Truths Revealed

"So," my mom said. "The thing you're trying to say is that our daughter, Sanya, is a witch and since the school in our part of the world closed and the principal, or headmaster, never thought to tell us, she will go to Hogwarts. Also that you, Sirius Black, will be her tutor, with Dumbledore as your guide." She looked skeptical, and Dad was just plain confused.

Sirius looked defiant. "Yes. I'll show you." He flashed a grin at me. "Professor Dumbledore gave me permission." On the last remark, he muttered a word and sent a chair flying around the room, and Transfigured the salt bowl into a live mouse.

"Very nice. I believe you. But I think Trev would like to see the letter." Trevor, my dad, definitely looked as if he didn't believe his eyes.

So I carefully unsealed the parchment and took out the first page.

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 Calladorr,

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

We expect you on September 1. We await your owl no later than July 31st.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Minerva McGonagall,

Deputy Headmistress

Dad read it a couple of times, apparently not taking anything in. At long last he looked up, and said, "Well, it looks as if I'm going to have to believe you." Dad seemed to have given up – after all, the rest of us believed him, and by now he might have accepted the fact that magic had just been done in his dining room.

I cheered.

"But!" He held up a warning finger. "If I find this is only a joke, or my daughter is harmed in any way, you will have to answer to me." I snorted at this remark. What could my dad, a Muggle, do to Sirius Black, who was almost a full fleged wizard? However, the words apparently had a lot impact on my tutor.

"Yes, Mr. Calladorr." Sirius nodded, a strange far-away look in his eyes.

I rolled my eyes and told Dad that I would write to him every week.

"Good. One more thing. Why is my daughter going with you and not with a teacher?"

Sirius smiled. "I was wondering when you would get to this. Professor Dumbledore sent me in particular because I was the one whom Sanya seemed to be summoning, and Dumbledore trusts me."

Mom nodded. "Sounds reasonable. Trevor, I wouldn't worry that much. Sanya, you might want to go start packing." Sirius had turned on the charm full blast, and both my parents fell for it

And I did so. My last few days were rushed, what with my good-byes. I couldn't tell the truth to anyone, but my best friend (who lived in Massachusets and went to a private school there) picked up on all my hints and told me that she was a witch, too. Imagine my surprise! I promised to write often, and spent a lot of time packing, and teaching Sirius about Muggle things. It was strange to think that he didn't understand about electricity. I showed him the computer, television, and the vacuum along with the ordiany light bulb. They all fascinated him equally, something that fascinated me. It seemed like an eternity, and yet it seemed only a few minutes, before I walked out into my driveway, and watched Sirius summon the American version of the Knight Bus.

BANG! A second after Sirius held out his right hand, a HUGE three-decked, purple bus appeared out of nowhere . A tall young wizard in a purple uniform popped out, saying, "Yo, dude, this is the American Knight Bus. Just, like, stick out your wand hand if you want to be taken somewhere else, if you're, like, a witch or wizard stuck somewhere. I'm Sam Petford, yo, and I'm gunna be your conductor."

"Yes, yes, we know that. Here's the fare for two people going to the American Wizard International Transpotation Center. Sirius shoved a four Galleons and twelve Sickles at Sam. "That's where we're going." He tugged me aboard and we settled down in some overstuffed purple chairs.

I frowned, thinking. "Sirius, you've just paid for me."

Sirius grinned, slightly wolf-like. "I know. Listen, if that's bothering you, you can pay me back later."

"But that's just it. I don't have any wizard money, and my family isn't exactly rich."

"Oh! I forgot to tell you, didn't I? Yes, I did. To cut a long story short, Dumbledore sued Salem School – they were supposed to take you – and you were paid loads of money in compensation from that. Also, it turns out that you don't have all Muggles in the family, either. Your great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandmother was a witch. We suspect she was a Native American wise-woman. Anyway, she owned a small fortune. Since it's so old, it's worth far more nowadays. You inherited that, so it turns out you are rich, after all. And you're one five hundred and twelfth witch on your mother's side."

After all the stuff I had gone through recently, this bit of news didn't surprise me all that much. So I just said, "Sweet," and settled down to enjoy the Harry Potter books (I had brought most of my books in a magically expanding suitcase) for the billionth time.

This reclusive-ness only lasted fifteen minutes. Soon the temptation of talking to the very hot Sirius won me over and I struck up conversation, carefully avoiding the subject of my Harry Potter books. I hadn't let him touch them, for fear of him actually reading them and seeing how true they are. I hadn't even opened the third, fourth, or fifth book (especially not the fifth book).

"So, Sirius, tell me about your family? What are your friends' names? What are they like?"

And the rest of the trip on the American Knight bus was spent gathering background information, most of which I already knew of.