Merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, and happy Kwanzaa!

Disclaimer: I own nothing but my OCs and this plot :)

~justadamdemigod~

Mayfield Nightengale is a witch. Well, not properly trained yet but she's loved to learn from her mother ever since she was a small child. She hopes she can be above grade level when she arrives at the school for witchcraft and wizardry, Hogwarts. Every young witch and wizard goes there after they turn eleven years of age. Mayfield's eleventh birthday is today and she is almost exploding with excitement for the arrival of her Hogwarts letter.

Mayfield sat at the old kitchen table eating her breakfast. The television blared with the early morning news. She doesn't care to listen, muggle news bores her. She slopped her spoon in the steamy porridge that filled her bowl. Her mother should be out soon, Mayfield usually wakes before her. Her mother usually makes a big extravagant breakfast for her birthday but Mayfield didn't have the heart to wake her up and it got pretty late in the morning so she caved in and just made herself a bowl of porridge. Her mother has been acting strange lately. Looking behind her as if she thinks someone is following her, closing all the shutters at night and locking everything, also lighting as many scented candles as she could possibly afford. The overpowering scent gave Mayfield migraines, but every time she asked her mother to put them all away, her face would darken and she would just vaguely shake her head no.

Mayfield just assumes she's just thinking about dad. Mayfield never met her dad, he left before she was born. Her mother didn't even have a photo to share with her. She found that kind of aggravating. Her mother always tells her that he loved the smell of the rain, so from time to time she would buy rain scented candles, now they fill almost every nook and cranny of the smallish house she and her mother shared. Now instead of the scent being comforting it's just overpowering and annoying.

Even though her mother always tells her that he left before she was born, she remembers bits and pieces of him. His lovable smile and contagious laugh. The way he smelled like outside after a rain shower. She looked down at her hair, it's shiny and black, and it's curled neatly on her shoulders, tied up in a blue ribbon. She wonders if she looks anything like him. She's always been confused on why he left. Her mother is such an amazing woman who birthed a beautiful daughter. Yeah, Mayfield is a little self centered but she still is loved by many others. Mayfield just shook her head, ridding the unsettling thoughts clouding her head. It's her birthday after all, and she should be happy. Her Hogwarts letter should be here soon anyways.

"Good morning, love," Mayfeild's mom groggily came into the kitchen rubbing her eyes. Mayfield knew that she had had another sleepless night. Her mum has been having them more often lately and Mayfield is starting to worry.

"Morning, mum," Mayfield says, turning to face her mother. She's still in her pajamas, her hair a greasy, knotted mess. Mayfeild can't help but think of how pretty she used to be before she changed, now she's awfully...drab. Her mum hasn't said anything about Mayfield's birthday yet, has she forgotten? Nah, she's her mother she wouldn't forget...she hopes.

"You got something you want to say?" Asks Mayfield expectantly. Her mother perked up at her words as if she were remembering something a little too late.

"Oh, yes, Happy Birthday," She said almost half heartedly. Mayfield's heart fell, disappointment growing in her body like a wildfire. Mayfields swallowed the lump forming in her throat and forced a strained smile. What is happening? What happened to the loveable, caring mother that she used to have.

"Thank you," Mayfeild said through clenched teeth. Then her mother left the room without another word. Mayfeilds heart clenched with betrayal. Her mother is getting worse as the days go by and Mayfield has no idea what's going on. Why doesn't her mother just tell her what's going on? She leaned down on the table and put her face in her hands. Then she heard it. The hooting of an owl, the rustle of parchment. Mayfield shot up and raced to the front door, her feet pounding on the old wooden floor. Something fell through the mail slot and hit the floor. Mayfield's heart rate quickened as she picked up the envelope.

Mayfield Nightengale

1946, Albany Lane, London, Britain

90012

Mayfield squinted at the letters trying to read them, even though she already knew what they said. Mayfield has dyslexia and ADHD so it's kind of hard for her to read but she's getting better at it. She hates being dyslexic and ADHD, it cramps her lifestyle. She already knows that she's pretty but only if she could learn faster...

She slowly opened the envelope, careful to not rip the letter inside. She pulled out the brittle parchment and opened it.

Dear Ms. Nightengale …

She couldn't believe her eyes. It was just as she had expected and more. When she was finished reading it she smiled, joy flowing through her body. In that moment she totally forgot about her mom and the situation that she was in.

Seconds later a knock sounded on the door. Mayfield's face cracked into a wide smile, she knew just who it was. She opened the door and found her two best friends, Holly and Ophelia, standing on the small front step, both holding a present. Ophelia ran up and gave Mayfield a hug.

"Happy birthday girl!" She exclaimed.

"Thanks!" Mayfield said, this time with sincere gratitude. She always feels at home with her besties, they're always there for her as she is for them.

Holly came up and joined the hug. When they broke apart they all looked at each other with knowing looks.

"I got my letter!" They all shouted at the same time. See, Mayfield's birthday was right on the day that all the letters were distributed to all the eleven year old wizards and witches of Europe. They all squealed and jumped up and down.

"We should all go to Diagon Alley together tomorrow," Said Holly, "the deadline is soon anyways, school starts in a few weeks!"

Mayfield knew her mother wouldn't let her go. But she has to or else she won't be prepared for Hogwarts. Mayfield just smiled and nodded, maybe she could sneak out or find her mother's stash of floo powder.

"Can one of you guys take me? Uh, my mum is busy…" She says trying not to give away anything about her mother's condition. To be honest she's a little embarrassed about her mother.

"Carla is never around anymore," Says Ophelia glumly. She and Mayfield's mother, who's name is actually Carla, had bonded over the years. She used to treat Ophelia as if she were her own daughter. Ophelia is an obedient child. She has pale skin and her face is dusted with freckles. She has pretty straight brown hair, hazel eyes, and she is kind but has a great sense of humor. She's also boy crazy but Mayfield know she's secretly a closeted bisexual. Her parents are very strict and religious, you could imagine why she's closeted. Holly on the other hand is a proud pansexual. She has beautiful dark brown skin and curly brown hair that she keeps in a little poof on the top of her head. Her smile is pearly white perfection that complements her green eyes. Mayfield is as straight as a board but supports her friends one hundred percent. She has light skin and black curly hair that make her striking blue eyes pop out.

"Open our presents!" Says Holly excitedly.

Mayfield took the presents from them gratefully. She tore the carefully wrapped wrapping paper on Holly's gift eagerly. It was a small box about the size of her hand and when she opened it there was a necklace in it. The necklace had little charms hanging off of it that spelled "Mayfield'. Mayfield stared widely at the beautiful necklace before her.

"Oh my gosh, wow, Holly I love it so much, thank you!" She ran and hugged her friend. Holly laughed and said it was nothing. Mayfield let go and grabbed Ophelia's present. In her hands she held a bag topped with colorful tissue paper. She pulled the tissue paper off and pulled out a beautiful painting of a girl in a sunny meadow of yellow flowers,

"Ophelia, it's beautiful! Did you make this?" Says Mayfeild, in awe.

"I know it's not expensive or anything but I thought you might like it to personalize your place in your dorm." Says Ophelia, "And, yeah, I made it. I got the idea from your name, it sounds so sunny!"

"I absolutely love it, thank you girl!" Mayfeild is totally going to hang this next to her bed right over her necklace. She can't wait to go to Hogwarts, she hopes to get Ravenclaw as her house. That is her mother's house, she was very kept together and a genius before she slipped into this...insanity. Mayfeild was about to say something when she heard a startling sound behind her.

"Mayfield Farley Nightengale!" Screamed her mother from behind Mayfield. No, no, no. This wasn't supposed to happen. Her mother freaks if she catches Mayfield outside the house, I don't know how she's going to take Mayfield going to Diagon Alley. Mayfield actually worries that her mother won't let her attend Hogwarts, the idea tears Mayfield apart so much that sometimes she cries herself to sleep.

Mayfield slowly turned around, not ready to face her mother's wrath. Her mother stood there still in her ratty pajamas and ugly knotted hair.

"I'VE TOLD YOU COUNTLESS TIMES," She shrieked, "YOU ARE TO STAY IN THE HOUSE O-OR THEY MIGHT FIND YOU, SMELL YOU…" Her mother crumpled to the ground, shaking. Mayfield stared in horror at her mother, her heart pounding a million miles a minute. Who is they? Why do they want to find her? And smell her? That's nonsense, is there a pack of feral dogs after her? Her mother had never said anything more than a shake or nod of her head when Mayfield asked why she was acting this way. Now, her mother revealed information she didn't know how to take. She lifted her hand to see that she was shaking as well. Her head pounded with a million questions and fear. Then she remembered that her friends were standing right behind her and had experienced the same thing. She whipped around to face them and found that they were in the same horror/confused state.

"What. Was. That," Said Ophelia, tears pricking in her eyes.

"I-I think you guys need to go," Mayfield said frantically, she was about to cry as well.

"Girl, what happened? Why is your mum all...paranoid?" Said Holly, crossing her arms over her chest protectively.

"You guys need to go, like, right now," Mayfield said, her voice cracking, "I'm so sorry you had to see this." She scooped up the presents and rushed to the door.

"Wait-!" Holly's voice was cut off by Mayfield slamming the front door. Tears streamed down her face.

"I'm sorry."