A/n: I would like to say that my writing skills are rather lacking. This is the first thing ive ever written so i hope its enjoyed, please leave me feedback on how i should improve and thoughts on the story so far
Chapter 1: Beginnings:
"Today was a typical April day in Chester, England. overcast, raining and a brisk wind chill, little feet rushing along the pavements splashing in puddles laughter and giggles in all directions as children filter into the large black gates of oaken primary school, only a few months left of school until the summer holidays, then she will be going to secondary school Eve thought, a smile gracing her lips as she plodded along side her mother under the transparent umbrella dotted with black spots. "Eve dear please watch where you are going, you don't want to get your shoes soaked" Mrs warren pulled on Eve's hand steering her clear of a deep puddle, a loose purple curl freeing itself from her bright yellow hood as eve glances up towards her mother, grey eyes meeting each other. "You can let go of my hand mum; everyone is going to laugh at me I'm 11 years old now I don't need you to walk me into school anymore" Eve declared with a forceful tug of her mother's hand. "Sweetheart I will walk you to school every day until you go to secondary school no if's and but's missy" she said with a sharp tone. Eve stomped her feet in defiance trying to pull away once more it was a struggle but she manged to free her clamped hand, Eve giggled as she sprinted into the school past the gates, stopping briefly and turning back to the sight of a smiling Mrs warren, at the same time they both mouthed "I love you" Eve turned once more and heads into school a busy day of learning ahead.
"Thirty seconds left until the final bell rings, hungry eyes all staring at the clock, the last few minutes of the day felt like a lifetime for these young children. RING RING RING. At once everyone bolted upright rushing for the door and out into the afternoon air. chatter back and forth in the school yard as children wait for their parents. Eve knows not to look, her parents do not pick her up after school she must walk home alone, a yellow hood shades her purple locks the rain beating down harder than in the morning. A shy glance back into the school yard turns a frown upon Eve's face, she wished she had friends, not for lack of trying she was branded as the "Weird" kid her choice of bright colours and unexplainable aura around her kept the other children at bay. "Secondary school will be better I just know it" Eve mutter to herself softly, turning back around hands drift into her pockets head tilted down off she went back home./span/p
"Days, weeks and months pasted by the normality of life a blur. Today was the last day of school before the summer holidays, one more hour that's all that stood between Eve and freedom. Mr Fields was droning on about something, Eve wasn't paying attention her head leaning into her hand, those light grey eyes glancing out the window. Eve let out a soft puff of air as her mind drifted off thinking of everything she will be getting up to during the break. Quiet whispers behind her pulled her back to reality Eve was certain she heard her name mentioned, spinning in the chair she was met with two snarling faces "What do you want freak, mind your own business if you know what's good for you" the two boys sniggered as one kicked the back of her chair, slamming Eve into the hard desk. A yelp of pain escaped Eve's dry mouth, Mr fields put his marker pen down and turned around facing the class "what is happening behind me" Mr fields glanced from blank face to blank face, stopping on eve's he could she was biting her bottom lip to stop herself from crying, walking over to her desk he crouched down slowly "Eve are you okay did someone hurt you?" his eyes are kind and staring right into hers, she nods hesitantly an turns towards to the two boys "Right you two get your things and head to the headmasters office right now" Mr fields harshly spoke. "But sir the day is nearly over" one boy said. "Now" Mr fields gave no room for debate. The two boys gathered their books and backpack giving one last snarling look back towards Eve as the door slammed behind them.
"The rest of the lesson carried on as normal the final bell of school ringed everyone cheered and jumped up at once screaming with glee, gathering their belonging and heading into the school yard, just as eve was about to push the door open a voice pulled her back "Eve are you sure you are okay, that's not the first time this has happened, is it?" Eve nodded and looked down at the floor shifting her feet on the spot "I don't want to talk about it sir, I'm sorry I have to go my parents are waiting for me" she gulped down the lie a horrible taste in her throat, she hated lying but right now she couldn't face the memories of those horrid boys bullying her. She pushed the door ajar making her way down the hall, afternoon sunshine spreading its warmth through the windows. "Its over I'll never have to see them again, its all okay" she quietly whispers to herself as she makes her way outside. The moment she stepped out into the yard a bucket load of water hit her like a truck knocking Eve down to the ground, everyone was pointing and laughing jabbing their small fingers in her face "The freak peed herself what a baby" she heard one of the snarling boys yell, the noise was deafening as tears streamed down her red cheeks cold wet hands clamped onto her ears "Stop it stop it" Eve protested but to no avail, the laughter only grew louder. "Please stop, STOP!" she screamed, a chilling aura spread across the pebbled floor all around her, the noise had stopped suddenly, eve opened her tear-stained eyes, a tiny gasp trickled out her parted lips. Everybody was stood still, like time itself had stopped, she reached up gently pushing a chubby finger out of her face it felt much heavier than it should the feeling was unnatural sending shudders down her spine. Eve stood up from the ground dusted her skirt off and ran out the school gates, unsure and confused what just happened but pleased it had.
"Eve ran home as quickly as her small feet could carry her, tears streaming down her hot cheeks her breathe catching in her throat, she hunches over deeply inhaling large breathes her heart pumping at an alarming rate her mind swimming with questions, what happened back there how did every one freeze on the spot. "Did I do that?" She shook her head of the thought, that can't be real things like that don't happen. Quickening her step, she sets of again one mile to go until she is home the safety and comfort she is longing for.
She rounds the corner onto Glenside close spotting her family's home number 102, an ordinary British semi-detached home red brick displaying on the outside with two bay windows and a brown wooden door with a glass pane at it's centre, wiping that last vestiges of tears with her finger tips she boldly opens the front door , the house is quiet as she expected the only person home is her older brother Sebastian, eighteen years old and lazy as a sloth, every day he stays home playing video games from dusk till dawn.
A loud masculine yell from atop the stairs brings her back to her senses "Is that you Eve?" Sebastian calls out from his bedroom "yes it's just me, you forgot to lock the door you doofus I could be a burglar " she comically replies. Throwing her backpack and coat down by the shoe rack she turns right into the lounge, cream leather sofas lay in front of her a big television mounted, scattered across the walls hangs pictures of the family, four smiling faces staring back at her. A soft voice crept behind her "that was such a good holiday, do you remember when the seagull stole dad's ice cream right out of his hand" Sebastian pointed towards the photo giving a light chuckle. Eve turned towards the door that fell in between the hall and lounge, there stood her brother, propping himself up against the doorframe. Tall and lean with messy ear length platinum blonde hair and striking grey eyes the same as their mother. "Yea that was so funny I loved that holiday; I wonder where we are going this year has mum and dad given you any hints yet?" Eve said with a questioning look "well I did see a pamphlet in the mail the other day for a cruise, but we both know they can't afford that so not a clue "
Sebastian shrugs as he pushes off the doorframe and jumps over the back of the sofa to sit next to eve. "How was your last day of baby school?" Sebastian casually said, Eve shifted her hands into her lap tugging at the loose threads in her jumper, she looked up at her brother's sharp face, she could not lie to him a single tear fell from her eyes as she remembered the events " it was awful, someone threw water all over me and everyone was pointing and laughing at me saying that I peed my pants" Eve lurched forward wrapping her arms around her brother and burying her head into his chest. Sebastian ran his fingers through Eve's hair softly and soothing her "if I was seven years younger, I would beat them up for you, you won't have to see them again sis they can't hurt you anymore" Sebastian said with confidence, Eve sniffed and rubbed at her eyes " don't tell mum and dad please they don't need to know, please Sebastian you have to promise me" Eve looked desperate "why don't you want to tell mum and dad?" He looked puzzled Eve let out a trapped breath "because something weird happened that I can't explain, I don't even know if it was real, mum and dad will think I'm loony"
"tell me" Sebastian said.
Eve bites her bottom lip hesitantly "okay but do not tell mum and dad, I screamed at them to stop laughing and pointing at me, when I opened my eyes, everybody was stood completely still just like statues It was so strange, I can't make sense of it. So I ran off out of school leaving them all there stood still and frozen" she shakes her head of the thought "it can't be real I must be making it up I was pretty upset" Eve sighs and flops down onto the other side of the sofa putting her feet onto Sebastian lap, Sebastian has a complexed look strained across his face, he thought to himself that she must be making all this up people don't just freeze "I love you Eve but you have always had an overactive imagination, that's what I think it was, you were scared and your mind made you feel safe" he shrugged and pushed her feet off him "tell me when food is ready I'm going back to gaming see you later " he patted her once on the head hopping back over the sofa and running upstairs
The next morning Mr Alex Warren a tall skinny man with messy brown hair in his mid-forties stepped outside in the warm July air in nothing but a blue dressing gown and slippers. Opening the letter box with the key he grabbed the morning paper and 2 letters, as he was closing the lid an almighty hoot came from above Mr Warren looked up startled by the noise, he saw a large brown barn owl piercing him with its big yellow eyes again it hooted at him, Mr Warren waved the paper towards the bird forcibly trying to shoo the owl, the large owl flapped its wings landing across the road perching on top a car looking quizzically at Mr Warren. Shaking his head and shrugging Mr Warren renters his home heading into the lounge where Mrs Warren, eve and Sebastian are watching the morning television. Mr Warren shifted through the two letters, a bill from the electric company and an odd mauve coloured envelope addressed to his daughter Evelyn Ann Warren. Turning the letter over in his hand an unusual crest adorned the back stamped into red wax was a lion, snake, badger and eagle. "Sweetheart it seems you have a letter I'm not exactly sure who from, I will open and take a look first" with a confused aura about him Mr Warren opened the mauve letter, inside two thick stock piece of paper that looked rather old, Mr warren cleared his throat before reading the contents out loud.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmisstress:
Minerva McGonagall
Dear Ms. Warren
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 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July
Yours sincerely
Filius Flitwick
Deputy Headmaster
"This must be a joke, Eve did you sign up to some joke school on the internet when you have been using the computer?" looking down at his daughter a slight gasp present on his lips the letter still clutched in his hand.
"No I only use it for my homework just like you told me" Eve mentions , scratching his head Mr Warren looks at his son "Can you search up this Hogwarts school on google for me, I know me and your mother never signed Eve up for any ridiculous joke school" Sebastian thumbed away at his phone, a smirk creeping onto his lips "Nope its not a real place all I can find is funny pictures of hogs with warts" he said with a chuckle.
Mrs warren took the letter her eyes skimming carefully over ever word. "Why don't we call this number, hunny pass me your phone ill ring them now" the cell phone was handed over the number entered in "It seems to be an automated message hold on let me put it on speaker" Mrs warren said.
The soft melodic voice spoke these words
"Thank you for calling Hogwarts helpline Mrs Warren mother of one Evelyn Ann Warren, I can assure you this letter is no joke magic is as real as the sun, your daughter is indeed a witch even if she does not know it yet. Please have Evelyn sign the bottom of the letter within the next five days to accept her place at hogwarts, an owl will then collect. The next step is to attend magic for muggles introduction meeting on 1supst/sup august 2017 at 7 Stoney Street London, more will be explained there, have a nice day now"
The call abruptly ended; four mouths open staring dumbfounded at the phone. Mr warren was the first to speak "How did an automated message know your name and our daughter's name" Mrs Warren shrugged, she did not know or understand what had just happened it felt like an invasion of privacy, she shuddered. Eve spoke up "Let me sign the letter, if an owl swoops in to pick it up we know this isn't a joke" she glances towards her brother with a scowl "I have a feeling this is your doing doofus" eve blobs her tongue out and raspberries. A pen is placed in Eve's hand, she signed her full name at the bottom as directed, the moment the pen leaves the paper a knock on the window and a muffled hoot can be heard. Everybody inside 102 glenside close leaped from their chairs spining to face the window, there sat a large brown owl pecking at the glass, Mr warren hesitantly moved forward unlatching the window opening it just enough for the owl to enter. The owl flew circles around the room coming to a stop on top the coffee table in the middle of the room, tilting its head the owl focused on the letter in Eve's hand slowly moving forwards pecking at the letter, Eve released the letter and the owl scooped it up between its beak flying back out the window and out of view
A few hours had passed since the ordeal with the letter and owl, breakfast had been eaten, the Warrens again sat relaxing in the lounge watching the news, once it switched to the local news section all eyes were glued to the screen, a news reported spoke "I'm here at oaken primary school where a mystery has happened, yesterday almost twenty children stood perfectly still for up to 30mins an eye witnesses states.
I have here a statement from one parent, "when I arrived through the gates I was shocked to see so many children stood still, I chalked it up to be a end of the year prank it was most strange, I shook my child and as I thought they all snapped out of it. After asking my child why they were stood still all they could tell me was that they were not stood still and asked what happened. "Most puzzling case indeed, let me ask these two gentlemen over here" the news reporter said as the camera panned towards two men wearing dark grey overcoats and grey fedora hats, they both were staring at the ground with an unusual device in there hands, it looked like a shiny metal ball with an hourglass in the centre, as the camera panned back towards the new reporter for a split second she said "That's strange I could sworn there were two men just there, anyways back to you at the station!"
Eve looked over towards Sebastian with a guilty look washed across her face, Sebastian shrugged and said "well that was weird I'm going to play video games see you folks later" he quickly exited the room and could be heard rushing up the stairs. Mr and Mrs warren both turned their attention to Eve "Do you know anything about this prank? I hope you wasn't apart of it" with hands on her hip Mrs warren looked very serious, Eve gulped down the truth to bring up a lie in its place "I must have already left I didn't see anything I wasn't apart of this" Eve said with a cracked voice, both her parents looked at each other for a moment then back at her "im glad you didn't partake in this silly prank, now go play outside while it's still sunny, don't want you to waste your summer away indoors" Eve pushed herself off the sofa put on her shoes and headed outside towards the park down the road, all she could think was, who were those men and what was that object in their hands. So many questions hopefully the meeting on the 1supst/sup august will answer them all.