Truth

I sat down, trying to be brave, for I had no intentions of making this strange man hate me. He seemed kind, at least the twinkling of his eyes were so. I was quite certain he was no young man and yet he seemed too healthy for an old man. Not like Mr. Baggins that used to visit my aunt so often, for he was so old and always angry and complaining of poor health.

Mr. Brocklehurst smiled and I timidly returned the gesture.

"So my dear girl why does your aunt disapprove of you so?" he asked. I was wondering how should I answer that question; moreover what had my aunt told him about me. I contemplated that I should tell the truth that I knew, it would not do after all to lie to the director of my future school. But he might not believe me if Mrs. Reed had already told him that I was a liar as she did to everyone else. But at last I saw that he was going to relieve me of the obligation to answer by the observation:

"You seem like a well mannered young lady."

"Thank you, sir"

"Well, then why is your aunt not happy?"

Now without hesitation I finally said "Because strange things happen in this house that she blames on me, but I swear I did not do them" I said in an attempt to clarify myself of the guilt I had not committed.

Contrary to my expectations he smiled calmly and asked "what strange things, child?"

"This house is haunted by my uncle who is dead but she denies that and whatever that the ghosts do is blamed on me because she dislikes me; like the vanishing of the doors or the books that are thrown across the room and I could not even reach them because they were placed so high." O did not know why I was telling Mr. Brocklehurst all these that I dared tell no one out of fear of Mrs. Reed, but he seemed kind unlike other gentlemen that came to this house. I thought he was not going to believe me but he was still smiling.

"And do you know why these happen?"

"No, sir"

"What were you feeling when they happened?"

"I never meant to do anything!" I protested.

"I know" he said kindly, "but tell me what were you feeling when for example the books were thrown?"

"I was upset, sir." I mumbled. "My cousin was laughing at me and ridiculing my parents"

"Exactly!" he nodded and I was wondering what it was that amused him.

"It happens to all of us at the young age." He said mysteriously.

"What happens, sir?"

"Uncontrollable magic!" he exclaimed wisely and I was wondering if hwe was mocking me, or perhaps he was testing me for his school.

"Magic does not exist, sir!" I said firmly.

"Does it not? How would you explain all these things that you can do?" he said knowingly.

"But I don't do anything!"

"Not intentionally, but when anger or fear grips us or extreme joy or sadness overcomes us it becomes hard to contain it and that's when it shows it's signs of existence within us! And in our scool you'll learn to control your magic so as to avoid these accidents."

"But why does it only happen to me?"

"Because you are the only witch in this family."

"I am not a witch!" I said indignantly. "They only exist in fairy tales!"

He only chuckled and took out the wooden stick again, and I eyed it suspiciously and half expectantly.

"You see I'm a wizard, too." He said, "Do you know what this is?"

"It looks like the wand fairies have in books" I said

He did not answer but flicked the stick and two crystal glasses appeared out of thin air. They contained a beautiful golden liquid and landed in front of us on the table.

"well, why don' you help yourself to a drink?" he said taking his own glass. I only watched in amazement.

"How did you do that, sir?"

"Magic" he said triumphantly for I was sure he knew that I believed him now.

"Now do you know where I'll be taking you?"

"Lowood Institute, sir?"I asked wondering if Bessie had told me the name correctly.

Now he frowned a little "that's what I told your aunt. I suppose you still don't know who I am?"

"Mr. Brockelhurst, sir."

"My name is Albus Dumbledore, and I'm the deputy head master of Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, you may call me Professor Dumbledore."

"What a strange name!" I exclaimed and immediately felt sorry for having said that but to my surprise he was smiling.

"Did you lie to Mrs. Reed, then, sir?" I asked accusingly.

"Well, there are rules in the magical world that we have to abide by. Your aunt is a muggle, a non magical person, and by the rules of our ministry they are not allowed to know of our existence."

"Will I be going to Hogwarts, sir? I asked hopefully.

"Yes, but before you do," and he produced an envelope from his pocket, "you have to buy a few things." He gave the envelope to me.

I read it as quickly as I could but considering my age then, it was yet too slow. On it was written,

-shire

Gateshead

The nursery

Ms. Eyre

I opened it : it was an announcement of my acceptance in their school as well as a list of materials I had never heard of before that were required for my education.

I looked up at Professor Dumbledore: why am I the only witch in the family, why aren't my cousins to come as well?"

"Because the magical blood does not flow in their veins."

"But they are my relations!"

"True. But their parents were both deprived of the power, of course there are witches and wizards of muggle parentage, but they must have had ancestors of magical race"

"You mean my parents were…"I had never known much about my parents. My aunt despised anmd the only thing she would ever say of them was that how poor they were and how they had left me on her hands.

"Yes, both your parents had attended Hogwarts."

The idea was cheering, that I should go to a place that my parents had once been to. But a depressing thought suddenly struck me.

"But Mrs. Reed says they were poor and died of poverty. She would not pay for all this." I gave him back the list.

"My dear girl," said the professor apparently shocked, "your parents did not die of poverty! I did not know them personally but I knew that Mr. and Mrs. Eyre worked at the ministry and died of back-firing spells during an experiment, you see magic could be quite dangerous, if one is not careful."

"Well, they must have been poor after all, if they worked." I mused.

"No," he said, "the wizarding world is different from the muggles; working is not a sign of dependence but rather independence!"

"But all the same I still do not have money to buy those and Mrs. Reed won't buy them for me." I said sadly.

"Your parents have left you quite a sum that would last as long as your education requires, and after that you may earn your living."

I jumped up from glee at the idea of independence and not having to live with my aunt and cousins any longer and asked him if he could help me buy the materials and books.

"Of course," he answered kindly, smiling down at me as he stood. "I will come by on Thursday and we can go to London to purchase them."

"London?" I asked excitedly. "I shall go to London?"

"Of course" he said matter-of-factly.

"But London is so far, would you ask Aunt Reed if she would allow me to go?" I pleaded.

"well, you needn't worry about that," said he as he flicked his wand and vanished the now empty glasses, (for I had drank of that delicious golden liquid as he spoke) and moved towards the door "Wizards have much faster means of travel." And he winked at me!

"Goodbye, for now, Miss Eyre" and he went out the door as I waved my hand at him in amazement, wondering if I had dreamt all this.

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