It was July 29th, and I just got done walking the neighborhood with Harry. It was about 7 o'clock. We like to take night walks to look at the stars.
He was telling me about how his uncle and aunt were hiding something and he wanted to know what. I just thought it was weird. Another thing that I thought was weird was the amount of owls in our neighborhood. There were so many it was starting to freak me out. Especially since owls were nocturnal.
"Well, I hope it get's better. See ya Flash," I walked up my driveway, my back to the house as we both said goodbye. I gave him that nickname from the 'birthmark' (that's what I thought it was) he had on his forehead.
"Yeah, same to you. Bye four-eyes," He waved and laughed.
I rolled my eyes, and got the mail. I always got the mail, then separate the bills from ads. Occasionally, we might get something that's different like coupons or wedding invitation.
I walked inside, "Mom?" I called. I never knew when she's ever home anymore. That year was the sixth year of my dad's death. It sucked. I figured mom was out getting even more wasted as usual.
I didn't get a reply, or any sound. She wasn't there. I rolled my eyes, and sat down at the dining room table. I sorted them into piles. The quiet around the house was starting to standout to me. I didn't like it that much, but it could've been worse. Way worse.
As I was going through the mail, which wasn't much, I came across a cream colored envelope. A thick, cream colored envelope. I looked it over and noticed it was for me. I put it in my lap, I'll see to it later.
After I sorted out the mail, I took the envelope and went into my room. My door shut behind me.
Mrs. Bridget Meadows,
5 Private Drive, Little Whinging England
First thought that came to my mind: Who is this? I opened the envelope and inside were two papers. The first paper read this:
Dear Mrs. Meadows,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins September 1. We await your owl no later then July 31.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
I reread the letter 5 times and I still couldn't believe it. How? Is this some sort of prank? I looked at the list, hoping this letter was joking; and why would they just now get it to me when I only have like less than a day to...send my owl?
I read through the list of items, and my eyes went wide. I flopped onto my bed...Does this mean...I'm...a...witch? It can't be. I started to whisper to myself, "I'm ordinary. More ordinary than ordinary. This can't be real."
I groaned, and rubbed my temples. This is so much to take in. Then I heard the door swing and hit the wall. Mother was home. I heard her stumbling around. Did she know?
I got up and opened my door. Mother was slouched on the couch. This time she didn't seem drunk. She seemed...tired. I walked in, trying to pretend nothing was really wrong. She glanced at me. "Yeah?"
I held up the letter, "Do you know what this is?"
She just tilted her head, "A letter."
"Funny, but not the answer I was hoping for," I walked over to her and held it in front of her face. "What is this?" I asked. I swear she was behind all of this.
Her mouth went wide. Her eyes were glistening with tears. Within her eyes I could see pain and sorrow. Nothing more than normal, but it seemed to be worsened.
"You know what it is."
"Sit down," she demanded. "I have a lot to tell you."
I sat, shaking. Nothing had happened like this. Except for that time she gave me a birthday card from my grandparents. It turned out that it wasn't from them and she wanted to see me cry, which is messed up.
"This is from Hogwarts," she started. "This is a school for young witches and wizards. You, Bridget, are a witch. There are such things, trust me. Your grandparents, my mum and dad, were a witch and wizard as well. I, however, did not get the letter. I was a disappointment. They told me different and that they loved me no matter what, but I couldn't think that I was anything more than ordinary. Anyways, I met your father, and had you. You were special since we first held you. I figured that my parents put a spell on you, but as I can see now that was not the case.
"After your grandparents died, they left us money for the magic world just in case of this situation. It's stashed away in a vault somewhere else. They told me it was Gringotts. So, in Hogwarts, there are four houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Gryffindor is for those who are brave; Hufflepuff is for those who are kind and loyal; Ravenclaw is for the wise and creative; and Slytherin is for the cunning. Your grandmother was a Ravenclaw, and your grandpa was a Gryffindor," She stopped, and stared at the ground.
"How come you didn't get a letter?" I asked.
She got really mad, "I DON'T KNOW, OKAY!" She screamed at me.
"I--I'm sorry. I...I just was w-" I got interrupted. I stood up, trembling from fear. Unconsciously, I raised my hands a little.
"You were just wondering?" she scoffed. "Wondering why your mother was unwanted? Wondering why you have such a pathetic family?" She got up and walked over to me.
"No! No, not-"
She slapped me. My hands weren't fast enough. Her wedding ring grazed my cheek. It stung. I let out a little squeal. She had never hit me so hard that it left a mark until that day. I held my cheek. The more I touched it, the more it stung. I looked up to her with wide eyes.
She didn't seem too affected by that. Mum got up in my face, "Pack your stuff up, and go. I want you out by tomorrow night. I don't want to see you until next summer." She shoved past me.
A teardrop rolled down my cheek. I winced as it sunk into my scratch. I watched her walk into her room. She called to me, "Bridget! Before I forget, take this. You can have it," she threw a box at me.
I wasn't fast enough. The box hit the ground. From within, I heard something shatter and break. As quickly as I could, my knees dropped onto the floor next to the box. The front door slammed shut. She was gone. She always seemed to be gone. I picked up the box. A tear fell from my cheek, leaving a stain on the cardboard box.
I didn't understand why she hated me. I ran into my room with the letter and the box, and fell onto my bed. Letting go of the box, I squeezed my pillow for comfort. I couldn't cry; not now. There's too much to do. I took a deep breath. Just hold it all in, just a little bit.
I shook myself calm. I opened the box and inside were pictures in frames, but they moved. The frames were broken now from when Mother threw the box. I picked them up as careful as I could. They were of two people and a child in their arms. Cradling her. I could only guess this was my mom and grandparents. There were others, but I didn't have time to look through them all. At the bottom of the pictures was a bracelet and a key.
On the silver bracelet were charms: a wand, a hat, a moon, a star, and a wolf. I smiled. This was mine now. I finally had something that reminded me of my past. I never seemed to want to remember it. I put it on, and looked at it again. It fit my wrist perfectly. I took out the key, and there was something engraved in it. It was almost like a number but I couldn't tell. I slid it in my jean pockets. Assuming it was for Gringotts, I slid it in my jean pockets.
I pulled out a trunk from underneath my bed. On it were my initials: B.M. On top was my full name: Bridget Meadows. I swung it open, and started to fill it up a quarter full of my clothes. Five pair of jeans, two pair of sweatpants; a pair of yoga pants, five tee-shirts, five sweatshirts, a pair of sneakers, flats, and boots; and undergarments.
I went into the bathroom. I glanced up at the mirror and noticed my cheek. Where my mother had slapped me, was a scratch that went almost all the way across my cheek. I touched it, and it really didn't hurt that bad anymore. Why did she have to do that? She could've sent me to bed without supper or something. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. It's going to be okay once I see Harry, I thought to myself. Oh. Harry. I can't just leave him. So...I have to tell him. I figured I could seem him before I had to leave.
I got my toiletry bag and filled it up as much as I could. I made a mental check list: Toothpaste, check; toothbrush, check; face wash, check; bunch of hair things, check; hairbrush, check; contacts, check. What did I need for Hogwarts? I asked myself. I waved it off, I can get it tomorrow.
Everything is going to be okay, was my last thought before I drifted off to sleep.