This is my first story, and I hope that you will enjoy reading it.
Disclaimer: I don't anything related to Harry Potter. I only own the Todaro family. =]
Theme Song: Dani California by Red Hot Chili Peppers
The day I received the strangest letter;
"Dear Ms. Todaro
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"
It had to be one of the strangest days of my life.
My first thought, upon receiving the letter, was that it was a joke.
I had never seen an owl outside of a zoo before, that in itself was strange.
I thought magic didn't exist until that day, until I found a spell book locked away in the attic.
My grandmother, the one who had cared for me since I was a child, nearly had a heart attack once I received the letter.
She had informed me that she was expecting the day to come, but was now afraid of what may happen in the future. The things I may see, things I may venture upon.
"I guess moving to America couldn't stop them from finding you. You're a strong powerful witch, I'm afraid I can no longer care for you here."
I remember the distraught look on my grandmother's dear face. I couldn't tolerate the look, it nearly broke my heart.
"Take the last bit of 'Floo Powder,' and say 'Todaro Mansion' when stepping into the fireplace. Speak very clearly and loud, we don't need you ending up in the wrong place."
I was struck with confusion. I had to take powder, that sounded like it could give me a serious illness. Then step into the fireplace, which is very dark, dingy and quite dirty. Then, travel to a mansion with my last name, which I had no idea of where it is or who was going to be there.
I was taken away from my parents, by my grandmother, because they were 'bad.' Up until the time I 'flooed' to the 'Todaro Mansion,' I believed them to be dead.
I had stepped inside the nasty fireplace, the floo powder in hand. My grandmother had gotten off of the phone, giving me one last kiss on the cheek, and waving a farewell. I was nervous to say the least. Upon throwing the powder down and yelling out 'Todaro Mansion,' Green flames had engulfed me, it had shocked me, and I screamed as loud as I could.
In the mere blink of an eye, I was being thrown out onto a floor in a ball like form, rolling on what I'd hope to be a floor. I got up, dusting my pants off.
"Ahem!" Someone cleared their throat, I looked around, not seeing anything.
I felt a tug on my pants leg, instinctively I curiously looked down. I had shrieked upon doing so. I had never seen a creature like this before, even the rats of New York City had seen better days.
"Fear not Miss, for I am the house elf, Ithur. I mean you now harm or frightening. Please do understand I am a very humble servant which is to only please the master's guest." The creature, Ithur, explained, bowing to me.
The crea- I mean, Ithur had lead me through a grand livingroom, which was barbaric if you had asked me. It looked like you could throw at least three separate parties, and none of the guest would bother the other ones.
I'm not a person for grand spaces, even if it is a living room. I just don't understand the need for so much space if you're not going to use it all.
"Master and Lady Todaro are in this sitting room, awaiting for the Misses arrival." Ithur opened the door, giving me a slight push on my calf suggesting me to enter.
I was very unsure if I should make a noise, or to talk to the two figures in the room. One figure, a male, sitting on a couch across from a similar love seat. The other figure, a female, standing behind the first figure, with her hand placed on his shoulder. They seemed to be posing for a photograph. If the male figured hadn't spoken to me, I would have continued to think so. "Sit."
As if on the command, I hurriedly sat on the middle of the love seat across from the couple. They began staring at me intently, studying every aspect of my being. I studied them with as much intensity, hiding the unknown fact I was nervous, and dying a bit for them to stop staring so hard.
"Stand up!" The man, who had a slight tough tone, bellowed to me. "Sixteen?" His voice carried very well, causing me to jump.
I swallowed the lump in my throat, "Yes sir." I replied quietly.
"Name; Antonia Todaro, born in London, taken away from the family by Grandmother Todaro?" His voice sounding more intimidating than before.
I nodded my head, "Yes sir."
The loud screech of a dramatic cry played in my ears next, as the woman behind him literally flew from behind the couch, and latched onto me.
"I have missed you so much! We've been searching everywhere for you. Tell us, where have you been? A private magic village, that was protected by magic?" I scrunched up my face, in confusion.
"No ma'am." I shook my head, while the woman put both of her hands on either shoulder, placing me at her arms length.
"A private boarding school, exclusively for exquisite witches and wizards?"
I assumed my face had seemed to not change, and again I had to tell her no. The woman continued listing off random schools, that in her mind I could have possibly attended in my absence.
The woman sighed, "Tell your mother where is it you've been hiding out all of these years with Grandmother Todaro."
I felt shocked, upon realizing she was talking about herself in the situation of being my mother.
"You're my mother?" I wanted to make absolutely sure they had both in fact are my parents before I would answer her question.
The questioned must have taken her aback, the woman was now with both arms at her side staring at me intently once again. The woman sighed and sank back towards the couch.
"You do no know of us being your mother and father?" The man, claiming to be my father, voice began to take a deeper scaring tone than before.
"Uh, no sir. I don't know what is going on, or why Nana sent me here." I replied truthfully, somehow wishing I hadn't spoken at all.
"This is an utter outrage!" He slammed hi fist into the couch, I jumped back, and the woman who is supposed to be my mother began to sob. "Where were you living?" He questioned quite more calmly this time.
I thought about the question for a second before answering, more or less questioning him in return, "Do you want my last residence and address, or all of the places I've lived?" It didn't seem to be wrong of me to ask these questions.
"Your last residence with address will suffice, seeming as you are well." I was quite confused with the latter part of his response, but decided to answer him.
"1715 Bogart Ave Bronx New York 10462 United States." I replied, watching both of my assumed to be parents glancing at each other awkwardly.
"You haven't had any training, have you?" My mother questioned, looking me over once more.
My father, had quit looking at me, taking a piece of wood out of his pocket, and which he looked to be writing on some fancy looking paper.
Turning my attention back to my mother, "No ma'am." I replied in a softer tone.
"I'd think it best we send you up to the wash room, Ithur will take your measurements, and you will wash up and dress more appropriate." My father, looked me over after folding up his piece of paper.
I looked at myself and didn't see anything wrong with my appearance; a random band-t, a pair of black skinny jeans, a pair of checkered flats, and few accessories. I hadn't seen anything wrong at all. Remembering that I was getting ready to go out with a local band on a lunch date when I had received the letter.
"After you wash up, you will be presented at dinner, and we will continue our discussion there." My father, waved his hand at me, shooing me away.
I walked out of the door, finding Ithur waiting there for me. He led me through the mansion, around many rooms, and stairs.
"We are here Young Miss Todaro. Ithur will have you stand still for more than sixty seconds." Ithur placed me infront of a long mirror, leaving only once to return with a measuring tape.
As fast as Ithur began to measure me, he was finished. He shown me the bathroom, beyond the doors that were next to what I would call a vanity room. Ithur shown me how to work the bathtub and sent me on my way as he left me to my duties.
I left the bathroom, a dark green robe with silver lining covered myself. I hadn't realized that a lot of the interior was the same colors as well, mixed in with a little black. I began wandering the dark halls, something seemed very intriguing about the darkness of the home.
"Young Miss Todaro, your room is this way. Ithur laid evening wear on Young Miss Todaro's bed, this way!" Ithur's voice appeared behind me, startling me to say the least. I followed him down the hall.
Ithur opened the door to a room, leading me in showing me the bed and the closet. The room was as just as grand as the mansion, still didn't see the need for all of the room. It was beautiful none the less, and I don't think any other words would be able to fit.
I quickly changed into the formal dinner dress, one you would see in the shop windows of New York City. I was surprised to see there wasn't a tag in the back of the dress, and that it fit perfectly. The dress was dark green, sewn together with either silver or gray string, a small slit from the ankle to the knee.
Ithur waited for me outside of the room, after I finished getting ready for the dinner that awaited my presence. I was seated near the head of the table, across from my mother and father sat at the head.
"Nice of you to join us, you dress up well." My father curtly stated, "To continue our conversation from earlier. I believe it is important to learn what you truly are. You will be put into intensive training and studying. Your 'Nana', she will be accompanying us for a few days, to assist you in your training, then she will be gone." His voice was stern, cold and hard as the food appeared in front of us: spaghetti with bread sticks.
The silence didn't stay for long, after only a few bites of spaghetti. "You will follow all of the rules of the house, and you will respect your mother and I. I do not want any back talking going on. My name real name is Angelo Todaro, but you will address me as father. Your mother here, her real name is Jacquelyn Remington-Todaro, like me, you will call her mother. You will report to training on time, to breakfast, lunch and dinner on time as well. You do not have a set bed time, but you will not be late. If you need anything, don't be afraid to ask. Despite how I may seem, I can be kind. We, your mother and I, are glad to have you home." After the lecture, he gripped my hand and my mother's, sending me a smile that was to reassure me to be comfortable.
A gleeful sigh was heard from my mother, "I think it would be nice to throw a dinner party. You know as a welcoming party, maybe she can get to know some of the students she will be going to that school in the fall with."
My father grunted from beside me, I could tell that he wasn't to fond of the idea. "It would be okay, as long as we have our daughter back."
I really hope that I will be getting along with at least one person, but knowing how I can get, I am not an easy person to be around, but only time will tell.
Sorry that Draco hasn't made his appearance, but rest assured his presence will be coming in the next chapter. I hope y'all enjoyed this so far.