Chapter #2-- Unusual Surprises

Gazing out of a rain-laden window, Eric sighed. Tomorrow was his birthday and unlike other children, Eric supposed he wouldn't have one. His caretaker barely recognized his existence. Let alone thought to buy him presents. Watching a bolt of lightning fork across the sky, Eric began to think about his parents. Why was it they never came to visit him; he supposed they were both alive, but still he could not be sure. He thought that maybe he had been a bad son, but why was it that he had no memory of it all. The only thing he could remember was being in a cave lit suddenly by a bizarre flash of vibrant green light, and that, he thought, was plainly absurd. After several more minutes Eric retired to bed, closed his eyes and drifted off into deep slumber.



Eric appeared to be standing in the center of a large circle. Around him were hundreds of cloaked figures, all of which were dressed in black robes. The figures began to chant, but it was difficult to make out the words exactly. It seemed to be sung in another language; one of which Eric was unfamiliar with. Suddenly, before Eric could observe the scene any further, his environment shifted. He now found himself gazing into the eyes of a rather terrified young man; a raised wand gripped in his left hand. Without warning, Eric brought down the wand harshly and screamed out an invocation at the top of his voice.

"Crucio!" he heard himself bellow, the man standing once in front of him now lay crumpled and bawling on the floor. Eric shuttered as the man raised himself slowly to his feet, than kneeled again in submission and apology. Than just as suddenly as the scene appeared, it vanished into darkness.

Screaming, Eric woke; his face and pillow damp with tears. After dismissing the dream, Eric roused himself, dressed and headed downstairs. The house he lived in was rather large with dull wooden floors and thin areas of silver embroidered green carpet.

"You missed breakfast." A tall, brown haired man stated; his voice clearly unperturbed. This was his caretaker, Mr. Dolus; A snobbish young man who seemed to enjoy dominating others as well as wearing outlandish outfits, which happened to include long black velvet cloaks.

"I... I'm s... sorry." Eric stammered, his hand fiddling nervously with something in his pocket.

"No need to be sorry boy." Dolus replied with a sharp edge, his thin gloved hands adjusting a particularly shiny silver fastening on his robes. Eric nodded, his left hand still fidgeting with the object. Dolus gave an uninterested look, than proceeded to pull out a small yellow letter from his pocket. "Here." He said with a lazy expression, than shoved the letter into Eric's shaking hands. "Oh, and happy birthday" Dolus added grimly.

Eric was shocked, never before in his eleven years of life had he received so much as a forward glance from his caretaker; he was positively stunned. "I-is this some type of j-joke?" Eric questioned, his eyes absorbing the envelope. There was a strange purplish crest on it; one which depicted four different animals inside what looked like a large 'H'.

"Well... boy, aren't you going to open it." Dolus remarked coldly, his gloved hand fiddling once more with the silver fastening.

Eric shivered, than promptly broke the seal of the envelope. Two sheets of parchment fell into his lap and he seized them both.



Dear Mr. Eric Dolus

It is my great pleasure to inform you that you have been accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Term begins on September 1st, 1982. You will catch the 11:00 Hogwarts Express on platform 9 ¾ at King's Cross Station. A list of school items has been enclosed.



Yours truly,



Professor Albus Dumbledore

Head-Master.

Eric winced at his last name; surely there had been some sort of mistake. Eric's real name had been lost along with the memory of his parents, and besides... he looked nothing like Mr. Dolus. Dolus had silky brown hair which cut off at the shoulders; while Eric's hair was more the color of dusty blood and was cropped off at his neck. Deciding to forget about the name, Eric unfolded the supply list.





UNIFORM

First-year students will require:

1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)

2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear

3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon's hide or similar)

4. One winter cloak (any color acceptable, metal fastenings)

5. One robe sash (any color acceptable)

COURSE BOOKS

All students should have a copy of each of the following:

The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1 by Miranda Goshawk

A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot

Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling

One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore

Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander

A History of the Dark Arts by Viktor Berger

OTHER EQUIPMENT

1 wand

1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)

1 set glass crystal phials

1 set brass scales

1 telescope

2 quills (eagle feather or similar)

10 rolls of parchment (minimum)

Students may also bring an owl, cat, toad, or any other small animal. Students are reminded, however, that bats, tarantulas, and flesh-eating slugs are not allowed.

PARENTS SHOULD REMEMBER THAT FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS.



"Well..." Dolus prompted brushing back another stray hair. Clearly in shock, Eric gazed at him; his hand which was holding the letter was shaking.

"B-but I'm not a w-witch." Eric explained with a stutter.

"Wizard" Dolus remarked coldly, his face now twisted into an icy smile. "Women are witches, you're a wizard." Dolus finished.

Gazing once more at the two letters, Eric fantasized. If he really were a wizard, it was sure to explain all the weird things that had happened to him. Like the time when he accidentally made a mirror explode; at the time he just thought it was bad luck, but now he wondered. "W-where do I get all of these things?" Eric questioned, finally giving in to the idea.

"Diagon Alley." Dolus replied in an apathetic expression, his hand reaching once more in his pocket. "Oh, you'll need these." Dolus continued, pulling out a small black pouch which he than handed to Eric. "Buy what you need and keep the change." Dolus finished.

"That's a fortune!" Eric gasped while fingering the small pouch.

"I don't want you dressed like some... some...'unmentionable'... Now get ready!" Dolus spat, his expression clearly one of wrathful distaste.

Eric bolted upstairs and began to pack his things. Truly this was his best birthday ever; he was going to be leaving Mr. Dolus for a whole year, and to become a wizard of all things. Eric's heart began to pound as he whipped his things into a suitcase and ran downstairs.

"You won't be needing that" Dolus remarked in slight irritation.

"Oh." Eric sputtered, than dropped the suitcase; he was purely ecstatic. He was finally going to be able to leave, to meet others like him, and of all things; and he liked this best of all. He was going to learn magic.