Winnie was now eleven, her hair, and long red
and in a French braid, her grey eyes bored on the cook book that lay in front
of her. The house was quite dad and mom were at work, it was the middle of
June, and she knew Toby would be coming soon.

Winnie remembered when mom had told the whole family at dinner, grandpa went on
and on about another child who could run Grunnings. Grandma was giving mom a
quick hug, while dad was red in the cheeks. Winnie remembered herself dancing.

She remembered watching mom get bigger and bigger in the stomach, and Winnie
thinking of showing her new sister, how to do things and give her, her dolls,
and read her books. And then Winnie learned that she would be having a baby
brother, Winnie frown a little disappointed on her mom having a boy, but a
least she could still read to the baby.

And now it was summer, last week mom went to the doctor and came home telling
me that we had to wait. And now, as mom and dad worked much around the house
fixing her old playroom into her baby brother's room. She watch dad take of
mom, while Winnie just seemed to stand there. But now Winnie decided to help by
making dinner.

She had made a bunch of sandwiches, and put them in the fridge but, dessert,
she looked down then heading to the fridge, she took out the ingredients. Pouring
them in the bowl she stirred, happily, looking outside, seeing her hidden tree-
house, she wished she could go up in it but, her eyes moved toward the tree
were a sickly grey hive etched against the tree.

Grandpa would be coming tomorrow to help daddy take it down.

"Hey ginger!" a voice called, Winnie stiffed, craning her head out the window;
she looked at the tree- house and tree no- one. Winnie shook her head and,
began driving the strange moment from her mind.

"Nice house you got here." said the same voice, Winnie looked up seeing Tommy Finnegan.
Now that his hair was normal color it was sandy- brown hair, and dark eyes.
Tommy Finnegan was an annoying boy at her school that never left her alone.

"How did you get in here?" Winnie asked.

"We're neighbors, duh!" answered Finnegan "Remember?"

"I try hard not to." Winnie answered, trying to keep her focus on the
unfinished cake at hand.

"What is that?" he asked walking next to her, scrounging his face.

"A cake."

"For who?"

"My mom"

"Oh." Silence followed, Winnie poured the chocolate batter, into a rectangle
bowl, and Winnie walked to the oven, setting the time. Winnie had pulled back a
strand of hair, tugging her pink jacket.

"Can I help you with something?" asked Winnie bluntly, she had been waiting for
him to say something and leave.

"Oh" said Finnegan, who seemed to have lost through. "Have you got a letter
from school yet?" This question caught Winnie off guard, she knew Finnegan was probably
the one who least cared about school.

"No, I haven't received anything from school." answered Winnie

"Since your name was Dursley, I thought you would get your letter first."
answered Finnegan, now they both looked at each other both leaning on the
counter opposite of the other.

"No letter." said Winnie; she bit the corner of her lip, hoping Finnegan would
leave now.

"The door-" began Winnie but, Finnegan cut her off.

"So which is the magical one?" asked Finnegan, making Winnie raise her eyebrow.

"Excuse me?" said Winnie pushing herself off the counter, staring at Finnegan,
who was shorter than her.

"You know is your father a wizard or is it your mother a witch?" asked Finnegan,
Winnie's eyes widen. What was Finnegan talking about? Wizard? Witch?

"My mother is not a witch Finnegan! I don't know what rubbish you are talking
about but, it's not funny!" Winnie huffed.

"Oh" said Finnegan "Got to go." he answered. What? Winnie watches him run out
the back door. Winnie just stood there, thinking over the strange visit. Winnie
shook her head in dismay one of Finnegan's stupid tricks, hearing the oven
beep, she put, the batter in.