Chapter Two: Only One Letter.
It was by far the most beautiful day of the entire summer. The heliotropes were in bloom, and the two twin sisters wee playing in their front yard, busying themselves by plucking the flowers from the earth and twisting them into each other's hair.
Arabella! Mirabella! Come here, daddy wants to take some pictures! The two girls gathered their flowers and ran to their father and mother, who were waiting with a camera in the backyard. Their family loved to take pictures, as they loved to remember every moment of life..
Now, stand here, said their mother. Arabella, you stand more towards the front, you're a little shorter...now smile!
Their father snapped about ten photos, each one of them more beautiful than the one before. Just as he was getting ready to take the last photo, an owl screeched overhead, and dropped a letter into their mother's hands.
Oh, it's a letter from Hogwarts! she cried. I wonder why they only sent one, you'll both be attending...
Perhaps they put them both in the same envelope. Mirabella offered, running closer to her mother.
But it's only addressed to you, Mirabella. said their father.
The family gathered around the letter, each reading, and slowly, each understanding.
This...this letter is only for Mirabella. their mother said.
There must be a mistake, Arabella said, her voice cracking as she tried not to cry. The owl must be bringing my letter later...there must be a mistake...
But there had been no mistake. The painful truth had been revealed, its sting more potent than anything else - Arabella was a squib. The joyousness that had existed only moments before had almost faded.
Mirabella reached out to touch her sister's hand, and Arabella grasped it with all her might, trying so hard to hold on to what she knew would be leaving her in a matter of weeks.
Let's get...one more photo in, shall we? their father said. Go stand over there, just one last shot.
The two sisters stood next to each other, still clutching each other's hands. This time, Mirabella stood towards the front, and Arabella towards the back. Smiling proved to be a very difficult task - her face felt stiff and tight, unwilling to break. Her heart was heavy with tears and sadness. She wanted to feel pride for her sister, she did...she just couldn't.
The picture was taken, and Mirabella let go of her sister's hand. She looked at her sadly.
I'm sorry, Arabella, she said at last, and it looked as if her own eyes were filled with tears. I'm so sorry.