1 In only one week's time, I would be eleven. For some reason, this birthday seemed ominous– as if something were about to happen. The sunlight gleamed brightly through the window, and I walked slowly towards the beautiful sight. I opened the window and breathed in the fresh, hot breeze that carried the scent of grass and flowers.
Charlotte was in the bathroom, and I was all alone, enjoying the silence. However, the silence did not last long.
With a screech, a small scruffy ball flew clumsily through my window. I barely muffled a squeak as I realized the feathery ball was a little brown owl carrying a letter. I was amazed. The owl swooped down onto Charlotte's headboard, and I rushed over to grab the letter. It read:
To:
Miss Axelle Annabelle Summers
Room 34
Miss Margaret's Orphanage for Girls
London
The owl flew quickly away, and I tore the letter open eagerly. There were two pieces of thick parchment. Slowly, I unfolded the parchment.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Dear Miss Summers,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
We await your owl by no later than July 31.
Yours Sincerely,
Abigail Bones,
Deputy Headmistress
And at the bottom was scrawled:
Rubeus Hagrid will accompany you shortly to access your savings and retrieve your supplies.
I frowned down at the letter. This must've been some sort of joke. I had never heard of such a place– where they teach magic! Hiding it under my pillow, I told no one and decided to wait until this Hagrid fellow decided to show up.
As the days passed and my birthday loomed around the corner, I grew more and more doubtful, and I wondered if it really was a joke– not a very funny one at that. Then, it occurred to me that I might never leave this orphanage until I'm eighteen. This depressed me so much so that I headed to bed early one night, ready to escape my thoughts. However, I didn't fall asleep. A heavy knock resonated throughout the establishment.
I nearly fell out of bed. Rushing over to my window, I discovered a giant man standing at the orphanage door in the twilight.
This must be Mr. Hagrid– I just knew it must be.
In my frilly nightgown, I raced downstairs. Miss Margaret had answered the door and was gazing astonishingly at the giant.
"Axelle? What do you want Axelle for?" Miss Margaret managed to sputter out.
I stood on the landing, gazing at this stranger. His face was surrounded by an enormous beard and in his hand, he carried a holey, pink umbrella.
"Sorry abou' tha'. My name's Rubeus Hagrid, and I'm her to pick up Axelle an' see if she's willin' to go to this school for people– erm– like 'er,"Hagrid said, his speech concealing a secret.
"What school is this?" Miss Margaret frowned suspiciously.
"Uh, London's School fer– fer the Gifted Minds. Jus' opened an' they're wantin'Miss Summers here ta attend," hagrid explained nervously.
"I want to go!" I squeaked frantically.
Miss Margaret, Hagrid, and several of the girls gathered around the TV turned to look at me.
"Well, I might as well get the best education, right?" I reasoned, desperate to get away from this orphanage.
"Tha' settles it them!" Hagrid clapped his enormous hands. "I'll talk to 'er and explain wha' she'll need."
"Wait! What about tuition?" Miss Margaret asked, confused and shocked.
"She gotta scholarship, o' course!" Hagrid replied, shuffling me upstairs.
I scurried upstairs, followed closely by Hagrid, who's every footstep made the stairs groan in protest. I led Hagrid to my room and showed him my letter.
"What is this? Do they really teach magic?" I asked, my voice growing higher.
"Shh... Keep yur voice down!" Hagrid said in hushed voice. "Yur a witch– differen' from yur friends down there. Yur par' o' a whole community who can do magic, an' now, ya've been accepted a' Hogwarts, the finest wizarding school in Britain."
I stared openmouthed at Hagrid for a second and then, regained my composure.
"How-how do I know this is real?" I whispered, eyes wide.
Hagrid smiled and lifted his umbrella. Out of it spewed vibrant blue stars that twinkled as they began floating throughout my bedroom. I gasped in amazement.
"Now, ya'll be able ter do tha' one day. Simple enough. Also, we better ge' a move on, too. We can sta a' the Leaky Cauldron," Hagrid said. "We can't talk abou' it all here. So, ge' changed an' meet me downstairs."
With that, he lumbered downstairs.
This was all so sudden. However, without a second thought, I slipped into jeans and a tank top (it was getting pretty muggy out) and packed some overnight essentials in my rucksack. Within five minutes, I was trampling downstairs. I waved good-bye to the orphaned girls who returned half-hearted waves and slammed the door in Miss Margaret's shocked face.
"So, I really don't know who you are," I told Hagrid as we walked down the street towards downtown London.
"I'm the Keeper of Keys and Grounds a' Hogwarts. I'm jus' here ta escort ya to Diagon Alley, where ya'll get access to yer savin's account and some school supplies," Hagrid explained.
"So, what type of things will we be getting?" I inquired.
"Jus' look at yer list," Hagrid told me, pointing at the envelope in my hand.
I pulled it out and discovered that I would need such tools as a wand and robes.
"Do such things even exist?" I asked, worry evident in my voice. "And I haven't got a savings account that I know of."
"Sure ya do. Yer father left it for ya in 'is will ta ge' ya through school and such," Hagrid said.
"How do you know about my family? Is my mother still alive? Where is she?" I asked frantically.
"Slow down, slow down," Hagrid said, laughing a booming laugh. "I'll explain once we ge' into the Leaky Cauldron."
I bounded up the street, and getting to the street corner, I awaited Hagrid's lumbering form. It was quite a long distance, and I nearly missed the place if Hagrid hadn't pointed it out. The Leaky Cauldron was dingy, though a gorgeous young woman was the bartender. She smiled warmly as Hagrid and I sat at a lonely table near the back. The place was virtually vacant save for an elderly wizard in a light blue hat reading a strange-looking newspaper.
"What can I get you?"asked the woman her curly black hair framing a mocha-colored face.
"Hey, Angelina, 'ow abou' a nice butterbeer fer me an' some pumpkin juice fer her," Hagrid said.
"No problem." She walked swiftly away.
"So, where's my mum?" I asked.
"She's in hiding. Ya see, yer no' only a witch, Axelle, yer a half-breed as well– like me– though yer half veela an' I'm half giant. Ya see, there's this group o' people who believe tha' wizards are the supreme race and anyone who's half-breed is some sorta abomination if ya will. Yer mum hid ya away an' I'm sure she's in hidin' as well. If they found out abou' ya an' her, they'll kill ya both," Hagrid told me solemnly. "Bu' I wouldn't worry abou' it since so long as yer under the care of Professor Kingsley, current headmaster of Hogwarts, ya'll be safe."
"What's a veela?" I inquired tentatively. I was only half human?
"A magical creature that resembles humans on'y much more beautiful– enchantin' even– though downrigh' scary when mad." Hagrid chuckled.
Angelina came with our drinks. I was a bit skepticalabout a drink known as pumpkin juice though it turned out to be very good.
"So," I said, "as long as I'm at Hogwarts, I'm safe, but I still shouldn't mention I'm half veela?"
"No," said Hagrid after he set down his mug of butterbeer. "Some kids're still against any sorta half-breed. Bes' ta avoid trouble."
I nodded.