The Accident

Chapter 1: This Must Happen

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Aspen's POV

"Happy birthday my love." my mother breathes, kissing my forehead. I smile, opening my eyes. My mother smiles down at me and I sit up, seeing a small pile of gifts on the end of my bed.

"Mum, you didn't have to get me anything." I say bashfully, playing with my hands. She scoffs.

"You're my only child. Of course I had to get you presents for your birthday. You only turn eleven once." she says, playfully scolding me. I smile, hugging her tightly before getting up and tearing into the first present. The paper falls away and a book reveals itself.

"Magical Draughts and Potions... Does that mean that my letter came? Mum, am I going to Hogwarts?!" I ask, my voice raising in pitch, excitement burning in my veins. She smiles, pulling a thick envelope from her pocket and hands it to me. I hurriedly flip the already open flap up and pull the papers out, reading the letter.

"Dear Ms. Riddle,

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,
Luna Scamander

Luna Scamander
Deputy Headmistress"

I look up at mum, my eyes wide and a smile breaks out across my face, tears building and spilling down my cheeks.
"I'm going to Hogwarts." I say between sobs. We didn't know if the school would allow me to attend, being the illegitimate child of Lord Voldemort. Of course, my conception is a mystery to anyone who knows of it. My mother was attacked by Voldemort, who forced himself upon her. But that happened in 1998, a mere month before he died. My mother didn't have any other relations with anyone, and he was her first. She was ashamed for months, staying inside, away from civilization. Then, she decided that she should live her life, as a way to spite her infamous attacker and went out, got a job, and acted like any other ordinary wizard. She never showed any interest in dating, having been too scarred from her experience.

Then, on May 2, 2002, she became horribly ill. She was unable to eat, had traumatizing nightmares, and could barely stand due to excruciating headaches. Her mother cared for her, finally realizing that she was pregnant. They didn't understand how this had happened. But it happened, and my mother decided that she would raise me and tell me who my father was. Our theory is that, like the magic that was unintentionally placed in Harry Potter when my father tried unsuccessfully to kill him, there was a certain type of magic that was placed inside my mother when he had assaulted her, with a sort of time lock, waiting to expose itself.

"Did you go out and buy all of my school supplies?" I ask, laughing. Of course she did. That's who my mother is; easily excited and obsessed with early preparation. She must have gone out as soon as she got the letter this morning, when the sun hadn't graced the sky, the moon still ominous and the dark dominant over the light. She shakes her head.

"I couldn't get your wand or your uniform. And I wanted you to pick your pet." she says, smiling as usual. I would have assumed that she would be hesitant to care for me, due to my paternal history, but my grandmother says that she hasn't stopped smiling since she had me. I blink, her choice of words not having been missed. My uniform and pet? We don't have much money, my mother making a stable, but modest salary, so to hear that she didn't go to the secondhand store for my robes was all but foreign to me. Now on top of that, she's saying that I can get a pet too? I can hardly believe what I'm hearing. I jump up, throwing on a pair of jeans and a warm jacket, shoving my feet into boots and turn to her, letting her know that I am ready. Her ageless smile sweeps across her face and she laughs, the sound reminding me of silver bells, dainty and beautiful. She follows me to the fireplace and takes my hand, her other grasping a handful of Floo Powder. She throws it down and speaks clearly.