A/N: Most things written in italics are Dani's thoughts, hopefully you will be able to tell ;-)
Ssdiablo-Thank u! ur a star! Go You! And yes, I would v. v. much appreciate any tips you can give me on the subject J
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter yadda yadda yadda…
A Whole New World
It was Saturday, and raining. Danielle's mother was out at the hospital where she worked, and so she was being looked after by Aunt Kat. Kat had invited her latest boyfriend over, a fireman named Robert. "Robert" hadn't really grown on Dani very much, and in all likelihood he would be chucked by the end of the week anyway and her aunt would move onto somebody new. She and her mother played a game, trying to predict who would be Kat's next "victim." Dani had three weeks worth of pocket money on Al the "hunky" mechanic. Half the female population of Peterchurch was in love with Al, and Dani took fierce pride in the fact that her aunt would probably get him. She always did.
Meanwhile, she had to put up with drawing in the draughty cottage kitchen while Kat and her fireman canoodled in the lounge.
Danielle flipped idly through her sketchbook. She drew everyone and everything that popped into her head - her current favourite was a sketch of the two of them, her mum and her aunt, sprawled in front of their picturesque whitewashed cottage. It wasn't raining that day, reflected Dani with a wry smile. It was the hottest day of summer, and Kat had had Danielle in stitches of laughter through her paranoia that her fake tan would melt. Grinning, Dani got up to go to the living room.
"Hey Kat. Lover boy gone?"
Kat wagged her finger. "Less of your cheek, sugarplum. Bob happens to be very nice."
"Oh, its Bob now, is it?" Dani entered spiritedly into the game. This would be good for a tease, especially as her aunt was very protective when it came to her boyfriends. She assumed her "Innocent little angel" expression. "Fulfil all the correct - requirements - does he?"
Kat gasped. "How dare you!" she cried in mock outrage, grabbing the sofa cushion and proceeding to attack.
The resulting pillow fight was fast and furious. Amid flying feathers, the two shrieked and giggled uproariously as they charged round the lounge. Kat saw an opening and vaulted neatly across the coffee table, crashing her niece into an armchair in the process.
"Do you surrender?" She gasped.
"NEVER!" Proclaimed a red-cheeked Dani.
"I think you will!" Kat declared. "Reason being, you can never win against me!"
"And?" Prompted Danielle saucily.
"And…" Her aunt continued, "I am absolutely gasping for a coffee, so I say we call a truce, hmm, darling?"
Danielle was saved the necessity of answering by the chiming of the doorbell. She wriggled out from the chair and bolted to answer, plucking feathers from her hair as she went.
The rain was lashing down outside. There was nobody in sight, save a friendly, official looking man with shoulder length salt-and-pepper hair, currently standing on their doorstep. Dani stared. The gentleman was wearing an elaborate set of pinstriped purple robes.
He smiled in a friendly sort of way at Danielle. Dani continued to merely stare at him. The man's smile slipped, and he cleared his throat, riffling through some papers. "Are you Miss Danielle Carmichael, of number 5, Elwood Cottages, Peterchurch?" He inquired.
Oh my Lord, thought Dani. This crazy - cross dresser - knows my name. What on earth was Bob the Fireman's number again?
"Miss?" The man peered at her in concern. "Miss, are you quite alright?" Dani made a decision and snapped back to reality.
"Yes I am, and who's asking?"
"Wha- oh. My name is Thomas Dylan, and I work in the Muggle Liaison office at the Ministry of Magic." He "harrumphed" importantly. "I am here to discuss a very important matter with you and your parents - or guardians."
Magic what! Dani thought. No way is this nutter coming in my house - but how to get rid of him-
Footsteps in the hall, and a call of: "Darling, who's at the door?" Interrupted her train of thought. Kat.
Her aunt saw the stranger. "Oh! I love your costume! Are you collecting for charity?" She said chattily.
The man brightened and regained his composure. "Actually, I have something I need to discuss with you. Are you Miss Carmichael's guardian?"
Dani felt irritated, and mentally scored a black mark against the pompous man.
It was a common occurrence that strangers often thought Dani was unrelated to her mother and her aunt, as she was slightly coloured. Her skin tone, hair and eye colour were the only things she had inherited from her anonymous father, whom with her mother had had a fleeting one night stand with 11 years ago.
Bloody pompous git. Next he'll be doing the "Oh! Really! That's nice…" routine and stand staring at us like some demented goldfish, she thought. On more than one occasion Dani had demanded to know just exactly was so nice, hence the warning glance Aunt Kat was shooting at her.
Still with her eyes fixed on her niece, Kat replied "No. I am her Aunt - would you like to come in? Maybe we could have some coffee…"
The man beamed. "I would love a coffee, Madam - you do know you have feathers in your hair?"
Dani then had to trail a giggling Kat as she explained the pillow fight, and the "Ministry Official" as he attempted to find an opening to the subject he wanted to discuss. He soon gave up as Kat started to babble about biscuits to have with the coffee as he settled himself onto the couch.
"Ministry Official" My ass Thought Danielle angrily. Aunt Kat never failed to amaze her at how incredibly thick she could be sometimes.
Dani re-read the letter. "Hogwarts School of Witchcraft And Wizardry…" "No way?" She said.
The man raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Oh it's all quite true, I assure you - and don't worry, this information pack explains everything, it even has a muggle address you can post enquiries to-"
"Muggle?" Kat asked.
"Wizarding term for a non-magic person - Merlin's beard look at the time-!" He jumped up and began to collect his things. "Please think about it Miss - although I suspect you will decide to go once you have read the info pack, it explains all about the dangers of a magical child not being able to control and use their magical potential -" He hurriedly shook hands all round - " Have a very nice day."
And with that, he moved to the centre of the room and vanished with a loud "POP."
Kat screeched and dropped on to the sofa. "Bloody- sugarplum, are you OK?"
Dani, slightly dazed, glanced at her aunt. "That was - that was-" She stared at the spot where the official had last stood. Danielle Carmichael, Witch. Wow.
"I could do that, too" she whispered. Mind made up, she turned to face her aunt. "That" She announced grinning, "Was cool!"
Aunt Kat groaned. "That's beautiful, sugarplum, but have you considered what your mother is going to think of this?"
A/N: Well? You like? Now see the beeeoootiful blue button there? Go on- Press it!
Seriously, if you have a helpful comment to make, or an opinion at all, Me n my muse, Fred, would love to hear it - you know I'd do the same for you! ;-)
A/Nn I love italics. ( And reviews, hint, hint)