Nothing in this World

Chapter 1: The Stories

The sun poured through my window. Another day had dawned, bringing with it new hope and aspirations. As the light of dawn seeped inside my room through the window, I rubbed my bleary eyes and walked toward it. There was a pearly glow in the sky. Something great is going to happen, I thought as I came from my bath and pulled on my freshly ironed dress. After an hour of my morning routine, I couldn't wait to see my aunt serving delicious cinnamon bread rolls with coffee to start the day while my uncle reads out the news. 

I was flying through the stairs but stopped mid-way as I saw my uncle and aunt sitting on the sofa with a very solemn look on their face when I came down. I slowed down my speed of running as I went and sat beside my uncle. I greeted them and when they greeted me back, I finally asked 'Is something going on in your mind?' Sia flinched a bit in her seat and spoke up 'We need to talk about your parents.' 

'Sure, what about them?' I got a bit excited. I started swearing in my head that it shouldn't be dreadful. 

'Well, you know those stories we used to tell you when you were younger?' I didn't have the slightest idea of what was going on when I noticed Sia biting her tongue afterward. I was worried but I kept talking. 'Yes, the one with witches and wizards and stuff?' 

'Well, they weren't stories'. Said Tim. 

'Ha ha ha, very funny. Of course, they were, magic isn't real-' but I changed my words when their faces turned to a very serious expression. '...is it?' 

'Well, you see Scoutt, when you were one, your parents were killed by the evil wizard we told you about in the stories.'

'You mean Volde-' my words missed as I jumped on the seat as Tim bellowed out ' Stop! Don't say his name out loud!'

'Alright, fine.'  

Sia started speaking again ' So your parents were killed by him. He actually came there looking for you but luckily your mum and dad knew and cast protection around you. After he finished them off, uh.' She was weeping but she didn't stop. 'He went to kill you but he failed to, as the spell rebounded upon him. Your parent's protection worked and it still lies inside you.' 

I was dumbfounded, dumbfounded by what I heard. I couldn't believe it was all me. 'You mean to tell me that my parents died protecting me? So basically it's my fault? And you're telling me all this now. Why?' 

I felt an arm placed around my shoulder and realized that it was Tim. He patted my head and replied ' It's totally not your fault, dearie. We told you this now, because you had to know and you got a letter inviting you to Hogwarts.' 

'What? Me? A letter to Hogwarts? I thought you had to join at 11.' 

'Yes, you heard it right. Turns out to be that your name was missed out and they didn't send the letter to our house.' 

'So why now?' 

'The Ministry of Magic looked through student profiles to check up on them and they noticed you didn't have a profile so they notified Hogwarts and sent you a letter.'

'Oh right, okay..' I didn't know if I should be glad, or worried now. All I know is, I'm so excited to enter the world of magic that I always dreamt of.