Daria Ravenclaw: The Year of the Owl. Daria Turns Eleven
DISCLAIMER: Daria is the creation of Glenn Eichler and is the property of MTV Viacom. Harry Potter is the creation of JK Rowling and is the property of JK Rowling and Warner Brothers. I own neither, and neither expect nor deserve financial compensation for this work of fiction. I am writing for my own pleasure and ego satisfaction.
Daria Ravenclaw: The Year of the Owl*Daria Ravenclaw: The Year of the Owl*Daria Ravenclaw: The Year of the Owl
Daria had never thought that an eleventh birthday would ever be important. But it was, at least in the magical world. She was now old enough to attend Ilvermorny and Hogwarts might or might not send her their acceptance letter. In any event, so far as she knew, it was going to be the last birthday she'd celebrate in Highland for a long, long time. Next year she'd either be at Ilvermorny or, less likely, at Hogwarts.
She'd started making plans for her birthday even before the end of March. She'd turn eleven on the ninth, and despite the fact that she and many of her friends were still considered quite young by grown-up standards, she was learning that they also made plans or had plans made for them days, weeks, and months in advance.
She'd made and sent out her invitations and had been disappointed by her responses. Gloria and Betsy had sent her notes telling her that they weren't going to be able to come but they would be sending her their best wishes. Betsy was now in high school and Gloria would be a freshman next year. Despite the fact that she was only turning eleven, she'd already become aware that high school was way different from primary school: the classes were tougher, high school students could choose some of their classes, and sports were way more important than they had been. Also, most girls started hanging out with boys or even dating them, a thought that made Daria scowl.
She left her room with her list of invitations and a frown, went to the kitchen and poured herself a glass of ice tea, then sat down at the breakfast table. Her Mom was already seated reading legal documents. She saw her daughter's expression and said "What's the matter, Sweetie?"
"My party," said Daria. "I'm afraid that nobody is going to come."
"Why is that?" said Helen.
"I've already gotten responses from Betsy and Gloria," said Daria. "They said that they weren't going to be able to make it. They've made other plans." She sighed. "I'm afraid that nobody else is going to show up either."
"I'm sure that some of your friends will be there, Daria," said Helen.
"I'm not," said Daria. "It's high school and boys."
Helen put down her paperwork and looked thoughtful. "I see," she said.
"Daria, Sweetie," said Helen. "You know that most of your friends are older than you."
"And?" said Daria.
"Just as you're going through a lot of changes this year, they're going through a lot of changes, too," said Helen.
"They're becoming teenagers," growled Daria.
Helen was non-plussed. This was not something she expected Daria to say.
She paused for a moment and went on. "Yes, they are," she said. "And they feel awkward, too, both about being teenagers and about their relationships with their younger friends. They're busy trying to fit into their new roles and they're having trouble trying to fit their new ages, and sometimes they neglect their younger friends."
"It's not fair," Daria replied.
"I'm not saying it's fair," said Helen. "I'm not saying it's right, and I'm certainly not saying it's anything you deserve. I'm just saying that it is."
"What should I do, then?" said Daria. "Cut them off? Pretend that we were never friends?"
"No, Sweetie," said Helen. "I'm saying that you should try to understand that they're in an awkward space, that they don't know how to act, and that they're sometimes going to hurt you without meaning to."
"So I should just roll with it?" said Daria. "Should I just be a doormat?"
"No, Sweetie," said Helen. "I'm not saying that. I'm saying that you ought to remember that they're in an awkward space too and that this friction is going to fade as you all get older."
"You make it sound so easy," Daria said accusingly.
"I'm not saying that it's easy," said Helen. "I'm saying that it is, and that you should leave yourself some space to forgive them, if not today, then sometime up the line. You'll get older and those differences won't matter so much."
"So what do I do in the meantime?" said Daria.
"Well, don't write them out of your life and work on inviting people who will be able to come to your party," said Helen. "I bet some of the kids at your Potions class would love to come to your birthday party."
-(((O-O)))—
Daria's party was actually held on the 7th, two days before her birthday. Her invitation was eagerly accepted by most of the Potions class. It was a good party. The first arrivals were magical kids. Helen quietly buttonholed them and reminded them that not all of Daria's friends were magical and that they should keep any magic under the table and out of sight. Most of the guests were Daria's magical friends, although Farrah and Gail did stop by, as did Mona Abrams. Daria thought she'd done a good job at hiding her magical gear and her modest magical library, mostly by flipping the magical books on the shelves around so that their spines faced inward. A second trip by the hall bathroom did find a couple of pamphlets about Ilvermorny lying on the floor, causing Daria to cross her fingers and hope that Farrah and Gail had missed them.
If either Farrah, Gail, or Mona had found the pamphlets, they said nothing. They saw who could whack the piñata and, to Daria's amusement, Farrah was the first to actually hit it. They also stayed around to watch Daria blow out the candles on her birthday cake and to sing "Happy Birthday." The cake was chocolate and tasted very good. Helen had bought it in Midland the day before and it survived the drive and overnight without going stale.
Gail did ask Daria if she was worried about any bad luck happening the next year since she was celebrating her birthday early.
"I'm not worried," Daria replied with more reassurance than she actually felt. "Besides, if there's any bad luck, I'm putting it on layaway."
The party broke up in mid-afternoon; this being Highland and Highland's magical community keeping a low profile, most of the magical children's' parents used automobiles and drove their children home. Raven and Joe Don helped with the leftover problem—both Raven and Joe Don said that they'd like to snack on some of it later. In truth, neither Raven nor Joe Don were too sure about their parents' schedules and their evening dinners might be very late if they got fed at all.
Daria's evening was spent quietly. She'd helped her mom clean up after the party, Daria wondering if there were any magical spells for housework and how she'd go about learning them. Quinn had returned home from an afternoon out with friends, and the Morgendorffers spent the latter part of the evening watching a movie on the Old Movie Channel.
-(((O-O)))—
Daria's actual birthday was on Monday, a school day. Unlike the previous weekend, nobody at James Ferguson noticed or cared that she was a birthday girl. It was a little hard coming down from the emotional high she'd had the previous weekend, but if she felt blue, she didn't crash and burn.
The last school bell rang, marking the end of the day. Daria stopped by her locker, digging out the books and notes she'd need for her homework and dropping off stuff she could leave overnight. She stood up and prepared to walk outside. Thank God there weren't going to be many more days, she thought. One way or another, I'll be out of here.
Her Dad was there to pick her up at the school entrance. Quinn wouldn't be riding with them; she was going to visit a friend and the friend's mom was going to pick them up. Daria got in the front seat, buckled up, and sat back to enjoy the short ride to daycare where they'd pick up Ronnie.
"Do you think that Hogwarts is ever going to write me?" asked Daria.
"Kiddo, I suspect that Hogwarts School is a bust," said Jake. "If they were going to send you a letter, they would have written by now." Jerks, he thought. They don't know what they're missing.
He secretly hoped that they didn't. He knew that Daria would have to go off to boarding school, but Jake hoped that she'd stay with Ilvermorny. He and Helen had long ago decided that they'd spent enough time in the Oil Patch and both wanted to move back East. Helen was already putting out feelers. If Daria was at Ilvermorny and they were living in one of the mid-Atlantic states, they could see her more often.
He pulled into the daycare center's driveway. Ronnie was out in front with Miss Miller, one of the care-givers. That was unusual: the June Bug was usually out there by herself. Miss Miller did not look happy.
He stepped out of the car. "Hey, June Bug!" he called.
"Hey, Dad!" said Ronnie. "Hey, Daria!"
"Hello, Miss Miller," said Jake. "How's it hanging?"
"I'm fine," said Miss Miller, "but your daughter was playing Kid Commando again."
That made Daria sit up and take notice. Something had clicked in her youngest sister's brain this last year and she'd started exploring and taking more risks. Despite Helen's and Jake's admonitions to stay in the back yard, Ronnie had not only started prowling the cul-de-sac where they lived but had expanded her range of exploration to the eastern side of River Run Road. So far she hadn't crossed the street, but Daria suspected that that was only a matter of time.
"I'll talk to her," said Jake.
Daria put aside the book she was reading and opened the rear door for her sister. Ronnie got in and Daria closed the door behind her.
"Click it or ticket!" said Jake after Daria got back in the car.
"And if we get ticketed, it'll come out of your allowance," Daria added.
Ronnie blew her a raspberry as a response.
"June Bug," said Jake. "You've got to learn to be more careful."
"OK," said Ronnie. Daria did a double-take. Was Ronnie serious or was she just saying the right words so she'd continue as she darn well pleased?
It was a short drive to the cul-de-sac where they lived. Jake turned left off of River Run Road, turned into the driveway, then parked. They all walked up to the front door. Jake unlocked it, and they all went inside. Ronnie zoomed past the front entrance to her room.
There was an untidy pile of letters, bills, catalogs, and junk mail lying on the floor behind the mail slot. "Hey, the mail's here!" said Jake. He moved to pick it up, but his cell phone started ringing.
"Sorry," he said. "Kiddo, could you get it for me?" He clicked the button so he could take his call. Daria bent over to pick up the mail.
Daria went through the mail. She quickly sorted out the catalogs: most were for her parents, but Quinn had gotten a couple. There was also some junk mail from charities asking for money. There were even a couple of post cards, including one Stacy Rowe had sent to Quinn. There was also one that stood out. It was taller than the others and it felt strange. It also had a wax seal on the back, a purple one with a coat of arms bearing a lion, an eagle, a badger, and a snake surrounding a large letter H. That letter hadn't been in the hands of the US Postal service, not with the wax seal on the back, she thought.
She turned it over. It bore no stamp or postmark and it was addressed to her in elegant green ink
Miss Daria Morgendorffer
The Small Children's' Bedroom
16 River Run Cove
Highland, Texas
USA
It looked like the letter she'd been expecting. It looked like a Hogwarts letter. She decided to risk opening it herself.
It was. She started reading.
"Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Miss Morgendorffer,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Terms begin on September 1. We expect your response no later than July 31st.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress"
Jake had finished his phone call when she finished skimming through the list of books and supplies. Daria caught his eye after he lowered the cell phone from his ear.
"What is it. Smidget?" he said.
"Dad, it came," she said, holding up the Hogwarts letter.