More Than Mischief

Chapter 3: Sisters and Secrets of Extended Family

Rowan looked at the letter. They looked at the owl. The owl looked back. They stood like that, Rowan staring in shock at those giant, peering eyes. They seemed to look straight through you. Tentively, Rowan took a step forward. The owl took a step back on the desk. Then, Rowan took another step. The owl took another. Rowan took one final step toward the desk and in a flurry of feathers and disgruntled hooting, the owl took off out the window, leaving the letter behind. Several of Rowans things were knocked over- they barely stopped a souvenir snow globe from Sweden from breaking. Rowan picked up the letter and put down the snow globe. It came again, Rowan thought. 
"How? Where?" Rowan mumbled. They examined the letter again. Yellow badger, Green snake, Red lion and a blue bird, all surrounding an elegant "H". Rowan hadn't gotten a chance to read the contents. Maybe this is my chance... maybe...
Like a spoiled child at christmas, Rowan ripped open the Deep green envelope, insides spilling out. Excitedly, Rowan grabbed the letter and read the words on the parchment:

"Dear Rowan Olsen,

It has been allerted to us that  you have discarded the previous letter addressed to 115 High street, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, the first bedroom from the stairs."

Rowan had to pause at that line and they looked at the evelope they had discarded. Surely enough it was addressed thusly. How do they know where I sleep? They continued reading the letter.

"Therefore, we, the heads of faculty at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, have seen it prudent to send you another letter, explaining to you the fact that you have been admitted to our wonderful school. This letter, in likeness to the original, contains the complete shopping list, required to be filled out by the time of the next semester's start. 

What followed was a huge list of strange things;  books that Rowan had never heard of- titles like "The Complete Guide to Rudimentary Spellwork", "Charming Charms for the Beginning Charmcaster" and "From Color-change to Fart-smelling Flowers: Transfiguration for the Meek". Rowan thought about Zach's hair and their brow forrowed. They continued down the list, reading the words "1 feather pen" Is that right? Feather pen? nowhere outside of the 18th century should ANYONE be forced to buy FEATHER PENS for their schoolwork. Parchment wasn't better. Why not use copy-paper? The list continued, featuring such bizarre gems such as "1 Broom" and "Their own year- long lasting amount of Socks".  
By the end of the list, Rowans brow was hurting from how much they had forrowed it. What kind of school would send acceptance letters to students who hadn't even applied? Though, something compelled them to keep reading. 

"Every item on this list can be found in various shops in Diagon Alley, the directions to which can be found on the backside of this letter.

Once the applicant has retrieved these items, it is expected that he or she take "The Hogwarts Express" from the platform 9 3/4  at presicely 11 o'clock 1. september. The applicant will be expected to stay at the school for the remainder of the term, but he or she will be permitted to go back home for the Holidays.  

The following and remainder of this letter is a list of the times magic has been dedected in the vicinity of the underage wizard or witch this letter is adressed to. 

And that it was. The list consisted of multiple collumns; Date of Magical Occurence, Effect of Magical Occurence and School of Magic. The first date seemed to be the most recent; June 22nd 2020 yesterday. Rowan thought back to that day and sure enough that day Rowan had considerable trouble opening their door, due to a very slippery doorknob. This is exactly what was written on the parchment paper with the additive information "charms" in the "School of Magic" column. Rowan marveled. They read down the list, noting any dates they could remember, (there was a disproportional amount of birthdays, surprizingly enough) and looking over the other columns. As far as Rowan could tell, all of these dates were accurate and that excited them. Their body vibrated. This was what they had been waiting for all their life! A world of magic that was real. That they could hide in. A place were no one would bully them because everyone else would be just as odd as Rowan!