We ride in the car for a few hours, during which Horace explains to me the basics of the magical world. I end up interrupting him after a while.

"Wait. So if I'm a Wizard, why didn't I get my Hogwarts acceptance letter when I was eleven?"

"We don't know. There's a lot of complications... It could be that your record was destroyed."

"What do you mean, we?" I ask. "And if that's right, then how did you find me now?"

"We uncovered some... useful and disturbing information. And as for us... Well, we call ourselves the Order of the Dragon. It's our own version of the Order of the Phoenix. We specialize in fighting against Dark Magic, spying, and since discovering you, special cases."

"Oh. Where are we going?" I finally think to ask.

"Diagon Alley. You can meet the other Dragons, pick up supplies... Eventually head off to Hogwarts."

He'd only told me the basics of Hogwarts, but... It sounds so amazing.

"Amethyst?"

"Yeah?"

"There might be more complications concerning your magical education. You should be in your sixth year, but... well, I don't know what will happen. You'll have to take it as it comes."

The car comes to a stop and we get out, entering Diagon Alley in an... odd way. Something occurs to me.

"Wait. What about clothes and the like?" I'm still wearing the dirty, thin dress.

"We'll find you what you need. Don't worry about it." Horace jumps out of the car. "I have some business to attend to." He tosses me a heavy pouch. "Go to Ollivander's and get yourself a wand. Do what you like with the rest."

"Alright..." I begin to feel nervous as he leaves. I don't know him very well, but at least I know him at all. I guess I can find my way around, but I'm already getting odd looks due to my hair, eyes, and outfit.

"Ollivander's..." I mutter to myself. After a while, I manage to find it. A wand. This should be interesting.

After several questions, measurements, and trials, I end up with what I think is an excellent wand. It's incredibly sturdy and intricately carved, made of black ebony. It has a phoenix-feather core, and is exactly thirteen inches long. I grip it tightly as I walk around.

My next stop is to get something to eat. I'm practically starving. After that, I decide to go into a shop advertising robes. I'm feeling intensely self-conscious, and want to cover myself up. Maybe I can get one with a hood to cover my hair.

The only other customers are a blond boy and his mother. A lady is measuring the boy, probably for a custom-made robe. All three look up when I come in, and don't look away, as I suspect they would if I had been born normal-looking. I have a strong urge to cover my face, or hide, or run away, or something. Eventually, the two women look away. The boy, however, continues to stare, making me uncomfortable. When another group of customers comes in-all of them children about my age-I leave. I don't know why, I just do.

I end up going to the Leaky Cauldron. It's the same place Horace entered, so I hope I can find him here.

He's nowhere to be seen, so I ask for him, and am directed to a room on the upper floor. When I open the door, eleven pairs of eyes stare at me. At least one of them belongs to Horace.

"Amethyst, right?" A young woman who appears to be around eighteen asks. She has light brown skin and dark hair, which make her blue eyes stand out more.

"Yes..."

"I'm Joan Donner." She offers me her hand and I shake it tentatively. "Welcome to the Order of the Dragon."

A young man sitting across from Joan clears his throat. "Horace has told you about the magical world. Now, we're all going to tell you something else. How would you like to learn about yourself?"