A/N: My first uploaded story, so please don't be too rough. I'll take comments and tips, but not pure flaming. Also, if it seems that I have borrowed ideas from any of your stories, it's not intentional unless I credit it to you. I say this because I have read a lot of fanfics during the last six or so months, and can't guarrantee that I don't base my ideas on yours without remembering where the original idea came from, if you know what I mean. Also, here comes the usual disclaimer: I'm 17, male and Norwegian, and last time I checked, Rowling fit none of those categories (No offense intended), thus I do not own anything but Hallie and her family and the plot that differ from the canon. So here you go;
Chapter one
The Letter
Beutiful. That was the only word she thought of as fitting to the warm, golden sunset. As she sat there on the beach, playing with her long, black hair and watching the sun dissapear into the ocean far out in the horizon, Hallie was more or less in a carefree state. Her summer vacation had just recently begun, and yet she was here, staring at the sea that sent small, splashing waves onto one of the finest beaches in Miami. It was a good thing that she finally got her vacation, as another week at school would have driven her crazy.
Hallie stood up, brushing the sand off of her clothes before returning to her hut, which lied in the outskirts of the beach. Once inside, she found the rest of her family finishing a game of yatzi. This was how Hallie wanted to live. Even though she had grown up in London, she hated the city life, and would rather live a more simple and less stressing life out in the nature. If it was up to her, she would never return to the city, but unfortunatly she did not have much to say in that matter, as she was only ten. Her only comfort was that in about a week she would be elleven, meaning she had seven years less untill she could finalize her desire, and move to the country. She would, of course, have to find a suiting job, but right now she did not want to think that much about it.
As the evening went by, and the skies turned black and filled with stars, Hallie decided to go for one last swim in the ocean. When she finally got into the water, her eyes caught something at the bottom, glowing with a silverlike light. She decided to dive down after it, only to find a small stone figurine, representing an stag. Hallie brought it back to the surface, only to discover that the little statue had ceased to emmit it's light. "How strange. I'd better keep this hidden," she muttered to herself as she walked back to the cabin. "How was the swim?" her mother, Rose, asked as Hallie shut the door behind her. "Refreshing. Is the shower occupied?" Hallie asked, wanting to cleanse her hair of the saltwater, "I don't think so," her mother replied. Hallie quicly entered the bathroom, locked the door and stepped into the shower.
Feeling even more refreshed as the last drop of saltwater was gone, she started thinking about the small owl. Wonder how wise it would be to show it to my parents. I mean, what should I say, that I found it laying on the bottom of the sea, eleven yards from the beach? Continuing her line of thoughts while drying herself, she came to the conclusion not to tell her parents for now. The next obvious problem was to keep them from finding the small figurine, though this turned up easier to solve than she feared; all she did was putting it somewhere her parents would never find it. That problem solved, she went to sleep before anything else happened.
As the days went by, Hallie forgot about the stone stag, as she was busy swimming or tanning at the beach. It was only about two weeks later, when it was full moon, that she remembered the stag, mainly because it started to glow in a blue-green light, similar to the auroras. She retrieved it from it's hiding spot, only to feel a weak pulse of energy traveling through her hands and up to the head. Hallie fainted only momemts later.
It was morning when Hallie finally woke up. When she took a look at the figurine, she could not believe what she saw; the owl had changed from being made of stone, to consist of some sort of emerald instead. She had to pinch herself in the arm, just to make sure that she wasn't dreaming. Things like this just didn't happen, and yet, for unexplained reasons, it had! Should I tell my parents? What would they say if I did? Fortunatly for Hallie, her mother called out from the kitchen, meaning it was time for breakfast.
As they were eating, her father came in with the mail. "This one is for you, Hallie," he said, as he handed over the letter. "Strange though, how the senders knew this adress, even what room you live in," her father continued as he sat down at the table. "What do you mean 'even what room I liv-'... oh." On the back of the letter, she read;
Miss H. Legacy
The second bedroom, Cabin near the beach
Miami
"See what i mean?" her father asked, as he shoved a piece of bread into his mouth. Hallie just ignored him, and went on to open the letter. Then, she read it out loud:
"Dear miss Legacy.
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find the enclosed 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,
Deputy Headmistress"
"What on Earth was that all about?" muttered Hallie, mostly to herself, as read over the letter once more. "Await my owl? What is that supposed to mean?" She looked up at her parents, as if they had the answer, when something dropped on the floor. Bending down to pick it up, she realized it was another letter. Bringing it back up, Hallie noted that it contained an explanation to her questions. Once again, Hallie read aloud:
"Dear miss Legacy.
As you are muggle born, we are aware of the many questions you and your family must have. First things first: Hogwarts is a school where you will be teached not only about your magical ablilites, but also how to controll them. The school itself is located in Britain.
Second; Wizards and Witches uses owls to deliver mail. You may, however, use the muggle mail, as there will be Wizards and Witches in the system to make sure that your and other Wizards' and Witches' mail get to their destination.
And last, but not least; Our Game Keeper will be happy to help you buying the rquired books and equipment once you return to England. He will also answer the remaining questions you may have, as well as he can.
Yours Sincerely
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress"
As Hallie's brain was processing all the new information, her little sister, Kiara, spoke up: "Sis, does this mean you'll leave me? Please say that you won't." Seeing her sister's puppy eyes, Hallie sat down in front of her, leaning her hand on the little girl's shoulder.
"Of course not, at least not forever. I bet we still have vacation and holliday breaks. Also, I will write back at least once a week, if not more often. Who knows, maybe you're a witch too."
"You think so?"
"Yes, absolutley. And even if you don't turn out to be one, there's no need to be unhappy about it. I will still like you for who, not what, you are. That's all that matters."