Chapter One

You read in books about how this one little incident that changes the main character's life completely, but you never think that it is going to happen to you. It just seems so unreal, unnatural. It can't possible happen to you. I know I never thought it would happen to me, but it did. Here is the story of my little incident (actually, a rather large incident) that changed my life.

I guess I should give you a slight background first. I never meet my father and my mother died in a fire at the hospital when I was two. I didn't have any close family who was still around, so they sent me to an orphanage on the edge of town. That's where I meet my two best friends, Sili and Gumi. Of course those aren't their real names, their real names were Silvestor and Montgomery. But, I was five when I met them. I wasn't going call them Silvestor and Montgomery. They were seven when they meet me, and they never call me Emerson. I was always called Soni.

Back to the story. I grew up in the orphanage, and I actually liked it. I mean, it wasn't the best place to be. I got beat up several times before I learned how to defend myself. I didn't learn how to read until I was eight and Silvestor, who had just learned himself, was the one who taught me. I don't think I've ever had three square meals a one day. But it was okay because I had a family and that's all I needed. Sili and Gumi, I knew they would take care of me. But a lot changed when I turned eleven.

It was a sunny day. Gumi, Sili, and I were planning on going to the park after breakfast. We spent a lot of time at the park because no one really went there anymore. The swings were broken and the slide had cracked, but the castle was still together and that was good enough for us. But, when we asked to leave, Mother Nicole told me no.

"We have a man coming in today who is looking for a eleven year old girl. You might get adopted today, Ms. Emerson." She had said before smiling and walking away. We stared at each other for a minute before it sunk it.

"You might get adopted," Sili said.

"You might leave us," Gumi said what everyone was thinking. I felt the tears in my eyes, but I didn't let them fall.

"No. Jennifer and Cameron are eleven, too. I'll make sure to look nasty. I won't brush my hair. I put mud on my shoes. I'll make eye contact while picking my nose. I will not be adopted! Not unless you guys can come with me." I said, slamming my hands on the table but keeping my head down. "I refuse to lose my family again."

"We'll help you! We can have a burping contest, or see who can fart the longest. Maybe we can start a mud fight!" Sili said with excitement.

"You are not getting adopted today, love." Gumi said with a grin. He got up and got a pen and pad to write down ideas. It would be magnificent.

It was one o'clock when a man with a long, white beard showed up. He walked with power and grace that I had never seen before, yet there was a twinkle in his eye that could not be explained. Mother Nicole made me, Jennifer, and Cameron put on our best clothes brushed all of our hair (There goes my idea of not brushing it). She told us to stand up straight and only speak when spoken to. When asked a question, answer with 'Yes, sir' and 'No, sir'. Keep your head down, it rude to stare, but, if he addresses you, be sure to make eye contact.

"There is so many rules." I whispered to Cameron while Mother Nicole greeted the man.

"If you want him to adopt you you must be on your best behavior." Cameron answered.

"Well, I don't want him to adopt me." I pouted.

"Well, I want him to adopt me, so hush up. They are heading this way." Jennifer said. She stood up straight and put her hands behind her back. Cameron did the same. I crossed my arms and eyes the man. It shouldn't be too hard to push him away from me. He seems like the type to want well behaved girl. I am most certainly not a well behaved girl.

"Girls. This is Mr. Albus Dumbledore. He is the headmaster at a boarding school in Scotland and was looking for a girl to go. He said that every year he goes to a different orphanage and picks a child to go, free of charge. Isn't that nice of him?" Mother Nicole introduced him. She eyed me and stood up straight, motioning me to do the same. I huffed and slumped down even more.

"Well, aren't these girls just lovely? Why don't you introduce yourself and tell me something interesting?" Mr. Albus Dumbledore said, turning to Jennifer. "Let's start with you, little one, what's your name?"

"My name is Jennifer Brooklyn. I am eleven years old and I turn twelve in two months. I love to learn and have taught many of the younger kids here how to read." I roll my eyes. That was not true at all. I usually taught the young ones how to read and write. " My favorite color is purple and my mother taught me how to ride a horse before she passed away."

"That is very interesting. I do a little horseback riding myself." He said, smiling at her. Jennifer beamed back at him. He then turned to Cameron. "How about you, little girl?"

"I am Cameron Maxwell. I'm eleven years old, I just turned about a months ago. My favorite thing to do is draw." That was true. Cameron was amazing at drawing. "I've never been to a school and would love to go and learn."

"I'd love to see one of your drawings sometime." He said. Cameron blushed and put her head down. He turned and looked at me. "And the best for last. What's your name?"

"Emerson Zarzuela. Nice you meet you, Mr. Albus." I stuck my hand out for him to shake. His hand slide into mine and we shook hands. I knew he had to feel the shock from the little button in my hand. He had to, everyone did. But he didn't react.

"Nice to meet you, Ms. Zarzuela." He smiled at me. Maybe he is not as bad as I first thought. And it is just a boarding school. I wouldn't be gone forever. Ash goes to a boarding school in Germany and he is back every Christmas and summer. "Why don't you tell me something interesting about yourself?"

"There is nothing really interesting about me." I replied.

"There must be something interesting about you, there is something interesting about everyone." He said back, smiling slightly. I thought for a minute before something came to mind.

"Well, I don't know when my birthday is." He gave me a strange look, I smirked at him. This was always a good one, everyone thought it was strange and I loved it

"And why is that?" He questioned me.

"I never meet my father and my mom passed in a fire at the hospital I was born at. All the records were gone because the fire burnt down the whole place. So they didn't have my birth certificate to verify my birthday, and my mother was only close to the people who worked at the hospital. They all perished in the fire. So, we just say it's June 29."

"That is very, very interesting," He replied with a thoughtful look. "You could be fifteen for all we know."

I threw my head back in a laugh. "I am not fifteen. Much too short."

"I suppose you are right." He smiled at me and I saw the twinkle in his eyes before he turned to back to Mother Nicole. "Why don't we step into your office and discuss somethings?"

"Of course, Mr. Dumbledore, right this way," she said, turning to us. "You girls wait here, we will be back in a few minutes."

As Mother Nicole lead Mr. Albus to her office, the two other girls turned and glared at me. I tilted my head in question, causing them both to roll their eyes. I honestly did not know what I had done wrong.

"What were you doing? I thought you said you did want to get adopted!" Jennifer started. Oh, that.

"Yeah! You made him practically fall for you. Now he is never going to want either of us!" Cameron said, crossing her arms. I had to roll my eyes back, who were they to tell me what to do.

"I didn't want to get adopted but this is a boarding school, not adoption. I'll be back for Christmas and summers. And I want to go to school just as much as everyone else." I defended myself. "It doesn't matter anymore, anyways. He's going to pick one of us and that's that. The other two of us are just going to have to get over it."

I turned back to glare at the wall. I didn't think I was being that great. I didn't act all proper like the other girls. And he did say that he wanted to see some of Cameron's drawings, maybe he will go with her. But. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to go. I've always wanted a good education and I'd still get to see Sili and Gumi. I'd probably even be allowed to write them. Before I could be completely lost in thought, the door to the office opened and Mother Nicole came out with a large, fake smile on her lips.

"Ms. Zarzuela, Mr. Dumbledore would like to speak with you in private. The other two, come with me." She walked out the door that lead to the dining room and the other two follow, glaring at me as they went. I continued to stare at the wall as they walked out.

Did I really get in? Was I really going? Was I going to get an education, make friends other than Sili and Gumi? Was I really leaving the orphanage, the only home I've ever known? Was I leaving Sili and Gumi? Would they be okay with that? Was I really ready to find out?

I stood there for another minute, with these questions running through my head, before walking into the office.

Chapter One is Finished.

FINALLY. I feel like I apologize to much and you guys are probably tired of hearing it, but I am going to say it again. I AM SORRY. I would like to say this, my classes are kicking my booty. For those little bits out their, still in middle and high school, I have a word of advice. Never, ever take Sociology, Psychology, and an English college class at the same time. Unless you want to read and right for the whole semester.

Anyway. Enough about that.

Just for the record, I have most of this story planned out and I am currently on Chapter Three. I am very proud of myself. I know whats going to happen up to Chapter Ten. If I had to guesstimate how long this way going to be, I'd guesstimate about Seventeen Chapters.

Another thing is this, I'm not 100% sure when I'm going to post again, but it should be some time next week. But I also have a very bad memory, so it might be longer.

As I get done writing this story, I have two other stories I'm planning. One is the one I mentioned before, the Harry Potter one about and arranged marriage. I am super excited about this one. And the other one is Criminal Minds, which I am also super excited about.

I don't really have any other stories planned after those, other then my novel I'm writing but I will not be publishing that on here. I don't know if I am going to have any more stories after these three, but we'll just have to see.

Any way, I must go to sleep now, my lovelies, I have an early morning tomorrow.

Have a most magnificent day!

~Cassidy Raewood