The journey up the walk way seemed to last forever.

Channing stood at the door for a moment and inhaled deeply once again.

She knew that this talk with her mother would not be easy for either of them, for some reason her mum really did not want her at Hogwarts

She opened the door slowly dreading what was behind the door.

It creaked in front of her, obviously giving it up to her mother that she was indeed home.

Channing stepped inside the house looking around to see where exactly her mother was.

She was not in the living room when Channing walked through, and much to her surprise the computer room was empty as well. Channing's mind immediately thought to Mercedes who was still up stairs in her room.

She ran up the stairs and threw open her door, her heart racing.

Her mother sat on her bed looking at Mercedes and petting him lightly. Her long dark brown hair was messed up and not groomed; her eyes were red and glassy as if she had been crying. Channing stared at her face blank; she did not know what she should do.

"He's really a beautiful owl, you know? You are lucky Minerva gave him to you," she said smiling now down at the owl.

So many thoughts rushed through Channing's head all at once that she had no idea what to say.

"She wrote you back by the way," she gestured towards the desk "I didn't open it"

Channing moved over to the desk and picked up her letter, she held it and stared at her mum.

"Why didn't you tell me I was a witch?" she said demanded feebly, her heart beating even faster still.

"I have my reasons, sweetheart, which is why I do not want to going to Hogwarts," her mother glanced up at her now a frown on her face.

"But I want to go Mum! I want to go so badly! If I'm a witch, I want to learn magic! I always felt so much different from the other kids…the muggles…I'm not like them I'm a witch! Like you mum!" she said angered by her mother's secrecy.

"Channing…sweetie you just can't-"

"If you don't let me go Miss Johnson will! She evens teaches there! I'll go with her if you don't let me! She already even said she would take me to…umm what is dragon alley?"

"You are not going to Diagon Alley and that is final!"

"Why not? You were a witch yourself! You still are, even if you don't use your magic you are a witch and I am too! I want to be a witch I was born one and if you won't let me I just…I don't know what I'll do!" Channing said a tear jetting down her face.

"Mum…why didn't you tell me? I…I thought we told each other everything? How…how could you keep something like that from me all my life?" she said breaking into tears now.

Channing felt so upset, so angry; she closed her eyes and tried to breathe.

She tried to calm down but somehow with her anger came something else, something she could feel burning inside her.

The light that hung from the ceiling began to flicker on and off, Mercedes got up and flew out of the still opened window. The room slowly trembled, pens, pencils, and notebooks falling onto the floor. Channing opened her eyes and looked around she was terrified.

Her mother popped up immediately, placing her hands on Channing's shoulders.

"Sweetheart calm down, just breathe, it's all ok, you just need to calm down!" she said holding onto her

"Mum…," Channing, whispered, "I'm scared,"

"Its ok baby, just breathe,"

Channing closed her eyes and tried to calm herself down, she could still feel that burning inside her but now it slowly faded until it was gone completely and the room stopped moving.

Channing's mother brought her over to the bed and sat her down. "Honey, you can go to Diagon Alley tomorrow ok?"

Channing looked up at her and gave off a tiny smile.

"But I am going to go with you and Miss Johnson tomorrow to get your supplies…for school,' she said the last part softly.

"Wait…I can go to Hogwarts?" Channing asked excitedly.

"Yes, if you don't go it will be more harmful then if you do, you have such strong magic,"

She smiled down at her daughter now.

"You will be a great witch,"

"Just like you!" Channing smiled

Her mother frowned and sighed.

"No, you will be a much better witch then I was,"

Channing went to sleep that night happy, but very confused.

Channing woke the next morning with Mercedes cooing in her face.

"I really ought to get a cage for you, you know?" She said stroking the owl gently. Channing stood up and threw on an old green sweater, her head hurt. She knew she was supposed to be excited for something but she couldn't really remember what it was.

She opened her door and headed down the stairs quickly, she could hear two voices in conversation, even from the top step. As she walked into the living room, she discovered the source of the sound was her mother and Miss Johnson. Miss Johnson was speaking animatedly obviously excited, while her mother looked sheepish and possibly even a bit ill.

It was then Channing remembered they were going to go to Diagon Alley today to buy her supplies for school. A warm smile crossed her face as she walked over to the women. From closer up, she noticed both her mother and Miss Johnson were wearing long robes that covered their entire bodies.

"Don't you worry one bit now Delilah, how is anyone to know? You haven't been out in years! No one will recognize you!" Miss Johnson said looking at Channing mother, not realizing she was there.

Channing's mother turned her head toward her daughter.

"Enough of this then!" Miss Johnson said raising her hands. "Now Channing dear are you ready to get a move on? There's so much to tend to and so little time! It's nearly September as it is!"

"Miss Johnson how are we getting to this place anyways? You don't have a car and my mum's only has two seats,"

"Oh Channing dear we aren't going by muggle transportation! We are going by floo network, fastest way to get there I tell you! For some reason though your mother's fireplace wasn't hooked up to the network, I took care of it first thing this morning of course! Now who wants to go first? I have some power right here in my bag," She started to scourge through her things then glanced up at Channing, "Alright here we go," she said pulling out a container filled to the top with a glittering powder.

She looked over to Channing who stared at her with a confused look.

"Oh dear I'm sorry I forgot," She glanced at Delilah who was standing next to her daughter now.

"Here Channing I'll have your mum go first so you can see what to do alright?" She said handing a fistful of powder over to her mother.

"Its real simple actually, to just throw the floo powder into the fire place walk into the green flames say the words 'Diagon Alley' then your there!" Miss Johnson smiled at Channing.

Channing however was watching her mother do just what Miss Johnson explained.

Delilah walked up to the old brick fireplace, she stood there for a moment just looking at it, and she then threw in the powder. Brilliant emerald green flames filled the fireplace, dancing around in every direction. She stepped into the flames and said the words firmly, and then in a wisp of flame she was gone.

Channing stared in awe for a long moment then looked at Miss Johnson.

"Can I go next please? That looks so amazing! What wonderful magic!" she exclaimed full of eagerness.

"Not even a tab nervous now that's my girl!" she filled her hand with more of the powder then handed it to Channing "Be sure to say it loud and firmly alright? Wait for me on the other side!" she instructed.

Channing walked up to the fire place and threw in her floo powder, the flames filled it once again and Channing was filled with a rush of emotion, the magic made her feel something powerful inside, she stepped up into the flames then exclaimed "Diagon Alley"

In a moment's time, she was moving, moving very quickly past blurs and flashed of things she couldn't quite make out. Then her journey was over and she came to a sudden halt.

She glanced around quickly and could not believe her eyes.