Chapter 1: A Letter

"Bella, you're gonna be late!" Delilah called down the hall to her daughter's room. She set a plate of toast and scrambled eggs on the table as her daughter made it to the table.

In between bites, Bella managed to say, "Mum, Mary isn't going to worry if we're a few minutes late."

"Yes but Ms. Jo won't be happy if you and Mary are late."

Bella sighed as she finished her toast and eggs. "Alright."

As Delilah helped Bella put on her coat, the mail slipped through the slot in the door. Bella picked the envelopes up and handed them to her mother as she pulled open the door and stopped.

"Mum, there's a cat staring at me," Bella said to her mother.

"Interesting sweetheart," she answered as she looked through the mail. "Just shoo it away."

Bella looked at the cat oddly. It seemed like it was listening to her and her mother talk.

"Do you understand what we're saying?" she asked quietly as she stepped towards the cat.

The cat nodded its head as it moved farther away from Bella and began to grow. Soon there was a tall, black haired woman standing exactly where the cat was.

"Mum! It's-she's an animagus!" Bella exclaimed as she turned around to her mother. Delilah put the mail on the table as she pulled the door open all the way to see their visitor.

"Hello. Can I help you Miss..." she trailed off as the animagus looked at Bella.

"Good day. I am Professor Minerva McGonagall," the woman introduced herself. "I am here representing Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. May I come in?"

Delilah stood there for a moment with her mouth open.

"Mum," Bella murmured. "Come on in," she said cheerily to the Professor. Pulling her mother's hand so that they could lead their guest into their loft, Bella tried to get her mother to say something but she was still unresponsive.

"Mum," she said while she shook her mother's hand.

"Oh, sorry," Delilah finally responded. "I'm sorry, but why are you here Professor?"

"For your daughter's education of course," McGonagall replied. "She's to go to Hogwarts."

"Bella's a witch?"

"I'm like Mum?"

"Yes Bella is a witch. You're a witch Miss Darling?" McGonagall asked.

Bella nodded her head as her mother answered. "Yah, I went to Salem Witches Institute in America when I was a kid," she paused. "I didn't think Bella would be a witch, her father was a muggle as far as I know and I've never been very talented."

"Well your daughter is a witch and Hogwarts would be glad to have her this coming term. I believe that you received a letter today with her supply list and rules," Professor McGonagall elaborated.

Bella ran back to the front door and grabbed the mail off the table. "Here it is Mum!" She ran back in waving around an envelope with her name on it. "Can I open it?"

Delilah nodded her head as Bella began carefully opening the letter.

"Dear Miss Darling,

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

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

"That's you, Professor," Bella exclaimed as she finished reading off the first page of the letter.

"Indeed. All the supplies you will need for the school year are listed on the second page," McGonagall replied. "Do you know where Diagon Alley is Miss Darling?"

"It's behind the inn place by the muggle bookshop," answered Delilah. "Is there anything else, Bella's going to be late for her play."

"Oh well, I guess not since you know what's going on," McGonagall said while shaking Delilah's hand. "See you at Hogwarts Bella," she directed to Bella.

"See you too, Professor," Bella responded as she shook her hand.

"Good bye." With that, McGonagall disappeared with a small pop.

Delilah and Bella stood there for a moment before moving at nearly the same time.

"Come on Bells," her mother said using her pet name for her daughter. "Mary's probably wondering where we got off to."