Authors note:Apparently I can't get the words to come out right. So enjoy anyway.

Here's a simple pronouncing guide for some of the names:

Ileana: Ill-E-ah-nah

Fordinta: Ford-din-ta

Gordy: Gore-Dee

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Chapter II

Of Magic and School

It was July 28 and Ileana and her family arrived home around nine-thirty that evening. The night air was warm as they walked through the doorway of their home. Or in the case of Ileana and her brother Edward, ran. Even though Edward was 13, they were close friends. As she ran into the house, a thought struck her mind.

"Papa, Papa!" she said as she skidded to a stop and turned around.

"What munchkin?" Her father answered her bending over to pick up the mail.

"Eddy went to a new school when he turned 11 right? Does he go to a only boy school, or a boy and girl school? If he goes to a boy and girl school, can I go there? Please?"

"Eddy's school is a special school and only certain people are invited to it." He said setting the mail on the kitchen table. "He got an invitation in the mail a week after his 11th birthday. Perhaps you might receive one perhaps not."

"But I want to go with Eddy, and then I can leave snakes in his room all year long!"

"I don't think so!" Eddy's voice came through the door way from the living room.

"You probably couldn't get in if you tried; you're too silly to be accepted!"

"I am not." Ileana said defiantly "I shall get in whether you like it or not! Say, what's the name of your school anyway?" She asked as she came into the living room and leaned over the back of the couch Edward was sitting in.

"Hogwarts." He answered staring at the TV "Great place really."

"Sounds like the name of a pig, or a frog."

"Well it's not."

"I will go anyway invitation or not. What's your favorite subject?"

"Quidditch."

"What? What kind of class is Quid-tch?"

"Quidditch, is a sport."

"That's not a class."

"Nope"

Ileana rolled her eyes and flipped over the couch landing with a thump on the floor.

She ran into the kitchen and sat down at the table and watched her father reading the newspaper.

Ileana sighed and looked around the room; the dining room was connected to the kitchen and separated by an Island, or in other words a counter. The kitchen was her mother's area and no one was aloud in unless helping her to cook.

Mr. and Mrs. Shire were average sized and both had dark brown hair while her mother had brown eyes, her father had green eyes, just like hers. The whole family had small noses and thin lips. While Ileana looked like her mother, Edward looked just like Mr. Shire, and he too had green eyes.

Ileana spied the mail sitting in a small heap on her left and picked it up.

"Bill, bill, junk mail, yup nothing good in here." she said gently tossing the mail back onto the table not bothering to look through the rest of the mail. So of course, the letter in bright green ink slid out from under a lands end magazine. Ileana spied it and picked it up.

"Well this is weird, it's addressed to me." she said frowning. Mr. Shire peered up from his paper.

"Who is it from munchkin?" He asked.

"It says….HOGWARTS!" Ileana cried. She heard a crash come from the living room and Eddy flung himself from the living room onto the chair next to her. Mrs. Shire held her spatula in one hand as she leaned over the Island peering into the dining room.

"Well, Open it." Cried Eddy

"I shall, I shall, and it's my letter after all."

The letter in Ileana's hand opened easily. It read,

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HOGWARTS SCHOOL

of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Gordy G. Duffdimble

(Grand Sorc., Order of the Dragon, First class, International confed. of wizards and the leader of the Huffduff Society)

Dear Miss. Shire,

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

Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,

Darla Fordinta

Darla Fordinta,

Deputy Headmistress

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"I knew it!" exclaimed Edward.

"No you didn't," Ileana said glaring at him "You said I was too silly to get in, and anyway is this some joke of yours anyway. I may be silly but I'm not stupid! "

"What are you talking about, of course your not stupid. Whatever gave you that idea? This is no joke." retorted Edward

"Eddy, there is no such thing as magic. I'm not stupid; I stopped believing in that after I learned the truth about Santa."

"Oh but I believe in Santa. He lives in the hearts of children. I also believe in magic. Want me to show you? Oh wait I can't…..you'll just have to wait."

"Yeah sure, you do that, I still don't believe you."

Edward just laughed.

"Congratulations, munchkin. We'll plan a trip for London in the morning."

"London," Cried Ileana "Whatever for!"

"To get your supplies dear" Her mom told her over the island

"Oh."

"She's growing up." Mrs. Shire cried "My little girl's growing up! You'll have so much fun."

"Of course she will! I can tell you all you need to know before we leave for London next month," Edward said excitedly, then turned and glared at her. "No snakes, or spiders."