Chapter Text
The sound was like a gunshot.
Taylor startled into a painful jerk that was half reflexive fright jump, half aborted dodge roll out of her bed. She looked left and right around the messy, pastel colored room, certain that there was a sharply dressed woman just around the corner holding a gun pointed at her.
Blossoming panic died when the book she’d been reading smacked her painfully atop of the head. Somehow, in the fright, it had gone airborne.
She grumbled and scratched the painful spot on top of her crown.
There wasn’t much time to think about flying vengeful books, because a few houses down the lane, where the gunshot-like sound came from, there was someone where once there was none.
A strange woman showed up at missus Anderson’s house two houses down from Taylor’s own.
Taylor picked up the book and placed it on the bed stool. She’d just started a new book called The Eye of the World and was loath to stop a good story, but this took precedence. On the balls of her feet, she slunk towards the small window — eyes already on the woman — and opened the curtains a smidge to look with her own eyes, just to make sure she wasn't going crazy.
The woman, old and serious, wore clothes that looked older than mum’s grandma’s in the pictures. Her hair was tied in a severe bun, and her face was set on a disapproving frown. The whole ensemble was topped off with glasses that had small oval lenses perched on the bridge of her nose while she read something from a paper. The newcomer looked from the paper to Miss Anderson’s address, then left and right. With a small shake of the head, she turned toward Taylor’s house and marched with determined steps.
Rand’s adventures forgotten, Taylor kept her many eyes firmly on the new arrival, until she stopped in front of her house. One last look at the paper, a bony finger extended in what looked like condemnation and the doorbell rang in the room downstairs.
Taylor moved toward her bedroom door, turned about, walked two steps back to her bed, picked up her book, and stopped. Another about face took her toward the door once more and it was everything Taylor could do to not sneak a few fliers inside the house to listen to the conversation downstairs. She’d promised her mum she wouldn’t spy on the house and keep it bug free.
Who was the woman? How had she just appeared out of nowhere? Did she have superpowers too?
“Taylor, sweetie, there’s someone here to see you.”
Mum’s voice called from below. She didn’t sound scared, or distressed, she sounded resigned.
Not to let an opportunity pass, Taylor stowed the book in the nearest available place then dashed downstairs to meet the newcomer. She spared a small glance toward the visitor, confirming that yes, it was still the same woman from outside, before she hugged her mother, shying away from the stranger in the room.
“Mum.”
Annette, Taylor’s mother, rolled her eyes in a very fond gesture, then tousled Taylor's mane of blonde curls. “Still on your pj’s?”
Taylor blinked owlishly, the stranger forgot, then looked down at her own clothes. Pastel pink Care Bears pj’s. She hid her face against her mum’s shirt, mumbling and believing the world outside didn’t exist.
“Sweetie, it’s rude to ignore our guest, more so when they’re here to see you.”
Pretending her face and ears weren’t burning, and the irresistible desire to run back to her room and hide under the covers wasn’t there, Taylor turned and greeted the newcomer. “Hullo.”
“Good morning, Miss Hebert. I’m Minerva McGonagall, a professor at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. A boarding school your father attended as a young man.”
Taylor’s eyes grew wider the more the woman spoke. Wizardry? She knew magic was real, she had magic herself, but dad had it too? Mum never talked about him, he’d died before Taylor was even born.
“You’ve inherited his gift,” McGonagall said without giving Taylor the chance to sort her thoughts. The visitor reached into the interior of her travelling robes and produced a letter, the same paper Taylor had seen her reading outside the house. “This is your formal letter of acceptance to Hogwarts. School terms begin in September, with students of your own age.”
The envelope was cream-coloured, sealed in red wax, bearing a familiar crest, one she had seen among dad’s old stuff.
“Inside, you’ll also find a list of necessary books and materials for your first year.” McGonagall dug into another pocket of her robes, then took out a strange metal key. She presented the key to mum. “Here’s your husband Gringotts key.”
The air had grown heavy and uncomfortable by that point. Mum took the key. She didn’t look happy, she looked angry, like that time Taylor set up a colony of ants to bite the shins of that bully at school.
“Thank you.”
“I understand, Mrs. Hebert, that our world has not been without its costs to your family. That is not a small thing and I’ll not pretend otherwise.” McGonagall’s voice was firm, but not without feelings. “But Hogwarts was also where your husband learned who he was, it was where he made friends who still remember him.”
There was a tense moment of silence, before McGonagall looked at Taylor, then Annette.
“The choice, ultimately, belongs to you and your daughter.”
McGonagall didn’t stay long after delivering her message, she bade both farewell and left.
Taylor kept track of the woman until she disappeared with another gunshot-like sound. Teleportation superpower was wicked.
For the rest of the day, mum was in one of her somber moods. Predictably, she kissed the top of Taylor’s head, then shoo’ed her off back to her room. Taylor knew by now there was no talking when mum was like that. Mum would be better in the evening. She always was.
That didn’t dispel the many questions Taylor had. She’d known magic existed since forever. She had her own superpower like those American comic books, but she thought she was the only one. Maybe she shouldn’t have been surprised. Mum never seemed weirded out by the insects, aside from that one day they didn’t talk about, and mum was a great help in helping Taylor keep her secret.
Superpowers weren’t something normal people liked or believed. She’d learned that the hard way.
But all that was in the past, Taylor had a new mystery in hand. The envelope was addressed specifically to her.
Miss T.A. Hebert. The Small Bedroom, Second Floor, 23 Dunmore Street, Woolwich, London.
How did these people know which room in the house was her bedroom? Intrigued, Taylor broke the seal and read the contents. The first page was just a formal introduction and invitation.
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 Miss Hebert.
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 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress.
The second page was where things got strange.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
UNIFORM
First-years students will require:
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Three sets of plain work robes (black).
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One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear.
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One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar).
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One winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings).
Please note that all pupil’s clothes should carry name tags.
SET BOOKS
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Books 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.
The Secrets of the Stars by Magnolia Maguffin.
Magical Me (autobiography) by Gilderoy Lockhart.
Break with a Banshee by Gilderoy Lockhart.
Gadding with Ghouls by Gilderoy Lockhart.
Holidays with Hags by Gilderoy Lockhart.
Travels with Trolls by Gilderoy Lockhart.
Voyages with Vampires by Gilderoy Lockhart.
Wanderings with Werewolves by Gilderoy Lockhart.
Year with the Yeti by Gilderoy Lockhart.
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, if they desire, an owl OR a cat OR a toad.
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICK.
Yours sincerely,
Lucinda Thomsonicle-Pocus
Chief Attendant of Witchcraft Provisions
Who the heck was this Gilderoy Lockhart and why did he have eight books for the first year? More importantly, why did all the book names read more like fantasy books? The others in the list Taylor could see being part of a magical education, but Lockhart’s didn’t seem to. There was even an autobiography there. Was this guy some super important magical hero they had to learn about?
The other parts of the letter were also interesting. Robes and equipment. Cauldron and pointy hat. At this point, Taylor was almost sure this wasn’t a prank. It was too elaborated to be one. And what about an Owl? By context clues, it looked like mail of some sort, but where would Taylor find an owl of her own that knew how to deliver mail? More importantly, where would they find money to buy all this stuff?
Tentative cover image:
