A flash of lightning lit up Serena's room casting eerie shadows. She had counted to 9 when a boom of thunder followed shaking the few photos on the walls. Serena cracked a smile while strumming some chords on her guitar, the symphony of a thunder storm helped her create songs. She had finished a verse when she noticed something coming towards her window. Serena stood up and jammed her face against the window to get a closer look. There was something, no an owl flying towards her room window through the storm. After only a few moments of awe the brown owl was pecking against her window. She unlatched the lock after making sure the guitar was safely out of the way of any rain. Serena pushed it open careful not to hurt what she could see was a barn owl. It hopped into her room on to her bed succeeding at drenching the pillows before it stuck out its leg showing it had a envelope tied to it. Serena pulled it off hesitantly as to not get bit, Serena found the envelope was shockingly dry. Flipping it over it read 'Miss. S. DeBrax. The room with the best view. 28 Rothbily road, Brighton.'  Serena found it odd the sender knew her address but that they knew her room has the biggest window that looked over the city was beyond strange. Serena thought it to be a prank set up by the kids at a previous school. Serena opened the envelope and pulled out the parchment, unfolding it carefully to read more green lettering.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY 

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Miss DeBrax, 

   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

Serena's first thought was that it had to be some kind of joke, there's no such thing as Witchcraft or Wizardry. She looked at the owl with confusion, it stared for a few seconds before hopping towards her and pecking her hand.

"Ow, what do you want? Food?" Serena exclaimed now examining her now bleeding hand. Serena decided it be best to grab some crackers for the owl in order to keep it happy.  On her way through the hall from her room she glanced at the clock to see it was already midnight. Selena crept down the stairs as silently as possible as to not wake her parent.  She got to the kitchen door, her hand hovered above the handle when she heard her parents voices, it seemed they were not asleep. 

"Don't be ridiculous Rupert she's not one!"  Selena's mother -Josephine-  hissed at her father, her voice carrying through the kitchen door. Selena froze allowing her curiosity to get the better of her. 

"Bloody Hell, of course she is! We knew from the start she would be and her eyes haven't been normal since the day she was born." Rupert reassured her in his usual calm tone. Selena processed the information slowly. She couldn't wrap her head around what they meant about her not being normal and what weren't they telling her. She realized they had stopped talking when she heard someone walking towards the door. Selena ran as silently as she could back upstairs and into her room where the owl had gotten into a stash of peanuts she had on her nightstand. Selena sat back down and re-examined the envelope and found another letter written in green ink.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY

Uniform 

First year students will require:

1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)

2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear

3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)

4. One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)

Please note that all pupils' clothing should carry name tags.

Set books

All students should have a copy of each of the following:

The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk

A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot          

Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling

A Beginners guide to Transfiguration by Emeric  Switch

One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phylida Spore

Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander

The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble 

Other Equipment 

1 wand

1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)

1 set glass or crystal phials

1 telescope

1 set brass scales

Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad

PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS

  Selena reread the letter 5 times, she imagined for a moment what it would be like if this was real. How would she get to this school? Where would she get the bizarre items on this list? She looked at the clock realizing it was already 1 am, she darted to the bathroom to brush her teeth, while doing so Selena examined her reflection. Her hair was black and curly and huge, no matter how many times she cut it, it seemed to grow right back over night. Her hair brush usually got stuck and even broke a few times. Her bones jutted sharply, she had always been thin and lanky  making clothing fit wrong and baggy. Her sharp bones gave her a stern look, her high arched eyebrows didn't help. She finished brushing her teeth, and took out her contacts with a practiced hand. Looking back into the mirror she saw what had earned her a school career of teasing and isolation, her eyes.