30th June 1991

It was a bright sunny day in the small town of Havant in Hampshire, England. In a little park, kids were playing, parents were pushing prams around trying to get their babies to sleep, and some were throwing sticks for dogs to catch. Just down the street from the park was a small cottage, and just under the tree in the little garden was a little girl, sitting, reading a book. Blonde hair, soft brown eyes, and a freckled face. Her name was Isla, and she was 10 years old, and a very special little girl she was. You see, Isla was a witch. She could do spells, or at least she will once she starts learning how to come September, and she was very excited as she never really got a chance to see kids her age. She was home-schooled, and only saw a cousin Neville about once a week, but all that would change when they started school, even if he wasn't sure he would get to go, she was sure he would be. Well, when she says cousin, she means distantly. Her grandfather and his grandmother were first cousins, which makes Neville something like her third cousin. But, except for her cousin Marcus, her great aunt's son, who was 5 years older, and was already at Hogwarts - they were the only children in the family. Not that she liked Marcus very much. He was in Slytherin and a complete idiot. So, Neville was her favourite person, after her aunt.

"Isla," her aunt called. "Your Grandfather's here." Sighing, Isla finishes her sentence and puts her bookmark in place before standing up.

"Coming Aunt Ella!" she called back, walking towards the back door of the cottage, her long hair flowing behind her as she walked. As she entered the kitchen, where she saw her Aunt, making some tea. Aunt Ella, or more specifically, Lowella Fawley, 47 years young, wife of the late Jasper Fawley, Auror, who died in the war. He died before she was born, so she never met him. Her Aunt also had blonde hair, which she always pinned into a bun, and sparking blue eyes, with her a dazzling smile. Ella was a kind woman, who loved Isla to pieces. Isla's eyes shifted to the man at the table, her grandfather, Bartimaeus Crouch. 76 years old wearing grey robes with his customary black tie. His grey hat which was normally sitting upon his balding grey hair on his head, was resting on the table. He too had blue eyes, although muted now, as though he had suffered great sadness in his life. Her Grandpa Barty was her Aunt's Father, his eldest and only surviving child, the daughter of his first wife, Annabelle. After she died in 1959 from a home invasion when her aunt was just 15, he married his second wife Catherine, who gave birth to her Mother, Emily, then her Uncle, 5 years later, but they don't talk about him much. Barty was head of the magical law enforcement until the end of the war, and then he became head of the international magical cooperation. He looked up at her and smiled as she went over and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and sat down.

"Good morning Isla", he looked at her book "Reading anything good?". She smiles and nods.

"Yes, thanks. It is about Morgana and Merlin. They loved each other, didn't they?." He nods back.

"Yes, they did, not that they let the muggle King know that at the time", he nods thanks to his daughter as she lays his tea in front of him. "I heard that Hogwarts letters for the first years are arriving this morning". Ella looks up.

"So soon? I thought they had to find a new defense teacher."

Barty rolled his eyes, "They found one quicker than they thought I believe. Anyway, I wanted to be here to see Isla open hers". He smiles at her. Well, a smile for him. They always come off more as a grimace to her. She always thought it was weird, but her Aunt says he has been like that since her Mother was killed, and it just got worse when her stepmother and siblings passed on as well.

Isla was already running to the window to look for the owl. "Do you know when the owl will get here Grandpa?" she asked excitedly, looking at her watch, "it's already half ten!" Barty gave his smile/grimace again.

"They usually come around eleven" he shook his head slightly, "Your mother was the same" giving a side glance to Ella, "She was overexcited the day her letter was due to come as well. Sit down before you give us all a headache." Isla sighed and sat back in her seat, her Aunt had an amused expression on her face.

"Don't be like that Father, she is only young after all", she turned to her niece, "but let's try and calm down slightly, we don't want to give you Grandpa a migraine before he's even finished his tea". Barty looked annoyed but did not say anything. He looked out the window. "I think the owl might be early." Isla whirled round at the window, as her Aunt got up to get the owl, plucked the letter out of its beak and said thank you to the bird as it flew off. She passed the letter to Isla and sits back down.

Isla looks at the letter with shaking hands. She was suddenly nervous, and she started to open it and slowly unfold it. She was met with the Hogwarts logo, and the letter read;

'Dear Miss Hope,

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 1st September. We await your owl by no later than 31st July.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall'

Even though Isla knew it was coming, she still could not believe her eyes. She did it, she was accepted into Hogwarts, and she could not believe it. She looked up at her Aunt and Grandpa, beaming. "I got in!" she exclaimed. She got up and hugged her Aunt, who exclaimed;

"I'm proud of you poppet", and then said in her ear, "And so would your parents". Isla drew back and smiled, "Thanks Auntie Ella", and rushed round to hug her Grandfather.

Her parents were Brain and Emily Hope. They died not long before the end of the war. Brian was a muggle, however, but she does not know more than that as her family hadn't met him, due to the war her Aunt said. But she had lots of photos of her Mum. Emily was a beautiful woman with bright blonde hair and blue eyes, just like all her family, she assumed her eyes came from her Dad. Her Aunt says she was the bravest and most wonderful woman she knew, which Isla thought meant everything, coming from her aunt.

Isla withdrew from her Grandpa who said, "I am proud of you Isla. We'll make a Ravenclaw of you yet, just like your mother.", they shared a look, a moment between the two. Barty then patted her head and stood up. "I must get back to work. I will see you Saturday fo-". He was about to say for dinner but was cut off by the fire whirling into life, and her cousin Neville came through chanting, "I got in! I got in!" He came in and hugged Isla who exclaimed back, "Me too!" And Isla had never been happier than she was in that moment.