'Right, Harry. I've just sent a letter to your dad. Asking him to find out.' Lily said, as she sighed, she flopped down onto the couch.

'Great!' Harry jumped excitedly. 'I hope I can go!'

'Harry!' Lily laughed, 'It's not like you've got your letter for Hogwarts yet.'

'Yeah I know, but at least I get to see Ron more now!' Harry was still jumping excitedly.

'Harry calm down,' Lily said, 'you still don't know whether you can go or not.'

There was a flapping noise coming from outside. Then a letter shot down the chimney and landed on Harry's lap. He opened it and he read it aloud so his mom could here:

Harry,

I asked Dumbledore if you can come. He said yes...

Harry Cheered about being able to go. Lily laughed.

...But you and Ron must stay in the room where you sleep when we stay. You can only come out when you are told or if you need the loo. Since it's early, and Ron is eager to speak to you, you and your mom can come now.

Dad X

Harry jumped up but had to sit straight back down again, 'Too fast! Too fast!' Harry yelled.

'Put your head between your knees then.' Lily laughed. Harry did as she said and he felt well again. He sat up and said, 'Can we go now then?'

'Sure, you go first then,' Lily gestured to the fireplace.

'Okay, then you come straight after me though.' Harry walked over to the fire, shaking in excitement. He grabbed a hand full of green powder, stood in the fire and yelled while dropping the powder, 'Number 12 Grimmauld Place!' Green fire spread around him, yet it was not hot. He closed his eyes, it was hard to breathe. Then the fire re-appeared around him and he was in an old dusty fireplace. There in front of him stood all of his family friends. Sirius Black, his godfather, with his long, black, frizzy hair. Remus Lupin, his brown-ish, blond hair, the werewolf of the order, and defence against the dark-arts teacher at Hogwarts. Severus Snape, greasy, black, long hair, and potions master at Hogwarts. And the leader of the Order Of The Phoenix, and headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore, Long, grey hair and beard, with half-moon glasses. The Weasley family too, all the red-heads, all eager for Harry's arrival. Harry ran in and yelled, 'Hi everyone!'

'Harry!' Sirius said, bending down to hug Harry.

'Hey Sirius! Mom's coming in a minute.' Harry replied looking at the fire.

'Great, I think Ron wants to speak to you. He's been up and down, up and down. Telling us that when you get here to call him. Oh, better do that now.' Sirius let go of Harry and walked into the hall. He yelled up the stairs to Ron, 'Ron! Harry's here!' Sirius kept looking up at the stairs waiting for a reply.

'Tell him to come up!' Ron yelled back. Sirius nodded and gestured for Harry to go upstairs.

'Watch out for Kreacher, remember.' Sirius whispered.

'Yeah, I know.' Harry laughed in a whisper. 'Tell mom I'm upstairs.'

'Okay, will do.' Sirius patted Harry on the back while he went upstairs. Harry walked up the stairs, he got up the second flight of stairs, and there he saw Kreacher the house elf, muttering to himself, 'Disgusting mudbloods and blood-traitors. Kreacher's mistress would be so angry.' He turned and noticed Harry looking at him. 'Oh Mr Potter, the young blood-traitor, son of the mudblood.' Kreacher sneered at Harry as he passed him, as they were glaring at each other, Kreacher continued down the stairs. Harry continued until he found the door where he usually sleeps on some weekends in the holidays. He opened the door and saw Ron Weasley, his best friend, sitting on the bed next to his one. 'Hey Ron!' Harry yelled. He ran and jumped onto the same bed that Ron was on.

'Hey Harry, how are you?' Ron asked, smiling and looking pleased.

'Great. You wanted to speak to me?' Harry asked smiling.

'Oh, yeah,' Ron replied now looking upset.

'What's wrong?'

'I... er....'

'What!?' Harry yelled. Ron reached into his pocket. He pulled out a small envelope.

'I GOT MY LETTER TO HOGWARTS!' Ron yelled and started jumping on the bed. It took Harry about two seconds to realise what Ron had said. Harry grinned and jumped on the bed too.

'That's great!' He yelled, 'Maybe I'll get mine soon then!' After a few seconds Ron and Harry sat back on the bed, but they were still smiling.

'Harry! Ron! Meetings over!' They heard Sirius shout up the stairs. 'Lunch is ready!' Ron went down the stairs straight away but Harry sat there. The he sighed and got up. As he was about to go out of the room, there was a tap on the window. Harry turned, and there was an owl on the outside window-sill, with a letter in its claws. Harry opened the window, the owl flew in and sat on the chest-of-drawers. He un-tied the letter and looked at the envelope. On the seal was a logo, with a big 'H' in the middle. Harry stared at it for a moment. Then just shot down the stairs bellowing, 'I'VE GOT MY LETTER!!! I'VE GOT MY LETTER TO HOGWARTS!!!' He was running so fast down the stairs, he fell on the last few. But luckily for Harry, James was right at the bottom and caught him.

'Whoa, there Harry!' He laughed, 'You better be more careful.' James put Harry down, who then hugged his dad.

'Thanks dad!' Harry laughed, looking amused, excited and a bit scared after his fall. Harry ran into the kitchen to tell his mom. 'Mom! Mom! I've got my letter!' He yelled running to Lily.

'So I've heard!' Lily chuckled hugging her son. Harry stood there staring at his letter. 'Well? Are you gonna open it or are you gonna stare at it all day?' Lily asked laughing.

'Oh, yeah,' Harry opened the letter slowly. He unravelled two pieces of parchment and read aloud the 1st:

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY~
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

Order of Merlin, First Class

Dear Mr Harry Potter,
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,
Professor Minerva McGonagall,
Deputy Headmaster

~HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY~

UNIFORM
First-year students will require:
1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)
2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
4. One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)

Please note that all pupils' clothes should carry name tags

COURSE BOOKS
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
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 Phillida 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 caldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set 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

Harry folded up the letter and placed it on the table calmly. Then he turned to his mom, and begged, 'Can we go now!? Can we go now!? Please!!'

'Hold your horses Harry!' Lily said to him, 'You only just go your letter!'

'Yeah but I want all of my things now!!!' Harry continued to beg. He sat at the table and quickly wrote his reply back to Hogwarts and handed it to Dumbledore.

'Harry, I can't accept this here.' Dumbledore said quietly, 'You must send it to Professor McGonagall at Hogwarts.' Harry huffed. He ran back upstairs to see if the owl that had delivered his letter was still there. It was. 'Phew.' Harry sighed. He tied the letter to the owl's leg and sent it back to Professor McGonagall at Hogwarts. Harry ran back down and said, 'There! I've sent the letter. Can we go now?' Harry was excited. He couldn't wait to get to Diagon Alley. He wanted his wand more than anything but only a small bit more than wanting his owl, cat or toad.

'Fine Harry. We'll go.' Lily said. 'Since it was James' turn to come today, I think I should take him.' She turned to Mrs Weasley, 'D'you want me to take Ron too?'

'Oh all right. But make sure he gets an owl. When he's at Hogwarts I want loads if letters from him,' Mrs Weasley chuckled. Ron walked over to Lily.

'Right, hold my hand or arm, whichever you please, but hold on very tight. It's very important if you're side-along apparating. Harry grabbed his moms hand and Ron grabbed her arm. Lily waved her wand and they were space. Harry and Ron were tense. They couldn't move. Then they landed with a thud inside a pub. Lily was standing but Harry and Ron were lying on the floor. Lily laughed and pulled them up. 'Morning Tom,' Lily nodded to the bar-man.

'Ah, Have Ron and Harry got their letters then?' Tom asked cleaning a glass.

'Yep. Harry got his today and Ron got his a week ago.' Lily smiled. 'I must get going. Molly want Ron to get back quickly – Don't ask me why.' She laughed. The continued to the back yard of the pub. On a sign which Harry noticed on the wall, it said, "The Leaky Cauldron."

'Mom, can muggles get in there?' Harry asked.

'No. I'm not sure what they see instead. I think it's an old pub which closed down decades ago. Hogwarts is a pile of old ruins with a warning sign on it to muggles. Well, I'll explain later about what places look like to muggles. We need to get your things.' Lily walked to a brick wall and tapped the top left brick with her wand. The bricks all unravelled to create an arch-way, which lead to a long, cobbled street full of witches and wizards.

'So, you two, what's first on the list?' Lily asked Ron and Harry. They both looked at their letters and said, 'Three sets of plain work robes (black), one plain pointed hat (black) for day wear, one pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar) and one winter cloak (black, silver fastenings.' They both smiled.

'So, Madam Malkin's then.' Lily smiled back and walked to the third shop on the right and walked in.

Harry and Ron got measured for their new robes and bought all of their clothing. The exited the shop and Lily asked, 'What's next?'

'The books.' Harry nodded. 'Erm, Flourish and Blotts?'

'Perfect,' Lily laughed. She walked up the street and entered a shop which had a sign saying, "Flourish and Blotts." Harry and Ron trailed in after her.

Ron went up to the shopkeeper and explained, 'We need The Standard Book of Spells Grade 1 by Miranda Goshawk please.' The shopkeeper nodded and went into the back of the shop.

'Come round here and tell me what books you need,' the shopkeeper explained to Ron. Ron went round the back. After about five minutes or so, Ron came back round carrying two of every book. They all got out of the shop and Ron dropped all the books. 'Sorry!' He looked scared, 'It was too heavy and high.'

'It's ok Ron, it wasn't your fault.' Lily laughed as she, Harry and Ron picked up the books again.

'We need wands now.' Harry said as they were walking up the street.

'Ollivander's then.' Lily said. They continued to a shop which said, "Ollivander's" and in smaller writing, "Maker's of Fine Wands since 382 B.C." They entered the shop but no-one was there.

'Mr Ollivander?' Lily said quite loudly, but no-one came. 'Mr Ollivander!' She said louder.

An old man slid along the high shelves on a ladder, 'Ah. Lily! Nice to see you again!' Ollivander climbed down from his ladder and stood behind his desk.

'Nice to see you too.' Lily smiled, 'Harry and Ron are here for their wands.' She looked down and Ron and Harry.

'Ah, ok.' Ollivander went back to his shelves and took down two oblong shaped boxes down. He handed one to Ron and said, '12 ¼" Ash Tale of Male Unicorn.' Ron stared at the wand for a few seconds until Ollivander said, 'Well give it a wave!' Ron looked at the wand again the waved it at a draw which shot open at slammed the door. Ron quickly put the wand on the desk, 'No! No! Definitely not!' Ollivander said. 'Here Harry you try that one.' He said handing the wand that Ron just tried.