Chapter 1: The Adventure Begins

"Time to get up, Jane! It is time for breakfast and you don't want to miss that," shouted Mrs. Walton.

"I'm coming, I'm coming," answered Jane with a smile. Jane got out of bed, grabbed some dark blue jeans, a blue and green long-sleeved shirt. She threw them on quickly. Then quickly brushed her thick, dark red hair and headed downstairs to the kitchen.

"Good morning Mrs. Walton," said Jane as she sat down to have some of her favorite pancakes.

"How many times to I have to tell you. Call me Sarah. That is my first name and I would rather you call me by that than Mrs. Walton."

"Oh right, forgot. Sorry, Sarah. From now on I will call you Sarah."

"You better remember that," said Sarah. Jane just looked at Sarah for a second and then started to eat the pancakes on her plate. For as long as Jane could remember, she had been living with Sarah Walton for a long time. Sarah had taken care of Jane since her parents died. Sarah doesn't know what happened to her parents, but all she knows is that an evil wizard killed them. She doesn't know who, so when Jane was old enough to know what happened to her parents, Sarah had told her that they died in a car crash and that Jane was in the house being babysat by Sarah. Jane didn't really miss her parents because she couldn't remember what they looked like, plus she liked living with Sarah. They had so much fun together. They would go see movies together and they would take long walks. When they would go on the walks, Jane would ask what her parents looked like. Sarah had always told her that she looked like her mother with the thick, dark red hair that always fell to her shoulders. Jane's personality was even a little like her mother's. She always was a kind-hearted kind of gal and she was talented. On the other hand, Jane's father was a mischievous student, but only when he was young. He was also clever and very talented. He had untidy black hair that stuck up in the back along with hazel-brown eyes, which is what Jane's eye color is. Sarah says that she is a combination of her father and mother because she has her mother's hair and her father's eyes. Also, she wore glasses like her father. Jane's glasses were purple with rectangle lenses. There was no frame on the bottom, only on the sides and top. But, the more Sarah told Jane about her parents the more she missed them. Jane never told Sarah to stop talking about her parents because she wanted to know what they were like and because she was curious. Even though Jane was 12 years old and legible to go to school, Sarah didn't force Jane to go. Sarah knew that it would be hard for her to go to school and that sometime soon, Jane would be off to a wizard school that she didn't tell Jane about. It was actually that specific day that Jane got a letter from the wizard school. It was about 1:00 in the afternoon and Jane was reading a book that she liked. It was called Prince Caspian. The book is part of the Chronicles of Narnia. Prince Caspian is the 4th book in the chronicles. Jane was about the finish the book when,

"Jane, I want you down here right now," ordered Sarah.

"Wait just a minute, Sarah. I will be there in a moment," replied Jane.

"No, I want you down here now," Sarah said again.

"Oh right, oh right," answered Jane putting down her book and walking down the stairs. "I was almost finished with the book I was reading . . ." Jane stopped. She saw that Sarah had a letter in her hand and that there was a worried expression on her face. "This can't be good news," thought Jane.

"So, um, who is that letter to?" Jane asked warily.

"It's to you, Jane," answered Sarah. Jane carefully took the letter from Sarah's hands and looked at it. The letter was addressed to Miss Jane Potter and it had Sarah Wilton's address on it. But, it never had a return address, which was odd because all letters had return addresses. What was also odd was that Jane never gets any letters from anybody. Jane turned over the letter to reveal a golden seal that sealed the envelope. She looked closely at the seal, but couldn't make out what the seal says. It looked like it had a letter on it like from the alphabet, but Jane didn't know. She opened up the letter and inside was a piece of parchment that had a letter written on it. It read,

Dear Ms. Potter,

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.

Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

Jane looked up at Sarah. Sarah's expression stilled stayed the same. Jane stared down at the letter she was holding then looked back at Sarah.

"This must be some kind of joke," began Jane. "I mean. There is no such thing as magic. Am I right Sarah?" Sarah just looked at Jane and then motioned for her to sit down at the kitchen table. They both sat down at the table. Sarah was about to answer Jane when . . .

"Sarah, is this a joke?" asked Jane.

"No, it's not a joke," she replied.

"So, this is for real," said Jane. Sarah nodded her head. Jane couldn't believe it. That magic really did exist. Then something popped in her head like an arrow hitting a target at full speed.

"Did my parents have something to do with this wizard school?" Sarah looked at Jane and slowly nodded.

"Why didn't you tell me?" questioned Jane.

"I did it for your own safety," answered Sarah.

"My own safety?" questioned Jane again. "Since when is my safety so important?"

"Since your parents died," Sarah said warily. All was silent. There was no sound at all for a few minutes. Jane looked at Sarah and saw that she had tears running down her cheeks. Jane broke the silence by asking,

"What exactly happened to my parents, Sarah?" At first, Sarah didn't answer her question, but when Sarah meet Jane's eyes, something told her that now is the right time to tell her. Sarah got up and got some tissues. After blowing her nose, Sarah answered,

"It was a dark and stormy night when I found you. You were in a baby carrier alone in the basement of the house. I was at my house a couple blocks away from your house when I heard a terrible scream coming from what sounded like your house. At that point in time, I didn't know that it was your house. All I knew was that it had come from the direction of your house. So, I got my coat on and my shoes and walked over. By the time I got there whatever had happened had ended."

"But, how did you know that it was my house?" asked Jane.

"I knew it was your house because I saw your father." Sarah paused. She didn't know if she should say when Jane put her hands on Sarah's hands.

"Go ahead. Keep going," assured Jane. Sarah had to let out a little smile and she did.

"Your father was on the ground. Dead," continued Sarah. "I didn't know what to do. I went down next to him and made sure he was dead and he was. But, what was strange was that there was no blood on him. So then I knew that it had to be magic that killed him. I quickly went inside the house and once I got inside I heard crying. I followed the crying down in the basement and I found you sitting all alone in your baby carrier crying. I picked you up and we both went upstairs to find your mother, but we both found her lying down on the ground dead. I had put you in the baby crib where you started crying after I did. It was like you read my mind or knew what was happening. After that, I took you to my house where I cared for you and took care of you till you grew up and had to leave to go to the wizard school. But, as the years passed, I decided not to tell you about what happened to your parents because one day, I found out who had killed your parents. This was when you were still a baby. I don't remember who I heard it from, but this wizard that killed your parents is a dark wizard. In the wizarding world, everyone fears him and even his name."

"What is his name?" questioned Jane.

"I don't know his name. All I know is that everyone fears him and his name."

"Also, what is the wizarding world?" asked Jane.

"The wizarding world is where all of the wizards are and magic happens. That is the best I can describe it," answered Sarah.

"Then what is this world?" asked Jane.

"This world is called the Muggle world."

"What does the word muggle mean?" Jane asked again.

"It man non-magic folks."

"Non-magic folks?" Jane repeated.

"Yes, non-magic folks. It basically means people who aren't wizards or witches," Sarah answered.

"Oh, okay. I get it. So, what did my parents have to do with this wizard school?"

"Well, a long time ago, when they were your age, they had gone to the wizard school."

"So, it runs in the family?"

"I guess so," said Sarah.

"Bu then, how do you know that my parents are wizards and that they had gone to the school?" questioned Jane.

"You parents and I were really good friends. They told me everything about Hogwarts, which is the school that you will be going to. Lily, your mother, said that she had fun at the school that when her final year at the school came, she said she never wanted it to end."

"Really?"

"Yes, really." Jane looked at the letter again. "So, am I got to this wizard school or not?"

"If you want to. I think it would be fun, plus, it runs in the family," answered Sarah. Jane took out the list of items that she needed to bring to Hogwarts. The list read,

HOGWARTS SCHOOL

of WHICHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

UNIFORM

First-year students will require:

-Three sets of plain work robes (black)

-One plain pointed hat (black) for everyday wear

-One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)

-One winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings)

Please note that all pupil's clothes should carry name tags.

COURSE BOOKS

All students should have a copy of each of the following:

1. The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk

2. A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot

3. Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling

4. A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch

5. One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore

6. Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger

7. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander

8. The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble

OTHER EQUIPMENT

1 wand

1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)

1 set glass or crystal phials

1 telescope

1 set brass scales

Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad.

PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST-YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS

Jane looked at Sarah.

"That's a lot of books that I have to get," Jane squeaked.

"It doesn't look like much."

"But, where on earth am I going to get all of these books!" Jane squeaked again. "I mean I have no idea where to get them. None of the bookstores that I have gone to have them and where am I going to get the letter to say that I am going to this school because we don't have an owl to give them the reply that I am even going to this school," Jane finished.

"Jane, take a deep breath," Sarah said calmly. "Now, we will get through all of this. First things first, what date is it."

"It is the 1st of August," answered Jane. Then she gasped. "It's the first of August! We missed the deadline! Oh no!"

"Jane calm down. I am sure that it is fine if we mail the letter to them a little late. They will understand."

"What if they don't understand, Sarah?" asked Jane.

"I am sure they will," assured Sarah. "Okay, now I want you to go pack your things," Sarah ordered.

"Why do you want me to go pack my things. Don't we have to go my supplies first," questioned Jane.

"Yes, we have to get your supplies first, but that is all they way in London."

"London!"

"Yes, London. So that means we are going to fly there. So when we get there, we will go to the hotel and put our bags there. Then we will go shop for your supplies. Finally, I will help you repack for your trip to Hogwarts and soon you will be on the train to the school," Sarah concluded.

"Sounds like a plan," commented Jane.

"Thanks. Now go. We must make haste." Jane ran upstairs to her room and she flung herself onto her bed. She stared up at the ceiling. She was very excited that she just couldn't wait. Jane knew that this was going to be very exciting and that this was going to be the best couple of days in her whole entire life.

AN: I don't own Harry Potter. The only characters I own are Jane, Sarah, and any other characters that I made up. (Last edited 3/7/17)