I spent most of the day pacing around the house while I listened to loud music. I could not get the teachers words out of my head. To get my mind off of what she had told me I decided to go to the pool for the afternoon. The pool was only a couple blocks away and I hadn't gone yet that summer afraid that people from my class would be there. It was a very hot day and I decided to risk it. I ran upstairs to my room to change into my black one piece bathing suit and then I pulled a blue skirt over my bathing suit and grabbed my favourite towel with kittens on it.

I grabbed my flip flops when I got downstairs and then I hurried outside pulling them on as I went. I smiled at the little children who were running around on their yards and I envied them. They weren't just told that they had magical powers and they also wouldn't spend their school career being teased because of the powers. I started humming to a song stuck in my head by the Spice Girls as I continued down the street.

When I arrived at the pool, it was already full of little kids in the shallow end, but luckily the deep end didn't have many people in it. I found a place for my stuff then I kicked off my sandals and pulled my skirt before running and jumping into the pool. I swam a few laps in only the deep end before leaning against the wall of the pool. As I did, I saw two boys and a girl from my class and my heart dropped. The two boys weren't so bad but Susie Trewson was terrible.

"Look who it is." Susie said. "What are you doing here Amy?"

"Swimming because I am allowed." I answered.

I didn't even know why Susie was with the two boys, Joseph and Byron. As far as I knew they couldn't stand each other. The boys thought Susie's group of friends were too bossy and very silly while Susie's group called the boys jerks. I had a feeling that Susie had been badgering the boys before I had arrived. I had always gotten along with Joseph and Byron so I hoped they weren't going to tease me now. We weren't friends but the boys also didn't believe that I was a freak.

"You're in for an interesting school year, just so you know." Susie continued pretending not to have heard me. "Any friends you make will be gone once they find out exactly what you are."

"Have fun with that." I began without thinking. "Because I am not going to that school now. I finally convinced my parents to send me to a boarding school."

I wondered what I would say to her when I ended up at Morrison with the rest of my class in September. There was no way at all that my parents would agree to letting me go to some magic school. I decided that I had a month to go so I would have plenty of time to think of a good excuse. At the moment I was enjoying the disappointed look on Susie's face and the shocked expressions on the boys.

"You're really not coming?" Byron asked. "But why would you want to go to a boarding school?"

"Because she knows that no one here likes her." Susie answered.

"No, it's because I can't stand to look at your face any longer. I feel sorry for those who have to because it really is a terrible sight." I replied with a smile.

It wiped the smirk right off of Susie's face. It was a mean thing to say but it was true, she wasn't a pretty girl. She had pretty blond curly hair and nice blue eyes but her nose was too large and her chin stuck out too much. Joseph and Byron laugh at Susie while she gave me a murderous look. I however climbed out of the pool and waved good-bye still smiling.

I hurried over to my stuff and wrapped the towel around me before putting on my sandals and grabbing my skirt. I left the pool area feeling uneasy, I knew Susie would laugh in my face when I walked into the doors of Morrison. I heard running footsteps after me as I headed down my street, I expected it to be Susie so I walked quicker. Moments later Byron and Joseph appeared at my sides. I didn't say anything to them and wondered what they wanted.

"What school are you going to?" Byron asked.

"I don't know yet. My parents applied me to several of them and we are just waiting for the acceptance letters." I answered. "Why?"

"Just wondering."

I'd always had a bit of a crush on Byron. He had short black hair and brown eyes. Whenever he smiled, he could melt my heart. I'd heard that one the girls in my class held a co-ed party at the end of the school year and they had played Spin-the-bottle. I felt very jealous of the girl who had been able to kiss Byron. Joseph was quite handsome as well. He had brown hair and hazel eyes and dimples on his cheeks when he smiled. They were both tall boys at least a head taller than me.

"I wouldn't mind going to a boarding school." Joseph said. "I heard that some people have parties in their dorms."

"Sometimes they get caught." I pointed out.

"It would be worth it." Joseph said. "Anyway, that was cool what you said to Susie. She has had it coming to her for a while."

"True. And for the record, we don't think you are a freak." Byron added.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I didn't say a word to my parents while we ate the dinner that I had prepared. The meal was spent with my parents talking about their days and complimenting me on the good dinner. I shifted uneasily as I waited for the right moment to tell my parents about the school for witches. I listened to my mother complain about the rude customers as I thought of a way to bring up the topic.

"Er- a teacher from a boarding school is coming at eight." I finally said.

"Tonight?" My father asked staring at me.

"I've never heard of a teacher coming straight from the school." My mother said as she pushed her plate away. "I would think they are too busy to do that."

"I don't understand why a teacher from a boarding school is coming at all. We didn't apply her for any schools did we?" My father asked looking confused.

"Perhaps it is one of those schools that it is hard to get into." My mother said excitedly. "Maybe it is for gifted students only."

I choked on my drink at that point when I laughed. If it was true that I was a witch than my mother was definitely right there. I did have a gift and it would be very hard to get into the school. My parents stared at me, probably wondering why I was laughing. My father slapped me on the back so I would stop choking. When I got a hold of myself, I gave my father the letter that had been in my lap during dinner.

"What is this rubbish?" My father asked as he read through the letter twice.

"I don't know." I said. "But she said she would be here at eight to explain everything."

My father handed my mother the letter who frowned as she read through it. She started to snicker as she read through the school supplies that I would need. My father also had an amused look on his face. I didn't find this funny at all but I understood why they thought it was funny. They obviously thought that either I, or someone else was pranking them.

"And this woman came to the house and everything?" My mother asked.

I nodded and explained everything that she had said to me. They both continued to smile at me and I could feel anger going through me because I did not find this funny. I believed it and I really did want to go to the school. Especially since I couldn't show up to Morrison anyway since I had told three people who would have told other people that I was going to a boarding school. My parents didn't say a word to me as they began clearing the table so it could be ready for Mrs. McGonagall. I put the dishes in the dishwasher for them, hoping to earn some brownie points.

At five to eight we sat down at the kitchen table and waited for Mrs. McGonagall. I avoided my parents eyes because they thought she wasn't coming. I could tell by looking at them that they thought I had made all of this up and they were only playing along. I wondered what they would say when she did show up. I prayed that they would think that I had set her up to come. When the door bell rang my father hurriedly got up to let her in.

When they came in Mrs. McGonagall wore the same stern expression on her face that she had earlier. She looked at my father disapprovingly and I could tell that she knew he thought all of this was a joke. My mother served her a cup of tea before we were all settled.

"I expect your daughter told you about my earlier visit." She asked.

"Yes." My mother said. "We don't remember applying to any boarding schools."

"You do not apply to Hogwarts. Your daughter's name has been down since birth. Hogwarts is school for young witches and wizards to learn to control their powers. She will go for seven years and by the time she is finished she will be able to pursue any magical career that she wishes." Mrs. McGonagall answered.

"For witches and wizards did you say?" My father asked.

"Yes, your daughter is what we call a muggle born. Your family has no magic in their blood but Amy here does. Now I can see that you are skeptical about what I am saying so before I continue, I would like to demonstrate."

I watched as Mrs. McGonagall pulled out a long wooden stick from her pocket. She pointed to an empty vase on the table with the stick and suddenly there were flowers in them. I looked at her shocked and even my parents looked as though they were starting to believe what she was telling them. Before anyone could say anything, she began explaining that Hogwarts had four houses where first year students were sorted into every year. Whichever house we were put in we had to stay in. I liked the names of the houses, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, Gryffindor and Ravenclaw. Slytherin sounded like the cool house, it reminded me of snakes.

She also started showing my parents different pamphlets about the school and what the grounds looked like. She even showed them what the school looked liked though she wouldn't let me see it.

"At the beginning of the year, the students take a train to Hogwarts at platforms nine and three quarters." She laughed at the shocked expressions on our faces when she told us the platform. "Amy has to run between platforms nine and ten at kings cross station and she'll be on the platform. I have brought along her train ticket as well."

"Mum, dad." I said finally saying something. "If this is true, I really would like to go to this school."

"But what kind of career can you get from going to a school to learn magic?" My father asked. "We only want what is best for you."

"Your daughter will be able to go into any magical career she wishes if she has the right grades." Mrs. McGonagall answered. "This is an opportunity that not many people can have."

"Say we send her, where exactly can we get these supplies for her? I mean I don't know of any shop that sells wands." My mother said and I knew that she was definitely considering.

"Oh I can take you, or show you the directions to get there." Mrs. McGonagall answered. "There is a place where all the wizarding children go to get all their supplies."

"We'd like to talk this over first." My father replied. "Where is it that I can contact you with our decision?"

I stopped listening, I knew my parents would send me to this school. It was a lot of weight off of my shoulders because I didn't have to think of any excuses for Susie and I also wouldn't be going to school with her. I could enjoy my summer and look forward to school. I was lost in my thoughts and I didn't pay attention to the adults talking and I didn't even notice when the woman did her disappearing act again. All I could think about was that I would be learning magic and I wouldn't have to see Susie again, hopefully. I imagined myself making new friends who had also probably been teased for their strange magical powers.

A/N: I wrote a story about a year ago that turned out really great. I think it is the first story that I am really pleased with because I finished it. If I am not pleased with how a story is going I don't finish it. Anyway I was reading through it and I noticed that I had added a girl named Amy Henson. (I must like the name Amy and the last name Henson because I've discovered I've used them a few times.) Four of the main characters were best friends and Amy had been brought up because another one of the characters had the last name Henson, so the four characters were wondering if she is related to the boy named Michael Henson, which she isn't. This makes it convenient because I never mention what house she is from and oddly enough she had sat with the main character on the first ride to Hogwarts but the main character forgets about her until seventh year when she sees Amy's name under the list of seventh years.

I've decided to have her be the same Amy in the story since it all works out. I wish I could put the other story up but it two binders full and I am not about to type all of that up. So a lot of the events that happen in this story happened in my other story as well. She doesn't talk to any of the four main characters I have in my other story but I like how I already have a long list of students written up, which makes it a lot easier on me. There is a tri-wizard tournament at Hogwarts in the second year but I'm not really going to focus on it too much because that is the only part of that other story that I don't like because I made a second year Slytherin end up in it.

Anyway, the reason I am telling you this is just to get rid of any confusion and questions, especially on the Tri-wizard Tournament part. Also the one girl in the other story is a Canadian Muggle born (and she didn't turn out to be a Mary-Sue. That is why I love that story so much, when started it I was afraid she would be one)and she came only because her school was full or something (I'll have to read the full story because I kind of forget.) and so they sent the muggleborns to a whole bunch of wizarding schools and three ended up at Hogwarts. I'm only mentioning this because she is the one that sits with Amy on the train and I would like to have that explained so that there are no questions but the two don't become friends or anything since the other girl forgets about Amy.

I think I am going to First, fifth, sixth and Seventh year. I don't want to do the Tri-Wizard Tournament thing but I would like to have Amy doing her O.W.Ls. Also since I am having Amy be the same character from a story that I wrote about a year ago that means that Dumbledore is alive in this story. This story takes place right after Harry's seventh year. (If he has a seventh year) that way all the war is gone and Harry can be mentioned as a legend who happens to still be alive.

I'm done now and I hope that this will be the last long author's notes but I just wanted to have an explanation first. I like how I already have a plan to go with for the other years which that means I will be updating more often. Don't worry though, this is about Amy and Perlussa house and doesn't have much to do with my other story. It just has the same characters that's all. Any questions you have I will be more than happy to answer.

Please review.