Thanks for the reviews guys! Anyway, here's the next chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. sigh.
CHAPTER ONE
The crisp air swirled around the feet of Selene, who, in her light summer dress, was walking on the bright autumn leaves that crinkled under her feet. Lovingly, she picked up a cradle of leaves, and blew them. They scattered from her hands, floating a little too long in the air before resting rightfully to the ground.
She loved this type of weather. It made her feel...feel...special. Like she was an unknown heroine in a movie, walking along the crinkled sea-bed of leaves.
Weird things had been happening to her all summer. She hadn't told a soul, she didn't want to seem crazy. People already thought of her as odd. Odd Selene, who made funny things happen and was always kinda dreamy.
She picked up another handful of leaves and blew. The leaves lifted, and began to fall in a swirling motion around Selene's figure, twirling like snowflakes. She could make the leaves do whatever she wanted. She could dig her fingers into the heaped piles and feel their life essence.
She lay down in the pile of leaves under a moulting red-gold tree, and relaxed, as she felt the strange warmth of the leaves. She closed her eyes, humming an odd tune, and let her spirit drift away from her body.
She was gliding like the air currents, up and down, up and down, like a nymph. She was in the clouds, and then she felt herself descending, slowly, until she floated above the ground. It wasn't strewn with leaves; it was a plain front garden with overflowing flowerbeds, nestled in a valley with sweet hills.
The house seemed familiar, somehow. There was something about the door, the polished mahogany shining with the green-yellow-red stained glass windows. There was something about the path, which wound out to the cobble-stone street.
A woman was lounging there, a large, straw hat shading her face, her hair glinting black in the light. She wore a long dress which covered her arms and her legs, looking very proper even with the straw hat.
Selene drifted closer. She wanted to see the lady's face. But, somehow, the woman had sensed a presence. She looked up, and all Selene caught was the stern straightness of her nose.
Selene's own eyes flew open, and she realised who had dragged her out of the dream. Vera was standing on the leaves beside Selene, looking down on her.
"Get up," she tugged on Selene's arm, which felt oddly disconnected, "Mummy said that you have a letter. And I want cake, and Mummy says that I'll get some when I find you."
Selene sighed, before taking Vera's hand and getting dragged up. Vera's one weakness was sweets, especially cakes. Selene hated carrot and walnut cake, but Vera gobbled it up with smacking lips.
"Mummy said the leaves are dirty," Vera whined, "Mummy said that you shouldn't lie down on them. And anyway, you should be playing with me. I'm soooo bored."
Selene felt a migraine coming. Vera had a speciality with causing them.
"Mummy said that we can have chocolate cake today," Vera announced, and Selene felt herself perk up slightly, "But Mummy said that you have to help me with my stars and planet project. You have to help me cut out the planets." Selene deflated. She loved her little sister, but she could be so annoying.
Vera dutifully repeated every word of Mrs Jenkins before they finally opened the back door to the modest house. Selene was not at all sorry when Vera stopped talking, and followed the little brunette to the table, where Mrs Jenkins had laid out afternoon tea.
"Chocolate cake! Thank you, Mummy," Vera gave Mrs Jenkins a large hug around the waist, and began to shovel in her piece of cake, slurping the milk loudly.
"Quietly, Vee," Mrs Jenkins reprimanded, before turning to Selene, "I have a letter for you. It's rather strange, but I decided I would open it when you were here with me."
Selene nodded, a slight bubble of excitement beginning to inflate. Mrs Jenkins produced a thick envelope, and neatly scripted, on the front, was their address and the phrase:
To: Selene Artemis Persephone Elise Jenkins
"Is that me?" Selene asked. She had never had a middle name before, let alone three. Mrs Jenkins looked slightly less bewildered as Selene.
"\Who else is called 'Selene Jenkins' in this area? Open it, honey."
Selene turned it to the back, where a heavy wax-seal sealed the envelope. More confused, she broke the wax and lifted out the heavy cream parchment.
"Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Surpreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Miss Jenkins,
We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on September the 1st. We await your owl no later than July 31st.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall,
Deputy Headmaster
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry"
Mrs Jenkins looked at the letter with wide, unbelieving eyes, before reading it again. Her hand shook unnoticeably. Selene read it once more, and then laughed.
"Supreme Mugwump? Poor person," she quoted "AHAHHAHAHAHAH! Owls? Dumbledore? 'Chief Warlock'." She doubled over in laughter. After wiping the tears of mirth from her eyes, she said, "Whoever played this prank is wonderful. I mean, they even added a seal. A seal!" She began to laugh once more, a bit strangely perhaps. The name 'Hogwarts' and 'McGonagall' seemed familiar to her, but she couldn't grasp it.
Selene did not notice her mother's expression. Her mother remembered what had happened nearly eleven years ago. She remembered that night.
But after re-reading the letter, she too began to chuckle like her daughter who was probably rupturing her lungs. It was just a joke after all. Wasn't it?
But Mrs Jenkins had a funny feeling it wasn't.
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