I woke up that morning and couldn't be happier. I mean for once in my entire life I felt as if I was regaining some normality. Just a normal, (well not so normal but you get what I mean, don't you?) newly turned seventeen year old living in northern California.

I had the best family, (well perhaps not dopey he'll always be a jerk no matter what) the best friends because lets face Cee-Cee; Adam and Gina, those guys rock my socks, and the best most, caring, handsome, sexy, wonderful boyfriend a girl could ever wish for.

I even hadn't seen many ghosts for a while which was slightly abnormal, but I wasn't complaining. In my opinion the less ghosts the better. So yeah life was good.

Anyway, I got out of bed and walked to the bathroom to go freshen up. With Jesse around I have to look good twenty-four seven. My hair was good, no sticky out bits in sight.

So when a psychotic owl came barrelling through my window my reaction was not good. Let's just say I was a little bit more than completely freaked out. Well that put a dampener on my good luck vibe.

Hmmmmmm well I guessed today might not be so good after all.

I just stood there for a while kind of staring at nothing until I felt a sharp nip on my finger and saw a few drops of crimson blood oozing down my hand and onto my beige capris pants. Damn that stupid bird, didn't it know that blood doesn't come out so easily!

"Awww jeez" I said shaking an angry fist at the owl and examining my hand. But then I noticed why it had bit me. Tied round its leg was a piece of yellow parchment that I assumed was for me, (I'm not vain its just who else could it be for? World of weird home to Susannah Simon) and scrawled on the front in emerald green letters it said;

Miss Susannah Simon

The room with an Ocean View

99 Pine Crescent Drive

Carmel

California

Wow, stalk much? But how the hell did they know what room I sleep in. I dread to think.

I turned the letter over and broke the wax seal that was holding it closed, I then slid the paper out cautiously and opened it up with my shaking fingers. My eyes scanned over the page;

Hogwarts School of witchcraft and Wizardry

Headmistress Minerva McGonagall

(Order of Merlin second Class, vice warlock

Member of International confed. of Witches)

Warlocks? Witches and Wizards. Oh dear, I think someone needs to find a social life – and fast

Dear Miss Simon,

We would like to inform you that you have gained a place at Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry. We do not usually allow student at your age to join our school, but felt it necessary due to certain circumstances involving you and certain others.

We understand that you will find this difficult to accept at first, but due to your strong willed manner we are sure that you will cope with the situation.

When you were just a few weeks old your bio-logical parents sent you away to live in America with your aunt because of a prophecy that was made. Your twin brother stayed with your parents but when they were murdered he went of to live with your other aunt.

Your shifting abilities mean that Lord Voldermort will not stop until he gets to you and your mediator friend Hector De Silva. That is why we would ask if he will come along to. Though his to old to enrol into the school we will find a suitable placement.

All will be more thoroughly explained in due course.

Enclosed you will find a list of all the supplies that you will be needing. Some members of the order will pick you up on the 25th August at 1pm SWT. School starts on the 1st September

We will be awaiting your arrival.

Yours Sincerely

Minerva McGonagall

"oh my God! They have got to be shitting me!" I practically screamed. Then I thought wait a minute…. Dopey. "If this is dopey trying to screw with me" I said whilst talking to my self, "I'll break his God damned nose!"

I nearly hurled myself at him when he walked past my door. The only reason I didn't was because this little prank was way to imaginative to come from is pathetic mind.

Perhaps it was Cee but I don't think even she could bribe someone into giving her a trained letter delivering owl.

Oh god! What if this is real, what if I was actually was adopted and have a twin brother in England? Owww my brain hurts.

" you'll be fine" I heard myself saying "Just breathe in……… and out……..in…….and out".

"SUZE" Andy yelled up the stairs "breakfasts ready." All meal times in the Ackerman/Simon house hold are this really big thing, apart from lunch when most of us are out with friends or work or whatever.

"coming" I hollered back.. Slee- I mean Jake peered his head round my door and said "Suze, you all right?"

"Eh? Oh yeah I'm fine"

"Ok" he answered looking dubious.

I traipsed down the stairs and bluntly asked "mom was I adopted?" What? When needing a straight foreword answer it always requires a straight foreword question

She spat out a load of juice and sprayed it over me,

"Gee mom" should I call her that? "say it don't spray it"

"How.… how do you know?" she stuttered.

"Wait, Suze is adopted?" Dopey asked stupidly. I shot him a menacing glare.

"How did you find out? She asked, finally regaining some composure. I gave her the letter that had gotten crushed in my hand. She studied it carefully umming and ahhing at certain points.

"why"

"why what Susie honey?"

"why didn't you tell me that I was adopted?" I was practically shouting now.

"Susie be reasonable!"

"NO! you are not my mother!"

She instantly broke down in tears and started crying, but not your small average tears, these were great big full on, hiccuppy (A/N s.p?) baby sobs, hardly attractive for a fully grown woman.

"oh mom I'm sorry I didn't mean to make you cry, I am such a horrible person!" by now I to was crying. Damn I should have worn waterproof mascara.

"no sweetie your right I should have told you. I just wanted what was best for you"

"your right and you may be my aunt but you will always be my mom".

So anyway there we were stood in the middle of the kitchen hugging and crying our eyes out, we must have looked like a complete bunch of fools but who cares. This was one of the special intimate mother-daughter moments.

"So what do we do?" I asked wiping my snotty nose with the back of my sleeve.

"Honestly Suzie, I have no idea"

"Well you better say something this is an awful lot of information for a girl like me to take in".

"ok then, how about you start explaining this shifter/mediator business and who on earth is this 'Hector' character".

Oh bum! Me an my big mouth. Oh well, here goes nothing..

Sorry there is no Jesse business but don't worry there will be lots of him in the next chappy so don't you worry!

Constructive criticism always welcome

Please R&R!

Laura x