Just Like Before

Suzan looked carefully down at the old photo album in her arms. She was staring at one picture in particular. It showed her as a little girl, running down a beach laughing and smiling. This was the day, her mother had said, that the magic had happened. Now Suzan was ten and she still didn't believe her mother. She was a girl who needed proof and facts. She loved her mother and wanted to believe in her, but when she comes up with stories as wild as these, hey, what could she do? Anyway, Louise was a writer for children. She often got too carried away with a story idea. That's probably what happened here, thought Suzan to herself. Suddenly Suzan heard footsteps in the hall. She shut the book with a loud BANG and quickly stood up. In walked her father. He was reading the newspaper and sipping coffee, too absorbed in the news to notice her. Suzan smiled. She loved her father, but he too often got carried away in his work. Suzan quietly got up and went to her room. Her eleventh birthday was tomorrow and she was very nervous. Her parents were wonderful, but they didn't have much time, and hardly noticed her. She was really hoping they would remember. If they forgot it wouldn't be the first time! Her mother and father were late in remembering her 9th birthday and her 7th! Suzan sighed as she undressed for bed. " I bet if I was magic, like that boy at the beach, they would notice me. They wouldn't dare forget my birthday if I could turn them into toads!" That was her last thought before she fell into a deep sleep.

* * * *

Click, click, click! Suzan woke to the sound of someone or something tapping on her window. At first she thought it was just some branches banging against it, but when she looked closer she saw it was actually a huge Screech Owl! At first Suzan was frightened and confused. Weren't owls only supposed to come out at night? She knew these birds were very strong, but the owl seemed to be tame. In fact, it was almost impatient. Suzan wondered what she was supposed to do. Did it want food? Suzan opened the window. She examined the owl carefully. It seemed to be a normal owl, but wait! What was that tied to it's leg? Suzan peered at it carefully. There seemed to be some kind of a note attached to the owl's leg. Suzan reached out and untied it. The owl hooted twice and flew off. Suzan was completely puzzled. First the owl, and now this note! Suzan slowly unwrapped the letter. It was not normal paper, but a thick sort of parchment sealed with sticky, green wax. Written on it in big, loopy handwriting were these words:

Dear Suzan,
You have been received at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. You should be very proud. Enclosed is a list of all necessary equipment. We await your owl by no later than Nov. 18th.
Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall

Now Suzan was even more confused. She went downstairs and showed the letter to her mother. Louise took one look at the letter and gasped. "It's true! I told you! I told you!" She sputtered happily.
Suzan still wasn't too sure, but Louise started babbling on about the red-headed family and that day at the beach. She had gotten in touch with them after one of their son's, Bill, had saved Suzan's life. She ran to the window and whistled. The owl flew back quickly. Mrs. Kellar snatched up a piece of paper and wrote a note telling the Weasley's how Suzan had been accepted and how they would have to go to Diagon Alley together. She tied the note to the owl's leg and it flew back out the window. Suzan sat down, hard. So it was true! Her mother hadn't been lying to her or gotten carried away in a story! Suddenly Suzan felt light-headed. She smiled and laughed. She was a witch! That must mean she could do magic! Suzan started running about the house laughing and smiling in ecstasy, just like before...