1Chapter One

For not the first time this summer, Jamie Potter scanned the gray, cloud filled skies near her home. She had turned eleven two months ago and she had been waiting impatiently ever since for a letter from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. All of her relatives had attended the school and Jamie had heard stories about their adventures at school her whole life. Becoming a student at the school was made even more exciting because her best friend, and cousin, Georgia Weasley, would be starting with her. Suddenly off in the distance, Jamie saw a dark shape in the sky. As it got closer, she was able to tell that it was indeed an owl. Could it possibly be bringing my letter? she thought to herself. As the owl continued to get closer, she felt her heart race. She crossed her fingers and wished with her whole heart that it was her letter.

The owl flew through the open kitchen window and landed on the table in front of her, knocking over her glass of orange juice in the process. It held out a leg with a rolled piece of parchment attached. Jamie reached out with a shaky hand and untied the letter. Once the letter was removed, the owl took flight and headed out the window to return to Hogwarts. She unfolded the letter and read:

Dear Ms. Potter:

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Enclosed you will find a supply list

Classes begin on September 1 and we await your response no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,
Minerva McConagall
Deputy Headmistress.

"Mum, mum, it's here, it came!" a very excited Jamie ran through the small home she shared with her mother, Ginny. "Mum, where are you? I want to show you something. Mum!"

"Jamie, calm down, honey. I'm right here. What are you yelling about? Whatever "it" is I think everyone in the neighborhood knows it came," Ginny asked as she entered the living room.

"Oh, mum, I'm so excited," Jamie exclaimed as she wrapped her thin arms around her mother. "My Hogwart's letter is here! Look, look!" Jamie continued to shout as she waved the parchment under her mother's face and danced excitedly in circles around the cozy room.

"Oh, my baby is growing up so fast." Ginny sniffed. "I can't believe you are old enough to go to Hogwarts. Your father would have been so proud of you, darling." It was times like these that she missed her husband so much.

Jamie gave a slight roll of her eyes. Her mother could get so emotional about her growing up. At least she not as bad as grandma, Jamie thought.
Ginny wiped a tear away as she continued, "Let me see your list of supplies. We will probably need to go to Diagon Alley to get some of them."

"Here, I think this one is the supply list, mum," She handed her mother a sheet of parchment. "Can I, please, go and tell Georgia and see if she got her letter, too? Maybe we can go to Diagon Alley together."

"Sure, actually I think I will come with you," Ginny answered her daughter and continued, "I have not visited with Hermione in a long time

After a short walk, they reached Jamie's Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione's house. Their house was large and there were various toys laying in the yard. Two small red-haired, identical girls ran through the yard and yelled greetings to Ginny and Jamie. Following after them was a tiny girl with bushy brown hair. Suddenly the front doors were opened and out stepped Jamie's best friend, her cousin Georgia. Georgia ran down the walkway as they approached the front gate.

"Did you get your letter?" a very excited Georgia squealed. When Jamie nodded, Georgia threw her arms around her. Jamie joined in the squealing and the two girls bounced up and down together.

"Girls, I know you're excited but please calm down. I just got Matthew to fall asleep," Georgia's mother Hermione spoke from the doorway. "Ginny, Jamie, how are you, come on in. I was going to have some tea, would you two like to join us?"

Ginny smiled at her sister-in-law, answering, "Sure, I thought maybe we could plan a little family shopping trip before school starts for the kids."

Jamie also smiled at her aunt and replied, "Yes, please. Do you think you could tell us some stories about Hogwarts? Especially if you have any dirt on my mum! Oh and my dad!" Jamie gave her mum a sly smile. "She never tells me any of the good stuff."

The group made their way into the kitchen and settled themselves around the table. Hermione conjured up some tea and cakes for everyone. A short time later, the front door opened and Ron entered. His youngest daughter, Jocelyn, was riding on his shoulders and the twins were following close behind. Each of the three children was trying to gain her father's undivided attention. A frazzled looking Ron made his way to his wife and gave her a quick kiss hello. He placed Jocelyn on her mother's lap and sat in the chair next to her. Immediately both twins fought over who was going to sit beside him.

Hermione came to his rescue, "Dannie, Carrie, if you two cannot be civilized you can go back outside."

Not wanting to miss out on anything the twins became quiet. Danielle sat in the chair next to her father and gave her sister a smug look. Carolyn took the seat next to her Aunt Ginny and stuck her tongue out at Dannie. Once everyone was seated, Georgia looked at her dad and very excitedly told him, "Guess what dad, me and Jamie got our Hogwarts letters. Do you want to see mine?"

"That's wonderful, pumpkin. I would love to see it."

Georgia jumped up and made her way to the other side of the table. She pulled her letter out of her pocket and handed it to her dad. "This is it dad. Mum has the supply list, she was worried I might lose it."

"This brings back a lot of memories," he told his daughter after reading the letter. "I remember when I got mine, I was so excited because I was finally going to school with my brothers. Do you remember how you cried when I got it, Gin?" he teased his sister.

"Yeah, I remember, I was so jealous that you were going to school and I had to stay home with just mum and dad."

Hermione spoke up, "You should have seen my parents when I got my letter. I was the first witch in my family so McGonagall delivered mine in person so she could answer any questions and explain everything. It took her a while to convince my dad it was all real. I think it was transforming into a cat that convinced him."

The conversation continued with each of the adults telling the children many stories. There was a lot of laughter and a few tears. At one point Hermione went upstairs when the baby, Matthew, woke up. She returned in a few minutes with a happy, little red haired boy in her arms. Ron asked Ginny and Jamie to stay for dinner and the family decided to eat outdoors. After eating, the older kids played on their broomsticks until it got too dark to see.

When Ginny and Jamie were getting ready to go, Hermione pulled Jamie aside. She handed a photo album to Jamie and told her, "I put this together many years ago for you, sweetie, there are pictures of your dad in there. I've been waiting to give it to you and I feel like this is the perfect time. He would have been so proud of you, Jamie. And he loved you so much."

Jamie thanked her aunt and Hermione gave her niece a big hug and a kiss on top of her head. Ron and Ginny made their way over to the pair.

"Georgia took Josie and Matt inside but she said to tell you good by Jamie and that she will see you tomorrow." Ron told Jamie.

Ginny thanked Ron and Hermione for dinner. She and Hermione promised to get together to take the girls shopping for school the next week. Finally, Ginny and Jamie went out the front gate and turned left to make their way home. If they had left a moment later, they would have seen the man walking towards the Weasley's house from the other direction.