Saving Grace

A Vistor

I sat in my small bedroom listening to my step father yell at my mother. It was a common thing in my house. Luke got drunk. Luke got angry. Luke yelled. If I was really lucky and was in the same room he would get violent with me. It was only ever me. He would never hit his own perfect kids. He wouldn't even hit my mother. Just the tainted child. The evil child. Today was not one of those days. I planned on hiding in my room until school started. Even if it meant not eating. A grumbling stomach was better than a bruised face.

I laid back in my bed trying my best to relax. I tried to tune the living room out and focus on making small toys float around my head.  I never knew how I did it. I just knew it was the only thing that kept me calm when I was constantly in fear. A small knock broke my concentration and my stuff fell around me.  I hoped it was one of my siblings friends or something. A bill collector. If it was on of Luke's friends I wouldn't be as lucky to get to hide out. They always insisted I be in the room so their eyes could follow me. It felt like they undressed me with their eyes. Their looks made my skin crawl.  

"Celeste, get your butt out here right now" Luke screamed. It seemed I wouldn't be lucky today. 

I got out of bed and pulled on a oversized jumper and baggy sweatpants.  I walked slowly to the living room. Trying to prolong the fact that I was about to be eye molested for hours. Once I reached the living room I was shocked to see a severe looking woman with a tight bun standing next to my mother. Oh so I guess they were finally going to get rid of me. Anything to get me away from here. 

"Hello Miss Parker. I am Professor McGonagall. I am here to tell you all about a school you've been accepted to." she smiled as she handed me a large envelope. My exact address and name scrawled across the front. I opened the envelope and took out the letter instead it. 

"Dear Ms. Parker, 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 on 1 September." my eyes grew wild. I fought back the sarcastic laughter  that began to rise in my throat. 

"I'm sorry mam, but what does this mean? I mean obviously there aren't really witches and wizards. Is this some joke? " I said. I could feel the bitterness with every word. 

"It is no joke Miss Parker. You are a witch. Surely you've noticed you've been able to do different stuff."

I thought back to a few moments ago to the stuff floating around my head. I thought to every broken vase or window that busted when I was angry and no where near it. I thought back to the lucky case of a fallen branch when one of Luke's friends finally caught me alone in the woods. 

"Okay so let's pretend that I buy into all of this and that I have made weird things happen. What does it all mean?"

"Well if you choose to you are welcome to join Hogwarts. The school term is September first until June. You're allowed home at Christmas but otherwise you stay at the school except for summer."

I hid a smile at what this meant. I was free from this house. 

Luke chose this moment to speak up. "I don't care if you buy into or not. You're going. I'm not letting an excuse to get rid of you get by me. Plus if you're as freaky as she claims I don't want you around my kids. Not that I ever did."

Hot tears escaped my eyes as he belittled me in front of a total stranger. I was use to it in front of my family and his friends but never a total stranger. 

"You can get all of your supplies at a place called Diagon Alley. Would you like someone to help you with shopping."

"I think I can manage alone. If you just tell me how to get there." I smiled. I didn't need any help. things were better alone. 

"Of course Miss Parker. If you would like to speak privately I will wait for you in your garden swing." she said as she walked out the door. 

As soon as she was out the door I was met with a hard slap in the face. 

"This explains why you're such a freak. Why you're unloved. It explains why your mother left you. Why your father left you. Why your granny left you. At least I get you out of my house for most of the year. Now get out of my sight you nasty little thing." he spat. 

I ran out the front door and like McGonagall had said she was in the swing. I sat down next to her. I hoped my face wasn't red. I didn't need this stranger to know about what happened in my house. 

"There will be a boy starting school this year as well who also has no parents. Who didn't know he was a wizard. His home life is nasty as well just perhaps not as physical as yours. Perhaps the two of you could become friends." she said. 

"I have enough of a sob story without having to hear about someone else's. I have found I do better alone. No one can let you down that way. While I have been let down countless times it was never by myself. But thank you mam for trying." 

"You'll find Miss Parker that at least one good friend makes all the difference. Now before I start with how to get to Diagon Alley I am required to tell you that Hogwarts does have funds set aside for children in your situation."

"Oh no mam, I won't be needing any money. When my granny passed away she left me a rather large fortune that no one but her lawyer and I know about. I assume I'll have to get it converted to wizard money though."

She began to tell me how to get to Diagon Alley. The bank where I could convert and deposit my money. She also told me how I was to get onto the platform.  After she was finished she stood up. 

"Do try and remember what I said about friends Miss Parker. You were handed a lot on your plate. There is no need to go about it alone." 

"Thank you mam."   and in the blink of an eye she was gone.