Gained a Couple Battle Scars

Chapter 1: The Beginning

Everyones journey in life is different. I get that, things get complicated, situations can be perfect or completely messed up. Some people understand you, some don’t. And sometimes, that’s okay. But, when everyone is telling you what is right or wrong and you can’t seem to figure it out, you believe you lack something in life. Why can’t I figure out what is right or wrong? I always try to do good and it’s like something in my subconscious knows it’s a bad thing to do, but I can’t seem to figure out why. I get pushed and pulled in different directions. Sometimes I just want to stand still and scream. Let me figure it out. But, everyone around me knows that’s not a good idea. Something will happen. Something bad will happen. It’s inevitable.

Like, the first time I boarded the Hogwarts Express at Kingscross Station. I was eleven years old, my parents, they didn’t have magic like me. They were scared of me. I think they were secretly happy that I got to be sent away from August 31st to May 31st. My choice to go home for the winter holidays, which I opted out on that to stay at Hogwarts. They kissed me on the cheek and hugged me before I ran towards Platform 9 ¾. I wish I could see the shock on their face when I actually made it through the barrier after following a red-headed family who assisted my family in Diagon Alley.

I’m sure it was the same shocked look they had when we walked through Diagon Alley to get my school supplies which included, three sets of work robes, pointed hat, winter cloak for the school year garments. For the books it included, The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1, A History of Magic, Magical Theory, A beginners Guide to Transfiguration, One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi, Magical Drafts and Potions, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and lastly, The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection. As for other equipment I needed, a wand (very helpful if you’re a witch or wizard), a cauldron, crystal phials, a telescope, and a set of brass scales. My parents became very timid when we walked through the alley, I believe the only shop they did like was the Magical Menagerie, which sold magical creatures in addition to assisting with medical care and advice. Though some of the creatures did freak them out a bit, they were fine with the cats and rabbits, if I wanted one. I didn’t get a pet that day, I fear I would have no time to take care of it. My favorite store was the wand store. It only took four tries, and my wand chose me. Ten and a half inches long, vine wood with phoenix feather core. Ollivander, the wand maker was quite surprised when the wand chose me. Apparently phoenix feather core is rare.

Because my parents aren’t magical, we had extra instructions in my Hogwarts letter on how to even enter this area. We had to go to London to the Leaky Cauldron, which is a pub. My parents and I thought that was an odd place. And it was. When we walked inside, it was dark and dingy. We looked around and knew there was no way we could ask someone on how to get in. They would think we’re mad. As if our unsaid questions had been answered, a red-headed family walked into the bar and walked straight over to a wall. Curiously I began to follow them as my father grabbed me by the shoulder and pulled me back.

“Not by yourself, Em.” He says, walking over to the red-headed family. My mum and I followed him.

There was a mum a dad and five children. An older brother who was reading his Hogwarts letter, a set of twins who looked like they were up to no good, a younger brother who was pushing one of the twins and a younger sister who was talking to her mother.

“Excuse me,” My father said stepping up to the father of their family. The red-headed father turns to look at him, he’s kind of short with a pointy noise. He smiles at my father.

“You need help getting through, yes? It’s no problem.” He says with a smile. He taps with his wand onto the bricks and suddenly the bricks begin to pull away from each other and an entire alley forms in front of us with many people walking through the alley.