"May I have everyone's attention before class let's out" called Professor Wildes. "I know you are all excited for summer break to begin but I need to make one last announcement". The class was not giving him the time of day knowing we were minutes away from escaping schoolwork for the summer. "Hogwarts, Great Britain's finest institution, which is actually one of the world's finest institutions, is accepting applicants for a foreign exchange program. They have one spot open for a student to finish the last two years of their schooling." And just like that he had my attention; apparently the rest of the class didn't care for what Wildes had to say. The chance to go to Hogwarts was too good to pass up for me. "Information on how to apply is on this stack of flyers on my desk." And with that last sentence the bell rang and the madness of escaping school began.
I was the only kid heading up to pick a flyer and thought that maybe I would get the open spot unopposed. However, upon reading the flyer I quickly realized I would be competing against kids from around the world for one spot. The application would require my current transcript of grades/schoolwork and a short two page essay on why I wanted to go to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. And it was due in a little less than two weeks, right after my birthday June 10th.
My grades are top in the class but how would they compare with kids from around the world. And my school, the Salem Wizards' Institute, is not even as highly regarded as the local school for witches the Salem Witches' Institute. American witches and wizards are not held in high esteem anywhere in the world. The Salem witch trials had significantly lowered the wizarding population in America and also put a huge beware sign to all who thought about possibly moving here. Due to this many of the witches and wizards are muggle born or not too many generations from. We play muggle sports and are highly integrated into muggle culture. Our quidditch teams are a joke due to this and when it came to the Quidditch World Cup we were impressed the U.S even made it to the round of 16 two years ago. Our school doesn't even have a team. We only have baseball and basketball teams and they compete against local muggle schools.
The more I thought of all of this the more I realized that this is why I wanted to go to Hogwarts. I want to feel a part of the wizarding world and not feel like such the outsider I am here in America. I want to push myself to greatness. I want to learn from the best and go to school with some cute witches. Being in an all boys school has some serious disadvantages. At least I now know why I want to go to Hogwarts. I just have to write it down and hope for the best.
Two days later and I was finished my essay. About ready to send it off with my application. I just need one last signature, Samuel Adam Ashcroft.
This summer progressed quietly afterwards. I not naturally social and being separated from the kids I went to school with made me even more isolated during the summer. My parents had divorced so I rarely talked to my Wizard father and my mother was always busy working as a nurse in a muggle hospital. Yep, I'm a half blood and have always felt like i don't quite belong to those around me. But overall I think I am a good looking kid. I am 6'2" tall about 165 pounds and have brown slightly curly hair. I were glasses which doesn't win me points but my eyes change color from blue to green depending on my mood. But I am usually too shy to talk to anyone or look them in the eyes for them to find out.
By the time the letter arrived telling me if I would get in to Hogwarts I was extremely bored and sick of summer. I just wanted to get out and find a place I could belong. I had been checking the mail for days and when the letter finally arrived on July 31st I could barely contain myself. I tore open the letter and read through as quick as possible. And to my shock and amazement I was in. Albus Dumbledore of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was pleased to offer me the one open spot. The letter outlined when I need to arrive at King's Cross station where someone would meet me at the entrance to Platform 9-3/4. On the second page was a list of all the materials I would need for the upcoming year.
When my mother i told her my good news. She was apprehensive about letting me go but she knew how much I wanted this. I told her I would write and that maybe she should try to have some fun with me gone. Maybe try to go on some dates for once. Less than a month latter I was on my way.