AN: I don't own Harry Potter I mearly borrwing JK's fantastic characters.

Chapter 2 A birthday and a letter

The room was dark, the only source of light being the fire still burning in the fire place. Matthew was quietly starring into the flames, slowly swirling a glass of fire whiskey. The clock slowly ticking on the mantel showed that it was just after midnight. It was July 29th, his daughter's birthday and the anniversary of Alicia's death. 11 years, it had been 11 years since that frightful night. The dark room and the fire whiskey was his ritual, every year he stayed up late remembering his wife. He only allowed himself one glass of fire whiskey though. Matthew always tried to make sure that Maira got the best birthday possible. Slowly he drained the glass before he put out the fire and left the room.

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The sun had risen and found its way through the window, its rays waking Maira. She rolled over squinting at the sun in her eyes, it was only 7 o'clock and the quarters were silent. Maira pulled her dressing gown around her and padded towards the window. Even in the summer the castle was cold in the mornings. She pulled her naked feet under her dressing gown as she sat down at the windowsill, looking out through the window. Her long brown hair hung loosely around her shoulders slightly covering her face. The window offered a perfect view over the school grounds, which were quiet and peaceful in the early summer morning. Not many people actually stayed in the castle during the summer, just a few teachers and the headmaster stayed for the main part of the summer. Her dad and grandmother always stayed the whole summer. Maira's grandmother had lived outside the castle during her short marriage, but when Elphinstone died she moved back to Hogwarts never looking back. So she was stuck there for the summer, the only child among a handful of adults. Maira longed for the companionship of other children, which the start of school would bring. Finally she would be old enough to start herself, come September 1st she would be sorted into a Hogwarts house and start magic lessons. She couldn't wait.

Her father found her asleep on the window sill an hour later when he came in to wake her. Matthew carefully laid down the gift and card he was caring on the bed, before he gently shook her awake.

"Happy birthday", he said placing a kiss on her forehead. Maira looked at him with blurry eyes and smiled tiredly.

"Breakfast is ready", Matthew said handing her the small package and card. He smiled as his daughter torn in to the package.

"Oh", Maira said as a small locket on a gold chain fell out of the package. "It's beautiful dad, thank you".

"It was your mother's; she got it from her parents when she was accepted to Hogwarts. She would have wanted you to have it", Matthew said, trying to suppress the lump rising in his throat. Maira throw her arms around him and gave him a big hug before she allowed him to help her put the necklace on.

The breakfast was already on the table when Maira appeared twenty minutes later dressed and ready for the day. Her father and grandmother were sitting at the table drinking tea and discussing an article in the daily prophet. The table was set with her favourite breakfast and a small pile of present was lying next to her plate. She slide down on her seat and her family smiled at her.

"Happy birthday, sweetie," her grandmother said handing her a letter. Maira instantly recognized the red Hogwarts seal. She tore open the envelope and pulled out the letter.

Dear Ms. McGonagall

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 August 31.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

"I' m going to Hogwarts," Maira yelled happily after she finished reading the letter, her father and grandmother smiled fondly at her. They knew what it meant to her. Although there had never been a doubt that she would go to Hogwarts in their mind. She had several boost of accidently magic as early as a toddler, usually when things didn't go her way. She was definitely a witch.

"There was never any doubt," Matthew said smiling as he watched his daughter doing at celebratory dance around the kitchen table.

"Sit down and eat your breakfast before it gets cold," Minerva said with a smile. Maira sat down in her seat and started buttering a piece of toast.

"Can we go to Diagon alley?" she asked hopefully and looked at her father.

"Not today, we'll go soon though," he said. When he saw his daughter's crestfallen look he hastened to add.

"You don't want to miss your party, now do you?" A smile lit up her face and she looked curios at him.

"A party? Here?" she asked.

"We're going to the Burrow this afternoon." Matthew said and smiled fondly at her as her face once again lit up. The Burrow was Maira's favourite place, except Hogwarts of course. Molly and Arthur Weasley were her godparents and always made sure they had time for her despite the fact that they had seven children of their own. Her father went to school with Molly's brothers and the three were best friends. Because of his friendship with Fabian and Gideon his wife had been introduced to Molly and she had become a good friend and support despite the age different. Maira who was a lonely child loved the noise and activity in the Burrow and found great friends in the younger children.

"Great, Fred and George have some things to show me that I need before starting school", Maira said excitedly. Her grandmother snorted and her father stifled a laugh.

"I serious doubt that anything they show you are needed for school," Minerva huffed but her eyes betrayed her. Despite all her strictness the Head of Gryffindor were rather fond of the troublemaking twins. Not that she ever would tell anyone that.

"Don't listen to everything they say or you'll spend most of your time in detention," her father said smiling.

"I'm not stupid," Maira huffed and took a bite of toast before grinning at the adults at the table.

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After the breakfast Maira had opened her presents. She had gotten a couple of books from her father and a new dress. Her great-grandfather had sent her a journal and her great-uncle and his family a school bag and a box of chocolate. But the best present came from her grandmother. She had collected a big box from behind the sofa; the lid had been slightly open and inside Maira found a small white kitten. Minerva had left soon after and her father had retreated to his office to work for a while, leaving Maira alone with the kitten which had been named Snowball in the living room. The kitten had fallen asleep after playing and running around the small apartment and after awhile Maira found herself bored. The trip to the Burrow was looming over her and she wanted to go now.

"Dad, I'm bored," she whined from the doorway to his office. Matthew looked up from the lesson plans he was going over.

"Read a book or play a game then", he said not really focusing on her.

"But I'm bored, when are we going?" she continued whining.

"We're not expected until three and were not going before that. Now I need to finish this before lunch so I suggest you find something to do." Maira scowled at him, it was her bloody birthday and he was working.

"There's nothing to do!"

"Maira!" he said a note of tiredness in his voice. Maira knew that she was pushing it and she didn't want to start arguing with him, it never really ended well for her; instead she stalked out of the room and slammed the door to her bedroom. Matthew sighed when he heard the door slamming shut before he returned to his work.

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Ten minutes to three Maira stood by the fireplace barely containing her excitement. Finally they were going.

"Dad, hurry!" Matthew laughed and held out the pot containing the floo powder to her.

"Go ahead," he said. Maira took a handful and threw in the fire before stepping in. Shouting the Burrow she disappeared in emerald flames. She landed covered in soot at the Burrow; a boy with flaming orange hair helped her up from the floor. Maira had never really been able to stick the landing when traveling by floo. Behind her Matthew stepped out of the fire place. Before Maira had a chance to say anything she was embrace by her godmother.

"Happy birthday sweetie, the others are in the garden, why don't you join them," Molly said while Ron who had helped her up grinned behind her back. Maira didn't have time to answer her before she shooed her and Ron towards the garden, welcoming her father at the same time. A table had been set in the garden and decorated with flowers from the garden. At the end of the table Fred and George were seated heads close together whispering while Ginny was busy building a card house with at deck of exploding snaps. Maira sat down next to the twins to see what they were doing. As she sat down George looked up and smiled mischievously.

"Percy's been made prefect," he said gesturing to the badge that Fred was poking with his wand.

"So you're improving it?" Maira said trying to hold back a laugh. The badge now read perfect instead of prefect.

"He's been a nightmare ever since the letter came," Fred said pocketing his wand. "He doesn't know that we've stolen it yet." They all laughed as Percy came storming out of the house looking furious. George quickly hid the badge and donned a look of innocent.

"Where is it?" Percy snarled.

"What on earth are you talking about?" Fred said feigned innocent. "Look Maira has arrived!"

"My prefect badge I know you two took it." Percy shouted.

"What would we want your bloody badge for," George said looking at his brother calmly. Maira silently got up and sat down next to Ginny as Percy blow up and started yelling at the twins. Ron also made sure to retreat from the action and sat down next to the girls.
"So prefect?" Maira said looking at the youngest Weasley siblings

"Yeah the letter came last week, mum is really proud. And Percy just loves the power," Ginny said shrugging.

"Fred and George haven't stop teasing him since the letter came," Ron added and laughed. "Have you gotten your letter yet?"

"Got it this morning, dad says we'll go to Diagon alley later this week," Maira said smiling. She couldn't help it, as many before her she had longed for the chance to start Hogwarts. It was a milestone for all young witches and wizards in Britain. Ginny huffed and glared at them. Maira felt slightly guilty she knew that Ginny wanted to go to but she was still too young and now with Ron going she would be left alone.

"You'll go next year and you'll have so much fun," Maira said smiling kindly at the younger girl. Ginny never had the chance to answer her however, Percy's shouting had finally alerted the adults and Arthur appeared to see what was going on.

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Later in the evening Maira was laying in bed fresh out of the shower, Snowball snuggled up next to her sleeping, she was writing in the journal her great-grandfather had sent. The party had been a success, at least after the twins had given back the badge and Molly had stopped yelling. Molly had made chocolate cake to celebrate and the twins had set off some fireworks afterwards. She looked from her writing as her father knocked on the door.

"Ready for bed?" he asked as he came in to the room. Maira nodded and put the journal on the bedside table.

"Can we go to Diagon Alley tomorrow?" Maira asked as her father tucked her in.

"Not tomorrow we'll go the day after though" he answered. "Goodnight!" he brushed a soft kiss on her forehead before turning off the light and exit the room. Maira last thought before sleep over toke her was the she was going to Hogwarts.