With Jack and Jamie taking up the couch (they looked so cute, curled up together like that) and the dishes done, I was left with nothing to do.
So I sat.
Slumped at the kitchen table, reading a book I'd read so many times I knew it almost off by heart and the TV playing gently in the background- it was becoming a familiar scene for me, but i ignored the strange sense of deja vu . Not much happened around here.
Someone knocked at the door and I looked up so fast I almost gave myself whiplash; not that I would've noticed anyway.
I flipped the battered book face-down and got up, stifling a groan as I ran my hand through my hair. When I reached the door, I snuck a look through the side window and saw no one, so I opened it.
"Holy-!" I flailed and fell backwards, something large, grey and feathery smacking into my chest. Jamie and Jack stampeded to the door, stopping abruptly when they saw e sitting on the floor with a seemingly unconscious Great Grey owl on my lap. I know my birds, okay?
"What the hell?" I spotted the letter attached to the owl's leg and untied it cautiously. A large, golden wax seal blazed on the back, an intricately carved coat of arms holding the letter shut.
It seemed a shame to break it, so I carefully tore the paper around it and lifted a slightly yellowed, thick piece of paper from the fancy envelope.
Jamie picked up the owl gently and cradled it while I was distracted- the (again) gold, swooping lettering were incredibly neat and looked handwritten with care, ink and an old-fashioned quill of some sort.
Dear Miss Aria North of Winston Hills, It read.
( I'm terribly sorry if the arrival of this owl, Archeon, didn't interrupt anything important.)
It has come to my attention that all previous letters that we have sent to you were sent back, and I believe none of them were seen personally by you- only your godparents, Eugenio and Victoria Simmons.
I've forgotten to introduce myself. I am Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry. This letter is an informal invitation to attend this school.
Because you have been raised as a Muggle- a wizard term for non magical humans- you may believe this is a joke. On the contrary, I am not much of a prankster, I assure you.
To prove this, there should be a package arriving any moment now-
I looked up and squinted through the door, raising an eyebrow. As I looked, a black and white shape became prominent and tumbled through the door.
"Another one?" Jack gaped. This one was much different. The beautiful bird of prey glided through the doorway peacefully, tucking it's wings in as to not hit the sides it flew straight through the hallway and stretched it claws out to land on the lounge arm, recoiling slightly and wobbling, so it stuck his wings out for balance.
"That's a..." Jamie squinted. "Black-breasted kite, yea?" He look to me for conformation and I nodded in awe. The bird ruffled its feathers proudly and jumped off the couch, landing with a small scuffle on the carpeted floor and stalking towards us. If cocked its head sideways at Archeon and observed us offhandedly. I like this bird- it had sass.
It dropped the parcel it was carrying in front of me and stepped back, watching me carefully. A messily-scrawled word- a large contrast to the letter- was scribbled in the corner, ad I had to squint to read it.
"Aries?" I raised an eyebrow and looked at the kite. "Is that you?"
The bird skipped forwards and cocked his head, seemingly indicating yes. I grinned.
"That's my star sign. Fits you."
Aries took a little bow and I started to carefully unwrap the parcel as he turned his sharp gaze to Jack and Jamie.
My hand touched silky fabric and I pulled my hand back in surprise. It was almost a mercury silver, yet oddly transparent. I pulled the cloth out and stood up, holding it out to the side and inspecting it.
I opened it and, realizing it was a cloak, swung it over my shoulders.
Jamie screamed and fell backwards, his eyes wide in- terror?
Jack clamped a hand over Jamie's mouth and stuttered in amazement. "I-I-I w-we can't see most of you!" He blubbered.
I looked down and indeed, the majority of my body had disappeared. I tugged the cloak off hurriedly and my legs and torso appeared again.
I stared wide-eyed at the boys and Aries. "Bloody hell."
"This- that's gotta be some elaborate hoax." Jamie uttered the most cliche words he could think of and passed the forgotten letter to me, so I continued reading out loud.
"To prove this, there should be another package arriving any moment now.
"This is an Invisibility cloak- a fairly rare but exquisite piece of wizarding material. It belonged to your mother before you. I believe this is enough to convince that your current world is not the only one.
Hogwarts is in Scotland- if you are to attend here, please send a letter back with Archeon. If you are unfamiliar with owling, which you undoubtedly are, simply tie a letter to the pouch on Archeon's leg and send her on her way.
You may need to consult with your godparents about this- they will most likely deny knowing anything, but they too attended Hogwarts, as with your parents.
Yours sincerely, Albus Dumbledore.
"Then there's a crap load of signatures." My chest was constricting slightly and I looked at the phone. "I think I have a Phone call to make."
Jack looked up worriedly. "This is all a bit too weird." He muttered shakily. Jamie seemed just as disgruntled but occupied himself with the owl. Aries was still standing in the same place, watching everything curiously.
"And then I'll see what all of this is about. Then I'll write back. Sounds good? Sounds good. Good. Ugh!" I was more talking to myself then anyone else as I picked up the phone.
Why am I so nervous? "Let's do this." I dialed my godparent's number and waited for them to pick up.
