years a growing sensation of loneliness had built inside him. He knew he wasn't like them, he knew he was the white sheep among the Blacks.