I AM SO SORRY! IF YOU WERE CONFUSED, I'M SORRY! I ACCIDENTALLY PUT IT N HARDY BOYS! BUT IT'S FIXED NOW!
Chapter One – No Way!
"Pass it, Charlotte, pass it!" cried Belinda, the Little Hanging Lions' coach. Charlotte Vaughan passed the ball obediently to her teammate, Claire Cooper.
Charlotte sped into the goal circle, running faster than she ever had. She received the ball back from Claire and, before the Goal Keeper knew what had happened, the ball had popped through the goal and the whistle rang through the crisp autumn air.
"I can't bear to watch," Mrs. Vaughan told her husband fearfully. "They're still a goal down."
But luckily, it was the Lion's centre pass and Charlotte managed another goal quickly, and the scores were even.
The Northern Districts Hawks' Centre glanced at her Wing Attack and Goal Attack. There was only time for one more play.
The whistle sounded, and the Centre immediately passed to her WA. But the Wing Defence was too quick, and she passed to Claire again.
"Claire! Claire!" screamed Charlotte, running into the circle again. "Quickly!"
Charlotte's player was quite short, so Claire lobbed it high and Charlotte caught it easily. She pivoted to face the goal.
She knew she only had three seconds, but she couldn't afford to miss this goal. She carefully aimed, and the ball left her fingertips.
The whistle rang out again. "Lions' centre pass," the umpire called. But the bell sounded, and she blew again. "Time. Lions' win!"
The seven Little Hanging players on the court screamed and met in the middle, hugging madly. Family members, friends and the rest of the team soon joined them.
"Great shooting, Char!" cried Claire.
"You weren't so bad yourself," Charlotte replied, grinning. She wiped the sweat from her face and impatiently tucked the locks that had escaped from her ponytail behind her ear. "You're great in wing."
The team bathed in the glory of winning. They had, for the first time ever, won the Under 13's Surrey Netball Association's Summer Competition's grand final, and they weren't going to let that feat go unnoticed.
Continual praise came Charlotte's way, for they all thought her shooting was excellent. But, finally, her mother insisted that she come home for dinner.
Charlotte left happily, thinking about the game. It had been very close, the lead switching several times.
Never did it cross her mind that she wouldn't play a proper season of netball again.
At breakfast the next day, Charlotte heard a tapping at the window. She looked up, wondering who – or what – it was.
She faintly heard her mother scream.
An owl was sitting on the windowsill, pecking at the glass. A letter was tied to its left foot, so it hopped around so as not crush it.
Charlotte ran to the window, opening it. The bird flew in, landing on the table and holding its leg out expectantly.
Nervously, Charlotte reached for the letter.
She turned it over. She broke an official-looking, old-fashioned seal to open the letter.
The letter was made of the same parchment, written in the same emerald ink. A coat of arms, like that on the seal, was that of a lion, serpent, badger and eagle united around a large letter 'H'. Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus seemed to proclaim a motto.
Charlotte began to read the letter:
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Miss Vaughan, [it read]
We are pleased 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 and instructions for the start of term.
Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Charlotte reread the letter several times. This has got to be a joke, surely! she thought. No way do witches exist! No way am I a witch!
"What's wrong, dear?" asked her mother, catching the look on her daughter's face.
"Read it," she replied weakly, handing the letter over.
As Mrs. Vaughan read the letter to her husband, Charlotte searched the envelope for the other enclosed letters. She found two more pieces of paper she hadn't noticed before and read on the first:
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' clothes should carry nametags.
Set Books
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginners' Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
A Guide to Self-Protection from the Dark Forces by Artemis Coffely
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 ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS
Charlotte eagerly switched her attention to the other document. It read:
As you are of Muggle (non-magical) parentage, you may find it useful to be enlightened on Hogwarts and other related subjects.
Children showing signs of magic, or coming from a wizarding family, are accepted at Hogwarts. There they will learn to acknowledge, use and control their magic.
To take your place at Hogwarts, you must send a letter to us by owl. To do this, simply attach the letter to the owl who delivered this to you and it will take it to us.
Items you require at Hogwarts are available at Diagon Alley. On Terrier Road, London, a pub called The Leaky Cauldron may be found. Further instructions can be obtained from the barman, Tom.
Enclosed is a ticket for the Hogwarts Express. You will find Platform 9 ¾ if you lean on, run at or walk through the barrier between platforms nine and ten.
If further instructions are required, please send your requests with your reply.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Charlotte glanced at the owl, which was helping itself to her cornflakes. Well, she thought, if this is a joke, it's a very good one.
She passed the last letter to her father, who quickly read through it.
"I'm not surprised, you know," her mother said softly. "My cousin went to Hogwarts."
"Which one?" enquired Charlotte.
"Hilary Hicks," she replied. "Dora's mother. I haven't seen her for donkeys years, to tell you the truth. Not since she got her letter,"
"So …" Charlotte broke off, the statement sinking in. "So, you knew this would happen! You knew I was a witch!"
"I knew it might happen. I didn't tell you because – well, you know what little girls are like!"
"So I'm a little girl now, am I?" Charlotte snarled, barely restraining herself from shouting.
"Don't use that tone of voice with me, young lady. I didn't tell you because I didn't want to get your hopes up. And darling, please, you know you were a little girl once, and even if you aren't one now you will always be my little girl. Remember that,"
Charlotte struggled to keep her temper under control. Her parents were always saying or doing things that she didn't like. She'd been excited about a holiday to England, but she hated the fact that they had decided to live there. She was eleven now, surely they could include her in these decisions? What if she'd liked Australia? What if she hated dark, cold, gloomy Britain?
~*~
'Kay, now, peoples, you review or else! Owight? Okay. Now. Do it now!
Uh, just so you know, this will get better. I have mostly the whole story planned out. So review and I'll make it get better!