Charlotte Granger - Hermione's Twin

Chapter 2

(Charlotte's point of view)

I was a witch.

But didn't witches fly on broomsticks, have black cats and make evil potions? Well, Lilac was a cat - even if she was pale grey with black paws. And didn't Aunt Matilda have a broom she used to sweep the garden? I didn't think that it would be very comfortable though. Worried, I asked Tonks what she meant.

Then, she explained more - it didn't mean that kind of witch - that was just the non-magical people (muggle's) way of portraying witches and wizards from back in Medieval times, before the International Statute of Secrecy in the 1600s. My mind was in a whirl; there was an entire world within Britain (and of course the other countries, but I didn't think about them). Other people that had been like me. Only, when they were 11, they went to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to learn how to control and develop their magic.

"Hang on," I stopped Tonks to ask her something that was on my mind, "Why didn't I go to Hogwarts? I mean, I'm about 6 years behind the other witches and wizards my age!"

"Well, you had moved to New Zealand then." explained Tonks. "It was then the responsibility of the New Zealand Ministry of Magic to get you a place at one of their two magical schools. Only, they didn't as you weren't born there. It was all botched up."

I was angry. Just because my parents had moved just before my 10th birthday, I had missed out on years of understanding and learning in the magical world!

"Will I be able to go to Hogwarts now?" I asked, a hint of irritation in my voice.

"Well, no, that's part of the problem. They'll all be specialising in a couple of subjects now, for their NEWTs (they did their OWLs two years ago), so you can't go yet. Or you'll have to learn magic with those 6 and 7 years younger than you." Tonks replied.

"Oh, great." I sighed.

"Maybe it's for the best. See, an evil wizard - Voldemort - came back a couple of years ago and we suspect he's taken over the Ministry of Magic. We know he's very anti-muggleborn (people who are magical but have muggle parents) so he may try to prevent you from going - his Death Eaters (followers) may kill you or something like that. They wouldn't dare yet, with Dumbledore alive, but..." Tonks said.

"I'm a bit confused. What are owls and newts, other than animals?" I put in.

"OWLs stands for Ordinary Wizarding Levels (a bit like GCSEs) that every witch or wizard takes in their fifth year at Hogwarts. NEWTs stands for Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests. They're taken in seventh year." explained Tonks.

"Got it. Who exactly is Voldemort?" I asked.

"Voldemort? He was an evil wizard who wanted to take over the Wizarding world about 16 years ago. Then he tried to kill Harry - Harry Potter - but, instead he died, or nearly died himself. Then, back two years ago, he came back a couple of years ago, and he's trying again. He's meant to only be scared of Dumbledore." she continued.

Over the next few minutes, she told me all about the Order of the Phoenix, the Death Eaters, the Ministry of Magic and Diagon Alley. The shop that most interested me was Flourish and Blotts. Olivanders sounded interesting too, but Olivander had disappeared early last year, so I wouldn't be able to go to get a wand there.

Then, Tonks drew a long and thin box out of her robes and presented it to me. I opened it and gasped - there was a thin stick there that I knew to be a wand.

"A wand? For me? But wasn't Olivander kidnapped?" I asked, hardly daring to believe it.

"Dumbledore had it made for you before Olivander was kidnapped. Vine wood, ten and three-quarters inches long, with dragon's heartstring as a core." recited Tonks.