"Is it in the shape of a dragon?" asked McGonagall. "May I see it?"
"Sure. I never thought of it as a dragon, but now that you mention it, it
does kind of look like that."
And sure enough, on the inside of Laura's right wrist, there was a
birthmark, shaped exactly like a minature dragon.
Laura was still very confused, but another emotion was starting to manifest itself inside of her; excitement. She was going to Hogwarts, the greatest school in the world, and she was a witch. That part still had her mixed up, but hey who cares, was the thought in her mind. Laura looked over at her parents, trying to discern what they were thinking. Would they let her go? She sure as heck hoped so. Finally her father spoke up," Well if this is what Laura wants, we will let her attend your school." Laura was beside herself, her parents were going to let her go!
"Great, it's settled then. I need to be getting back to the school. The new school year starts in just six days, on September the first. Hagrid will take Laura to Diagon Alley tomorrow to get her new school supplies, then he will bring her directly to Hogwarts. We want her there a few days early, so we can get started on her training," said Professor McGonagall.
Laura and Hagrid walked McGonagall to the front door, where they said their goodbyes. "See you soon, Laura," said Professor McGonagall, and she gave Laura one of her rare smiles.
After she was gone, Laura and Hagrid went back into the family room, to finish the discussion with her parents about what would happen the next day. Hagrid was the first one to speak, as he had some last minute instructions for everyone.
"First thing in the morning, one of you (to Laura's parents) will need to visit your bank and get some money for Laura. Then everyone will say their goodbyes. Laura and I will be traveling to the Leaky Cauldron by Floo power, from your fireplace. We had it added to the Floo network just for tomorrow. Laura you need to pack up everything you want to take tonight, we need to get moving early tomorrow. Lots to do you know."
"All right Hagrid, I'll start packing soon. There is just one thing I need to go and do first. I'll be back in a couple of hours," said Laura. And with that statement, she grabbed her car keys and headed out the door.
"Where's she goin?" asked Hagrid.
"I think she is going to say goodbye to Heather, her best friend," said Shirley, "She'll be back soon. So Mr Hagrid, would you like something to eat or drink?"
"That would be lovely, Mrs VanGelder. Thanks." And with that, the three of them went into the kitchen to eat and wait for Laura to return.
As she was driving to Heather's house, Laura couldn't help the big smile that was plastered to her face. She, boring old Laura, was going to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She still could hardly believe it. Heather was very surprised to find Laura showing up on her doorstep at 8:30 at night. When actually faced with the prospect of having to tell her best friend she was leaving, Laura became sad.
"Heather I have some big news to tell you. Tomorrow morning I am leaving for England, and I won't be back for quite a while."
"Huh," said Heather, looking confused.
"I am transferring to a boarding school out there, and I leave in the morning. Here's the part you are really not going to believe. I am going to be a student at Hogwarts! Heather, I'm a witch. Can you believe it?"
Heather was looking at Laura dumbstruck and said," No I can't believe it. You're pulling my leg...right?" But deep down inside, Heather knew Laura would never joke about something as big as this.
"No, it's all true. Professor McGonagall and Hagrid showed up at my house tonight and they explained everything to me and my parents." Then Laura proceeded to tell Heather everything that had been said at her house.
"Oh man Laura, I'm so happy for you. I'm also really going to miss you. You have to promise to write me all the time," stated Heather with tears in her eyes.
"Of course I will. You do know that the letters will be sent by owl, not the post office. And one more thing, you have to promise not to tell anyone about this. No one but you and my parents are going to know, ok?"
"I promise," said Heather. Laura and Heather visited for a while longer, before they finally said their goodbyes, during which both of them were crying.. "Remember Heather, just tell everyone that I transferred to a boring old school in England. I'll write as soon as Iget settled," said Laura. Then she was back in her car, driving back to her house. On the way back, Laura thought to herself," I wonder how my parents and Hagrid are getting on. They are not exactly each others usual company."
Back at the house, Laura found Hagrid sound asleep on the living room floor. She said goodnight to her parents and went up to her room to start packing. Shirley came in and woke Laura at 7 A.M. sharp, and rushed her into the bathroom to start getting ready. Laura was downstairs, showered and dressed by 8.
"Good morning Laura. Sleep well?" asked Hagrid as Laura came walking into the kitchen. "Not really. I couldn't sleep. Too excited," replied Laura.
Just as everyone was finishing breakfast, Chuck walked in. He had just been to the bank. He walked up to Laura and handed her a thick white envelope. Inside of it there was $100,000 dollars. Laura gasped when she saw the amount, and looked up questionly at her father.
"This is all the your inheritence money left to you by your grandparetns, it's also oyur college fund money. Change it all over to that wizard money. Take what you need and store the rest at your new bank." "Thanks, Mom and Dad," said Laura.
At 9 o'clock Hagrid stood up and said it was time to get going. They had lots of errand to run before they headed to the school. Laura and her parents said their goodbyes, and watched as Hagrid walked up to the fireplace. He took a small bag out of one of his pockets. He looked over at Laura and said," Just take a pinch and throw it into the fire. Make sure you say Leaky Cauldron very clearly. Got it?"
"Yes, I think I do," replied Laura. "All right then. Let's go. I already sent your luggage off to Dumbledore's office. So off we go."
Laura walked up and took some Floo powder,and thew it into the fire. The flames roared up and turned green. Laura took one last look at her parents, stepped into the fire and yelled," Leaky Cauldron!" Laura tried to keep her eyes open, but it made her head hurt, watching the other fireplaces rush past her, so she closed her eyes. After a few minutes the dizzying ride came to a stop, and Laura just managed to catch herself as she fell out into the Leaky Cauldron. She also just managed to get out of the way, before Hagrid came stumbling out of the fireplace.
Laura was still very confused, but another emotion was starting to manifest itself inside of her; excitement. She was going to Hogwarts, the greatest school in the world, and she was a witch. That part still had her mixed up, but hey who cares, was the thought in her mind. Laura looked over at her parents, trying to discern what they were thinking. Would they let her go? She sure as heck hoped so. Finally her father spoke up," Well if this is what Laura wants, we will let her attend your school." Laura was beside herself, her parents were going to let her go!
"Great, it's settled then. I need to be getting back to the school. The new school year starts in just six days, on September the first. Hagrid will take Laura to Diagon Alley tomorrow to get her new school supplies, then he will bring her directly to Hogwarts. We want her there a few days early, so we can get started on her training," said Professor McGonagall.
Laura and Hagrid walked McGonagall to the front door, where they said their goodbyes. "See you soon, Laura," said Professor McGonagall, and she gave Laura one of her rare smiles.
After she was gone, Laura and Hagrid went back into the family room, to finish the discussion with her parents about what would happen the next day. Hagrid was the first one to speak, as he had some last minute instructions for everyone.
"First thing in the morning, one of you (to Laura's parents) will need to visit your bank and get some money for Laura. Then everyone will say their goodbyes. Laura and I will be traveling to the Leaky Cauldron by Floo power, from your fireplace. We had it added to the Floo network just for tomorrow. Laura you need to pack up everything you want to take tonight, we need to get moving early tomorrow. Lots to do you know."
"All right Hagrid, I'll start packing soon. There is just one thing I need to go and do first. I'll be back in a couple of hours," said Laura. And with that statement, she grabbed her car keys and headed out the door.
"Where's she goin?" asked Hagrid.
"I think she is going to say goodbye to Heather, her best friend," said Shirley, "She'll be back soon. So Mr Hagrid, would you like something to eat or drink?"
"That would be lovely, Mrs VanGelder. Thanks." And with that, the three of them went into the kitchen to eat and wait for Laura to return.
As she was driving to Heather's house, Laura couldn't help the big smile that was plastered to her face. She, boring old Laura, was going to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She still could hardly believe it. Heather was very surprised to find Laura showing up on her doorstep at 8:30 at night. When actually faced with the prospect of having to tell her best friend she was leaving, Laura became sad.
"Heather I have some big news to tell you. Tomorrow morning I am leaving for England, and I won't be back for quite a while."
"Huh," said Heather, looking confused.
"I am transferring to a boarding school out there, and I leave in the morning. Here's the part you are really not going to believe. I am going to be a student at Hogwarts! Heather, I'm a witch. Can you believe it?"
Heather was looking at Laura dumbstruck and said," No I can't believe it. You're pulling my leg...right?" But deep down inside, Heather knew Laura would never joke about something as big as this.
"No, it's all true. Professor McGonagall and Hagrid showed up at my house tonight and they explained everything to me and my parents." Then Laura proceeded to tell Heather everything that had been said at her house.
"Oh man Laura, I'm so happy for you. I'm also really going to miss you. You have to promise to write me all the time," stated Heather with tears in her eyes.
"Of course I will. You do know that the letters will be sent by owl, not the post office. And one more thing, you have to promise not to tell anyone about this. No one but you and my parents are going to know, ok?"
"I promise," said Heather. Laura and Heather visited for a while longer, before they finally said their goodbyes, during which both of them were crying.. "Remember Heather, just tell everyone that I transferred to a boring old school in England. I'll write as soon as Iget settled," said Laura. Then she was back in her car, driving back to her house. On the way back, Laura thought to herself," I wonder how my parents and Hagrid are getting on. They are not exactly each others usual company."
Back at the house, Laura found Hagrid sound asleep on the living room floor. She said goodnight to her parents and went up to her room to start packing. Shirley came in and woke Laura at 7 A.M. sharp, and rushed her into the bathroom to start getting ready. Laura was downstairs, showered and dressed by 8.
"Good morning Laura. Sleep well?" asked Hagrid as Laura came walking into the kitchen. "Not really. I couldn't sleep. Too excited," replied Laura.
Just as everyone was finishing breakfast, Chuck walked in. He had just been to the bank. He walked up to Laura and handed her a thick white envelope. Inside of it there was $100,000 dollars. Laura gasped when she saw the amount, and looked up questionly at her father.
"This is all the your inheritence money left to you by your grandparetns, it's also oyur college fund money. Change it all over to that wizard money. Take what you need and store the rest at your new bank." "Thanks, Mom and Dad," said Laura.
At 9 o'clock Hagrid stood up and said it was time to get going. They had lots of errand to run before they headed to the school. Laura and her parents said their goodbyes, and watched as Hagrid walked up to the fireplace. He took a small bag out of one of his pockets. He looked over at Laura and said," Just take a pinch and throw it into the fire. Make sure you say Leaky Cauldron very clearly. Got it?"
"Yes, I think I do," replied Laura. "All right then. Let's go. I already sent your luggage off to Dumbledore's office. So off we go."
Laura walked up and took some Floo powder,and thew it into the fire. The flames roared up and turned green. Laura took one last look at her parents, stepped into the fire and yelled," Leaky Cauldron!" Laura tried to keep her eyes open, but it made her head hurt, watching the other fireplaces rush past her, so she closed her eyes. After a few minutes the dizzying ride came to a stop, and Laura just managed to catch herself as she fell out into the Leaky Cauldron. She also just managed to get out of the way, before Hagrid came stumbling out of the fireplace.