Salem

Maria had always been a bit different from other children. While other children liked to go outside and play, ride their bikes, or in general be kids, Maria liked to sit in her room and read books, often day dreaming on what it would be like to live in such a world. Often, she would get into trouble for not paying attention in school. She didn't have many friends at school, and mostly kept to herself. Maria had no brothers or sisters; being an only child, so most of the time she was left alone to her own devices. But there was something else that was a little bit different. Maria could do things that were baffling to the normal human being. If Maria wanted something, it would come floating to her. She also had a strange attraction to animals, owls mostly. They always seemed to watch her carefully. Her parents thought it was normal and accepted her, no matter what weird things she was able to do.

Maria was a very slight girl for her age. Very small, so it wasn't any surprise she was picked on. She had mousey brown hair, and thick black glasses she was constantly pushing up on her nose. Despite her quiet and shy disposition, she was very sweet, and caring. She loved to help others when she could.

It was the middle of summer vacation. She would be starting middle school the next school year and leaving her primary school behind. Her mother and she had already gone school shopping for the up-coming semester in the following four weeks. But for Maria, today was a special day; July 31st, her birthday. She was turning eleven, and they were to travel to Boston. Maria couldn't sleep the night before. She was too excited about the day ahead to sleep. As she showered and got ready for the day, she barely noticed the owl that flew by her window. She was so used to it, she didn't notice anymore. Maria then bounded down the stairs her home, and into the kitchen.

"Good morning momma!" Maria said as she sat at the breakfast table. Her mother had made her favorite breakfast; blueberry pancakes, bacon, and orange juice. Loading her plate full of fluffy steaming pancakes, crispy bacon, and a large glass of orange juice, she dug in and ate to her hearts content.

"Are you excited about today, my dear?" Lydia Carondolette asked as she watched her daughter devour her breakfast. She could barely believe her little Maria was eleven today. It seemed just like yesterday that she was in her diaper and toddling around the living room with her favorite yellow stuffed rabbit, giggling, and getting into things.

"I am so excited; I can't wait to go to Boston!" Maria exclaimed through a mouth full of blueberry syrupy awesomeness.

"Maria, don't talk with your mouth full, how many times do I need to tell you?" Her mother chastised while unloading more pancakes onto the serving plate, and turning off the burner to the stove. Maria swallowed and apologized to her mother, when her father walked in.

"Maria, don't worry about her! It's your special day, bug, you do what you want." Marcus Carondolette exclaimed as he poured himself some orange juice. "Marcus! Just because it's her birthday, doesn't mean that excuses her manners!" Lydia exclaimed as she sat at the table with her coffee. Maria just sat and watched her parents with a smile on her face, as she finished her breakfast. She then gathered her dishes put them in the dishwasher, kissed her parents on their cheeks.

"I'm going upstairs to get ready. " Maria exclaimed as she headed upstairs two stairs at a time. Maria packed her bag with a few odds and ends things to take with her, such as a book to read on the way to Boston, her camera, and some money she had saved. She headed back downstairs, and bounced back into the kitchen, as her mother was finishing cleaning up the kitchen.

"All ready to go, bug?" Her father asked as he finished his orange juice. For a mere 32, He had tousled brown hair with no gray and stood about six-foot, with blue eyes. Her mother on the other hand, had auburn hair that rested gently on her shoulders, with green eyes. Maria looked more like her father, but had her mother's green eyes.

Once the family made it to the car, with the house all locked up, they made their way to Boston. Maria was too excited to read, and she jabbered on about how they were going out for lunch, to see some historical something or other, and see many other interesting things. One the way, they stopped for ice cream. While they sat out to eat, Maria's father noticed something peculiar; an owl in the middle of the day. It sat and watched the three of them as they enjoyed their ice cream, before flying off, as if it were watching them purposely.

"Where can we go first, dad?" Maria asked, breaking her father's thought of the peculiar owl. "Oh, I don't know. How about… we go to Quincy market?" Maria squealed with joy. She had always wanted to visit the market, but her parents never allowed it in fear of losing her among the many people that flock there in the summer time. Quincy market was a cluster of old buildings with dozens of shops and different vendors that would sell their unique products. There were also street performers, along with different carts for different things. Many of the buildings were built in the early 1820's and very old.

They headed down the road once more and finally into Boston. They eventually found parking around the Market, and headed in. Maria couldn't believe her eyes, and how many people were there. She failed to notice the owl her father discovered earlier, because she was so distracted by the many wonderful smells, and sights.

Overall, it was a very exhausting day. Marcus, Lydia, and Maria spent the entire day at the market. On the drive home, Maria fell asleep, from so much excitement. Her father allowed her to buy one thing from the market with her own money, and she bought a small gold necklace, with a gold ball charm that had wings. She didn't know what it was, but she thought it was absolutely lovely. She had put it on immediately. What she didn't realize, was once she put the necklace on, a very peculiar thing happened with the tiny gold ball with wings. It had fluttered slightly.

Meanwhile as Maria slept in the backseat, her father noticed a movement alongside the car. "Lydia." He said quietly, as to not disturb his daughter as she slept. "I saw that same exact owl earlier today on the way to the market. Do you think it's a school owl?" Marcus asked his wife.

"It might be… she'll probably get her letter tomorrow, and to think we haven't told her anything."

They rode in silence the rest of the way home. By the time they arrived, the owl had disappeared and they saw nothing of it for the rest of the night. Marcus carried Maria up to her room and into bed.

Maria dreamt that night. She dreamt about the small golden ball with wings, as it flew about her head. She tried to catch it but it was too fast. She heard someone say something about a snitch, and somehow she realized she was on… a broom? She was flying on a broom? As Maria dreamt about the snitch and being on the broom, she somehow realized she was supposed to chase the flying orb, and try to catch it before someone else did. She gave chase, and just as she was about to wrap her hands around the little ball…. She awoke, forgetting the dream. It was morning, the day after her birthday, and it all came rushing back to her; the market, the necklace.

Maria got out of bed and made her way downstairs to the kitchen. Lydia had already made breakfast – eggs and toast – and Maria was just about to help herself to some toast when there peck at the kitchen window. She looked up and there was an owl sitting on the outside sill, with an envelope in its beak. Curiously, Maria opened the window, and took the envelope, and watched the owl fly off. She looked down, and with some surprise, saw that the envelope was addressed to her.

"What's that, Maria?" Lydia asked as she sat at the table.

"It's a letter addressed to me."

Just then there was a knock on the front door. Maria heard her father open the door, and sounded very excited. As Maria and her mother entered the room, her father was hugging the man that was standing in the door way. It seemed Lydia recognized the man as well, as she went and welcomed him to their home.

"Maria, this is Andrew Parris. He was an old school friend of mine and your mother's."

Maria hid behind her father, muttering a small hello. She didn't like strangers.

"What are you doing here Andrew? It's not like you to turn up unannounced." Lydia asked as she took his coat.

"Well, I'm surprised you haven't guessed. It is the day after Maria's eleventh birthday, isn't it?" The man asked.

"You mean you work for the school now?" Marcus asked. "Come you must be hungry, we can talk about this at the breakfast table." Everyone made their way to the kitchen, and Lydia sat another place at the table. Meanwhile Maria studied the strange man that say across from her at the table. She noted he had very dark hair, and wore some kind of robe that was very long and black, with a purple vest, and tie. He seemed a very stately man.

"Maria, we have some things we need to discuss with you." Lydia said as she sat down next her daughter. "In fact, you know the letter you got this morning? It has everything to do with that."

"Okay…" Maria wasn't sure what she had done, or even that she was in trouble for something.

"Your mother, our guest, and I went to a very different school. One for…" Marcus paused as he searched for the right word. "One for gifted people."

"You mean college?" Maria asked curiously.

"No," Her mother laughed, "this was before college. Your father and I met at this school when we were your age. We were in the same grade with our friend, Mr. Parris. Why don't you open your letter, and we'll explain from there."

Maria turned the envelope over that had been sitting on the table, and broke the wax seal from the paper, and slid out the contents inside.

"Crowmist School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Headmaster Sirius Ardungus

(Order of Merlin First class)

Dear Ms. Carondolette,

We cordially invite you to attend Crowmist School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Enclosed you will find a list of supplies needed for next term.

Term starts on September 1st. We will await your reply no later than August 12th.

Sincerely Yours,

Miranda Rouse

Deputy Headmistress"

What…?" Maria was speechless. Was this some sort of cruel prank her parents were playing on her? Overall she was very confused, and it showed on her face as she looked at the three adults sitting before her.

"My god, you guys didn't tell her she's a witch?" Andrew spoke up finally.

"We thought it best we didn't, being we wanted her to go to a public school until she was eleven." Marcus explained. "We wanted her to have a good education, but not use her gift on others."

"I can't be a witch. They aren't real. They only exist in fantasy and in books. There's no way." Maria finally said when she found her voice. She had never seen her parents do anything magical. "None of you are funny. I can't believe you would play a bad joke on me." Maria burst into tears. She was heartbroken her parents would do such a thing. To her, they were as bad as the kids at school. She had become sensitive in such a way that even the smallest things hurt her feelings.

"Maria…" Lydia tried to hug her daughter, but Maria pushed her away and ran from the room before anyone could explain anything to her. "I'll go talk to her." Lydia went after her daughter, and up to her room where she had gone to hide. Lydia found her curled up in her bed, crying into a pillow.

"Maria."

"GO AWAY." Maria sobbed.

"Maria." Lydia said more firmly. "Maria, you look at me this instant." Maria stayed where she was, still crying. Lydia pulled out her wand she kept hidden in a special pocket in her sleeve.

"Accio Pillow." She demanded. The pillow dislodged itself from Maria's grip and Lydia caught the pillow in one hand. Maria immediately stopped crying and looked at her mother absolutely astonished. She was too shocked to keep crying, although tears still streamed down her face. Lydia sat on the bed next to her daughter.

"Maria, you are very special. I know you read lots of books. And I also know how you wish you could be with those characters in those books. I see how you engross yourself into your fairy tales with witches and knights. Let me tell you, none of those books are as real as this is right now. This is very real, bug. You are one of those characters in your book. You just didn't know it."

It was true; Maria often wished she could be like the characters in her books. They were so brave and could do so many amazing things. She wanted to go to faraway lands, and fight trolls, and giants; save magical kingdoms from dragons. She wanted be able to do magic, and fight dark wizards.

"Y..you're not lying, then?" Maria questioned, with tear-stained cheeks and a runny nose.

"No bug. Why don't you come back downstairs and we'll explain everything, okay?" Maria nodded and followed her mother downstairs where her father and Mr. Parris were waiting.

"There are my girls." Marcus exclaimed as they re-entered the room and sat back at the table. "Everything sorted out?"

"Yes, Marcus. Now, let's explain things to Maria, she's very confused." Lydia said as she resumed her place beside her husband.

"Maria, your mother and I went to a different school. It's not a public school, as it's very special. It's only for witches and wizards. You see, when we reach the age of eleven, we are invited to attend this school. We – your mother Andrew and I – have already attended school, and now it's your turn."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Maria asked. She had never seen her parents use magic a day in her life. "Why didn't you use magic?"

"We wanted you to know what it's like to have a normal childhood a muggle has—"

"What's a muggle?"

"A muggle is a non-magical person; someone who can't use magic like we can. You see, there have been witches and wizards since the beginning of time, when man first roamed the earth. We used to live in harmony with muggles, until they started to develop religions, and then we were ostracized for our abilities. We – wizards and witches – went into hiding and have been keeping our existence a secret ever since. There are very few muggles that know of our existence, and we like to keep it that way." Andrew explained. "So you can't tell anyone, okay?" Maria nodded. Who was she going to tell? Mandy, her only friend from school, but even then she can't keep secrets.

There was a brief silence for a time, before it was broken by Marcus.

"What brings you here, Andrew? I guess you work for Crowmist these days?"

"I was in the neighborhood and thought I would drop in for a bit. I wasn't expecting this kind of visit though. I guess I could explain to Maria what Crowmist is."

"What is it?" Maria wondered; she was very curious about the school.

"Crowmist is a boarding school in North Carolina. It's only for witches and wizards. You only attend for seven years, and then you graduate. I'm one of the many professors in the school."

"What do you teach?" Maria asked. She was warming up to the man in front of her as he explained more and more of her new life.

"I teach transfiguration, or the ability to transform objects into different objects. Let me show you." Andrew drew out his wand, and tapped the milk jug in front of Maria. She watched in awe as it transformed into a real miniature figurine sized horse. It trotted around the table and whinnied. Andrew then tapped the horse very gently, and it transformed back into a jug of milk. "I am also an Animagus. I can transform into an animal at will."

"Can you do that too, mom?" Maria asked. She pondered the abilities her parents had to those of Mr. Parris. They did go to the same school, after all.

"No, I can't turn into an animal, but I can do many other wonderful things, and so can your father."

"Will you tell me more about the school?"

"Actually, I think we'll let you figure that one out for yourself, Maria. It's not really something that can be explained. You have to experience it to really get the majesty of it. I will let you know it's wonderful. You'll make lots of new friends, and you'll be happy there." Maria didn't answer right away, as she speculated what things would be like once she went away to school. She really didn't like the idea of leaving her parents for nine months to North Carolina.

"Is there a library?"

"Yes, a massive one. With all the books you could ever read." Marcus answered, delighting Maria more than he could even fathom.

For the next hour, Maria fired questions and received answers about how magic works, what the school is like, and what her parents could do. They demonstrated many things to Maria, as she watched in awe. Eventually though, it was time for Andrew Parris to be on his way.

"Well, I'm off. I have school business to take care of; a muggle family needs my assistance in telling them about their magical child. I bet you can only imagine what that's going to be like, eh, Marcus?" Andrew said as he draped his coat over his arm. It had been a chilly morning.

"All too well, my friend. You take care. We'll see you in about two weeks then?"

"Yeah, we have to take Maria to get her things from Arcane Avenue to get her school supplies, and I'll meet you there. We can make a day of it! See you then, Marcus, It was nice to see you again Lydia."

Everyone said their goodbyes and with a loud audible crack, Andrew Parris disappeared into thin air.

Author's Note:

I wanted to let you know I poured myself into the character of Maria. It's almost as if she is a living embodiment of me, and probably many of you. Not to say you were picked on in school, but I bet many of you wished you could be the characters in the stories read, especially harry potter. I'm proud to say I'm still waiting on my letter from Hogwarts that will never come. In this story, the girl who thought she could never could be in her books gets the chance to be that character. She gets to go on the adventure that all of us dream of going on. I hope you stick with her, and go on the journey with Maria as she grows, like you did with Harry, and let her be the character you always wished you could be.

Please, read and review, and let me know the things that need fixing! Next is the revision of chapter 2!