II

My 11th birthday party was small. No one wanted to come who wasn't family. And Petunia probably wouldn't have come if Mom and Dad didn't make her. But although my party only consisted of four people including me, it was one of the happiest days in my life.

I suppose that the day started off normally enough. I woke up early, which I only do on my birthday and Christmas morning. I got dressed and went downstairs to find that I was the only one awake. I waited for about five minutes and since no one came downstairs I decided to wake them up. Well, I would wake up my parents. If I tried to wake Petunia up she'd scream bloody murder.

I ran upstairs and jumped on my parents' bed, successfully waking them up. Well, somewhat waking them up. Mom grabbed me and pulled me under the covers with her.

"It's too early to get up," she whispered pulling me close.

Dad just laughed and started to get out of bed and ready for the day. He had made sure to have today off because it was important to him that the family be together for as many birthdays as possible. Although since Petunia started at Madam Crane's Finishing School For Young Ladies, we haven't been together for either her or mom's birthdays. And next year, I would start at Madam Crane's which meant that I wouldn't be with Mom on her birthday. But for now, we were together. And I, for one, was not going to waste a moment of it.

I jumped right up and pulled mom out from under the covers. I dragged her towards the closet. "You have to get ready now Mom," I hurried her. "We can't waste a moment. Today is too important. We can't waste anytime!"

"Alright, alright," Mom laughed. She pulled me close and kissed the top of my head. "Go downstairs Lily-flower. We'll be down in a moment." She then, gently, pushed me out the door. I hesitated and Mom told me that if I wanted to stay upstairs, I should wake up Petunia. I made a face and ran downstairs to wait for Mom and Dad.

I didn't have to wait long before Dad came downstairs followed closely by Mom. Mom gave me a birthday hug while Dad started on the traditional birthday breakfast. When Dad was almost done making breakfast, Mom went upstairs to wake up Petunia. They both came downstairs as Dad was starting to serve breakfast.

Petunia grumbled about how she could be visiting Marge or Victoria but instead was here. Mom and Dad silenced her with "the look". "The look" is the look that all parents master. It tells you that if you don't stop what you're doing right now, you are going to be grounded until you're 80.

We were finishing breakfast when something very curious happened. An owl flew through the kitchen window. Thankfully the window was open so the owl didn't get hurt. The owl flew over to me and dropped a letter on my lap.

That set Petunia off again. "Get that freak bird out of here you FREAK!" She yelled at me.

"Petunia, dear," Mom said trying to calm her down. "Lily did not make this bird appear."

Mom's try didn't work. Petunia kept rattling on about how freak birds are attracted to freak people. Mom kept on trying to calm her down or get her out of the room and Dad was busy trying to help her. The owl was perched on the back of my chair and I was looking at the letter that the owl had dropped on my lap.

The letter was addressed:
Lily Cassandra Evans
2nd Bedroom to the right
79 Charlotte Drive, Little Winging

Everything was written in emerald green ink. I cracked open the seal on the back of the envelope and noticed that there were two sheets of paper inside. The first sheet read:

HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore (Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc, Chf. Warlock, Mugwump, National Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Miss Evans,

We are please to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl no later than 31 July.

Yours Sincerely

Alexander Coils
Deputy Headmaster

This was it! This had to explain why all that weird stuff would happen without me being able to control it. And if this place taught that kind of stuff, then they could also help me control it so that it wouldn't get me in trouble anymore. I had to show my parents.

"Mom! Dad!" I shouted to get their attention. "You have to see this! Can I go? Please? Pretty please?"

"Hold on there Lily-flower," Dad said putting one hand on my shoulder and taking the letter with the other hand. "Now let's see what this is." He read the letter out loud so that everyone could hear it.

"Hah!" yelled Petunia victoriously. "I knew that she was a freak. If she wasn't that freak school wouldn't have wanted her."

Mom, who was tired of dealing with Petunia, told her to go upstairs to her room and not come out until Mom or Dad went up to get her. Looking at me she said, "Lily-flower, your father and I are going to have to discuss this for a little while. Go into the living room and listen to the radio or read a book while we talk okay?"

I didn't want to wait for an answer but I did as I was told anyway. It only took them ten minutes to decide to let me go. It was then that we wondered what they meant by 'We await your owl'. But that mystery was solve soon enough as the owl that had delivered my letter was still there and looked as if he was waiting for something.

"Maybe the owl is waiting for our response?" I asked not quite sure if that was it.

But Mom and Dad seemed to think that that was good enough so Mom got out a sheet of paper and a pen to write a response. Dad and I looked at the school list.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY

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 hide or similar)
4. One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupils' clothing should carry name tags

Set Books All students should have a copy of each of the following:
First Grade Spells by Anabelle Lewis A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling Schoolyard Transfiguration (Grade One) by 900 Magical Plants by Phyllida Spore Liquid Magic by Lee Quid Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble

Other Equipment 1 wand 1 cauldron (pewter standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials 1 telescope 1 set brass scales Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad

Parents should note that first years are not to bring their own broomsticks.

Dad told Mom to ask in the letter how we are to get all of these school items. Mom included it and then sent the letter off.

The rest of the day was, somewhat, normal. Petunia was up in her room for most of the day because she kept on yelling at me when she wasn't and she also refused to apologize.
Petunia gave me a new journal (which I'm pretty sure my parents picked out) so that I could record my school memories. My parents gave me a silver comb, brush and mirror set for my hair.

My hair is one of two parts of my body that I absolutely love. It is a rich red color. Not the orangey red or brownish reds that some are but it was a true red. I also love my eyes. My eyes are a deep green. Some might call it an emerald green but I've always thought of it as tree green. That's because my eyes change hues depending on my mood. So sometimes it's emerald or forest or moss or whatever hue of green you can think of. But it is my hair and my eyes that set me apart from everyone else and that is why I love them.

That night, I went to bed and dreamt about what it would be like to go to a school of magic.