There are voices coming from outside my room, two. It isn't Mags, she's coming later. I throw on some muggle clothes, you can never be too careful and head out into the living room. Dad is there, and a man, a wizard. He's seated, but I can tell he's tall. His violet robes match his hat, which reaches well past his waist. His eyes meet mine through his half-moon glasses.
"Ah, now you must be Elizabeth." He's what I imagine a grandpa is like, his voice low and booming, but comforting. He stands gracefully, despite his obvious age, and extends his hand.
"Yes," I take his hand, "sir," I add quickly.
"Liz this is Headmaster Dumbledore of Hogwarts." He turns to face the Headmaster, "I've told her about it loads."
"All good things, I hope." He chuckles, it makes his eyes twinkle. He sits again, dad follows suit and gestures for me to sit as well. "Now, it is unorthodox to let pupils in past first year. We haven't done so in many years, and there will be much to iron out. It is true, however, that you were accepted some 3 years ago. Phineas, I assume you have secured a job at the ministry?"
"Yes, that is of course, on the condition that we move to England, and thus that Elizabeth attends Hogwarts." I'm not surprised things moved so quickly, I think dad has secretly dreamed of moving back since the moment we left.
Headmaster Dumbledore thinks this over, his eyes darting around the room. "Well... I'll have to bring it to the governors, but I don't see why we can't make an exception."
"Thank you, professor," my father says, an obvious weight coming off his shoulder.
"Oh, Phineas, I haven't been your Headmaster for 25 years, no need to call me that, just Albus." He smiles a kind smile. "Ms. Whitnell, you will have some catching up to do, ill be in contact with the Dean of Ilvermorny, but from what I understand you will be slightly behind our classes. You will also need to visit Diagon Ally to acquire some robes and books. There will be other conditions as well, and of course, we must sort you into a house, my the hat will be shocked to see you."
"I'm a Thunderbird," I pipe up, "if that helps."
"Ah, well then I have an inkling of where you'll end up, but only time will tell." He stands and makes his way to the door, "all of this will be in a letter, which I'll have sent out as soon as we get the ok. If you'll excuse me, I have other errands to run."
Dad stands and shakes his hand. "Thank you so much for coming, professor, we very much so appreciate it."
He smiles again, "It was very nice seeing you, Phineas, and again, I'm very sorry about your wife, she was an astonishing witch."
He softens at the mention of mom, "she really was."
"Ms. Whitnell," Dumbledore turns to me and bows his head, ever so slightly, "I will be seeing you in September."
With that, he apparates, the crack resonating through the small apartment.
Three weeks later an owl arrives, carrying a letter addressed in green.
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 Ms. Whitnell,
We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Furthermore, please ensure you have the needed knowledge up to the required levels.
Term begins on 1 September. The Hogwarts express leaves Kings Cross Station, platform 9 ¾ promptly at 11:00 am, your ticket is enclosed.
Yours sincerely,
AlbusDumbledore
(Headmaster)
"Dad!" I yell. He comes running in, still in a robe with a toothbrush in his mouth. "I got in!" I flourish the letter in the air.
He runs up and hugs me, smelling of shower and toothpaste, "Yes! I'll inform MACUSA, get that transfer in order," he says around the toothbrush. "I loved Hogwarts; I know you will too. It is the best school in the world. Aw, I'm so proud to have my own daughter going to Hogwarts!"
We hug some more before I pull out the other paper in the envelope, "I need all this stuff, and dress robes, why would I need dress robes?"
"No clue, we'll go to Diagon Alley, we took you there once when you were a kid, d'you remember?"
"Ice cream right? Yeah, I remember."
"Oh that day was so much fun," Dad gets that whimsical look in his eyes, the one he always gets when talking about mom, "she always wanted to go to Hogwarts, its why we lived there until, well," He pauses to blink away the tears, "She would be so proud of you."
"I miss her," I say, staring at the letter.
"I know, sweetheart, I know," we hug again, neither wanting to let go.
"You should get dressed, got a big day," I pull away from him, wiping my eyes. "I'll start packing up my things."
"Alright," He says, turning back to the bathroom. "I'll go to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and request your wand back."
My wand! Even though I'm not allowed to use magic outside of school, it feels like I'm missing an arm. I spend the rest of the day packing my room, four years of my life, all into one bag. I'll have enough time before school to unpack, and pack what I want for school, so I jumble all my school and personal things together. I was just unpacking; it feels wrong to be leaving again.
That night Mags brings pizza, as always. We sit around the table and eat it straight out of the box. Mags is the last connection I have to my mom, they're practically identical, same straight nose, dark curly hair, textbook beautiful. She's become my surrogate mother since we moved.
"When are you guys leaving?" She says between slices.
"I still haven't got all the paperwork sorted out for the house, might be another couple of weeks."
"But we'll get there in time for me to get all my school supplies, right?" I cut in.
"Yes, and I actually have a surprise for you." He grins, reaching into his pocket. "My first assignment is with Johnson, he works it the sports department,"
"No!" I jump out of my chair, this summer is the Quidditch world cup, it hadn't even crossed my mind that we would be in Europe at the time.
"They want me to act as a representative for the Congress, so we've got two tickets to the world cup." I squeal, running into his arms. "Loads of kids are going to be there, it'll give you a chance to meet some of your classmates before term."
"Just don't go developing a posh accent, 'kay, when you first got here you sounded like the queen." This sent a pang of pain through my heart, I will really miss Mags.
"I would never," I say back in my best British accent, which is actually quite good, seeing as I once had one and so does dad. "You can always come visit."
"And leave mom here? She'd kill me," she sees my face drop, and quickly adds "I'll make it work, no one can keep me away from my favourite niece."
"I'm your only niece," I say, muffled by the hug she gives me.
YOU ARE READING
Beginners: book 1, Goblet of Fire
AdventureElizabeth, Beth, has been expelled from the Ilvermorney School of Magic after years of tormenting the Dean. Left with no other options, her father negotiates a deal with Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy...