Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter; he belongs to the wonderful J.K. Rowling, Genevieve, Jenny, Angela, the story plot and all other original characters are mine however
Kady Rilla Wholi: Thank you for the review
Heir of the phoenix
Chapter 1: Jenny.
Jenny Marie Hansen came to the end of her clarinet piece and, for a moment, she paused to look out the window at the large busy street that ran underneath her window. She and her mother, Genevieve, lived in a rather upscale neighborhood near Buckingham palace, in the house that her mother had lived in as a girl – A four story brick townhouse that had a back green and its own gazebo.
She could sense something odd in the air around her- it was thick with anticipation. Something important would happen today.
Shaking her head, Jenny shrugged off the feeling of precognition. It followed her around constantly, often actually fortelling things, but sometimes, it was wrong, so Jenny never really trusted it. She was different. She could sense things and do things she couldn't explain. When she was angry, things explode and when she was sad, it rained- literally - in the house. There was the wind - theawful wind that would take control and threaten to tear her apart at the seams.
Even her mother couldn't deny that she was different from other children, even though that difference was advantageous in some ways - it had allowed her to pick up the clarinet and master the low wooden instrument's complicated fingerings.
It was summer now and she was not looking forwardto sixth grade, come September. Another year of no one save her wall-flower friendCharlotte Ramsey in the corner of the school yard.
She's the only person who talks to me… She isn't scared, like the others are. I wish they knew I didn't mean to hurt Bobby... it was... an accident...
With a sigh, Jenny reached out and flipped her sheet of music over. Her mind was wandering so much that she wasn't even sure whether she was still actually playing what was on the sheet. For a moment she leaned forward to check. Vivaldi's Spring. Definitely not what she had been playing. She wasn't even sure how her mother had managed to slip that piece into her folder. Jenny had never really understood Genevieve's love of classical music and she was nowhere near the skill level required to play Spring.
Give me some Louis Armstrong or Reel big Fish any day…to bad mum wouldn't go for the idea of trumpet lessons…
Jenny was distracted by her mother's voice wafting up from the kitchen. She was talking to Aunt Angela, who was gearing up to become Ms.Willard Smith in January.
"You know what Angela? I ran into Gerald the other day - You know - Gerald Whitling - that boy that we bothsat forfor in college when he needed models for his portfolio? Well, you'd never believe what he's up tonow - He's a photographer forElle magazine...Well, actually - no -he recognized me -but anyways, once he heard you were getting married, he offered to do your wedding pictures for free!"
Jenny winced when she heard Aunt Angela's happy squeal.
"Yes, he said that our pictures were the onesthat got him the job at Elle - " Genevieve paused. "I have his number and business card - Angela! You know I'm too busy for a date!"
Jenny grimaced upon hearing that.Aunt Angela was always trying to set her mum upwith lotsof men.It never seemed to work.It made her wonder whyAunt Angela even bothered - Surely she had a father already who Genevieveloved even if she wouldn't talk about him to her?
Jenny knew exactly three things about her father. One was that she had his eyes. Two was thather mother said that she musthave got her temper from him and the third thing was that he had left a long time ago. Genevive had never given her a straight answer as to when.
If anything,her mum seemed almost embarrased whenever she asked about her father.
With a shrug, Jenny set down her clarinet and stood. Picking a book up off her dresser, she crossed the room to the window seat that was situated under the only window that Jenny could open.Kneeling on thewindow seat, Jenny put down her book and hooked her fingersunder the latch and heavedit open.
"HoooooHOOO!" A mass of brown feathers appeared out of nowhere and barreled through the window.
"AHHHHHHH!" Screamed Jenny as she tumbledbackwards onto the floor, banging her head painfully as the feathered mass landed on her dresser.
"Jenny!" Genevieve's voice echoed up the stairs. Jennydidn't reply as she picked herself off the floor and stared at the feathered behemoth that sat on her desk. It was an owl.
"JENNY!" Footsteps banged up the stairs.Her mother appeared in the doorway, looking pale and worried.
"What's wrong?" she demanded.
"That...owl...flew...in...window... and...scared...me," stammered Jenny, pointing to the bird that was sitting on her dresser, looking rather disconcerted.Then she noticed the envelope on the floor with a fancy looking seal. Inching forward, Jenny picked it up and brought it over to where Genevieve stood and flipped it over.
As one, they both leaned forward to look at the address.
In swirly green handwriting, it read:
Miss J. Hansen
Second bedroom.
18 Cheshire Lane.
London.
There was no return address.
Jenny and Genevieve stared at each other.
"Well, we should open it!" exclaimed Jenny.
"No, we should have it checked out." Replied Genevieve, cautiously.
"It's not dangerous."
Genevieve looked at her daughter. There was such firmness and belief in that last statement. Against her better judgement, she nodded. Slowly, Jenny slitted the top with her letter opener and pulled out the several pieces of parchment. She began to read the first one when she gasped.
"What?" Genevieve was dying to know what was in that letter.
"Dear Miss Hansen, We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry; we await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall Deputy headmistress" Jenny read out loud slowly.
Genevieve looked at her in shock and grabbed the letter, re-reading it three times.
"What list?" she asked.
Jenny opened up the next piece of parchment.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Uniform: First year students will require:
Three sets of plain work robes (black)
One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupils' clothes should carry nametags.
Set books:
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 Phyllida Spore Magical drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic beasts and where to find them by Newt Scamander
The Dark Arts: A practical guide to protecting yourself from them by Harry Potter
Other Equipment:
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set of glass or crystal phials
1 set of 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.
Genevieve was stunned.
Jenny was even more so.
I'm...a witch? she thought does that mean that I'm going to grow warts and stuff...like a green face? Oh…Ew…
"What the hell..." A hard voice came from the door of Jenny's bedroom; Angela was standing there trying to look annoyed, but failing miserably.
"What is going on? I hear a scream over the telephone, then a crash, then no one answers... what am I supposed to think?" she demanded with her hands on her hips.
Genevieve shoved the letter in Angela's hands without a word.
Angela pulled open the paper with such ferocity, had it been normal paper, it would have ripped. Her eyes darted back and forth as she scanned the swirly green handwriting with raised eyebrows.
"Whaaaaaaa?" she gasped, her mouth dropping open.
"I don't know either. It maybe a prank of some type..." replied Genevieve, frowning and crossing her arms, "one of those kids from Jenny's comprehensive,"
"It's not..." murmured Jenny, who staring at the heavy paper intently, her brow furrowed.
Both Angela and Genevieve gave Jenny startled looks, and it was though a giant thought bubble had appeared over their heads with 'and how the hell would you know?' in it.
"It's not a prank... I don't know how, but I can feel it."
"Alright..." said Genevieve slowly.
"What does it mean by 'we await your owl'?" Asked Angela, squinting at the letter and turning it upside down as though that would make the meaning clearer. Both Genevieve and Jenny shrugged.
As if on cue, the large barn owl that had scared Jenny half to death soared in the window and landed on her dresser, hooting at them cautiously and looking as though it was ready to high tail it.
"Um...maybe we send a letter back?" suggested Jenny quietly, walking towards her desk.
The owl hooted exuberantly.
She took some of the stationary off my desk and scribbled a reply that she would like to attended whatever school it was and asking where on earth would she get any of the supplies.
Jenny folded it up but before she could reach for an envelope the owl snatched it in his beak and soared out the window.
"That was weird..." breathed Angela
"Understatement if there ever was one," muttered Genevieve darkly, making for the door of Jenny's bedroom. "I need some Ben & Jerry's"
"Count me in," remarked Angela weakly, following her, "and make sure there are rainbow sprinkles on top."
Jenny trailed after the two of them down stairs to the kitchen.
Genevieve pulled the double chocolate fudge ice cream out of the freezer and served up three very large helpings, making sure to add sprinkles to both Angela's and Jenny's.
They sat at the kitchen table eating in reflective silence.
Angela broke the quiet.
"What do they mean by 'witch'? Some warty old hag with a cauldron?"
Genevieve shrugged. "I don't know any, unless you count Mrs. Harbuckle, the fourth grade teacher,"
"Except me" Jenny couldn't help remarking.
"Right." Genevieve ruffled her hair affectionately.
"Mum!" she cried, smoothing her hair down frantically. It was messy enough.
Jenny savored her ice cream by taking small bites and wandered off into thought. Could this be why I am so weird? I'm a witch? Then it hit her like a ton of bricks, those abilities ... They're the magic! They felt that way, know that I knew how describe them.
The sun shone threw Jenny's window the next morning.
She wondered what had woken her up from her fitful dreaming. Then she heard it.
Tap. Tap.
Jenny sat up and looked around her room sleepily. At the window, hovering outside with difficulty was the very large owl from the day before. In it's beak was a letter.
She flew out of bed and opened her window. The large owl landed on the sill and dropped the letter into my hand. Jenny hesitated for a second, and then stroked its back. Then, with a hoot, it was gone.
Jenny examined the letter carefully. Other than being less thick than the first one, it was virtually the same. Carefully, she tore it open.
'Dear Miss Hansen,' it read.
'I'm pleased to receive word that you will be attending Hogwarts, A map to Diagon Alley has been provided.
Sincerely, Minerva McGonagall Deputy headmistress'
Jenny looked into the envelope. In it was a normal tourist map of London. Unfolding it, she noticed it was labeled differently. Instead of marking things like the British museum, Trafalgar's square and Buckingham palace as tourist attractions, there were places like 'Bertie Bott's every flavor beans factory' and 'Merlin's laboratory tour'. She quickly re-read the title of the map.
'A Wizard's tourist map to Central London.' It read. Interesting...
Then Jenny noticed the small gold star, leaning in close and squinting, she discerned a very small label reading 'Diagon Alley'
It was in Central London, not far from King's Cross station.
The next day, if you stood on the right street a few blocks from King's cross station; you would see a brown haired girl with bright green eyes standing on a street corner. Her face was buried in a map and a woman, who appeared to be her mother, stood behind her and peered over her shoulder.
"I don't get it!" wailed Jenny "Where is this place? We've been up and down both sides of this damn street at least six times. There isn't any signs or... or anything!"
Genevieve was getting frustrated also. They had been searching for an hour and found nothing that looked like it would sell a magic wand or a spell book.
Suddenly, someone cleared their throat behind them.
Jenny and her mother turned around quickly. A tall man with dark brown hair and brown eyes was standing there; he was wearing faded blue jeans and a polo shirt with West Ham's colors.
"Can I help you?" He asked.
Jenny and her mother exchanged glances, unsure of what to say.
"I couldn't help but notice the wizard's tourist map that the young woman was displaying to the muggle public." He continued in a low but amused tone of voice.
Jenny hastily shoved her map out of sight.
The man grinned at her. "You wouldn't want muggles asking questions now would you?"
"Uh...I guess not"
Jenny stared at the guy. Was he a wizard? He sure didn't look like what she imagined one would look like.
The man seemed to remember something.
"Oh! I forgot to introduce my self, my name's Dean, Dean Thomas" Jenny was surprised to find that he seemed so normal.
"My names Genevieve Hansen, and this is my daughter, Jenny" Said Genie, introducing herself. Jenny seemed to wrapped up in thoughts to do so.
"Are you a wizard?" blurted Jenny.
Dean smiled. "As a matter of fact, I am"
"Why do you look so normal?"
That question caught Dean off guard. Then he laughed. "I'll tell you later, now, let me guess, the two of you are looking for Diagon alley?"
"How did you know?" demanded Jenny.
Dean smiled again. "You and your mother standing on the corner consulting a map with confused expressions is a pretty familiar sight to me. In fact, the exact same thing happened to my parents and I, approximately 24 years ago."
"Do you know where it is now?" asked Jenny incredulously.
"Yes, I'll take you there, just follow me"
He led them across the street and down a bit and stood in front of a grubby looking pub that neither Jenny nor her mother had noticed. A rusting sign read 'The Leaky cauldron'.
"I never noticed this before!" exclaimed Genevieve.
Dean peered at her in an amused way.
"Most people don't"
With that, he led the two of them through the door.
My third chapter I'd never thought I would get this far :P
Pretty please review! Thanx for reading.
¤Cyaz¤