Cleo Lilington

Backstory

I would like to say I couldn't believe it when I got my Hogwarts letter, but that's not the entire truth. I only read a sentence and I was screaming, at my sister, at my parents, that I was a witch. How long I had been waiting for a sign that I was magical! How long I had been searching for a home like Hogwarts! I had dreams and fantasies, but this was the truth.

It was my parents who didn't believe it. My dad said something about a prank and my mom scoffed and they threw my letter away, but at night me and my sister whispered about Hogwarts to each other. We talked about the strange times. When I was four: how my broken arm had healed in two days. When I was nine: late to school, didn't know where my keys were, and I turned and suddenly they were they. When I was five: how I had thrown twenty textbooks across a hallway during a fit.

I went to Diagon Alley, alone. A woman came over to the house and tried to explain everything to my parents but they refused to listen. I ran away, then, went with her, and knew then that magic was real. I was returned to my house promptly the next morning: my parents called it a kidnapping and refused to let me go to this "Hogwarts."

But I snuck out. My sister helped me; wished me luck. I cut school September 1st. Went to the platform, and when I saw I had to go to nine and three quarters, I didn't hesitate. I was sure this was real. I tapped the brick wall, once, twice, and saw I could go through it -- and I did. I ran straight through that brick wall, leaving only a note behind.

"I believe in Hogwarts. I wish you did too.

I promise I'll write."