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A New Beginning

Rachel had decided to sleep in late on Sunday. Ever since the day of the letter her mom had been treating her like a diseased animal. She wouldn't even go near her. When Saturday rolled around at the breakfast table her mom looked over to Sammi and said, "I'd think it best if just you and I go to church tomorrow. We wouldn't want a Satan worshiper going into a godly place." Rachel understood her loud and cleared and figured that it couldn't get worse. So she just didn't get up when she heard the bustling around downstairs early in the morning.

This was, of course, a smart decision because when the mail arrived. Rachel noticed a letter addressed to her from her dad. If her mom had received this after church she would've snapped. Rachel quickly ran upstairs to her room, almost as if she was afraid that if she stayed downstairs her mom would burst through the door and take the letter.

She sat on her bed and fingered the envelope for a few moments. Studying the handwriting, the seal of wax (different from the Hogwarts one) on the back. She finally ripped the top and took out the letter. Unfolding it she carefully read:

Dear Rachel,

I am happy to hear that you have been excepted into Hogwarts. I have dutifully sent the necessary money for your education. But I kindly ask that you never contact me again. I am happily married (to a witch, of course) and have 3 children. I love my life now and do not want to be troubled with memories from the past.

Sincerely,

Henry Green

Tears rolled down her face as she finished. Fragments of the letter flew through her mind.

'.... never contact me again.... troubled with memories from the past.... how could he do this to me? I thought he would be happy that I wanted HIM back in MY life.'

Her dismay soon became anger as she kept thinking.

'How dare he act like I'm something that can be pitched aside and just go away. I'd be glad to never contact him again. To think, I was so willing to open my heart to such a cold man.'

She threw the envelope towards the garbage can but as it sailed across the room a dozen gold coins went flying through the air. Amazed at such an unexpected thing, she went over to the garbage and picked up the envelope. Turning it upside down, a tiny mountain of the coins appeared in front of her. She realized that they were different from regular money. Of course there was fact that they were gold coins and not green dollar bills, but aside of that, they had a tiny picture of what was probably a wizard and the word gallon on it. She continued to finger the coin deep in thought, until a voice snapped her back to reality.

"I see you contacted your father." Her mother said not really expecting an answer, "He always had a tendency to go over board..."

"Not really, this is to last me for my whole time at Hogwarts. He, he told me never to contact him again." Rachel said dropping the coin.

"Of course, he probably doesn't want any reminder of me around him. I was, you know, the only thing he couldn't have. We were married but he never really loved me, so I left him. And he resented that." She paused in thought for a moment, then continued, "well then, I must call your Aunt Bernice. Since you actually plan to go along with this."

"Why?" Rachel asked confused.

"You don't expect to stay here do you? I can't have Sammi knowing what you are. So I'm going to ask your father's sister if she'll take you. She is one of them, don't you know." Her mother said indignantly. She left the room, closing the door behind her.

Rachel fell backwards onto her bed. Tears slowly slid down her face staining the satin pillow case surrounding her.

'Why do I feel like this should be an exciting time right now. Yet I can't hold back tears. I feel like I'm some unwanted pest. My mother is practically disowning me, my father already has. I want to go to Hogwarts. See the other side of me, of my life, but I don't want to leave my home. Sure I don't have the greatest family nor the best of friends. I just don't know anymore.' Rachel thought to herself.

A whimper slipped from her lips and somehow broke what control she still had over herself. Suddenly a wave of fresh tears overcame her and she shook as they fell. Her head shot up as he door opened.

"Are you alright sissy?" Sammi asked warily entering the room.

"Yes," Rachel answered rubbing her eyes vigorously.

"What do you want?" she said sounding more harsh then she intended.

"Nothing, I just heard you crying." Sammi said with concern in her voice.

Rachel sighed and signaled for her to come over, "Come here. I'm just a little upset that's all..."

"Is it because mommy's making you go away?"

"Yes, that's one of the reasons."

"Oh, is it because you were bad?"

"No, see mommy's not really making me go away. I'm going to a school over the ocean , far, far away..."

"I don't want you to go!"

I know. But see it's a school for..." Rachel paused. Should she tell her the real reason? She didn't want to lie to her but would it be for the better?

"A school for what?" Sammi said breaking her thought.

Looking into those eyes she knew what to say. Sammi was so young, so innocent. She probably wouldn't even understand about magic really existing, but she had to tell her anyway. She couldn't lie to Sammi like her mother had lied to her.

"for magic. It's a school for magic."

"Really! You mean magic magic. Like flying and pulling rabbits out of hats magic?"

"Umm, I guess so. I don't really know what they teach but I'll probably learn stuff like that. But listen, you can't tell mom that I told you. She'll be really mad and I'll never be able to see you again."

Sammi's eyes grew big and filled with tears. She clung around Rachel's waist and said in a pleading voice, "Please don't leave me. I want to go with you , please!"

Rachel felt her heart melt at those words and it pained her to say the next part. "You can't come. You have to stay here and take care of mommy, okay?"

"But I want to go with you!"

"When you're older maybe you'll get a letter too and can come."

"Really." Sammi said looking up at her big sister, "I'll be able to learn magic just like you!"

"Yes but only if you're a good girl. And can you do one thing for me?" Rachel asked.

"Sure."

"You can't tell mom that I told you all about witches and wizards. If you do mommy will get really mad and you won't be able to go to Hogwarts. Do you understand?"

"Yes."

The echo of someone coming up the stairs sounded in the room. "Now go to your room so mom doesn't know you've been talking to me, k?"

Sammi nodded and quickly sneaked out the door and down the hall. Rachel gave a deep sigh when she heard Sammi's bedroom door close. Moments later her mom entered carrying a floral printed suitcase in one hand and a small black duffle bag in the other. "Here, pack everything you'll need in these. Your aunt will be here shortly to pick you up. She mentioned something about staying away from the fireplace. Nutters, all of them, if you ask me."

She walked out of the room and continued to mumble as she went down the stairs. Rachel groan as she began to open the drawers of her oak dresser and completed a task which would properly take a few hours in 10 minutes. She heaved the suitcase down the stairs into the hall and brought down the duffle bag soon after. Not wanting to just sit around until her aunt came she started to call all of her friends and gave them the surprising news that she was going to a British boarding school. Of course she didn't mention the fact that it was for magic but she figured it would be best if no one knew the truth.

Twenty minutes later a lady dressed in vibrant blue robes came from the living room into the kitchen. Quite shocked Rachel just stood there in disbelief. "How did you get in here? I didn't think you could fly from England here this fast!" was all she could sputter.

"Why by floo powder, my dear. It really is the only way to travel." the lady said sticking out a neatly manicured hand. "And you must be Rachel. You've grown since I've last seen you."

Rachel still very shocked took her hand and was surprised to be pulled in for a hug. "You didn't think I would give the niece I haven't seen for years just a hand shake did you? We're going to have so much fun together. Wait 'til you see the room I have set up for you. You're gonna just love it! I know you'll only be there for less then a month but there's still Christmas and Easter Vacation. Now I believe that your mother would like us to leave as soon as possible." Aunt Bernice said while gripping Rachel to her chest the whole time. She eventually let go of Rachel and bent down to pick up her suitcase and bag.

"Can I say good bye to Sammi first?" Rachel ask apprehensively.

"Sammi? Oh, your sister. Of course you can. I'll be in the living room when you're ready." Aunt Bernice said while taking the suitcase and duffle bad out of her hands.

Rachel quickly walked upstairs into her sister's extremely pink room. She saw Sammi curled in to ball fast asleep in her bed. Smiling Rachel quietly walked up to her and gently shook her awake. "Sammi. Sammi, I have to go now."

Sammi slowly sat up and stared at her big sister. "Before you start to cry, remember that it's not forever. I'll write whenever I can, just don't let mom see the letters. And maybe you'll be able to stay at Aunt Bernice's for awhile during the summer? I love you and I'll never forget you." Rachel said as tears formed in her eyes. She closed them for a moment to regain composer. If she started to cry then so would Sammi.

"I love you too Rachel." Sammi finally said, "I want to give you something before you go." She got off the bed and went to the opposite side of the room where her toy box sat. Digging through it she pulled out a tattered stuffed elephant. Holding it out in front of her patently waiting for Rachel to take it.

"I can't take Elli from you. She's your favorite toy." Rachel replied pushing Sammi's hand away.

"I want you to have it for now. You said that we'll see each other again so you can give me it back then. But you're gonna be leaving home and going all the way across the ocean to school and you'll be all alone." Sammi answered wisely.

Rachel glanced at the elephant knowing Sammi was right. She took it from her and gently held it in her hands. "I want to give you something too." She reached behind her head and unclasped a locket from around her neck. She placed it around Sammi's neck and said, "Just so you don't forget me either."

The hug that took place then was filled with love and sadness. Too soon they parted and Rachel looked down at her little sister. "I love you." she said and quickly walked out the door. As she went down the stairs she heard "I love you" being shouted from her sister and then sobbing followed.

She entered the living room to see her aunt silently standing by the fireplace and her mom sitting stiffly on the couch. "All ready to go dear?" her aunt asked while pulling out a small drawstring bag.

"Yes. Goodbye mom." Rachel said moving to give her a kiss.

"Yes, yes." her mother replied waving her hand as if shooing a fly. Rachel took the hint and walked over to her aunt who had just lit a fire. She saw her throw a pinch of a shimmering powder from the bag into it and the flames suddenly turned vibrant green.

"Now you step into the flames and said 'Green Lake Shores' and you'll feel very odd and when you slow down take a step forward and you'll be at your new home." Aunt Bernice said casually.

"You want me to get into the fire!" Rachel exclaimed thinking her aunt had gone crazy.

"Oh, it's quite cool." Aunt Bernice replied sticking her hand in it.

Hesitantly Rachel stuck her hand in the flames and was surprised to see that her aunt was right. With more confidence she walked into the fireplace. The flames tickled her and some flying ashes flew into her mouth when she said, "Green Lake Shores." Rachel could feel herself begin to spin. The fireplace slowly started to turn round and round. She could see different fireplaces swirling around her. Soon enough she began to slow and she quickly moving her leg forward, stumbling into a completely different room.