Ila's frustration would cross all bounds today.

Ila... The name meant Earth. Her mom, Sunita had named it to her, when she married her Dad, as she called him, 'A British magician'. It was meant to be a jest for his unbeatable charm to which her daughter always laughed.

But that was 11 years ago, when she last saw her father. Well, she was a baby then. She wouldn't know.

She only had one photograph of him, a faded one with his friends. She said they were his schoolmates.

" Which school mum? " She would ask and her mother would tinkle with laughter, pulling her daughter close into a hug.

" Oh my darling, " She'd say, her voice was a melody in itself, " Your father was one of the most handsome men. But.. He was always very secretive of his life... But he did say, his school was called Hogwarts... Unusual no? " She'd say and Ila would cringe.

"Ew! Hog WARTS? Sounds like a disease! " She giggled, jumping out of her mother's arms, rushing over to the garden in her swings.

It was a happy life, a warm life if anyone had anything to say... Until..

⏟

"Mum!" An eleven year old Ila screamed, the roosters confused beyond measure at who stole their job for the morning. Her mother rushed in to see her daughter, eyes as big as the chocolate covered donouts she gorged on.

But that was the least of her worries.  Sunita looked around her pillow, feathers covered her entire face and one was stuck in the window panes, as a constant tap resonated on the window.

" What is it? " She asked her terrified daughter sitting by her side.

"Th-tha-that owl! That stupid owl! " She shouted, " It just -just swooped in! Leaving a letter! " She screamed as she yelped, jumping closer to her mother at an indigant tap on the window.

The owl in question was, to say the least offended.

"Stupid owl?" The owl furrowed jts brows. "What does she think she is.. I knew I should have asked Professor McGonagall for more treats before I took off for here... You stupid... I'll warn the others... "

The owl huffed, ruffling his feathers in anger as it took off, but not before landing a long scratch on the window.

"Maybe it was just a wild owl Ila.. It must have lost it's path. " Her mother comforted, " Come down, I have made your favourite breakfast... After all, the birthday girl deserves a gift doesn't she? " She kissed her daughter's forehead, eyes shining with love.

" But first our annual birthday ritual.. " Ila trailed off, jumping out of her bed. Her mother nearly wept in joy, her daughter still was the little girl she raised.

"Come on mum! " She called from the stairs and she followed her down to the small room, their prayer room.

There, other than the various deities she prayed to was the same, faded photograph of her father. It was one she could always go to when things got tough, when things didn't make sense.. Or even just to see him. His frozen smile in that photograph brought her closer to him.

" Please come back soon. " She whispered, hands joined together as she prayed.

Her mother stood against the door, hands on the small opal necklace in her neck. He had given it to her the day Ila was born.. He looked nervous that day..

He had always told her, ' Darling... I cannot tell you, but I am in danger. If I ever vanish.. Don't worry... I'll always find my way back to you.. Trust me.. Please.. ' He would tell her softly and everytime she would weep softly into his arms, but his hugs would make it all seem like a fever dream.

As Ila and her mother enjoyed a hearty breakfast, the doorbell rang.

" I'll go check mum." Ila said, wiping her hands against the nightgown, much to her mother's constant disapproval.

As she rushed over to the door, Ila looked out to see...

ANOTHER OWL?

This day was just getting weirder and weirder.

" Who is it darling? " Her mother called and she gulped.

How could she tell her mother.. It was another owl.

" A.. No one mum.. Must be some prankster. " She replied, frowning at the owl through the peephole, rushing back.

" Come on then. Ready for your day out? " She asked her daughter, who nodded eagerly.

" Yes, I'll just get ready! " She bounded back up, as her mother looked on fondly.

⏟

" Isn't this adorable? " She asked her mom, holding up a delightful red dress, it had short sleeves and a flowy design.

" Do you like it Ila? " Her mother asked, smiling at her.

" Yes I do.. It looks beautiful. I can even wear it to school for the Christmas fest this year !" She said, smiling dreamily at the dress and her mother shook her head.

" Sure darling, if that's what you
like. " She ruffled her daughter's hair softly, before walking over to the cash counter.

" Don't loiter around Ila! It's very crowded today. " Her mother warned as she stepped out of the floor, and nodded eagerly, walking out.

'I'm a big girl now. I'll handle it'. She thought and walked out.

The mall had a small path to a rooftop garden which was beautiful. Her mother would take A coffee and she'd take a box of her favourite noodles and they'd sit out, talking and snacking. It was their break from the long walks when they came to the mall.

As she walked out to it, she basked in the warm July sun. When she went to India, her mother's birth place and her own ancestral home, she would dance around in the sun.

This felt like a warm hug on her face, till she felt a shadow over her face and she opened her eyes, anger coursing through her the moment she did.

" Again! " She screamed, the others looked at her in confusion as she ran around the garden, the elders laughed, thinking her to be playing with the owl, but she was annoyed.

She ran out the garden... Right into the mall.

Chaos followed her as the bird swooped in, hooting for it's life as it followed the terrified girl, who weaved her way through people and  carts of products, rushing all around the mall.

" What! No! " She shouted as it nearly reached her, but she dashed out to the kids playing ground, panting in silence as she hid in the ball pit.

" Hoot!" The owl said in her ears and she screamed, jumping out and running in circles round the pirate ship, when she nearly saved herself from toppling over.

A cat blocked her path, it looked at her with amused curiosity, as if judging her mere presence.

" What! " She said to the cat, fear and anger boiled her blood as she dashed out the main exit, to a quiet parking lot.

The cat and the owl had both followed her, while she stared at them, chest heaving abd bulging eyes.

The cat suddenly transformed then, shifting into a tall woman, who wore a green coat, her hair up in an elegant bun. She appeared to be an epitome of elegance.

But the rush of the day was too much for our poor Ila as she looked at the old woman... And the owl.. And felt her vision darkening at the edges, collapsing right into the lady's arms.

"Oh Merlin!... This is the first time I've seen this happen." The old woman said, her voice was soft, but stern. Like her mother's when she mad a mistake.

The last thing she heard was.

" Ila! My bacha! " Her mother's scream forced her to open her eyes and scramble out of the lady's arms into her mother's, clutching her bag with wide, awestruck eyes.

" She -she she -" She shivered as the old woman got up.

Ila's mother held her arms tight around her daughter, her stance protective.

" We need to talk Mrs - " She stopped short, " We need to talk. That is Ila isn't she? " The old lady said.

" Why do you want to know? " Her mother threatened.

" I am Professor McGonagall of Hogwarts. I am deputy headmistress and it's time your daughter learn what is her birthright."

⏟

Soo.... Do you guys like Ila? Do you like Sunita aunty?

Why was the owl so adamant? 🤣

Anyways.. Tell me more in the comments, much love.