The one with the sisters - Year Five [COMPLETED]

Chapter 1 - The one with the unexpected news

Iris woke up with a groan, as she heard a few soft knocks in her window. She stretched herself, before sitting up and reaching for her glasses on the bedside table so she could see something that wasn't basically two inches away from her face. As soon as she did and her vision got in focus and used with the light from the rising sun, she threw the covers off of her and walked over to her window, from where, once more, she heard a tap.

She pushed the curtains aside and smiled as she saw her own barn owl sitting on the window sill. So glad to see her pet back from his usual night of hunting, Iris didn't even notice the letter attached to his leg, nor the unfamiliar screech owl beside her own.

"Alden." She greeted, opening the window and letting him in. He flew in and sat by her bed, already used to this routine. When Iris turned around, she finally noticed the other owl. "And you, dear? Watcha got there? Is it for me?"

She gently reached for the letter in the animal's leg and, when it didn't move, she griped the envelope, freeing the owl from its job. As soon as Iris finished detaching the letter from its leg, the owl gave her what it looked like a curt nod and flew away.

Iris leaned against the window and looked down at the quite heavy envelope in her hands. It was from Hogwarts; the emblem of the school, with the symbols of the four houses united was sealing the envelope, preventing the papers inside to fall off in the long journey from Scotland to Wales, where the Meadowes – and now, Iris herself – lived. Before she could open it, though, Alden screeched to make himself known.

"What is it, Alden?" Iris asked, as she looked from the letter to her owl.

The barn owl lifted his majestic head and puffed his chest, as if proud of himself, as he stretched his leg toward her, so his owner could see the letter attached to it.

"I see you brought me a letter, too, Aldy, but this one's from school. I have to..."

Alden hooted, apparently outraged and flew from Iris' bed toward the table beside her, once again, stretching his leg out, closer to her. Iris sighed, as she placed down her Hogwarts letter and started to undo the blue ribbon that was tying the envelope to his feet.

"You're so spoiled, Alden, really... I can't believe I'm actually taking orders from you..." She mumbled. Alden made a noise and Iris could swear he was laughing.

The girl rolled her eyes, before walking back to her bed and sitting down as she smiled at the envelope in her hands. She already knew whose it was from. The beautiful way her name was written to the front of the paper with green ink and the so familiar smell that Iris found only in one person her whole life gave a good tip. It was a letter from Lily.

She tore the envelope open, eager to have some news about her sister. It's true that particular summer they exchanged letter on a daily basis – Iris guessed that was why Alden was so proud of himself; flying from London to Wales every now and then was probably a heavy job even for a trained bird like he was –, but even so, they always seemed to find something new to tell each other. And judging by the weight of the paper on her hands, Iris thought Lily had some interesting things to say.

"Dear Iris,

How are you? I hope you're well... I miss you a lot, but we just have a few more days to go so we can finally see each other again.

I can barely wait to start Hogwarts again. Fifth year, can you believe it? – I can't.

Anyways... I have amazing news to tell you.