Surprised Witch
Chapter One
The year was 1938 and two muggles were currently writing a letter to the local muggle school that they intended to send their daughter to. They lived in a normal house on a normal street in a city which you wouldn't look twice at. The daughter they were writing about was upstairs with her muggle older brother. They shared a room together. The girl in question has just turned eleven recently, she was going to secondary school this September. Her parents were writing to said secondary school to get her a place. The girl was called Lucy Norris. A loud knock at the door made the whole household jump slightly. The father of Lucy (Edwin Norris) walked towards it with a sigh and opened it without much thought. A man stood there with some sort of letter. He had what looked like silver hair and a moustache. His clothes consisted of an old brown suit while his shoes looked decades old. Though one thing that stood out most of all was his missing arm and leg (he had a wooden leg). He had to remove his usual 'replacement arm' as not to scare the muggles. Edwin was just looking at him in astonishment. This was Silvanus Kettleburn...
"May I come in?" Silvanus asked in a tone that made it clear it wasn't a real question.
Edwin didn't quite know why but he let him in without further question. This man just screamed importance to him. He began walking around their home and began scanning it like he never seen a normal household before. Edwin's wife and Lucy's mother Florence couldn't speak out of pure fear. Who was this strange man wandering around their home? It was soon clear what he was looking for as he made his way upstairs (followed nervously behind by Edwin and Florence). He took one look towards the upstairs bedroom door and to their amazement, he got out a stick (really a wand but they didn't know that) and said an incantation. The door swung open which made Lucy gasp as she cuddled up to her brother in shock.
"Lucy Norris?" he asked with a small smile; he has found the girl with ease.
"Yes?" Lucy asked back nervously.
"Is this everyone in the household?"
"Yes"
"Perfect...Now I have a letter for Miss Lucy Norris" Silvanus uttered; turning back towards her parents..."I wish for her to read it on her own first"
He swung it towards the confused girl. She caught it easily (which made Kettleburn smile). She opened the letter and began to read it in her head, her older brother Eric looking at it in confusion. He gave his father a small look of worry however he kept near his sister for he didn't want to leave her alone with this stranger lurking outside.
"I don't understand...Is this a joke, Sir?" Lucy questioned. Her eyebrows firmly raised.
"Not a joke missy, no. You are a witch and are to be sent to 'Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry' on the wishes of Headmaster Armando Dippet. I have been sent to answer any and all questions. Now tell me, Norris...Have you ever seen or heard an unexplainable thing?"
Lucy creased slightly at the use of her surname and for the question itself. She thought long and hard about it.
"Only small things, Sir. I still don't understand why and how a girl from school had lost her hat and why it ended up in my wardrobe. Though that was a school prank...wasn't it?" Lucy asked with confusion.
Kettleburn just gave another smile. Looking between her confused muggle brother and parents. He got out his wand again as he knew he would have to prove this was magic and not a practical joke. He has done this once already today (for Muggle-born's needed proof of magic to be convinced). He simple said...
"Aguamenti!"
Which made water spurt out from his wand right into Lucy and her brother Eric's face. Making him let go of his sister and rush out of the way of the water's direction. Kettleburn turned around and did the same to her parents. Harmless spell just to prove magic did exist. The water stopped coming out as suddenly as it started coming in.
"This is extraordinary...Is you may, Sir. Could you lift me up with your stick? I want to sense it before I let my daughter use it" Edwin spoke up at last. He looked amazed.
Kettleburn was just happy to see he was one of those muggles who were merely fascinated by it. Some muggles just scream at him and deemed him and his magic as the 'Devil's work'. Though the Norris muggles were merely just wondering how and why it worked.
"I cannot lift you up but I can lift up that chair" Kettleburn informed him. He only did small spells on house visits to Muggles; he spoke again with his wand outstretched..."Wingardium Leviosa!"
The chair went up just as he promised. Edwin placed his hand under said chair, half-expecting some sort of wire to be there. Excited gasps of astonishment came from the muggles and the one witch. Lucy's brother Eric finally felt safe enough to leave the bedroom as he put his hand under the chair (no wire!). Lucy herself was just sitting in pure shock as she watched her muggle family members putting their hands under the floating chair. Eric had laid under it by now just to triple check it was really floating on it's own.
"Does that mean I'm a wizard?" Eric questioned Kettleburn; still lying under the chair.
"No boy...If you were, you would have known last year. It's rare for two muggles to produce one witch or wizard...let alone two"
This answer suddenly made the muggle boy frown. His parents seemed to snap out of their excitable trance. Kettleburn made the chair go back on the floor as it landed back against the wall. Lucy was now standing at her door with her letter firmly grasped in her hand. She passed it to her father so he could read it himself. Her twelve year brother Eric was standing in the corner now near the once levitating chair, sulking to himself.
"Sir...This letter asks us to buy items which don't exist. I suppose we could find a cauldron of some kind" Eric began though Kettleburn interrupted him for he knew what he was about to ask as he assured him...
"Don't worry, Mr Norris...I will escort the three of you to exactly where you need to be and I did say three. I'm afraid young Norris here can't attend for it's only for Muggle parents and their magical child"
Their magical child...those words didn't seem real to any of them. Lucy suddenly felt like the odd one out. Eric loved his sister however he didn't understand why she was magical and he wasn't. Both come from the same mother and father, it seemed unfair to him.
"Come on then...Let's go, I already escorted two Muggle families to Diagon Alley today. You are my last ones"
The three of them just looked at each other. Diagon Alley? Is that local? Lucy felt her father hold onto her hand. He simply told Eric to stay behind and that they will be back later. Florence held onto her daughter's other hand as the three of them walked behind Kettleburn. Eric watching with a scowl.
...
The train journey (they lived only half an hour from London, hence why Kettleburn came to them last) had been very surreal. They felt as if they were being stared at however in reality they had not been. They were just sat in their muggle clothes with Kettleburn. The letter hidden safely away in Lucy's pocket. She was a girl with black hair (and was currently wearing plaits) with a fair complexion. Her parents and brother also had black hair. She had been tugging at her hair with pure nerves as she twisted bits of it around her little finger. Kettleburn had led them towards to this grotty building which he named 'The Leaky Cauldron'. Only Kettleburn and Lucy were able to see that it was a pub (furthering proving her magical abilities). She gave a nervous smile to the punters. Her parents however saw nothing and nobody. Kettleburn turned back towards them.
"Now...Mr and Mrs Norris...Miss Norris. You are able to enter Diagon Alley through this door right here. Follow me and remember, don't panic. You are about to see magic" Kettleburn further explained. Opening the door to an empty courtyard which had nothing but a brick wall.
Lucy kept looking back at the now closed door as she could still hear the punters in there muttering to themselves. "They were muggles, not ignoring us on purpose" she heard one say.
Tapping against the wall (which the Norris family believed would do nothing). In fact Edwin was almost half-expecting this to be some sort of elaborate joke still. Though no it wasn't. The wall began to move and expose an entrance to what he could describe as a shopping courtyard. Kettleburn telling them to hurry along as the three of them entered. They did get some stares as expected, some of innocent curiosity while others were pure hatred and disgust. Lucy though was too fascinated to care about that as she looked at the shops in amazement.
"Welcome to Diagon Alley. This is where you can get all your magical objects and clothing. Though you cannot spend your pounds and pennies here. You must exchange them at Gringotts Bank" Kettleburn further explained.
It did get tiresome for him having to explain things to Muggles but they had to understand. Lucy was now going to be at this world for the rest of her days and her parents would have to support her through it. The trip to the bank was equally as tedious for him (though fascinating to Muggle-born's). He explained the goblins and the currency. Florence Norris showed emotion for the first time at the banks as she gave a worried yelp and fainted at the sight of the goblins. She wasn't the first muggle parent to do this. She only calmed down once the exchange was over as she was carried out by Edwin and woke up back outside.
"Don't worry...even some witches and wizards can get nervous around the goblins" Kettleburn spoke with a hint of amusement.
He quickly led them back to the main shopping part as Florence was calm again. Due to them not being the richest of muggles. Kettleburn knew he had to take them to some of the second-hand shops for Lucy's things. The last muggles he had were wealthy you see. Though judging by the little money they had to exchange, he knew they were either poor or miserly. He led them to a second-hand clothing store where an elderly woman sat behind the counter; she wore a black hat and looked very old. Lucy's eyes lit up as she pointed at a purple robe however Kettleburn pulled her away.
"No purple robe" Kettleburn warned her; making her sigh; she didn't know the dangers of them.
The old witch behind the counter just cackled. She enjoyed the thought of a muggle-born being strangled by one. Kettleburn just tutted at her, how could she laugh at the thought of a child being killed? He led the family towards the black robes as he picked out three for her, some old pointed hat (which still had the previous owner's liquid stain on it), protective gloves and a shabby old winter cloak. He took the money needed from a confused Edwin's wallet and gave it to the nasty old witch as she said...
"Thank you, Professor"
Next he took them to the bookshop to get her what she needed. Feeling slightly sorry for Lucy as he noticed all she had was second-hand clothing and second-hand shabby books (some still has writing in them from the previous owner). He brought her an extra book entitled 'My Life as a Squib' by Angus Buchanan. One thing that wasn't damaged slightly by a previous owner. Making her smile as she thanked him, wondering what a squib was. As she looked at the book before placing it in her basket. They went to another second-hand shop as money was already running out. Kettleburn stopped for a moment as he tried to pick out the best cauldron, phial, telescope and brass scales he could find in there for her within the price range.
"Isn't this interesting?" Edwin asked himself as he picked up an object.
Kettleburn taking more money from the man's wallet. Florence looking at Lucy's clothing as she tutted at the shabby looking clothes. She would try and fix them up when they got home. The hat needed a good washing she thought. Passing Edwin the objects after he brought them. Now Kettleburn could have brought them slightly better things however as Lucy was muggle-born. He wanted them to have enough money to buy her a pet to take with her if she needed comfort. As well as a good wand from 'Ollivander's'.
"This is where you buy your wand, Norris. This is the most important object of all. If you don't mind, Mr and Mrs Norris...May I take her in alone for this? You can sit on the bench over there" Kettleburn instructed.
Now Lucy's parents were not keen on doing this however this professor seemed nice enough. If Lucy was a witch, surely she should speak to her own kind on her own before being thrown in the deep end when she gets to the school. Edwin just told him that it's fine and not to be too long as they were awfully concerned. Kettleburn assured them it wouldn't be any longer than necessary.
...
Lucy Norris entered the shop and was told to sit down. As Kettleburn explained to Garrick Ollivander about Lucy. Garrick looked briefly as the girl who was sitting down on the chair near the window. Her parents were currently looking at the bookshop (the only shop muggles understood in Diagon Alley). Just as he was about to call her over. An eleven year old boy walked in with ice cream splatted down his coat as he slumped in the chair besides Lucy.
"Argus Filch. You know you can't perform magic, so I don't know why you have come here again" Garrik announced.
Argus was a squib who was here with his parents and older brother (whom was buying himself a new broomstick). He was spotted by some boys who realized he was a squib and had thrown ice cream at him as he passed. He came in here to avoid them. He wasn't in here for a wand. Lucy passing him a tissue so he could clean his coat. He grunted "Thank you" at her.
"I'm aware, Sir...I just wanted to sit down" Argus insisted; not wanting to make himself even more unpopular by telling on those boys.
Argus briefly looked at Lucy. Seeing her with all her second-hand robes and books. She wasn't very rich he thought and no doubt a muggle-born due to her being assisted by a professor. Though her small bit of kindness to him made him not mind any of this. He watched as she was finally called over as she stood nervously at the counter.
"Nice to meet you Miss Lucy Norris. Now Professor Kettleburn tells me you are muggle-born. Now my mother was a muggle so don't worry. Now I will give you a wand of some kind and see if the wand takes to your not. The wand chooses the witch or wizard" Ollivander explained softly.
He passed her an English oak wand first of all though this did nothing. As she held it and did a small flick. Though this did nothing as she put it back on the table in confusion. He did try a few more such as pear and redwood. Though he looked at one and said "Perhaps...try this one"
Lucy gently took the wand and flicked it. This one did something as a nice glow formed around her. She had a ten inch beech wand with unicorn hair. Argus Filch looking from the chair. He was a bit sad that he would never experience that though he couldn't resent Lucy for it somehow. She was too nice in his eyes to feel anything but good things towards.
"Interesting, Miss Lucy Norris. Only those witches and wizards who are wise and loving may acquire such a wand. Though be careful...for kindness can be taken advantage of"
...
The final item on the shopping list was an animal. Lucy re-joined her parents with Kettleburn. She shown them her wand (they just saw a pretty looking stick however). He took them to 'Magical Menagerie'. The owner knew him well as he was the professor of 'Care of Magical Creatures'. Lucy looked towards the cats. Kettleburn noticed this.
"Lovely creatures are cats and very handy to have around"
A tabby cat with yellow eyes looked towards Lucy. She walked towards this cat (whom was inside one of the cages). She said how much she would like this one and the shopkeeper came over. Unlocking the cage with a flick of her wand before picking up said cage and placing it on the counter. Lucy picked up the small tabby cat with a smile.
"He's so sweet" Lucy spoke with a grin; first time Kettleburn seen her look so happy since she arrived.
Kettleburn walked back towards Edwin and took out some more money. Now the family only had enough for a toad but seeing the girl was attached to this cat. Kettleburn got out some of his own coins so she could buy the cat. Not letting them know this was the case as they had already asked for his address so they could send him the money for the book he got her. No, he didn't want paying back. It was a present to Lucy.
"I shall you call, Mr Filch" Lucy cooed to the cat; Kettleburn briefly looking at her.
She must have liked the name 'Filch' when she heard it being said at 'Ollivanders'. Mr Filch was the cat's name indeed. With 'Mr Filch' back in the cage, Kettlenburn only had one more thing left to show the muggles and Lucy. As they were walking back towards the 'Leaky Cauldron'. She spotted Argus Filch again as he was seen being hit around the head by his father. She rushed towards the boy a bit away from her parents and Kettleburn.
"Are you alright?" Lucy asked him once his father had left.
"Yes...Father was just lecturing me about disturbing Ollivanders. Is that your cat?" Argus questioned.
"Yes. Mr Filch"
"Mr Filch?"
"Well I like your name and you're the only person my age I met today. So it seemed a good a name as any"
Argus has never really felt the kindness of a witch before. Not even by his own female family members. So he just blushed slightly, looking away; she said goodbye and that she would see him at school. He was about to say
"I'm not going to Hogwarts as a student"
However she was called back over by her parents before he could. She just waved at him before going back into the 'Leaky Cauldron'.
...
The final stop was at 'King's Cross Station' as Kettleburn explained to them how she was to get to Hogwarts. This befuddled them all but they gave a nod regardless. Kettleburn advised them to go early so they could see others doing it first. He simple said goodbye and that he was excited to welcome Lucy Norris to school on the 1st September. They got the train back home and carried her school belongings inside her home. Her brother Eric was sat on the couch reading one of his books. He got up when he heard them. He looked towards his younger sister as if he didn't know who she was anymore.
"Eric. I got a cat. Do you like him?" Lucy asked her brother.
Though for the first time in her life. He ignored her as if she wasn't there at all. Making her confused. The truth was, Eric Norris felt jealous of his sister and was wondering why she got this magical ability today. He was excited for her to attend the local muggle school with him. Now it was all ruined, wasn't it?
"Eric!" Edwin called after him; he followed him into the kitchen.
"Please don't act confused, father. Did you know she was a witch?"
"I have no idea. I asked Professor Kettleburn...the man who came round; how this could happen. He said mine or your mother's family line had a squib in it and that's how magic passed down to her"
"A squib?"
"A non-magic person born to magical parents. Your mother's convinced it's my side as my grandmother refused to talk about her parents"
"I see...Well, sorry if I don't act happy that my sister is going far away to study magic. Yesterday you would have called it absurd, now you're acting like it's the most normal thing in the world!"
"I'm just acting like a father, Eric. A father who wants his daughter to do well at what she's born to do"
...
TBC
