July 1, 2017

The afternoon light shone down into a modest bedroom where eleven-year-old Amy typed away at her computer. Notes from her last semester of school surrounded her as she keyed them into the document she had opened, music playing softly in the background. There wasn't a single sound inside the house. The silence soothed Amy and helped her focus. But the ringing of the doorbell disrupted the peaceful stillness, startling Amy. With a deep breath and a stretch, she leaned back in her chair and checked the time, finding it to be nearly six. Who on earth would visit at this hour?

The doorbell rang again a few moments later, and Amy could hear her foster mother mutter loudly as she hurried around the kitchen.

With the promise of her foster mother's tantrum- which, for once, was not directed at her - she left her room and stood at a spot in the hallway of the second floor that granted her a view of the front door entrance. As predicted, Jasmine Mayzer appeared out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron, and stomping a bit too hard as she approached the door and wrenched it open. For only a split-second, Amy was able to see the person was a male adult. She didn't get a good look at his face before her mother stepped close enough to the visitor that she blocked him from view.

"What?!" Jasmine snapped, not giving the person on the doorstep a chance to greet her before she interrupted him. He barely blinked, though. He didn't appear perturbed.

"Good day, ma'am." He answered without skipping a beat "My name is Percy Weasley. Are you the guardian of Miss Amethyst?"

"What of it?"

"I come bearing a letter for her." He held out an envelope which Jasmine grabbed harshly before inspecting it, flipping the paper over, again and again, as the visitor continued talking. "Amy has been accepted into a school for special children, and I wish to discuss this with her. I have another letter, for you as her guardian."

Amy started moving toward the top of the stairway, knowing she'd be caught lurking. "AMY!" Jasmine roared as she turned to the staircase, only to quiet when she saw her foster daughter descending. "How many times have I told you not to eavesdrop?"

"I was curious." Amy replied, standing next to her mother and looking at the man. He was taller than Amy had thought; he towered over Jasmine by at least a foot. But despite his height and noticeable belly, he seemed kind. He smiled a lot and bent down to her level. And when he addressed her, it was with a quiet voice. "Hello, Amy. I'm Percy. How do you do?"

"Hello."

"I have mail for you, and I'd like to ask you something as well." Amy accepted the letter from Jasmine and held it gently in her hands though she didn't read it yet. She'd have time for that once this conversation was over.

"What is it?"

"Have you noticed any odd things happening around you before? Objects moving, flowers that suddenly bloomed, or a strong wind kicking up when there wasn't even a breeze? Especially when you're upset?"

"Sort of. I've seen the wind thing but also I can talk to animals. Well, I mean, I talk to them and they seem to understand me, but they don't talk back but I do understand them."

"That's brilliant. Have you ever wondered why that was?"

"Is there something wrong with me?"

"No, there isn't anything wrong, Amy. It just means you're different is all, and that's okay because you've been into a school for different children like yourself. It's a school of magic."

"Magic? As in pulling rabbits out of hats?"

"More like flying on broomsticks and casting spells."

"Why does a school like that want me? I'm just an ordinary girl."

"You're not as ordinary as you think, Amy. You have magic. You're a witch."

"A witch?!" She couldn't be a witch! Witches were ugly; they had a long pointed nose with warts, cackled a lot, had black cats for pets and ate children who get lost in the forest.

She grabbed her foster mother's sleeve, and looked up to see Jasmine's face, shock and fear prevalent on her features- she'd never seen her mother so pale.

"I understand how you feel, Amy." Percy continued, drawing Amy's focus back to him. "It's a big surprise. But it's not as bad as stories nowadays make it out to be. Hogwarts School is a great place, and you'll make a lot of friends while you attend your classes. It's like any secondary school, but with magic everywhere."

"Where is it? I've never heard of that school before." Jasmine interrupted.

"You wouldn't have heard of it because only kids who grow up in the wizarding community know about Hogwarts."

"How long is the education, and what would happen if I decided not to attend?" Amy asked.

"The school year starts on September 1st and ends June 30th, and you graduate at the end of your seventh year. At Hogwarts, you'll learn how to control your magic, but ignoring your powers can have nasty consequences. Eventually, you could pose a danger to yourself and anyone around you."

"How long do I have to consider this?"

"You need to reply one way or the other before July 31st. Here's my card, you can ask me if you have any questions." He reached into his coat pocket and withdrew a business card that was surprisingly modern; it made a sharp contrast against the ancient parchment from the school. "Here's another piece of information for you. The wizarding world communicates by owl mail. When you make your decision about Hogwarts, write the letter and an owl will find you. Give the letter to the owl and it will take care of it from there."

"Thank you, Percy."

"You're welcome, Amy. I hope I'll see you again."

"Now, that's enough. Inside with you, Amy." Her mother shooed her back into the house, closing the front door behind her.

Amy raced up to her room, closed the door and sat back down at her desk. Her mind buzzed and twirled with the life-changing information she's just learned. She tried to focus, recalling her conversation with Percy, but she couldn't keep one thought in place long enough to contemplate her thoughts. Needing a distraction, she picked up the letter and inspected it as closely as she could.

The paper was parchment, aged yellow and with a crisp texture. She'd never touched parchment before now, but she understood why it was the paper of choice a few centuries ago; the texture was very different from modern paper and it was almost fun to hold. On the face of the envelope, scrawled in royal blue ink:

Miss Amethyst Rosewood

Staithes, North Yorkshire

And on the back was a splotch of red wax with an image pressed into it, holding the flap to the paper. Amy popped open the seal and withdrew the letter, discovering two pages. The first page read:

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmistress: MINERVA MCGONAGALL

Dear Ms. Rosewood,

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,

Abilene Newman

Deputy Headmistress

The next page held a list of books and things to get for the new school year. She read the list over a few times, though the repetition did nothing to help her understand what these items were or how to get them, so she laid on her bed.

A school of magic, teaching magic courses for magic children, in an unknown location. She had until July 31st to reply, and when she did, she needed an owl that would magically sense her needs and help her. How on earth does stuff like that even work? A tap at the window drew her attention, spurring Amy to rise from her bed and open the only window that still worked. Cobble, a pigeon she had once nursed back to health after a group of boys threw stones at it and hurt its wing, perched on the windowsill.

"Hey, Cobble. How are you? You never come to visit anymore. I guess you're too busy with your chicks, aren't you?" The pigeon trilled and looked towards its nest, which Amy could see in a tree nearby. "I bet you're hungry, huh? Summer's in full swing, and houses are lying empty. Not enough people out on the streets to bring you bread. Well, don't you worry. I've got seed for you."

Amy walked to her desk, opened a drawer at the bottom, and came back a few moments later with a measuring cup full of birdseed. She placed the cup beside Cobble, who trilled happily and began to peck at the food.

"So, guess what? I'm a witch. I can do magic. And they want me to attend a school for magical kids. I'm not sure where I'd be able to find the things I'd need, but it's worth being away from here, right?"

Cobble looked up at Amy and cooed in a way that Amy knew meant the pigeon was agreeing with her, before she went back to the cup.

"It sure sounds exciting. Casting spells, mixing potions, riding on brooms. Making new friends, meeting new people my age who don't care if I'm a freak. And I'll be away from here for a whole year."

The pigeon cooed again but Amy didn't hear. She was too deep in her imagination to notice. All she could see was her packing a trunk full of clothes and magical books, saying goodbye to her mother and the pressures she demanded, and boarding a plane with a smile on her face, maybe with a new pet in tow, and not returning until next June. The vision had her so happy, so excited, that she knew her answer even before her mind drifted back to the present.

This was a significant moment for her. Never had she been so enthralled by an idea, so ready to pack her things and leave her familiar life. But she couldn't stand another year here, struggling night after night for the best grades, with every child in school calling her names during the day. And it wasn't like she could turn to her mother for comfort; Jasmine almost never helped Amy solve her problems and only added to them with threats of punishment if she failed a test. That was the way her life had been up to this point, too much studying and not enough fun. Her life was passing her by and she needed to do something. Could Hogwarts be the answer? Amy supposed, at the very least, Hogwarts would be better than here.

"Well...I guess that's it then. I will write that letter and tell Deputy Headmistress Newman that I want to attend. That's what I'm doing." She rushed to her desk, shoved her papers aside and dug out a new sheet. She grabbed her pen and wrote:

Dear Deputy Headmistress Newman,

Thank you for accepting me into Hogwarts School. I would very much like to attend the upcoming school year. As I was not raised by wizarding parents, I am unaware about how to get to Hogwarts or where I need to purchase my school supplies. I would appreciate this information and anything else I might need to know. Thank you so much!

Yours truly,

Amethyst Rosewood

When Amy was satisfied with her letter, she folded it and tucked it into an envelope she fashioned out of regular paper and sealed the flap with tape. Using the original letter for the return address, she filled out the mailing information on the front. The moment she finished it, a flapping of wings drew Amy's attention back to Cobble, who had taken flight, and in her place now was a pure black owl.

"Percy was right." She took her letter in hand and approached the owl. "Can you get this to Professor Newman at Hogwarts School, please?" She held the letter out to the bird.

The owl screeched and clutched the letter in her beak, fluffed her wings with a gust of wind, and soon was back in the sky. Amy raced downstairs, her feet pounding on the wooden staircase as she made her descent.

"Mother!"

"Amy, how many times have I told you not to run on the stairs?" Her mother called out in a hiss, from the kitchen. Amy turned in that direction and found her mother preparing dinner.

"I've decided. About Hogwarts."

"That was fast."

"It's a new school, new people, and a whole new curriculum I know nothing concrete about." She deliberately left out the part she was most excited about: getting away from her mother.

"So, you're not going then?"

"Actually, I already sent the letter saying I want to attend."

A sharp blow from the cleaver wrenched the chicken in half, a more forceful blow than was necessary. It took a moment before Amy's mother replied, and she did so with a question laced with a barely hidden challenge. "Is that so?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure that's a good idea? It's like you said. New school, new people, new subjects. You'd be travelling the country with no concrete proof the place exists. And have you thought about what you will need for this new school? How are you going to buy the supplies, and where? With what money?"

"I asked for more information about that and getting to school. I will worry about everything else later once I have more information."

"What if you find out you can't afford the schooling? You'll have to drop out, and by then all the deadlines for the local schools will have passed. You'll be left without a secondary school for the next year, and that is unacceptable."

"Owls transport the letters, and they're a lot faster and more reliable than cars. There'll be plenty of time for me to get things sorted before the reply dates close. Besides, they wouldn't accept someone who couldn't afford to go. I'm sure there are measures in place to help people like me. And if I can't make it work, then that will be that. I'll rescind my acceptance and find a school here. But as long as it's within my power, I'm attending Hogwarts."

"Amethyst!"

"Oh come off it, Mother. You've been like this my whole life. Keeping me at home, close to you, going to schools you want me in, taking the classes you want, doing chores I shouldn't have to do until I'm in my own flat because you're too lazy to do them yourself. I mean, who demands a six year old cook breakfast for the adult?! And when I mess up, you blame it all on me and say I'm not competent. When I succeed, you take all the credit and do nothing to praise me. It's my fault, I've been letting you do it. But now I've got a chance to get away, to only worry about myself, and I'm taking it. Maybe when I come back next summer, you'll have gotten used to being without me and you'll treat me like a daughter instead of an indentured servant."

"How dare you speak to me that way! Everything I have done, everything I've pushed you to do, has been for your own good. Are you not one of the most mature eleven-year-olds around? Do you not make honor roll every year? How many awards and certificates do you have tucked away in your room because of your grades? Why? Because I've been pushing you to be better, so I know that you'll be able to handle life on your own when you leave."

"But at the sacrifice of my childhood! All I ever remember doing is homework and chores and report cards! I've never had a pet, I've never had a real friend and we do nothing fun as a family. You only get home in time to make a quick dinner. It's like I'm nothing but an unwanted burden to you. It's no wonder I'm more mature; because during all of my chores and studying, you stole my childhood from me. And now I'm taking it back, to make something worthwhile of my life. I'm going to Hogwarts, because being here is pure hell!"

"Fine, then!" Her mother finally snapped, slapping a corner of the dishtowel on the counter to make a sound meant to frighten Amy into backing down. "Go ahead! Go become a witch, learn magic. Prove yourself worthy. But when you find you're too ordinary for them, don't come crawling back here. That door will be closed to you and it will stay that way."

Her mother's words cut her to the heart. There were no thoughts, no words could express the pain Amy felt in that moment. Unwanted by even her mother - which was suspected for the longest time but now confirmed.

"Then we agree on something because you're not my mother." Amy spat out the cruelest thought she had, turned on her heel and marched back upstairs, shoving the door closed behind her.

A moment later, she was back at her desk, staring in disbelief at papers that had been so important an hour ago but now were the farthest thing from her mind. She threw every loose paper she had into the rubbish bin, grabbed a fresh piece of paper and a pencil. Working through the room, she made a complete list of every item she had and what she wanted to do with it - take it to Hogwarts or get rid of it. Most things would be sold off or trashed, and she wanted to take only her most essential items to Hogwarts. She made short work of her room since the only important pieces she needed to sell were her desk, bed and wardrobe. Once that was done, she made a list of questions to ask Newman in her next letter. She'd have to bring her laptop - it was too valuable.

A few days later, her moth- Jasmine and Amy were still not speaking. Jasmine left a note the next morning saying she would still pay for everything she needed until she left, including Amy's weekly allowance which was now tripled. Once she left, the only thing Amy would get from her was her elevated allowance, and even that was required by law.

That night, a snowy owl arrived. Amy read the letter, writing a few more questions before closing the letter and giving it to the bird who flew off straight away. Just as the white owl was leaving, the black one returned bearing a letter from Percy. He had received word of her decision to attend Hogwarts and he would be there to pick her up on August 30th for shopping and departure from King's Cross Station on the following day. He told her to be packed for the year as she would not be returning to the house. Amy sent the reply - a simple message of thanks, plus a few questions she had thought of after her list to Newman - and sent the letter off with the black bird.

August 30th, 2017

Sixty days after receiving her letter, Amethyst clicked the locks on her suitcase closed as the grandmother clock in the hallway chimed nine in the morning. With her suitcase locked, Amy spun around the room, taking in all the changes she's made in the last two months. She had sold most of the bigger items; her desk, chair, and wardrobe, and the buyers of her bedframe had come earlier in the morning to claim it. Having received word advanced electronic devices - such as cell phones and her laptop - would not work in the wizarding world, she had sold such items online, kept the easy-to-pack papers and writing utensils she'd accumulated, her personal documents like her birth certificate, and had thinned out her collection of things to only five outfits and a few sets of pajamas, one formal dress, and her toiletries. Everything else she had donated to the local thrift store.

Her room was bare, devoid of the life it used to shelter. This was the beginning of her future; leaving the house she'd grown up in and her mother behind for an uncertain future. The thing that Amy found hardest to swallow was the fact if she failed in her wish to become a worthy witch, if she got expelled from Hogwarts, she wouldn't have a home to return to.

Jasmine had taken the chance Amy's leaving had given her, to redefine her life now that she didn't have to raise her daughter. Jasmine had made the most of it, renting out the house in favor of a modest condo in London that was closer to a bigger law firm where Jasmine had been accepted as a partner. Amy's guardianship had been arranged between the Ministry of Magic and the Muggle government so she was now Percy's ward. He had also arranged for her to spend each summer and holiday with a family he trusted who took in children like her. A wizarding family called the Potters.

Her mother was moving on with her life, leaving out almost all thought of Amy, and they were about to part ways. Amy's small-town life was over and she had no clue what she would do except her best in school. Passing her classes and excelling would be her only chance to stay in this new world.

But as much as Amy tried to reassure herself of that, she couldn't stop her heart from squeezing and burning, or stop the tears building in her eyes when she let herself dwell for too long. No, she needed to keep going. Percy would be here soon to pick her up, and she needed to be ready. She couldn't cry yet.

Shaking herself calm, she grabbed her suitcase and backpack, and descended the stairs, dodging movers in the hallway as she made her way outside.

This was her final chance to see her once-home. To relive all the memories she'd accumulated. The living room where she'd learned to walk and talk, the kitchen where she'd learned to cook her favorite meals, the bedroom where she'd studied for so long each night accompanied by her animal friends.

She set her things on the edge of the grass, near Percy who had only just arrived, and watched the movers load the last, heavy boxes into her mother's rented van and closed the door. Jasmine walked through the house, reappearing a few moments later and locked the door.

"Are you ready to go?" Percy asked patiently.

"Yes." She stated as she opened the taxi's trunk and put her things in.

"Do you want to say goodbye to your mother? You won't see her again."

"We've said everything we need to."

"Very well, then." He held open the door for her, allowing her to climb in first. Amy looked to her mother, locked eyes with the woman for a few moments. A part of her wanted to say goodbye in some way but another part wanted only to leave.

Her mother broke eye contact and entered the van while the movers drove away. Amy climbed into the taxi, allowing Percy's closing of the door to set the seal on her old life. With the start of the engine, she moved off into her new life as a witch at Hogwarts.

After the taxi dropped them off at the only hotel in her hometown, Percy ushered Amy around the side of building and into the alley - not inside as she would have expected.

"So how are we getting to London, Percy?"

"By broomstick. For the distance we need to go, its the most reliable and safest." Percy drew his wand and tapped on a particular stone in the pavement. The stones around it folded themselves away, revealing two broomsticks. Percy claimed one and handed the other to her. The moment the brooms were free of their storage space, the stones went back into place.

"I've never traveled by broomstick before."

"I know. That's why I thought you'd love it. I made sure to grab you our oldest, most trusted broomstick. It's strong enough to get us to London, and fast enough to keep things efficient. It's thicker in the handle for small, inexperienced hands, and it prefers to follow the lead broom, which is mine. You'll barely have to do anything. And you don't have to worry about Muggles seeing us; I cast a charm on these brooms to keep us invisible to them. But we can see everything, and other wizards can still see us. Just remember to breathe, okay? Oh! And I brought these handkerchiefs to help us with that." He dug into his pocket for a moment and pulled out two large handkerchiefs - one was purple, the other was white. He handed her the purple one. "I'll tie this around your head and mouth, to help keep you from swallowing bugs. I've also enchanted them to help us breathe. The brooms will be going quite fast for a long way; it's not exactly the best way for a novice broomrider to learn how to breathe while in the air. These handkerchiefs will help with that, slowing the air around your mouth so you can breathe more easily."

She stayed still while Percy helped her with the handkerchief. "So what do I do?"

Percy situated himself beside her. When he swung his leg over the broomstick, she did as well. Following Percy's instructions, she placed her right over her left and gripped firmly, the suitcase tucked between her hands.

"Now, bend your knees and shift your weight towards the back of the broom while you lean forward - yes, that's right. Next, we're going to kick off from the ground. Put all your weight into it, and hold tight to your broom. Ready? One. Two. Three!"

No sooner had she leapt than she was yanked into the sky by her broom. The unexpected force was almost too much for her small hands, but she managed to regain her grip on the broom and stayed in the air. Following Percy higher into the sky, her broom settled into its position and speed, a respectable distance behind and to the side of his. When they leveled out above the buildings, Amy relaxed and noticed how the air around her mouth wasn't being pulled as harshly across her face as her hair and clothes were. The handkerchief must be doing its job, and she found it quite easy to breathe. Percy looked back at her and she waved at him, to which he nodded and returned his focus to the sky in front of them.

Amy didn't ask how long they were in the air, but she knew they were getting close when Big Ben came into sight, and then she saw Buckingham Palace near it when she got closer. Percy waved at her and gestured they go higher. She nodded and followed him higher into the sky. They stayed below the clouds but they were now over the tallest buildings in the city. Percy also kept them tucked to the river Thames, where they joined other wizards travelling by broomstick. But while everyone else kept flying, Percy flew them over Buckingham Palace and Big Ben, to let Amy take in these incredible sights. The circling helped her see the bigger picture of London and the Thames, before Percy herded her off farther down the river to King's Cross Station, where they hovered for a while, reality settling in again for Amy as she focused on the train station below. This is the building that, in less than twenty-four hours, would hold the Hogwarts Express - the train that would take her to Hogwarts. This is where her new life as witch would truly begin as she boards the train for her new school.

After several minutes, Percy led her away from the river and deep into the surrounding neighborhoods of London. They steadily dropped altitude until they were flying just above the cars, and still no one turned to look at them. They made turn after turn, until they finally stopped in an alley far away from the London tourism.

They dismounted in a dark alley, near other brooms. "We can leave our brooms here. They'll be safe." Percy explained before he groaned and stretched his back for the first time in hours. Amy braced her broom against the wall and stretched as well. Now that her feet were on the ground, she could move around as much as she wanted - a welcome relief after having spent hours on a broom that reacted to her every movement.

She leaned against the wall to help her back settle into place after the stretching and breathed deeply before she asked, "What will we do now, Percy?"

"Now, we drop off your things. This is where you'll be staying the night and every summer."

"Here?"

"Yes. This is a special house for children who don't have homes to return to. Of course, it wasn't always." They stood outside the house now, watching number twelve. "It used to be a regular residence of a wizarding family - the Blacks. They, like other families of their time, prided themselves on being pureblood wizards. Meaning that they only married other pureblood wizards, not Muggles, Muggleborns or half-bloods. Its an old notion that has since gone out of style, but their home remains. Forty years ago, an evil wizard came into power. There was a great war called the First Wizarding War between the dark wizard Voldemort and his followers, and the witches and wizards who stood against him. When a baby named Harry Potter bounced his curse back at him, Voldemort disappeared. Among the casualties were Harry's own parents. For thirteen years, everything was peaceful and Harry grew into a young man. Through several adventures, he became a member of our family, a close friend to my brother and another son for my mother to dote on. But then Voldemort came back, having found a way to restore his body and power. His followers came back to him, bringing their own children to the cause. The Second Wizarding War waged for three years and ended in a great battle where Harry and his friends defeated Voldemort once and for all. But many lives were lost, including Harry's godfather and his father's best friend. When his godfather died, Harry came into possession of the Black house by right of inheritance, and he and his wife turned it into what it is now - a safe home for children who don't have a home to go to during summer break, orphans or those who can't go to their parents' home, where they can learn about more than spells, and make friends. And when they grow into adults, they can stay here after their graduation while they look for a job until they can afford their own place. And this is no longer the House of Black. Now it's the R.J. Lupin House."

"Whoa."

"I know, there's a lot of information that you didn't ask for. But you'll find that you'll make a lot of friends at Hogwarts, and some of them will probably start here. Now, let's go inside and drop off your things."

Three knocks on the door were answered almost immediately by an adult, a man was Amy's best guess. He was tall, almost as tall as Percy, and perhaps a bit on the thin side. He sported a few wrinkles, his hair was jet black and unruly, eyes a comforting and bright green, and he smiled warmly. In short, Amy didn't quite know what to make of him, but she trusted Percy and if he liked this man so much then he mustn't be bad.

"Ah, Percy, there you are! We were beginning to wonder where you were. And this must be Amy. Hello, Amy!"

"H-Hello."

"Harry!" A woman shouted from deeper in the house, drawing the man's attention behind him. "Will you stop chatting and invite them in? Lunch's almost ready and I'd like everyone at the table when it is, not standing in the doorway."

"I was just about to, Ginny." Harry replied and stood aside, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "Sorry about that, Amy. Welcome to Number 12 Grimmauld Place or - more recently - the R.J. Lupin House."

"Thank you, sir, for allowing me to stay here tonight and the following summers."

"Of course, my dear. You're quite welcome here. Now, how about if Percy shows you around and shows you to your room, eh?"

Amy nodded and followed Percy inside while Mr. Potter moved toward the living room.

They walked on a cherry-colored hardwood floor that Amy fell in love with - what a wonderfully deep yet expressive color! The walls themselves were white, accentuating the redness in the wood. The stairwell was to Amy's right, with a cherry-colored banister to match the hardwood, the same walls all of the way to the top floor as far as Amy could see, and the stairs were the same hardwood but topped with a beautiful red and gold rug that Amy could only glance at.

Percy drew her attention into the living room, where there were chairs circled around the fireplace, and another group of chairs further back into the foyer. The theme of cherry floors and white walls continued, and the chairs themselves continued the theme. They looked soft and plushy, and were white-colored with cherry feet. There were also windows here, letting in light and warmth, dressed with white curtains. Through them, Amy could see a sight that she knew should be impossible to find in London; the lake she had lived near back in her village. She could even see her pigeon friend's tree! How was this possible? What spell allowed this? She'd have to ask Percy later.

"Now, before it was opened with it's new purpose, this house actually looked quite different. There weren't as many bedrooms, and it was so dark in here; dark furniture, dark window dressings, even the walls were almost black. It all worked together to make this house feel small and depressing. So before they opened, Harry and Ginny did some remodeling. They expanded the floorplan, adding an additional ten floors and thirty bedrooms, which they could only do with magic, and they completely redecorated. It took a long time, but the results were worth it. After two years of tricky spellcasting and expensive remodeling, they were finally able to open the doors to the R.J. Lupin House."

Percy led her from the living room and foyer to the dining room, which connected to the kitchen. There were several sets of matching tables and chairs, able to sit too many people for Amy to count.

They turned just slightly so the tables and chairs were on their left and they had a direct line of vision into the busy kitchen, where a woman with fiery red hair tied in a braid was stirring a pot while five teenagers helped set the tables.

"This is Ginny Potter, Harry's wife and my sister. And these are Mavis, Troy, Brad, Jordan and Michelle. They are all fifth years at Hogwarts now. Everyone, I'd like to introduce Miss Amethyst Rosewood."

Ginny perked up immediately. "Hello, Amy, dear! Welcome to the House. Lunch will be ready soon, why don't you go put your things away and tidy up? You're in the second bedroom, third floor, bed number four. And we know you didn't bring a trunk and it's standard at Hogwarts so we got you one. It's already engraved with your name and waiting for you."

"Yes, ma'am. Thank you, I'll do that."

Percy herded her out of the kitchen and down the hallway they had come in, then up the stairs.

"Exactly how large is each room?"

"Oh, pretty large but it doesn't feel like it. You'll be sharing your room each year with three other girls in your year, and there are three bedrooms on each floor. So your floor - the third floor - will house twelve first-year girls. And the floor above you holds twelve first-year boys, and so on. There are a total of sixteen floors, and fourteen of them are for students. Now, this second floor here is Harry and Ginny's floor - their bedroom suite, and their offices. Yours is the next one, second bedroom. Think you can find it?" They didn't stop and kept climbing the stairs.

"Are the doors numbered?"

"Of course! Otherwise everyone would get lost! The technical marking would be 3B."

"Got it!" They came up to the third floor and Amy got her first good look around.

There were four doors, each marked with a proud, gold emblem that declared the door's name. Amy quickly spotted hers, dead ahead of the staircase but she also checked out the hall behind her, finding the third bedroom and bathroom on the right wall and the first bedroom to the left.

"That's the bathroom back there. You'll see the inside for yourself soon enough. Why don't you go into your room and find your bed?"

Suddenly filled with excitement, she raced ahead to open the door and see the bedroom she'd occupy for a single night.

Instead of cherry floors, there was carpet; white, soft and fuzzy. Hanging on the white walls were red carpets inlaid with gold thread to create a beautiful design that Amy had no words to describe. The two windows were also dressed in red curtains, thick enough to insulate the room against the cold and to block out light. While the rest of the house echoed, this room sucked up all sound.

Amy also immediately noticed the beds. There were four beds in the room, two against each side-wall, and each bed was its own living area. They reminded her of bunk beds, but the part that would have been the lower bunk was actually a desk and bookcase extending from underneath the headboard, where there sat a wardrobe. At the foot end of the bed, which faced the door, was the student's trunk, marking who slept where.

On the left wall, studying at her desk in the corner, a girl was hard at work.

"Hello?" Amy asked hesitantly, not wanting to disturb the other girl but also eager to meet someone knew.

"Hello. You must be Amy." The other witch answered, setting down her pen and approaching Amy with a bright smile and a spring in her step. "Nice to finally meet you! Welcome to the House, and to the wizarding world. I'm Marigold but you can call me Mary."

"That's a pretty name!"

"Thanks. I'm a Muggleborn, too. At least, I think I am. I'm an orphan, you see. My parents died when I was a baby, and no one knows who they were. Neither government had any documents on them, or on me, so I don't even know if they were Muggles or wizards. So I've lived in foster care my whole life, and when I was accepted into Hogwarts, Percy came to get me like he did with you, only sooner. I've been here for three years now."

"Wow, that's quite a history. I'm sorry."

"It's fine. Life is life, right? Now, I bet you're tired and itching to go to Diagon Alley so why don't you unpack, we'll eat lunch, and then Percy can take you shopping."

"Sure, but what's Diagon Alley?" Mary and Amy both turned to her trunk, and Amy started to unpack.

"It's basically a wizarding mall. You can buy everything you'll need for Hogwarts there, and lots of other stuff. Everyone in the wizarding world shops there. And with the integration of certain Muggle items, even life at Hogwarts is beginning to change. The stationary shop has regular lined paper, and pens and pencils of all types, in addition to the regular scrolls of parchment, quills and ink. And this changes how much work the teachers ask for when it comes to essays. Instead of asking for three to five inches, they ask for five paragraphs. Also, dogs and large birds like parrots are allowed as pets now. Some other shops have brought in Muggle things but nothing that you'll need at Hogwarts."

"That's so cool! What else is there?" Having unpacked her clothes into the trunk - there was no point in using the wardrobe for only one night, and she'd have to repack her clothes into the trunk tomorrow anyway - Amy closed her suitcase and placed her backpack into the space she'd left open for it, listening intently as Mary continued to talk on their way downstairs.

Downstairs, Amy and Mary walked into the dining room, seeing Ginny with her hand raised to a gold rope that she hadn't noticed before.

"What's the rope for?"

"When its pulled, it magically rings a bell in every bedroom, to tell everyone its mealtime - or to call a meeting - without Ginny shouting."

"Brilliant. Is there a seating chart or something?"

"Gosh, no! We just sit wherever we want to. I prefer the corners because I don't like being penned in." She motioned to the table nearest them and tucked in to a spot. Amy quickly sat beside her and placed her napkin on her lap.

Within a minute, about seventy other kids came downstairs and joined them at the tables, easily filling every available seat. Three other first-years sat nearby, introducing themselves as the twins Evangeline and Jones Greer, and Tony Keane. They didn't make it past introductions before Ginny clapped her hands to get everyone's attention.

"Right, everyone. Now that we are all here, let's say hello and welcome our newest addition, Amy!" A quick chorus of 'hellos' echoed through the students - the chorus making Amy blush with nervous energy - before the attention was directed to Ginny once again. "And just a reminder. Make sure you have everything packed tonight - and I do mean everything. Tomorrow you leave for Hogwarts, and you don't want to leave anything behind. The train leaves at eleven o'clock, so we will need to leave at ten. I want everyone out of bed at eight and ready for breakfast at nine. We will be travelling by broomstick, keep that in mind when you eat breakfast tomorrow. Third years, are there any Hogsmeade slips that haven't been signed yet? No? Good. Alright, everyone, dig in!" Then Ginny produced a wand and waved it in the air. Immediately, trails of food-laden platters floated through the air and down the tables, almost dancing along their way. Then they gently touched down on the linen and portions of everything - green beans and corn, one chicken breast or a thigh and drumstick, mashed sweet potatoes, and a drink, neatly divided and placed themselves on each student's plate. While the other kids dug right into their meal, Amy stared at her plate, transfixed by the first real use of magic she'd witnessed. She wasn't sure how to process everything, until Mary nudged her to draw her attention.

"Pretty much the only rule at the table is you have to eat everything. The chair won't let you up until you do. If you want seconds, you can grab it. But you have to eat it all. There's also dessert, but you can refuse it if you want to. Go ahead and eat, I promise it won't bite."

Hesitantly, Amy took a bite of the chicken breast. At the taste of the bird on her tongue, she felt her muscles melt and lose the stress from the day. The food was absolutely divine, cooked perfectly, moist, and covered in a garlic, herb and lemon seasoning. She chewed slowly, getting a good taste of every flavor the chicken had to offer. When it was gone, she dove in for a second bite.

After two rounds of dinner, a plate of dessert and a cup of water, Amy's stomach filled as much as she could take, Amy struggled to stay awake, until Percy approached them.

"Hey, everyone. Getting along all right?"

"Getting along famously, Percy!" Mary chirped.

"I'm glad to hear that, but I regret I must take Amy to Diagon Alley. The train leaves tomorrow and if we don't do it now, we won't have enough time tonight before the shops close."

"Well, you'd better hurry along, then, Amy." Mary stood. "I know you'll love Diagon Alley. We can swap stories when you get back."

"Thanks, Mary. I'll be back in a few hours!" Amy waved and felt around for her wallet, finding it in its place in her back pocket. "I'm ready, Percy."