And our story begins . . .

"Mum! Mum! Mum look what's just arrived!" Elizabeth Blishwick, an eleven-year old girl with auburn hair and hazel eyes raced through the house searching for her mother. It was finally here! Her mother, Lucy Blishwick poked her head out of the drawing room with a curious expression. An expression that served to hide her indulgent grin.

"What's arrived darling? Is it your brother's new broom? You know you can't ride it yet, it's too fast for you." With honey-blonde hair and serene blue eyes Lucy Blishwick was still a beautiful witch at 34 years of age, as well as being a mother of two. Elizabeth slid to a stop before her mother and huffed, her ecstatic news dented a bit at the reminder that Alex was due for a new broom, a Nimbus 2000 no less, and she was not allowed to ride it! She scowled crossly for a moment before her excitement returned full force and she began to bounce on her toes. She proudly presented the letter to her mother. The Hogwarts letter. It may have been a bit squished, or rather, a bit crumpled, but it was still there and her mother's smile broke out in a matching grin.

"Well let's read it shall we?"

Hogwarts School

of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Headmaster: ALBUS DUMBLEDORE

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,

Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Ms. Blishwick,

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

Minerva McGonagall,

Deputy Headmistress

Next page~~~

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 pupils' clothes should carry name tags

Course Books

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

The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1)

by Miranda Goshawk

A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot

Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling

A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch

One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi

by Phyllida Spore

Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

by Newt Scamander

The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection

by Quentin Trimble

OTHER EQUIPMENT

1 wand

1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)

1 set of glass or crystal phials

1 telescope

1 set of brass scales

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

PARENTS ARE ALSO REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS

ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS

Elizabeth smiled happily as her mother announced that they were leaving for Diagon Alley that very moment.

"After all! You need a wand!" She had exclaimed. After they had coaxed her brother out of the sky where he was practicing catching and tossing quaffles with the promise of ice cream they set out.

Diagon Alley was full to bursting thanks to the many families doing their own back to school shopping. Alex took her hand immediately and then pulled her through the crowd to the window of one of their favorite shops. Quality Quidditch Supplies. There they joined the other kids, pressing their noses to the glass and oohing at the model broom on display. The Nimbus 2000. Alex shifted closer and whispered in her ear as she gazed longingly at it.

"When we get back, if it's there, we'll tell Millie to distract Mum and I'll take you for a go alright Lizzie?"

She grinned up at him. "You're the bestest brother ever Alex!" She whispered back. His eyes danced and with a wink each they were turning back to their waiting, slightly exasperated, mother. Lizzie suddenly found she wouldn't mind if this trip went a bit quicker! She tried not to bounce on her toes as their mother shook her head at them.

"Where you two got this strange love of flying around in circles at break-neck speeds I'll never know! Come along you two! Where shall we stop first?" She took Lizzie's other hand and the three of them braved the crowd.

"How about Flourish and Blotts Mum?" Alex suggested. All agreed, they drifted over to the bookstore. Once inside they gathered baskets and began the hunt for all required texts. And a few not-so-required ones. ~~~~

"D'you want to be a Healer Alex?" She asked curiously. Alex shrugged.

"I dunno Liz. It's just something I've been thinking about." He mumbled. She frowned.

"Since when?" She stared up at him until he sighed.

"Remember a last summer when you broke your arm?" He asked. She nodded.

"I was trying to fly. Didn't work." She grinned at him and he laughed a little.

"Yeah well, it was really scary when you did that. And then Father came out, 'cause he heard us yelling, and then he just . . . he knew just what to do. And he was so calm. I was so scared Liz and he just smiled at us and made us laugh and . . ." He trailed off.

"And then Mum found out." Lizzie giggled. Alex laughed, for real this time and Lizzie felt better. She always felt better when Alex was happy. But then a thought crossed her mind.

"But! Alex! What about Quidditch? Aren't you gonna be a famous player?" She tugged on his arm desperately but her brother only shook his head.

"I'm not that good. You never saw Charlie Weasley play." He grimaced. "He may have been a Gryffindor but the git could really fly. I hope their next seeker is nowhere near his level." Lizzie tilted her head.

"Weasley? Isn't that the family Uncle- "She began but their mother's voice called out across the store to let them know their purchases had been wrapped up and it was time to go. Next stop, Madam Malkins.

Lizzie pushed open the door and glanced up cheerfully at the little bell that rang as she did so. She loved coming to Madam Malkins! The robes and gowns were all so pretty and she ran her fingers down the dress nearest to her. It was a deep blue silk and it ran like water through her fingers. She giggled at the sensation.

Lizzie had fallen in love with fashion and pretty things from a very young age. And once she had first set foot in Madam Malkins when she was six she had loved the place to bits. She had come here so often that Madam Malkin and all her assistants knew her by sight and usually chatted with her as she watched them do their work. This was the only reason she was allowed here alone. Her mother and brother were off getting her's and Alex's basic supplies for the year while she came to get her first fitting for her new school robes.

"There you are ducky! I was wondering when you were going to waddle in here!" The squat form draped in shades of mauve was none other than the Madam Malkin herself. Lizzie giggled again at the sound of her nickname. After noticing how the little girl had taken to nearly literally shadowing her workers the Madame had proclaimed her a duckling, waddling after all the other ducks she had lined in rows. Of course, the name had stuck immediately. Madam Malkin smiled down at her.

"Off you go then. Got two being fitted up now." She said. Lizzie nodded and made her way to the back of the shop where a familiar face was standing on a footstool while Martha straightened out the hem she'd pinned. She could tell he was talking to the black-haired boy next to him but she couldn't hear what about until she was a bit closer.

"- think I'll just bully father into getting me one and I'll smuggle it in somehow." He drawled. Lizzie snorted.

"You'll bully Uncle Lucius Draco? Really?" She stepped up onto a stool behind them as both boy's heads whipped around to look at her. She laughed at the sour look on Draco's face before he turned back to the other boy, pretending she wasn't there. In the blink of an eye Emily, one of Lizzie's favorite people, was dropping a black robe onto her head. Of course, the workers all knew her sizes almost by heart so the robe hardly needed any touching up. They chatted quietly while the two boys continued to talk.

"Have you got your own broom?" He prodded the other boy but he just blinked behind his glasses, which were taped across the bridge for some reason.

"No." He answered shortly.

"Play Quidditch at all?" Draco pushed.

"No." The boy said again. He had an odd look on his face, Lizzie thought. Draco huffed.

"I do – Father said it's a crime if I'm not picked to play for my house, and I must say, I agree. Know what house you'll be in yet?"Draco asked and Lizzie listened curiously for the other boy's answer.

"No." He said. Lizzie frowned. Did he know how to say any other word? Perhaps he was just nervous. He did look rather uncomfortable.

"Well. It's not like your future house is a big mystery Draco." She said. "Nor mine. Although I guess with me it'll be a tossup." Both boys looked to her.

"That's true enough." Draco said with a semi-proud look on his face.

"Why?" The black-haired boy asked. Draco puffed himself up a bit.

"All my family's been in Slytherin, most of Lizzie's too, the others all got Ravenclaw right Lizzie?" He asked. She nodded.

"Mum was a Ravenclaw." She grinned. "She's really smart." She said proudly but Draco shrugged.

"It's not bad, still, imagine being in Hufflepuff, I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?" He addressed both of them and while the black-haired boy just hummed.

"Hufflepuff's not that bad. Father says that extraordinary people need ordinary people to stand behind them." She chided. Draco shrugged.

"I s'pose that makes sense. But," He smirked. "You still wouldn't want to be Sorted there would you?"

"Well, no of course not." she said. "But I imagine it's a good house for other people."

Emily tapped her on the head, interrupting Lizzie's train of thought.

"That's you done ducky! And we slipped in a little something extra for you." The seamstress winked at her and disappeared further into the store.

"I say, look at that man!" Draco said suddenly, nodding towards the window. All three of them watched as a very large, hairy man grinned at the black-haired boy and pointed at two large ice cream cones. Lizzie giggled. She knew full well no one was allowed in the shop with any sort of food or drink. In fact she wasn't sure the man would fit through the door at all!

"That's Hagrid." The boy said. "He works at Hogwarts."

"Oh," said Draco, "I've heard of him. He's a sort of servant, isn't he?"

"He's the gamekeeper." The boy sounded a little hostile suddenly and Lizzie hoped that Draco wasn't going to cram his foot in his mouth as he sometimes did. He tended to be very blunt and oblivious to the sentiments of others.

"Yes, exactly. I heard he's a sort of savage – lives in a hut on the school grounds and every now and then he gets drunk, tries to do magic, and ends up setting fire to his bed." Draco laughed a little as Lizzie gasped. One because, yes Draco's mouth was very much full of foot but two, because that was a very worrying story and she was suddenly a little afraid of the big man standing outside.

"I think he's brilliant." The boy said coldly.

"Do you?" Draco said, sneering, obviously trying to imitate his father but Lizzie didn't think he was succeeding. "Why is he with you? Where are your parents?" Draco continued. Lizzie gasped. She remembered only too well that her mother's brother and parents had died during the war. They didn't speak of them often but her mother had still shown Alex and Lizzie the pictures. Lots of families had lost relatives during the war. And it was something that was not spoken of in polite company.

"Draco Malfoy!" Draco turned around again in surprise while the other boy had gone rather quiet. "That's a really rude thing to ask!"

"They're dead." The boy said. Lizzie glared at Draco but he only shrugged.

"Oh, sorry," He said, not sounding very sorry at all, "But they were our kind, weren't they?"

"They were a witch and wizard, if that's what you mean." He replied.

"I really don't think they should let the other sort in, do you? They're just not the same, they've never been brought up to know our ways. Some of them have never even heard of Hogwarts until they get the letter, imagine. I think they should keep it in the old wizarding families. What's your surname anyway?" Draco had babbled on without noticing Lizzie's growing look of disapproval. No one said things like that aloud anymore. At least, that's what her parents had told her. Madam Malkin walked back in and, with a wave of her wand, put a light sticking charm on the pins in the black-haired boy's robes.

"That's you done, my dear." She told him. Barely had the robe been slipped off his shoulders that he was heading for the door. "And ducky dear, your mother's arrived to pick you up."

Lizzie pecked Madam Malkins cheek hurriedly and chased after the boy, tossing a "Bye Draco! See you at school!" over her shoulder. She just managed to catch his sleeve before he got too far. "Wait!"

He glanced at her hand pinching the fabric of his shirt and then his bright green eyes landed on her face. She swallowed, he didn't seem particularly friendly at the moment and she suddenly felt very shy. She released his shirt.

"I just wanted to apologize for Draco." Her brow furrowed, "He's not very good at making new friends. Anyways, I'm sorry. My name is Elizabeth Elladora Blishwick and it's a pleasure to meet you." She lifted her hand for him to take and he stared at it for a moment. Then their eyes met again and his hand slipped into hers. She smiled and his eyes lightened a bit. She studied them, they were such a pretty color!

"I'm Harry, Harry Potter."

Before she could process the fact that the skinny boy in front of her was the Harry Potter he was gone and her mother had arrived. She was led outside where her brother was waiting with something white curled in his arms. Its head turned to look at her.

"Surprise!" Alex shouted, beaming. Lizzie took one look into the crystal blue eyes of the small white cat in her brother's arms and nearly forgot all about Harry Potter.

"Oh! How pretty! Is it a boy or a girl? For me? For Hogwarts? A cat! I've always wanted a cat!" She took her present gleefully and stroked the soft fur along its back. Her mother laughed lightly.

"Yes darling, she's for you to take to Hogwarts. We all thought you could use another girl with you now that you'll be leaving me behind." This last part her mother said with a bittersweet sadness. "Any ideas for a name?"

Lizzie shook her head, smiling as the cat in her arms began to purr. "I think I'll wait to see what she's like first." She looked up at her mother. "Thank you mum." Her mother leaned down a bit and hugged her, the scent of her perfume surrounding her in its light fragrance.

"I love you darling." She said.

"I love you too Mum."

"Girls." Alex muttered. They all laughed and headed to Ollivanders, after placing Lizzie's new cat in a comfortable wicker basket. It was time to become a proper witch!

"Hmmm . . . not a unicorn hair then." Ollivander muttered. Lizzie tried to hold back her sigh. She had been hoping for a unicorn core. Unicorns were just so romantic! But every one she had tried had been all wrong. Her mother rubbed her shoulder comfortingly.

"Don't worry Lizzie, it just takes some time is all. Why, when I was eleven it took me a good twenty minutes to find my wand." Her mother said. Lizzie tilted her head.

"How long did it take Father?" She asked. Her mother winked.

"Much longer." She told her.

"And Alex?" She turned to look at her brother, currently entertaining her cat by holding up bits of twine for it to play with. He grinned at her.

"Hardly five minutes." He boasted. She narrowed her eyes at him and he stuck his tongue out at her. She responded in kind and their mother sighed.

"Children." She warned. They each got one more tongue-sticking-out each before they stopped. Good thing too as Mr. Ollivander had suddenly appeared before them again holding a different box between his bony fingers.

"Here we are, I think something a little different is in order here." With that he lifted the lid of the wand box and presented a thin wand about a foot in length. She took it, noticing the small, blocky runes decorating the base. "Yes, let see, 12 ½ inches, sturdy and rigid, hazel, and a phoenix feather core. Go on and try that one." She gripped the wand in her hand and swished it upwards, amazed and delighted to see a silver stream of what looked like stardust trail after it.

"This is it." She whispered. Mr. Ollivander nodded.

"Yes indeed. Though, such an unbending wand . . . I hope you are a stubborn young lady? You will need a strong will to hold onto this wand." He warned and she blushed when her mother laughed.

"Oh yes, she is indeed a stubborn one." Her mother said.

"Well it shall certainly aid you in your Defense lessons. That wand," He pointed to it in her hand, "will be a powerful ally. I wonder against whom you will be defending." His voice was so quiet by the time he finished speaking that Lizzie had to strain to hear him. Her mother was no longer laughing. With a tight face she paid for the wand and led her children out of the shop. It was time to go home.

When they got home their father was waiting; a long, thin package in his hands. Felix Blishwick was well-aged man of 44 with dark hair brushed with silver and warm, dark eyes. His cloak was hung next to him where he stood in the hall but he still wore his silver wire-rimmed glasses. He smiled when they all piled through the doorway.

"Father!" She and Alex both bounded over to tackle their father in a hug. He'd been working very late hours for nearly two months and they'd hardly seen him in that time. But he was here now and with the one item Alex had been waiting for.

"Good afternoon all!" He called, throwing a free arm around his children. Then he leaned forward and kissed their mother, with the appropriate comments of "eww" and "ugh gross" from Lizzie and Alex.

"Is that it Father?" Alex pulled back and gazed at the item their father still held. Lizzie bounced up and down.

"Obviously Alex! Look at it! Can we see it Father please please please?" She begged. Their father laughed and brandished the wrapped broomstick with a flourish, presenting it to her brother.

"A good Quidditch player needs a good broom doesn't he?" He said. "Outside please."

Alex clutched his gift tightly and he and Lizzie tumbled through the hall and out through the sunroom to the back yard.

"Elizabeth Blishwick you are not to ride that broom above ten feet and absolutely not without your brother! Or your father!" Her mother's voice called after them but was hardly heard as the broom was hastily unwrapped and Lizzie was seated behind her brother. They took to the sky with shouts of glee as their parents emerged, framed by the late afternoon sun in the doorway, smiling. The memories of the Dark days were still not far enough behind them but it was moments like these that made those memories a little less dark.

The whole Blishwick family strolled into King's Cross Station at ten-fifteen. Amalthea poked her pink nose out of Lizzie's shoulder bag and she absently scratched her behind the ears. Alex pushed his trunk while their father pushed hers. They all ignored the looks that the Muggles shot their way. And then they were slipping between the barrier between Platforms 9 and 10 one by one and stepping onto Platform 9 ¾.

And there it was. The scarlet Hogwarts Express, billowing steam as people milled around and students heaved their luggage on board. Of course she'd seen it before while seeing Alex off but now it was her turn. She was leaving for Hogwarts and she'd be gone nearly an entire year. She turned suddenly and flung herself at her parents. Her father chuckled and ruffled her hair as he returned her embrace and her mother scolded him. Then her soft fingers were combing through Lizzie's locks as she crouched down. Her blue eyes were watery as Lizzie released them.

"Well my darling girl. Here we are. Now, have you forgotten anything? Warm jumper? Your uniform? Wand?" Her mother fretted and fussed over her, straightening her jacket, tucking her hair behind her ears, and so on. Her father chuckled warmly again and leaned down, pecking each of them on the head.

"She'll be alright love; Alex will look after her won't you Alex?" He said. Alex nodded beside her.

"Like a hawk. Don't worry Father, I'll make sure she doesn't even speak to a boy. And if she does I'll run 'em off." He said. Their father nodded proudly and the two Blishwick men shook hands as the two Blishwick women groaned.

"Father, pleeeeease." Lizzie moaned. Her father leaned down and kissed her cheek, his warm stubble covered cheek scratching hers. His warm, dark eyes told her everything though. He would miss her and her brother as much as they would miss him and their mother. Those eyes crinkled as he smiled and hugged her and Alex close.

"I love you both. Be good, listen to your teachers, study hard, and have fun." He released them. "Write as soon as you can and often. Now, off with you or you'll be late."

And with that Alex took her hand and they boarded the train.

Though Alex offered her a seat in his compartment she refused. One look into the compartment filled with loud older boys and she crinkled her nose and announced that she was going to have a look around. Her brother laughed and made sure she remembered where he was in case she wanted to return before he let her go.

"Oh and if you happen to run into any trouble just find a Hufflepuff, they're practically duty bound to help everyone." He said, laughing. A loud whistle went up and a moment later Lizzie felt the train lurch and begin to chug forward. Suddenly she was racing to a window. She found one available next to two red-headed boys, twins, who were waving goodbye to a girl on the platform. Their sister if Lizzie had to hazard a guess, the girl had the same flaming red hair. She ran along the platform, waving and laughing and crying all the while. Then Lizzie spotted her own family. She stuck her arm out the window and waved frantically to her parents as the train picked up speed. They waved back, her mother trotting forward a few steps as she blew a kiss to Lizzie. And then the platform and her parents disappeared and her journey to Hogwarts was truly begun.