I woke up early on Sunday, to take a walk before breakfast. I had only gotten to the end of our street when I saw the most peculiar-looking woman. She looked to be about middle-aged, with brownish-grey hair in a tight bun at the top of her neck, and a slightly lined face. The severe, business-like expression on her face told me that she was not someone to be crossed.

But it was what she was wearing that made her strange, though. An ankle-length black cloak with robes, and a pointed black hat, like she was a witch.

This cannot just be a coincidence, I thought. Was it her that sent that letter? I turned to walk behind her, to see where she was going. I knew it was impossible, yet…

She stopped walking suddenly, and I felt my heart in my throat. She turned around quickly to see who was following her, but not quick enough. I darted around the street corner. I didn't know why I was hiding, but something told me that I shouldn't have seen her. I slowly peeked around the corner, and I gasped as she looked straight at me, narrowing her eyes knowingly. She stared directly at me for almost a minute. I tried not to breathe, to the point where my eyes started watering.

But then, to my surprise and relief, she turned and kept walking, as if nothing had happened.

I continued to watch her as she crossed the street. She was heading for my flat! I quickly sprinted towards her. If she did have something to do with that magic school, I wanted to speak to her before my parents.

I stopped at her side, and walked with her to the other side. "Are you from Warthogs?" I asked straight out.

"You must be Sabrina Stratford."

"I am," Any sense of stranger danger escaped me in the moment.

"I work at Hogwarts, yes."

"What do you want?" I demanded.

"I've come to speak with your parents," she answered quickly.

"About what?"

"About you attending Hogwarts." Her voice lowered when she spoke the name of the school.

"Why don't you talk to me instead?"

"Well your parents ought to know where you'll be spending the next seven years." She said with a smirk.

"I thought I had a choice in all this, whether I'm going or not. And you need their consent, at least, too!" I responded quickly.

We had now reached my building, and the witch had obviously decided to disregard my last remark. She rang the doorbell, and my mother opened the door immediately. She started with her usually friendly smile, but it quickly faded as she took in the appearance of the woman. Her new expression was that of confusion. Her eyes were wide, and her mouth fell slightly open. Turning to me, she gave me a slight smile, but an unsure one. "Sabrina…?"

"Hello, Mrs. Stratford. My name is Minerva McGonagall. I've come to speak to you about your daughter's…" she glanced around, "... schooling."

Mum seemed then to remember the letter. As comprehension dawned, she looked to be at a loss for words.

"Excuse me, but may I come in?"

"Oh… I'm sorry. Where are my manners? Yes, please, have a seat." She stepped back, opening the door a little wider, and gestured toward the sofa and chairs, still confused.

I sat on the sofa with my mum, while Minerva McGonagall chose a straight-backed chair across from us. "As I stated before, my name is Minerva McGonagall. I am Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Your daughter has been accepted to Hogwarts, and I was unhappy to hear that you instructed her to 'throw out' the letter."

"I… how…" my mother was fumbling for words, and I wondered how in the world this woman could know that, but she turned to me, once again, for an explanation. "Sabrina, did you tell her that? Did you apply for a school for witchcraft?!"

I shook my head furiously. "No, of course not!"

At this moment, my father entered the room. "What's going on in here?"

"Honey, this woman is from that… school… the one that I told you about."

He eyed Minerva McGonagall suspiciously. "What kind of nonsense is this?" He's normally a very kind man, filled with empathy and dad jokes. My mum's said I take after him in that sense, which she can resent at times, as it's gotten me into loads of mischief. But he's always been very logical, very skeptical, so this would likely throw him for a loop.

"I need to speak with you both about Sabrina. She has been accepted to Hogwarts School."

He sat down next to me. "Sabrina, go to your room."

"But-" I sighed, when he gave me a look. He was seldom a serious guy, so when he actually was, it meant business. "Okay, dad." I responded reluctantly.

I headed upstairs, my mind spinning. The last forty-eight hours have been so strange. I picked up a book, Matilda by Roald Dahl. It was one of my favourite books of all time. One time when I was six, I had tried to replicate Matilda's telepathic powers, by knocking a cup over with my mind, and it had actually worked! Of course, once I called my parents over, I couldn't do it anymore, but I had never forgotten that day.

I was trying to read, but I couldn't concentrate. I was reading, but not comprehending, so I decided there was no point. I was left alone with my thoughts for about 40 minutes, at first occasionally hearing a bit of shouting, or sometimes a loud noise, but eventually just soft conversation. I could catch a word or two here and there, but nothing really made sense. Finally, Mum and Dad called me down.

I ran quickly, wanting to know what conclusion had come of the seemingly endless conversation. "... so?" I asked, reaching the room, and was happy to see that all three adults were wearing looks of satisfaction. They thankfully seemed to have come to some sort of agreement.

Mum suddenly pulled me into a tight embrace. "You've always been a very special little girl, but now more than ever."

"Errr… thanks," I replied, though my words were muddled. I tried unsuccessfully to wriggle out of my mother's grasp, though she did loosen up a little, and I could turn around.

Dad was smiling, yet he still looked a little unsure of the whole situation. He gently patted me on the back. "We're proud of you, peanut. And your… abilities."

"Uh…"

McGonagall spoke this time. "You're a witch, Sabrina. You are going to attend a boarding school next year where you will be trained in witchcraft. Your first day of school will be September the First. I am Professor McGonagall, and I will be instructing you in Transfiguration."

I looked at the three of them, overwhelmed, trying to sort it through my brain, trying to grasp the concept. Part of me was scared, part of me was unimaginable happy, and part of me still didn't understand. It had all happened so quickly. I noticed that they were all staring at me, expectantly, waiting for a response. They wanted me to say something, but I was quite speechless for once.

I had so many questions.

"Trans-a-what-a?"

That was all that came out.