Chapter 1
Dorcas Meadowes' childhood had been nothing of a pleasant sort. On July 21st the child was born, and on July 21st, Lydia Meadowes, the girl's mother, died from childbirth, leaving Dorcas only semi all alone. For you see, there were plenty of other people around in the hospital she was born, but none of which significant. The only person who would have been considered so was the girl's father, but sadly he was not there, and even worse, everything about him, even his name, was a mystery.
With no parents, the newborn was passed off to the Cornwall orphanage, located in the south of the United Kingdom. It is of common belief that couples want to adopt new born babies because they are cute and easily able to be called your own, but this was not so is Dorcas' case. Prospective parents found her unnerving and peculiar because she never cried or cooed like most babies do. So while other children left the orphanage with new families, Dorcas was always left behind, and so it was as she grew up as well.
As she matured, it became clearer that something was odd about her. For one thing, while the Dorcas tried to be friendly, and talk to others, but fellow orphans felt uncomfortable around her, leading to them avoiding her, and arguments when Dorcas had enough of it. Even more unusual was the girl's love for animals, particularly snakes like that time the Cornwall orphanage went on a camping trip and two of Dorcas' tent mates ran out screaming about a snake Dorcas found and kept. It was no wonder that the girl was both friendless and parentless.
But then again, there were some other traits of hers that others dismissed in order to focus on the odd ones. Dorcas was exceptionally bright. For example, once speech was mastered, reading quickly followed at an early age. The girl was also always exceptionally curious, which often led to trouble, but then again, the staff at the orphanage never really liked her, so would call Dorcas out on anything when just given the chance. On a more positive note, the young girl was very imaginative, constantly dreaming what her life would be like if she was not stuck in the accursed orphanage. Finally, when the girl turned 11, things began to change.
Immersed in a book, Dorcas sat on her bed. Her concentration however was disturbed when she heard the door of her room creak open, a rare occurrence because most now left her alone, Dorcas saw a strict faced woman with her hair in a bun enter the room. She was wearing square shaped glasses and unusual clothes that looked very much like a bath robe, but of nicer quality.
"A nice day outside is it Miss Meadowes?." She said jumping right into the conversation.
"It is." Dorcas said looking at the window sadly watching the other children play, completely ignoring the fact that the woman knew her name, yet Dorcas had no idea who she was.
"Why then are you not playing outside with the rest of your friends?" McGonagall asked.
"Oh they're not my friends." Dorcas said almost in a dark manner which surprised the Professor. "We don't get along to say the least." She said avoiding looking directly at McGonagall.
"And whys that?" McGonagall asked.
"Well, they call me things like different and a freak." Dorcas explained.
"But you are none of which. You're special." McGonagall said with a smile.
"Special. Freak. Same thing." Dorcas muttered under her breath.
"On the contrary, the two are quite different." McGonagall said not liking the girl's pessimistic attitude.
"So hypothetically speak, if I were actually special, which I'm not, why?" Dorcas asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"Hypothetically speaking?" McGonagall asked smiling.
"Yep." Dorcas said.
"You my dear are a witch." She explained.
"Well that's not very nice calling someone a witch. I don't have a long crooked nose, nor do I boil children in cauldrons to eat for supper! Honestly! I never hurt anyone!" Dorcas insisted.
McGonagall laughed and said, "My apologies, but I am by no means insulting you. To be a witch means you have the ability to do magic."
"You means like hocus pocus and alakazam?" Dorcas asked eagerly now standing up.
"Not exactly." McGonagall said wryly. "Observe." She said pulling out her wand an d making Dorcas' bed turn into a pig.
"Woah! That's so cool!" Dorcas said with glee. "Do I get a wand too? When can I learn to do that?" She said bombarding the professor with questions.
Using her wand to turn the pig back into the bed, McGonagall said, "Of course you'll have one, and you won't be able to do things like that for a while. That is if you accept your invitation to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." She held out the girl's letter to her.
Grabbing it, Dorcas looked at it eagerly. "You mean there's a school for people like me? That's totally awesome!" She said.
"Should I take that as a yes?" McGonagall asked.
"Of course!" Dorcas said.
Later on the day, the two went to Diagon alley where all the supplies Dorcas would need for Hogwarts was bought. At the end of the day, McGonagall dropped Dorcas backed off at the Orphanage. Of course the girl was sad to depart after having one marvelous day, but it was stanched when McGonagall told her that it would not be long until the two met again of September 1st.
"Now remember." McGonagall said. "Once you get to King's Cross station what do you do?" McGonagall asked.
"I walk through the barrier between the two platforms nine and ten." Dorcas responded eager to please.
"If you have any troubles, you can always-" McGonagall began.
"Yeah yeah I know. Contact you with Athena. "Dorcas said referring to her new eagle owl that McGonagall had agreed to buy her in case of emergency and Dorcas needed to contact her.
"Looking forward to seeing you at Hogwarts." McGonagall said smiling before apprating away leaving the young girl outside of the orphanage alone in the cold.