disclaimer: I own nuttin', honey.

Per Ardua Ad Astra – "Through Hardship To The Stars"

Part II: Genesis

by nightshade468

Chapter Two: Stolen Waffles and Crackpot Letters

Jules glanced up from her favorite meal of the day just in time to duck as what looked like an overgrown pigeon dropped on her head.

"Effing A!" she yelped. Her mother spun away from the stove and smacked her hand with a spatula.

"Juliet Donovan!" she scolded.

Jules was too busy to do more than make small "eek"s as she waved her arms around frantically, trying to dislodge the lunatic bird currently perched on her head. Unfortunately, the bird seemed to be trying to grab at her hands with its curved beak. Her mother gasped and swung at the big creature with the spatula, which had no effect whatsoever.

"Jules, why is there an owl on your head" her mother asked, rather calmly, as she hit the bird again (and yet again, helped not at all).

"I don't know!" Jules yelled, finally managing to dislodge the crazy bird, knocking it onto the table in front of her. She dropped the waffle she'd been holding clenched in her fist and watched, amazed, as the thing inhaled the pastry, cleaning her entire plate with astonishing speed. It then spread its wings and knocked over her orange juice, perching atop one of the cabinets with a satisfied "HOOT!"

Jules and her mom just stared.

"Oooookaaaay," the girl muttered.

"What is that?" Her mother pointed at her plate. There, amid the few tiny crumbs that were the only remnants of her breakfast –ruddy owl- was a letter. Jules picked it up, turning it over.

Ms. Juliet Donovan

The Kitchen

148 Wisteria Lane

Westchester, New York

America

"Well, that's really creepy," she muttered. She opened the envelope and drew out the thick piece of parchment, unfolding it.

Dear Ms. Donovan,

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 necessary books and equipment.

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

Yours Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall,

Deputy Headmistress

Jules just stared at the parchment for a minute.

Then she said, very quietly, "What?"

With a glance up at her mother, who had an unreadable look on her face, she continued. "What is this, some kind of sick joke? What kind of crackpot could come up with something like this? I mean, this is as weird as grandma's trunk, all that stupid magic stuff inside and all. Come on, magic isn't real…"

She trailed off as she saw her mother looking at her, the expression on her face something in between angry and resigned.

"What trunk are you talking about, Jules?"

"Um…" Jules shifted in her seat guiltily. "The trunk that I found in the attic yesterday that somehow ended up in my room this morning. I really didn't bring it down, Mom, I swear! It just appeared in my room, and unless I sleepwalked and uncovered it again and kinda re-engraved the nametag, then-"

"Wait," her mother interrupted, cutting her off. "You re-engraved the nameplate on your grandmother Lisbeth's trunk?"

"NO!" Jules yelped. "I woke up this morning and it was there, all engraved with my name and everything, but yesterday it had 'Lisbeth Galloway' on it! I don't know how it happened, Mom, I swear to God!"

Her mother sighed. "Jules…" She trailed off, not really knowing what to say. She had been afraid that this would happen, but now that it had, she had no idea what to do. If only Drew were still alive… but he wasn't, and she would have to face her disbelieving daughter alone. Joy to the world.

Carrie Donovan put her hand on her daughter's shoulder. "Come in here, baby. I need to explain some things to you."

Now totally bewildered, Jules followed her mother into the living room, turning her head as the crazy owl swooped silently in behind her, landing softly on the back of the sofa, almost as if it wanted to hear this too.

Carrie looked at her daughter, sitting there expectantly, then took a deep breath.

"Jules," she began, "your grandmother was… involved… in something. She never told me exactly what it was, but when she died, she left me a letter saying that she had taken care of your schooling, and no matter how strange it seemed to me, I was to send you to the school she had enrolled you in. She said it was a matter, frankly, of life and death."

"So," Jules said quietly, "she wanted me to go to a school that teaches magic? Real magic? Like witches, and wizards? Like Gandalf and Merlin?"

"I believe so." Carrie stood and went to the desk, opening a drawer. "She wrote that I was to contact an Albus Dumbledore when you received your acceptance letter, and that he would help you get started. Who that is, though, I don't know."

"Albus Dumbledore?" Jules asked, holding up her letter again. "It says that he's the headmaster of the school, and a pretty big kahuna, if all these titles mean anything."

"Well, then I suppose we should write to him," Carrie said with a sigh, picking up a piece of paper.

"No, wait," Jules interjected. "I'll do it, Mom."

"All right," Carrie agreed quietly. "But how are you going to send it to him?"

Jules glanced over at the owl, who blinked at her. "With my new friend here, of course."

xxxxxxx

A response to her note came only an hour after Jules had sent the owl on its way again. She tore it open, eager to see what the wizard had to say.

"Dear Juliet," she read aloud to her mom. "I am very pleased to hear from you. Your grandmother was one of my best students, and a great friend. I have missed her greatly, and am looking forward to having you amongst my students, my dear. I realize that all of this probably seems very strange to you right now, but I assure you that you will find your years at Hogwarts to be an enjoyable and educational experience. As I believe that you have no way of obtaining your supplies, I have arranged for a good friend of mine, a Mrs. Fairweather, to bring you to Diagon Alley along with her daughter on 31 August, and she will make sure you will be able to get to the Hogwarts Express the next day, if this is convenient for you. Yours sincerely, Albus Dumbledore. Post-scriptum: Enclosed I leave you the key to Lisbeth's vault at Gringotts' Bank, the contents of which I believe she left to you. A.D." As she finished reading, Jules looked up at her mother.

"Well," Carrie said after a moment. "This is certainly unexpected."

xxxxxxx

a/n: R&R! And thank you to everyone who reviewed so far! You make writing this so much more enjoyable!