Neverwarts

Chapter 1:Letters by owls

Wednesday Addams had a talent for ignoring the ordinary. Morning chatter, breakfast bells, sunshine—none of it deserved her attention. But when a sharp rapping came at the dormitory window, she set down her quill mid-sentence. It wasn't often that winged vermin chose her as a landing pad.

The owl was a regal creature, white as freshly spilled milk, with eyes the color of frozen marrow. It carried a thick envelope sealed in wax, stamped with an ornate crest.

"Mail!" Enid Sinclair gasped from her side of the room, practically knocking over her nail polish as she bounced to her feet. "From an owl! Wednesday, this is like—straight out of a fantasy movie!"

"More like a plague omen," Wednesday replied, rising to open the window. The bird thrust out its leg with alarming precision. She plucked the envelope free. The wax seal bore a bold letter H, surrounded by a lion, snake, raven, and badger.

Before Wednesday could cut it open, a second owl—this one ragged and badly groomed—tumbled in after the first, scattering feathers all over Enid's bedspread.

"Hey, rude!" Enid scolded, though her tone was laced with delight. The owl deposited its own envelope in her lap, then immediately began preening as if it hadn't just crash-landed.

Wednesday broke her seal with surgical precision and unfolded the letter.

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
Dear Miss Addams,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry...

She skimmed the rest. Potions, charms, transfiguration. A boarding school that claimed to harness "magic" and "wizardry." Another institution desperate to mold her into something civilized. How quaint.

Enid had already read her letter aloud—half-shrieking, half-swooning. "Ohmygosh, ohmygosh, Wednesday! A whole new school! In Scotland! They've got moving staircases, and spells, and probably like... glittery unicorns grazing on the lawn!"

Wednesday closed her letter carefully. "Or a cleverly disguised cult with a taste for theatrics."

Enid hugged her parchment to her chest like it was a love letter. "This is amazing! Do you think they'll sort us into houses? I bet I'm a Gryffindor. Or maybe a Hufflepuff! Ohhh, Hufflepuff colors would look so cute with my sweaters."

"You strike me as the type who would celebrate being labeled after a badger," Wednesday deadpanned.

Enid rolled her eyes but was too excited to argue. She grabbed the list of school supplies tucked into her envelope. "We get to buy wands! And robes! And potion kits! Wednesday, you're going to love potion class. It's basically spooky chemistry."

"Finally," Wednesday said, her expression unreadable. "An academic pursuit that encourages poisoning people."

A faint smile touched her lips—a smile that made Enid both nervous and oddly reassured.

The owls hooted once more, as if urging them to decide. Outside, storm clouds gathered on what had promised to be a sunny morning.

Wednesday stared out the window, black eyes glittering like obsidian. "So. Another school wants to test me. Let's see if Hogwarts survives the year."

Enid beamed so wide it looked painful. "Besties abroad! This is going to be epic."