'𝙔𝙤𝙪'𝙧𝙚 𝙅𝙤𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜' [𝘏𝘗!𝘝𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘹 𝘎𝘯!𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳]

𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙊𝙣𝙚

"Ya good there, kid?"

Y/N looked up from their spot where they were sitting against their flat's front door, only to see their concerned neighbour. Their neighbour was an unusually tall man who stood at more than 6 foot and dressed like he just crawled out of the 1920s, but as odd as he was, he was more of a parent than Y/N's parents ever were.

"I'm fine...My [guardian](s) just forgot to leave out the spare key again." Y/N said with a tired sigh.

"Ah? I think I've got one in my house." Their neighbour said. "Do ya wanna stop into my house for a cup of tea while I look for it?"

"Are you sure, Archie?" Y/N asked. "I thought you needed to make a lesson plan or something."

"It's grand, kid. I've still got a month till the summer holiday's over." Archie, the neighbour, said with a warm smile.

"...there's a week left of summer break left." Y/N corrected.

"...what..?" Archie asked as he blinked slowly. "Ah...Well, it's fine. I just got to finish it quickly at a later date." He chuckled. "Wait- does that mean it's your birthday soon?"

"...it's today..." Y/N said quietly.

"Today! Well, that won't do! That won't do at all!" Archie shook his head. "What kind of cake do ya like?"

"I- uhm... *f/f. I like f/f." Y/N answered. "Why?"

"I'm gonna get ya a nice cake and we're going to have a nice birthday tea party thing." He responded with a determined smile.

"You have no clue what you're saying, do you?" Y/N asked with a slight chuckle.

"Correct. Now, stay 'ere and...uhm..." Archie paused before tossing a bag of crisps at Y/N. "Eat that and I'll be back in a bit."

Y/N froze up as the pack of crisps landed in their lap while Archie quickly ran off to the corner shop. Archie has done this for every one of Y/N's birthdays in the past few years, ever since Y/N's parents and them moved from [country] into the same flat complex as Archie when they were 7.

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A few minutes later, Archie returned with a paper bag and two birthday hats. He took one of the hats and placed it on Y/N's head with a smile.

"There ya go. Are ya feelin' more birthday-y now?" He asked with a dense but friendly smile.

"Yeah." Y/N chuckled as they adjusted the hat. "So, we're having another tea party this year?"

"Seems so." Archie said with a sheepish chuckle. "Sorry if you're tired of 'em, but they're kinda all that I can afford."

"It's fine. I like those little biscuits with the marshmallows." They responded.

"Wagon Wheels? I think I've got a pack of 'em in the Christmas cupboard." Archie admitted absent-mindedly. "Wanna help me set the table?"

"Yeah, sure." Y/N grinned as they stood up. "And biscuits outta the Christmas cupboard? I feel special."

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The inside of Archie's small flat fit his odd style of clothing as it looked like it was Y/N's grandparent's house with old furniture and vintage electronics, pictures that looked like they were from 1910 to the current year, and there were just bookcases of old books. The air was filled with the smell of bread being baked and the lighting was just this soft, cosy, yellowish colouring that made the entire flat feel comforting.

Y/N was sitting at the small round dining table as Archie was preparing a cup of tea for himself and *f/d for Y/N.

There was a small store-bought f/f cake in the middle of the table and plates of biscuits of every kind.

"I forgot your birthday was so soon, so I didn't have time to wrap your gift." Archie said with a sheepish smile as he came to the table with their drinks and with his hand behind his back. "Do ya wanna guess what your gift is?"

"Ooh, uhm...is it a..." Y/N paused in thought. "Oh, I don't know...uhm..."

"Now, don't think it's anythin' big. Ya know that I lack the funds for any of those fancy game consoles." He chuckled as he sat down at the table, placing Y/N's drink in front of them and his tea in front of himself.

"Is it some kind of toy? Or a book?" Y/N asked as they picked up their drink and took a sip.

"Nope." Archie chuckled as he slid a small *bronze/silver/gold fob watch across the table to Y/N. "There ya go."

The small pocket watch was almost identical to Archie's old golden one which he claimed belonged to his grandfather from the first world war, which Archie would always refer to as the 'Great War' instead of the usual 'First World War' or 'World War One'.

"Are you serious?" Y/N asked with a surprised smile as they put down their drink and excitedly grabbed the watch and began examining it. "This must've cost a fortune!"

"Ah, no. It's just been sitting in one of my drawers for years. It used to be mine when I was younger." He chuckled before he heard his mail slot open. "Huh? What's that?"

Archie stood up and went to his door to see what just got delivered.

"...shit..." He said quietly as he picked up a small off-white envelope.

He walked back to the table with a slightly more downcast expression than when he left the table. He sat down and handed Y/N the envelope.

'Y/N L/N' it read. It was shortly followed by Archie's address, like the person who sent it knew that they'd be there.

"What's this, Archie?" They asked as the flipped the envelope around, revealing a red wax seal with a crest/symbol that they'd never seen before.

"I-...You've just turned eleven, right?" He asked, receiving a confused 'yes' in return. "...well...ya see..." He took a deep breath. "Certain kids when they turn eleven get accepted into this school, Hogwarts, and they get a letter like that one there."

He explained roughly before pausing as if he was debating telling Y/N. "Promise me ya won't think I'm absolutely mental."

"I promise?" Y/N responded as they put their new fob watch back on the table.

"You're a wizard or witch, whichever ya prefer, but that's why ya were sent that letter." He sighed. "Ya now have a choice. Ya can either go to Hogwarts and learn spells, or ya can stay here and live your life like normal...just...ya do have to take the dangers of choosing Hogwarts into consideration."

"You have to be joking." Y/N chuckled in disbelief. "Are you saying that I'm some kind of magical being."

"Not exactly, unicorns or hippogriffs would be considered more magical beings, witches and wizards are just lads who can use magic with wands." He shrugged. "But do tell me which one ya choose, because we've only got a week to get your school supplies."

Y/N paused in thought before grinning. "There's no way I'm not choosing to learn real magic."

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[A/N]; Thanks for reading and do tell me if you want me to continue, change anything, or make this a yandere story. And thanks for ignoring my terrible writing, you're very kind :] 

Keys;

*f/f - Favourite food

*f/d - Favourite drink

*Bronze/Gold/Silver - B/G/S, or some variation. Will be used to describe the pocket watch

25/02/2024