Mirabel never got a gift nor a door when she was five.

But to the surprise of everyone in the family, she still got her Hogwarts letter at age eleven.

It was such a surprise that several plans had to be cancelled and a full family meeting had to be called.

The Madrigals and their attendance of Hogwarts went farther back than even the miracle did, with Abuela herself being the first to attend thanks to a chance meeting with one Albus Dumbledore.

Ever since then all of them attended Hogwarts, although there was worries as Mirabel didn't get a gift, nor did she ever display any accidental magic.

But Hogwarts letters were never sent out to Squibs.

So as per tradition, they took the international portkey to begin shopping at Diagon Alley for school supplies.

To say Mirabel was anxious would have been an understatement.

She was very good at her English, but never once showed even a slight inclination for magic, not like Isabel who was casting spells before she even got to open her door, or Camillo whose first use of his accidental magic was legendary among the Encanto.

So yes, she was nervous to be trying her first wand. What if they all rejected her? What if the Hogwarts letter was just a very rare mistake? What if when she got to the sorting ceremony the Sorting Hat just told her to go home and refused to assign her to a house?

"It's going to be alright," Mama comforted her as they stood outside Ollivanders. "I was just as nervous as you were when I was doing this."

"She's right you know," Papa said as he continued to hug her. "And you know that I'd go in with you, but I'm banned from entering there again." Indeed one of her most vivid memories was going for Luisa's wand and her papa managed to trip and cause an explosion big enough to destroy the back wall of the shop.

"It's okay papa," Mirabel said quietly. "I understand."

"I'll still be with you Mirabel," Mama reminded her before looking at Papa. "Could you go and…?"

"Si, I'll meet up with you for the robe fitting," Papa and Mama kissed before he left, leaving the two of them.

With a deep breath and gentle push, Mirabel entered Ollivanders.

Ding!

"Ah, Julieta, young Mirabel. I've been expecting you." The old man at the counter said. "Seems just like yesterday you were getting your wand you know; Rowan, Unicorn Hair, nine inches. You still take care of it I presume?"

"Si," Mama said with a small nod.

"Young Camilo was also just in here, Dogwood, Unicorn Hair, twelve inches, very flexible. It'll serve him well I'm sure." Ollivander said with such confidence that Mirabel would've believed anything he said. "It's something of a trend for your family, the use of Unicorn Hair as a core, so let's start there."

Unfortunately for her and her fears, the first wand was not a match. Nor was the second, third or fortieth.

The wandmaker seemed to take it as a sort of challenge even as Mirabel tried desperately to hide her fears and Mama rubbed her back sympathetically.

It would be the seventy second wand that was hers.

"I've got a feeling about this one; Willow, Dragon heartstring, ten inches, Reasonably springy. Give it a wave."

Mirabel did and to her shock, she felt what could only be described as a… warmth, a pleasant and soothing warm that reminded her of her Mama's meals flowed through her body.

But most awe inspiring of all were the yellow sparks that came from the tip of her wand.

She just did magic.

Mama paid for the wand while Mirabel felt herself overcome with a gleeful giddiness.

She could do magic.


Mirabel wasn't surprised to find herself alone on the Hogwarts express.

Isabela was with her third year friends, Dolores and Luisa both were with their second year friends and her Primo Camilo had wasted no time attaching himself to a pair of ginger twins that seemed to be the prankster type.

So she was alone.

But it was fine, there'd be plenty of opportunity for her to make friends at the feast…

"Excuse me, do you mind if I sit there?"

Mirabel's head snapped over to look at the person in the doorway, she looked to be a fellow first year with big brown bushy hair and matching brown eyes.

"Si- I mean yes, of course," Mirabel said quickly. "I'm Mirabel Madrigal."

"Hermione Granger," The new person sat down across from her and held out her hand to shake. "It's good to meet you."

"Good to meet you," Mirabel smiled. "So… you're a first year as well?"

"That's right, it's all very exciting really. Although it was a bit of a surprise when we found out."

"Ah, you're a Muggleborn?" Mirabel asked curiously. She never really interacted with the non-magical community much, Encanto was itself a magical village for wizards, witches, squibs and the occasional married muggle, and when they went for the yearly London trip they never really left Diagon Alley or the platform.

"That's right. Professor McGonagall came to my house and everything, until she was there we thought it was something of a joke," Hermione explained.

"I've heard of McGonagall, she's the head of Gryffindor and the transfiguration teacher. She's Dolores favourite teacher I think." Mirabel shared.

"You've got family attending school?" Hermione asked,

"That's right, there's my two cousins Dolores and Camilo then my older sisters Isabel and Luisa. We're all the Madrigals."

"I've heard of you!" Hermione said a little too loudly and looking excited as she dove into her pockets to bring out a small book titled 'An A to Z of wizarding families.' She flipped through several pages before flipping it around to show Mirabel the Madrigal article. "It's quite impressive really, is it true everyone in your family has an unique innate magical power?"

"That's right," Mirabel smiled awkwardly. "Isabela can control plants for example."

"That's amazing," Hermione looked impressed. "Growing up in a magical household must have been very exciting. I can only cast a few spells myself." She looked down. "Although I suppose most that grew up in magical families would be more familiar than me."

"Well your at least doing better than I am," Mirabel immediately tried to cheer Hermione up. "I don't think I've ever casted an actual spell. I'm sure that most other pureblood and half-bloods are like this."

"You think so?"

Mirabel didn't have a clue.

"Sure."

"Well at least you have your gift, what is it anyway?" Hermione asked curiously.

"Well, my gift is uh…" Mirabel fumbled her words, but in what was an unusual stroke of fortune she was saved by the opening of the compartment door.

"Hello, excuse me but have either of you seen a toad named Trevor?" A boy that looked like another first year said miserably.

"No!" Mirabel said just a little too loudly before clearing her throat. "No, we haven't. Would you like us to help you look? I'm Mirabel."

"Hermione."

"Neville," The boy introduced himself. "And you can help if you'd like, I don't think I'm good at this."

Saved by the toad it seems.


"Madrigal, Camilo!"

Mirabel watched as her cousin went to the front of the room and took a seat, the Sorting Hat placed onto his head.

It only took a few nail biting moments of tension before the hat cried out "SLYTHERIN!" for the hall to hear. He walked over to the Slytherin table with a confidence Mirabel was jealous of before sitting close to Isabel.

She could see Dolores clapping from Ravenclaw and Luisa from Gryffindor as well, showing that family support.

Should she be clapping? None of the other first years were doing it. But he was family…

"Madrigal, Mirabel!"

The calling of her name snapped her out of it as she started to walk towards the hat, uncertain about what her destiny was.

Maybe she'd be a Gryffindor like Tia Pepa and Luisa? Dolores in Ravenclaw wouldn't be the worst, although she wasn't sure she could be in the same house as Isabel, even if Camilo was also there and Mama also attended that house.

She sat down and the hat was set apon her head.

"Interesting… very interesting… lots of loyalty certainly, loyalty to your family, but deep down you aren't quite sure if that loyalty is deserved or not are you? A good deal of cunning and ambition, underutilised but it's there. Your also very much a clever person, something born of your upbringing. And through it all you have a fire inside you, a will and drive that surpasses the awkwardness when it needs to." The Sorting Hat mused. "You aren't the best of magic are you? But you want more than anything else to make your family proud, a very commendable loyalty, I think that you be most capable of doing that in HUFFLEPUFF!"

The last word was shouted out, echoing across the hall as her table and the scattered members of her family clapped.

She got up and walked over, she was a Hufflepuff now, she totally had this.


As it turned out, she did not totally have this.

In retrospect she should have expected this, getting a wand would not automatically mean she was good at magic.

But she'd feel better about this if that wand wasn't basically just an expensive stick most of the time.

"Win-gar-dium levi-ohhh-sa," She said phonetically as she imitated the wand movement, and out of what was probably pure spite the feather refused to move.

"It's more like, Wingra-dium Lev-iohhs-a," Ron tried to help even though his feather had similarly not left the table.

"Her pronunciation is fine, it's the wand movement that's the problem," Hermione cut in from her other side. "She's doing the movements wrong, she's doing less a flick and more a drag. You need to be faster."

"Nobody asked you," Ron snapped at Hermione.

Technically nobody asked Ron either, but Mirabel felt too awkward to interject and instead quietly tried to focus on the wand movements. Why was she the only Hufflepuff that was seated between two Gryffindors?

Mirabel tried to get the feather to float as Hermione and Ron started to argue on either side of her, blocking it out was easier said than done.

She never did get to make the feather float by the end of class but she could have sworn it moved slightly on her last attempt.

It was something she supposed.


While the more magical based classes where frustrating, she found potions to be a genuine joy.

Although her partner left things to be desired.

"-Of course he said that the whole thing is ridiculous of course," Zacharias continued on with whatever he was talking about while Mirabel did the actual potion work.

"Mhmhm," Mirabel measured out the root precisely and cut it gently before putting it into the cauldron.

"But still, even you must appreciate that Quidditch plays like that are superb."

Mirabel only nodded, from near enough as she could tell Zacharias was capable of maintaining the conversation without her speaking. She started to stir the mixture, twelve turns counter clockwise then seven clockwise.

If she had to guess the reason he was being so chatty to her was because he wanted to build up good relations with her family, the Madrigals had a reputation of being reclusive after all and if she remembered right he had a famous ancestor or something.

"Honestly, if you ask me I'll be able to make the Quidditch team easily next year. I was always a great Chaser and Cedric will be need to fill up the slots so I think I'll have a fair shot don't you think?"

"Definitely," She agreed absently.

Zacharias opened his mouth to reply but quickly shut it when the professor Snape passed by the desk. Mirabel had to hide a smile, Snape didn't tolerate non potion related talk in class. It wasn't really a problem since it was a Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw class, although the thought of being in the Slytherin and Gryffindor class made her cringe.

She might have only been here a few weeks, but she knew the rivalry between the two houses was intense and Camilo told stories.

Mirabel stopped stirring to take a smell of the cauldron and was rewarded with the smell of strawberries just like there was supposed to be. She scooped it up into a bottle and corked it before bringing it up to the teachers desk.

She was rewarded with rolled eyes and an '"Acceptable work" which was more than she heard from anyone else.

She liked potions.


Something that surprised Mirabel most was how she managed to keep her giftless-ness a secret.

Indeed the Madrigals were all famous for their unique magical powers so everyone wanted to know hers.

But Mirabel was an expert at shifting the conversation and distracting from it. Indeed Abuela likely told Dumbledore and by extension the staff about her giftless-ness which is why some of them seemed to help Mirabel hide the fact she didn't have one. Like that time Professor McGonagall took points off people for talking in class, but only when people got to the topic of Mirabel's gift.

What was surprising is that the rest of the family going along with it and not telling the other students when asked.

"Why aren't you telling them?" Mirabel asked Dolores one occasion they were talking in the library.

"Because it's your business, not mine, but Mirabel…" Dolores looked sympathetic. "They will find out eventually, the longer it is the worse it'll be."

Mirabel knew that, but she was worried, what if her friends only liked her because they thought she had a gift? What if she told them and everyone hated her? What if…

What if they all left her alone when they found out she didn't have one?

Friendless and lonely Mirabel.

"I know Dolores, I know…"


Mirabel liked Hermione, from the moment she'd taken a seat across from her at the train they'd been friends. Sure she was a little bossy, but she had a good heart and was insanely smart.

Mirabel liked Ron, he was fun and just a generally fun person to hag out with, they were partners in Herbology and worked together pretty well. Sure he could be rude sometimes but he was a good person.

Then she thought; hey, they're both Gryffindor's, maybe they'd get along if she managed to get them to sit down and talk together without arguing.

One hour and a very ugly argument later, Mirabel was comforting Hermione in the girls loo.

"It's alright, I'm your friend," She tried to sooth from the other side of the stall. Mirabel felt more than a bit uncomfortable, but Hermione deserved to have a friend stick by her so Mirabel would dammit.

"Just go away!"

"I'm not leaving," Mirabel shot back. "I'll be waiting out here all night."

"Just go, didn't you hear Ron? I've got no friends, I'm just a loud, horrid know it all."

"That's not true Hermione, I'm your friend and you know, you are one of the smartest and bravest people I know, not many people would put up their hand in class like that and also be able to answer every question properly. If you ask me Ron's just jealous he isn't half as smart as you are."

"You really think so?" Hermione's voice was quiet but calmer.

"I do."

Hermione unlocked and opened it, Mirabel could see the tear stains around her eyes.

"Bring it in!" Mirabel opened her arms and they embraced.

Then the troll burst into the bathroom.


Mirabel liked Quidditch.

Flying was something magical that she didn't actually straight up suck at and while she wasn't exactly the most athletic person in the world, she could picture herself on a broom passing a ball around.

She saw the crowd cheer for every goal shot or blocked, the way the Gryffindor's roared when Harry caught the snitch.

Maybe next she'd follow Zacharias's example and try out for the Quidditch team.

"Enjoying the game Mirabel?" Susan Bones asked from her left.

"Si, it looks fun." Mirabel replied with a smile. "Might try out for the team next year."

Susan was probably her best friend as they were roommates in the same dorm, in all the same classes and got on very well with each other.

"It's not really for me, but it is fun to watch," Susan said before she got a mischievous smile on her face. "Although part of that is Cedric's bum."

"Susan!" Mirabel laughed while she blushed and playfully pushed her friend.

Susan cackled for her part and soon they were trapped in a laughing loop to the probable general annoyance of those around them.

Although Mirabel agreed, Cedric's butt was pretty great.


The winter break at the Encanto was a different experience coming back from Hogwarts than it was waiting for the others to come back from Hogwarts.

Everyone wanted to hear about her and Camilo's studies, the monthly letters that were sent not really having been enough.

She couldn't help but notice there was a lot more focus on Camilo's studies than hers but that was fine.

Her grades involved with actually doing magic itself were all dreadful, but her non magic heavy grades balanced it out.

Abuela was unusually more distant from Mirabel than usual, something that was noticeable during the family dinners. She thought about bringing it up, or asking one of the other adults about it but decided not to. She didn't want to ruin dinner or be awkward like that.

But again it was fine, really, Mirabel was absolutely fine.

Right?


Hanging out with Hermione, Ron and Harry was often a fun and interesting experience, but Mirabel was concerned that it was leading her into trouble.

Case in point, Hagrid had a dragon.

A dragon.

Now her friends wanted to do some illegal dragon smuggling while Mirabel was the look out.

This was not what she had in mind when she said that she wanted to do more stuff with them.

On the bright side, Norbert was just the cutest little thing.

So Mirabel was standing at the bottom of the staircase of the tallest tower keeping a look out for any teachers, supposed to stand there until she felt the invisible tap of Harry's shoulder.

Had they already passed her in the invisibility cloak? Where they still on their way?

When Mirabel did see another person it wasn't a teacher however.

It was Malfoy.

"Well, well, well," Draco drawled. "Look who we have here, helping your friends Hufflepuff?"

Really? Hufflepuff? That was the best he could do for insulting her?

"What I'm doing is none of your business," Mirabel crossed her arms and tilted her head up to try and look intimidating.

"I think it is my business," Draco mimicked her. "You and your friends are smuggling a dragon for that oaf."

"I'd like to see you prove it."

"Then move out of my way."

"Make me," Mirabel looked him straight in the eye.

The standoff lasted for about five minutes before they were interrupted by the worst possible thing.

"Miss Madrigal! Mr Malfoy! In all my years!"

It was Professor McGonagall and boy did she look mad.

"Draco, race you to Hogsmeade," Mirabel's eyes were wide.

"Your on," Draco sound equally as terrified.

They made it about three steps before bumping into Filch.

"Well, your both in trouble," The caretaker grinned nastily.


Mirabel felt miserable as she troughed on down to the Forbidden Forest.

Fifty points from Hufflepuff and detention, the only sort of bright spot was that they weren't writing home about this, if Abuela ever found out she'd bury Mirabel alive.

But there was one surprise at Hagrid's hut that was actually very nice.

"Luisa?"

"Hey sis," Her older sister grinned as the small group of first years approached.

"What're you doing here?" Mirabel couldn't help but ask

"I volunteered to help Hagrid," Luisa explained. "What are you doing here?"

Mirabel flushed red from embarrassment and looked down. "Detention."

"Ah, that's always rough," Luisa nodded sympathetically.

It was at that point Mirabel tuned back into what Hagrid was saying as he sent Filch away, talking about unicorn blood and finding the wounded unicorn to put it out of it's misery.

The groups ended up being Luisa, Fang, Malfoy and Neville, then Hagrid, Harry, Hermione and Mirabel.

There was a small hiccup when Malfoy messed up and Harry was switched with Neville, but other than that it was a nice relaxing night time walk through the forest.

Of course later Harry came back with a centaur and talked about You Know Who, but it was a nice night none the less.


As things settled in the Spring and Summer started to approach, Mirabel felt optimistic about her exams.

The potions was easy as was the history of magic, she actually managed to do some magic in her transfiguration and charms exams as well, meaning that she'd hopefully passed them after all her hard work and countless hours of practice she'd put into it.

Now she was hanging out with her fellow Hufflepuffs under the warm sun, enjoying what was an absolutely lovely day.

"Mirabel!"

She looked up to see Harry, Hermione and Ron all running towards her.

"Hey guys, what up-" She didn't have any time to react more before she was dragged to her feet and was now running beside them.

"Snape's trying to steal the Philosophers Stone!" Harry explained as they all came to a slightly out of breath stop at the out of bounds third corridor door.

"This again?" Mirabel groaned. "Look guys, just because he's the head of Slytherin and wears black does not mean he's trying to steal the stone for You Know Who."

They'd broached this particular topic with Mirabel a few times now, but she personally just thought it was a conspiracy theory, sure pal Voldemort's trying to get the stone. Next thing they'd be saying Tio Bruno lives in the walls or something equally as ridiculous.

"Look, Dumbledore's away from the castle and my scars been hurting horribly," Harry explained. "Whether or not Snape is involved, Voldemort is going to be coming for the stone tonight, we need to stop him."

"Get a teacher or something then," Mirabel replied stubbornly.

"We tried, but they won't believe us," Ron said with frustration colouring his voice.

"Come on Mirabel, you know we wouldn't be asking you for help if it wasn't important," Hermione's tone turned pleading. "Please."

Damn it all.


After an encounter clever use of Mirabel's accordion to put Fluffy to sleep, an encounter with Devil's Snare and some annoying keys, Mirabel elected to stay with Ron after the chess match. To make sure that nothing happened to her friend while Hermione and Harry moved forward.

Five minutes later Hermione came back looking awfully pale.

"Where's Harry?"

"He's went on ahead to the face Snape and get the stone." Hermione said anxiously. "He wants me to get Dumbledore."

Mirabel blinked. "I can do that," She took a deep breath and then yelled as loud as she could. "DOLORES, COULD YOU GET DUMBLEDORE HERE TO US IN THE THIRD CORRIDOR? RON'S HURT AND HARRY'S IN TROUBLE!"

Hermione's eyes were wide with understanding. "Dolores is your… sister right?"

"Cousin," Mirabel corrected. "With her super hearing she'll have heard that easily and be getting Dumbledore now."

Hermione looked slightly relived and started to look between Ron and where Harry had went anxiously.

After a few moments, Mirabel stood up.

"I'll help Harry."

"But he's trapped behind the flames, there's no way through," Hermione bit her lip worriedly.

"I've got a plan," Mirabel lied. She had no idea how to get to Harry, but she couldn't just stand around here and do nothing.

"I'll look after Ron then," Hermione nodded solemnly. "Good luck."

Mirabel passed through the knocked out troll room before reaching the potion room, but to her surprise there were no flames that Hermione had mentioned, indeed things seemed to be quiet and peaceful.

In what was presumably the stone room Mirabel found a set of clothes that looked like Professor Quirrell's covered in a sort of ash of some kind. Then there was Harry unconscious in front of a large mirror.

Mirabel rushed down toward him but stopped briefly when she saw herself in the mirror, but it wasn't just her in it, it was her entire family. They all looked happy, all of them surrounding her and behind them was a door, a door Mirabel knew was hers.

It was an enticing image, all of her family happy and excepting of her, she didn't think she'd ever seen Abuela smile at her like that before, in fact everyone looked so happy…

But Mirabel tore her eyes from the mirror and continued on her path towards Harry, he needed her help. Looking at some mirror could come later.

"Wake up Potter," Mirabel muttered as she checked his pulse and was relived to find it. She could see some bruising along the neck, like someone had been strangling him but other than that he seemed to be okay.

Madam Pomphrey should be able to deal with this, so Mirabel did her best to lift Harry up to rest on her shoulder, although for such a skinny kid he was heavy. Or maybe she was just not that strong, regardless she half dragged half lifted him towards the exit just in time to see Professor Dumbledore enter.

"Hi professor," Mirabel went to wave but aborted the motion when she nearly dropped Harry.

"Need some help Miss Madrigal?" Dumbledore sounded amused.


Mirabel felt pride as she stepped off the train and onto platform 9 and ¾.

It was a shaky start at the beginning of the year and her magical ability was still abysmal, but the fifty points she got at the feast were just enough for Hufflepuff to get to third place over Ravenclaw and her non magical ability related grades where looking to on the up and up.

More than that, Mirabel had honest to god proper friends for the first time in her life. Friends that she could write to and keep in touch with.

Not that bad for a first year at Hogwarts.

"Mirabel!" Mama waved her over.

"Coming Mama!" Mirabel yelled over.

She just hoped next year she'd be able to make her family proud.