The summer of my eleventh year having graced this world with my presence, was no doubt one of the singularly most important and memorable summers of my entire life. It was the summer that I expected, with great anticipation and excitement I might add, the acceptance letter to the school I had dreamed of attending since the very first mention of it from my mother, who had attended also when she was my age. It was the only place I could go and truly be myself and learn how to properly control my abilities, for unlike most muggle born children – that's non-magic people, for those who don't know the term – I was a witch.
My entire family were wizards and witches, being descended from the noble and pure blooded line of House Fawley. My mother and I were proud of our ancestry, though we were not one of those fanatics who believed that only the purest of wizarding blood deserved to be acknowledged. I was an only child, my mother having had me not long after her graduation from this wonderful school I fully expected to be attending, Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. Having grown up with magic from the moment I was born, I was greatly keen to learn how to do it for myself, though occasionally I would create accidents due to my emotions running rampant.
One Christmas, I had to endure one of my lesser liked relatives, a great aunt who had apparently taken a great dislike of me for reasons I never knew or understood, and would often make her disapproval known. On that Christmas day, I was so mad at her for berating my appearance because apparently, my hair was messy and untamed, that I just snapped. I hadn't meant to do it, of course I didn't, but before anyone could realise what had happened, all the tinsel from around the living room had flown at my great aunt and attacked her, wrapping her up so tightly she became completely encased whilst screaming until my mother and my other relatives surged to her rescue.
Since it was my first demonstration of magic, no one told me off. In fact my mother was so pleased, she smiled and gave me extra helpings for pudding. Thankfully from then on, my great aunt neglected to come to our home for any reason or holiday, to which I was rather satisfied with my success, unintended as it had been. Being young at the time, I hadn't understood why my great aunt, and even some of my other relatives had such a wary dislike of me, and I did not come to understand why until I was older, where my mother and her new husband were discussing me late in the evening at the table together, whispering.
I had crept downstairs for a drink, having woken up thirsty but after hearing them talking and my name coming up, I stopped to listen. It had been just my mother and I for so long that this new husband of hers had taken a little getting used to. He was lovely, I couldn't deny it, very cheerful and did his absolute best to try and bond with me, but I was a reluctant and wary seven year old, so I didn't make it easy on him. In fact at first, I hadn't liked him at all simply because he was a new face and seemed to be taking up a lot of my mother's time which I had been used to being directed only at me for so long.
However, hearing my name being whispered between them made me curious, so I crouched on the bottom step in order to listen to them as they spoke together in hushed tones. "…can't anything be done to change their minds? Mia is such a sweet girl, surely if they would just get to know her…"
"I've tried for seven years without success, they just won't see sense. Honestly, it's not her fault who her father is. Perhaps I should have changed her surname after all…"
"…couldn't have known, Diana, it's not your fault…" This made me incredibly curious. Never in my entire life had my mother discussed my real father. Any time I attempted to try and learn who he was or what happened to him, a displeased look would appear on her face, lip curling as if at a sour taste in her mouth before telling me curtly that my father was dead but I was better off without him and to ask no more on the subject. The only think I knew about him was his surname, because it was mine too. Black.
"…find out eventually. Everyone knows the name, and when she goes to school she might become…"
"…if you feel we should tell her, even if it isn't the entire truth, then I'll go along with whatever you decide, dear. Little Mia is still young, she has a few years left until she goes to Hogwarts, so we have time. Let's not worry about it just now." To this, my mother smiled adoringly and cuddled up with my step-father, who I still refused to call anything except his first name, Leopold. Hoping for more discussion about my father, I was sorely disappointed and scurried back upstairs to avoid seeing my mother and new step-father kissing each other in their honeymoon bliss, completely forgetting about being thirsty as I went back up to my room.
My father was a forbidden subject in this house, and I frowned deeply as I sat on my bed, absently tossing a ball into the air and watched as it would then open out into numerous petal like appendages in order to fly around my room, enchanted to fly in loops before returning to my hand. Black. Being only seven, I knew very little about other wizard families, except for the ones that cropped up in adult conversation. Black was never one of them. My full name was Euphemia Selene Black. Selene was my grandmother's name, but my first name was one that didn't come from our family, but I had never asked about it before.
Mother was known as Diana Fawley, though now that she'd married Leopold, she was Diana Hewitt. I refused to change my name, since I hardly knew anything about it in the first place. Until I understood entirely what it meant, I was determined to discover everything about my family I could, because it was clear there was a mystery behind it, and the mystery only made it all the more tantalising. In any case, it wouldn't be until the summer of my tenth year that things began to swing into motion that I would begin discovering my heritage and past, but that wasn't for a long while yet. Most importantly, that morning when the owl post came and I saw the smooth cream envelope with a wax seal on the back stamped with the Hogwarts crest, I immediately seized it with a shriek. "Mum!"
"Oh, here already?" Mum looked over from where she was stirring porridge with her wand, smiling her natural smile with the corners crinkling with lines formed over years and years of smiles. "Go on then sweetheart, don't keep us waiting! Leo! Leo dear, the letter's come!" Leopold came hurrying down from the bathroom with a clatter, half his face still covered in shaving cream and the magical razor floating behind him in his rush to join us.
"Has it really? Merlin's beard this year's come quickly! Come on then Mia, open it up!" Just as excited as I was, I hurriedly broke the seal in order to reveal the letter that I had waited my whole life for, eagerly eyeing the dark green ink which had been smoothly writing across the parchment paper as I read aloud it's contents. Speaking so quickly that I tripped and stumbled over several words until it was all just a rush as I grinned up at my parents.
"I'm going to Hogwarts! I'm going to Hogwarts! Mum, when can we go to Diagon Alley? Can we go today? Right now? Look at my letter! I'm really going can you believe it? Which house do you think I'll be sorted into? What was it like your first time there? Tell me everything, I can't believe it. Look dad, I'm really going to…" Trailing off when I realised what had just slipped out of my mouth, I blinked in surprise as Leopold looked at me with equal shock, all of us falling into silence until all at once, he beamed at me.
"You called me dad." I had, hadn't I? It just kind of flew out my mouth. "You called me…dad." Then he was crying, then mum was crying, then they were both hugging me and shaving cream was getting everywhere and soon enough, I was crying too until the three of us were just a complete mess. Our tears broke into laughter, all of us hugging together until the porridge started to bubble and froth and mum hurried to go and rescue it as Leo then apologised and helped vanish the cream out of my hair. "We're so proud of you Mia, of course we'll go to Diagon Alley today and get everything you need. Good thing this happened to be my day off, eh?" Agreeing with a stars-struck nod, I smiled up at him, seeing his periwinkle eyes twinkling.
Leo had always been so good to the both of us, I was thoroughly convinced that he viewed me as his own daughter even though I had no blood relation to him. He'd grown on me steadily, and now that I was a little older and mature, I was grateful for his presence in my life as he seemed to make things that much better. Mum was visibly happier, having someone else to rely on and support her in the wake of our sometimes difficult family, and Leo was fiercely defensive when it came to me. I'd overheard him once shouting down one of my relatives after he'd caught my cousins trying to hide dungbombs in my room and they tried to wriggle out of getting punishment.
I liked Leo a lot, and had secretly began viewing him as the only father figure in my life. I had intended to talk to him about calling him 'dad' officially, but I guess dropping it like a bombshell worked just as well. He was so happy that he was skipping around the place, completely forgetting about his half shaved face until mum gently reminded him and he had to hurry and finish before we had breakfast together. Instead of porridge, mum whipped up some pancakes instead, letting me have whatever I wanted with them so I chose strawberries and honey, and babbled about my list of necessities I would need for school.
Still clutching the letter in my hand, I kept it close to me all the while as I rushed to get ready, wanting to leave as soon as possible and Leo proudly ruffled my hair, praising my eagerness to go to Hogwarts and get myself the finest education the wizarding world had to offer. Mum had been a Hufflepuff, whilst dad had been in Ravenclaw himself, though I knew family lineages didn't always determine what house you would be in. I had no idea what house my real father had belonged to, but since pretty much all the Fawley family had been Hufflepuff, I was pretty sure that was the house I was going to be Sorted into.
Everyone always put down House Hufflepuff, calling them the dumb students or the ones that no one else wanted, but I fiercely disagreed. Hufflepuffs were loyal and hardworking, and there was nothing wrong with being the quiet, unassuming house. Practically having set my mind on Hufflepuff being my house of choice, my parents and I travelled to Diagon Alley through the Floo network, landing in the Leaky Cauldron where the barkeeper, Tom, looked up. "Hello Leo, Diana. Haven't seen you around here in a long while. Ah! This can't be little Mia. Last I saw you, you were only up to my knee."
"Hello Tom, business going well?" The toothy barkeeper nodded, a polite conversation crossing between my parents as we walked out of the fireplace and my mother dusted us both off, fussing over my cheeks and making sure I was clean before allowing me to step out into the public. Dad tapped the wall with his wand, which was long and made from a light shade of wood before the wall parted and we stepped into the wonderful place of Diagon Alley. I had always loved coming here, because it was completely bonkers.
Everything was strange, from the oddly shaped shops and houses to the bright coloured window displays. Wizards and witches of all ages were dressed in long flowing robes and tall pointed hats, making me giggle as mum held me firmly by the hand as not to lose me. It seems like everyone had the same idea we did, first year students of Hogwarts eagerly buying their school things which meant that it was difficult to move through the bustling crowds. "So, where do you want to go first sweetheart? Flourish and Blotts? Madame Malkin's? Or perhaps…?"
"Ollivander's!" I announced eagerly, keen to get my wand first and foremost. I'd spent all of my life from the moment I could understand what a wand was and that all witches and wizards needing one, dreaming about the day I would finally be able to get one of my own that was meant just for me.
"Straight to business, eh Mia? Good girl, exactly what I like to see." Leo said to me, smiling as he gave my shoulder a squeeze before leading the way through. Although not particularly tall, dad was broad and found it easier to push his way through the crowds so that mum and I could follow, being smaller and thinner. My anticipation was quickly dashed when I saw the thick crowds all clamouring to get into Ollivander's, seeing that it would be a while before we'd be able to go inside. "How about we come back to this one after some regular shopping?"
"But what if the wand that's meant for me gets taken by someone else?" I worried, fierce concern shadowing my fair skinned features so mum hurried to reassure me.
"Mr Ollivander is an excellent wand maker and will know exactly which wand suits which wizard. The one that's meant for you will go to no one else other than yourself, darling." Looking to dad for support, he quickly jumped to agree as we stood to the side off the main street as not to get knocked by the constant flow of people shopping for their children.
"Precisely, sweetheart. What was it Mr Ollivander always said? Oh yes, 'the wand chooses the wizard', told me so himself, so your wand will still be waiting for you when we come back later." Satisfied and rather relieved at my parent's reassurance, we instead went about getting the rest of my supplies. We decided that my uniform would be first, so I stood with my arms held out as the pins magically altered the robes and I chattered away eager to Madame Malkin, asking her questions about the uniforms and how they would change colour to match the house I would be sorted into once I arrived.
"It's all charmed to change once you've been Sorted, poppet. What house are you hoping for?"
"Hufflepuff. My entire family have been Hufflepuffs for generations." I said proudly, making the older witch smile. Once all of my uniform had been purchased, we then proceeded to buy books, quills, parchment, ink, my cauldron and scales, supplies of all manner of speaking until we passed the magical sports shop, Broomstix. The latest model of broom was out on display. Taking an interest, mum realised I had stopped when my hand pulled against hers as I stopped moving, eyeing the broomstick curiously.
"Taken an interest in Quidditch sweetheart?"
"First years aren't allowed brooms, but I can't wait to try it out. I've never really paid much attention to the sport before, is it fun?" Mum admitted that she didn't really see the appeal in it, viewing it as horribly violent and dangerous, but dad loved it and launched into a longwinded tirade about his favourite team and players, explaining the game and how thrilling it was. Mum paled considerably, but I only became more intrigued and decided that I would watch the games at Hogwarts and decide then if I wanted to try it for myself.
After taking a break to eat some lunch, things started to quiet down in Diagon Alley as parents and children finished their shopping and returned home, making it easier to move about. I could hardly wait for September the first, and my mind constantly wandered over to the spell books, eager to begin reading so that I could hopefully get a firm foundation and understanding before even arriving. Despite my initial eagerness, we ended up going to Ollivander's last, though on the way I spotted a family of redheads, the mother shrieking rather urgently as she herded some five children all on her own.
"Fred! George! If you don't stop waving those wands around I will send them straight back!" She threatened as a pair of boys, twins, had been playing around with their wands by poking and swishing them at one another, chasing each other around the herd of redheaded children as their mother tried to grab hold of them. I stopped for a moment out of curiosity there were four boys and one girl who looked to be only six or seven years of age, clutching her mother's hand whilst her brothers continued their antics.
I shrugged and carried on, my mother having stopped when she realised I wasn't following and I hurriedly caught up in order to take her hand again. Ollivander's was dusty and was rather stale smelling. A grim, yellowish light fell through the windows which looked like they had never seen a cloth or drop of water in their life. Mum and dad were smiling, greeting Mr Ollivander who immediately recognised them and recounted the wands he had sold them both when they were my age, having a perfect memory for every wand that he had ever sold. Smiling, I looked into the rather pale eyes of Mr Ollivander, who was spindly and frail looking, I thought he rather resembled his wands a great deal.
"My dear, I suspect you are eager to find the wand that has chosen you as it's bearer?" Nodding my head eagerly, I squirmed on the spot, too excited to even speak as Mr Ollivander gave a kind, knowing smile. "Very well, then let us begin." After measuring every possible length and circumference of my body with his magic measuring tape, he started by giving me a cherry wand with a unicorn hair core, however the moment I touched it, he whipped it away from me saying that it wasn't the right one. We went through dozens of wands, each of them different, unique in their own way and I was beginning to grow disheartened. What if the wand meant for me wasn't here? I couldn't go to Hogwarts without one, would I have to drop out? Did this mean I wouldn't be able to go after all?
"Don't give up just yet." Mum assured me, clearly seeing how distressed I was becoming as Mr Ollivander once more plucked the wand he'd handed me straight back out of my grasp. "We won't be leaving until we've found your wand." It got to the point where even Mr Ollivander was confused and slightly bewildered. He measured me twice, three times, handed me every measure of wand whilst reciting its properties until a huge pile of boxes stood beside me, almost as tall as I was, filled with rejected wands.
"Most peculiar…very difficult this one…not to worry, not to worry…every wand has its preferred bearer…shall have to go back further…yes, yes, further back." Mr Ollivander was muttering as he went further back down the shop and disappeared from sight. When he returned, he had a collection of the slim boxes in his arms, pouring them onto the desk at the front of his shop before continuing the process. "These wands have been kept in this shop for many long years. Decades, centuries even, created and carved by my ancestors but were yet to find their true bearer. Perhaps we will have better luck with these." But no such luck was to be found.
By the end of the pile, I was practically in tears, asking if this meant that Hogwarts had made a mistake and that rather than being a witch, I was actually a Squib. "No my dear, not at all! Hogwarts never makes a mistake in choosing its students, and the Headmaster is not prone to making such mistakes either. No, you are indeed a witch, this simply means that the wand meant for you must be truly special indeed." Mr Ollivander assured me as my parents both comforted me, giving me hugs and kisses, wiping away my tears.
Mr Ollivander then paused, thinking deeply with a thoughtful expression on his face before he hummed, the frown that caused his already aged and winkled face to crease further. "Perhaps…it is possible…worth a try at least…I wonder…" Drawing out his own wand, which was long and thin just as he was, he gave a smart wave and I heard something click, turning my head towards a secret compartment under his desk which opened, allowing him to draw out one more box. It was dusty, dustier than the entire shop and when Mr Ollivander blew on it, a thick greyish cloud fluttered like the puff of a dragon's breath.
He lifted the lid to reveal a wand nestled upon a bed of red velvet, which he placed down on top of the desk before me. I eyed the wand suspiciously, hesitant to reach out to take it only to be disappointed for what must have been the hundredth time. Yet, as I looked at the wand, taking in its style and design, I couldn't help but like it. It was made from a wood that was deeply black, black as my hair, with a slim handle that seemed at the moment a little too big for my hands, yet with a pretty design carved into the wood. Upon closer inspection, I realised that there were minute carving of flowers, leaves and vines, and at the bottom end there was a round jewel which sparkled as it caught the yellow light. White and smooth, perfectly unflawed and alabaster looking. A moonstone.
Nervously, I reached out my hand in order to pick it up tentatively from my fingertips, lifting the wand up and as I touched the dark wood, I felt a distinct warmth spread through me as I gave a quick flick to create gold sparks from the tip, making me blink in surprise. After a moment, I realised that Mr Ollivander had not yet snatched the wand back, so I looked up at him with hope. "Wonderful. Wonderful! This particular wand is made from ebony, eleven and a quarter inches, supple with dragon heartstring core."
"There we are Mia! The perfect wand just for you." Mum said to me, though her sigh of relief did not go unmissed.
"This wand has been in this shop for over three centuries, made by one of my ancestors, it seems it has been waiting for you this entire time. Note the particular attention to detail on the grip and the design of flowers? It is delicately crafted, and the moonstone used as an ornament of decoration." Mr Ollivander said to me as he turned the wand over for me to inspect it thoroughly. "With this wand, I expect a great proficiency with transfiguration, but also a great deal of raw power. I would be careful, if I were you. It will take time for you to properly become accustomed to such a wand, and it will be eager to demonstrate it's power."
"Demonstrate?" I reasoned, looking at Mr Ollivander in bewilderment as he merely smiled knowingly.
"Well, after three centuries in a box, I expect you would also be eager to go out into the world too, would you not? Seven galleons, if you please." Still standing in complete disbelief, my mother paid for the wand which I continued to hold in my hand, still completely awestruck at having finally found something to suit me, and realising just how real this all was. I was a witch. I had my wand, and soon…I'll be going to Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry where I would learn magic. It was finally happening.