"Sleep my little Cole." I heard my mother's voice. "Sleep soundly. I love you Cole. Your father and I both."
"We'll be here when you wake up." My father spoke up.
A loud crash could be heard, and screams soon follow.
I wake up with a start, and looked around my room. "Cole? You okay?" I looked at my bedroom doorway to see my cousin. She's older than me, and she looks worried. "You had the dream again?"
I nodded, and my cousin walked over. She moved my dark brown hair out of my eyes. "Sometimes I feel like I can still hear them. Like they're still here."
"I'm sure if your parents were here they'd be proud." Erin smiled down at me. "Try and get some rest."
I nodded, and laid back down as Erin left the room. She turned the light off as she left.
"We love you Cole." I closed my eyes thinking about my parents.
"Don't shoot!" My father yells, and I see my mother falling.
"I can't keep living like this, Emma..." I hear my father whisper my mum's name before he turns to me.
"Dad?" I questioned what he was about to do worryingly.
"I love you Cole. Your mother and I." He stepped off of the stool, the rope tightly around his neck.
"Dad!" I rushed over as tears started flowing down my cheeks. "Dad!" I kept crying as the police showed up. The neighbors heard my screams and called them thinking something happened to me.
That was last year.
The next morning I didn't want to get out of bed. "Morning Cole." Erin smiled warmly.
I tried to smile, but I wasn't in the mood to even fake it. "Morning Erin."
"I made you breakfast." She placed a plate of bacon and eggs in front of me as I sat down at the kitchen table.
"Thank you." I mumbled as I picked at my food. After my mum was shot, and my father killed himself I was put up for adoption. Shortly after my cousin who was in University at the time took it upon herself to raise me. We live in a two bedroom flat in London.
"Did you sleep well after your nightmare?" My cousin asked as she sat across from me. I gave her a look. "Cole I'm just worried."
I let out a small sigh. "I'm fine Erin." I informed her, but she didn't seem to buy it. She didn't seem to push it either. She nods, and lets me finish my food. I look out the nearby window, and start to think.
Mostly about the afterlife, and getting out of London. I don't mind the city, it's just that I like keeping to myself and being around many people. I find London quite crowded.
I'll move out to the country when I'm old enough. Perhaps start a family. I'd protect them with everything I got. I have big plans for the future.
"Cole you going to the library today? Need me to walk you?" Erin asked as she sipped her tea.
"No need. It's just a few blocks away." I tell her, and she frowns. "What?"
"Something could happen if you go alone." She tells me still frowning. "What if you ge-" She stops before she finished.
I smile weakly at her. "I'll be fine Erin. Remember the police station is also nearby so even if something does happen they'd be there in seconds."
"I know. I just worry a lot." She tells me. I know she's worried about me. She always is.
"I know. I'll stay out of trouble. No one will hurt me." I grin.
"They're not the ones I have to worry about. You'd probably hurt them. After all you are a pretty feisty eleven year old." She cracks up.
"I hate you." I say as I keep grinning.
"Yeah yeah yeah I hate you too. While your out can you pick me a book up? I went down there a few days back, and they called yesterday saying that they finally got another copy." I nodded, and grabbed my backpack before heading out the door.
I walked down stairs instead of taking the lift. Didn't want to share one with someone I don't know or the old lady that lives a floor below with her strange tales about 'magic' and 'floating brooms'.
I walked outside, and saw people rushing about to get to work or who knows where. To many people. I kept walking to the library, and started thinking again.
What comes after death?
No one really knows, and it bothers me. Not the dying part, but being forgotten afterwards.
Without noticing where I was going I bumped into someone. "Sorry." I quickly muttered while catching a quick glance at them. Just long enough to notice they were a man with long platinum blonde hair. Very close to white.
I kept walking to the library, and started to look for a book to read. Ready, the only thing that can distract me from my fears.
"Mr. O'Malley I see you're back already." I looked over to see the short old librarian, Miss Manes. "How did you like the last book?"
"I couldn't put it down." I replied as I kept looking for a new book. After awhile I finally found some decent books, and walked to check them out and get Erin's book. Miss Manes handed me the books back after stamping the date on the time stamp paper. "Thank you."
Miss Manes nodded, and watched as I left the library.
It started to rain. "Drats." I huffed, and started running home. The one day I forget to grab my umbrella. I kept running, and almost fell in my face a few times. I soon accidentally run into the man from before. "Oh sorry sir!" I squeak.
The man stares at me. It felt like he was trying to kill me with his eyes. Well if looks could kill I'd be with my parents right now.
Too soon for making jokes I suppose...
The man moved out of the way, and I kept running home until I reached the flat. If I take the stares I'd fall from my dripping wet clothes... The lift it is then.
I stepped in, and saw a small old lady wobble in. Mrs. Orchfield it was. The crazy lady that talks about magic and levitating brooms. She was holding a few grocery bags. She looked as if she would drop them any second.
"Hello dearie!" She smiled to me. "Mind help me a bit would you?" Sh motioned to the bags, and I took two out of the three. "Thank you Cole."
"No problem Mrs. Orchfield." I nodded, and pressed the button for her floor. Might as well help her to her door.
The lift doors close, and Mrs. Orchfield glances at me. Her grey hair stuck I all of different places. "I say Cole, how old are you?"
"Eleven miss." I replied.
She grinned widely. "Oh you must get your letter soon then!"
"My what?" I asked her confused.
"Your Hogwarts letter dearie!" She smiled happily. "I remember getting my letter. I was so happy and surprised! I didn't know anything about magic, but one day a strange man with a beard showed up. He explained everything. Hogwarts is a school for witches and wizards. Like yourself. You and I are a bit alike. I'm a witch with muggle parents, and so are you except your a wizard."
I stare at her blankly. She must be joking. "What's a muggle?" I asked confused. Nothing in my books mentions anything like that, and that includes fairy tales about witches or wizards.
"Non-magic folk dear." She replies looking at the lift doors. "You will absolutely love the castle. It's truly beautiful. I loved it there, and in my sixth year girl died in a bathroom." She trailed off as the lift doors opened. I walked her to her flat, and help put up her groceries.
I soon returned to my flat, and saw Erin staring at a letter that sat on the kitchen table. She looked up as she heard the door shut. She looked a bit nervous. "Cole... Please sit down."
I do as she says, and she hands me the letter. I opened it slowly, and started to read.
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 Mr. O'Malley, 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. Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31. Yours sincerely, Minerva McGonagall Deputy Headmistress.
That bloody crazy lady was right!? I looked at Erin. She stared back at me. "Cole... You need to go to that school." She told me. "I had friends just like you."