This is our very first and favorite Hogwarts memory: the day we got our acceptance letters.

It was just another Saturday morning at home. Stephanie was taking a shower, while I was in the kitchen helping our mother with breakfast. And when I say help, I mean doing the actual cooking. Let's just say that our mother isn't the BEST cook…

"Mum, when does Stephanie start school?" I asked.

"September 1st, I think." My mom replied, doing the moving word search in this morning's paper.

You see, Stephanie is a witch—No, not that kind of witch. Although she can act like a jerk, I mean an actual witch. Stephanie can perform spells, brew potions, and fly on brooms. Well, she will be able to do that stuff, anyway. Her first day at a magical boarding school, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, is coming up in a just a week. She'll be learning how to use and control her magic. Stephanie knew for a long time that she was a witch because our mother is a witch too. I however am a muggle, meaning I don't have an ounce of magic in my blood. Yep, that's right. My heartless muggle mother threw me in an orphanage when I was 7, and I was adopted by Stephanie's mom.

I live in a house of witches who can do all sorts of amazing magic, and I'm just a boring muggle. I try not to complain, though. I hate being a bother to people so I pretend I don't mind. But I do. I mean, come on! Stephanie and I are the same age, but she'll be at a school where she'll learn how to turn a tadpole into a toad, and I'll be learning how to divide a whole number by pi.

Go figure.

"What's a seven letter word for a lifeless, depressed creature?" Mom asked from across the table.

"Allyson," I replied blankly, hoping she wouldn't hear.

She must have though, because she looked up at me with sad eyes. "Honey, I know you want to go to Hogwarts, but you know you can't because—"

"Because they only accept witches and wizards, I know." I mumbled. "Can you please pass the milk?"

My mother reached for the milk but her hand hit the table. Confused, she looked around for the milk and then frowned at me. "Allyson, its right in front of you! Honestly, you need to stop being so lazy."

"But…it wasn't a second ago." I said staring at the milk. About three seconds, it was sitting right in front of my mother, behind her newspaper and now it was sitting next to my plate of eggs. Did it really just move tree feet, or was I just imagining it?

My mom opened her mouth to respond, but a high pitched scream from upstairs drowned her out.

I jumped and my eyes widened. "What was that?"

"Stephanie, what's wrong?" Mom yelled.

"THERE'S A BIRD IN MY SHOWER!" Stephanie yelled back.

"A what?" I asked.

Just a second later Stephanie came stomping down the stairs with a towel around her body. Her brownish, reddish hair was wet and plastered to her face, and her big brown eyes were narrowed in anger.

"I found this in my shower!" Stephanie held her hands out and I saw a murky brown owl sitting on her palms with an envelope clamped in its beak.

I threw my head back and laughed out loud.

"It's not funny, Allyson!" Stephanie glared at me.

"Yeah, it kind of is!" I gasped through laughs.

Stephanie narrowed her eyes and ripped the letter out of the bird's mouth and tore it open.

"Who sends an owl to someone's shower, though?" I wondered aloud.

"It probably got lost." Mom suggested.

Our mail isn't delivered through a mailbox like the muggles, our mail arrives by owl.

Stephanie's furious expression turned into excitement. "It's my Hogwarts letter!" She said.

I tried to look happy for her. "Cool!"

"'Dear Miss Rich, we are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry'!" Stephanie squealed. "Finally! When does term start? …September 1st! That's in one week!"

Stephanie hugged her letter to her chest and smiled so widely that she resembled the Joker.

I didn't want to put a damper on her mood, so I decided to go upstairs. "That's great, Steph! Well, I think I'll go and make my bed…" I turned to leave and Stephanie grabbed my arm.

"Wait, there's another one."

I wheeled around and stared at the second envelope with a red seal on it. It had a lion, badger, eagle, and a snake on it. I grabbed it out of Stephanie's hand and stared at the address that was written in emerald ink.

Miss A. Rich
Twin bedroom
12 Privet Drive,
Little Whinging
Surrey

My hands were shaking. Why would Hogwarts send ME a letter? I slowly opened the letter and read, "'Dear Miss Rich, we are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.'"

I looked up and Stephanie's smile grew even bigger if possible. "Holy cow!" She shrieked. "We're going to Hogwarts together?

I grinned and squealed along with her. "I guess so!"

My mom laughed at the sight before her and said, "I guess you were a witch all along, Ally!" I ran and hugged her. "I'm a witch, I'm a witch!"

"You're a witch, you're a witch!" Stephanie chanted and we jumped up and down together. "We're going to Hogwarts!"

We stayed that way for a long time, soaking up the news. I had no idea I was a witch. I hoped I was for years and years, but I never thought that one day I would randomly find out my wish came true.

We were heading to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry together. This would be the best year ever.

Allyson