𝐓𝚮𝐄 𝐈𝚴𝐄𝚾𝐒𝐈𝐒𝐓𝚨𝚴𝐂𝐄 | BOOK 1
"Pandora,You are gifted with something people yearn to have... Don't back out now.."
𝘐𝘕 𝘞𝘏𝘐𝘊𝘏 Little Pandora Anderson-Black, Adopted after her Mothers death to her mother's side of family, Finds out sh...
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The rain lashed against the grand windows of the Anderson estate, each drop a faint whisper of the world beyond. Inside the manor, Pandora Anderson-Black sat curled up on the wide windowsill of her second-floor room. The glass was cool beneath her fingertips as she traced patterns into the condensation. She watched the dark clouds swirling above, their stormy expanse mirroring the turmoil within her.
Pandora had never felt at home here. The Anderson estate was perfect-too perfect. Its pristine white walls, spotless hardwood floors, and carefully arranged furniture spoke of a family that thrived on appearances. And while Max and Claudia Anderson, her mother's distant cousins, had been nothing but polite, they were strangers in the truest sense.
Six years had passed since her mother's death, six long years since the world had crumbled beneath her feet. She could still recall the warmth of her mother's hand in hers, the soft hum of lullabies sung at night, and the whispered promises of a brighter future. But when the illness came, it had stolen her mother's life and, in many ways, Pandora's as well.
"Pandora, darling, come downstairs," Claudia's melodic voice called up from below. "Breakfast is ready."
The girl sighed, brushing her wild black hair away from her face. It was a battle she lost daily-her hair had a will of its own, just as her mother's had. Pulling on a worn sweater and some faded jeans, Pandora made her way down the winding staircase, the soles of her socks muffling her steps.
The dining room was as grand as ever, with a crystal chandelier sparkling above the long oak table. Claudia, always immaculately dressed, poured tea into delicate porcelain cups. Her golden curls were perfectly styled, her green eyes sharp and calculating even behind her practiced smile.
"Good morning, Pandora," she greeted.
"Morning," Pandora muttered, sliding into her usual seat near the end of the table.
Max Anderson, seated at the head, folded his newspaper with a crisp snap. His sharp features and steely blue eyes were intimidating to most, though Pandora had learned to avoid his gaze rather than challenge it.
"You're late again," Max said, his tone not unkind but firm. "You'll have to work on that when school starts."
Pandora shrugged, pushing a piece of toast around her plate. She had no friends to meet, no grand plans to look forward to. School was just another place where she didn't belong.
After an uncomfortable silence filled the room, Claudia cleared her throat. "We've invited the Dunstons over for tea this afternoon. Pandora, I'd like you to wear something nice. First impressions matter."
Pandora barely suppressed an eye roll. "Sure."
Her compliance seemed to satisfy Claudia, who returned her attention to the tea tray.
---
Later that morning, Pandora escaped to the garden, a sprawling space with neatly trimmed hedges, flower beds in full bloom, and a wrought-iron bench that had become her sanctuary. Here, surrounded by nature's quiet beauty, she could breathe.
The storm clouds above were beginning to part, revealing slivers of sunlight that danced through the leaves. She leaned back against the bench, letting the cool breeze tickle her face.
It was then that something unusual happened.
At first, it was subtle-a rustling in the hedges. Pandora sat up, her heart quickening. The sound grew louder, more deliberate. Was it a fox? A stray cat? She edged closer to the source, her curiosity outweighing her caution.
But what emerged wasn't an animal.
It was an envelope.
Pandora stared, her breath hitching. The envelope floated through the air as though carried by an invisible hand, landing gently at her feet. It was old-fashioned, made of thick parchment and sealed with dark green wax. Her name and address were written in elegant, looping handwriting:
Miss Pandora Anderson-Black, Second Bedroom, East Wing, Anderson Estate, Surrey.
She reached for it, her fingers trembling. The moment she touched it, warmth spread through her hand, a strange comfort she couldn't explain.
Pandora tore the envelope open, pulling out the letter inside. Her eyes scanned the words, disbelief growing with each line:
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 Anderson-Black,
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.
Her hands shook as she read it again, her heart pounding like a drum. Magic. It wasn't a fairytale or a fantasy-it was real, and it was hers.
Pandora's thoughts raced. Had her mother known about this? Was this why she had always called Pandora "special"? She felt a pang of sadness that her mother wasn't here to explain, to share this moment with her.
"Pandora!" Claudia's voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
She hurriedly stuffed the letter into her sweater pocket as Claudia approached, her heels clicking against the stone path.
"What are you doing out here?" Claudia asked, frowning. "You'll catch your death in this wind."
"I-I just needed some air," Pandora stammered.
Claudia's sharp eyes lingered on her for a moment before she sighed. "Come inside. The Dunstons will be arriving soon."
Pandora nodded, following Claudia back to the house, the letter pressing against her chest like a secret begging to be told.
She didn't know what Hogwarts was, but she knew one thing: her life was about to change forever.
