-Rivalry Forged in Unity-

Rivalry Forged in Unity-Chapter 1; Hogwarts Awaits

I've always been different from everyone else. All the people in my neighborhood and at school. My dad and my older brother are just wizards. My mother, she's more than just a witch. Jennifer Lancaster. She's a beautiful, and brilliant witch. The first witch to win the Triwizard Tournament. Many knew who she was, and that woman, that strong, intelligent, and brave woman, was my mother.

My name is Mia Lancaster. I'm an odd one, I guess. I'm not like my mother. I've never been thought of as brave, smart, or anything amazing. I've always been the quiet kid among the muggles at school. The girl who was different from the other girls, the kid with no friends. It's as if they knew I was different. That my family was different. We weren't like them. I wasn't like them. I knew about the wizarding world and such. I'd go with my family to London, headed to Diagon Alley to get my older brother's school supplies. I was so excited for the day I got my letter. I was three years old when my brother got his letter. He is now 19. When I was eight years old, a terrible man, a dark wizard, Lord Voldemort, had come around when my mother was ill in the hospital. He took that chance when she was weak to come and murder her. I was in the hospital room with her. My father and my brother were downstairs, getting food for her. Voldemort tried to kill me too. But, for some reason, I didn't die. Voldemort had died. I was left with just a slash across my arm. The muggles at school will ask where I got it from sometimes. I just told them I scratched my arm accidentally and it left a scar.

Now, it is June 12th, 2020. I had turned eleven years old about a week before, on June 3rd. I was about 4'9 feet tall. I had long dark brown hair, hanging over about half of one of my dirt brown eyes. And, I was half-wolf. Brown fluffy ears on my head, and a brown fluffy tail on my waist. Nobody actually knows how I was born like that. The doctors said I was the first person in the world like this. I never liked it really, since muggles would always judge me and think I was a freak.

I was sitting at the kitchen counter, drawing in my sketchbook. My brother was making himself some food. My dad and my grandma who lived with us, were sitting in the living room. An owl landed on our back porch. Athena was her name. I loved that name, it sounded so magical. My mother had named her. My dad told me Athena was a Greek goddess. I was really fascinated with it. I loved Greek mythology.

"Mia, can you get the mail from Athena, please?" My father asked me.

"Yeah, sure!" I chirped. I hopped up and went and got the mail, petting Athena's oval head. I giggled a bit at her face. I loved the owl's faces. They were always so funny looking at me. I made my way over to my father in the living room, handing him the mail. "Here Daddy." I smiled. I still called my dad that, and my mother when I spoke about her, calling her 'mommy'. It made me feel more comforted. When I talked about them with people at school though, I'd refer to them as 'mom' or 'dad'. I didn't want to be made fun of for it.

My father looked through the mail, picking up a toned envelope, with a red Hogwarts crest on it. He smiled, handing it to me.

"Guess what?" He said.

"I-Is this-?" I stumbled on my words in shock.

"It is. Open it." My father said happily.

I immediately opened the envelope in excitement. "The day is finally here. My letter!" I said cheerfully and excitedly. I read over the letter. I was a good reader for my age.

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 Mia Lancaster,

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 September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva Mcgonagall

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

I had my letter. I finally had it after waiting for so long.

"I'm going to Hogwarts!" I cheered happily, my tail wagging.

My father looked over the supply list. It read:

HOGWARTS SCHOOL

of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

UNIFORM

First-year students will require:

Three sets of plain work robes (black)

One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear

One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)

One winter cloak (black silver fastenings)

Please note that all pupil's clothes should carry name-tags

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 Transformation 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 2)

1 set of glass or crystal phials

1 telescope

1 set of brass scales

Students may also bring an Owl OR a Cat or a Toad

PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS

So, that was it. My father said we'd leave for London about mid-August, close to the end of August. We lived all the way in the boiling hot state of Florida, so we always had to take a plane to London for school. After getting my supplies for school, I'd stay at the Leaky Cauldron until school began. My father would fly back to Florida.