Chapter 1
Surprise
Aime Larks had only her mother. She lived in a normal neighborhood with normal people. No one really liked her, and she was used to that. She wasn't the most normal 11 year-old in Colorado. In fact, she wasn't very normal at all. She lived in a normal house with a normal mother, but she always seemed to make people mad. She didn't mean to, but when people made fun of her, she just happened to see that they were bald the next day or had a severe balance disorder.
One day, a long time back, her father had left her and her mother to fend for themselves. Her mother never spoke of her run-away husband or of what his job was. Aime never asked.
During Aime's summer vacation, she showed her mother her school- supply list. It contained many items, but Daina Larks was wondering if Aime would get her letter or not.
"What's wrong Mom?"
Her mother answered, "Nothing dear, I'm just thinking about what school you are going to go to."
"Oh, well I thought I would go to Markwell's Academy for Girls.did you have another idea?"
"Yes, but I'm not sure if you will be accepted or not.it is a very odd school."
"Okay Mom."
Aime was curious as to which school her mother was talking about, but she didn't question it. She went to her small room and put on a necklace that her father left her years ago. It had a picture of a man on it-one with bright blue eyes and black hair like hers. She smiled and, to her surprise, it smiled back. She took off the necklace and threw it on her bed. But-wondering if it was a bit of her imagination-she walked to the bed and looked at the necklace again. It didn't do anything this time. She backed out of the room and closed the door before running to her mom to ask what was going on.
"Mom! Dad's necklace smiled at me!"
She didn't look surprised, but instead a bit annoyed. "Why did he have to learn about that silly potion?"
"Potion?" She had never heard her mother, an English teacher, ever say the word 'potion' before.
"Nothing dear, I'll tell you when you're older.or when your letter arrives; whichever comes first."
Aime looked slightly disappointed at this news but went back into her bedroom to examine the necklace once more. It smiled again, and she smiled back this time. Her mother was not frightened, so why should she be? She put the necklace on and went outside to see the sunshine pouring onto the lawn.
It was a bright day, and she had never seen the sky so blue, even in Colorado. The thing that seemed strange to her most, however, was that there was a snowy owl perched on a lamppost. She had never seen an owl at all, but in the middle of the day-she was sure-it was unlikely that one would see one awake. She went to it, surprised by its willingness to stay. She got close enough to touch it, and when she pet it, the owl tilted its head slightly as if enjoying the massage. She smiled and saw that there was a letter in its foot. She took it from him to see if it was someone's on the street. Maybe the little owl had picked it up.
The envelope was made of thick parchment and the writing on it was as blue as the sky. She looked at the addressee and there was her name along with her address.
"Wow, I got a letter! How'd you come up with this little guy?" she asked.
The owl hooted and left. She waved goodbye and took her letter inside.
"You got it! Good thing too. I wasn't going to sit and explain this to you without the help of Professor Readen. He'll explain it well. He's great friends with Dumbledore. And who else can explain what you are?"
"What?" Aime asked.
"Open it Aime! It's your letter. This is the school you will go to."
Aime opened the letter and got excited when it said these words.
Aime Larks,
You have been selected, among many others, to attend Toathrilles School of Magic and Sorcery. You will attend school on September 1st. Please make your way to the Denver Airport and go to gate 1300 at 1:00 p.m. Our flying ship will be awaiting you there.
You will need the following school supplies:
1 wand
10 sets each of black, emerald, ruby, sapphire, and amethyst colored robes
1 phoenix feather quill
Ink (black, and a color of the student's choice)
1 of the following books.
American Magic book 1 by Sane Flatsby
American Magic book 2 by Sane Flatsby
How to Save Yourself in Times of Deep Trouble and When Cornered Out of Using Complex Spells Volume 1 by Remus Lupin
A Simple Transfiguration by Miranda Goshawk
Dark Arts: Defense Against Them by Ted Gryffith
1 set of simple potions supplies
Please bring an owl for mail purposes-as we do not have an owlery. You may also bring-if you wish-a dog, cat, rat, or toad. Broomsticks are allowed for all students.
If you have any further questions, owl me.
Headmaster
Professor Thom Readen
"Wow! I'm a witch?"
Ms. Larks smiled, "A half-witch dear."
"Can we get all this stuff?"
"Of course. I know just the place. Although, it'll be a surprise to see if anything's changed."
"Wow, a flying ship? This'll be so cool!"
"Yes, your father loved Toathrilles. He said that it's a real palace. A mansion, only bigger. Only, muggles can't see it."
Aime frowned. "Muggles?"
"People who can't use magic. Or at least, that's what wizards call people like me in England."
"Oh."
"Well now, we better go!"
They got in their car and went halfway across town until they got to a place called, "The Leaky Cauldron". Aime had never seen it before, and apparently neither did any of the civilians walking right by.
"Here it is! There is a chain of these all over the world. The Leaky Cauldron started in England, and now, everywhere they lead into allies for supplying witches and wizards with supplies."
They walked in and were greeted cheerfully by strange-looking folks. A wizard with long hair and a blue moon hat greeted them with a high smile. A young witch with flowing silver hair smiled at Aime. A tall, strong young wizard with blue eyes and blue hair waved. Aime was already enjoying this.
"Just taking Aime to buy her supplies. First year, you know?" Ms. Larks said.
They walked to a back room and saw an empty brick wall. Before Aime walked in, her mother grabbed her arm.
"Not one step until I open the wall," she said.
Aime nodded. Daina Larks stepped on the floor stones in-what looked like-a random pattern. Then, Daina said, "Ah, here we are," and the wall began to move aside.
"Wow!"
"The trick is to look at your feet," she said with a smile. Off they went to buy supplies.
"First we need to go to Gringotts. They still have some of your father's money in there."
"But you have money, don't you?"
Ms. Larks laughed. "None of these wizards and witches take our money! They don't even know what a ten dollar bill is!"
When they got to Gringotts, Aime gasped at all the short, fierce little goblins. There was one in the center of the great marble place asking if they needed help.
"Do you need help?" it asked Aime.
"Why yes," her mother interrupted, "I need to go down to my ex- husbands vault. He died, and we need some Gallions. I decided to get some of his savings to pay for my daughter's supplies."
The goblin was less than willing to hear the Larks's life story, but he didn't mind taking them down to their vault.
"This one's built differently than the one in London." Diana would say, "It is much more advanced. Portkeys are a brilliant way to get to the vaults without throwing up while taking a mine cart.
They got a portkey that would take them to vault 700. Then they would just have to walk 13 vaults down to vault 713. There, they would find their money.
When they got to the vault, it was opened quickly. Aime took a look inside and-seeing the contents-went nuts. "We own all this? How did this happen?"
"Your father was the American Minister of Magic. He was rich. He was also quite a snob. He left us as soon as you turned one."
Aime got four large bagfuls for use at school and for supplies. They left Gringotts with grins on their faces and a fabulous new world for shopping in awaiting them.
Aime got her books quickly, along with a book called Quiddich Through the Ages and one called A Beginner's Guide to Flying. She thought Quiddich looked very interesting, and trying it would be fun.
She left the bookshop and ran to a Quiddich Supplies Store to buy a Firebolt. Then she ran to the pet shop, her mother running behind her.
"Wow, mom! Look, an eagle owl!"
"Those are pests, look at this one!"
Aime looked at the one her mother was holding. It was a rare albino pearl-spotted owl. It was gorgeous. Aime had to have her. She also bought an elf owl for minor messages.
Aime looked at the dogs and bought a German Shepherd pup. She was a lighter German Shepherd with black-tipped ears. Aime named the pets immediately.
"The albino-pearl is Vapor. The elf owl is Methrill, and the dog is Holly." she said immediately. She was looking forward to naming some animals ever since she got her letter.
"Now for a wand," she said, reading her letter.
"Well, Luke's Wands is a great place to get one."
Aime went in. It was the one shop that was quiet. There was another first year student there and a fifth year with a broken wand. Mr. Luke, the shop owner, was helping the first-year boy. The older girl was looking at wands by herself.
The boy had just gotten his wand and was now saying things like, "Expelliarmus!" He left just after making his wand emit a black smoke that began to set his hair on fire. Aime giggled and went up to the counter.
"Why, hello! You must be Aime Larks. I remember your father. He was an okay man. Messed up though. Left you too and ruined his job. On a happier note, I may have a wand for you.
He ran around the counter and pulled one off the shelf. It was an oak wand with the core of an eel's tail. She tried it and made a
chair levitate.
"Well, that was brilliant, but I don't think that's the right wand. Too stiff, not enough twang. Plus, you're too brilliant to have a wand like that. I think I have just the wand for you!" Luke said.
He went into a back room and brought back a black box. It had a single black wand in it-shined and polished thoroughly.
"It is made of Holly. It is a very rare wand indeed. It has two ingredients of it. I made this wand especially because I thought that the way I made it would make the owner of the wand do a larger variety of things with it. I put in a hair from a pure and perfect creature-a unicorn- and a scale from a brave but dangerous creature-a dragon. I thought you would want it.
"Why me?"
"Because you are meant to be a very clever, very brilliant witch. I can tell by the love and strength in your very eyes."
Aime blinked hard and took up the wand.
"Now give it a wave," Luke said.
She did. All of a sudden, Luke started laughing.
"You can already transfigure! Wow! That's a very skilled witch holding a very skilled wand, I say!"
Aime smiled. She had made another wand on the counter turn into a snake. She paid for the wand and left happily.
"Honey, you can already transfigure!" her mother said.
"I know. Can you believe it?"
Her mother smiled at her and said, "Yes."
"I'll get your quill, ink, and potion supplies. You just get your robes. Meet me in the Leaky Cauldron in an hour."
They separated, and Aime ran to Madam Robella's Robes. "Hello dearest. Make yourself at home," Madam Robella said.
Aime looked for her sizes, and after finding all she needed, bought some shoes, dragon-hide gloves, and two hats. One hat was black, the other blue.
She still had time, so she went around and shopped. She bought a wizards' chess board, a broom repair-kit, and a pair of blue night robes. Then, she returned to her mom with three and a half of the original four bags of money (plus all the things she bought).
Aime Larks had only her mother. She lived in a normal neighborhood with normal people. No one really liked her, and she was used to that. She wasn't the most normal 11 year-old in Colorado. In fact, she wasn't very normal at all. She lived in a normal house with a normal mother, but she always seemed to make people mad. She didn't mean to, but when people made fun of her, she just happened to see that they were bald the next day or had a severe balance disorder.
One day, a long time back, her father had left her and her mother to fend for themselves. Her mother never spoke of her run-away husband or of what his job was. Aime never asked.
During Aime's summer vacation, she showed her mother her school- supply list. It contained many items, but Daina Larks was wondering if Aime would get her letter or not.
"What's wrong Mom?"
Her mother answered, "Nothing dear, I'm just thinking about what school you are going to go to."
"Oh, well I thought I would go to Markwell's Academy for Girls.did you have another idea?"
"Yes, but I'm not sure if you will be accepted or not.it is a very odd school."
"Okay Mom."
Aime was curious as to which school her mother was talking about, but she didn't question it. She went to her small room and put on a necklace that her father left her years ago. It had a picture of a man on it-one with bright blue eyes and black hair like hers. She smiled and, to her surprise, it smiled back. She took off the necklace and threw it on her bed. But-wondering if it was a bit of her imagination-she walked to the bed and looked at the necklace again. It didn't do anything this time. She backed out of the room and closed the door before running to her mom to ask what was going on.
"Mom! Dad's necklace smiled at me!"
She didn't look surprised, but instead a bit annoyed. "Why did he have to learn about that silly potion?"
"Potion?" She had never heard her mother, an English teacher, ever say the word 'potion' before.
"Nothing dear, I'll tell you when you're older.or when your letter arrives; whichever comes first."
Aime looked slightly disappointed at this news but went back into her bedroom to examine the necklace once more. It smiled again, and she smiled back this time. Her mother was not frightened, so why should she be? She put the necklace on and went outside to see the sunshine pouring onto the lawn.
It was a bright day, and she had never seen the sky so blue, even in Colorado. The thing that seemed strange to her most, however, was that there was a snowy owl perched on a lamppost. She had never seen an owl at all, but in the middle of the day-she was sure-it was unlikely that one would see one awake. She went to it, surprised by its willingness to stay. She got close enough to touch it, and when she pet it, the owl tilted its head slightly as if enjoying the massage. She smiled and saw that there was a letter in its foot. She took it from him to see if it was someone's on the street. Maybe the little owl had picked it up.
The envelope was made of thick parchment and the writing on it was as blue as the sky. She looked at the addressee and there was her name along with her address.
"Wow, I got a letter! How'd you come up with this little guy?" she asked.
The owl hooted and left. She waved goodbye and took her letter inside.
"You got it! Good thing too. I wasn't going to sit and explain this to you without the help of Professor Readen. He'll explain it well. He's great friends with Dumbledore. And who else can explain what you are?"
"What?" Aime asked.
"Open it Aime! It's your letter. This is the school you will go to."
Aime opened the letter and got excited when it said these words.
Aime Larks,
You have been selected, among many others, to attend Toathrilles School of Magic and Sorcery. You will attend school on September 1st. Please make your way to the Denver Airport and go to gate 1300 at 1:00 p.m. Our flying ship will be awaiting you there.
You will need the following school supplies:
1 wand
10 sets each of black, emerald, ruby, sapphire, and amethyst colored robes
1 phoenix feather quill
Ink (black, and a color of the student's choice)
1 of the following books.
American Magic book 1 by Sane Flatsby
American Magic book 2 by Sane Flatsby
How to Save Yourself in Times of Deep Trouble and When Cornered Out of Using Complex Spells Volume 1 by Remus Lupin
A Simple Transfiguration by Miranda Goshawk
Dark Arts: Defense Against Them by Ted Gryffith
1 set of simple potions supplies
Please bring an owl for mail purposes-as we do not have an owlery. You may also bring-if you wish-a dog, cat, rat, or toad. Broomsticks are allowed for all students.
If you have any further questions, owl me.
Headmaster
Professor Thom Readen
"Wow! I'm a witch?"
Ms. Larks smiled, "A half-witch dear."
"Can we get all this stuff?"
"Of course. I know just the place. Although, it'll be a surprise to see if anything's changed."
"Wow, a flying ship? This'll be so cool!"
"Yes, your father loved Toathrilles. He said that it's a real palace. A mansion, only bigger. Only, muggles can't see it."
Aime frowned. "Muggles?"
"People who can't use magic. Or at least, that's what wizards call people like me in England."
"Oh."
"Well now, we better go!"
They got in their car and went halfway across town until they got to a place called, "The Leaky Cauldron". Aime had never seen it before, and apparently neither did any of the civilians walking right by.
"Here it is! There is a chain of these all over the world. The Leaky Cauldron started in England, and now, everywhere they lead into allies for supplying witches and wizards with supplies."
They walked in and were greeted cheerfully by strange-looking folks. A wizard with long hair and a blue moon hat greeted them with a high smile. A young witch with flowing silver hair smiled at Aime. A tall, strong young wizard with blue eyes and blue hair waved. Aime was already enjoying this.
"Just taking Aime to buy her supplies. First year, you know?" Ms. Larks said.
They walked to a back room and saw an empty brick wall. Before Aime walked in, her mother grabbed her arm.
"Not one step until I open the wall," she said.
Aime nodded. Daina Larks stepped on the floor stones in-what looked like-a random pattern. Then, Daina said, "Ah, here we are," and the wall began to move aside.
"Wow!"
"The trick is to look at your feet," she said with a smile. Off they went to buy supplies.
"First we need to go to Gringotts. They still have some of your father's money in there."
"But you have money, don't you?"
Ms. Larks laughed. "None of these wizards and witches take our money! They don't even know what a ten dollar bill is!"
When they got to Gringotts, Aime gasped at all the short, fierce little goblins. There was one in the center of the great marble place asking if they needed help.
"Do you need help?" it asked Aime.
"Why yes," her mother interrupted, "I need to go down to my ex- husbands vault. He died, and we need some Gallions. I decided to get some of his savings to pay for my daughter's supplies."
The goblin was less than willing to hear the Larks's life story, but he didn't mind taking them down to their vault.
"This one's built differently than the one in London." Diana would say, "It is much more advanced. Portkeys are a brilliant way to get to the vaults without throwing up while taking a mine cart.
They got a portkey that would take them to vault 700. Then they would just have to walk 13 vaults down to vault 713. There, they would find their money.
When they got to the vault, it was opened quickly. Aime took a look inside and-seeing the contents-went nuts. "We own all this? How did this happen?"
"Your father was the American Minister of Magic. He was rich. He was also quite a snob. He left us as soon as you turned one."
Aime got four large bagfuls for use at school and for supplies. They left Gringotts with grins on their faces and a fabulous new world for shopping in awaiting them.
Aime got her books quickly, along with a book called Quiddich Through the Ages and one called A Beginner's Guide to Flying. She thought Quiddich looked very interesting, and trying it would be fun.
She left the bookshop and ran to a Quiddich Supplies Store to buy a Firebolt. Then she ran to the pet shop, her mother running behind her.
"Wow, mom! Look, an eagle owl!"
"Those are pests, look at this one!"
Aime looked at the one her mother was holding. It was a rare albino pearl-spotted owl. It was gorgeous. Aime had to have her. She also bought an elf owl for minor messages.
Aime looked at the dogs and bought a German Shepherd pup. She was a lighter German Shepherd with black-tipped ears. Aime named the pets immediately.
"The albino-pearl is Vapor. The elf owl is Methrill, and the dog is Holly." she said immediately. She was looking forward to naming some animals ever since she got her letter.
"Now for a wand," she said, reading her letter.
"Well, Luke's Wands is a great place to get one."
Aime went in. It was the one shop that was quiet. There was another first year student there and a fifth year with a broken wand. Mr. Luke, the shop owner, was helping the first-year boy. The older girl was looking at wands by herself.
The boy had just gotten his wand and was now saying things like, "Expelliarmus!" He left just after making his wand emit a black smoke that began to set his hair on fire. Aime giggled and went up to the counter.
"Why, hello! You must be Aime Larks. I remember your father. He was an okay man. Messed up though. Left you too and ruined his job. On a happier note, I may have a wand for you.
He ran around the counter and pulled one off the shelf. It was an oak wand with the core of an eel's tail. She tried it and made a
chair levitate.
"Well, that was brilliant, but I don't think that's the right wand. Too stiff, not enough twang. Plus, you're too brilliant to have a wand like that. I think I have just the wand for you!" Luke said.
He went into a back room and brought back a black box. It had a single black wand in it-shined and polished thoroughly.
"It is made of Holly. It is a very rare wand indeed. It has two ingredients of it. I made this wand especially because I thought that the way I made it would make the owner of the wand do a larger variety of things with it. I put in a hair from a pure and perfect creature-a unicorn- and a scale from a brave but dangerous creature-a dragon. I thought you would want it.
"Why me?"
"Because you are meant to be a very clever, very brilliant witch. I can tell by the love and strength in your very eyes."
Aime blinked hard and took up the wand.
"Now give it a wave," Luke said.
She did. All of a sudden, Luke started laughing.
"You can already transfigure! Wow! That's a very skilled witch holding a very skilled wand, I say!"
Aime smiled. She had made another wand on the counter turn into a snake. She paid for the wand and left happily.
"Honey, you can already transfigure!" her mother said.
"I know. Can you believe it?"
Her mother smiled at her and said, "Yes."
"I'll get your quill, ink, and potion supplies. You just get your robes. Meet me in the Leaky Cauldron in an hour."
They separated, and Aime ran to Madam Robella's Robes. "Hello dearest. Make yourself at home," Madam Robella said.
Aime looked for her sizes, and after finding all she needed, bought some shoes, dragon-hide gloves, and two hats. One hat was black, the other blue.
She still had time, so she went around and shopped. She bought a wizards' chess board, a broom repair-kit, and a pair of blue night robes. Then, she returned to her mom with three and a half of the original four bags of money (plus all the things she bought).