Relatives
A week had gone by since the incident with the blue clips, now infamously named the imaginative 'Day of the clip disappearance'. The story had gone around the neighbourhood quickly, owing to Gemma texting all of her contacts and posting in on Facebook. Luckily the story hadn't gone viral. However Skye had been subjected to hundreds of questions about the incident, and so had taken refuge in her bedroom for the last few days and had managed to tidy it a little.
'Crap!' exclaimed Skye as she tripped over an old discarded doll in the middle of the floor and nearly fell over. 'Why is it never tidy? I swear you all move when I'm not looking,' Skye said glaring at the doll and throwing it on the ever-growing pile of rubbish. She had just sat on the bed when the shrill sound of the doorbell ringing made her jump. Only one person in the family wrung the doorbell and the last she wanted to see at the moment.
'Skye!' her mother called up 'Let your Great Aunt in before she breaks the bell will you?'
Getting off of the bed, Skye looked at her pale reflection in the mirror on the way out, pausing to straighten the creases on her top. DINGALING. The doorbell rang again startling Skye.
'Coming!' Skye shouted, as she ran down the stairs coming to a stop in front of the front door and turning the silver key.
A tall, formidable woman stood on the doorstep with her chin up high. Her short steel grey hair hung just below her chin with perfect symmetry. Not a hair was out of place. Her sharp grey eyes narrowed at the sight of Skye and looked her up and down.
'How long does it take to open a door?' Skye's Great Aunt snapped pushing passed her into the hallway.
'Sorry Great Aunt Ursula,' Skye sighed closing the door behind them.
'Sarah! Can I get a cup of tea please?' Ursula shouted through to Skye's mother as she sat down on the mottled green sofa.
Bringing the cups of tea with her in their best set of china, Skye's mother sat down on the chair opposite and placed the teacups on the table.
'How are you Aunt Cam-'started Skye's mum
'I'm perfectly fine Sarah,' Ursula said sharply, cutting her off 'Have you got everything ready for school Skye? Secondary school is a big step,'
Six months ago when Skye had been applying to different high schools, her family had had a massive about which school she should go to. Her Great Aunt Ursula insisted on her going to St Catherine's Catholic School, as she herself was a devote catholic. Skye however did not believe in a god or any other higher being and only wanted to go to the local high school with her friends. After a lengthy argument, unfortunately for Skye, Ursula convinced her mother to make her go to St Catherine's. And so now Skye was going to a highly religious school without anyone she knew.
Breaking out of her reverie Skye answered her Great Aunt.
'Nearly, everything apart from my uniform,' said Skye thinking she might as well be truthful.
Ursula made her face into an expression that made her look like she had just smelt something particularly vile.
'Why have you not picked up your uniform? I wanted to make sure it was acceptable. Even the Catholic schools these days are lax with rules,' Ursula said irritated taking a sip of her tea quite gracefully for someone her age.
While Ursula had been talking, Skye's mum had been getting more and more agitated and was beginning to get a red face. Her hands were clenched on her lap and she was biting her tongue for fear, that she would regret what she would say. Why must she be so rude all the time, thought Skye's mother furiously, she was always arguing with them about everything. Finally, she got so angry she could stand it no longer.
'Ursula, please! Give it a rest, she's going to the school you chose! You can't ask for anything more,' Skye's mother said between clenched teeth forcing herself to be calm. 'Stop being so rude!'
Skye's Great Aunt Ursula stopped mid sip. Her lips had almost completely disappeared they were pursed so tightly. Her hand shook slightly in suppressed outrage as she placed her tea-cup slowly back onto the table. Ursula turned her head slightly so she was facing Skye's mum head on and stood up smoothing out the creases in her skirt as she did. Her nose flared out as she spoke,
'How dare you speak to me like that?' Her face had gone white from shock. Not in all her years had Ursula had someone speak back to her and it shocked her that someone thought that they could without consequence. However she was blown back by the ferocity of her nieces shouting.
'There is no need to force your opinions onto us Aunt Ursula! Skye would have been perfectly fine going to Moorehouse Academy with her friends, but no, everything has to be done your way. Always your way. It would be unthinkable for you to let anyone else have their opinion!' Skye's mother would have continued shouting had it not been for Skye calming her mother.
'Mum! Stop, its fine really I don't mind anymore. Really.' Skye said, not really meaning it, however she was resigned to the fact that, that was where she was going in September.
Skye's mother collapsed down onto the sofa suddenly drained and sat there expressionless.
Turning to her Great Aunt, Skye looked at her with resignation.
'I don't believe in god, you know Great Aunt' Skye said sighing, slightly defensively. 'And I would prefer it if you didn't try and force religion on me,'
Her Great Aunt had gone very pale and still. Saying nothing she picked up her bag and walked to the door between the entrance hall and living room and turning back to face them.
'You will both go to Hell. May the Lord have mercy on your souls,' Great Aunt Ursula's eyes burned with the intensity of her belief in her words as she spoke them and then she turned and was gone from the house.
Skye, as she stood there, still thinking about the words her Great Aunt had spoken, was left with a strong feeling that she would never see her again.
Letters
It was two strange days since her Great Aunt had left them suddenly with her warning and Skye had done little but sit and watch TV. The weather had deteriorated back into the regular British summer with the rain battering the roofs like a hail of bullets and hammering on the windows like the relentless drumming of nails, so Skye had been stuck inside. Left to her own thoughts with nothing to distract her Skye had started to feel guilty for insulting her Great Aunt Ursula's beliefs.
'Urgh!' Skye sighed falling back onto her bed burying her face in the pillow.
'Why do I have to feel bad for her?' said Skye into the pillow.
As Skye was rolling onto her back the doorbell gave its familiar shriek. Skye snorted with derision. That better not be another disgruntled relative thought Skye staring at the grey ceiling. She could hear her mum walking below her as the floorboards protested with dull creaks. The door clicked open and Skye strained to hear what was being said at the door. The only parts she could make out sounded like 'schmegeggy' or maybe it was 'school'. Probably school she thought logically. Standing up, Skye walked to the top of the stairs and sat down on the landing waiting for her mum to close the door so she could ask what it was about. Probably the postman or something thought Skye, but it was still the most interesting thing to happen today.
Just when she was about to give up and walk back into her room, Skye's mother let the stranger into the house, apparently convinced that they weren't a serial killer. A tall thin man with messy brown hair followed Skye's mother into the living room.
'Skye, come down here! This nice gentleman wants to talk to you,' she called up to Skye who had already been making her way down the stairs.
Turning into the living room the first thing Skye noticed about the strange man stood next to the sofa was his clothes. They looked normal enough, but they didn't quite fit together right on him. His top proclaimed the band 'Weird Sisters', which Skye had never heard of before and he wore black corduroy trousers with smart leather shoes. With them he had been wearing a large padded jacket that was slightly too large. The man smiled at Skye as she entered the room and reached across and shook her hand.
'It's lovely to meet you Miss Bishop,' the stranger said in a deep polite voice 'Have you been having a nice holiday?'
'Umm, yes thank you,' Skye replied not sure how to answer.
'Ahh. You must be wondering who I am. Sorry, I didn't introduce myself properly. I'm Professor Neville Longbottom,' he said shaking his head slightly.
Skye smirked slightly at the name 'Longbottom'.
'You don't look much like a professor,' Skye said cocking her head to one side and narrowing her eyes.
Neville smiled.
'Well it's a strange school I teach at, and soon I'll be teaching you to if you like,'
Skye blinked and stared at him speechless. Looking at her mum, Skye realised that she was not surprised.
'Mum?' Skye asked confused.
'I came across some witches a long time ago, never thought much of it until a few weeks ago when Gemma started telling people that the display in the jewellery shop disappeared when you got mad,' Skye's mother grinned.
'Wait that was me?' Skye was shocked 'How the hell did I manage that?' demanded Skye turning to Professor Longbottom.
'Don't worry Skye, at Hogwarts you learn to control and use your magic,'
'Hogwarts? What's Hogwarts?' Skye asked confused.
'Ah yes your letter. I almost forgot,' Professor Longbottom handed Skye a letter out of his pocket. It was addressed in emerald green ink to Miss S. Bishop, 27 Haredale Road, Sheffield, South Yorkshire. Skye opened it up and took out two thick pieces of cream coloured paper. Opening up the first one she read.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Headmistress: Rosina Naismith
(Order of Merlin, First Class)
Dear Miss. Bishop,
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 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
Neville Longbottom
Deputy Headmaster
Skye finished reading and put the letters down on the table.
'This isn't a joke is it? Like them ridiculous ones you see on tele all the time?' Skye asked worried someone was going to pop out from behind the door with cameras and yell 'SURPRISE!'
'No. No joking,' Professor Longbottom produced something best described as a long wooden stick from his incredibly large pocket. He pointed it at the sofa which turned into a very stylish brown leather settee.
He grinned at Skye.
'You can keep the sofa like that if you want,' seeing her awed expression. 'It's a wand. It's how witches and wizards in the magical world do… well their magic. You'll be getting one too,'
'How do I know what I need for this Hogwarts?' she asked frowning slightly.
'It's all on that list of yours,' he said pointing to the other half of the letter on the table.
Skye reached for it and picked it up.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Uniform
First-year students will require:
1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)
2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
4. One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupil's clothes should carry name tags
Set Books
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginners' Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble
Other Equipment
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
Students may also bring, if they desire, an owl OR a cat OR a toad
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST-YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICK
'Wait. Where the hell are we supposed to get all of this from?' wondered Skye.
'It's all quite easy to get, if you know where to look,' replied Professor Longbottom smiling.