Megan Potter Book 1 *Editing*

Chapter 2. A Birthday Surprise

2. A Birthday Surprise

Megan POV

I woke up shivering as usual because the orphanage I had grown up in was very poor and the blankets on my bed were very old and quite thin. I sighed as I realized what day it was, today was the 31st of July, in other words my birthday. Today I would turn eleven oh joy (note the sarcasm). Most people would be happy when it is their birthday but not me. I didn't have any friends in the orphanage in fact all the other children avoided and seemed to be afraid of me, although I did understand why.

When I was younger the other children used to bully me and once I was seven I was sick of it. One of the boys was being nasty as usual and it made me quite angry I remembered yelling at him to leave me alone which annoyed him so he balled up his fist to punch me. All the other children were watching as he swung his fiat through the air in what seemed to be slow motion. Everone was shocked when his fist seemed to stop in midair and he started howling in pain. Even though as far as I could see I hadn't done anything I was shut up in my room in the attic for a week, barely even getting any food or water. Ever since all the other kids have avoided me like the plague.

I heard Mrs Johnston outside my room unlocking the door. "Hurry up and get ready," she snapped as she too disliked me "you have a letter, though I don't know why anyone would write to you."

I was shocked a letter for me, no one had ever written to me before. I dressed far quicker than usual wondering what letter was, maybe it was a birthday card but who would it be from? I bolted down the stairs and into the kitchen, on the bench sat a letter, my letter. The envelope was made of old,yellowed paper and on the front written in green ink was;

Miss M. Potter

The Attic

Little Whinging Orphanage

Little Whinging

Surrey

I was worried that Mrs Johnston might decide to take it off me and read it herself, so I turned and sprinted up the stairs in to my attic room and shut the door.

Hands shaking with excitement I turned the letter around. There was a purple wax seal bearing an odd coat of arms I had never seen before; a lion, an eagle, a badger and a snake surrounding a large letter 'H'. I opened the envelope and pulled out the letter which was written on the same yellowed paper as the envelope. I unfolded the letter and read;

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 Potter,

We are pleased to inform you that you have a place 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.

Yours Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

I stared at the letter confused. A school of magic? They await my owl? I don't even have an owl and magic doesn't exist. What did the letter mean, was it some kind of joke? I crumpled the piece of paper up in anger and fear, how had they known I lived in the attic.

I then realized there was another sheet of paper that had fallen in my lap, so I put down the crumpled letter and began to read the other sheet;

HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY

Uniform

First year students will require:

1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)

2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear

3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)

4. One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings

Please note that all pupils' clothes should carry name tags

Set 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 Beginners Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch

One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore

Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger

Fantastic Beats 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 glass or crystal phials

1 telescope

1 set 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

I was even more confused now having never heard of many of the things on this list. I wished that this school was real maybe if I went I would make some friends. Too bad that it wasn't real and even if it was how could I go I had no money and the orphanage couldn't give me any as they could barely afford to feed us as it is.

I wondered if it really was a joke. If it was then who would have gone to so much trouble with making things up just to pull a prank on a girl who lived in an orphanage. I sighed none of this made any sense.

I went to put the two pieces of paper down along with the envelope when I noticed another piece of the old paper lying on the floor. I frowned but grabbed it, it was written in the same green ink as the letter and list.

Dear Mrs Potter,

I will be picking you up at eleven o'clock to get your school things. Please be ready and you should pack because you won't be going back to the orphanage.

Yours Sincerely

Minerva McGonagall

I was going to be picked up I guess that meant I didn't need to worry about the owl thing. I glanced at the old clock on the wall it said it was only 8:30 so I still had two and a half hours until this McGonagall person would arrive and I could tell her that I couldn't go to the magic school if she did indeed turn up.

A/N

Hey thanks so much for reading if you liked it then please vote and comment if you don't like it then please comment so that I can improve it thanks.

Kate.