A/N: This chapter is like the last one, all original characters. (Then next one won't be like this I promise) Thanks for reviewing everyone, yes the whole point is to figure out who her mother is (you WILL know at the end). And I will write sequels, 6 to be exact, just like JK Rowling. (Oh and I forgot…I own nothing!)

Chapter 3: The forbidden letter

The next week went much better. Lindy stayed home and ran errands with her mum. When she didn't feel like doing that she just sat outside and read. She also spent quite a lot of time at the library, bringing home stacks of books almost everyday.

One day in late July she woke up to a screeching sound. She sat up and yawned. Then she walked over to her window to see if she could see the source of the sound. She was still half asleep but the big, yellow, bulging eyes staring back at her perked her up. Her stomach flipped and she jumped back but soon she realized the pair of eyes belonged to a small, brown and white owl sitting on the branch of the big oak tree outside her window. Ever since she was a small child she adored that tree. Although most children would have fun climbing it, Lindy much preferred to sit under it and read.

She smiled, Lindy couldn't think of a time she had ever seen an owl. She thought for sure they only came out at night. "Hey little guy," she said in a childish tone. The owl blinked in as if he was answering her and then turned around and flew away.

Grinning, Lindy headed downstairs. She smelled an aroma of pancakes from the kitchen and her walk turned into a run. Sure enough she spotted her mum standing over the stove, "Good morning, Hun," she said, "Care for some breakfast?"

Lindy smiled. "Yes please! Are they blueberry pancakes?"

"They sure are," her father replied smiling. He was sitting at the bar reading the paper and sipping coffee. His brown eyes were full of a lot more happiness than they were that day after camp. Lindy sat down next to him. Mr. Beiner shook his head still looking down at the post, "Someone must do something about that French government," he muttered to himself.

"Now," said Mrs. Beiner handing Lindy her pancakes, "It's not our government to worry about."

Mr. Beiner looked as if he was going to reply but instead came a cry from down the hall, "Is that pancakes I smell!" It was definitely Stephen's voice.

"Yes," his mother called back.

"Don't they smell gorgeous," called a female voice. An older teenage girl came up from behind Stephen and pushed him out of the way running into the kitchen.

"Bloody…" Stephen began before his father gave him a harsh look.

The girl laughed and helped herself to some pancakes before Stephen could even reach the stove.

"Aren't you going to tell her to be nice to her dear little brother?" Stephen said sticking his fork into three pancakes.

"No," said Dad without even looking up from his paper. Lindy giggled.

"Fine," Stephen said, pretending to be upset, "But remember…I am your only son."

"And thank god," his older sister whispered.

"I heard that Mary Lynn!" the sixteen-year old cried.

"Do you think I care?" she asked with a mouthful of pancakes.

"Just because you're a so called adult now doesn't mean you have the right to steal all the food!" her brother snapped, "I'm a growing boy, I need energy!"

"I don't think you need as much as you're eating," Mary Lynn replied haughtily, "You should see the food bill!"

Stephen rolled his eyes and poured maple syrup on his pancakes.

Yes, Stephen like most teenage boys had quite an appetite. His excuse was so he could build up more muscle. He was also very active and social. He played almost every sport there was: football, tennis, lacrosse, swimming, and even netball (despite his size). Despite his athletic ability, he wasn't much of a scholar. In the eleven years he had been in school he never had the best grades or best behaviour. He wasn't exactly an angel at home either. For, he would have every excuse in the book to annoy his sisters. So it was pretty funny when Mary Lynn got him at his own game.

"If you keep eating like that than all your manly muscle will turn into fat," said Mary Lynn, refusing to give in.

"What are you my doctor!" Stephen cried.

"I have an idea," Mum said, looking them both straight in the eyes while pouring herself some tea, "Mary Lynn, get the mail."

The eighteen-year old rolled her eyes and headed out the front door. Mary Lynn has always had a way with words. If you asked her opinion she would tell you exactly what she felt without missing a detail. Unlike Lindy, her older sister was a social butterfly, she had plenty of friends and now that she was eighteen hardly ever spent time at home. Even a breakfast like the one this morning was rare.

Lindy often felt envious of her sister's confidence. Even though the girls were seven years apart they would still fight. Sometimes, Lindy wanted to pull out Mary Lynn's vocal cords as she never stopped talking about boys, clothes, music, and her new red convertible she got for her birthday. (That is, when she was around.)

"Dad," Lindy said.

"Yes, Sweetheart," her father replied still looking at the paper.

"Have you ever seen an owl around here?" she asked.

"No, Honey, I don't believe I have, why do you ask?"

"I saw one this morning on the big maple tree," she answered.

Lindy watched her mother's eyes widen. "But, Dear, you couldn't have," Mum said sipping her coffee at the table, "They only come out at night."

"I did!" Lindy exclaimed, she hated it when people didn't believe her, "It was right outside my window!"

"Of course," Dad said. Lindy knew her didn't believe her either.

"Maybe the owl was…" Stephen started but was cut off by Mum who gave him a no nonsense look.

Just then Mary Lynn came in with the mail. "Your magazine, Mum," she said handing it to her mother, "And I have another reminder from the university to show up on August 23rd.

"Anything for me?" Stephen asked.

"No, Mr. Macho you have no letters from sports organizations just dying to have you!"

"Mary Lynn!" Mum cried.

"The rest is…" Mary Lynn trailed off and looked down at the mail, "That's strange."

"What?" Stephen asked.

"Who would be writing to Lindy?" she asked.

"Let me see!" Lindy shrieked excitedly. She almost never got mail, unless it was from her grandparents or Aunt Janet at her birthday (which was in May).

Mary Lynn stared at the envelope, "Why would they mention where you bedroom is…how would they know where your bedroom is!"

"Let me see!" Lindy cried again. Her patience didn't last long before she snatched it out of her sister's hands.

"HEY!" Mary Lynn screeched, "I was going to give it to you!"

Lindy ignored Mary Lynn and just looked down at the envelope in awe. It read:

Miss G. Beiner

Second Bedroom on the Left

7 Hinnes Ct.

Mulberry

Slough

"Who's it from, Sweetheart?" Dad asked peering over his daughter's shoulder.

"I don't know," she said studying the envelope, "There's not even a postage stamp."

Just as Lindy was about to rip open the envelope her mother grabbed it out of her hands and ripped it into pieces.

"WHY'D YOU DO THAT!" she cried.

"You don't want that letter, Dear," her mother said calmly but nervously, "It's probably just some mad person sending random post."

"But if it was random that how would they know where her bedroom is?" asked Mary Lynn.

Mum ignored her. "Why don't you get your swim suit on and we'll go to the pool. It's supposed to be hot today."

Lindy hung her head and whispered, "Okay." She couldn't help but think that this was something of importance. All week she has had the feeling that something huge was about to happen. Usually when she had this feeling she was right. But it looked as if this time she wasn't.

The next morning Lindy was her quiet self again. She forgot to bring a book at the pool the day before so she just stood in the shallow end and daydreamed. But what was really getting her mad was that letter. She had no idea why, normally she didn't worry about little things like that. But somehow this seemed different.

Anyway, this morning wasn't nearly as happy as before. There was no pancakes, no Mary Lynn, mum was in a bad mood, and Stephen wouldn't shut-up about one of his usual rants.

"So then she said…"

"STEPHEN!" mum cried, "I HAVE A HEADACHE, PLEASE STOP TALKING!"

Okay he mouthed.

Lindy sighed and rested her head on the counter next to her toast. She wasn't hungry and really just wanted to climb back into bed.

"Today we can't get rid of him for a few minutes, on account there's no post on Sunday," Dad called from his office.

Stephen looked confused, "What do you mean?" he asked, "I got the mail this morning, there were about eight letters there."

Mum looked nervous again, "There couldn't have been. There's never been post on Sunday. Who were they for, anyway?"

Stephen shrugged, "I dunno. I didn't actually read them."

Mum put her hands on her forehead and moaned. "Where did you put them?" she asked.

"Next to the phone," he said.

Mum got up and picked up the stack of letters next to the telephone near the stove. Her jaw dropped.

"What is it, Darling?" Dad asked after spotting his wife's expression.

"It's just rubbish," she said opening the trash bin in front of her and throwing the letters in, "Every single one."

Lindy looked up, "For me again?" she asked hopefully.

"What?" Mum asked, "Oh no, not at all."

The girl rested her head back on the counter.

"It's such a lovely day, Lindy," Dad called, "I hardly hope that you're intending to spend it moping about."

His daughter shrugged and hobbled upstairs to her room carrying the book she had got bored of reading. She went down the hall and to the left towards her bedroom and opened the shades to let in some sun, then gasped.

There, in her tree was a group of owls of all colours, shapes, and sizes. Six…seven…eight she counted. Then she thought about the eight letters Stephen talked about. Why she was relating the two she didn't know but she thought it seemed rather odd that the day she received a strange letter an owl shows up in her favourite tree. Then, the next day, eight new letters arrive (that supposedly weren't for her) and eight owls in the tree.

Lindy rushed downstairs into her father's office. "DAD DAD! Come quick!" she cried.

"Why!" he asked.

"There are EIGHT owls in the big oak! EIGHT!" she screamed.

"Is that so!" he said trying to sound impressed.

"I'm serious," she said tugging on her father's arm, "Come and see!"

He followed her upstairs into her room and both of them looked out the window only to find that every single one of the birds were gone. "They were there," she said, "I swear."

"I believe you, Honey," he said, "Why don't you get dressed and walk down to the park."

She frowned and watched him step out the door.

That night she laid awake in bed thinking about everything that had happened. She kept on hoping that she would see more owls tomorrow and prove to the rest of her family she wasn't lying. She also was hoping for another letter and couldn't help but wonder if one of those eight letters Stephen found today was for her.

There's only one way to find out. She thought as she sat up in her bed, walked over to the door, and slowly crept it open. She tip-toed past Stephen's room and down the stairs then slowly ran into the kitchen and opened the trash bin.

She had to dig through the package where the roast they had for dinner came in, some of her father's old paper work, and smelly sock she guessed to be Stephen's before she reached the letters.

The one on the top looked just like the one she had gotten the day before. And so did the one after that, that, that. She took one and threw the other seven back into the basket. She ran upstairs, this time not really thinking about the noise factor, and back into her bedroom. She got her flashlight she had been keeping under her bed behind some old books and tore open the letter. It was two sheets the top one read:

HOGWARTS SCHOOL

of WITCHCRAFT and WISARDRY

Headmistress: Minerva McGonagall

Dear Miss Beiner,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on September 2. We will await your owl no less than August 1.

Yours sincerely,

Filius Flitwick

Filius Flitwick

Deputy Headmaster

Lindy's mouth fell open. She didn't know what to think. Was this a joke? She studied the letter once more. Maybe it was some prank that Stephen was pulling, that would explain why he had spotted the letters and why they arrived on Sunday, Especially with making up a name like Hogwarts and Flitwick, plus the whole owl thing.

Sure Stephen had done mean things in the past but this was going too far. At that moment she ran next door to Stephen's room and loudly entered, slamming the door on the wall.

"Uhhhh," he moaned, "What the bloody hell are you doing in my room?"

Lindy walked over to his bed where her brother was lying with only one sheet covering him. His face was buried in his only pillow and he was wearing a white tank top and boxer shorts. The eleven year old rolled her eyes and shoved the letter in his face. "You think this is funny don't you?" she retorted.

"Wah-What's funny?" he whispered, "I don't know what you're talking about!"

"URGH!" she cried angrily and reached for the lamp next to his bed and flipped the switch.

"AHH!" he screamed burying his head deeper in his pillow, "What'd you do that for!"

"LOOK AT THIS!" she screamed, "IS THIS YOUR IDEA OF A JOKE!"

Stephen sat up and took the letter out of his sister's grasp. "You think I did this! It's mental! Why in the world would I think of rubbish like this! It must have been Mary Lynn. The phoney signature at the bottom looks like her handwriting anyway."

"MARY LYNN LEFT FOR LIVERPOOL LAST NIGHT IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN HER!" she said still angry.

"What in heaven's name is going on in here!" Mum cried from the door way, "WHAT DO YOU HAVE THERE LINDY!"

Lindy gulped, she remembered she wasn't supposed to have seen the letter, "Uh…I found it in the trash…"

Mrs. Beiner snatched the letter away, "If I catch you with one of these things AGAIN there will be punishment do you here me!"

"I just want to know what it is!" she pleaded.

"It's a bloody joke that someone is sending us," she said firmly, "Now go back to bed! It's past midnight!"

Lindy hung her head and headed back to her room. All of that for nothing. She thought.

The next morning Lindy awoke by the sound of her father's voice. "Lindy get up and get dressed!" he cried, "We're going to the park."

She sat up and smiled, she loved the park. Lindy headed towards her window to let in the sunshine. "NO!" her father cried, "Uh…it's still dark out."

"It's not supposed to rain is it?" she asked.

"Oh no," he said, "The days are just getting shorter. You know how it is."

She looked at the clock. It was 8:00am it should definetly had been light out by now, but there was no point in arguing. "I have your clothes," he said, "Just bring them in the car and you can put them on in the back at the parking lot in I-Hop where we can have breakfast."

"Why can't I get dressed here?" she asked.

"BECAUSE!" he exclaimed, "Sorry, your mother is well…she's a little frustrated…I think it's better if you, your brother, and I get out of the house now…you know through the back door."

She sighed. Mum had been really stressed lately. She had gotten a promotion at work right before Lindy's eleventh birthday. It was a lot more money, but also a lot more work. Plus there was Stephen being Stephen and all of Mary Lynn's university stuff.

Lindy followed her father downstairs past the kitchen near his office where the back door was. "STEPHEN LET'S GO!" he cried.

"I'M COMING!" he answered, carrying his normal sports attire down the hall.

Dad attempted to open the door. It didn't budge. He tried again, it was stuck. "DAMN IT!" he swore.

Just then Lindy could hear the rustle of papers from the living room. "OWWEEEEEEEEN!" she heard her mother scream.

The three of them ran into the living room to see there mother practically buried in letters coming from the fireplace, windows, and front door. "DEBORAH!" Dad screamed, "WHAT IS HAPPENING!"

Before she could answer they heard a bang on the door. Everyone screamed.

"WHAT THE…" Stephen caught himself.

"OPEN THIS DOOR!" they heard a loud and clear voice shout.

"THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE MY BABY AWAY!" Mum screamed. Lindy was just waiting for someone to jump out and say "Gotcha!" If this was really happening than that letter wasn't a joke…she really had been accepted to some wizarding school.

"Alohomora!" the voice cried and the door swung open.

A/N: Well! There you have it…sorry it took so long…cliffhanger at the end! Who do you think it is?