Rosewood: A Hannah Abbott Story

Chapter 2: A Not-So-Happy Birthday

With shaking hands, she opened the envelope and read the letter:

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. Abbott,

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 September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

Hannah stared at it for a moment, seemingly not hearing her parents cheering in the background. On the one hand, this meant that she was going to Hogwarts! She would get to learn magic and get Sorted and watch the inter-house quidditch games. She might even make amazing new friends. But on the other hand... This meant she was going to be leaving home for nine months of the year. She wouldn't get to see her parents and her cousins and her dear brother. She could write letters to them, but it wouldn't be the same.

She opened her mouth to say something, but at that very moment another owl entered the room with a letter in its talons. The owl dived and dropped it on Hannah's head, and she was too confused to dodge. The letter hit her right in her face. She flinched and picked up the letter. It looked just like her own letter, and was also addressed to her. She opened it and simply stared at the single page inside.

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. Abbott,

You have been conspicuously absent from your home as of late. As per ministry regulations and from worry for your safety, we are sending a staff member to bring you safely to the Leaky Cauldron, where you will reside until term begins. You will be able to access Diagon Alley as much as you wish, and in the case your parents are safe and well, you could be visited by them. A Hogwarts representative will arrive shortly to collect you. Please do not be alarmed.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

"Mom? Dad?" she moaned. "You should really see this."

She handed the second letter to her parents, then collapsed onto the carpet in a heap. Her stomach twisted and churned, threatening to bring all the delicious cake she'd eaten for breakfast back up. She could hardly see Richard kneeling over her, shaking her, but her arms were slick with sweat and her brother's little hands only slid off. Tears welled up, burning her eyes and streaming down her cheeks. She let them flow. She'd be stuck in the Leaky Cauldron for the rest of summer break, and they couldn't even finish their vacation properly.

Hannah could hear the murmuring of her parents' voices in the background, and her brother was calling her name in her ear, but the sound of the door opening made her look towards it, and to her increasing anxiety she saw an elderly woman in green robes enter. The woman saw Hannah, took out a wand and pointed it at her. At this point Hannah was about to faint.

"Cessabit", she uttered, which made Hannah's tense muscles relax and made her feel better. She was overloaded with comfort. She sighed with relief and even managed to smile.