Calling Hope (A Neville Longbottom story)

*Prologue*

   "Mum!" Taylor called from her bedroom on the second floor, 3 rooms down, to the right of the hallway. "Mum, where are you?"

   "In the kitchen, why?" Susan responded, over the clanking of the dishes.

   She bounced down the stairway, through the sitting room, and into the kitchen. "I got honor roll!" The small, blonde girl exclaimed.

   "Oh, sweetie that's great!" Susan reacted, "Hang it up on the fridge, oh how cheery your father will be."

   Taylor went to pin the grade on the refridgerator, when the mail box clanked.

   "I'll get it!", since the youngest daughter of the Rivers family was so happy, she had no problem checking the mail.

   The newspaper, doctor's note,-what?! This couldn't be correct.
"What in the world?!"

   "What is it?", Asked her older brother who had just come down the stairs.

   "Er... Junk mail." She replied, brushing it off as a joke.

   "Supper!" Called their mother.

   "Bet I'll get to the table before you,"
muttered her brother, Cardel.

   "Your on."

   The two siblings raced through the sitting room,- into the kitchen- Taylor beat Cardel by inches. "Ha!" She breathed, catching her breath. " I beat you, yet again."

   "You two should have gotton all your energy drained from you outside today. Now, sit." Said Susan, as she layed out the pasta.

   "Where is dad?" Asked Taylor, finally catching her breath.

   "The plant, one of the machines broke down today and he was called back in." Replied Cardel, as he sat down across from Taylor.

   "Oh. Okay! Is it okay if I don't eat tonight? I'm not hungry." Asked Taylor, "I'll still sit at the table,"

   "No, you need to eat." Replied Susan as she served Cardel.

   "Well can I at least give my room a small visit before we do?"

"Hurry back,"

"Yeah, I'm hungry!"

Taylor climbed the stairs, and entered her brightly colored room. She grabbed the letter she received earlier from out her back pocket, and  opened the mysterious letter.

   Mrs. T. Rivers
2nd floor, 3rd room on the right
312 Forthill Lane
 

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

  
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Surpreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

  Dear Mrs. Rivers,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Wichcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on September 1. We await your owl no longer then July 31.
  Yours truely,
Minerva McGonagall

   Curiosity bloomed inside of Taylor, as she wanted to read on to the next page but she knew she had to get back to her brother, and mum.

   "Taylor, get down here we're starving!" Yelled her brother, she shoved the letter in the pocket of her cat hoodie and dashed downstairs.

   "I'm here, I'm here." She sat down, knowing she probably wouldn't take a bite out of her food, only move it around her plate as questions filled her mind about the letter.

   It was around half-way through the meal, when her mother acknoledged her. "Honey, you haven't touched your food."

   Taylor's head continued to stare at her plate when she responded. "I found a letter, stating that I was accepted into a magical school." She revealed the half wrinkled envelope that contained the information.

   "You got a what?! Are you feeling alright?" Said her mother, with great concern.

   "I'm fine, mum. It's just this." Taylor was referring to the paper in her hand, "It's strange,"

   "Hand it to me," Susan replied, reaching for the letter.

   Cardel kicked Taylor under the table, as if to get her attention. He had a look etched on his face as if to tell Taylor to come to his room after eating. She responded with a small nod, as Susan finished reading.

   "I don't believe it. I mean, it would explain the weird things you could acomplish, but I definatly don't understand."

   "Mum, me and Cardel are finished, can we go?"

   "Oh, I suppose. But rinse your plates before you do."

   After the two Rivers children rinsed their plates, and placed them on the drying rack, Taylor followed Cardel into his room which was right across from hers.

   "Remeber me telling you that my friend, Lee was sent off to a school?" Cardel finally asked, after a few paces around his room.

   "Yeah, his name was Lee Jordan, right?" Taylor responded, "I remember he was really loud, and annoying."

   "Says the person who admitted they had a crush on him."

   "I was eight!"