Immortal Magic (Book 1)

Chapter One

Allison's Point Of View

"Dear Harry,

France was amazing, and so was Egypt. Thank you for asking. You're probably wondering how I managed both holidays. Well, Hermione's parents took Hermione and me to France at the beginning of summer, and then my family went to Egypt at the end of the holidays to visit Bill!

The twins tried to lock Percy in one of the pyramids, but Mum caught them before they could. Honestly, I think they only tried because Percy has been even more Percy-ish than usual ever since he became Head Boy. He has not stopped talking about it all holiday long. That makes him the second Head Boy in the family. Bill was the first.

We're staying at the Leaky Cauldron for a week before going back to Hogwarts. Hermione managed to convince her parents to let her stay with us, too. During the week, we'll all be going into Diagon Alley to buy our school supplies.

I was also talking with Hermione and Mum about getting a pet of my own. You have Hedwig, Ron has Scabbers, and Hermione got a cat, so I was thinking about getting an owl myself, so I don't have to keep borrowing Percy's or Errol.

Anyway, Ron and I are looking forward to seeing you soon.

Allison.

I placed my quill down carefully and screwed the lid back onto the ink bottle before folding the letter neatly. Sliding it into the envelope that already had Harry's name written across the front, I sealed it shut with a small smile.

Leaving the bedroom Ginny and I shared, I crossed the crooked hallway of the Burrow and stopped outside Percy's room. I knocked three times in the special rhythm we'd made up years ago so he would know it was me.

"Come in, Allison," Percy called from the other side. I pushed open the door and smiled faintly at the sight before me. Percy sat at his desk, carefully polishing his Head Boy badge as though it were made of solid gold instead of brass. "Hey, Percy," I said, stepping inside. "Can I borrow Hermes to send Harry a letter?"

Percy looked up at me over the rim of his glasses and sighed dramatically before nodding in defeat. Out of all my siblings, Percy was the one who struggled most to say no to me. Fred once claimed I had one of those faces people physically couldn't hate.

That was, of course, excluding most Slytherins. "Thank you," I said brightly. After sending the letter, I stayed for a little while, chatting with Percy while he rambled about schedules, responsibilities, and how important it was for a Head Boy to set a good example. Eventually, I left him to his polishing and made my way back toward my room.

When I entered, I found Ginny sprawled across her bed. "Hey, Ginny," I greeted, flopping onto my own bed opposite her so I could face her. She rolled onto her stomach and grinned. "Hey, Ally-bear."

I smiled at the nickname. Ginny had started calling me that years ago during a thunderstorm after she'd crawled into my bed and declared that I was like a giant cuddle bear. Since then, the name had stuck.

"Where were you?" she asked. "I was looking for you so we could practise Quidditch passes again." Over the summer, I'd spent most afternoons helping Ginny improve her flying so she could eventually try out for the Gryffindor team.

"I was in Percy's room asking to use Hermes so I could send Harry a letter," I replied. Ginny's lips immediately curled into a smirk. I narrowed my eyes suspiciously. "What are you smirking at, little red?"