Hyperesthesia || Harry Potter

01 | Pepper Costello

Abnormality was all that Pepper Costello knew; from being an American living in Berkshire, England to suffering from an acuteness of the senses, exile was all that Pepper had been subjected to since childhood.

Pepper Costello was a young girl with a big imagination about as big as her hair.

But never did she believe in magic.

Not even when an old woman in mystical green robes with spectacles on her stern face appeared suddenly in Pepper's fireplace.

"Pardon my interruption," said the woman in a firm voice, unbothered by the startled glances from the family of four. "I am Professor Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I am here to deliver a letter to your daughter, Philippa Costello."

"M- What?" Pepper gulped, white-faced and alert as she stared at the envelope that was being offered to her.

"You, Miss Costello, are being offered enrollment as a student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," explained the woman, Minerva McGonagall.

"Radcliffe, it's happening," whispered the woman behind Pepper. "I never thought it would..." Her voice was a mix between an American and English accent, but her tone was nearly trembling.

"Settle down, Ellianna," said the man beside his wife, American accent in full.

"You," said Minerva to Ellianna as Pepper shakily took the envelope into her own hands. "Ellianna Stone. Celeste Stone's daughter, aren't you? The Squib?"

"Y-Yes," said Ellianna nervously.

"Hey! Don't call my mom that name!" said Pepper to Minerva, her American accent thick with rage.

Minerva merely looked down at the girl with another unbothered glare. "Do you have any idea what that word means, child?"

"No," Pepper pouted, "but it didn't sound nice."

"Settle down, Pep," said the man, Radcliffe, as he grabbed her shoulder. "Minerva, you said your name was?" He switched his attention onto the emerald-robbed lady. "You're here telling me that my own daughter is witch?"

"Precisely," said Minerva, head bowing slightly. "Just like your mother-in-law."

"Okay, okay, hold on!" Pepper demanded, vermillion red curls rising up on their own accord. "You're telling me that I'm a witch and my grandma, Celeste, is one too? And I've just been oblivious to it all my life. Is that it?"

"Perhaps," Minerva agreed.

"No way! This is nuts!"

"Your name has already been inscribed by the Quill of Acceptance," Minerva explained. "You are destined to go to Hogwarts just like any other eleven year old witch or wizard."

"But I'm not eleven yet," said Pepper, her white face was turning more red as the interaction went on. "I won't be eleven for another three months!"

"Well, seeing as your birthdate is so close to the cut off date, consider that your invitation into the wizarding world has arrived a bit earlier than usual," Minerva explained.

"Pepper is magic?" asked a little boy with dark spiral curls like his sister's, who was clutching onto his father's leg.

"No!" protested Pepper. "There's no way I'm magic! I don't believe it!" She turned to face her parents. "Mom? Dad?"

Her parents, who looked pale and conflicted, stared at their daughter before Ellianna caved in with a sigh.

"This.. is the truth, Pepper," she admitted.