Gryffindor Girls

Chapter 2: Summer 1971: Hogwarts Letter

Wednesday 30th August 1971

Dorcas woke to the sounds of birds chirping outside her open window, a warm summer's breeze running through it. She slowly sat up on her bed and ran a hand through her messed hair. She looked around the room, appreciating how the yellow walls project a light glow from the sun. She looked over to the left where her sage green desk stood, on it laid a stack of unfinished muggle math work, a framed picture of her parents from their wedding and a few crystals, her favourite being the black tourmaline.

She got up walked into the bathroom to get herself ready for the day, she looked into the mirror. Dorcas had dark skin, long brown curly hair and chocolate brown eyes. She loved her eyes; they reminded her of her mother's, always so kind and comforting. She made a silly face at herself in the mirror, puffing her cheeks out so they bulged and furrowing her eyebrows.

She reached over to the sink and took her toothbrush and began brushing her teeth. She dropped some toothpaste on her purple nightdress. Somehow she had always managed to get toothpaste over her.

Just as she was about to wash her face she felt a strange presence come over her. It felt as if a bucket of ice cold water had just been dumped over her head. A chilling feeling ran through her body; snaking its way down her arms and legs, leaving a tingling sensation in her brain. Although it wasn't unpleasant, it felt as if her body was both on fire and freezing at the same time.

Dorcas knew exactly what this was; a feeling so familiar yet Dorcas couldn't remember the last time she felt like this. It was magic.

Instantly intrigued, Dorcas crept out of the bathroom quietly and tip-toed through the narrow corridor, painted in a light blue and decorated with little framed flowers; she stopped once she reached the landing. There was a small window just above the stairs that Dorcas wasn't quite tall enough to see out of yet. She paused once she got to the dark mahogany banister. She could hear voices coming from the kitchen; she immediately recognised one of the voices being Heather's. She sounded strained, like she was trying her hardest to remain calm. Dorcas could tell she was angry, her words sounding sharp and almost brittle.

The second voice Dorcas heard was a far calmer tone, their voice sounding smooth and rich like honey. They had an oddly comforting voice the made Dorcas want to trust them. It was a man's voice, Dorcas noticed, and they sounded older than anyone Dorcas had met before.

She climbed down the stairs slowly, avoiding the step that creaked. As she got further down the steps the kitchen started to come into view.

She saw Heather, with her back facing Dorcas, sitting on one of the dining chairs. She was talking to what looked like a strange old man. He had ancient looking robes on that Dorcas thought must be at least a few hundred years old. Dorcas could practically see the cobwebs flowing off of him.

She carefully stepped down one more step, while still holding onto the banister for support. She saw the old man's face come into view. She first saw his long white beard that reached down to at least his navel. Then her eyes trailed upwards to reveal a pair of shining blue eyes behind half-moon spectacles. Wait. She had seen those eyes before, the night her parents were murdered. He was there.

Dorcas felt a surge of power that made her dizzy. She could feel her foot slip, almost as if seeing it in slow motion, yet there was nothing she could do about it. Before she knew it, she was falling. She landed at the foot of the stairs with a thump. The two heads in the room turned to face her.

Dumbledore's face remained calm with a knowing glint in his eye, while Heather's looked livid.

Dorcas jumped up onto her feet almost as fast as she fell and leant on the banister trying to look casual, and failing miserably.

"Dorcas what an earth are you doing!?" Heather breathed incredulously. Her face was nearing an impossible shade of red.

"Uh, nothing." She stuttered. Then she remembered what she was actually doing. "What are you doing?"

Heather looked alarmed, opening her mouth to say something but got cut off by Dumbledore.

"Good morning Dorcas, your sister and I were just talking about you actually."

"Talking about... me? Dorcas asked suspiciously. "And how do you know my name? And who are you?" The questions just started to flow out of Dorcas. "And why were you there the night my parents-"

"That's quite enough Dorcas" Heather said sternly, getting up from her chair. She turned to Dumbledore, whose expression did not seem to change.

Dorcas bravely took a step forward; she was tired of being lied to, tired of not knowing the truth and tired of being hidden.

"No." She said firmly. "I want to know. Why were you there that night? Did you know my parents? Why were they killed?" Dorcas stopped instantly when she caught a glimpse of Heather's face. It was the angriest she had ever seen. Dorcas knew to shut up now.

But Dumbledore just smiled and simply replied with nothing more than,

"I hope to see you in a few weeks Dorcas."

He handed her a letter that was heavy and thick, it was made out of a yellowish parchment. She saw a bright red seal on it, but didn't dare look at it more than just a few seconds. She heard a crack and shot her head up. But Dumbledore was nowhere to be found, she was only greeted with the same look of madness on Heather's face. Dorcas smiled sheepishly.

"What was that all about?" She asked, trying to relieve the tension.

Heather let a deep breath out. "Well," She sighed. "I suppose you're going to find out eventually." She nodded towards the letter in Dorcas' hand.

Dorcas frowned and looked down at the letter in her hands, there was an address written on it in an emerald green ink. It was addressed to her; Dorcas had never received a letter before, well why would she? Dorcas didn't have any friends, and no other family she knew of apart from Heather, so who on earth would write a letter to her? She thumbed the letter, turning it over in her hands. On the other side was a great big crest, in each quarter of the crest it had an animal; a lion, a snake, a badger and an eagle. There was a single 'H' that stood in the middle of the crest. Dorcas looked up to reveal a banner that lay above the crest that read: 'Hogwarts'. Dorcas felt her heart stop, she had heard that name before. She slowly began to open the envelope, her fingers trembling slightly; she glanced up to Heather for reassurance. Her eyes were wide with anticipation and she was chewing on her bottom lip nervously.

Dorcas continued to open the letter, unfolding the letter inside it made with the same thick parchment as the envelope.

'Dear Ms Meadowes,

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'