Hi guys, I'm able to post this chapter earlier than usual because I had already written it, so I hope you like it.
Chapter 2
Fabian Rutter woke up with a start, as his alarm went off. Fabian turned the alarm off, and began to feel very excited for today was his eleventh birthday. He was thirsty so he reached for his glass, but it floated to his hand by itself. He stared at it in surprise, did that just really happen? After debating with himself for a while, Fabian decided that it couldn't have happened, because such things were impossible. So he shrugged it off as his overactive imagination, had some water and got out of bed. His room was decent sized, with turquoise wallpaper that gave his room an oceanic feel. Fabian was unusually tidy for a boy his age, something that the twins wasted no time in teasing him about. His clothes were in a neat pile, on his desk chair and his books were laid out in an appropriate order on his desk.
One of the possessions Fabian treasured most was his guitar, which was lying safely in its case on the floor. He had shown great talent for playing the guitar when he was younger, and he began to have lessons. Fabian loved playing the guitar, he played it every day and had recently started having singing lessons. Although Fabian went through a phase of changing his mind every time someone asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up, he now knew that he wanted to be a musician.
He had gotten up, at 9:00am which was earlier than usual for a Saturday. This was because every year, on his birthday Fabian's older brothers Peter and Phillip, who were twins with identical brown hair and eyes, threw a bucket of ice-cold water at him to wake him up. By waking up early Fabian, had hoped he could avoid this. He was feeling rather pleased with himself, and was grinning to himself. When suddenly his bedroom door burst open, and said brothers ran inside and, before Fabian could react threw a bucket of water at him, despite being already awake. He stood there shocked and drenched with water, for a few seconds.
Having recovered from his shock, Fabian groaned, "Really guys, every year".
"Sorry buddy, but it is a tradition", Peter said as he slung his arm around Fabian's left shoulder, not sounding sorry at all and grinned mischievously at him. "And one we must keep".
"Yeah, and did you really think you could avoid us by waking up early?" Phillip asked incredulously, slinging his arm around Fabian's other shoulder. Fabian couldn't think of a retort, so he merely scowled at him but unfortunately Phil didn't seem fazed by it. On the contrary, his grin widened at the sight. "Well, we'd better let you get ready for your big day, come on Pete". Phil strode out the room, with Pete in tow.
Fabian got dressed and put his pyjamas on the radiator to dry. He was so certain that he had outsmarted the twins this time, but apparently achieving this was impossible. As Fabian made his way down the stairs to the kitchen, he was greeted by the wonderful smell of a full English breakfast, his negative mood quickly faded away. The kitchen was fairly big, and currently had sauce everywhere, courtesy of Phil and Pete who decided to have a bedtime snack, and were supposed to have cleaned it before going to bed. They were going to be in so much trouble, Fabian thought gleefully.
"Hi Fabian, happy birthday. I made your favourite", Fabian's mum, Sarah said happily as she set his breakfast on the table in front of him, Sarah had long curly brown hair, with natural gold highlights which she was subconsciously playing with.
Fabian grinned appreciatively at her, "Thanks mum" Fabian said and began to eat. Pete and Phil ran down the stairs at that exact moment.
"Can we have some mum?" Pete asked hopefully, while staring longingly at Fabian's breakfast.
"Sorry boys, make your own breakfast", Sarah said with a smile just as mischievous as the twins'.
"What? Why?" Phil and Pete said simultaneously.
"Number one, it is Fabian's birthday not yours. Number two, you both threw freezing water at him". Sarah explained, with her arms on her hips her expression turning stern, yet her eyes were sparkling.
"You told her?" Pete rounding on Fabian.
"I didn't have to, you do this to me every year remember? Tradition and all that", Fabian said grinning.
Pete looked like he was going to protest, but in the end he just shrugged "Oh yeah".
"Never mind, we'll just have pancakes instead, come on Pete help me".
"Wait a minute", Sarah said stopping the twins in their tracks, "you didn't clean up your mess last night, so you will clean it right now instead".
Pete and Phil reluctantly cleaned up their mess, bickering throughout the entire process. Having finished the job, the twins were heating their pancakes in the microwave, when Fabian's older sister Jo came into the kitchen holding a pile of letters. "Hi guys, happy birthday Fabian". Jo said smiling at Fabian, in contrast to her brothers she took after their father and had long blonde hair with sapphire-blue eyes.
"Thanks Jo", Fabian said returning her smile.
Jo was about to speak but was interrupted by Pete, "I want the chocolate sauce!"
"There's hardly any left, and you had loads last time. Just have the maple syrup instead". Phil replied, there was a scuffling sound and Fabian looked up, to see that the twins were fighting over the chocolate sauce.
"Pete, let Phil have the chocolate sauce you can have it first when we buy some more", Sarah said which effectively ended the struggle. They knew better than to mess with their mum, when she was already annoyed at them for throwing water at Fabian. Just as Pete grudgingly gave Phil the chocolate sauce, their dad, Michael, came down the stairs and joined them in the kitchen.
"Happy birthday Fabian", he said patting Fabian's shoulder.
"Thanks", Fabian said giving his dad a broad smile.
"Mum, here are some letters for you and dad, and one for you Fabian", Alison said as the twins sat down with their pancakes.
"For me?" Fabian asked, he rarely received letters.
"Yeah", said Alison handing the letter over to Fabian. He looked at the envelope, written in beautiful green ink it said:
Mr F. Rutter
Newcastle Upon Tyne,
Fenham,
112 Greenway Street
3rd largest room on the second floor.
Fabian's eyes narrowed at the last line, he was beginning to think this was another prank cooked up by Phil and Pete. Yet Fabian was curious, so he opened the letter and read it.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Eric Sweet
Dear Mr Rutter,
We are pleased to inform you, that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on the 1st September. We await your owl, by no later than the 31st July.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Phil and Pete had really outdone themselves this year, Fabian thought grinning. "Very funny guys", Fabian said looking at the twins.
"What is?" They asked simultaneously.
"This letter, another prank of yours right?" Fabian questioned, lifting the letter up for emphasis.
"Let me see that", Phil said looking genuinely surprised but Fabian was still suspicious, (they had tricked him this way on many occasions).
"We didn't do this, right Pete?" Phil asked showing him the letter.
"Yeah, this is way too complicated. Not our style," Pete replied.
Michael suddenly turned to the twins, "Can I have a look at the letter? He asked sounding excited, Fabian wondered whether he had played the prank on him. His dad, often helped Phil and Pete with their tricks. Even though he could be stern if he needed to be, deep down he was really a kid. Pete handed it over, and Michael began to read. While their dad was reading, Pete and Phil started a food fight and in all the commotion none of the siblings noticed their parents sharing a knowing smile.
"Right, that's enough", Michael said while Phil was reluctantly putting down the pancake he was about to throw at Jo, he suddenly grinned mischievously. Uh Oh, Fabian knew that look, he quickly grabbed a piece of toast to defend himself with. Michael put the letter down next to Fabian's plate, and took a piece of bread that was on the table and threw it at Fabian, who lifted his toast to stop it from hitting him. And the fight continued, even their mum joined in. The fight went on for quite some time, until the table and floor was covered in food and sauce. They decided it was time to clear up, Fabian was glad that he pocketed his letter, since he was certain it would have been ruined if left unprotected on the table.
After the kitchen was clean again, the family gathered in the living room to give Fabian his presents. Although the room was huge, it felt very cosy and inviting particularly with the magnificent fireplace. Fabian's parents had given him a beautiful leather bound journal, his present from Jo was the DVD of Maze Runner The Scorch Trials. While the twins had banded together, and had bought him a big hamper of sweets. Fabian loved all his presents, and hugged his family in thanks. The plan for his birthday was to go to the cinema with his family, and his two best friends Isabella and Jack. They saw an action movie, which Fabian greatly enjoyed. In the evening they went to his favourite restaurant, Franco's, and Fabian thought his meal was delicious.
Fabian was sitting at his desk in his bedroom, and he decided to re-read his letter. He found the list enclosed unfolded it, and read:
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Uniform
First year students will require:
1.Three sets of plain work robes (black).
2.One plain pointed hat (black), for day wear.
3.One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar).
4.One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings).
Please note that all pupil's clothes should carry name tags.
Set Books
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The standard Book of Spells Revised (Grade 1), by Lysander Johnson.
A History of Magic Revised by Marisa Weir
Magical Theory, Revised by Jenny Thompson
A Beginners' Guide to Transfiguration Revised by Timothy Spark
The Wonderful World of Magical Herbs and Fungi by Meredith Warren
The Secrets of Magical Drafts and Potions by Nickolas Stone
Creatures Great and Small by Crystal Stirling
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble
Other Equipment
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter 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 BROOMSTICS
Fabian thought that someone had gone to a lot of trouble to play this prank on him, but he couldn't think of anyone, apart from his brothers (or may be even his father), who could have done this. But then Fabian remembered making his glass of water move by itself, and wandered whether the letter was real after all.