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Diaries of a Muggle Born
folder
Harry Potter › General
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
10
Views:
1,407
Reviews:
13
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Harry Potter › General
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
10
Views:
1,407
Reviews:
13
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
The Long Road there
Over the next month all I could do was think about what lay ahead of me. Magic was real – and I was going to learn how to do it! I was only 11, but I had spent a lot of time thinking of the future and what I would be doing in 10, 20, and even 30 years from now.
The hardest part was that I wasn’t allowed to tell anyone. But well, I’d figured that out on my own. I mean, they would probably make fun of me, or call me a liar. Kids were cruel. Of course, I told Tony all about it. I had to – he had been there when I’d got the first letter. Tony was intrigued. Kept telling me that I would have to tell him everything, and even teach him what I’d learned when I came back. I just nodded in agreement, but I was unsure what I would be able to do.
It was just after the Fourth of July weekend when mom said we were going to get my supplies. I started to get excited. I was finally going to get my first glimpse at the magic I would encounter the next year!
My mother seemed to know a lot more than I would have thought. Whether she’d had this knowledge stored from past years or if she’d just recently got it somehow, I have never figured out, but right then I didn’t care and I never really thought about it afterwards. She had told me my studies would take seven years to complete and that the school itself was in Massachusetts.
This is when the reality hit me. I would be a thousand miles from home for 9 months of the year. I started to rethink everything. As if reading my thoughts, my mother comforted me with her words:
“I know it is far away, but it is the closest school to us – and you know how to take care of yourself. It will be hard, but we have been through worse right?”
I nodded, and decided to take my mind away from my worrying with thoughts of where we were going to shop.
We arrived in Memphis and proceeded to walk down Main Street. Mom stopped, pulling out a sheet of parchment. I watched her look around, looking lost, as usual, and then with a resounding “Aha!” she guided me towards a small shop.
We entered the shop. Inside, there was an old woman sitting behind a counter. Along the back wall were shelves holding all manner of knick-knacks. The store looked like nothing more than a collectibles shop for old women. Was this it? Was this the great magic shop I had been expecting? I was instantly disappointed. Maybe it was all a joke? My mother approached the old woman and read from the paper in her hand.
“The knick-knacks are great, but we need something a little less pricey,” she read, a hopeful glint in her eyes. The old woman smiled knowingly and looked at me.
“This is your first year, young man?”
“Ye-ss.” I stuttered.
“It’s OK. I think you will like it when you get there.” She pulled a small stick from her purse and tapped the wall behind her. It almost instantly opened up into an archway that led into an indistinguishable room.
My mother gave the old woman an appreciative “thank you” and led me through the arch. We walked through a small tunnel – I could see its end only a few feet ahead. We exited the tunnel and stood at the beginning of an alley that seemed to stretch for miles. I could see shop after shop on both sides. People, old and young, going to and fro – wearing robes…and sometimes even weirder apparel.
“Well, let’s find a money changer.” My mom sighed. “I hope I brought enough.”
As I was pulled along I couldn’t help but stare at all the windows and objects that I saw. Brooms, owls, cauldrons, quills, and various unidentifiable items leapt out at me. All I could think about was how each of these things would work. After a few minutes we arrived at what looked like a bank. I sawold old placard that named the building as:
GRINGOTT’S
MEMPHIS BRANCH
Inside, I saw the ugliest thing I have ever seen in my life. Totally shocked, I let out a shriek, and suddenly everyone around went quiet and looked right at the two of us. My mother was taken aback also, but maintained her composure as she pulled me to her.
“Lee, it is not polite to scream like that. Apologize to…ehhh…”
“Bardol.” The creature sneered.
“I …um… I am sorry.” I managed to spout out, finally.
“Uhmm…We need to exchange money to buy supplies.” Mom barely spoke.
“Fine.” He was very short (in speech as well as stature)
After a few awkward minutes, we left the bank with a sizeable purse filled with gold, silver and copper coins I had never seen before. Mother pulled out my list of supplies and read:
ADAMS SCHOOL
of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
UNIFORM
First year students will require:
1. Four sets of plain work robes (dark blue)
2. One plain pointed hat (dark blue) for day wear
3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
4. One winter cloak (dark blue, crimsontenitenings)
Please include name tags on all clothing
SUBJECT TEXTS
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
Transfiguration Made Easy by Mathew Landry
Potions Ingredients and additives by Margo Husk
Plants, Fungi, and more… by Leon Branch
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: American Ed.
By Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection
by Quentin Trimble
OTHER SUPPLIES
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, size 3)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
Students are allowed to have 1 pet, and first years are not allowed to have their own brooms.
This was quite a list. The first shop I could see was on my right. Its window was stacked full of cauldrons. This was our first stop! Two hours, and half a bag of coins later, we had everything on the list. Then it was back home to wait for August to arrive swiftly.
The day finally arrived, and I was so excited I could hardly contain myself. My mother helped me pack my bags into the car and started to drive me to the train station in Memphis. On the way there, she stopped at a building that was unfamiliar to me.
“Hold on for a minute. I have to get something here.” She left the car running and walked inside. She returned with a carrying case, and something was moving inside.
“Here.” She said fondly. “Here is something to keep you company.”
I looked into the case and saw a calico cat staring back at me.
“His name is Percy.”
“Percy?” I said with a scowl. “We can come up with something better that that, can’t we…Xavier?
My mother gave me an approving look. A few minutes later we headed into the station. We started to look around and then we realized we actually didn’t know where to go. We just figured we would be able to tell. I suddenly saw a girl that looked very familiar. It was Sarah.
Sarah Cate was a girl that had been at the same school as me. I’d had a crush on her for about a year now and couldn’t bring myself to tell her. She was wearing a pair of blue jeans, a nice button up shirt and…what was that clutched in her hand? It couldn’t be! She was holding an envelope from Adams.
I called out to her and she turned to look at me, and I froze. She and her mother (at least I assumed it was her mother) were walking toward us, and I didn’t know what to say.
“Hi, Lee. What are you doing here?” She smiled.
“Uhh…” I fumbled with words, until my mother interjected. She must have seen Sarah’s envelope, as she started a conversation with the pair in front of us.
“I see you got accepted at Adams also.”
“You are going to Adams, Lee?” Sarah asked. All I could do was nod. “We are heading for the train now. Want to walk with us?”
I couldn’t believe she was asking for my company.
“Yes please.” Her mother said. “I am glad to know that Sarah will have somebody she knows there. It is a relief.”
“Same here. I don’t feel as bad now.” My mother placed her hand on my shoulder. I know I must have turned a deep shade of red because at that moment Sarah began giggling. I was so embarrassed. The four of us walked toward the south end of the station while our mothers talked back and forth. Sarah tried making some chitchat, but all I could do was nod and look at the floor. We finally came to a wall that was completely blank. To the side there was a blind man sitting in a chair. For a moment I thought he’d looked at me. But, no, he was blind, wasn’t he?
“Adams?” He said.
“Yes, sir.” My mom answered shocked.
The man smiled and touched the wall beside him. He made a gesture we awe all understood. We were to walk stealthily through (wow this is weird) the wall. Our mothers gave us final kisses, and off we went. I gestured Sarah to go first and she did so, but very hesitantly. I followed with as much excitement as anxiety.
When I had passed through I found Sarah waiting for me and we stood upon a platform in front of a huge Blue and White train. There were children all over, boarding. Finally I was here! I could hardly believe it.
After we got our luggage settled and found a compartment, I had finally found my voice. Sitting with Sarah, alone, and all I could say was, “So what do you think about all of this?
“I am still unsure. I’m really looking forward to it, but it’s still so unbelievable. I feel like I could wake up at any moment.”
“Yeah, I feel the same way. But at least we each know somebody now.”
“Yeah that is good isn’t it?”
Just then the door opened. Two girls were standing in the doorway.
“Is there room in here for two more?” The first one asked.
“Yeah sure, come in.” I replied. They looked alike. Probably sisters. They both were slightly tanned with long brown hair and green eyes. The one who had spoken was definitely a few years older, while the other was about my age.
“Hi,” the oldest girl said, “My name is Jeanna, and this is my younger sister Sheryl. You two first years?\"
“Yes” we answered in unison.
“So is Sheryl. This is my third year. You guys are going to love it. What did you say your names were again?”
“Oh, I am Lee Rushing, and this is Sarah Cate.”
“Glad to meet you. What house du thu think you will be placed in?”
Sarah and I exchanged a glance.
“House?”
“You mean to tell me you don’t know?”
“Know what?”
“Okay, it isn’t that big of a deal. There are 3 houses at Adams. You will be placed into the one that fits your personality. There is house Appleseed, which I am in, Eaglefeather, and Smith.”
“How does personality fit into it?” Sarah interceded.
“Simply put, the adventurous, extraverted, and courageous ones end up in Appleseed. The spiritual, stout, and noble ones end up in Eaglefeather. And those of ambition, drive, and determination end up in Smith.”
Over the next few hours, as we made our way to Boston, Jeanna educated us on some of the things that would happen, some of her experiences and then we tried to speculate which house we would be in. As the train neared the school we changed into our robes and prepared to greet our new lives.
A/N: OK this chapter is now updated and fixed. I must give thanks to lovethepotionboy. She is an excellent...uhh...gramaticist...heheheh. Thank you again. And she has a story called Its all done with mirrors that you should definetly check out.
The hardest part was that I wasn’t allowed to tell anyone. But well, I’d figured that out on my own. I mean, they would probably make fun of me, or call me a liar. Kids were cruel. Of course, I told Tony all about it. I had to – he had been there when I’d got the first letter. Tony was intrigued. Kept telling me that I would have to tell him everything, and even teach him what I’d learned when I came back. I just nodded in agreement, but I was unsure what I would be able to do.
It was just after the Fourth of July weekend when mom said we were going to get my supplies. I started to get excited. I was finally going to get my first glimpse at the magic I would encounter the next year!
My mother seemed to know a lot more than I would have thought. Whether she’d had this knowledge stored from past years or if she’d just recently got it somehow, I have never figured out, but right then I didn’t care and I never really thought about it afterwards. She had told me my studies would take seven years to complete and that the school itself was in Massachusetts.
This is when the reality hit me. I would be a thousand miles from home for 9 months of the year. I started to rethink everything. As if reading my thoughts, my mother comforted me with her words:
“I know it is far away, but it is the closest school to us – and you know how to take care of yourself. It will be hard, but we have been through worse right?”
I nodded, and decided to take my mind away from my worrying with thoughts of where we were going to shop.
We arrived in Memphis and proceeded to walk down Main Street. Mom stopped, pulling out a sheet of parchment. I watched her look around, looking lost, as usual, and then with a resounding “Aha!” she guided me towards a small shop.
We entered the shop. Inside, there was an old woman sitting behind a counter. Along the back wall were shelves holding all manner of knick-knacks. The store looked like nothing more than a collectibles shop for old women. Was this it? Was this the great magic shop I had been expecting? I was instantly disappointed. Maybe it was all a joke? My mother approached the old woman and read from the paper in her hand.
“The knick-knacks are great, but we need something a little less pricey,” she read, a hopeful glint in her eyes. The old woman smiled knowingly and looked at me.
“This is your first year, young man?”
“Ye-ss.” I stuttered.
“It’s OK. I think you will like it when you get there.” She pulled a small stick from her purse and tapped the wall behind her. It almost instantly opened up into an archway that led into an indistinguishable room.
My mother gave the old woman an appreciative “thank you” and led me through the arch. We walked through a small tunnel – I could see its end only a few feet ahead. We exited the tunnel and stood at the beginning of an alley that seemed to stretch for miles. I could see shop after shop on both sides. People, old and young, going to and fro – wearing robes…and sometimes even weirder apparel.
“Well, let’s find a money changer.” My mom sighed. “I hope I brought enough.”
As I was pulled along I couldn’t help but stare at all the windows and objects that I saw. Brooms, owls, cauldrons, quills, and various unidentifiable items leapt out at me. All I could think about was how each of these things would work. After a few minutes we arrived at what looked like a bank. I sawold old placard that named the building as:
GRINGOTT’S
MEMPHIS BRANCH
Inside, I saw the ugliest thing I have ever seen in my life. Totally shocked, I let out a shriek, and suddenly everyone around went quiet and looked right at the two of us. My mother was taken aback also, but maintained her composure as she pulled me to her.
“Lee, it is not polite to scream like that. Apologize to…ehhh…”
“Bardol.” The creature sneered.
“I …um… I am sorry.” I managed to spout out, finally.
“Uhmm…We need to exchange money to buy supplies.” Mom barely spoke.
“Fine.” He was very short (in speech as well as stature)
After a few awkward minutes, we left the bank with a sizeable purse filled with gold, silver and copper coins I had never seen before. Mother pulled out my list of supplies and read:
ADAMS SCHOOL
of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
UNIFORM
First year students will require:
1. Four sets of plain work robes (dark blue)
2. One plain pointed hat (dark blue) for day wear
3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
4. One winter cloak (dark blue, crimsontenitenings)
Please include name tags on all clothing
SUBJECT TEXTS
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
Transfiguration Made Easy by Mathew Landry
Potions Ingredients and additives by Margo Husk
Plants, Fungi, and more… by Leon Branch
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: American Ed.
By Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection
by Quentin Trimble
OTHER SUPPLIES
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, size 3)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
Students are allowed to have 1 pet, and first years are not allowed to have their own brooms.
This was quite a list. The first shop I could see was on my right. Its window was stacked full of cauldrons. This was our first stop! Two hours, and half a bag of coins later, we had everything on the list. Then it was back home to wait for August to arrive swiftly.
The day finally arrived, and I was so excited I could hardly contain myself. My mother helped me pack my bags into the car and started to drive me to the train station in Memphis. On the way there, she stopped at a building that was unfamiliar to me.
“Hold on for a minute. I have to get something here.” She left the car running and walked inside. She returned with a carrying case, and something was moving inside.
“Here.” She said fondly. “Here is something to keep you company.”
I looked into the case and saw a calico cat staring back at me.
“His name is Percy.”
“Percy?” I said with a scowl. “We can come up with something better that that, can’t we…Xavier?
My mother gave me an approving look. A few minutes later we headed into the station. We started to look around and then we realized we actually didn’t know where to go. We just figured we would be able to tell. I suddenly saw a girl that looked very familiar. It was Sarah.
Sarah Cate was a girl that had been at the same school as me. I’d had a crush on her for about a year now and couldn’t bring myself to tell her. She was wearing a pair of blue jeans, a nice button up shirt and…what was that clutched in her hand? It couldn’t be! She was holding an envelope from Adams.
I called out to her and she turned to look at me, and I froze. She and her mother (at least I assumed it was her mother) were walking toward us, and I didn’t know what to say.
“Hi, Lee. What are you doing here?” She smiled.
“Uhh…” I fumbled with words, until my mother interjected. She must have seen Sarah’s envelope, as she started a conversation with the pair in front of us.
“I see you got accepted at Adams also.”
“You are going to Adams, Lee?” Sarah asked. All I could do was nod. “We are heading for the train now. Want to walk with us?”
I couldn’t believe she was asking for my company.
“Yes please.” Her mother said. “I am glad to know that Sarah will have somebody she knows there. It is a relief.”
“Same here. I don’t feel as bad now.” My mother placed her hand on my shoulder. I know I must have turned a deep shade of red because at that moment Sarah began giggling. I was so embarrassed. The four of us walked toward the south end of the station while our mothers talked back and forth. Sarah tried making some chitchat, but all I could do was nod and look at the floor. We finally came to a wall that was completely blank. To the side there was a blind man sitting in a chair. For a moment I thought he’d looked at me. But, no, he was blind, wasn’t he?
“Adams?” He said.
“Yes, sir.” My mom answered shocked.
The man smiled and touched the wall beside him. He made a gesture we awe all understood. We were to walk stealthily through (wow this is weird) the wall. Our mothers gave us final kisses, and off we went. I gestured Sarah to go first and she did so, but very hesitantly. I followed with as much excitement as anxiety.
When I had passed through I found Sarah waiting for me and we stood upon a platform in front of a huge Blue and White train. There were children all over, boarding. Finally I was here! I could hardly believe it.
After we got our luggage settled and found a compartment, I had finally found my voice. Sitting with Sarah, alone, and all I could say was, “So what do you think about all of this?
“I am still unsure. I’m really looking forward to it, but it’s still so unbelievable. I feel like I could wake up at any moment.”
“Yeah, I feel the same way. But at least we each know somebody now.”
“Yeah that is good isn’t it?”
Just then the door opened. Two girls were standing in the doorway.
“Is there room in here for two more?” The first one asked.
“Yeah sure, come in.” I replied. They looked alike. Probably sisters. They both were slightly tanned with long brown hair and green eyes. The one who had spoken was definitely a few years older, while the other was about my age.
“Hi,” the oldest girl said, “My name is Jeanna, and this is my younger sister Sheryl. You two first years?\"
“Yes” we answered in unison.
“So is Sheryl. This is my third year. You guys are going to love it. What did you say your names were again?”
“Oh, I am Lee Rushing, and this is Sarah Cate.”
“Glad to meet you. What house du thu think you will be placed in?”
Sarah and I exchanged a glance.
“House?”
“You mean to tell me you don’t know?”
“Know what?”
“Okay, it isn’t that big of a deal. There are 3 houses at Adams. You will be placed into the one that fits your personality. There is house Appleseed, which I am in, Eaglefeather, and Smith.”
“How does personality fit into it?” Sarah interceded.
“Simply put, the adventurous, extraverted, and courageous ones end up in Appleseed. The spiritual, stout, and noble ones end up in Eaglefeather. And those of ambition, drive, and determination end up in Smith.”
Over the next few hours, as we made our way to Boston, Jeanna educated us on some of the things that would happen, some of her experiences and then we tried to speculate which house we would be in. As the train neared the school we changed into our robes and prepared to greet our new lives.
A/N: OK this chapter is now updated and fixed. I must give thanks to lovethepotionboy. She is an excellent...uhh...gramaticist...heheheh. Thank you again. And she has a story called Its all done with mirrors that you should definetly check out.