Its September 9th, just over a week after I would've started Hogwarts. I'm laying upside down in my favorite chair, reading the Shadowhunter Codex, again. My parents are sitting on the couch watching some movie on the TV. I'm at the part where they talk about our names when there's a knock at the door. "I got it Momma," I say, closing my book and stretching. I walk slowly into the foyer and rub my side where Grace had kicked me during training today. Looking out the window, I see an old man with long, white hair and wearing a black dressy robe. I open the door with narrowed eyes, "may I help you, sir?" The old man smiles at me, "are you Ms Nightcross?" With a glance towards the living room, I nod, "yeah, I'm Naila. Might I ask who you are?" He nods his head but says, "are your parents home? I would like to speak with them." I shrug and turn slightly, "Momma, Dad, someone wants to talk with you!" Both my parents come into the foyer and give the man the same expression I gave him. "Come in, come in, would you like some tea?" my mom asks, ushering the old guy inside. When he accepts, Dad sends me to make us all some. I huff angrily and stomp into the kitchen and start the tea.
A few minutes later, I carry a tray with 4 cups of tea into the living room. My parents are back on the couch, talking with the old man. I glare at him when I see he's in my chair. Momma looks up at me and smiles,"Naila, this is Albus Dumbledore, he wanted to talk about you going to Hogwarts." I blink, completely shocked, "he came all this way to get me to go to Hogwarts?" The man, Dumbledore, nodded his head, "it is rare that I visit a young witch or wizard's house, but you never replied to the letter. We had suspected it got lost, so I decided to pay a visit. I hope I didn't intrude." My parents shake their heads and I sit on the other chair. "So, I really am a witch?" I ask Dumbledore. He nods, smiling. "But, witches are mundanes who think they understand magic, how could I be one?" I mutter, shaking my head slowly. Dad walks over to my chair, "Mr. Dumbledore here was offering to give you an escort to the school, and buy your supplies." Momma stands on my other side and places her hand on my shoulder, "we'd have to talk with the Clave, of course. And the Silent Brothers have already suggested that you go-" Dad interrupts her, "but we're not sending her without her voyance rune, Sam." I look at Dumbledore, an obvious mundane, and then my parents. "The Clave could give it to her early," Momma argues. "I could go next year, after I get my rune, if it's ok with Mr. Dumbledore," I suggest, and both my parents look at the crazy old man, awaiting his reply. "Of course, I shall watch this year's new student for a suitable tutor. I shall be heading out now, I've got many things to do today." And with that, he was gone.
After Dumbledore left, I headed out to spend some time with Grace and tell her everything that'd happened. "Be back by 6 Naila, we're having Rose and her family over for dinner," Momma calls to me as I open the door. "And stay safe," Dad adds. Smiling to myself, I step outside and close the door. I walk with my hand holding the hilt of a dagger, eyes scanning the area for anything that might harm me or mundanes. I stop at a tree on the corner and pull out the dagger. Lets leave a little mark, shall we? I think, carving words into the bark. Finished, I step back and examine my work. The words 'am I a witch or shadowhunter?' are carved neatly into the tree forever. Slipping the dagger back into my belt, I continue on my way to Grace's.
Before I can even walk up to the light grey house, Grace comes running out, smiling. "Hey Naila, wha'cha doing here?" I hug her and lead her over to my favorite spot at her house. I climb the beautiful willow tree easily and Grace follows suit. Once we're comfortable, I tell her everything that happened from the moment the doorbell rang to when Dumbledore vanished. She listens intently, eyes wide. After I finish, she mutters, "by the Angel." I giggle, "so won't fight anything but demons, and yet you swear at things as simple as this?" She tries her best to glare at me, but my giggling has its effects, and she bursts out laughing with me. "So if you go through with this, I won't see you for months at a time, will I?" she questions me sadly. All I can do is nod. Then I blink, "so lets have all the fun we can before I leave next year!" I lunge at Grace, and we both fall from the tree ungracefully, but giggling all the same.