The sun was setting behind the orphanage as Professor Albus Dumbledore apparated before it. It was made of dark brick and its sign needed a new painting, yet it was quaint. Trees surrounded the building and Albus could see a few little forts the children made.
He grinned with amusement as he made his way up to the doors. He knocked twice before the matron answered. She was a short woman, but Albus could tell she held a tight ship.
"Mr Dumbledore?" she asked, a kind smile on her face as she held out her hand.
"Why, yes. Are you Ms Opal?" he asked, shaking her hand.
Ms Opal nodded. "It's nice to meet you." She motioned for him to come in. "Samantha is excited to meet you."
"I am looking forward to meeting her too," Albus replied, walking into the orphanage.
It was cosy and clean. He nodded in approval. At least the girl was treated well and lived in a clean place. He just hoped the other children were nice to her.
"So, this school you teach at, what is it called again?" Ms Opal asked as she led Albus up a staircase.
"Seander's School for Gifted Children," he answered.
"Ah," Ms Opal said, nodding. She seemed doubtful. "I've never heard of it."
"Yes, it's tiny. Only about fifty students are enrolled each year. It is a very prestigious school."
"And Samantha was chosen?" Ms Opal said, trying and failing to hide her shock.
"Is there something wrong with Ms Jones?" Albus questioned.
They came to a stop in front of a door. Ms Opal leaned toward Albus, keeping her voice down. "No, there's nothing wrong with her. She just seems like she's never there, she closes in on herself. She has no friends here at the orphanage except her roommate, Betty."
"Has she always been this way?"
"I wouldn't know, but I'm guessing it's because all of her family died in a house fire. Even her baby brother, Thomas."
Albus's eyes scrunched up in sympathy. The poor girl.
"I know you're talking about me!" a voice called through the door.
Ms Opal shook her head. "I'll leave you to it then." She turned back to the stairs as Albus opened the door.
It was a small room, but cosy. There was a bunk bed in one corner and a dresser in the other. A small desk sat beside the door.
A young girl of eleven that day sat on the bottom bunk. Her head was lowered and her long auburn hair hid her face.
"Samantha?" Albus said, a kind smile on his face.
The young girl looked up, and green eyes looked into blue. "Why are you here?"
Albus grabbed the desk chair and sat down in it. "I am here to ask you a few questions."
Samantha fell back onto the bed, groaning. "Oh, great, you're a therapist. Listen, I'm fine."
Albus chuckled. "No, Samantha, I'm not a therapist. I'm the headmaster of a school."
She looked up at him, an eyebrow lifted. "Headmaster?"
He nodded. "I'll explain in a moment, but first, may I ask you a few questions?"
"Sure," she muttered, shrugging.
"Have you ever done anything unexplainable?"
She sat up. "What do you mean?"
"It's a relatively straightforward question, Samantha." He grinned and his eyes twinkled.
Samantha averted her eyes. She began to play with her bedspread.
Albus sighed. He knew she had closed up. To show her what he meant, he took out his wand and made a journal on the desk float.
Samantha blinked in shock. "I've done that before," she blurted out. "But, not with whatever that is." She pointed at his wand.
Albus smiled. "Ms Jones, I am Professor Albus Dumbledore of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." He pulled her acceptance letter out of his muggle jacket and handed it to her.
She looked at it with awe. "So… magic is real?"
Albus felt his heart warm up. The childish, muggle fantasy of magic being real. "Yes, it is."
"Can I bring my family back?" Samantha asked, looking so hopeful it made Albus's heart drop.
He shook his head. "No, Samantha. I am sorry."
"Oh." She looked at the letter for a moment before asking, "When can I go?"
"Term starts on September first," Albus answered.
"But it's October."
"Yes, unfortunately, you missed the deadline because of your birthday. You will start next year."
Samantha nodded, although didn't seem too happy about his answer. "Will I need anything?"
"You will. A list of supplies you need will be in the letter. You won't find any of it in normal stores. But don't fret, I will send one of Hogwarts' teachers to take you to Diagon Alley."
"When?" She seemed so eager to go.
"Sometime before September first, dear." He pulled out a pocket watch and looked at the time. He needed to get back to Hogwarts before the end of the Halloween feast.
"You have to go, don't you?"
Albus nodded. "Yes." He stood.
She stood too. "Now I just wait?"
He smiled at her. "It will go faster than you think. I look forward to seeing you next year, Samantha."
Then he left the room, leaving Samantha with her thoughts.
Most of them were not very positive.
Edited: 8/11/2020 - thanks to LeanneJordan for beta-reading!