Cynthia MacLanley

1853: The Letter

There came a scratching at the window early in the morning. Elfrida tapped the spoon in the breakfast porridge with her wand, and it slowly stirred itself as she opened the latch. A small barn owl swooped into the kitchen and deposited three letters on the table before flying off to its roost in the attic. Elfrida turned on the lamp, giving herself more light than the pale dawn's glow to read by.

The first was a letter from her older sister, whom Elfrida despised. She tossed it into the waste paper basket. It was probably another request for some of her famous recipes, which Elfrida would never give to anyone for any amount of Galleons, save perhaps for Cynthia when she grew up.

Elfrida sighed. Cynthia was such a handful. She always had imagined having a well-mannered, quiet little girl who would play with her magic dolls in the corner and learn enchanted embroidery. Instead, Donovan seemed to be raising her into a wild spitfire with very few of the delicate, feminine qualities that the slim, black-haired Elfrida treasured.

The next letter was for Donovan, from one of his Quidditch friends. What did they call themselves? The Banchory Banished? His father was on a rowdy team, called the Banchory Bangers, that had been dissolved in 1814 for some ludicrous action. The team had played on in secret, and now it was the next generation that continued to play Quidditch scrimmages somewhere privately. Elfrida found it rude that Donovan would be so attentive to the illegal sport, and hoped that when Cynthia was born, he would give up Quidditch. The opposite seemed to happen, and now Cynthia looked like the leader of the next generation of the Banchory Banished.

The last letter was thick, and in handwriting she didn't recognize. She realized that it was addressed to "Cynthia MacLanley, Moor Outside of Aboyne, Aberdeen, Scotland", and turned it over to see that the purple wax seal was the Hogwarts crest.

"Cynthia! Donovan! Come quick! She's go' 'er letter!"

Donovan appeared first, bleary-eyed and his wild yellow hair and beard pointing in every direction. He yawned, and moved out of the way of Cynthia, who was clomping down the steps as quick as she could in her pink nightgown.

"Oh, let me see, Mama!" Cynthia reached for it, but Elfrida held it out of her grasp.

"Just a minute, just a minute, Cynthia! Yer can't be goin' off ter Hogwarts so impatient-like. What er the other 'uns goin' to think of yeh?"

"Let 'er open it, Elfrida," countered Donovan, taking it out of his wife's hand and putting it into his daughters. Elfrida didn't say anything, and Donovan suspected she figured that was going to happen.

Entranced, Cynthia broke the wax seal and slowly slid out the two slips of parchment, reading them with relish in the lamplight.

~x~

Miss Cynthia MacLanley,

We are pleased to announce that you have been accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. You will find an enclosed list of required materials for your school year.

Term begins on September 1st. We are currently finishing a railway from Kings Cross Station directly to school grounds for those with less magical families, but this year it is advised for those who can to go to school a more practical way to avoid volume in the new platform.

We hope to see you, and if there are any questions or concerns, please send us an owl.

Antonio Scarelli,

Deputy Headmaster

~x~

She looked at her parents, who were both smiling proudly, and handed them the letter. She then slid out the next piece of parchment and continued.

~x~

First years students will need:

Clothing

- Three work robes and school uniforms as needed, available in most wizarding apparel stores

- Winter cloak for colder weather

- Dragonhide gloves

Equipment

- Wand

- Pewter cauldron, size 8 1/2

- Sturdy school bag

- Ink, quills, and ample parchment

Schoolbooks

- "Magical Theory" by Amelia Resdin

- "Conjuration and Spelling Primer (Year 1)" by Morgan Zirgonio

- "Important Dates and Advances in Wizardry" by Jakobee Fryer

- "From Twigs to Teaspoons; Beginner Transfiguration" by Imeda Switch

- "The Field Guide to Magical Fungi and Plantation" by Frederick Galasborg

- "Polarities in Enchantment; an Introduction to Dark Magic" by Anmarie Scelestus

Students may also bring pets, magic or otherwise, as long as they are not distracting and/or vicious and/or messy.

Quidditch tryouts are held on the second week of school.

~x~

"Papa! Quidditch tryouts on the second week o' school! Can I do it?"

Donovan smiled, and answered, uncharacteristically, "Why don't yeh ask yer Mama, Cyn?"

"Well, Mama? Can I?"

Elfrida sighed for a second time, looking at the letter she held in her hand. For a long time, she, and her husband and daughter, said nothing. Finally, she looked at Donovan calculatingly.

"What's the name of yer broom-maker?"

"Grimstone. 'E's down in Southern 'nglund. Finest brooms yeh'll ever see."

"But 'e's far away?" she asked.

"I could Disapp'rate an' be back in an hour."

"Yeh know I dun like yer App'rating."

"Elfrida, I 'aven't splinched in ten years."

"Yeah, I know. Well, yeh're gonna have to hope yeh don't this time."

He looked at her, surprised. "I kin go?"

"'Ell, o' course! How else is Cyn gonna get her broom fer Hogwarts?"

"Yipee!" squealed Cynthia, jumping up and down. "I'm gonna get me broom!"

"Elfrida, yeh've made me year," said Donovan happily, hugging his wife.

"Yeh, yeh, I know, I know," she replied, smiling weakly, as if she didn't want anyone to get any ideas. "Cynthia, get out yer blue dress an' yer good cloak. We'll be a-gettin yer Hogwarts things in Di'gon Alley terday while yer Papa gets yeh a broom." Cynthia jumped again in happiness and quickly clomped up the stairs into her room. "An', Donovan - git 'er somethin' good. I know the Sickles can git a lit'l tight aroun' here, but she really des'rves the best, aye?"

"Aye," he answered, turning off the stove and putting some porridge into a bowl. "Just a quick nip an' I'll be off."

"Yeh don't spend teh much time at this Grimstone's."

He slurped up the porridge. "Nay, Elfrida. I know what I git teh do. Yeh have a fun time in Di'gon with Cyn, all right?"

"I 'ill. I can' wait teh see the lit'l un - with a wand!"

"She's not the lit'l anymore," he replied, smiling, and he opened their secret compartment with a few taps of his wand to reveal a small pile of Knuts and Sickles. He took a handful and placed them carefully in an inside pocket of his green and black plaid robe. "I'll see yeh later, Elfrida."

"Take care, Donovan." She kissed her husband on the cheek and watched as he Disapparated with a bright pop.

Cynthia appeared. "Is Papa gone?" she asked.

"Aye. He'll be back when we're in Di'gon. Eat yer breakfast an' we'll go by Floo." She put a small bowl of porridge in front of her daughter. "I think yeh'll make a fine Beater, if I do say so meself."

The eleven-year-old looked at her mother incredulously. "Really?"

"Well, yeh've gotter be, what with all this practice Papa an' yeh are doin'."

Elfrida smirked as Cynthia giggled into her breakfast, glad that the secret was out.