A/N I Own Nothing
In the second largest bedroom of a good sized beach house a little boy stirred. As soon as consciousness touched him his eyes burst open and he jumped out of bed. However once his bare feet touched the unusually warm carpet he let out a yawn and ran a hand through his messy turquoise hair. The boys name was Todd Collins and it was his eleventh birthday.
After tossing on a shirt and some jeans Todd darted downstairs with a wide grin plastered on his face. On the wall several portraits rolled their eyes in amusement. He jumped the last three steps and landed with a loud thump quickly making his way into the kitchen.
Jonathan Collins was reading the morning paper while the toast in front of him buttered itself. On the stove sizzling bacon was flipping in its own accord while two eggs cracked themselves over a pan and began to scramble themselves.
"Well is it here? Is it here" inquired Todd excitedly. Jonathan peered over his paper and beamed fondly at his adoptive son "settle down son it's early your letter should be here soon". Slightly crestfallen Todd wilted but before he could respond Jonathan had knelt down and rested both hands on the child's small shoulders "look son your letter will be here soon, I promise" Todd looked up and smiled. "Now how about you stop moping and eat some breakfast".
With a flick of his wand Jonathan summoned a plate with eggs bacon and toast for Todd. Before the plate had landed on the table in front of where Todd now sat he grabbed a piece of bacon and bit into it viciously. Kathy Collins walked into the kitchen and affectionately ruffled the hair of the boy that was her son in all but blood then walked over to her husband and swiftly kissed him good morning. She was an average sized woman with kind brown eyes and blond hair that was currently made into a pony tail. She quickly summoned her own breakfast and sat down with her family.
The comfortable silence was broken by Jonathan "Well I best go get ready, I have a busy day at work and then of course we have to celebrate" he punctuated the last part with a quick wink and a hearty chuckle then disappeared into the master bedroom. Kathy watched her husband go then turned to her son and smiled "So are you excited for your birthday sweetie?" "Course I am mom I'm finally gonna get a wan-" Crash a large owl swooped into the kitchen through the window and landed right next to Todd's breakfast. Todd's eyes widened in anticipation as he grabbed the deep blue envelope tied to the owl's leg and without hesitation he tore it open incased were two pieces of thick yellow parchment, the first one read:
Ocean Mist School
for the Magically Gifted
Principal: Arthur Thomas Williamson
(Order of Merlin, Second Class, Ex-Auror, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Mr. Collins,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to attend Ocean Mist School for the Magically Gifted. Also enclosed is a list of required school books and equipment
Classes begin on the 1st of September. We expect your response by no later than August 1st
Yours sincerely,
Sara Manning
Sara Manning,
Assistant Principal
Todd could barely contain his excitement, he was finally going to go to school, he was finally going to learn magic, and he was finally going to make some real friends. Just as he dropped the fist piece of paper his dad walked back into the kitchen now dressed in his elegant scarlet work robes. He was a tall man with short black hair and a strong jaw line , he was muscular but by no means a body builder and even though he'd seen a lot of horrible things in his day he maintained an almost child like sense of humor and outlook on life. Jonathan Collins worked at the American branch of the Ministry of Magic as an Auror, he loved his job despite the fact that his wife hated it; she was always worried about him. "See son I told you it would come" he grinned and patted his son on the head then with a loud pop he was gone.
Kathy watched Todd with a smile; the boy's joy was contagious. Todd quickly unfolded the second piece of parchment and began to read with wide eyed excitement:
Ocean Mist School
for the Magically Gifted
Uniform
First–year students will require:
1. Three sets of plain work robes (Blue or Black)
2. One pair of protective gloves
3. One winter cloak (Black with silver fastenings)
Text Books:
Book of Basic Spells Volume 1 by Brian Davis
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
Simple Changes, Transfiguration for Beginners by Charles Proctor
Magical Plants and what They Do by Gertrude Gilberts
Perfect Potions Volume 1 by Agatha Bowersnoot
Stopping Darkness, a Practical Guide to Defense by Samantha Foster
Equipment:
1 Wand
1 Cauldron size 2
1 telescope
1 set of brass scales
Students may bring an owl OR a cat
"Mom when can we go get this stuff? Can we go today? Please mommy I really want to get my school stuff" It was always difficult for Kathy to say no to Todd though the boy didn't usually ask for much. "Okay honey but when we go stay close to me ok I don't want anything to happen to you." Even though the Collins were a wizarding family Todd rarely went into Little Salem, the closest all wizarding village, because Kathy was very protective of her little boy, Todd didn't really mind he loved his family and his house so he was content.
Fifteen minutes later Todd and Kathy apparated hand in hand in the middle of a busy square. Despite the fact that this village was in Southern California it had a very colonial feel. They were standing next to a large fountain shaped like a dragon. The dragon's mouth was open and water shot from it almost fifteen feet in the air. Around the square Todd could see a lot of very busy shops. People in robes walked hurriedly from one shop too another stopping every once in a while to greet an old friend.
Kathy looked down at Todd "So what would you like to get first?" "My wand" said Todd without hesitation. "Okay this way sweetie". Kathy started walking towards Ferguson's Wand Shop the place that she got her first wand. The wand shop was a strange little building. It was enchanted to seem much smaller than it was so that the small building could hold hundreds of wands and still have a place to build new ones. As Kathy and Todd stepped into the shop a high pitched whistle blew from deep within the back room.
A few moments later an eccentric looking man came half running to greet them, he was starting too bald and the hair that he still had was snow white and stuck out in all directions. Thick glasses perched on his remarkably long nose and he wore baggy grey robes that made him seem almost shapeless. He squinted at Kathy struggling to remember her name and eventually said "10 inches, oak, unicorn hair core" Kathy couldn't help but smile as she pulled out the wand he had described in confirmation and stared at the man in awe. The man, Mr. Ferguson then turned to Todd
"Starting school boy?" he said gruffly
"Yes sir" Todd replied timidly
"Well sit down, sit down" Said Ferguson gesturing towards an old stool
"Yes sir"
"Well let see hmm how about this 9 inches, elm, dragon heart sting" Ferguson withdrew a small box from behind the counter and handed a wand to Todd. Nothing happened.
"No that won't do"
"11 inches, oak, Sphinx hair…no"
"8 inches, holly, unicorn hair…no"
""10 inches, red wood, phoenix feather" as soon as Todd touched the wand warmth spread through his entire body "That's the ticket" exclaimed the old man a wide grin spreading across his face "That'll be 10 galleons". Kathy gladly paid the man and then they were on their way.
Next they stopped at a shop full of animals there were cats, rats, snakes owls and a great deal more animals that were enchanted in different ways. Todd saw singing fish and a parrot that could change colors he also saw owls of every shape and size, he was in awe. As he looked at all the magical creatures a small black kitten approached him, it brushed up on his legs, he was so surprised the shouted scaring half the owls. But then he bent down and picked up the kitten he new right away what pet he wanted, he named her cloud. They quickly purchased the rest of Todd's equipment in time for lunch.
They ate a delightful lunch at a little café right next to the book store. Halfway through the meal Kathy excused herself and went to the restroom. Todd sat their looking at his food waving his wand around. "Nice hair freak" Todd turned to see an ugly faced boy about his age glaring at him. "Excuse me?"
"Nice hair" the comment dripped with sarcasm
"That's not very nice"
"Like I care what you think" said the freckle faced boy with a sneer
Todd laughed "Least I don't look like you" The other boy just glared
"But you know you're right I am tired of this hair" said Todd gleefully. He screwed up his eyes and shook his head quickly and his hair started to darken eventually it was a dark brown and Todd smiled. The other boy's jaw dropped then without another word he turned and stomped off.
Later that night after eating dinner and showing his dad all of his new things Todd tried to fall asleep. Sleep didn't come easy to the anxious child but eventually he was consumed by exhaustion and drifted off into sleep.
A/N plz review