Not many people can remember the first few days of their life, but I can. I remember the blinding green lights that bounced from wall to wall, I remember the quivering hands of a man lifting me from my crib and holding me to his chest. I remember seeing my mother lying on the floor, she was asleep and my father was next to her, they were holding hands. I remember a man with a face like a snake; his skin was pale as ivory and his eyes so full of hate. Those eyes still haunt me to this day. I can remember almost everything, apart from what happened to my mother and father and why I never saw them again.

My name is Valerie Sorian and as of today I am 11 years old. I've never liked birthdays. My adoptive parents try way to hard to make it a happy occasion. Their names are Celia and Mark and they're nice enough but I've never felt like I fit in with them. They are the only parents I have ever truly known. I can't say I love them because I don't think I've ever loved anyone. "Valerie!" Celia's high-pitched voice seeps through the walls of my bedroom. "What?" I shout back, trying to mimic her aggravating tone as best I can "Me and your father want to talk to you!" I feel like shouting back 'he's not my father!' but that will start a battle that I don't feel like fighting today. Quickly I look in the mirror and try to smooth down my big mane of black hair, its no use no matter what I do it always seems to fall back down and cover my face. I result in tying up my hair and throwing on my favorite green jumper and my pair of Mickey Mouse slippers.
Trudging down the hall is not pleasant when you know you either have trouble or praise waiting for you at the other end. I've lived in this flat all my life and I've never once gotten tired of its simplicity. Yes its small but I've never minded that much. When I finally reach the living room I see Celia and Mark sitting on the sofa examining a letter and exchanging worried glances. I sit in the recliner across from them and wait for whatever punishment they are going to bestow upon me. "Valerie," Mark breathed "Yeah?" I've always had a soft spot for Mark; I mean if he has to put up with Celia for the rest of his life; he needs a bit of love. "What is the meaning…of this" He held a crumpled letter in front of him that looked like it was addressed to me. I take the letter and examine it, the swirled ink writing says:

"HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore (Order of Merlin, First Class, GrandSorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Miss. Sorian, We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31. Yours sincerely, Minerva McGonagall Deputy Headmistress"

I have no idea what any of that means. I assume it's a prank letter from the kids at school but it's far to well done to be a prank, either its legit or the bullies from school have gotten really good at their jobs. "Mark I have no idea what this is." I say with complete sincerity "Liar, tell me the truth!" He says with a hint of aggression I have never heard before "Mark please…" Celia begins before Mark shoots her a poisonous look that shuts her up. "Valerie, how do you know about Hogwarts? Who told you?" "No one Mark, I don't know what it is I swear. Its probably just the kids from school having a laugh." Mark is beginning to edge closer towards me, I notice his hands are shaking and he is sweating more than usual. "Valerie, swear to me that you will never mention this letter again to anyone, you too Celia. Its for both of your own goods." I nod and silently head back to my room. Once I get there I slam the door and bolt it. I feel angry but I'm more confused than anything else. I try to lose myself in a good book but all I can think about is that letter, about Hogwarts. I decide is nothing, but Mark wouldn't get so worked up over something that wasn't really a concern. I go over to my computer and look up 'Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry' no results. Next I look up 'Albus Dumbledore' still no results. I try one more name, 'Minerva McGonagall' and still no results, no results, no results! I slam my hands on the keyboard frustration and curl up into a ball on my bed. After I begin to drift off to sleep there is a sharp knock at my door "Go away, Mark!" "Its Celia." "I don't care go away!" "Valerie for gods sake! Please open this door!" I roll off my bed and unbolt the door, I see Celia standing there clutching the letter. "What is it Celia?" "I have to talk to you sit down." She marches me over to my bed and I reluctantly sit down. "You really don't know anything about your parents do you?" I shake my head and blink away the tears that have entered my eyes. "You're a witch." I look at her in shock "What the hell Celia, you don't have to call me names!" "No Valerie you are a witch that is why they sent you this letter, that's why you've always been different, that's why you've been able to move things without touching them, and why you've always explored every fireplace or phone booth you've ever come across, hoping that it's a door to somewhere else.

I sit there dumbstruck. I'm a witch? I could always do things that nobody could understand but everyone always laughed it off and said it was my imagination. Once when I went to the zoo I swear I heard the snakes whispering to me after that I begged Celia and Mark to get me a pet snake but of course the said no. I used to play on the seesaw by myself by pushing it up and down with just my eyes. The other kids at school called me 'playground freak' after that but I didn't care. I was special and I could do things others couldn't. I never thought that I could be a witch, Celia told me stories about witches when I was a kid. They were mostly about ugly, warty old women with green skin and pointy hats. Maybe those stories were wrong.
Celia then starts to pull clothes out of my cupboard and shove them into a duffel bag. "What are you doing?" I ask. "Packing for you, your going to stay with a family friend for a few weeks before you go to Hogwarts" "Wait, I'm going? What about Mark?" "I'm going to tell him I decided to send you to the boarding school we had talked about." "Hang on. You were going to send me to boarding school?" Celia glares at me until I look down in defeat, I can't help giggling at the fact she got what she wanted after all. "He is going to be here in a few minutes, Mark will write to you to say goodbye but sweetie I'm afraid this is the last we'll see of you until the holidays." I pause. All my life I have wanted a ticket away from the family I thought I didn't really belong in, but now I have one I'm not sure this is what I really want after all. I hug Celia tightly, she stands there in shock for several seconds but then she starts to hug me back. I let the tears flow down my cheeks but wipe them away when Celia pulls away to answered the knock at the door. Quickly I shove a few extra things in the duffle bag Celia packed for me. Some books, my toy snake I got at the zoo and a picture of me, Mark and Celia when I was 7. When Celia calls me I pull on my trainers and run to the door only to see a man in his early 30's with messy hair and an unshaven face. Celia smiles, I realize this is the family friend she was talking about. "Hello." I swallow He grins at my obvious nervousness and said "Hello Miss Sorian. My name is Remus Lupin."/p