The First Year

The Letter

I was so excited. I couldn't stop thinking about it! The very next day, I would turn 11 and finally get the letter I've been waiting for my whole life. Although, there was one downside... This would be my first birthday without my mother, after her potion went wrong six months ago. But I won't let that get in the way of my excitement, nothing would ruin this day...

Despite how little sleep I got, I woke up bright and early the next morning, and without hesitation, I ran downstairs to grab breakfast. Father was sat at the dinner table, waiting. His eyes were slightly red. He'd been crying again and he knew I could tell. "You're up quite early, aren't you?"
"I couldn't wait any longer, I guess I was just too eager to start the day."
"Haha, well I can't blame you. Now, how about breakfast?"
"Yes please, Father."
As he walked over to the fridge to get the milk, there was a slight scratching sound at the window. Neither of us noticed it at first, well not until there was a rather loud knock on the glass.
"What's that??" I questioned, hopefully.
Snape looked over at me "I think I have an idea... Open the window will you?'

I slowly opened the window and a large, white bird flew in, dropped an envelope and then left.
I picked it up off of the black, tiled floor. "Merlin's beard... Is this... Is this what I think it is?!"
"Well, why don't you open it?" Snape wisely requested.
I opened the letter, and as I had hoped, it was the letter!
"Well done my darling!" Father hugged me, he looked so proud and... Happy. I mean, he was actually smiling. He hadn't done that since mother died, she was one of the only thing that ever kept him motivated.  It's so amazing to see him smiling again.
"Your mother would be proud," He said. "Oh, speaking of your mother.. I have something for you." 
He handed me a small purple box. I opened it and it was a necklace. It was a black beaded necklace with a cross shaped pendant, I recognized it from somewhere but wasn't quite sure.
"This was your mother's," Father reminded me, "the first necklace I ever bought her."
A tear ran down my cheek and I hugged him tightly.