The next few days went by really well. It was a pretty good summer. I played at the park, went to an amusement park, and had a couple sleepovers. You know, all the normal things.
But I just couldn't get the letter out of my head. Something seemed to be pulling me to believe in what it said, even if it was insane.
So there I was, sitting on the couch in my living room, petting Rusty, who was purring affectionately as I scratched him behind the ears.
I had decided to take a day to chill- I had been up really late last night watching horror movies, and I really didn't feel like going anywhere.
Dad was out tutoring, but mom was home. She was upstairs working on some thing that bakery managers do. So with her busy typing up on her key board, I pretty much had the house to myself.
At around eleven I walked into the kitchen to get something to eat. I rummaged through the cupboards, and fridge, me muttering all the while about what we had. "Ice cream, coke, cookies, cold pizza- Hmm, that would make a good lunch.
I happily got the double cheese pizza with pepperoni and onions and popped it in the micro wave. I was waiting impatiently for it to finish, when the door bell rang.
"CHRIS! Can you get the door? I'm busy!" My mom called from upstairs, and I sighed, and walked into the front hall.
I opened the door, wondering who would be there. "Hello?" I started, but stopped mid-word.
Standing there was the larges man I had ever seen. He was three times taller than myself, and was almost as wide as the door. He had a wild beard that covered most of his face. His hair was black, but had begun to gray. He was wearing a large brown coat covered in pockets, and in his left hand he carried a pink umbrella that seemed to be very small compared to the man who carried it.
I stared at him for a few seconds, until it occurred to me to say something. "Um, hi?" I said shyly.
"Er, 'ello. I'm looking for a Christy Robinson?" said the man.
"That's me." I spoke quietly, not really sure how to address this man.
The man smiled (I couldn't actually see his mouth through his break, but I could tell). "Ah, I'm Rubeus Hagrid. But call me Hagrid. I'm the representative from Hogwarts." I gaped. I suddenly remembered something from the letter. 'A representative will come and will you in on the 9th, at 11 o'clock'.
"Really?" I said, amazed that it was true after all.
"Course. Didn't ye read yer letter?" I nodded. "Then, mind if I come in?"
I blushed. I had completely forgotten my manners, all because I had met a giant. At least I think he's a giant, because he certainly seems big enough.
"Er yes, sorry." I stepped in, and he squeezed through the door, and I let him into the living room. He went and sat down on the couch, taking up more than half of it.
"Um, should I go get my mom." I asked. I felt awkward.
"Yeah, it's probably best if yer mum hears 'bout this. Gotta make sure yer parents understand about the school." I nodded, and ran up the stairs to my mom's study but paused at the door. What if she didn't believe me?
I opened the door slowly and said "Mom?"
Mom turned around, a smile playing at her lips. "Hi Sweetie. Who was at the door?"
"It's a man named Hagrid. He's," I hesitated and then continued, "He's from Hogwarts."
Mom blinked for a few seconds, obviously trying to remember what Hogwarts was, but then she sighed. "Oh Chris, I thought we'd discussed this."
"But Mom, it really is true! There's this really big man sitting in our living room who I think is a giant!"
Mom rolled her eyes, and got out of the chair. "Fine, I'll go meet this man. What's his name again- Hagar or something."
"Hagrid." I told her, and she followed me down the stairs into the living room. Still sitting on the couch was Hagrid, gently petting Rusty who seemed to have taken a liking to him.
When Hagrid saw us he smiled. "Nice cat, but I'm 'fraid I'm allergic to them. Personally I prefer dragons." A dreamy look came about him, at the word.
"You saw a Dragon?" I asked, amazed. It hadn't accrued to me that there really were dragons.
"Course I have. Used to have a baby one to, named Norbert." Suddenly Hagrid looked a little nervous. "But promise you won't tell anyone that- it's against the rules."
I nodded, and went to look at my mother. She looked a little faint.
"Hello, my daughter said you had come from that magic school."
Hagird looked up at her, smiling. "Yes, that's me. I'm keeper of the keys and grounds of Hogwarts, and of course Care of Magical creatures Professor." He sounded really quite proud of the last one.
"Er, Yes. I just have a question. Is it really true? This isn't some practical joke or stunt is it?"
Hagrid chuckled slightly. "No, it's real alright. There's an entire population of magical folk living hidden from muggles eyes." I tried to imagine it. A whole magical world, with things like faeries and griffins and enchantments. It was something that all children dream of.
"Can you show us some magic?" I asked, hoping he would. It would prove that it was real.
"Guess there's no harm in that." He took out his pink umbrella, and looked around the living room. His eyes settled on a candle on the coffee table. He raised it over it, and made it do a funny little motion.
The candle spurted little legs and arms, and began to do a little dance. But after a few seconds its legs collapsed as if they couldn't hold the weight.
"Wow!" I breathed, amazed. Mom was looking stunned too.
Hagrid sighed, and tapped the exhausted candle. "Not a bad try, but I was hoping to make it stay up fer longer." I didn't think there was any reason to be disappointed. I mean, he had still made a candle DANCE!
Mom stood staring at him for a few more seconds, awestruck. Then she seemed to recover herself.
"Thank you, that was amazing. You've defiantly proved to me it's real. And that letter said that Chris here is magic. So does that mean she will be able to do that?"
"With the right training she will. Hogwarts is the top magical school in Europe, and teaches a wide Varity o subjects, including transfiguration, charms, potions, herbolgy, and history o magic." As he said it, my mom sat down, and I followed suit. This sounded like it was going to get interesting.
"Ok. So may I ask where this school is located?"
"Well, we can't tell ya where exactly. But it's in Scotland. The school itself is in Hogwarts castle, one o the most magically protected buildings in the world." I tried to imagine going to school in a castle. "We have quite extensive grounds, including a lake, a forest, Quidditch Pitch-"
'What's Quidditch?" I asked. It sounded quite strange.
"Oh, it's a magical sport. I'm not very good at explaining it, but it's played on brooms, and it's got four balls. Real exciting it is." Once again I remembered the image of the boy in red riding a broomstick.
I looked at my mom wide eyed. "Please can I go mom? Please!" It was a dream come true.
"I don't know. I'll have to discuss it with your father. This is a very big choice." I gave her a pleading look, the type I give her when I really want to buy something at the toy store.
Hagird grunted slightly. "I would suggest making up yer mind quickly. If she does go, Chris here will 'ave to get her supplies, and I need to take her. And I wouldn't suggest not letting her go. Unchecked magic tends to go array." Suddenly I remembered all the weird stuff that happened to me, when I was scared of falling, and mad at those girls. Hagrid saw my expression of understanding a smiled.
"See what I mean? Schooling will not only prevent things like that from happening, but allow Chris to tap into her magic and use it at her will."
I gazed at my mom, longing in my eyes. I gave her the puppy-dog look, the one I had learned long ago that she couldn't say no when it was used. "Please mom?"
She looked at Hagrid, and then at me. She had that look that parents put on their face when they are trying to decide whether or not to buy their kid the toy they really want. Finally she gave in. "Well Chris, if it's really what you want, I guess I really can't stop you." I swear I could have jumped up and hugged her right then and there.
"Right," Started Hagird, and although he still sounded business like, I could see a glint of amusement in his eyes. "We best be going. Diagon Alley can be quite a handful, especially if you've never been there before." He got up like he was about to leave.
"Not so fast. Before we go anywhere, I'm calling my husband." And that is how the first day in my new life started.