Part One
Chapter One- The Letter

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"Life is a blank canvas, and you need to throw all the paint on it you can."
― Danny Kaye

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Ottery St Catchpole is a small, rustic community in Devon, England. This village accommodates both muggles and magical folk alike, the latter of which having been established sometime after the passing of the Statute of Secrecy in the 17th century.

Surrounded by a cluster of low-lying hills is a small cottage in which the Diggory Family lived. It's described as a modest, vintage-style Tudor home, with a cozy dining nook and neat little kitchen on the left side of the home, and a lovely living room that opens to an outdoor terrace with a stone wall raised up two feet that wrapped around the entire deck.

Three other families lived here: the Weasleys, the Lovegoods, and the Fawcetts. The Burrow is home to the Weasley family, located just south of the main village and shrouded behind rolling hills and luscious trees. Just on the other side of the village was a large hill called Stoatshead Hill. The Lovegood family living not far from The Burrow, in a home shaped like a rook and hidden amongst the hills, surrounded by gardens. Not much was known about the Fawcett home other than the bright red roof seen from the topmost part of Stoatshead Hill.

In the muggle portion of the village was a paper shop, with a very pretty and heavily freckled girl. Her name was Rosalie. The elder Diggory frequented this shop with his good friends, the Weasley twins-Fred and George-and his sister would swear by her life that he fancied this girl. Bless her heart though; Rosalie never knew she was living within a short distance to a pair of wizards.

The Diggory children-Cedric and Aurelia-were 14 and 11, respectively. Cedric was tall and handsome, with a chiseled jaw, dark hair, and bright grey eyes. Two years ago, he was lanky with mismatched limbs. Now, he was well-built and burly. Aurelia was over a foot shorter, with a more rounded jaw, unkempt blonde hair, and blue eyes. She wasn't well-built, she wasn't burly, and she certainly wasn't the average height nor weight for a girl her age.

One thing was for absolute certainty— she was not, and never would be, a morning person. Eight o'clock rolled around, and then eight thirty, and by the time nine fifteen came, Cedric was nudging her bedroom door ajar; she was going to miss breakfast.

There she was, sleeping soundly one minute, and being pelted with Featherbrain the next. Featherbrain was a purple stuffed Hippogriff. She had him for as long as she could remember. For a girl of eleven, forever seemed like a long enough time. He was showing his age; the stitching behind his right ear was fraying, the left eye was clouded over, and the whiteness around his beak was yellowing. His normal perch was the black and white wicker papasan chair in the corner. This is also where she'd sit for hours in a single day, getting endlessly lost in her reading.

Being how Aurelia was not a morning person, a rude awakening such as that would surely merit some very unkind words yet in her half-dazed, half-groggy state, all that came forth was a bunch of incoherent muttering.

The bedroom door was hastily hauled shut to avoid the airborne projectile leveled at his head; it smashed against the door in a scarce nick of time, tumbling to the carpet that hadn't been vacuumed in over a week; Auntie Emilynn would be having words with her about that. Aurelia thought, perhaps, burying her head beneath the mountains of sheets and duvet, she could delay a moment longer, but the smell coming up the staircase was too enticing for her to just lay there and ignore.

Aurelia wriggled herself out of bed and slipped into her bright green unicorn slippers—the ones with the neon pink nose and silver horn. The horn sparkled; that was her favorite thing about them. Aurelia had worn them to primary school once. It took Mrs. Diggory a good minute to patch it up. She simply enchanted her wand to do the work for her.

Pork sausages were cooking on the stove by the time Aurelia had gotten downstairs. She hoisted herself into a chair next to Cedric, who had already helped himself to a heaping of eggs, maple bacon, and biscuits. He muttered something, but of course it was completely indistinguishable; Mr. Diggory chastised his son for talking with his mouth stuffed full of food as Mrs. Diggory shoved a plate in front of her niece.

Aurelia's feet barely touched the metal rim that connected the legs together; only her toes, and those were just the tip. She had yet to fully grow into those legs of hers, so they often hung loose over the edges of anything, looking about as awkward as she felt. And the rolanstar rustic ladder four-tier bookshelf in her bedroom? There was a reason why the top shelf always remained empty.

Aurelia elbowed her cousin in his mid-section, and Cedric returned the favor in kind—until Mrs. Diggory snapped her fingers at them, putting an abrupt end to that. Aurelia giggled, then grabbed her fork and dug in.

Across the table, her uncle was flipping through a spread of the Daily Prophet—a wizarding newspaper based out of London and served as the primary source for the news in the UK. The Prophet seemed to be lacking in journalistic integrity, concerned more with making coin than delivering factually accurate information, or the reporting of ongoing events. This is what her aunt always said; her uncle still enjoyed reading through it every morning, and she indulged him. The paper featured both a morning and evening edition, the latter of these being called the Evening Prophet. Any newsworthy bulletin could resort in an edition changing itself by magical means, something over the course of the day.

Without taking his eyes off the paper, Mr. Diggory leaned forwards for his tea. Organic Ceylon—loose leaf. He liked it with just a pinch of fresh lemon. Leaning precariously on the edge of the wedgwood oberon leigh flora tea saucer was a half-eaten honey biscuit. Mrs. Diggory was back in the kitchen, reading for the spatula to flip the flapjacks before they charred on the burner.

Amos Diggory worked for the Ministry of Magic, in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. It was second largest department in the Ministry. The department itself had been divided into three sections-Being, Beast, and Spirit. And on occasion, would house liaison offices for Goblins and Centaurs.

His wife Emilynn worked part-time as a server at The Leaky Cauldron-a popular wizarding pub and inn located in London. The entrance was near Diagon Alley, and the rear of the pub opened into a chilly courtyard which contained entry ways to both Diagon Alley as well as Knockturn Alley-a shopping subdivision filled with abundant shops devoted to the Dark Arts, including Borgin and Burkes. This antique shop had specialized in objects which held strong magical properties. It wasn't a place any good witch or wizard would usually go to.

A slice of breaded toast dangled out of Cedric's mouth as he reached into the left pocket of his trousers and pulled out the folded-up parchment he needed signed, and then mumbled something incoherently about it as he handed it over to his father. He quickly finished up the food still in his mouth then settled back in his chair again, side eying Aurelia as she suppressed a giggle behind a forkful of scrambled eggs. She snatched a piece of maple bacon off his plate, ignoring the sputtering coming from the seat next to her.

Cedric hurried through the rest of breakfast then side-stepped around Aurelia as he scooted from his chair and trudged into the kitchen, where his mother reminded him to give the dishes a good washing. This, too, was something he rushed through. He was quite eager to leave, as palpable by how quickly he shimmed into a pair of trainers he left by the door.

The front door swung closed, just then, with a parting, "Later, mum!" from Cedric, and he was already half-way down the drive by the Aurelia lifted her head.

Mrs. Diggory quickened behind him, nudging the front door open with her foot, "Ced!" She called from the doorway, bringing him to a sharp halt where he stood. She jutted a thumb over her right shoulder, gesturing to the 11-year-old still sitting at the kitchen table, "Take Rory with you!" She looked back to where her niece was still seated; the girl didn't look so enthused.

"Oh, um, Auntie Emma, I'm good," Aurelia insisted, and immediately returned to her food, which she started picking at and pushing around the plate with her fork instead of eating.

The woman shook her head, "Codswallop!" and grabbed the slightly worn-down pink trainers with the maroon buckle and caked on mud in the grooved heel, "Here." She waited for her niece to take them. "Now Scoot! Out you go!" Mrs. Diggory gestured riotously behind her niece's back, inciting the young girl to move with haste out the front door.

"Has the post arrived yet, auntie?" Aurelia asked. She was eleven this year, which meant she could attend Hogwarts, something she had been looking forward to since the day Cedric received his letter.

Mrs. Diggory responded; "Not yet, love. You know the post doesn't come this early."

"Rory! C'mon!" Cedric exclaimed.

The screen door swung closed behind her. Aurelia paused at the front stoop to lace up her shoes, then she skipped down the drive to catch up with Cedric. The pair was off, bound for the village market.

~.~.~.~.~

The village market in Ottery St Catchpole was minute, but bustling. It was seated at a junction, between the River Otter and the only road in and out of the village itself. Aside from the post office and paper shop, the market was split between permanent and temporary shops. One section of the market housed those shops where people would purchase clothing and food to stock their fridges, while the other section was dedicated to temporary booths that sold fresh vegetables, bakery sweets, and fish caught from the river just that morning.

The man who ran the fishery booth - an older gentleman with a leathery wrinkled face - would make the best crab bisque with a slice of toasted garlic bread. The woman who sold vegetables had grown them herself. Cedric came here with his mum a few times. They would always leave with baskets full of cucumbers, carrots, and tomatoes.

It was the booth selling scrumptious sweets that attracted Aurelia. She enjoyed apple rings-a ring-shaped jelly sweet-and assorted sour strips, but it was the pumpkin pastries she liked most. They were similar in style to a Cornish pasty but filled with pumpkin instead.

Cedric knew there was no way they'd be leaving the market without stopping by for one of these mouthwatering pastries.

The pair stood, waiting, watching, and Aurelia enjoyed taking in the various sights and sounds of the market. She curiously wondered how different Hogwarts would be from this. What awaited her when she got there. What kind of magic she would learn. Cedric seemed to like it fine; it was all he could talk about for half the summer after his first year.

She wasn't yet sorted into a house, but all of that would change soon; she was 11 years old, the appropriate age to receive her letter. It was something she looked forward to since Cedric received his letter.

Once the pumpkin pasty had finished, Cedric paid the vendor and pocketed the change, then handed the sweet over to Aurelia. The pair were off again, wandering through the rest of the market, until they exited onto the road that would lead them to the creek. And once the pastry had cooled to a suitable temperature, Aurelia began to dig in.

It would be another half hour before they reached the creek. By that time, she had finished with her pastry, but still had the evidence of it in the corners of her mouth. Licking her lips only did so much. Aurelia washed herself off by the creek bed then stepped back.

Cedric walked up from behind her, grabbed a small stone, then flicked it across the cold water. It bounced a few times, creating several ripples, before making a splash. He did this twice more.

Aurelia had been seated cross-legged on a nearby boulder, curiously transfixed; "Can you teach me how to do that?" She pleaded.

"Oh, yeah, sure," Cedric agreed, and smirked as she vaulted herself off the boulder. "Come on." He searched for a flat, smooth stone near the surface, something that would fit easily in Aurelia's palm. He handed her this stone then gestured for her to stand in front of him. "Alright, now, hold the stone between your thumb and middle finger like so, yes, that's it. Clench your middle finger, ring finger, and pinkie on your dominant hand as if you're making a fist. Right. Perfect, now-" Cedric set his hand over hers, mimicking the way she was holding the stone, in a partial fist, "-the key here is to hook your index finger around the edge of the rock."

She nodded along, "And what will that do?"

"It'll add spin to the rock when you throw it. Right, now, stand like this… " He positioned her at a 15-degree angle and used his right foot to push her feet apart. "…and when you throw the rock, you need to make sure it's parallel to the ground."

"Got it."

Aurelia brought her arm and wrist behind her, while keeping the rock parallel to the ground. She bent her knees, first, then tossed her arm out, releasing the rock only once it was in front of her body. The rock tumbled from her hand… and made a splash in the creek, instead of skipping across.

She frowned; "What? No! I had it! Bollocks!"

"You need to flick your wrist at the end of your throw." He was smirking, shaking his head in a disapproving manner. "It should spin off your index finger and land parallel to the water."

"Oh, right," she was understanding her oversight now, and corrected it on her second throw, which skipped at least four times before it made a splash. Aurelia fist-pumped the air. "Yeah! I got it!"

"Great!" Cedric exclaimed, smiling at his cousin. "Good job, Rory!"

This merriment only lasted a short while. Simultaneously as Aurelia was grabbing another rock in her hand, the Weasley twins came waltzing up, shouting, "Hey Cedric!" at the top of their lungs, causing the cousin.

Cedric waved. "Hey George, hey Fred."

Similar to all the Weasley children, both Fred and George heads of flaming-red hair and an abundance of freckles across their faces. Both twins had a shorter, stockier build, akin to their brother Charlie, rather than a tall, thin build like their other brothers. Fred was the one with a nose like their mother, whereas the only thing separating George from his twin brother was a small mole on the right side of his neck.

Fred and George were the same year as Cedric, though both had been sorted into Gryffindor while he was in Hufflepuff. Their classes didn't always cross with each other, but the trio would usually meet up during lunch and dinner, and always hang out during summer holiday.

Cedric gave Aurelia's right shoulder a gentle nudge; "You guys remember Rory, right?" His hands rested on her shoulders.

"Of course!" The twins exclaimed, and then Fred said, "Blimey! You've grown!" And George added, "Definitely taller than last year-still a bit scrawny though!" He roughed up her hair; she groaned, pushing his hand off.

"She'll be attending Hogwarts this year," Cedric added in, "I can't believe it myself! My baby cousin, all grown up, going off to school…" For a moment, he pretended to be emotional, bringing out the fake tears, until the back of Aurelia's hand pelted his belly; he feigned pain, but laughed all the same.

George and Fred were both smiling: "That's right," Fred said, and then George chimed in, "I think Slytherin will be a good fit-"

"-for you," Fred completed. Both he and George smirked, and then Fred shook his head, saying, "…just taking the piss. You know-"

"-teasing you," George explained.

Aurelia rolled her eyes, scrunching up her nose, then she was looking at Cedric, "I already known I'm gonna be in Hufflepuff with Cedric- right?"

"Gee, I'm not sure. I mean, I'm almost sure the sorting hat takes personal preference into account," Cedric said to assure her, though a tad unsure of that himself, then proceeded to ask the twins, "Don't you have a brother attending this year? Ron, innit?"

"Yup!" The twins exclaimed, proudly, and then Fred said, while looking at Aurelia, "We will introduce you. Our brother could use-"

And then George added, "-a friend. We worry about him, ya know?"

"Are you thinking he'll be in Gryffindor?" Cedric asked, curiously.

George gave an enthusiastic affirmation, "Weasleys have been in Gryffindor for ages! Almost like a-"

"-family tradition," Fred added.

"Right. Family tradition," George echoed as he pelted a rock across the creek. It bounced once, then twice, and finally fell it before reaching mid-way to the other side.

When Cedric grabbed another rock to toss across the creek, Aurelia waited. She stood there watching the three of them, all while contemplating what the Weasley twins were saying about family tradition, and what Cedric had told her about personal preference.

Once Aurelia's acceptance letter came, it would just be a cascade of events from there. Shopping for supplies in Diagon Alley, boarding the Hogwarts Express, waiting anxiously for her turn to be sorted-this is what she anticipated the most, and she knew starting day one she would have the thought in the foreground on her mind about which house she'd end up in, even if Cedric was telling her about her personal preference. Things could always go askew.

Sighing to calm her nerves, Aurelia snatched a rock from the creek bed and gave it a good toss. It didn't skip as far as Cedric's did, or stay buoyant for very long, but she was improving.

~.~.~.~.~

It was nearing dusk by the time they got back; Aurelia hitching a ride on the back of Cedric's shoulders, and Cedric regretting the decision to carry her piggy-back style once they got over a quarter of the way home. It was a good idea, at the time, but he had to stop more than once already. After reaching the posted sign at the end of a dirt road is when he finally called it quits, and gently nudged her off.

The pair walked in solidarity for the time, absorbing all the sights, sounds, the smells; someone was camping, by the aroma now wafting through the air. They must be smoking pork sausages with bacon. In the far distance, a clatter of children's voices could be heard. Their village might be minute, but it was wholesome.

Mrs. Diggory was waiting for them at the front door, a letter in each hand. Aurelia's face brightened. The very moment she had longed for was here, and she couldn't break away from Cedric fast enough. In fact, both Cedric and his mum got a bit of a laugh at the sheer excitement displayed by the young girl as she snatched the letter from her aunt's hand with such determination, and then bolted through the kitchen.

Cedric was gentler about it. After having accepted the letter from his mum and muttering a thank you, he followed his little cousin to her bedroom where he found Aurelia already tearing into the envelope; "Slow down, yeah, and haven't you ever heard of patience?" He was still smirking when he shut the door behind him, then settled onto a spot on the bed right beside her, then proceeded to open his own, though it was just a welcome back parchment, and attached was a list of new books this year.

Aurelia's head shook like a rattle; "Weren't you the least bit excited when you got your letter?" The empty envelope dropped to the floor at her feet.

"Well, yeah, I mean-"

Her legs swung over the other side of the bed; she now lay flat on her belly, "Okay then." The parchment was then unfolded.

Dear Ms. Diggory,

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

Yours sincerely,

Minera McGonagall