My Half-Blood Life

I Find Out My Heritage

July 11th. The day I have been waiting for. I finally turn eleven on the 11th.
I run down the stairs to see if my parents have anything special planned, but when my bare feet hit the cold floor at the bottom of the stairs, I am nothing but disappointed. My parents were both doing their everyday routine. My dad and mom were both in the kitchen like any other day. My dad was reading the newspaper at the table and my mom was cooking breakfast. Pancakes and bacon. At least my mom remembered my favorite breakfast. They were both dressed and ready for the day while I was still in my pajamas. I fall into the chair across from my dad and give him a curious stare.
"So what do you have planned for today?" I ask, a smile spreading across my face.
"Nothing much," he replied casually, not looking up from his newspaper. My mom comes over and sets a plate of food in front of me.
"Thanks Mom," I reply gratefully.
My mother looks back at me with a smile. "You're very welcome," she says before she plants a quick kiss on the top of my head.
"Mom!" I respond, annoyed that my mom was treating me like a kid. I was also grateful though for the reassurance that she was always there for me.
"Get used to it," my dad said as he reached over and messed up my hair in a playful manner.
It was a Saturday morning and, as usual, the mail came promptly at 9:00.
"I'll get it!" I shout as I spring from my seat to get the mail as it slid through the slot in the front door.
As I reach the door, I find my dog, Percy, sniffing at the mail.
"Whatcha' doin' boy?" I ask him as I ruffle his ears.
What he does next I find very unusual. He nuzzles the envelopes and one sticks out to me.... because it has my name on it.

Ms. A. O'Connor
Third Room Upstairs on the Right
6045 Freckleton Street
Wigan
GREATER MANCHESTER
WN1 2DW

I picked up the rest of the mail in one hand as I examined the letter that was addressed to me. I flipped the envelope over, wondering who would send me such a precisely addressed letter and was surprised to see the return address. It wasn't like any address I've seen before. It included nothing specific to identify where it was located.

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

I wondered who was playing a joke on me. Especially on my birthday. First of all, I have never heard of a school named Hogwarts. Second of all, there is no such thing as magic. I accepted that long ago.
         As I renter the kitchen, my dad notices me examining the envelope.
        "What have you got there?" he asks. "A birthday card?"
         "I don't know," I reply.
         I set down the rest of the mail on the table as I continue to look at the envelope. My mom came up behind me and peeked at the envelope over my shoulder. Suddenly, a loud noise fills the small room as the glass of orange juice she was carrying falls to the floor and shatters, leaving a mess of glass shards and sticky juice on the clean, white tile. I turn to look at my mom and see a look of shock on her face.
         "She has it," my mom mumbles in a barely audible whisper.
         "What do I have?" I ask her.
         She looks me in the eye with a serious look on her face. 
        "Magic."