Zerial McKinnen and Dumbledore's Prophecy

Chapter One

The phone call

"I am home free of school and let me tell you, I am glad I only had to go through fifth grade once." Zerial proclaimed slightly louder than was allowed by her mother.

"Zerial. you know my standing on after school declarations. And you know perfectly well that you say some awful things about your teachers when you have had a bad day. So no screaming for the one thousandth time." Ms. Mckinnen said this all very quickly with her leg out and fists on her hips. She did all this while tapping her foot in a perfect rhythm.

Ms Mckinnen had dark brown hair and brilliant green eyes to go with it. She surveyed Zerial's, however false it was, frown and decided to let it go. After all, school was over only once a year. They had to celebrate this yearly holiday. And then the one after: Zerial's birthday.

"Go and get the mail, almost birthday girl," She said playfully swatting at her daughter until she was out the door.

When Zerial had gotten the mail and comeback inside, she looked at the mirror above the in table.

Zerial hated her silvery hair. She had always been teased about it. That and her blue eyes. She was teased about anything imaginable. And usually for no reason at all.

When Zerial walked into the kitchen, she took the pop-cycle her mother offered her and took a nice big bite off the top.

"Mom,"Zerial said kind of timidly. "Today, at school, the kids in my class were making fun of me again. about my hair."

"Those children are jealous Zerial," her mother said. "You have beautiful hair. And you have a beautiful face. Don't pay any attention when people say otherwise."

"Well none of those kids were adopted." Zerial said continuing to eat her pop-cycle.

"Zerial, there is nothing wrong with being adopted. And i happen to know that your biological parents loved you very much. But they had to give you away." Mother said sitting in a chair across from Zerial.

"But why?" Zerial asked, distressed now. "Was it because I'm part 'veelo'?"

Mother chuckled, and realized that she shouldn't have when her daughter glared at her. "No. It wasn't because of that. I cant tell you right now Zerial."

"You never tell me anything." Zerial threw the remains of her pop-cycle in the trash and ran up to her room to think. She wished she had friend to talk to. Or at least a pet. but no. Her mother could never let her do anything.

Always protective. "No you can t do that. Well actually I cant tell you why." was practically all she ever heard. And it wasn't just her mother. It was her school teachers too. Everyone seemed to think she was really fragile and would die if stabbed with even a tooth pick.

Well, they were all wrong. Zerial wasn't fragile. She had fallen out of at least eight tress and never broken anything. And more than that, she never seemed to get hurt too badly. Like a cut or a scratch but nothing much.

Also , her entire life strange things happened to her. When ever she got angry she couldn't tough anything or it would catch fire. And once, when her mother figured out what was going on because of burn marks the size of Zerial's hand were on her bed sheets, she had been taken to some strange doctor in a really old clothing store with ugly mannacans in the window display.

Remembering all the good times she had in school when strange things happened to the people who picked on her. Like Bonnie Wilcox, who pulled Zerial's hair once had turned blue afterwards. But no one seemed to remember these things accept her mother. And when she told people what happens when they mess with her, the other kids just tease her more.

Finally cooled down, Zerial headed down to her mother's room to apologise for storming out of the kitchen. she walked to her mothers door but stopped abruptly when she heard her mothers voice. Zerial pressed her ear to her mothers bedroom door to listen.

"Look Myranda, I wont stay here like this any more. I know you think its right, but i have lived here closing on 11 years. I'm tired of living like a muggle. Its hard. And Zerial deeps setting things on fire. Yes. Every time she gets picked on or angry."

Zerial knew this wasn't a conversation she should be listening to and began to walk away, until her mother practically yelled.

"What do you mean teach her how to control it! How can i? Then I would have to tell her all kinds of things. One question would lead to another. No. No. NO! We are not living as muggles any more. Well I don't know. I suppose we will stay at the Leakey cauldron until I find a house. That or build one.

Myranda don't cry. I know you miss her. No. I know you love her too. But she is my daughter now. And it hurts me to constantly lie to her. We are leaving in a week. I don't care if you approve. I didn't even have to call you. No. I did it because i respect you and Alastor. Yes. That does mean I'm going to tell her. And no not everything. That could put her life in danger. Yes. Ill write to you. Tell her i said hi. Okay. Good bye."

Zerial ran as fast as she could to the stairs. But just as she reached them her mother called after her. "Zerial Rachelle McKinnen! You come back here!"

Zerial pivoted and walked back to her mothers door way. Her mother beckoned her closer and Zerial came and sat on the bed and looked intently at her fingernails.

"Zerial, did you hear that conversation?"Mother asked. Zerial nodded and still didn't look at her mother.

"All of it?" Zerial shook her head.

Mother ran a hand through her brown hair and heaved a great sigh. "Well you heard enough so I suppose now is a as good a time as any to tell you. Zerial, your a witch."

For a moment Zerial just sat with her mouth hanging open. Then she fell of the bed and fainted.