Chapter one
Stefanie Bright woke to the loud yelling of her brother Nicholas.
"WAKE UP LAZY BUTT!!! WE GOT OUR HOGWARTS LETTERS!!!"
Nicholas was starting first year at Hogwarts and as a result was extremely excited. Stefanie who was starting fourth year was already at Hogwarts and wasn't quite as enthusiastic as her brother was.
Nicholas jumped on her bed and repetitively bashed her with a pillow until she finally gave in and said, "FINE! I'm coming down stairs, just give me a second will you?"
Stefanie had chocolate brown eyes that sparkled in a cheeky way, brown hair with a fringe that was long and hung in front of her face, she was about 164cm in height and had a lean build. Her brother- Nicholas who had short brown hair that he jelled to spike up at the front, he also had chocolate brown eyes and was about 145cm in height and had inherited the same lean build as his sister.
Stefanie was a Gryffindor student that had top grades, was the Gryffindor team seeker and was part of a famous group at Hogwarts called the 'musketeers'
Stefanie pulled herself out of bed, got changed into some fresh robes and bounded down the stairs.
"Good morning honey, your Hogwarts letter came," her mother said passing her the letter.
"Yeah, I heard," Stefanie, said glaring at her brother who grinned back.
She opened her letter and read the following:
Headmistress: Minerva McGonagall
Dear Miss Bright,
We are proud to announce that you will be coming back Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for your fourth year. Please find enclosed a list of books and new supplies you will need. School will begin on the 1 September.
Yours sincerely,
Jonathon Slickworm
Deputy Head
"Oh great, Slickworm is still a professor" Stefanie scowled.
"He can't be that bad!" Nick said in a worried voice.
Stefanie just snorted and said, "Let me see your letter."
Nicholas passed her his letter and she read the following:
Headmistress: Minerva McGonogall
Dear Mr Bright,
We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of necessary books and equipment. Term begins on 1 September. We await your acceptance owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours Sincerely
Jonathan Slickworm
Deputy Headmaster
Stefanie looked up from the letter and saw Nick grinning at her, "Mums already sent the owl to Slickworm saying that I can come to the school!"
Stefanie just rolled her eyes and sat down at her place at the table, her mother had pots and pans floating around washing themselves and then putting themselves away, the frying pan had bacon and eggs sizzling on it and with a flick of her wand her mother levitated the pan over to each of their plates and tipped some of the bacon and eggs into each plate.
"Where's dad?" Stefanie asked.
"At work," her mother replied.
Stefanie's dad worked as an Auror at the Ministry of Magic while her mother worked as a Healer at St. Mungo's.
"Aren't you supposed to be at work too?" Nicholas asked, observing that she didn't have her uniform on.
"I took the day off so I could take you two for school supplies."
Nicholas cheered.
"Isn't it a bit early to be going for school supplies, it's only July after all!" Stefanie countered.
"Well, I want to beat the rush!" her mother said finishing the last of her eggs.
Nicholas and Stefanie quickly finished the last of their breakfast and their mother called them to the fireplace.
"Remember to say Diagon Alley clearly," she reminded them.
"Yeah, yeah" Stefanie said, rolling her eyes. She took a pinch of the green dust, threw it into the fireplace and said "Diagon Alley" and disappeared. Nicholas was next and was soon followed by his mother.
Once in Diagon Alley their mother pulled out two moneybags and handed one to Nicholas and one to Stefanie.
"Now, I'm going to Gringott's to get some more money and do some shopping, meet me here in two hours, do NOT separate from one another, am I clear?" their mother said in a stern tone.
"Yes mum" they both chorused.
Their mother nodded her head before turning around and heading in the direction of Gringott's.
"Quidditch supplies shop first?" Stef asked.
"Heck yeah!" her brother said happily.
After looking at the new Firebolt 260 (which was way too expensive for them to afford) Stefanie settled on just buying a new pair of gloves and a pair of goggles.
"Now lets by our books!" Nick said enthusiastically.
"Ok" Stef said lazily.
They headed to Flourish and Blots and looked at their book lists. Nicholas's said:
The standard book of spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginners' Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and where to find them by Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble.
After Stefanie had bought books for both herself and Nicholas they ventured outside.
"We still have heaps of money!" Nick said happily.
"Yeah, lets say we get your wand now Nick?" Stef asked smiling.
"YES!" Nick screamed and ran ahead.
"Nick! Mum said to stay together!" Stefanie yelled running after him. She's lost sight of him completely and she was pushing her way through the crowd in a hurry.
Suddenly she heard someone calling out her name and saw her friend Matthew Calsun holding Nicholas by the scruff of his neck.
"I think you lost something Stefanie" Matthew said laughing.
Matthew had mouse-brown hair that wasn't too short but wasn't too long either; he was the tallest person in their year at Hogwarts and had Hazel eyes. He was a part of the Musketeers with Stefanie at Hogwarts.
"Let go of me Matt!" Nicholas said flailing his arms aimlessly.
"I'll take that," Stefanie said grabbing Nicholas' arm and pulling him away from Matthew.
"Thanks for catching him Matt!" Stefanie said panting.
"No problemo! 'Sides I was hoping I'd run into one of the musketeers anyway, I hate shopping alone…" Matthew informed her.
Stefanie laughed, "Yeah, I'm about to get Nick's wand," she cast a nasty glare at her brother "and then he needs some school robes and I'm growing out of mine anyway, so I might get fitted for some new ones as well!" Stefanie said.
"mmhhh, I know what you mean…" Matthew said trailing off.
"HELLO! My wand?" Nicholas said in an annoyed tone.
Matthew chuckled, "okay lets go."
They all started walking up in the direction of Olivander's for Nicholas's wand. Once inside Mr. Olivander could not be seen anywhere.
"Hello?" Stefanie called.
Suddenly the wand maker apparated in front of them.
"Can I help you?" The wand maker asked.
"Yeah! I'm here to get my new wand." Nicholas told him.
"Ahh yes, your Stefanie Bright's brother, her wand was made of a Phoenix feather, one fine unicorn hair and black oak…am I right? Mr Olivander asked, turning to Stefanie.
"Ummm…yeah…that's right…" Stefanie said, eying him suspiciously.
"Oh, and hello Mr. Calsun" he said, nodding his head towards Matthew.
"Ehhh…hello…" Matthew said.
"Anyway," Mr. Olivander walked to one of the shelves and pulled out one of the wands, "try this one." He said, giving the wand to Nicholas.
Nicholas took the wand, gave it a wave and suddenly the glass on the windows shattered.
"Oh, no, no, no, that's not right," Mr. Olivander inspected Nicholas with his head turned to the side; he pulled a wand out from under the front desk.
"Here, try this one, It's made of unicorn horn, red oak and also has a phoenix feather- but it's not from the same phoenix as your sisters. I just got it in so it's new stock." Mr. Olivander said handing him the wand.
As soon as Nicholas touched the wand bright colours danced around his hand and all of his hair stood on end.
"Looks like that's the right one for you mate!" Matthew said, thumping Nicholas on the back.
Once the wand was paid for and they had gotten their potions ingredients and other materials all that was left to get were their new working robes. Both Matthew and Stefanie had grown out of their robes and since Nicholas was starting first year, he needed new ones.
Once inside the shop the robe maker called them into the inside of the shop, they each stood on top of a stool and immediately people started fussing over them, taking their measurements.
Nicholas looked at the kid next to him, he looked like he was starting first year and he decided to be friendly.
"Hello," Nicholas said.
"Oh, hi," he said, turning to look at him.
"I'm Nicholas, Nicholas Bright" Nicholas said smiling.
"My names Ciaran Mclaffin" he said.
"So, you're starting first year?" Nicholas asked.
"Yeah, I suppose you are too eh?" Ciaran asked,
"Yep, I'm really excited!" Nicholas said grinning.
"Yeah! So am I…" Ciaran got cut off.
"Okay you're finished dear, come to the front of the shop for your four new pairs of robes," the lady said.
"Okay, see you at Hogwarts Nicholas." Ciaran said smiling.
Ciaran walked out of the shop and a silence fell over the group of three
"Your all finished too dear," the other lady said.
"Finally!" said Stefanie, jumping from the stool.
"Let's go get our robes from the front guys" Matt said.
"Right behind ya mate!" Stefanie said.
Once the robes were paid for Stefanie looked at her wristwatch and saw that it had already been two hours.
"Geez, it's already been two hours, that went fast!" Stefanie said incredulously.
"Okay, see you guys!" Matt said.
"Bye Matt, I'll try and have the Musketeers over before school starts," Stef said already hurrying off.
Once they found there mum they went home, Hogwarts this year was defiantly going to be interesting indeed.