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The Wonders of Magic

A small green creature was the first sight Rachel met. It was fidgeting around nervously. One of its hands was absentmindedly picking at its shirt as the other was brushing its ears down. The creature's eyes roomed to the fireplace where Rachel was standing. It let out a tiny squeak and jumped into the air. Once it settled down it bowed down and in a high-pitched voice said, "I am Bimble the house elf, miss. I assume that you are Ms. Rachel Green. Please let me take your bags."

Bimble grabbed the suitcase and duffle bag from Rachel's hands without waiting for an answer. He made his way across the room and turned before exiting the door.

"I'd advise that you step away from the fireplace, miss. Mistress Green will be arriving in a moment."

In less than a blink of the eye, Bimble was out the door. Rachel stepped off of the hearth, and began to take a good look around the room. The large iron stove and chrome refrigerator made it obvious that it was a kitchen. A massive table off to the side was covered with food. A delicious roasted turkey was in the center; surrounded by mountains of mashed potatoes, corn, buttered rolls, puddings, and other delectables of European origin.

Rachel was grabbing one of the rolls when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked behind her and saw Aunt Bernice grinning.

"Eat as much as you like. Just don't fill up so you can't eat dinner. Speaking of dinner, you won't be able to wear that!" Said Aunt Bernice as she ran her fingers through her hair, "No, you definitely can't wear that in front of guests."

"Guests?" Rachel said while trying to figure out what was wrong with her clothes.

"Oh, it completely passed my mind! I had a small get together with some of my friends planned for tonight."

"Oh, well you don't have to worry about me. I can eat in my room."

"Nonsense! It'll be a pleasure to show you off to my friends. We just can't have you looking like a muggle."

"A muggle?"

"That's what we call non-magic folk. Now come along dear, lets see what we can throw together in a half a hour."

Aunt Bernice dragged Rachel out the room by her arm and led her through the house. Rachel had a dazed look in her eyes by the time they stopped in a very pink and very frilly dressing room. Aunt Bernice noticed the confused look and sympathetically said, "I know the house is big, but you'll get use to it in no time and until you do, Bimble will help you."

She disappeared for a moment into a walk-in closet and came out with clothes draped over one arm. "I don't know what color robe would suit you, so I grabbed a few."

She then ushered Rachel to the center of the room where they could see their reflections in a three-way mirror. She then took one of the robes and held it in front of Rachel. It was a very lovely shade of pale green with a complicated design embroidered on the edges of the sleeves and hem.

"Spin," Aunt Bernice commanded.

Rachel spun in a complete circle. Although she was confused since she wasn't wearing the robe.

"Not you dear!" Aunt Bernice said holding in laughter, "I meant the mirror. Just watch... Spin."

Suddenly Rachel's reflection spun around. Not only that but it had the green robe on. Rachel, stun by the simple magic, raise her arms to see if mirror Rachel would move in sync with her. It did. She raised her other arm, and mirror Rachel followed suit. She then began to dance wildly and so did her reflection, although it did stumble a few times in the long robes.

"Rachel dear, it's just an enchanted mirror. Besides, we don't have time to have you changing in and out of clothing; we need to find you a dress robe." Said Aunt Bernice. She then threw the green robe aside and held a shorter, mango colored one up. Before the reflection had a chance to spin Aunt Bernice threw that robe aside also. After going through: a light blue, a yellow, a darker pink, and a vivid red; they settled for one that was tan and burgundy. It was burgundy with a semitransparent covering of tan over it and seems to sparkle, most likely from some sort of magic.

Aunt Bernice then sat her down on a small but comfy stool and stood back. She pulled out a wand and muttered a few words. Immediately a brush flew towards her and began to brush her hair, while a bottle of water, some bobby pins, and an attractive hairpin danced around her head.

"I would stay, but I have to make sure everything is running smoothly downstairs. When you're done just ring that bell," Aunt Bernice said motioning to a velvet rope by the door, "And Bimble should be here before you can say 'Fifty-five Chocolate Frogs' three times fast. He'll lead you downstairs into the parlor before dinner."

She quickly kissed Rachel's cheek and was out the door. Rachel turned her attention to the mirror where she saw the brush flying through her hair. In amazement she watched as it, with the help of the bobby pins, turn her frizzy hair into a masterpiece. The black locks were pulled behind the ears in soft curls, with the hairpin to one side finishing the look. Rachel smiled as her reflection grinned and winked at her. That was convincing enough for her. She went to the door and pulled the rope. No ring sounded, so she pulled once more, again there was no ring. So she went to pull for a third time, when the door burst open and Bimble tumbled inside.

"Bimble is here Miss." He squeaked from the floor. Rachel helped him up and watched as he brushed himself off.

"We must hurry. Mistress Green says that dinner will be served shortly." He said grasping her hand and rushing out the door. This time Rachel paid more attention to the details of the house. She noticed that the people in the portraits moved, which for some reason didn't surprise her at all. Nor the fact that a statue of a stern looking wizard was yelling at an owl that was perched on its head.

'I say my feathered friend won't you please get off me?'

'Woo?'

'I say, GET OFF ME!'

'Woo?'

"Bimble must leave you now Miss." he said pulling on her robe to get her attention.

"Wha? I can't find my way in this house!"

"But all you have to do is go down the stairs into that room." Said Bimble pointing at a door, "Goodbye."

He snapped his fingers and slowly faded away. Rachel took a deep breath and began to walk down the stairs. As she got closer, the noise in the room got louder, and her confidence got smaller. She paused as she placed her hand on the doorknob.

'What am I doing here? I don't belong. As soon as I open that door they'll all look at me like I'm some kind of freak.'

She removed her hand from the doorknob and was backing away, when she could hear Aunt Bernice's voice over all the others.

'I can't disappoint her. She has let me into her home with open arms. I can't just leave her like this.'

She straightened her back, took a deep breath, and pushed open the door. The crowd of people inside all turned their heads when the door opens. Rachel felt herself shrinking back from all of the eyes on her and was about to turn back when she saw Aunt Bernice smiling. She moved towards the frightened girl and took her hand.

"I would like everyone to meet my niece, Rachel. She's been living with her muggle mother for the past 11 years and has just been accepted into Hogwarts."

Everyone clapped and in a few moments turned back to their conversations. Aunt Bernice then began to lead Rachel around the room to personally introduce her to everyone.

"Yes, this is my niece.... She is lovely isn't she?.... Oh, of course I do hope she'll be in Ravenclaw. That's where I was.... Boyfriend? Why I don't believe she does..."

The names of everyone were jumbled in Rachel's head when the bell announcing dinner rang.

"Oh, It's unfortunate that I didn't get to introduce you to everyone. I was at least hoping you could meet Mr. and Mrs. Wood and their adorable son. They say he's going to be great quidditch player some day. Of course there's still after dinner coffee and desert."

Aunt Bernice said as they made their way into the dining room. She sat at the head of the table and had Rachel sitting right next to her.

Dinner was entertaining. There were so many courses to go through that by the end Rachel felt 5 pounds heavier. She had never been to a dinner party before so it surprised her to find that dinner wasn't the main point of the evening. It seemed that everyone spent more time talking than eating. The women talked of the latest treads in Witch Weekly while the men were discussing quidditch, and from the pieces of conversation that Rachel heard she was able to conclude that it was some kind of wizard sport. Another odd thing she found about dinner parties was that there was an obvious lack of younger guests. The only one that appeared her age was a brown hair, brown-eyed boy. He seemed to also realize that she was the only one his age because he kept glancing at her. And every time she acknowledged him he smiled, which of course made her smile. This youthful attempt of flirtation when on throughout the meal.

When Aunt Bernice realized that everyone had finished eating she stood up and offered coffee and desert for the women and hinted to the men that cigars and brandy could be found in drawing room if they followed her loyal house elf. Before the young boy that Rachel has been smiling at all through dinner had a chance to follow the men Aunt Bernice caught him by his collar.

"I think that you would have a better time in the parlor than with them." She said steering him in front of her.

The boy obviously thought the complete opposite by the disappointed look on him face. She led him into the parlor, "Besides I wanted to introduce you to my niece. Oliver this is Rachel. Rachel this is Oliver."

"It's nice to meet you Rachel." He said. His Scottish accent plus his good looks putting Rachel into a trance.