Jade had always been different from her friends at school. Ever since she could read, she'd studied dragons and mermaids and any other fairy tale thing that she could possibly get her little hands on. Unicorns, they were her passion. She had always dreamed of being a unicorn. So beautiful. So free. So unlike her. While others thought she was beautiful, she couldn't stand her looks. Her straight, jet black hair and blue eyes gave her an almost vampiric look that she had been teased about her entire life. She was tall and fit with rounded features and a love for poetry, also something she was made fun of for. However, not once had she ever doubted her dreams, her imagination.

But now, in the face of such strangeness, seeing what she had just seen, she couldn't help but feel an inkling of doubt. Perhaps this was just her imagination running wild on her like it always did. Maybe everyone else was right. Believing in things that could not be seen wasn't right for someone of her age. Than again, this was all so real. More real than anything her imagination had conjured up before. She could feel the cold hardwood floors beneath her feet and the sharp pain in her chest every time inhaled. She could sense the cold night air blowing through her open window. Could it be that she was right all along? Were magic and fairy tales truly real?

She closed her eyes, willing all of what she had just seen, just witnessed with her own two eyes, to disappear. This was too much for her to take. 'Please, just go away!' she thought. When she opened them the bird was gone, the window closed and everything back to normal as far as she could tell. She closed her eyes again and slowly took a deep breath, trying to regain control of her emotions.

'Please, Jade. Do not be afraid of me. I understand you're confused but I can help. Trust me.'

Jade whipped around, her long, black hair flying every which way. Who could this man be? She had no idea who the voice belonged to but she found it oddly soothing.

'Who are you?' she asked.

The man, she noticed, was oddly tall. He had a crooked nose and a long white beard that shimmered slightly. He was wearing half moon spectacles but even these could not hide the sparkle of his baby blue, almost see through, eyes.

'My name,' said the strange man. 'Is Albus Dumbledore.'

'Dumbledore?' the name seemed oddly familiar, as if she'd heard it a long time ago.

'Oh, you can call me Professor Dumbledore. And you are Miss Jade Moonstone am I correct?'

'Yes, but how do you know my name?'

'I was a friend of your father's. Good man. I am sorry for your loss. Please sit down so that I may tell you what is going on.'

Jade, as curious as she was, followed his directions and sat down on her bed. Professor Dumbledore slowly lowered himself into a chair.

'Miss Moonstone, the last time I checked, you were 14. How old are you know, if you don't mind my asking.'

'I'm 16, um, Professor.'

'I see. Well Jade, there is a lot to tell. If you are ready, I will explain everything.'

'Um. I'm ready, I think.'

'When you were born on December 31, 1987, something wonderful happened. Lord Voldemort, the greatest wizard of the age,'

'Wizard? What do you mean wizard?' interupted Jade.

'Exactly what I said. I am a wizard Miss Moonstone, so was Voldemort, so was your father. Even your mother was a half blood.'

'What! Oh my God! Oh my God! This can't be happening. Magic isn't real. It's not real!'

'On the contrary Miss Moonstone. Magic is very real. As real as the air you are breathing. As real as Voldemort was. The night you were born, Voldemort sensed something. Something terrible. Something that he knew would result in his death. He bent all of his power, all of his soul into finding whatever it was.'

'What could he have wanted to destroy so badly?'

'You, Jade. He wanted to destroy you.'

'But why? I don't understand.'

'You will. I cannot explain it to you. It's for you to find out. Now, we must discuss something very important. Your mother had intended on you staying at my school, Hogwarts. However, it is up to you where you live.'

'Hogwarts? Live?'

'That's correct. Hogwarts is a school for young witches and wizards and that you are no doubt,' he said, glancing in the direction of her demented picture frame and shattered glass. 'You will learn how to use magic, and cast spells. Now, students usually start attending when they are 11 years of age, but I'm sure we can make an exception for you. I had no idea you possessed magical powers. I'm very sorry Jade. We surveyed you until you turned 11 and when you showed no signs of magic, we figured that for some reason you did not inherite your father and mother's talents. I don't think anyone knew.'

'Where is this school?'

'It's quite far away, but you'll love it and I'm sure you'll make lots of friends. Coincidently, the first term starts in a week. Until than you will staying with a good friend of mine. She will make sure that you get all of your supplies and to the train on time. Which reminds me,' he said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a letter. 'This is for you.'

Jade took the letter. She looked down at her feet for a moment before realizing something. In all the confusion, she had completely forgotten that her mother had just evaporated in front of her. I know, seems impossible to forget something like that, but Jade could be weird that way and she knew it.

'Where is my mother?'

'Don't worry. She's safe and you will be seeing her soon enough. Now, where is that boy? He was supposed to be here 10 minutes ago.'

Crash! Bang!

'Ow! Bloody hell! Why do people need all this stuff. It's 'onny food!'

'Good. He's arrived. Come Miss Moonstone. I'd like you to meet another friend of mine.'