Harry Potter and the Chalice of the Enchanter
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MORWENNA MAGE
Headmistress of the Phoenix School of Elementary Magic
Dear Rachel Witt,
We are pleased to inform you that you show a great deal of magical abilities. If you so choose, you will be spending the next four years of your life as a student at our institution. Please reply with an owl by June 30. A list of supplies and information pertaining to our school will be sent via our school owls as soon as your admission is acknowledged.
Sincerely,
Morwenna Mage
Rachel could hardly stand the excitement. She was accepted at a magic school! She, Rachel Elizabeth Witt, the girl who, just last year, had shown no magic abilities whatsoever would be going to the Phoenix School of Elementary Magic (P.S.E.M.). This was the most prestigious school in all of New England. Only the most promising witches and wizards were let in. And not all of them graduated in their fourth year. Some wizards and witches had spent up to seven years just trying to master the standard four-year curriculum. Rachel just hoped that she would be able to keep up.
Her bags were packed and Rachel was ready to start her new life at P.S.E.M. She had purchased all of the necessary supplies that were on the list and she had even spent a little extra to buy an owl for herself. It was a snowy owl, but a very small one. Rachel had been able to buy her at half price because no one had wanted an owl that could only deliver letters. The owl, which Rachel had named Merlin, was only the size of a grapefruit.
Rachel's aunt and uncle had driven her to the school with her older sister, Morgan. Morgan was in her third year at P.S.E.M. and would soon graduate to another wizarding school to finish her seven-year education. Every wizard or witch has to be educated at one of the many schools. Every wizarding school is a seven-year school, except for one. P.S.E.M. teaches students for only four years. They learn more advanced techniques and twice as many spells, curses, jinxes, and incantations as students at other schools. After the four years, the students are accepted at a seven-year school and finish their education there. Morgan was hoping to be accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Aunt Megan, who was only thirty, had hugged both girls as they boarded the train to P.S.E.M. Rachel had felt a twinge of sadness as she and Morgan boarded the train to school. She wished that her parents would come back from Egypt. The Witts both worked for the Ministry of Magic and were always away on business. Rachel had known it was impossible for her parents to come back just for her first day of school. She couldn't ask them to do that. Rachel had boarded the train with Morgan and set off for her first year at the Phoenix School of Elementary Magic.
That was four years ago.
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Rachel was standing on the stage in her royal blue graduation robes. Her long, chestnut hair billowed in the breeze and her cheeks were rosy as she stood in line, waiting for her certificate and the name of school where she would be going next.
Earlier that year, Rachel sent applications to almost every wizarding school in New England. She also sent a few to Europe. The schools had all responded, sending owls not to Rachel herself, but to the administration at P.S.E.M. After the headmistress had received all of the letters, she placed them in an enchanted hearth. The letter that did not burn in the flames was from the school that Rachel would go to. Now, at the ceremony, Rachel would hear which schools she was accepted to and which school the hearth had chosen for her.
There were only two students left, not counting Rachel. She was the last in line. Her deep green eyes scanned the crowd and landed on Morgan, jet-black hair neatly piled on top of her head. Morgan was home from Durmstrang for summer break. Durmstrang let their students out two weeks before the other schools. However, Durmstrang students were expected to be at school three weeks earlier than most. Morgan looked pensive. Her pretty features were scrunched in a troubled frown. Rachel wondered why her sister would be so preoccupied. The ceremony couldn't be
that thought-provoking.
Now it was Rachel's turn. Professor Mage stood in front of her, beaming. Rachel had always been Morwenna Mage's favorite student. Morwenna taught Transfiguration and as far as she could tell, Rachel was the most talented student she had ever taught. Professor Mage was amazed that Rachel seemed to show no signs of being an Animagus. Usually witches and wizards that were exceptional at Transfiguration became Animagi. However, Rachel hadn't shown this ability, which meant that she most likely would not become one.
The Professor made a long speech about Rachel's talents and the likelihood of her succeeding. She continued to talk about the opportunities that Rachel would have in the future. Finally, she handed Rachel a rolled piece of parchment. Rachel unrolled it and read the script.
This document certifies that Rachel Elizabeth Witt has completed four years at the Phoenix School of Elementary Magic and has passed every course with honors.
Professor Mage and all of the professors at P.S.E.M had signed the certificate in blue ink. Rachel looked up at Professor Mage and smiled. She had graduated. Now she would find out which school she would be spending the next three years of her life at. There was only one parchment scroll left in the wicker basket, which stood to the left of the professor. Rachel knew that scroll held her destiny. Slowly, Professor Mage reached into the basket and pulled out the scroll. Slowly, she pulled off the blue ribbon and slowly, she handed it to Rachel. Following suit, Rachel slowly unrolled the scroll. The parchment was now fully unrolled and in green ink, the words….
"HOGWARTS!" the scroll bellowed. Rachel jumped. She hadn't expected that, of course, if she had been paying attention to the other students, she would have known. The crowd applauded and Rachel saw Morgan smile. Rachel read the scroll in full now. Taking in every word.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL
of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: ALBUS DUMBLEDORE (Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc. Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Rachel Elizabeth Witt,
Congratulations, you have been accepted as a student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. We await your owl by no later than July 31.
Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress
Rachel walked off stage with the rest of her class and went towards her family. Only Aunt Megan and Morgan had made it. Rachel's parents were still in Egypt, ridding the country of evil. Rachel said one last goodbye to her teachers and friends as she packed Aunt Megan's car with all of her belongings. The trip home was long. Aunt Megan was grinning from ear to ear and saying to herself, "My baby got into Hogwarts!" Morgan talked to Rachel about the fun they would have that summer.
The first thing Rachel did when they arrived at home was to send Merlin with a note to Hogwarts. This was one opportunity she did not want to miss.
