DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Chapter 1
The Letter
As soon as I got home from day camp, I ran straight up to my room and shut the door, trying to avoid being assigned any chores. Turning on my record player, I grabbed one of my sister Petunia's teenage magazines and fell into my pink bed. It was time to "zone out". I was just reading what style would be best for my thick, fluffy hair when the music abruptly ended and Teen Today was snatched from my hands.
"Petunia!" I cried. My sister was a typical fifteen year old. The world of course revolved around her.
"Are you aware that that is my magazine and my record?"
"Petunia, this magazine is over a year old, you said I could have it, and you don't even like The Beatles anymore, you never like anything for more than a month," I said calmly in my defense, trying to sound superior.
"Well, I've got to keep up with the times, Lily! Just because I don't listen to the record anymore, that doesn't mean I want you messing up my player! And I changed my mind! I want my magazine back. It goes with my collection. Besides, nothing in there applies to you anyway. You're not a teenager, you're ELEVEN."
Petunia found pleasure in stating the fact that I was four years younger than her whenever possible. She thought that being in high school somehow made her more sophisticated and … just plain better. The fact that she acted like a four year old didn't seem to make a difference. "I'm not stupid. We both know you don't have a collection. You usually throw them out rather than give them to me, and I am reduced to nicking them from the dustbin. You just came up here for the sole purpose of ruining my day."
Petunia narrowed her eyes loathingly, but, recognizing defeat, got off the magazine subject. "Actually, I came up here to give you a message. Go downstairs and help Mum fold laundry."
I rolled onto my stomach and closed my eyes. "Make me". My sister took this literally. Seizing my arm, she shoved me out the door. I stomped down the stairs, only to find that Mum had already finished the laundry, and was sleeping on the sofa, television still on. I stormed upstairs.
"Finished already?" Petunia smiled innocently.
"You are insufferable!" I flopped onto my bed once again. After being forced to exercise for an hour and a half at camp, I was exhausted. I couldn't sleep, though, even after twenty minutes with my eyes closed, my head under my pillow. I grabbed a book from under my bed. My book. Now she would have nothing to nag me about. I could still feel eyes on me from the bed across the room, though.
"Pity you couldn't sleep. You could use some beauty rest."
I ignored her.
Morning brought heat streaming through the window onto me. It was Saturday. No camp. Yes. I had put my bed in that specific spot for a reason. In the summer mornings, my body usually woke me up at right about 8:00, and the sun was always shining in that part of the room. I felt like an angel, with the light focused on me. It made the edges of my deep red hair seem to glow. I needed just one small thing to make me feel beautiful and special. I needed a reason to get up in the morning. Luckily, Petunia had never discovered my secret about the light. If she had, she would have taken it away from me, just like she took away everything else. Just to make me angry. But then again, I wasn't surprised. Petunia never seemed to notice the small things, unless they had to do with her hair, makeup, or anything that might give someone the impression that she wasn't perfect. But how could she ever really feel beautiful without the small things?
I didn't have much time to ponder this, though. Mum began calling from downstairs.
"Lily! Breakfast!"
I could smell the eggs and bacon and hurried downstairs.
Mum kissed me on the top of the head and told me to sit down, before shoveling food onto my plate. Once everyone was served, we started eating and getting into our usual, boring breakfast routine. Mum and Dad were talking about the normal adult things - politics, weather, gossip about the neighbors or people at church. Petunia was across from me, talking on the phone with one of her million best friends. Mum had tried over and over again to get Petunia to stop talking on the telephone during meals, but had eventually given up. I was always quiet, though. I nibbled on a piece of toast, turned around in my chair, and stared out the large window, people - watching. It is so extremely difficult to people - watch, though, when there are no people. Come on! It's a beautiful July morning, I thought. Surely someone will want to take a walk! I sat there for about fifteen minutes, until my toast was gone, staring intently out the window, hoping that someone, anyone, would walk by. Preferably someone I didn't know, though. Then I could make up their name, age, what they were feeling at the moment and why. This was what I was reduced to. My life was so boring and consistent that I had to make up stories about other peoples'. I finally gave up and turned back. My mother and father were now reading different sections of the newspaper, while Petunia chattered on. I was starting to wish that I did have camp. I was bored almost to tears, and the day had barely started. Nothing interesting was happening at home, and the few friends that I had were all on holiday or at overnight camps. I was desperately hoping that something different would happen, when I caught a disgusting whiff of something burning. I saw smoke.
"Dad, the oven's burning!", I managed to get out, just before flames erupted. This was especially strange, considering the oven wasn't even on.
My family jumped up. Mum and Dad sprayed the oven with the fire extinguisher.
Petunia, still on the phone, screamed to her friend, "Susan! SUSAN! OH NO! My house is on fire! I can't breathe! I think I'm dying!" I only stood by and watched. When everyone had finally calmed down, about twenty minutes had passed. I had the whole rest of the day ahead of me. I heard the familiar "screech, squeak, tink!" of our mail slot and went running. I always wanted to be first to the mail, just in case there was something for me, even though there hardly ever was. I sorted through the envelopes. Three bills, a letter for Petunia, and a letter for me. Laying the other four on a table near the door, I sat on the sofa to open mine. It was very old - fashioned. It seemed to be made of parchment, and a red wax seal on the back had the letter "H" surrounded by a lion, an eagle, a badger, and a snake. It was addressed, in violet ink, to:
Lily Evans
Bedroom Overlooking the Street
Number 16 Oak Drive
Gingerheart
Surrey
There was no stamp or return address. I opened it, very curious. There were three pieces of parchment inside. The first one read:
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Miss Evans,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to HogwartsSchool of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress
I was completely confused. It must be a prank, but none of my friends knew where I slept. I'd never had them over because of my sister. Besides, none of them were home anyway, and this had to have been dropped off at my house. There was no stamp. I decided to read the rest to see if I got any more information. I pulled out the list.
HogwartsSchool 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 winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)
4. Completely black shoes ( any non-magic type)
5. Three button - up shirts with collars (plain white, no design)
Slacks, skirts, and vests must be bought from Hogwarts, and may be pre - ordered. One patch for each cloak and one tie according to house must also be bought after Sorting. House scarves, gloves, and hats are also available but not required. All cloaks and robes should reach ankles, and all clothes should carry nametags. Uniforms are not required on weekends or holidays, but must be worn all day schooldays.
COURSE BOOKS
First - year students will require:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1)
by Miranda Goshawk
Magical History (Grade 1)
by George Bagshot
Magical Theory
by Aldabert Waffling
The Standard Book of Transfiguration (Grade 1, 2nd Edition)
by Miranda Goshawk
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi
by Phyllida Spore
Encyclopedia of Magical Beasts and Creatures
by Faye Hermit
The Dark Force: A Guide to Self - Protection
by Quentin Trimble
Magical Drafts and Potions
by Arsenius Jigger
OTHER EQUIPMENT
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
2 sets brass scales
Students may also bring A cat OR toad OR rat OR owl
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS
Broomsticks, wands, cauldrons? If someone wanted to trick me into believing it, they could have done a lot better than that! Of course, I didn't believe it, but I wanted to, so, so much. I would have given anything for it to be true.
I ran into the kitchen. Only my mother was there. She was now reading a book and had a cup of tea. "Mum! You'll never believe what was sent to me. Read this."
She took the envelope from me and proceeded to read the parchment. After a few minutes, she handed them back to me and said, seemingly uninterested, "I don't know who sent it to you or their intentions, but I suggest you just throw it out."
I was disappointed, but I didn't know why. "Yes, ma'am." I went back upstairs and started to toss the envelope out, but I stopped myself. Instead, I walked to my bed and, lifting my mattress, placed it underneath. I let go of the mattress and went to go see what was on television.
