Chapter Text
Marlene groaned into her pillow; someone was throwing rocks at her window, and it was getting really annoying. She finally sat up, pulling her blinds up just as another stone hit her window. She unlocked it and peered out at the street, there was gentle light spilling from behind the houses opposite hers, casting the street in a gentle glow. Peter Pettigrew was stood, a bunch of rocks in one hand and a letter in the other.
“Marlene, you have to check your post right now!” He called up to her, looking far more excited than she could ever recall seeing him. Did the letters arrive today? She thought. Not waiting long enough to ask any questions she bolted from her still open window to her bedroom door, flinging it open and sprinting down the stairs full pelt, nearly knocking over her older brother who was coming up them with an envelope in his hand. She stopped abruptly, nearly falling down the rest of the steps.
“Bloody hell Marlene, where are you going in such a hurry.” He took in her appearance, “Why aren’t you dressed?”
“I just woke up, is that my letter?” She said hurriedly.
“Oh, yeah, I was just bringing it to you.” He said, holding it out to her. She snatched it impatiently and tore it open. He shook his head in exasperation.
“Well, the breakfast stuff’s out if you’re hungry.” He mused, heading up the stairs.
“Cheers Aiden.” Marlene replied distractedly, her eyes scanning the letter.
Dear Miss McKinnon,
We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall, Deputy headmistress.
Marlene felt like she could burst from all the excitement she felt. She threw herself down the stairs with renewed vigour and threw open her front door. Peter stood outside, beaming at her and clutching his letter.
“Its here!” Marlene squealed, throwing herself at Peter and practically knocking him over with a hug. He wrapped his arms around her and the pair jumped in unison, equally excited.
“I’m assuming you’ve got your letter?” Marlene’s Dad’s voice sounded behind them, causing Peter to jolt in surprise. Marlene let go of him to throw herself at her father instead. He lifted her into the air with a grunt. He was a rather tall man so hugs were awkward unless he picked her up or crouched down.
“I’m very proud sweetheart.” He said, smiling. Marlene simply grinned and began to jump up and down again.
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Lily’s day started like any other. She got up first and got dressed, picking up a book and heading downstairs. Once her sister had woken up, she had joined her in the living room. The sound of a letter sliding though the letterbox interrupted her reading.
“I’ll get it, it’s probably for mum or dad.” Petunia said, getting up. Lily hummed in response. After a beat, petunia returned with a few letters in her hands.
“One’s for you.” She said, placing it onto the page Lily was currently reading. She frowned, taking it and looking at the writing on the front. It was clearly addressed to her. There was a wax seal on the back of some sort of emblem that said Hogwarts above it. Hogwarts? What on earth? She opened the envelope, pulling out a letter.
Dear Miss Evans,
We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall, Deputy headmistress.
“The hell?” Petunia frowned, peering over her shoulder at the letter.
“Its probably some sort of strange joke.” Lily sighed, placing the pieces of paper back down on a coffee table beside her armchair. The boys at school often pulled jokes on her and Severus, this was probably the sort of thing they'd do just to make fun of them. Right when she was about to resume where she left off with her book, their phone began to ring.
“You get it, I’m making tea.” Petunia said, heading into their kitchen. Lily stuck her tongue out at her sister once she wasn't looking before standing up and answering the phone.
“Hello?” She asked.
“Lily?” She heard the familiar voice of Severus on the other end.
“Oh! Hey Sev, what is it?” She said, surprised.
“Did you get your letter?” He asked, straight to the point as always.
“What letter?” Lily frowned.
“Your Hogwarts letter?” He said, like it was silly she was even asking.
“Oh, that. Is it some sort of joke?” She asked, twirling the phone cord with her finger.
“No, it’s real, I told you that you’re special, didn’t I?” Lily frowned at his words, why didn’t he tell me there was a school for magic or whatever he calls it?
“Well yeah, you did, but you didn’t tell me about Hogwarts.” She said slowly.
“Well, I wanted to be sure you were going.” He replied shortly.
“Alright…” She said sceptically.
“I’ve got to go, talk later? I’ll tell you what you need to know.” he said, rushing to get the words out, perhaps he could sense her doubt.
“Oh, okay.” Lily said, hearing the other line click. She placed the phone back on the wall before heading into the kitchen.
“Was it your weird friend Seth or whatever his name is?” Petunia asked.
“Sev isn’t weird.” Lily replied defensively.
“Whatever.” She grumbled, walking off with her mug. Lily sighed and poured herself her own cup of tea. Questions had begun to appear in her mind, many would be left unanswered unless Severus decided to come over or at least call her again.
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Mary pulled open her blinds and started when she was greeted by an owl right outside it with a letter tied to its foot. She gaped at it, normally owls don’t come out during the day, surely this was rather odd behaviour for them. Mary tapped the glass, it didn’t flinch, instead it tapped back with its beak. Okay, what the hell? She slowly unlocked her window, pulling it up and staring at the owl. It shuffled impatiently as she tentatively reached for the letter. Sure enough, it was addressed for her, she took it off the owls foot slowly, it immediately flew off once she had it, causing her to stumble back in surprise. She blinked; this was way too much to process. She shut her window hurriedly and looked at the envelope, it had a strange looking wax seal, she cautiously opened it, reading the letter it held inside.
Dear Miss Macdonald,
We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall, Deputy headmistress.
P.S. as you have no magical connections as of current, a ministry official will visit you at 1:00PM on 19 July.
Mary frowned; this was strange indeed. What kind of a name is Hogwarts? She looked up from the paper, calling for her mum, who called back.
“What is it, Mary?”
“I’ve got a letter for some school!” She shouted.
“How? You haven’t left your room and we don’t have a letterbox!” Her mother questioned.
“An owl gave it to me!” Mary replied.
“Pardon?” The sound of her mothers’ footsteps ascending the stairs began. She pushed Mary’s door open. “An owl?” She asked incredulously. Mary simply nodded, handing the letter over. Her mother appeared just as perplexed as she was as her eyes scanned the letter.
“What kind of a name is ‘Hogwarts’?” She said, raising an eyebrow.
“That’s what I thought too!” Mary said.
“The nineteenth is tomorrow.” Her mum mused. “I suppose we’ll find out if this is some sort of nonsense then.”
“Alright…” Mary said after a pause. It didn't seem like her mother was taking this very seriously. She probably didn't even believe that Mary had gotten it from an owl.
“Breakfast is ready by the way.” Her mother said, before walking from her room, leaving the letter on her desk. Mary regarded it. If she really was a witch, it would explain a few things. She had sometimes made odd things happen, like making things disappear and even reappear on occasion. The other kids at school had called her a weirdo on multiple occasions; she knew it was childish, but she often did wonder if there was an explanation for her unexplainable happenings. She shook her head. There's no way, if mum doesn't believe it, its probably just rubbish.
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“Dorcas, your letter has arrived!” Her mother called. Dorcas groaned, sitting up and rubbing her eyes.
“Coming!” She yawned, stepping out of bed to meet her mother in the hallway.
“You’re not even dressed? Honestly…” Her mother tutted, handing her the letter and walking off towards their kitchen. “Breakfast in ten minutes, we’ll head to Diagon Ally later today.”
“Why? It’s so early for that!” Dorcas whined.
“Better to be prepared than not.” Her mother replied shortly, “Now go and get dressed.”
“Yes mum.” Dorcas sighed tiredly, stepping back into her room and opening her wardrobe. She already knew what it contained, she just wanted to go back to bed but clearly her mother wasn’t going to allow that. She grumbled, looking through her clothes, settling on a simple black dress and some robes in order to blend in, she had no interest in standing out. She picked out her usual sensible shoes and looked in the mirror. She’d have to redo her braids soon, but for now, she’d settle on wrapping them with a headband to disguise her overgrown roots.
“Are you dressed now?” Her mother called.
“Yes mum!” Dorcas called back, sparing her unopened letter one last glance before leaving her room to meet her mother. The letter was no big deal anyway, of course she'd be going to Hogwarts, it was just a simple fact to her.