"Darling, can you come here," calls my mother from downstairs, just as I am turning over a new page of a new chapter in my book.
My mum can have really bad timing sometimes.
"Coming Mum," I reply. A few more lines won't hurt, surely. I'll just read a page.
It's a muggle book, by someone called, J. R. R. Tolkien. I don't know why it was in our library. I can't exactly picture my dad buying it. He hates anything to do with Muggles, or Muggleborns. Maybe it was my grandparents or something. I carry on reading, and look at the first page.
Chapter 1
In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.
"Gabrielle Narcissa Malfoy, come down here now!" shouts my dad.
"I'm coming!" I shout back. It's best to do what he says when he gets annoyed. I sigh and hide my book underneath my pillow. I don't want my parents finding it. They'd go ballistic. Well, dad would. I'm not sure about mum. She's not as big on the whole pureblood thing.
I slowly walk out of my room, down the stairs and into the living room. My mother is sitting in an armchair with a big smile, and my father is standing there as well, and next to me is my twin brother Draco.
"So what do you want to tell us," he says with a slight yawn. I roll my eyes at him, and he sneers at me.
Mum holds up two cream envelopes, with writing on them in green ink. I think I know it from somewhere...
Then it hits me.
"Is that a...?" I gasp.
My mum nods with a proud expression on her face. She hands the letters over, one to me, one to Draco. I take it eagerly, and start scanning the parchment.
Miss G. Malfoy,
The Fifth bedroom,
Second Floor,
Malfoy Manor,
Wiltshire,
England
I quickly turn it around and see the Hogwarts seal pressed into the back of the letter. I look at my twin. He has the same look of amazement on his face that I'm feeling.
"Can we?" my father nods his head a little.
We both tear open our letters at exactly the same time.
Creepy.
Meh, it's probably twin stuff.
I unfold the letter and read through its contents.
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 Miss Malfoy,
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. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress.
I slowly take out another piece of parchment, one I hadn't noticed before.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
UNIFORM : First-year students will require:
1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)
2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
4. One winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupil's clothes should carry name tags.
COURSE BOOKS :
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self Protection by Quentin Trimble
OTHER EQUIPMENT 1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
Students may also bring, if they desire, an owl OR a cat OR a toad.
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS
ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICK
Yours sincerely,
Lucinda Thomsonicle-Pocus: Chief Attendant of Witchcraft Provisions
I stare up my parents, and then again at my brother.
"We're going to HOGWARTS!" we exclaim at exactly the same time.
Twin stuff again.
