Waking Up At Hogwarts

Prologue-The Flashback

Fire. Smoke. It catches in your throat, searing your lungs. You're screaming, but it hurts so you stop and shove yourself against the wall, hugging your knees in terror as you watch the flames dance tantalisingly towards you. They're so tall and your eyes are wide and scared in the amber glow. You block out the screams around you and close your eyes, feeling tears drip down your face. You feel your stomach twist in fear as the fire slowly spreads closer and closer to you. You open your mouth and let out a blood curdling scream. Followed by a desperate yell of "SAVANNAH!"

Your dad. Oh, thank God. His voice sends a brief wave of relief through you-but panic soon kicks in. He swoops down out of nowhere, scooping your small, frail body from the corner and running with you in his strong arms, deftly dodging flames. You breathe in relief and joy at the sight of the open door at the bottom of the stairs, teasing you with the sight of daylight and safety and family. And you're going to make it, both of you. You're going to get out of the house before the fire eats it, and you and your dad will both be safe and live happily ever--

You feel his foot slip on the third stair from the bottom and you scream. He falls backwards, and it's all in slow motion, and a neighbour who was stood outside runs forward and snatches you out of harm's way. She reaches for your dad's hand, but then the slow motion's over and he's engulfed in flame. You scream and sob and shake and try to grab him out of the flames but the woman pulls you out of the house. The fire brigade offer you biscuits but they aren't the kind Daddy buys, and the glass of milk chatters against your teeth. They keep asking you questions about how the fire started but you don't know and you don't care, you say, you just want Daddy back, so they leave you alone to cry.