“There's a letter for you Morgana!” Freya’s shrill voice rang out throughout the house, “By the looks of it, it's from Hogwarts.” She added, knowing it would attract her reclusive daughter's attention.
The house was blissfully silent on that warm Friday morning, save for the quiet snores of Freya’s husband of four years, Edward, their daughter, Gwen, and Heather shuffling about her room.
A smile tugged at her lips as she heard her eldest daughter's footsteps pound on the wooden floorboards of the landing overhead.
“Hogwarts? Is it my acceptance letter? Is it? Please say it is!” Heather babbled excitedly as she tried to get the letter from her mother's poised hands.
“Now, now, Heather, calm down. You're guaranteed to get into Hogwarts no matter what, so don't act so overjoyed and shocked!” Freya scolded, “I think we should go to Diagon Alley, get you a nice new wand and maybe a pet, if you behave.”
“Yes, but while that seems lovely, I'd much rather go closer to the time.” Heather suggested as she read the letter, hardly acknowledging her mother.
Zoning out, Heather whispered the beautifully crafted words on the elegant letter, enthralled to finally have hers, to finally touch it.
‘Miss H. Burke
The room at the front of the house,
47 Nightingale Avenue
Chelsea, London, England
Dear Miss. Burke,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Please find attached a list of all necessary books, equipment and supplies.
Yours faithfully,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress’
“You leave tomorrow.” Freya said shortly once she was sure Heather was listening.
“Oh!” Heather gasped, earning a chuckle from her mother.
“Could we possibly go to today?” She asked, though she already had a pretty good idea of what her mother would say.
“I don't see an issue with that, though I'll have to talk to Ed beforehand.” Freya responded, causing her daughter to beam and run up the stairs to get changed.
Three hours later, Heather and her mother were strolling down Diagon Alley, both proudly sporting formal green coats.
“We're getting your wand next,” Freya said as she pushed open the door to Ollivander’s Wand Shop.
As she stepped through the door, she was hit with the smell of damp and mildew, but Heather thought it added to the atmosphere of the quaint and ancient shop.
Heather had visited Ollivander’s Wand Shop once before, but she didn't have a clear memory of it; She was four and had tried digging into mud with her mother's wand, which had, quite predictably, snapped under the weight of it.
Freya was furious though she acted quite calmly, which Heather found all the more terrifying.
“Come on, Heather, choose one,” Freya encouraged from the desk.
Heather thought she saw someone rummaging about in the corridor behind the desk but she brushed it off as a trick of the very little light inside of the shop.
Scanning over all of the wands, Heather felt complete and utterly lost. How was she supposed to know which one she needed?
How did all the other wizards stroll in, choose a wand and stroll out again in under five minutes?
Out of the corner of her eye, Heather noticed a wand box. It was just like all the rest but for whatever reason, Heather felt she needed this one.
She picked up the box and heard a chuckle as she turned around. Stood behind the counter, an old man with greying hair and silver, glittering eyes grinning at Heather.
“Why, she looks just like you did, all those years ago!” He cried, shaking his head at Freya who let out a shrill laugh.
Heather awkwardly smiled at the man, clasping the wand box tight in her hands.
“That’ll be seven Galleons, dearie.” He said earnestly as Heather began awkwardly shuffling towards the counter.
“Oi, Morgue!”
An oh-so irritatingly familiar voice called out from the front of the shop.
“Sirius! How are you? How is your mother?” Freya asked before quickly passing seven galleons to Mr. Ollivander.
“She's okay, Mrs Burke.” The boy replied, nodding his head politely.
“Ah very well. I assume she's at the Leaky Cauldron?” Freya asked.
“She is.”
“Morgana, dear, I'll give you twenty Galleons to purchase the rest of the things on your list. If I find out you spent it on something idiotic, there will be consequences.” Freya said, her voice stern.
“Yes mother.” Heather replied monotonously.
“We'll be staying at the Leaky Cauldron overnight so go there when you've finished. I'll expect you to return with Sirius before six.” Freya continued.
“Yes mother.” She repeated again, turning slightly towards her old friend and rolling her eyes.
She followed Sirius out of the shop after muttering a quick “Thank you” to Mr Ollivander.
“So where are we going?” She asked nonchalantly, her arms swinging slightly at her sides as she walked next to Sirius.
“I want a pet. It'd be cool, don't you think?” He said with a manic grin on his face, his eyes gleaming with mischief.
“Yes, it sure would, but will your mother allow it?” Heather asked, concern lacing her high pitched voice.
“She will if she doesn't find out about!”He laughed before grasping her hand and dashing into Magical Menagerie.
“You should get one too, Heather! Then mine won't be so lonely at Hogwarts.” He argued to which Heather replied to with a short “maybe.”
-F.Briar
