Chapter 1
The Mysterious Letter
As the hot summer days stretched into July, Ryan grew increasingly restless when it came to his excitement for the summer. But, one thing was troubling him-despite his warm and joking personality, he barely had many friends. In fact, he believed he only had five friends. Coupled with his ability to make odd things happen, he felt sad and alienated from some of his peers, especially the bullies who resided at his school, seemingly trying to coax out his "special abilities." It was a difficult existence for Ryan, who seemingly just wanted to have a normal life and go to school just like any other kid in Britain.
One day, towards the end of the month, as the sun hung low in the sky, Ryan walked outside to get the post. He expected nothing special or out of the ordinary in the mail until he came across a peculiar letter in the mail. Buried underneath the Sunday newspaper, was a letter addressed to him. It was a letter written on parchment with emerald green ink and loopy handwriting.
Ryan flipped the letter over and saw what appeared to be a crest with a lion, snake, badger, and eagle.
"Hmm," he muttered, looking slightly confused. On the front, the emerald green ink showed his name, address, and even where his bedroom was(on the second floor near the top of the floor.)
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 Mr. Barett,
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,
Deputy Headmistress
Ryan read the letter several times to make sure that he was reading everything right and that his eyes were not playing tricks on him. Could April Fools' Day have come later than normal? Probably not, Ryan reasoned. It was near the end of July after all.
"Ryan? Are you out there?" Jonathan called, peering out from the doorway.
Ryan tucked the mail and his letter under his arm and headed back inside.
"Yeah, Dad! You'll never guess what I found in our postbox!" Ryan chirped. He showed him the letter from the place that was called Hogwarts.
At this, Jonathan's eyes went wide as he examined the letter.
"So, your Hogwarts letter came?" he asked, with a hint of pride and parental love.
Ryan nodded eagerly, still beaming up at his father but then looking immediately confused.
"You know about Hogwarts?" Ryan asked, confused.
Jonathan smiled. "Oh yes, son. It is a place where young witches and wizards-such as yourself. It is located somewhere in the Scottish Highlands."
Ryan looked more and more intrigued by his father. "Does that mean…does that mean that you are a wizard just like me?"
Jonathan nodded. "I am indeed," he said.
"I don't believe that."
"Well, for starters, we cannot be open about being wizards here because of the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy, which forbids us from practising magic in front of the non-magical population, which we call Muggles here in the UK."
Ryan nodded, still trying to keep up with the steady stream of information.
"But, they are also called Non-Magiques in France and No-Majs in the United States."
Ryan rolled his eyes. "No-Maj is a stupid name," he said, wincing as if the word had caused a bad taste in his mouth.
"Well, it is not for everybody," Jonathan said in a reasonable tone. "I prefer the term Muggle."
"Me too," said Ryan. "So, does that mean that my classmates and my teachers are Muggles? Even the Royal Family?"
"Yes, that's right, Ryan," said Johnathan.
Ryan looked at a loss for words. Perhaps words had failed him for the very first time in his short life.
"So, tell me more about Hogwarts," Ryan commanded, looking curious once he had found his words once again.
"Well, there are four houses with each of them having a unique history to them. In fact, I was a Gryffindor back in the day. But, the other houses are Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin," he added, with a faint air of disgust at the name of Slytherin.
Ryan also blanched slightly at the name. "Who'd want to be a Slytherin?" he pondered aloud. "That name disgusts me!"
Jonathan nodded. "Well, you'll learn that things really aren't what they seem to be, son," he said gently. "How about we talk about this more on the way to Diagon Alley?"
"Diagon Alley?" Ryan asked, looking confused.
"That's where witches and wizards go to shop. And it's on Charing Cross Road," said Johnathan. "It's also where you'll get all your school supplies for Hogwarts."
Ryan nodded. "I just need my sweatshirt!" And he ran up to get his favourite navy blue sweatshirt before running back down eagerly to the car, where his father was waiting.
"All set, buddy?" he asked.
"Yes, Dad!" Ryan chirped before climbing into the car. Jonathan drove out and they drove to Charing Cross, which was located in central London, which was near an obscure little pub called the Leaky Cauldron, which itself was situated between a record shop and a bookshop.
"Here we are!" said Johnathan, as he pulled the car to a stop.
They got out of the vehicle and Johnathan helped navigate Ryan through the busy London street, holding his hand tightly to prevent him from running off and exploring the new world that he was now becoming rapidly acquainted with.
He stepped into the pub, which had a few people in it, most notably a group of red-haired wizards and witches talking to the bartender. Jonathan said hello to the bartender before politely turning down an offer to join them for some butterbeer.
Jonathan led Ryan through a courtyard with rubbish bins and brick walls before he took out a wooden stick, which Ryan assumed was his wand, which Ryan knew he would be getting soon.
"Now, pay attention,Ryan," Jonathan said sternly. He tapped the brick that was in a very meticulous location. At once, the bricks moved aside to reveal a bustling alleyway with a plethora of shops that contained everything you could possibly desire from wands, to quills, to even animals, which hooted through the noisy ambience of the Alley.
"Whoa!" Ryan breathed out, gazing at the alleyway. "It's beautiful! Can we go check out that broomstick place-please?Please?"
Jonathan smiled. "Not yet, son," he said. "First, we need to get some more wizarding money."
And with that, he steered Ryan away from the broomstick place and towards a huge imposing marble building with the name Gringotts written on it.
It had burnished bronze doors, and beside the doors stood a small creature wearing a uniform of scarlet and gold. The creature was about a little shorter than Ryan, with a swarthy, clever face, a pointed beard, and very long fingers and feet. Johnathan explained to Ryan that it was a goblin (Ryan was about to scream before Johnathan stopped him). He bowed as we walked inside, facing a second pair of doors that were silver. On it was engraved:
Enter, stranger, but take heed
Of what awaits the sin of greed,
For those who take, but do not earn,
Must pay most dearly in their turn.
So if you seek beneath our floors
A treasure that was never yours,
Thief, you have been warned, beware
Of finding more than treasure there.
"You'd be mad trying to rob Gringotts," said Johnathan. "I'd recommend never trying it."
They walked into the hall toward a desk at the end, behind which sat another goblin. Lining the path they took were more goblins. Ryan looked at them, eyes wide in amazement.
"Hello," said Johnathan. "I'm here to exchange Muggle money."
"How much?" asked the goblin.
The goblin looked at both Ryan,studying the boy very closely. "Sixty Galleons would be enough."
"What are Galleons?"
"They're golden coins," said Johnathan. "You've also got Knuts and Sickles. There are 29 Knuts in one Sickle and 17 Sickles in a Galleon."
Ryan looked in awe.
"Now, what do you two need for your first year again?"
They left Gringotts with their pockets full of money. "Take out your list, it should be in the envelope, too."
Ryan took out his list and read out:
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
UNIFORM
First year students will require:
Three sets of plain work robes (black)
One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
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 Beginners' 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 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 BROOMSTICKS
"Well, then," said Johnathan, "Robes first!"
They went to Madam Malkin's, a shop where they got measured and fitted for robes on a stool. It was slightly embarrassing for Ryan as his father laughed nostalgically as the tape measurer began to measure Ryan up for his uniform without the aid of Madam Malkin herself.
By the time Ryan had his uniform completely fitted and purchased, Jonathan led Ryan through Diagon Alley, purchasing the rest of his items until they had to get their wands at a little shop run by an old man called Mr. Ollivander, who gave off a slightly creepy demeanour that made Ryan slightly uncomfortable.
"Ah, Mr. Barett, good to see you again!" said Mr. Ollivander, gazing up at Johnathan.
"Good to see you too, sir," said Johnathan politely, although it was clear that he was not too fond of Mr. Ollivander himself. Ryan definitely echoed his sentiments like father like son.
"Alright, young man, which arm is your wand arm?" asked Mr. Ollivander to Ryan.
"Erm, I am right handed, sir," he said, looking puzzled.
"Okay."
With that, Mr. Ollivander set out to find a wand for Ryan.
He measured Ryan from shoulder to finger, then wrist to elbow, shoulder to floor, knee to armpit and around his head. As he measured, Mr. Ollivander said, "Every Ollivander wand has a core of a powerful magical substance, Mr. Barett We use unicorn hairs, phoenix tail feathers, and the heartstrings of dragons. No two Ollivander wands are the same, just as no two unicorns, dragons, or phoenixes are quite the same. And of course, you will never get such good results with another wizard's wand."
As the tape measure began to measure between Ryans' nostrils on his own, Mr. Ollivander flitted around the shelves, taking down boxes.
"That will do," he said, and the tape measure crumpled to a heap on the floor. "Very well, Mr. Barett, this is oak wood and dragon heartstring core, eleven inches, very springy… Give it a try."
Nothing. Ollivander took the wand back and continued trying out wand after wand until he gave Ryan a unique looking wand.
"Here we are, Mr. Barett, Dogwood wand, dragon heartstring, twelve inches, stiff."
Ryan gave it a wave and out emerged golden sparks.
"Yes!" cried Mr. Ollivander, excitedly. "That is the one, Mr. Barett!"
They paid for Ryan's wand and headed down the alley. Ryan was sure glad to leave behind Mr. Ollivander's wand shop. He didn't know what made him so uncomfortable with him. Perhaps it was his frequent gazing at him or the fact that he said "ah!" too many times for Ryan's liking. But, whatever it is, Ryan was sure glad that Ollivander's was a part of his past now.
Mr. Barett let Ryan get a pet and that idea thoroughly made Ryan feel overjoyed as he forgot all about his discomfort that he experienced at Mr. Ollivander's wand shop.
As he went inside, the smell of faeces hit him hard as he entered the shop. He was greeted by a witch, who took great delight in showing him the new cats that were in the shop. They were quite handsome, thought Ryan. Although he knew deep down he prefers an owl.
After a while, Ryan found himself in the company of an owl he decided to name Adam, which was a tawny owl he grew quite fond of.
When he had paid the required amount for his pet, Ryan and Johnathan headed back to their home, with Ryan skipping happily as they left for the Muggle side of Charing Cross Road.
Despite the joyous day, Ryan couldn't help but feel that something apart of him still was waiting to be discovered as Johnathan explained that Mr. Ollivander had a knack for noticing such individuals. But, he couldn't figure out what it was supposed to be. Great things? Wise things? Who even knew?
That night, Johnathan tucked Ryan into bed and read him a wizard story, to which Ryan enjoyed very much. And before long, Ryan fell asleep dreaming of ancient castles and abandoned buildings with many secrets left to explore…