Chapter Two

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Endaira entered the kitchen to find Charlie Weasley pressing the power button on the little television. He jumped back when the voice of the news anchorman started talking about a local find-raising event.

"That would be the TV," Endaira told him, laughing. She set the books on the table, grabbed the remote and turned the TV off.

"Interesting wand . . ." Charlie murmured, looking curiously at the remote.

"I'd say these are more of interest," she said, gesturing towards the Harry Potter books. Charlie took one look at them and his eyes widened. He picked up the first book and read the title.

"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone?"

"In England it's called the Philosopher's Stone. Why they have two different titles is past me. I'm also wondering why they make two different versions of each book, the British version and the American version. It's not like we don't understand English-"

Charlie wasn't listening to her ramble. Instead he was puzzling over the third book.

"The Prisoner of Azkaban?" He opened the book and began reading. "Sirius Black? Escape? But how does this woman know what's going on? Oh, right, it's in the Muggle news, as well."

"What are you talking about? Surely Prisoner of Azkaban has happened already. Surely you know that Sirius is innocent." Endy looked at him.

"Innocent?" Charlie scoffed. "I think it is you who are mistaken, Miss Rezagrats. Sirius Black is a murderer. He escaped from Azkaban this summer."

"This summer! But - wait. You mean that none of this has happened yet?" Endaira asked, pointing at the other books, frowning.

"I suppose not. Now where do you get the idea that Black is innocent?"

Endaira grabbed the book from his hands and flipped to the end where Harry, Hermione and Ron confront Sirius, Remus, Pettigrew and Snape in the Shrieking Shack. She shoved it under his nose. He read for a while, then snapped the book shut.

"Amazing. So he's innocent and Peter Pettigrew is alive. Scabbers . . . that's Ron's rat. I must tell him and the Minister at once." Charlie stood up to leave.

"Excuse me. Perhaps it would be best if you contact Dumbledore first. I wouldn't mind learning more about being a witch. Then you can contact whoever you want about these books," she said and smiled at him.

'Right, of course." He looked around. "You don't happen to have a fireplace, do you?

Endaira frowned. "Downstairs. But-" she blocked him as he moved towards the stairs "-it hasn't been cleaned or used in a while. I would prefer it if my house did not burn down, thank you very much."

"But-"

"No buts. Here, have some paper and a pen." She handed him the paper and a click-y pen. He held the pen, uncertain about what to do with it. Sighing, Endy showed him how to press the top and make the ball-point come out.

While he was writing, he said, "You are very stubborn - did you know that?"

"Why thank you!" She took it as a compliment.

Once he finished, Charlie stood up to leave.

"Wait, what about my letter and supplies?" Endaira asked.

"I'm sure McGonagall, excuse me, Professor McGonagall will send you your letter when the time comes, and I suppose Hagrid will come and collect you to take you to London for your school supplies."

"Okay. Well, goodbye. And it was nice meeting you." Endaira held out her hand. Charlie took it and bid her farewell, before he disappeared with a CRACK!

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The next day, Endaira had to go back to school to receive her report card and say goodbye to teachers and friends. She had not told her parents about the encounter with the once-fictional Charlie Weasley or her new-found dragon. Hiding the gedwëy ignasia was another feat on its own. At home she clenched her hand in a fist or held it in a way so that the palm couldn't be seen. In school, it was harder.

"What's that?" Endaira's friend, Arasik, asked, pointing to her palm at lunch.

"Oh, just some doodling with a silver Sharpie marker," she explained. "Anyway, could I have the notebook? I need to write something in it." The notebook was something that she, Arasik, and their friend Hikari shared and wrote in, usually during a particularly boring class. This was something she could not keep from her friends. It was too big.

Arasik handed her the notebook and Endy immediately opened it to a new page. She wrote down everything that had happened and kept writing. Finally finished, she handed it to Hikari in the hallway.

At the end of the half-day, many people were busy hugging and saying goodbye and such. Arasik and Hikari cornered Endaira at her locker.

"You're going to Hogwarts?" Arasik shrieked. "Not fair! Can I come too, please?"

Endy rolled her eyes at her friend, grinning. "Sorry, but I don't have enough room in my trunk. Besides, I fully plan on writing to you as often as possible and sending you many things from Hogsmeade."

"Oh my God, I love you Endy!" Hikari shouted, causing many stares.

They walked out to the buses together and gave each other one last hug before leaving.

When Endaira and her sister walked into their house, they were greeted by their parents' stern faces and a young dragon hatchling.

Endaira looked sternly at Selena. I thought I told you to stay in my room.

I was hungry.

I left enough meat in there! I can't give you too much, or else my parents will get suspicious. Though, obviously, they won't have to.

"Well, Endaira? What is this lizard doing in your room?" her father asked her while her sister took a seat on the sofa, her front-row seat to entertainment.

"It's a dragon," Endy muttered.

"A what?" her mother shrieked.

"A dragon. An Antipodean Opaleye to be exact."

"How do you know this?" Mr. Rezagrats asked his daughter.

"I read it in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. It's a Harry Potter knock-off book by J. K. Rowling," Endy replied as she moved to take a seat.

"Well, what is it doing in your room?" Mrs. Rezagrats asked.

"She was in my room because I told her to stay there. Her egg was - transported - to me. She hatched, and I . . . I bonded with her."

"You bonded with it?" Anale, her sister, asked.

"Yes. See?" Endaira held up her palm and her mother gasped. "Oh, and her name is Selena." At her name, the dragon crawled over awkwardly and nuzzled Endy's leg.

"Well, we can't keep a growing dragon in the house," her father said dazedly. He was interrupted, however, by an owl flying through the open window and dropping a letter in Endaira's lap. She knew it was her Hogwarts acceptance letter come early. Eagerly she tore open the envelope and read the letter.

Dear Ms. Rezagrats,

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 September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Third years and above are permitted to visit Hogsmeade village with permission of parent or guardian.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

P.S. Please note that as you are from the United States, we will be sending someone over to bring you to London. While here, you will get your supplies in Diagon Alley and spend the night at the Leaky Cauldron before leaving the next day on the Hogwarts Express. Also note, that as you are a new student going into Third year, you will be Sorted into your House accordingly and your lessons will be private. A list of extra classes is enclosed. Please select the classes you wish to attend, and you will do so with the rest of your year.

What a long P.S., Endaira told Selena.

"And now what's this?" Mrs. Rezagrats asked.

"My acceptance letter to Hogwarts," Endaira told her. She pulled three more pieces of paper out of the envelope. One was a list of school supplies she needed, one was a list of classes she could choose from, and the last was a Hogsmeade permission form.

"May I see it?" her mother asked.

Endaira handed the envelope and its contents over to her mother and sat silently watching her read the letter.

I'm really going to Hogwarts! she thought to Selena. And you are so coming with me. Maybe I should get a collar for you, so people won't be so intimidated.

In response to this, Selena hissed.

Okay, okay. No collars.