My Life At Hogwarts

To The Park

I awoke to the persistent tapping on my window. I threw the quilt off my pajama clad body and rubbed my eyes. I groaned as the tapping on the glass got louder. I stood up and walked over to my window, throwing open the dark red curtains.

I rubbed my eyes again at the sight that greeted me. I blinked and looked again. The barn owl was still there. Sitting on my window ledge. It started at me as if it was asking me 'Well are you going to open the window? It is awfully windy out here.'

I opened my window as far as it could go, without me falling out. The owl hopped into my room and sat on my bedside table. I felt compelled to say something so I apologised to it for not opening the window quicker. The owl blinked at me and I took that as a sign that it had forgiven me. What was it doing here?

My bedroom door was flung open and I looked up as Cathy stood in my doorway.

"What is it with you and birds? I swear if another bird comes in our house, I will kick you out. Money or no money. I have had enough" She said.

I frowned, trying to remember when I had another bird in the house. That's right, when the magpie came in with a broken leg and I fixed it.

She walked over to the window and opened it. She then came back over to me and picked up the owl. Before I could understand what was happening, she threw out the owl and shut the window. She looked me up and down and sneered her nose up at me.

"Get dressed and come downstairs. I need you to babysit the young 'uns as I go out,"

I nodded at her and sighed when she left. She was always disappearing for the day. It seemed to be worse over summer break.

I walked over to my broken wardrobe and took out some jeans and a top. I pulled off my pajamas and got dressed. I picked up my hairbrush and quickly ran it through my long brown hair, tugging it hard when it hit my knots. I put on my key necklace, struggling with the chain. I made my bed and looked out the window at the dawn just breaking. It was beautiful. I left the room and went downstairs.

I walked into the kitchen and started making some cereal for the youngsters. Once I had poured the cereal into five bowls, I walked back upstairs to wake them all up and get them dressed. I walked into Lucy's room and shook her awake. She looked at me and smiled.

"Do you want me to pick your outfit out while you go to the toilet?"

She nodded and ran out of the room. I smiled at her energy. At seven, she was older than the other children but younger than me. She tried her best to fit in with the others but usually clung to me. I walked over to her dresser and pulled out shorts and a short sleeved top. She came back into the room and I helped her with taking off her pajamas and getting her fresh clothes on. I then brushed her hair and plaited it for her.

She ran out of the room and said she would watch TV downstairs while she waited for me. I nodded and headed into Ben and Jamie's room. I opened the door and smiled when I saw they were both sharing a bed again. I shook them awake as I opened the curtain. They stretched and yawned as I walked over to their dresser. I pulled out matching outfits for them and then took them over to their bed.

The boys climbed out of bed and I grabbed their hands and led them to the potty in the toilet. I was still trying to potty train the one and two year olds, with much difficulty. After ten minutes, and a lot of mess later, we was back in their bedroom and I was getting them dressed. I walked them downstairs and sat them next to Lucy for her to look after for a while.

I ran back upstairs and into Liam's room. I opened the curtains and shook him awake. Sitting next to him as he looked around in confusion. I waved to him and watched as relief washed over his face. I handed him his hearing aids and he put them on. He left the bed and walked over to the bathroom, across the hall. I pulled out his clothes and went next door to wake up Hope.