Chapter 7
July 21, 1971
I am so excited! Daddy and Mum are going to take me to London to get my school things tomorrow. Though I'm not exactly sure where we'll find most of them. It's not exactly the kind of things that Hatchards would have. But it will be an adventure in finding my things. We asked Petunia if she wanted to come with us to London, and after her reaction when she found out about me being a witch, wasn't surprising. She flat-out refused. Boy that was a conversation I'd like to forget! Petunia's reaction was shocking. Even Mum handled the news better. Daddy called Mum into the dining room after he'd read my letter. And he told her that we now knew the reason behind all of my "accidents." Of course, Mum was curious and wanted to know. So he said "Heather, my love, Lily's a witch." Daddy knew it was best to be blunt and tell Mum straight up. "A what," Mum stammered. "A witch. You know, pointy hat, magic spells, potions, and broomsticks." I watched Mum fascinated as the truth sank in. Her face drained of all color and her hand dropped the china teacup she was holding. As her eyes got huge, she just suddenly collapsed into a heap on the floor. "Daddy, Mum's fainted!" So Mum was shocked alright.
My sister was a different story entirely. Petunia first denied it all by saying that there was no way I could be a witch if she wasn't one too. After all we're sisters. Daddy tried to explain that just because we were sisters didn't mean that we had everything in common. But Petunia refused to believe it. Then she decided to take it upon herself and contact the school I'll be attending. She tried calling them and surprise surprise, there wasn't a phone number that existed. So she then took my letter and copied the address down and wrote a letter to the Headmaster. Poor Petunia. She's so silly. But I guess she didn't really want me to be all that different from her. And was looking forward to my going to school with her. Then yesterday, Petunia got a letter delivered by an owl from the Headmaster. I don't know what it said, but from what I overheard, when she was talking to Mum and Daddy, was that she wasn't going to be allowed to go. She wasn't magical. And wouldn't fit in. After that, she called me a freak and told me that she was glad that I was going to a school with other freaks like myself and that she's got her friends at her school. Friends like Stephanie and Gayle and Elosie and that her classes would teach her practical things for finding a job and living in society. I can't really say I'm all that surprised by her words, but they sure hurt. Our relationship's been rather rocky for the last few years and I think that this is just something that will cause us to be further apart. It's not fair really! At least I have Julie. Oh! I need to write her and tell her!
Always,
Lily
July 26, 1971
Diagon Alley. That's where we had to go to get my school things. That's such a cool place. And to think that it's in London, and we've never seen it before. Well, I saw the Leaky Cauldron once before when shopping with Mum. It's the dingy old pub in the heart of London. I'm not sure how Daddy managed to get all the information about where we needed to go, but he did. And we went to the Leaky Cauldron. And from there, entered Diagon Alley. I can't even begin to describe it. There were shops that sold cauldrons, shops that sold owls, shops with brooms, and anything else we could imagine. And the ice cream shop. Oh my goodness. I've never tasted anything so sweet. It was pure heaven. We realized really quickly that the shops wouldn't take the money we had, so we had to exchange it for wizard money. So we went to the bank there. It's called Gringotts. And there are these hideously ugly creatures that someone told me were goblins in charge of the bank. I was glad to get our money and leave.
I met this girl at the shop where I was to be fitted for my school robes. This girl told me that her name is Kathleen and that she's a pure-blood. I didn't know what she was talking about. So all I told her was my name. Anyway, we chatted for a few minutes while she was finishing being fitted and then she had to leave. All she could go on about was the fact that she's got her life all planned out. She's only eleven and is practically betrothed to boy of pure blood. He's all she could talk about despite her having never really met him. Some girls are so crazy!
Always,
Lily
August 16, 1971
I got a letter from Julie today. While it seems that she's happy for me that we've discovered the secret to my "strangeness", she's really upset too. Julie asked me in the letter why she couldn't be a witch too. Because then she'd be better able to take care of her brother and sister. She said that the Child Protection People have found out that there isn't any mum or dad living with them and are trying to separate them. She refuses to let Cassie and Samuel be taken away from her. I don't know how she's going to manage to keep them with her though. She's only 11, almost 12. They started school already in the States. She told me that it's still different with the war on and everything.
I am so excited about my new school! I'm going to learn so much stuff that will be fun. Though I keep thinking about that girl I met in the dress shop, Kathleen, I think her name was. I wonder if all the girls in the wizarding world are like her. If they are, I'm going to go crazy! I'd much rather have my normal friends and a sister who is mean and hateful and jealous than being around a bunch of flakes like that one girl. I hope that I will be able to make some good friends. Friends who will be like Julie to me. Only nothing will ever take Julie's place in my life. We've gone through too much together. Even though we're going to be in completely different worlds, we'll always be friends.
I just realized something. Ever since I got the letter telling me that I'm a witch, my strange dreams have stopped. I noticed this because last night was the first time in months that I've had one of my strange dreams. Maybe it's been since I turned 11. Anyway, my dream. This one once again had that boy in it. He was playing with something small and golden. I think he was showing off. Then it changed on me again. And this time, the boy, was a man again. He and I were talking to an elderly gentleman about something. I don't know what. And then the man, took the baby from my arms and tossed him up into the air. I could tell that the baby wasn't afraid of either the man beside me or the elderly gentleman. In fact, the baby looked just like the man, expect for his eyes. And they were the same shade of green as mine. It's strange, but this time my dream seemed to be a happy dream and not one that caused me to awaken in fear.
Always,
Lily
Hermione thought about what she'd just read. The excitement about Lily finding out exactly what she was. The trip to Diagon Alley. The dream with Dumbledoor, James, and Harry. Of course Harry wouldn't be afraid of James or of Dumbledoor. After all, one of the two was his father and the other, the most powerful wizard of the time. She made a decision. When the time was right, she'd give Harry his mother's story. Perhaps it would help him stop blaming himself for the loss of Fred, Colin, Moody, and so many others, but it would help him to move on to a future bright with love.
As Hermione gathered up her things and prepared to leave her attic haven, she pondered the decision she'd made earlier. The decision to allow her defenses down and the person following her to capture her. Of course the Order and the rest would object to that decision, but she knew what she was doing. At least she hoped so.
