Salina was working in the garden when the letter arrived. It arrived by owl, which wasn't that surprising, but the owl seemed unusually tired, as though it had flown far too long without stopping to rest. She wiped sweat off her forehead, and noticed with annoyance that her strawberry blonde hair was sticking to her body. She wanted a shower, and clean clothes. She brought the owl inside and set it on the counter. She filled a shallow bowl with water for the owl, then took the letter and glanced at the address.
The envelope was made of thick parchment. It was addressed to Salina McConnell, 6706 Secret Valley Road, Napa, California, USA, in emerald green ink, with no return address. Unsurprising, as owl deliveries rarely had a return address. Salina flipped the envelope over and saw that the envelope was sealed with the Hogwarts crest. She placed it on the counter next to the owl.
Salina glanced at the owl, which looked much better after taking a drink. It was watching her speculatively. "I'll open it when my aunt and uncle come home," she told it. "No need to look at me like that." She got out a package of Owl Treats and put some on the counter for the owl. It practically pounced on them, leading her to wonder how long it had been since the owl had stopped to eat. She then poured all but two on the counter and warned the newcomer not to eat so fast.
She went through a swinging door into the living room to make sure that Nicodemus, her aunt and uncle's owl, was safely locked into his cage. Nico was apt to pick a fight with the delivery owl, and she didn't want to try to break up a fight.
Nico was in his cage, showing off for Chelsea, Salina's own baby barn owl. It wouldn't do him any good, for Chelsea was far too young to be interested. Salina poked a treat in to Nico's cage, where he would notice it later, and turned her attention to Chelsea. Chelsea hooted softly when she saw Salina come close to her cage. Salina put her finger in the cage, and Chelsea scooted closer to nibble it. Salina smiled and gave Chelsea her treat before taking her out and placing her on her shoulder. Chelsea burrowed under Salina's hair, and Salina stroked her absentmindedly as she walked back to the kitchen.
Salina made a face at the letter sitting innocently on the counter. She knew who had sent it, and suspected that she knew what the letter contained. The Headmaster of Hogwarts School had sent her a few over the past several years, inquiring about her health and what she was up to, and discussing the possibility of needing her to attend Hogwarts.
She made another face at it. It could just sit there until her aunt and uncle came home. She needed to take a shower and get ready for her friends to come over. One of them had a cat that had had kittens a few months ago, and she had promised to let Salina have first pick. Salina placed Chelsea on the counter with the delivery owl and went upstairs to take a shower.
…Two hours later…
Salina felt more comfortable after her shower, and had changed into a plain white tank top and ripped jean shorts when her friends arrived.
Salina and five other girls were grouped around a box in Salina's living room. Eight or nine kittens were playing rough-and-tumble in the box over, around, and on top of their proud half-Siamese mother. The six girls were cooing over the kittens, laughing at their antics, and occasionally reaching in to try to stroke one. The colors of the kittens varied greatly, from black to tabby to calico to Siamese.
Salina picked up a black kitten with white socks and a white patch over its left ear and adjacent eye. It looked at Salina with green-blue eyes and tried to walk up her arm to play with her hair.
"This one," Salina said decisively. "I like this one. It needs to come and live with me."
A brunette girl named Des laughed. "Good choice," she said, taking the kitten back and examining it. "This one's a boy."
Salina took the kitten back. "Mine," she stated defensively.
The other girls started picking up kittens. Soon they had each chosen one, except for Des, because they belonged to her in the first place. There were three kittens left in the box with the mother cat.
The front door opened. Gwen and Dave, Salina's aunt and uncle, walked in, allowing the screen door to bang closed behind them. Gwen dropped her purse on the floor and walked over to the box. She squeezed in beside the girls, who scooted over somewhat to make room for her.
"Ooh, they're so cute," Gwen cooed, looking at the kittens. "May I have one, Des?" She picked up a small tabby kitten.
"Sure, Gwen," Des grinned. She took the kitten and examined it, as well. "This one's a girl."
"I know that!" Gwen scoffed, snatching the kitten back and holding it close to her face. "I can figure out whether an animal is male or female. I'm married to a Magizoologist!"
Dave and the girls laughed. He worked for the American Ministry, and he and the girls all knew that three years ago, Gwen could barely tell the front end of a horse from the back. Only recently had she become so worldly.
Soon Salina's friends had left, leaving the three McConnells on the floor with their two new kittens.
"I got a letter today," Salina announced, setting her kitten on the floor so that he could play with his sister. "From Professor Dumbledore."
"Really?" Gwen asked, watching the two kittens run around. "What did it say?"
"I haven't read it yet," Salina announced, going into the kitchen to retrieve the letter. Chelsea and the delivery owl were asleep on the counter. Salina went back into the living room. "I didn't want to open it until everyone was home."
Dave was seated on the floor with the kittens, allowing them to attack his hand. "So, open it now," he suggested, choking back a laugh at the fuzzy kittens.
"I think the more pressing concern is, what do we name these two kittens?" Gwen asked, scooping up the little tabby.
"You name your kitten, I'll name mine," Salina said decisively. "And his name is Spock."
"Nice name," Dave commented. "We should call this one Tabitha."
"Yes!" Salina joined in enthusiastically. "Then we could call her Tabs for short!"
"No!" Gwen protested. "We'll call her Tiffany."
Salina and Dave looked at each other, and then said simultaneously, "And Tabs for short." Gwen mock-scowled at them.
"Now to business!" Dave said. "Open that letter!"
Salina did, breaking the wax seal on the envelope. She removed the single sheet of parchment within and shook it out. She looked at it for a minute, then turned it the right way up. Dave laughed and Gwen rolled her eyes.
"Dear Salina," she read aloud, "I hope this letter finds you safe and well. Do you recall how we discussed the possibility of you attending Hogwarts for the last few years of your schooling? It has come to my attention that if you were to consent to attend Hogwarts, your presence would be of inestimable value to me and certain others. Hogwarts has never had a student transfer permanently; it would be a learning experience for all concerned. Please discuss this matter with your aunt and uncle and send a reply by return owl. If you should decide to attend Hogwarts, I will be in touch with you shortly. Best regards, Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorcerer, Chief Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards, The Man on the Chocolate Frog Card."
"Well, we've already decided about that, right?" Gwen asked, glancing sideways at Dave. "That when he asked, you would go?"
"Yep," Salina said, stuffing the letter back in the envelope. "When do we leave?"
"Soon," said Dave. "I'll talk to the Ministry about a job transfer, and it shouldn't be a problem since they've known about this as long as we have."
Gwen yawned suddenly. She was tired, and so was Dave. "I'm going to bed. Salina, take care of the kittens before you go to bed."
"I'll come too," Dave said. "I want to shower before turning in."
Salina waved them off. "Night," she said distractedly, watching the kittens.
They had already prepared for the kittens, so Salina took the tired balls of fuzz to the bathroom where a litter box sat under the sink. Salina set the kittens in a warm cat bed near the closet and made sure the food and water bowls were filled, before turning off the light. A nightlight glowed a soft blue as Salina left the room, closing the door behind her.
Salina put Chelsea back in her cage and made the delivery owl comfortable before dashing off a quick response to Dumbledore's letter to be delivered in the morning. Salina turned off all the lights and went to her own bed.
XXXX
Desperado, why won't you come to your senses?
You been out ridin' fences, for so long now
Oh, you're a hard one
I know that you got your reasons
These things that are pleasin' you
Will hurt you somehow.
Harry Potter lay on his bed in the smallest bedroom of Number Four, Privet Drive, arms folded under his head. It was a nice June evening, two weeks after school had let out for the summer, and he could hear neighborhood children laughing and playing outside. He had faithfully written to a member of the Order every three days so as not to arouse suspicions, but he couldn't for the life of him remember anything he had written. He had sunk into a deep depression following Sirius' death, and he couldn't seem to snap out of it. No fewer than three letters each from Hermione and Ron lay on his bedside table, along with two from Mrs. Weasley and one from Ginny. All were unopened.
Don't you draw the queen of diamonds, boy,
She'll beat you if she's able.
The queen of hearts was always your best bet.
Now it seems to me some fine things
Have been laid upon your table,
But you only want the ones you can't get.
Harry supposed he should be glad that none of his friends were seriously injured in the battle at the Ministry, but he couldn't summon the strength to feel anything, much less happiness. After being brought back to the Dursley's and separated from the rest of the wizarding world, he had no desire to do anything other than lay around and sleep. Aunt Petunia delivered meals twice a day, always tight-lipped and without a word. Harry had no desire to eat, and thus only picked at his food.
Desperado, oh you ain't gettin' no younger
Your pain and your hunger, they're drivin' you home.
And freedom, oh, freedom, well, that's just some people talkin'
Your prison is walkin' through this world all alone.
Suddenly something gray and red smacked into the window. Harry glanced at it and was unsurprised to see Pig fluttering around outside the window. Harry was not surprised by anything these days. He sat up slowly and opened the window to let Pig in so that the little owl wouldn't hurt itself. Pig was clutching a red envelope in his tiny talons. A Howler, Harry knew for certain. But he didn't care, and so he simply let the Howler explode.
Don't your feet get cold in the wintertime?
The sky won't snow and the sun won't shine
It's hard to tell the night time from the day,
You're loosin' all your highs and lows,
Ain't it funny how the feelin' goes away?
The Howler exploded, and Ron's magically amplified voice began shouting at him. Dudley, who had been exiting his own room, screamed a little and quickly went down the stairs to get as far away from Harry's room as possible.
"HARRY POTTER! I REALIZE THAT YOU WERE HURT MOST BY SIRIUS' DEATH, BUT THE REST OF US WERE HURT AS WELL. MUM'S WORRIED SICK ABOUT YOU, AS ARE HERMIONE AND GINNY. YOU HAVE TIME TO WRITE THE ORDER, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TIME TO RESPOND TO MY MUM'S LETTERS. DAD SAYS IF YOU HAVEN'T REPLIED WITHIN A WEEK, HE'LL COME AND GET A REPLY PERSONALLY. NOW SHAPE UP OR WE'LL SHAPE YOU UP. GOT IT? NOW GET GOING AND RESPOND TO MUM'S LETTERS, AT LEAST."
Desperado, why don't you come to your senses?
Come down from your fences, open the gate
It may be raining, but there's a rainbow above you
You better let somebody love you, before it's too late.
Harry watched in mild amusement as the red envelope began to smoke and curled up on itself. If a response was what they wanted, a response they would get. He picked up Mrs. Weasley's letters, slit them open, then reached for a quill and parchment and began to read and scratch out a basic response.