The October chill had just settled in when a young Charlie Foster entered his upstairs apartment. His mother, Arlene, greeted him as she stirred a pot of stew watching the news. Charlie threw his books on the couch and sat down at the dinner table as Arlene poured him a bowl and placed it in front of him.
“How were classes today?” she asked with a hand on his back. Her long golden hair flickered in the light of the fireplace as she looked at her son with hopeful eyes. He had not been very happy with his first month at his new school, having not made many friends.
“It was alright” Charlie replied with a sigh. Arlene had expected this response but she remained upbeat.
“Well, I’m sure a bowl of your grandmothers gumbo will cheer you up!” She exclaimed attempting to not drag out Charlie’s school problems yet again. She had not been successful at trying to help him make more of his first year. “I think I got the recipe exactly right”
“You think?” he asked. He sipped a spoonful and stared back up at her. It was surely not the same as his grandmother’s famous stew. But he could tell his mother was worried for him and he didn’t want to make it any worse. He broke into a smile exclaiming, “It’s perfect!”
Arlene smiled and poured herself a bowl. She knew he was lying but appreciated the gesture anyways. The night continued on like any other night in their store-top home. After dinner Charlie went to his bedroom, completed his homework, and studied for the next day. He then had a quick shower, brushed his teeth, and slipped into his pajamas hopping into his squeaky foldout cot. Arlene kissed him goodnight, and left the door open just a crack, so the light of the fireplace would make Charlie feel safe and warm. As he stared out of his bedroom window, he watched the streets in the little cobblestone village slowly die down and lights go out. In the distance, he could see the castle shine brightly in the night sky. It had been his dream to walk the halls of the monumental building, but now that he could, he wasn’t so sure Hogwarts was the place for him.
