The pot of jam floated towards the kitchen table as I sat there, half-asleep and waiting for my toast to finish. It popped out and I stood from the table, grabbing the floating jam before Dudley could reach for it and use all of it. He grumbled, grabbing the butter on the table inside and buttering his own finished toast.
"Stop making the jam float, Rebekah," Petunia said over her shoulder at the stove. "You don't want a chance of it falling."
"Okay, Petunia!" I took my toast and threw it in the air, watching as my magic caught hold of it and made it zoom over to my plate on the table.
"And the toast," she gave me a firm look, "Nor anything else."
I sighed, "Fine."
It dropped onto my plate and I reached for my cup of tea. It was fresh but the perfect temperature for me to drink straight away. I always like my tea milky and sweet.
Vernon strode into the kitchen, holding the newspaper before sitting down, opening it up before frowning, "Cup of tea, will you, Rebekah?"
"Okay," I snapped my fingers and the switch on the kettle turned on and started brewing.
He nodded, satisfied, "You're getting better. Good. Good self-control is an essential part of life. Both of you eat up. We're heading to the zoo soon and you still need to get dressed."
Both of us nodded and continued with our breakfast. Petunia put a plate of pancakes in front of us and I took one, and then a plate of bacon was set near Dudley. I didn't eat meat. I didn't like the texture and ever since I was little, I couldn't stand the thought of it. Even when I was small, neither Petunia, Vernon nor the doctor could convince me to even swallow it. As I grew, I realised it was because I saw glimpses of the animals being slaughtered, and when I told my aunt and uncle, they never forced me again.
I stood when the whistle of the kettle came, walking over to the teacups. The teabag floated into the cup but I poured the boiled water by hand, letting the small jug of milk zip over and pour itself. The spoon spun around in the cup, mixing it as I swirled my finger just above it.
"Done!" I put the cup in front of Vernon and he hummed in approval when he took a sip.
"Delicious, as always," he pecked me on the forehead before returning to the newspaper in front of him. Petunia sat down after turning the stove off.
"Both of you," she pointed a fork at us, "Hurry up. You need to change before we leave."
"Yes, Mum," Dudley and I echoed cheekily, stuffing our faces before racing off to our designated rooms.
Dudley and I had separate bedrooms but I always liked to think that mine was nicer. It was messy, sure, but I knew where everything was. A pile of dirty clothes were in one corner, waiting to be put into the hamper later. I changed into nice jeans and a T-shirt. I was only allowed to wear nice jeans that were clean and well-maintained. Anything else would look like they belonged to 'Good-for-nothing people', in Vernon's words.
I brushed my teeth quickly, spitting the toothpaste out before wiping my mouth. I stared into the mirror as I brushed my hair, pinning it back with a clip. Brushing back the hair away from my forehead, I saw the lightning scar. It was situated over my right eyebrow, going into my hairline slightly. Petunia had to dye the tiny piece of white hair at the edge because they didn't think it looked normal. It didn't and I didn't complain when I wanted to look normal.
I paired my outfit with a simple black watch on my left wrist as my dirty clothes zipped to the hamper in the other corner before leaving for the zoo.
Petunia and Vernon did not hate me for my Magic. They hated me for my destructive lack of control, which was a normal, human thing to do. I realised from the young age of four, holding a once wilted rose from Petunia's rose bushes, showing my aunt how I could make it come alive again, I could have the control needed to survive this world.
Petunia's usual grimace changed to fear and then delight as the rose grew firm and flowered in my hands, and then she realised she would need to help me learn to control it. Too many of her nice vases were destroyed in my tantrums as a babe. Petunia would rather see the good in my magic rather than what destruction it could cause.
Since then, I was allowed to do little things with my magic, maintaining control over it as I practised. They always said the practice was perfect, after all.
We arrived at the zoo and after going through all the exhibitions with mammals, we went into the reptile house. A huge snake was resting in its house. I was fascinated by snakes but Dudley didn't care when it didn't move.
He shrugged it off, walking over to the turtles swimming nearby.
I turned to the large boa constrictor. "What a gorgeous creature you are."
It raised its head, blinking its beady eyes at me.
"I wish I was allowed a pet snake," I said. "My family won't let me though."
"Serpents are not pets, child," it said back.
My eyes widened in alarm at hearing it speak.
"You understand me, child?" it said again. "We are not pets. We are companions."
I nodded softly, "I meant pet as in companion. Sorry for not clarifying."
It bobbed its head before laying down again. Dudley pulled me away to watch the geckos run around their exclosure. I was sad to see the serpent be so dull. I wanted it to be free in its natural habitat, living its life to the fullest.
People in front of the snake enclosure gasped.
"The snake disappeared!" one of the little kids shouted. "Where'd it go?"
I smiled softly as Dudley led us further away from the disappearing snake enclosure, feeling the restriction of something around my hand before the feeling disappeared too. The snake was back in its natural habitat, and it was grateful.
)(-)(
The next few weeks passed in a blur. One day, when Dudley came back with the mail since it was his turn, a suspicious letter came for me.
"Rebekah's got a letter!" Dudley repeated and waved it around. He was dressed in his Smeltings uniform, holding his smelting stick in his right hand. He whacked the table leg with it, making it shake as he danced around before giving the letter to Vernon when prompted.
"Who would be writing to you using that kind of paper?" Uncle Vernon asked curiously, shaking the letter open with one hand and glancing at it. He sighed deeply, "Petunia, it came."
Petunia raised an eyebrow in question, "What came, dear?"
"The acceptance letter," he said dully.
She sighed this time, putting down her fork, "I thought it was time by now. Rebekah, darling, open your letter. We've got to tell you something about your parents."
Vernon handed me the letter and I read the dark lettering on the parchment paper.
Miss R L Potter
The 2nd bedroom of the house
4 Privet Drive
Little Whinging Surrey
"You're nearly eleven now," Petunia said. "Lily was the same age when her letter came. I guess it is time for the truth."
Petunia never said my mother's name, always calling her either my mother or her sister. Hearing her name was strange, unexpected but the contents of the letter were moreso.
Dear Miss Rebekah Lilianith 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 1st. We await your owl by no later than July 31.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress.
Witchcraft and Wizardry?
Witchcraft and Wizardry.
It made perfect sense now.
I was a Witch, if the gender difference between Wizards and Witches were significant. My strange little manipulation of the world finally had a true name. I had been calling it magic for years but now it was true Magic.
"I'm a Witch?" I asked them.
"Yes," Petunia clutched the front of her top. "Your mother and father were Magical. Wixen, as the plural of Witch and Wizard. But you've turned out much better than she did. Dying in a war that she had nothing to do with."
"A War...She died in a war and you didn't think to tell me?" I lowered my tone to keep calm, tears welling up in my eyes. "You didn't think to tell me before I got this letter? Magic would breed Magic, not a normal person. Basic science, if it even applies to the laws of Magic."
"Yo-you've taken it surprisingly well," Vernon said. "Good. We don't need you to panic."
"Do you actually think that I hadn't figured it out?" I asked, tilting my head to the side. "I've been able to do it for years. You called it my little party tricks. You kept saying I was special but I didn't understand until now. I didn't need you to hate me even more than you already did, just because of something in me that I never could have controlled."
A tiny tear dripped from my right eye, shimmering a translucent line down my cheek before I wiped it away.
"We-" Vernon grumbled and stopped, but Petunia continued. "Have never hated you. Magic and that war got my sister killed and I will not allow you to be killed too."
I nodded in understanding, "I want to attend though. I want to know my roots. Mum and Dad might've not raised me but they still are my family, just like you. If I can't control what I am, I will control who I am. My parents would have," A tear escaped and I paused to wipe it away. "Wanted me to go and learn where I came from."
"That's fine," Vernon took a calming breath. "You can attend. We were going to let you anyway if you got the letter. It's better you learn from professionals than by yourself anyway. Think of it as an apprenticeship, learning the way around a trade."
"Okay,"
I didn't know how to take it. Knowing what I could do was one thing but calling it Magic? Calling me a Witch?
It was a whole other world of mysteries for me to uncover.
And I wanted to know everything.
)(-)(
After Petunia told me about the fact that Mrs Figgs was, in fact, a Squib, something she explained to me was a person from a line of Wixen without Magic, I was almost surprised. Mrs Figgs was a strange woman, compared to my own aunt, but she was lovely. She let me watch the TV whenever I wanted and kept me entertained when she needed to babysit me.
We sent a letter to Hogwarts with the use of one of her strangely behaving owls. We also included the fact that we didn't know how to get to Diagon Alley even if my aunt had a Witch sister.
A day later, I received a letter confirming the fact that someone will be arriving at the house early Saturday and would take me to Diagon Alley.
Petunia insisted on coming along, wanting to see Diagon Alley for herself and so we would both know how to get in.
We didn't know who was coming but they sharply knocked at the door at Eight AM. Petunia and I were dressed smartly and were ready to go when Vernon let the man in, giving him a wary eye as they came into the kitchen where Dudley and I were finishing breakfast.
He was a tall man, wearing all black with his slicked back hair being even darker. He didn't wear a robe, as Petunia said they liked to wear, instead, it was tailored trousers and a high-necked topcoat.
"Miss Potter," he greeted. It wasn't particularly warm but there was a sense of interest in his dark eyes. "Dursley family. I am Severus Snape, a professor at Hogwarts. By request of Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, I will see to it that Miss Potter has her items and an introduction to Diagon Alley before school starts on the first of September."
Petunia took in a slow breath but remained composed, nodding, "It will be just Rebekah and myself, Mr Snape."
He looked at her, "We will leave as soon as you are ready."
"Would you like a cup of tea as the children finish their breakfast?" Petunia asked him.
"Earl Grey, preferably," he said lowly. "Thank you."
Dudley and I watched as he took a seat at the kitchen table with us, sitting between Vernon and me. Vernon continued with his daily newspaper but Dudley was looking critically at him.
"You're one of them, aren't you?" Dudley said through a mouth of pancakes. "A Wizard."
"I am," Mr Snape said. "I teach Potions at Hogwarts. Miss Potter will be having lessons with me in September, as all students do until their NEWT exams which they begin in their sixth year of education."
"Potions?" I perked up at the thought of a new subject to learn about.
"Potions. It is similar to the medicine of the Muggle world, though not all are for the use of health. Sometimes, they can simply change appearances, or aid in the use of other Magic. It is all something you will learn at Hogwarts," Petunia placed a cup in front of him. "Thank you."
He sipped it quietly as I finished my breakfast and Petunia grabbed a small bag for herself.
"Are we ready, Rebekah?" Petunia asked. I nodded. I was already dressed for the day in black slacks and a plain T-shirt with Vans.
I nodded, getting up from the table to get a grey satchel from my room. I wanted to bring a bag with me.
)(-)(
We trailed beside Mr Snape as we walked into London. We were in a section we usually didn't visit, being a little dirtier than what we would go to. I watched in fascination as we continued down a street, seeing more and more people dressed a little stranger than Muggles would and more like Wixen.
An older man was walking the opposite way as us, bowing his head lightly as he saw me. He wasn't the first person to do that so far and I was curious why. Petunia simply brushed my hair a little to my forehead to hide the scar more.
"Our first stop will be Gringotts, the bank of the British Wizarding World," Mr Snape said. "It is the second most secure place in the United Kingdom, save for Hogwarts itself. First, we go through the Leaky Cauldron. This is one of many ways to get into Diagon Alley, and the easiest for those with Muggle family."
The tiny pub was not noteworthy. Everyone else passed it as if it wasn't even there. The dingy sign outside of it was dirty and only cleared up as we got closer. We went inside and I grimaced. It was dark with shabby walls and rickety tables. It was something unpleasant but had a welcoming feeling as people sat around.
There was a strange, comfortable dampness about it.
The Dursley family would never step foot into a place like this and I was not used to it.
Everyone seemed to know our companion, greeting him stiffly or, in the bartender's case, with a suspicious gaze.
"Good Merlin," the bartender said and peered down at me. I stepped closer to Petunia, unsure of what was happening. "Is this, can this be? Bless my soul. Rebekah Potter, what an honour."
Petunia rubbed my shoulder, whispering, "You'll understand soon."
"Is there a problem, Miss Potter?" Snape said, louder than necessary and caught everyone's attention.
"Can we continue on, Mr Snape?" Petunia said sternly. "I believe there is a lot to get."
He raised his chin but nodded, ignoring the bartender from there on. Then paused as a lanky man with a violet turban shivered and stood up abruptly. He wrung his hands together as he took several small but quick steps towards us.
"G-Good morning, S-S-Severus." he said with a large stutter. "I-is this...?"
"Miss Potter," Mr Snape said. "She'll begin attending Hogwarts in September."
I glanced at the man but looked away when my forehead tightened and began to hurt. I narrowed my eyes at the man in question, looking him in the eyes.
Then the backdoor opened to reveal a blond man holding the door for his wife and child. They all came in, dressed regally and in Wixen garbs. His beautiful wife winced at the place but continued on. The man in purple shrank away when they came in.
"Severus," the woman greeted, leaning in to put an air kiss on his cheek. "How are you? Is there anything important here? After all, there is so much commotion coming from here."
"Nothing especially important, Narcissa," Snape said through thin lips. "It is pleasant to see you and Lucius. Are you doing all right?"
"Yes," the woman gently pushed her son forward. "And is this…? No, she can't be."
"Can't be who, Mrs…?" I inclined my head.
"Malfoy," the man said sharply. "Are you a Potter, miss?"
"She is," Petunia said. "I am Petunia Dursley, and this is my niece Rebekah Potter."
The woman smiled, "Narcissa Malfoy, and this is my son, Draco, and my husband, Lucius. I sense you are not of Wixen origin?"
Petunia thinned her lips, "No. I am a Muggle. However, my sister was a MuggleBorn Witch."
"Miss Potter's mother, correct?" Narcissa nodded. "Yes. Everyone knows of the Potters and what happened. It has only been a decade and everyone was wondering what was going to happen this year."
"I'll be attending Hogwarts," I said.
Narcissa smiled warmly at me, "So is my son."
He stuck out a hand for me to shake.
"Malfoy, Draco Malfoy," he said. "Pleasure to meet you."
I shook it. Nothing like a good and firm handshake, as Vernon always said.
"Rebekah Potter-Dursley."
His eyes rose at the double-hyphened name but he didn't comment on it. The Dursleys had adopted me years ago when I was a child, wanting to make sure I would have all the security I would need in the future. I didn't think I needed it now, being in the Wizarding World and having the name of Potter.
"So," he began, slightly nervous. "Is this your first time in Diagon Alley?"
"Actually, yes," I said and crossed my arms loosely. "Are you going to Hogwarts?"
"Yes, of course," his eyes lit up. "It's the best Wizarding school there is. Are you a first-year too?"
I nodded. "I've only known that I was a witch for a few weeks now." He gave her a curious look. "I've been doing Magic since I was little but I only recently found out."
"Oh, cool," his parents waved us over again, speaking to both Petunia and Mr Snape.
I stood between Petunia and Mr Snape.
"Lucius, Narcissa," Mr Snape introduced. "This is Rebekah Potter, James and Lily Potter's daughter."
Both the older Malfoys' eyes seemed to gleam with a certain intent. Mrs Malfoy nodded her head and Mr Malfoy tilted his, tapping his cane lightly on the cobblestone floor.
"Well, Miss Potter, it's been a pleasure to meet you." Mr Malfoy said, hiding a shallow grin that mirrored Petunia's.
Mrs Malfoy leaned forward slightly. "I do hope you and Draco become good friends while attending Hogwarts. It would do him some good to be with ones like yourself, such a young and respectful Witch."
"Of course, Mrs Malfoy," I strained a smile.
"Come along, Miss Potter," Mr Snape said, turning his head an inch towards me. "We have many things to collect for your studies at Hogwarts."