Ch1: Acceptance Letter
It was raining, as usual, in Forks, Washington. The downpour greeted an older man who appeared suddenly near the end of a long winding driveway saluted by forest on either side. He was a tall man in flowing blue robes and a traveling cloak whose hair and beard were silver and fine. He had uncanny blue eyes that looked out from a pair of half-moon spectacles perched atop his crooked nose.
He walked briskly down the drive, eventually arriving at his destination. As he went, he sensed that he was being observed. He stepped into a large yard leading up to a graceful house over a hundred years old. Before he could get as far as the front porch, vicious snarling rent the air as three enormous wolves leapt from the shadows. The largest, a male with a russet coat, was out in front. A small gray wolf, presumably a female, stood at his right flank while another male with sandy fur was on his left. The man halted and held his hands up in a gesture meant to show he came in peace. "I'm here to see Miss Renesmee Cullen," he said calmly.
"Stand down, Jacob," a male voice requested calmly from the porch. The wolves growled and held their stance. Never taking his eyes off of the wolves, the man addressed whoever had spoken.
"My name is Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. I am a Headmaster at a prestigious school in Europe. Miss Cullen has been accepted and I have personally brought her acceptance letters, along with a supply list and further instruction. Could I please speak to Miss Cullen and her parents?"
"Jacob, stand down," the voice urged. "He really means no harm." The wolf only growled in response.
Suddenly a new high, clear voice filled the air. "Stop it Jacob!"
Jacob's ears flattened against his skull and he finally, if reluctantly, backed down, the other two wolves swiftly following his example. "Let him through," the third voice commanded. The wolves stood aside to allow the man a clear path to the house. Dumbledore smiled and made his way up to the porch. There stood a man with wavy bronze hair, golden eyes, and pale skin, dressed in jeans and a sweater. Dumbledore held out his hand and said cordially, "Pleasure to meet you. You just saved me from a most unpleasant experience. And you are?"
"Edward Cullen, Renesmee Cullen's father."
He turned towards the source of the second voice and introduced the person with a sweeping gesture. "This is my daughter, Renesmee Carlie Cullen. We're sorry about Jacob. Alice said we would have a guest. He's just a little overprotective."
The russet wolf leered at them before turning and lunging into the trees, his pack in tow. Dumbledore turned his gaze onto Renesmee. She had fair skin, chocolate brown eyes, pink cheeks, dimples, and bronze ringlets, and she wore a blue dress. "Hello Renesmee," he said. He proffered his hand to her as well. Her smaller hand slid into his and they shook hands. He took an envelope made of yellowing parchment out of one of his pockets and handed it to her. It was address to Ms. Cullen, The Cullen Residence, Forks, Washington, America. She turned it over and ran her finger over the seal, which was an H with a badger, a serpent, an eagle, and a griffin. Her fingers shook as she broke the seal and took out the papers therein, all of which were made from the same yellow parchment. She pulled out the letter and read:
HOGWARTS SCHOOL
of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRYHeadmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf: Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Ms. Cullen,
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,
(signature) Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
When she finished reading, she handed the papers to her father and looked inquiringly at the Headmaster before her. "So I'm a witch?"
He smiled reassuringly. "Yes dear, you are."
Her father scanned the letter and the list. Curiously, he said, "You await our owl?"
"Yes, owls are how witches and wizards send and receive mail. The owl will be quite unnecessary since I myself came with her letter. A simple yes or no will suffice."
Edward turned the letter over then let his eyes rise and rest on Dumbledore.
"If she wishes, she may go. Of course, the rest of our family must be informed. My daughter, a witch..."
His voice trailed off as his lips twisted into a smile. "Nessie, you're so very unique, just like your mother. Let's go tell everyone. Come in, Professor."
Apparently the other occupants had been listening intently, though they hid it well. "What a lovely home you have," Dumbledore complimented as he stepped over the threshold. "Thank you, we try," a woman said. The entire Cullen family was waiting for them. "Hello, I'm-"
"We heard," a beautiful blonde with the same golden eyes interrupted.
"Rosalie," the first woman remonstrated. "I'll behave, Esme," Rosalie responded.
Dumbledore shook each of their hands, and then turned to the next member, who was a petite woman with a pixie cut. "I'm Alice." This continued on, and he came to know Carlisle, Emmett and Jasper. Then he came to the last person, obviously the girl's mother. She had some of the same facial characteristics.
"You're that child's mother, I presume?"
"Bella."
Her eyes searched for her child. "Baby, what is it?"
Edward glided across the room to hand the letter to Carlisle at the same time Renesmee went to Bella and put her hand on her face. The instantaneous effect was that Bella's eyes unfocused for a minute or two. "Oh," she breathed, "now it makes more sense." By now everyone else knew what the letter said. Anxiously, the girl asked "Can I go momma?"
"You say you're a wizard," Carlisle began. "Yes, and Miss Cullen is a witch. She will receive the best magical education possible if she attends my school, and I guarantee I will do all in my power to ensure her safety and wellbeing. She has the potential to become anything she wants to be."
He withdrew a slim object and held it in the palm of his hand. "She will receive a wand like I have here. However, they will not be exactly the same because every wand is different. There are three magical cores; Phoenix feather, unicorn hair, and dragon heartstring. Various woods are used. The subjects you will learn will be explained at school. You may come home on holidays if you wish, and she can correspond through letters. You will learn more once she has come, if indeed she shall."
Renesmee walked right up to her possible Headmaster and grabbed his hand. "Show me!"
He chuckled and said obligingly, "All right." He pointed his wand at the table, which turned into a pig before morphing back into its original shape. He then produced a bouquet of roses and handed them to her. She clapped and smiled at what she saw. He then flicked the wand again and turned her hair violet. With another flick, it returned to its original hue. "There is so much more to magic: Healing, repairing, defense, entertainment, offense, light, heat, love, and life; Potions and Charms, Runes and Transfiguration."
Renesmee turned toward her family and announced confidently, "I'm going."
Outside, a wolf howled mournfully.