Wonder 1st year

Letter

"Mum! Mum!" I yelled, bounding up the stairs two at a time, waving the letter in my hand like a flag. "I got in!"

Mum's eyes went wide as she grabbed the letter from me, her hands trembling ever so slightly. Her eyes scanned the parchment, and she read aloud: "Dear Ms. Elsher, 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."

She looked up, her face a mixture of disbelief and pride. "Oh, my little girl is going to Hogwarts! I can't believe it!" She threw her arms around me, squeezing me tight.

I beamed. "Neither can I!" The words felt surreal, like they weren't quite my own. Hogwarts. Magic. It was all real. I read through the letter over and over again, not believing that I had been chosen. But soon, the reality of it began to sink in. I was going to be a witch!

My excitement was suddenly interrupted by a practical thought. "Hey, Mum! The term starts in September! We don't have long to get everything ready!"

Mum glanced at the calendar, her expression becoming serious. "You're right. We've only got a few weeks! Grab the list and meet me in the car. We're off to Diagon Alley!"

I raced to my room, snatched up the list of supplies, and bolted back downstairs just as I heard the car engine roar to life. "Wait for me!" I shouted, locking the front door behind me and darting into the passenger seat. "Here's the list!" I handed it over to Mum as I buckled my seatbelt. She smiled, glanced at the list, and drove us toward the Leaky Cauldron, the entrance to Diagon Alley.

When we finally stepped through the magical archway into Diagon Alley, I gasped. The street was alive with witches and wizards bustling about, some carrying bags of strange ingredients, others accompanied by owls and cats. The shops had brightly colored signs with moving images, and there was a palpable hum of magic in the air.

The first stop was Ollivanders™ Wand Shop. The old wooden sign creaked slightly in the wind as we walked in. The room was dimly lit, filled from floor to ceiling with narrow boxes. A man with salt-and-pepper hair, wearing round spectacles, greeted us.

"Good morning," he said with a kind smile. "Here for a wand, are we?"

I nodded eagerly, my heart pounding in my chest. His name tag read "Jimmy," and he disappeared into the back room, returning moments later with several boxes.

"Let's try this one first," Jimmy said, handing me a wand. It was sleek, made of light-colored wood with a slight twist at the base. I waved it tentatively toward a shelf across the room, but nothing happened. He quickly snatched the wand back.

"Not quite right. Let's try another." Jimmy disappeared into the maze of boxes again and returned with a second wand. This one felt different the moment I held it, heavier, as if it carried a story of its own. I waved it, and suddenly a stack of books from the far shelf came crashing down.

Jimmy chuckled. "There it is. That wand's chosen you, no doubt about it."

We left the shop with my new wand, a strange sense of destiny tingling in my fingertips. Next on the list was Eeylops Owl Emporium. I had always wanted an owl—beautiful, graceful creatures. The shop was filled with them, all colors and sizes, but one immediately caught my eye.

She was a stunning owl with golden strips running down the sides of her wings and light brown feathers covering her stomach. Her back was darker, mottled with black and white spots. But it was her eyes—deep golden with flecks of green—that really mesmerized me.

Mum came over, seeing me entranced. "She's gorgeous, isn't she?" Mum slipped a finger into the cage. The owl nibbled at it gently, proving her friendliness. "Is this the one you want?"

I nodded, unable to take my eyes off the owl. We bought her right away, and as we left the shop, I could hardly contain my excitement. I already felt a bond with her.

The next stop was for robes. After a bit of searching, we found a shop selling Hogwarts uniforms. I sifted through the racks until I found one in my size, holding it up to check the fit in the mirror. "Looks good," I said, smiling as I admired the sleek black fabric. After waiting in line, we finally paid and left, our shopping nearly complete.

On the way home, the excitement of the day began to overwhelm me. My mind raced with thoughts of spells, classes, and meeting new friends at Hogwarts. As we pulled into our driveway, I jumped out of the car, eager to start packing.

I spent the next few hours getting everything in order, stacking my books neatly in my trunk and setting aside my robes. My golden retriever, Buddy, followed me around, his tail wagging eagerly. He barked happily as I tossed his ball across the yard. We played until we were both tired out, and I sat on the grass, running my hands through his soft fur.

As the evening fell, I went back inside to help Mum prepare dinner. We chopped vegetables, chatting excitedly about tomorrow. "Do you know what you're going to name your owl yet?" Mum asked as she stirred a pot.

"I was thinking about it earlier... but nothing's come to me yet."

"What about Elvira?" Mum suggested. "It means 'all true and trustworthy.'"

I considered it. "Elvira..." I said aloud. "I like it. That's her name."

After dinner, I went upstairs, feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness. Elvira hooted softly from her cage, and I whispered, "Tomorrow's going to be an adventure, girl." With my suitcase packed and ready by the door, I climbed into bed.

Tomorrow, I would be on my way to Hogwarts.