Chapter 1:
The Mysterious Letter
I sat up in my bed. It was early in the morning. I looked outside and it was still very dark out. I slammed my head back on my pillow. Why did I wake up so early on the first day of summer break? I turned over and closed my eyes. I woke up again and looked outside. The sun was shining bright. I opened my window and let the gentle breeze blow through into my room. I ran downstairs into the kitchen.
"Good morning Gabby" said Mom. "Good morning" I replied, "What's for breakfast?" "Well, I have made some bacon and I was getting ready to make some scrambled eggs" she said as she washed the pan she had made bacon in. I watched as she cracked the eggs into a bowl and beat in some milk. She put them into pan and cooked them. She put bacon and eggs on my plate. I ate them hardily.
I think I should tell you about myself. My name is Gabrielle Miller, aka Gabby; I turn eleven years old tomorrow. I am getting ready to go high school. I have brown hair and blue eyes. I am of medium height for my age. I am on summer vacation.
I ran back upstairs to my room. I closed my door and got on my computer. I pulled up Facebook and updated my status: "I am so glad that it is finally summer vacation." I looked through and like a couple of people's statuses.
Then there was a knock on the door. "Gabby, do you want to come with me to the marketplace?" Mom asked. "Sure" I replied. I got ready and we went to the market. We wandered down the street. We were taking a road that I had never taken before. We passed a place called The Leaky Cauldron. "Hey Mom, what is this road?" I asked. "It is a shortcut to the Marketplace" she said as we hurried past this creepy place. We got what we needed after a couple of hours. Mom has to talk to everybody. We got back home and I went back upstairs. I went on Facebook for a couple of hours. I yawned. I was very tired. I crawled into my bed and fell asleep.
I woke up very excited. Today is my eleventh birthday. I ran downstairs and Mom was making me a special birthday breakfast. She was making me some crepes. (She learned to make crepes while studying in France.) I heard the mail come through the mail slot. "I'll get it" I yelled as I ran over to the mail slot. As I picked up the mail another piece came through the slot. I picked it up and flipped through. The last piece was addressed to me. I opened the envelope and pulled out a piece of parchment:
HOGWARTS SCHOOL
of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Minerva McGonagall
Dear Ms. Miller,
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,
Headmistress
I was walking into the kitchen when another piece of parchment fell on the floor:
First-year students will require:
Uniform
Three Sets of Plain Work Robes (Black)
One Plain Pointed Hat (Black) for day wear
One Pair of Protective Gloves (dragon hide or similar)
One Winter Cloak (Black, silver fastenings)
Please note that all student's clothes should carry name-tags.
Books
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginner's 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
Other Equipment
1 Wand
1 Cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set of glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set of brass scales
Students may also bring an Owl OR a Cat OR a Toad.
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS.
"MOM" I screamed as I ran into the kitchen, "SOMEONE IS SENDING ME PRANK MAIL." "What do you mean?" she asked as she took the parchment from my hand. "This sounds very odd" she said and then pulled out another small piece of parchment, "To get to Diagon Alley to purchase you school supplies; you need to go to the back of The Leaky Cauldron and tap the bricks 3 times."