Hogwarts: The Kennedy Era

Chapter 1: Secret Heritage

The just-turned-eleven year old Jacqueline Bouvier hung upside down from a tree branch outside of her house in Newport, Rhode Island. She wore white riding pants and a green jacket with brown riding boots. Her single French-braid dangled in a warm summer breeze. She was waiting for her dad to pick her up to take her to the arena to ride her pony, Danseuse, for her birthday. Her seven year old sister, Lee ran up to the tree and unsuccessfully tried to join. Their newly-single mother Janet approached her daughters.

“Your father just phoned me… He will not be able to take you to the arena today, Jacqueline.” Janet said with an irate voice.

Jacqueline swung down from the branch she was on.

“How come? Is Daddy drunk again?” Jacqueline asked sadly.

She tried to ignore the burning tears that were beginning to swell in her eyes. He had promised to take her to the arena for her birthday. Her parents had just divorced months earlier, and “Black Jack” was trying to make up the devastation of it to his girls. Jacqueline hadn’t seen her father in two weeks.  Janet sighed. She did not want to lie to her daughter.

“Yes, Jacqueline. He is.” Janet answered honestly.

“I knew it.” Jackie looked down at the grass and walked past her mother and Lee.

Jackie picked up her riding helmet and carried it to her room. The path to her room included going up a flight of stairs where photos of the once happy family hung. She flopped down on the bed, crying in private. She loved her father dearly. However he was a very unpredictable character. The Bouvier girls never knew what to expect from him. Jacqueline didn’t expect what was about to happen either. Out of the blue, something crashed through her open window. Jackie slowly looked up from her pillow to see an owl with parchment in its beak. She gasped. Jackie and Lee knew of messenger owls. She had witnessed them deliver messages to her father and her father send messages with them. Jackie also knew that her father was a wizard – this along with the drinking, gambling, and philandering contributed to their parent’s divorce. She knew that she and Lee had magic in their blood but it was inactive… or so she thought. Jackie didn’t know why an owl was here today. Maybe father wrote a sloppy “Happy Birthday” letter to her or perhaps someone forgot that Black Jack changed addresses. The girl arisen from her bed and gently took the parchment. It was packaged in an envelope with their address and her name. It did not have a sender’s address. There was a wax seal over the opening. The owl dismissed itself but Jackie didn’t notice. With much caution, she opened the letter.

Inside it 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 Ms. Bouvier,

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 28 July.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall