I held the piece of parchment in my shaking hands, as I tried to process the words in the letter. I was going to Hogwarts. I was magical. I couldn't believe it; it just seemed too good to be true. I walked over to the window, and looked into the distance. I couldn't stop smiling; it was my dream come true.

The owl was still perched on the window sill, still looking at me with wide eyes. I stroked his head with my index finger, and looked out beyond the horizon.

"Thank you." I said to the bird, smiling.

It gave a hoot and flew away into the dark night sky. I watched it as it flew, wings outstretched, returning home to the magical world.

I returned back to my bedroom, not shutting the window, not wanting to exclude the world that I belong in. I placed the letter on my bedside table, and climbed back into bed. My body was rushing with so much excitement, it seemed impossible to even think about sleeping.

I thought about Diagon Alley, shopping for cloaks, wands and animals. I thought about Quidditch, the lessons, the teachers; Professor Mcgonagall, Hagrid and Professor Flitwick. I would soon be meeting them all; I would soon become a Hogwarts student.

My eyes started to droop and I fell into a deep sleep, dreaming about my first year at Hogwarts.

"Hannah, breakfast!"

I groaned from underneath my warm covers, not wanting to move in the slightest. I opened my eyes slowly, blinded by the pale yellow streaks of light shining through my bedroom window, which was still open from last night.

I reluctantly pushed the bed covers off of my body and sat up. I looked around my bedroom, and my eyes lowered to find the Hogwarts letter, opened and placed carefully on my bedside table. I picked it up carefully, not wanting to crease it or rip it, as this was my ticket to the magical world.

I held it to my chest and breathed in slowly, grinning from ear to ear. I put the envelope in the top drawer of the table, not wanting to tell my parents the news just yet. I wasn't really sure about when or how to tell them that I received a letter from Hogwarts. They'd think I've gone mad, and wouldn't believe me.

I walked downstairs, to a table full of cereal, bread, sausages and eggs. I looked at my parents who were beaming at me. They never did this kind of thing; it was usually just plain toast or cereal. I looked at them again with a confused face, but their expressions hadn't changed, they were smiling and staring at me intently.

I sat down, and grabbed a piece of toast. They came over to me, and I looked at them with curiosity.

"Mum, Dad, what are you doing?" I asked them, eyeing them up and down.

They looked at each other, still smiling, and back at me, as if they had big news to share with me. I thought about this, and I decided that this was probably the best time to tell them about the letter and Hogwarts.

I started, "Mum, Dad, I need to tell you-"

"-We've got some big news to tell you, darling!" My mother interrupted.

"I think you'll be excited!" My dad said.

"But Mum-"

"Shh, dear. Let your father tell you the news!" My mum smiled that creepy smile and looked at Dad.

"Well, we're moving." Dad said.

I looked at them, wide-eyed. My toast dropped from my hand onto the plate. My mum looked at me.

"Isn't that great? We're moving to America!" She said.

I think my heart skipped a beat. America? We're moving to America? I couldn't think straight; this was all going too fast.

"W-w...wh-" I couldn't speak, I couldn't think. America? Couldn't they have asked me first? Asked me if it was alright? To leave my friends? My family? What about Hogwarts?

"I-I can't go with you to America." I said, stuttering.

The smiles on my parents' faces slowly disappeared.

"Well of course you're coming with us!" My mum laughed. "What, did you think that we'd leave you here? Don't be silly! Who would you stay with? Where would you go?" My parents laughed.

"Hogwarts." I said.

They stopped laughing, and turned to look at me. Then they burst out laughing again.

"Hogwarts? That place in the books you read?" My mum said between fits of laughter. "There's no such place, Hannah! It's all made up!"

I got up abruptly from my chair at the table, and left my laughing parents behind. I ran upstairs and stopped in the middle of my room. I was getting out of here.

I dragged my suitcase from underneath my bed, and opened it, and started to empty my drawers into it. I then packed my shoes, hats, scarves and toiletries. I looked around my room, feeling the emptiness of it already. I went over to my shelves and picked up my photo frame of my parents and me. Tears sprang to my eyes, but I forced them back, and threw the frame into my suitcase.

I would have to go later, in the night whilst my parents are asleep. If I were to leave now, they'd never let me go, I'd have to move to America. Besides, I need time to plan.

From there on, I planned my escape. I would finish my packing, and I would need to pack all the important items like money, my bus pass, my passport and my phone. And of course the letter. I went over to my table and opened the top drawer, to find an empty drawer. I started to rummage around, looking for something, anything. I put my hand into the back of the drawer, fumbling around for the letter frantically, but there was nothing.

I looked around my room, my heart beat rising. I looked on my bed, under the covers, on my shelves, but it was nowhere to be found. My breath rate was starting to increase, my hands shaking. Where else could it be? Who could have-

No.. They can't.. I ran downstairs, and into the kitchen to find my mother and father at the kitchen table, looking at something. Looking at a piece of paper.

No, god please no.. I thought, my heart beating fast. I walked over to them. Please, don't let it be..

I saw a flicker of the blood red seal, and I think my heart skipped a beat. It was the letter.

The letter from Hogwarts.