The Girl in my Dreams

The Girl In My Dreams
Chapter 1
Night of the Witch

Val Bradley's adventures with goblins were not the first of the strange things to happen to the girl, and it certainly would not be the last.

Val Bradley was a Muggle born witch, an American at that, but she had no clue that such a thing was true, and if her parents got their way, she never would know.

Unfortunately, it would be almost impossible to hide the truth from Val. The twins, Jenny and Karly, had learned that their little sister was a witch during the goblin-kidnapping ordeal, and Brandon Bradley had an idea that it would be Jenny who ultimately revealed the truth.

Or not.

It was a dark night, and there was a lightning storm that lit the sky brightly every few seconds. Val was sitting on the back porch with Jenny, just watching it, when she turned to her older sister.

"Jenny? What's Dad hiding from me?" Val looked so innocent, and Jenny wished she could tell her sister the truth, but she couldn't manage it. Part of Jenny didn't want to disobey her father, but the other part wanted her sister to know the truth, to know what she was. The first part won.

"What'd you mean?" Jenny said, trying to sound as if she knew nothing. Val looked at her angrily.

"Don't play stupid with me, Jen, I know you and Karly are hiding something from me, and so are Dad and Mom, and I want to know what it is! It's about me, and you know it, Jenny." Jenny frowned.

"I can't tell, Val. There's nothing to know. Soon it will be over, and you can know, but for now, we have to keep things quiet."

"I want to know, Jenny!" Val was pleading with her sister to tell, but Jenny shook her head.

"It's July 20 today, right?" Val nodded angrily.

"We'll tell you sometime in September, 'kay, Val?" Val remained quiet for a moment, and then spoke.

"No, Jen, it's not okay. All of you know something about me that I don't, and I don't thinks it's fair."

"Damn it, Val, you think I don't want to tell you? If I tell, I'm dead meat, and you're better off not knowing." With that, Jenny stood up and left her sister alone with the lightning storm.

Val stood up, and walked slowly up to bed.

The next day, Val was the one to get the mail, and there was a letter addressed in green ink, 'Miss Valerie Bradley.' Val took the letter, and threw the rest on the table. She peeled it open carefully, and read it three times through. What she read she didn't believe.

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 Bradley,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress

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' clothes should carry name tags.

COURSE BOOKS:
All students should have a copy 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 Phllida 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 Tremble

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.

Val gasped, and yelled for anyone in her family, she didn't care who, just as long as she shared this incredible thing with anyone.

Unfortunately, it was Elizabeth and Brandon who arrived first.

"I'm a witch, I'm a witch, and they want me to go to a school for witches and wizards like me!" Both of her parents turned ghostly pale.

"No," Elizabeth said in horror.

"What? This is what I've always dreamed of, what are you people so horrified about?"

"You're not going to this school, Val, I won't allow it," Brandon said angrily.

"Why not?" Val asked, hurt

"Yes, why not, Brandon?" said a voice. Val turned around and saw a woman who she had never before in her life seen. She had green eyes and dark brown hair. She was a short woman, not a whole lot taller than Val herself, but she was commanding, and her voice carried an air of confidence.

"Marcie," Brandon whispered angrily.

"What is going on here? Who are you," she said, looking at the woman her father had just addressed, "And why on earth can't I go to this Hogwarts place?"

"Ah, Val, forgive me for not introducing myself. My name is Marcie Fenton, and this is my sister, Elizabeth Fenton Bradley. I'm a Muggle born witch."

"What's a Muggle?" Val interrupted.

"Non-magic folk, like your mum, dad, and Karly. You're a Muggle born witch as well. I've known since your birth that you were different, and Jenny as well, but as soon as Jenny got a letter from Hogwarts, asking her to attend, they ordered I erase her memory, and never, ever, return to this house again. They banished me, in other words."

"Why? And why can't I go to Hogwarts?" Val persisted.

"Because your mother and I don't approve of magic. I don't want a witch in this house."

"BUT I WANT TO GO!" Val yelled angrily. Brandon sighed, and Elizabeth nodded. Obviously, the two had planned on this.

"If you become a witch, know that you are NOT welcome in this house anymore. You will find somewhere else to live."

"I'll take her in," Marcie offered. Val looked at her aunt hopefully. She had never felt that she belonged in the Bradley house, had always felt like a bit of an outcast, and now she understood why. She wanted to go and learn how to use her powers, to learn more about what she was.

"It's your choice, Val," Elizabeth said coldly.

"I want to be a witch. I want to go to Hogwarts. So, I've decided to go with Aunt Marcie."

"Pack and leave then. Witches aren't welcome here, are they, Marcie?" Marcie shook her head angrily.

Val packed as quickly as she could, without another word to the family she had grown up with. If they wanted her out for becoming what she'd always wanted to be, then she'd get out and start a new life. Fine with her.

Jenny was the only one who said good-bye to Val. Val wondered if Jenny knew that she was a witch, too, but she knew that Jenny didn't know, and probably never would.

That morning, Val Bradley left behind the life she had lived for the past ten years as a Muggle, and soon she would be a witch.

"Aunt Marcie, where are we going?" Marcie looked at her, and shook her head.

"To England. I live in a small house on Ottery Street Catchpole. There is a wizarding family down the street, the Weasley's, and they have twins your age. Fred and George, I think. They're going to Hogwarts, too."

"Is Hogwarts in England?"

"Well, no one knows exactly for sure where Hogwarts is, but it's believed to be in Scotland."

"Then why was I invited? I'm an American, Aunt Marcie."

"Not really, dear. Your mum grew up in England, and I still live there. I was one of the better witches in my day, and you should be better than I was. If that's true, well...... Let's just say that there are no American schools of magic that are even close to being as good as Hogwarts. Do you understand?"

"I guess so, but I suppose I'll be a bit clueless about wizard stuff when I get to Hogwarts, right?"

"Yes, but I'll try and fill you in on as much as I possibly can. Let's see......... Quidditch."

"What?"

"Quidditch. It's the wizarding world's sport. Everyone follows it, sort of like how Muggle's follow hockey."

"Hockey? I hate hockey."

"It's more like basketball on brooms, with a bit of baseball thrown in. You fly through the air on brooms, and there are seven members on a teem. There are three Chasers, two Beaters, a Seeker, and a Keeper. There are four balls used in the sport, the Quaffle, two Bludgers, and a Golden Snitch. The three Chasers pass the Quaffle back and forth and try to score in one of the three golden hoops in the air. The Keeper tries to prevent the Chasers from scoring. Each time you score you get ten points. Then there are the Beaters. They carry around clubs, and they hit the two Bludgers at opponents to try and stop the other team from scoring or something. The game ends only when the Seeker catches the tiny Golden Snitch. It is worth one hundred and fifty points, and most times the team whose Seeker catches the Snitch wins, but not always. Do you understand, Val?"

"Not really, but I'll catch on, I think."

"All right. Sorry I couldn't make it clearer, doll."

"It's okay. What else do I need to know about?"

"You need to know about........ You-Know-Who."

"Who is You-Know-Who, and why don't you say his name?"

"His name is.............. His name is Voldemort, but don't make me say it again. He was a horrible, horrible man........ He wasn't even really a man, he had made himself practically immortal. He was awful, out to kill all who refused to follow him."

"What happened?"

"He just vanished."

"What- how?"

"He was just about to get almost everyone out of his way that really mattered. The night he fell, he had just killed James Potter, and then was out to kill his son, Harry. But Lily Potter demanded that he kill her, not Harry, so he did, and then he attempted to kill Harry, but............"

"But what, Aunt Marcie?"

"He couldn't kill that little boy."

"Wow."

"Yes, wow."

The two sat in silence, before Marcie said, "Houses. You need to know about the four houses of Hogwarts. On your first night, you are sorted into one of the four houses. Slytherin is the worst, pray you're not in it. It's full of You-Know-Who's supporter's kids, and all the dark wizards that came from Hogwarts were Slytherins. Hufflepuff is supposed to be full of riff-raffs, but I was a Hufflepuff, and there's nothing wrong with it, it is by far better than Slytherin. Ravenclaws are supposed to be the smart ones, and it's a pretty good house, but everyone says Gryffindor is the best. They say all the brave ones, the ones that stand up to You-Know-Who types, are from there."

"I want to be in Gryffindor, then," she said.

"I hope that you get what you want, doll."

Val was already enjoying life with her aunt much more than life at the Bradley house. It was much more pleasant, and she could do what she wanted, including read in her private library all day long.

Finally, two weeks before Hogwarts was to start, Marcie decided it was time to go into Diagon Alley and get her things for school.

They went into London, and Val was looking for some magnificent entrance, but there was one nowhere to be seen. Instead, Marcie lead her into a dumpy little pub called the Leaky Cauldron.

"This is the great entrance to this big wizard place?" Val asked in disbelief.

"I know it's not some big glamorous thing like you expected, but honey, you haven't seen Diagon Alley yet." Marcie quickly led Val through the pub and out the back door into a little courtyard. There was a brick wall, and Marcie tapped on it with her wand-Val didn't pay attention to exactly what she was doing, but somehow, the wall turned into an archway. Val looked through it, and gasped when she saw a street full of shops.

"Welcome to Diagon Alley," Marcie said, laughing as Val followed her. There were so many shops, and Val wanted to go into them all. Marcie laughed again when Val told her this.

"We have to get money out of Gringott's first," she said.

"Gringott's? What's that?" Val asked.

"Gringott's is the wizard bank. It's run by goblins."

"Goblins?" Val asked, shaking from head to toe.

"Why are you afraid of goblins, honey?" Marcie asked, and Val told her the story of the goblin that had kidnapped her.

"Oh, Val, American goblins aren't the same as the ones over here. These goblin's are perfectly friendly." So Val, feeling a bit more easy about going into a place run by goblins, went inside with her aunt.

Marcie led her to a cart, and Val got into it eagerly. Marcie told the goblin that was leading them her vault number, then turned to Val and said, "I always get a bit uneasy when I ride in these things."

The cart took off at a lightning pace, and Val's ponytail whipped in the wind. When the cart stopped in front of a vault, Marcie looked sick, but Val couldn't wait to get the cart going again.

"You actually enjoy riding in this infernal cart?" Marcie asked.

"Yeah. It's just like a roller coaster," Val said, laughing. Marcie scooped odd looking coins up from the vault, and then climbed back into the cart.

"What are these things?" Val asked, and Marcie explained about Knuts, Sickles, and Galleons as quickly as she could, but as soon as the cart started, she shut her mouth.

A few minutes later, the two were walking in the sun, and Marcie led Val to a place called Ollivander's.

"This is where we get you a wand," Marcie said as they entered the peculiar little store.

"Ah, Miss Fenton, I've been expecting you. 12 inches, hickory and dragon heart string, I believe?" Marcie nodded as the strange man came up to them from behind the counter.

"And this must be your niece, Valerie. I have been selling wands for a very long time, madam, and I never forget a single wand I sell." Val got a creepy feeling as the man spoke to her.

"Ah, forgive me for not introducing myself. The name's Ollivander." He shut up then, and then he handed her a wand.

"Hickory, 9 inches, unicorn tail. Wave it over your head." Val did so, and nothing happened. Mr. Ollivander snatched the wand back.

"Maple, 12 inches, phoenix feather." She waved this one above her head with the same result.

Val tried wand after wand, but each had the same effect as the first.

"7 and a half inches, pine, with a veela hair. Very uncommon mix. Try it." Val took the wand and waved it over her head. Sparks flew from the end of the wand, and Mr. Ollivander cried, "Excellent." He put the wand back in it's box and handed it to Marcie, who then paid for it and exited.

"Aunt Marcie, what's a veela?"

"Well, it's hard to explain. Have you heard Muggle legends with sirens in them?"

"Yes, many."

"A veela is quite like a siren, only they don't attract with a song, but with their beautiful looks. I pray that you never meet a veela, Val."

"Why?"

"Just trust me, okay?" Val nodded, and the two walked on down the street. They went into Madam Malkin's and got robes, Flourish and Blott's for books, the Apothecary for Potion's ingredients, and finally, they went into a pet emporium.

"What would you like? I don't want you to be without a companion."

"Um, I don't know."

"Might I suggest an owl, Miss? They're dead useful, carrying your mail for you, and they make good pets as well." Neither had noticed the salesman come up behind them.

"That sounds like a good idea. May I get an owl, Aunt Marcie?"

"Sure. Just pick one out." Val picked a night owl that had brown and white feathers, with hints of black thrown in. She said it was beautiful.

"What are you going to name it?" Marcie asked as they walked back into the sun of Diagon Alley.

Val thought a moment, then said, "Porter. She was my best friend back in Rhode Island."

"Good choice, Val. Do you want to go home now, or go into Quality Quidditch Supplies?"

"Well, as much as I'd love to see all of Diagon Alley, I have something I wanted to watch on television."

"There are no televisions at Hogwarts, you know."

"That's what I figured. That's why I want to watch as much as possible before going to Hogwarts." Marcie rolled her eyes at her niece, who was still a Muggle at heart, and they returned back to their home on Ottery St. Catchpole.

That night, Marcie had visitors for the first time since Val had arrived. The doorbell rang, and Val opened the door to see a red-headed boy that looked about her age.

"Hi, I'm George Weasley," he said. Val's first impression was that he was not shy at all.

"Val. Bradley."

"I've never met you before. Does Miss Fenton still live here?"

"Oh, yeah. I'm her niece. I moved in with her so that I could attend school."

Just then, Marcie came down and interrupted the conversation.

"Oh, hello, er......"

"George. It's okay, not many people can tell Fred and I apart, I get it all the time." Marcie smiled.

"Val, this is George Weasley, from down the street. He's one of the twins I told you about."

"Yes, we've just met. If you don't mind, I'm going to go watch the end of the Braves game."

"Braves?" George asked after Val had left.

"It's an America baseball team."

"Is that where she's from?"

"Yeah."

"The states, right? I can tell by her accent and her attitude."

"The states, all right. And a damn Yankee at that."

"Miss Fenton?"

"Marcie, George."

"Marcie, what's baseball?"

"It's one of their sports. I had to enchant the television so that I got the channels she wanted."

"Oh. Well, my mum asked me to bring you this," he said, handing her a basket.

"Thank you very much, George."

"Your welcome. By the way, is Val going to Hogwarts like Fred and I are?"

"Yes." With that, George left.

The next day, he was back, and he had brought a boy identical to himself with him.

"I'm Fred," the other one said, introducing himself to Val. The boys had come to see if she wanted pre-Hogwarts flying lessons, since she was a Muggle-born and had never touched a magical broom before in her life.

Val graciously accepted the offer, and spent the day in the broom. She was a bit shaky at first, but by the time she was ready to go home, she was flying like a pro.

After that day, the Weasley twins walked down to Val's aunt's house, asking if she wanted to do some wizarding thing or other. She accepted each time, and each day she felt more and more comfortable with the idea of going to Hogwarts.

Finally, it was August 31st. Marcie had told her to go to bed at ten, but Val was restless, and Marcie gave her permission to sit up and watch the Braves game, which, instead of starting at six, had started at nine-thirty.

The game went into extra innings, and by the time it ended, she was finally weary enough to sleep. Marcie had promised her that if she needed more sleep she could sleep during the train ride to Hogwarts.

So at one o'clock in the morning, September 1st, only a few short hours before the start of the rest of her life, Val Bradley fell into a peaceful sleep.

To be continued....................