Wizards, Witches and ... Muggles??

Chapter 1

The sun beat down over the houses of Hermitage Walk: it was the beginning of the six weeks summer holidays which meant that anyone who was anyone would be enjoying the long, hot, sunny days or getting ready to go on holiday.

Jamie-Rose and her best friend Laura were lounging around Laura's living room. Laura's mum, Jackie, had taken Laura's younger sister Ellie out, so Laura had the run of the house, which she liked very much.

Jamie-Rose and Laura had been friends since playgroup and had become close; they shared a lot of things in common like their passion for games, listening to music, hanging around with their friends and the love of the fantastic Harry Potter novels, which just happened to be what they were talking about.

They were waiting for the fifth book to be released, which was to happen on June 21^st.

"I bet she writes Hagrid out of it," commented Rose. She didn't like the Jamie part of her name so used simply 'Rose' instead.

"Nah, she said it would be a fan so I say one of the Creevey boys," replied Laura.

Struck with a sudden idea Rose replied, "Or it could be some like Sirius, Lupin or even Dumbledore."

Sniggering, Laura quipped, "You can't kill them off!"

"And why not?" questioned Rose, looking abashed.

"Because Black's too strong to be killed, I don't think anything can kill a bleeding werewolf, and Dumbledore isn't stupid enough to get himself caught," explained Laura.

"Gah! I'm not getting into an argument over this, let's change the subject," suggested Rose.

"Fair enough," agreed Laura, then added, "How are you getting book five?"

"Going into town, they're opening midnight so I think I'll be queuing with S.J and Rochelle," answered Rose. She was the eldest in her family, Sarah-Jane was second and Rochelle was the youngest.

"Will your mum let Rochelle come?" queried Laura.

All of Jamie-Rose's sisters got along when it came to talking about Harry Potter; the same went for Laura and Ellie. Normally they would fight like cat and dog, but start a conversation on H.P. and they would be friends quicker than lighting.

"Yeah, if I tell her Ellie will be there," answered Rose.

"Ellie wants to come anyway," mentioned Laura.

"What?" burst out Rose.

"She keeps begging me. Roz, what am I going to do?" questioned Laura, using Rose's nickname.

Glaring, Rose answered, "How about 'no'."

"If I say no then she'll tell Mum about me finding my Dad," explained Laura darkly. Laura's dad had left when her sister was born and her mum had forbidden him to see his daughters. After a couple of years he gave up trying to talk to them, but Laura wanted to see him now.

Throwing up her hands, Rose asked, "You told her?"

"No, she found out and don't ask how 'cause I don't know," explained Laura calmly.

"Fine, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap. Sorry," replied Rose.

"Yes, you're forgiven," answered Laura, smiling. "Now about Saturday?" she asked.

The two girls sat about for another couple of hours discussing plans on how they were going to make their parents let them go out at midnight: to buy a book no less.

Laura suggested saying that they were going out with friends, but Jamie-Rose didn't like the thought of lying to her parents, so they had to come up with a better solution.

Around dinner time that evening Laura's mum and sister returned, it looked as though they had been shopping as they were holding about six bags between them.

"Hello girls, enjoyed your day?" asked Jackie?

"Of course we did, we have no school or homework, it's fantastic," answered Laura enthusiastically.

"Good for you dear. Jamie-Rose, are you staying for dinner?" queried Jackie, dropping the bags on the floor.

Looking at the clock, Rose shrieked, "Crikey! No thank you Miss Blore, I was suppose to be home half an hour ago. I'll phone you later Loz. Bye." And she ran out the door.

Running two doors down, Rose came to a stop outside number 15. Taking a breath she opened the front door and tried to creep in. Unfortunately, the door didn't close quietly - it clicked shut rather loudly.

Sighing, Rose meandered into the living room. The first thing she saw as she entered was the fact that her sisters weren't anywhere to be seen, which was a sure sign she was in trouble. The second was that her mother was sitting in the chair and was staring at the TV, which was off. Taking a step forward Rose asked, "Mum?"

"JAMIE-ROSE LANG," bellowed Victoria, "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? I ASKED YOU TO COME HOME FOR HALF PAST FOUR! IT'S NOW QUARTER PAST FIVE!"

"I've been round at Laura's," answered Rose gently.

"I ASKED YOU TO COME HOME FOR HALF PAST FOUR AND YOU DIDN'T SHOW UP, SO YOU'RE GROUNDED FOR TWO DAYS," stated Victoria.

"What? You can't do that - it's not fair!" complained Rose.

"Jamie-Rose, you've been told, you'll phone Laura tonight and tell her," instructed Victoria. "Now, your dinner is getting cold."

Rose just nodded mutely and moved out of the living room and into the kitchen to eat her dinner, in total silence.

* * *

Around eight that night, when everyone else was sitting in the garden, Jamie-Rose phoned her best friend to tell her she was grounded for two days. Tapping the number into the phone it began to ring.

"Hello?" asked Jackie.

"Hi, is Laura there?" questioned Rose.

"Yes, just a minute," replied Jackie, handing the phone over to her eldest daughter.

"Hi Roz," greeted Laura.

"Hi Laura, I've got some bad news, I can't see you for two days," explained Rose.

"What? Why?" asked Laura.

"I got grounded for being late home," explained Rose.

"How late were you?" asked Laura.

"Fifteen minutes past five," answered Rose.

"Fifteen minutes! Roz, did you take a detour through China? It only takes you five minutes to go from here to your house!"

"No, I actually stopped because I came across a dog, you know I can't stand dogs," lied Rose.

"I give up. So I guess I'll see you Friday then?"

"Yep, I'll be around at eleven?"

"Okay, I'll see you then Roz. Bye."

"Bye," she replied, and the phone went dead. Placing it back down, Rose took off out of the room and up the stairs into her bedroom, where she stayed for the rest of the night.

* * *

Come Friday afternoon and Jamie-Rose and Laura still hadn't come up with a good enough reason for the them to be allowed to stay out late. They were sitting up in Rose's bedroom, which happened to be painted in green and gold, with posters of all her favourite bands tacked to the wall.

"How about saying we're staying over at someone's house?" suggested Laura.

"I don't want to lie though," answered Rose. "How about getting your mum to take us and then I'll be able to stay over and I won't have to tell my mum that I'm going to a bookshop."

Smiling Laura replied, "That's a brilliant idea,"

"Can I hear something buzzing?" asked Rose.

They both fell silent and sure enough there was a faint humming noise, looking around they decided it was coming from under the pillows. They lifted them up and Rose's mobile phone was there vibrating. Grabbing it she flipped it open and read the text message.

"Who's it from?" asked Laura.

"Mick, says he heard of a competition to meet J.K.R and was wondering if we would be interested in entering it," answered Rose.

"Of course, enter our names, and our sisters," responded Laura.

"Okay," replied Rose, texting her response.

They waited patiently for Mick to text them back; they received the message a couple of seconds later.

"Well, what does it say?" asked Laura impatiently.

"He says, buy the book with a ticket in it," answered Rose.

"What does that mean?" asked Laura confusedly.

"It means we buy the books with an interview ticket in it," answered Rose.

"Great, so I guess were leaving for the shop now?" asked Laura.

"Yep, I just got to let my mum know," answered Rose.

Both girls moved themselves out of the bedroom and down the stairs, they both ambled into the living room where Rose's mum and sisters were sitting,

"Mum?" asked Rose sweetly.

"Yes, what do you want?" asked her mum.

"Can I stay at Laura's tonight?" asked Rose, dropping her act.

"Jamie-Rose, you know we're going out tomorrow, don't you?" asked Victoria.

"Yes I know, but I promise to be home for lunchtime," promised Rose.

"Fine, go on," sighed Victoria.

"Thank you, mum you're the best," replied Rose, laughing.

"Just be careful," called her mum as both girls ran out the house.

They had cleared it with Jackie so that they could go out at half ten to get to the bookstore for quarter to eleven. Jackie had also agreed to let them go on their own, because as they pointed out, there would be thousands of people there and they wouldn't be alone.

* * *

Quarter to eleven at night found both Rose and Laura one of the first ten people in front of the shop, K.K Books, and younger kids surrounded them.

"Do you feel like the most oldest person here?" asked Rose.

Looking around Laura smiled and replied, "Yep, they better hurry up and open I'm freezing,"

Rose just nodded as the next group of kids joined the ever-growing queue.

* * *

Eleven fifty nine and there were more than five hundred people waiting outside, all waiting for the fifth book to be released. If someone had walked by at that moment and had not known what was going on then they would of thought something serious was happening or would be that scared at all the people. He or she would just run off.

"Hey Roz, there's only a minute left," commented Laura, consulting her watch.

"Good, are you going to stay up tonight and read it?" asked Rose.

"Definitely," answered Laura.

Just then the shop owner opened the doors, took a step out and called for attention. "Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, in exactly a minute's time I will have opened my doors for the release of the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix book. I hope you enjoy the book and now the best selling book over the Internet is now... RELEASED!" exclaimed the shop owner.

There was cheering from the crowd as the shop owner opened his doors. Everyone scrambled into the shop, Laura and Rose got to some books that hadn't been spotted at the back, grabbing five books between them they went up to the cashier to pay.

Laura only had two book, one for herself and one for her younger sister Ellie. Rose had three books one for herself, one for her sister Sarah-Jane and then one for her youngest sister Rochelle.

Laura paid twenty-seven pounds and ninety eight pence for two books. Jamie-Rose paid forty-one pounds and ninety seven pence for her three. Placing them in a carrier bag, both girls had to push their way out just to leave the shop, which still had a queue halfway down the street.

"Let's see if we got an interview ticket," commented Rose.

Heading back to Laura's house they made a little detour to the park, sitting down they each took a book out and opened it up. Rose opened her first book and one of the tickets fell out, jumping for joy she squealed with delight saying, "Yes, I'm going to meet J.K.R," and she began jumping around.

Laura opened her book, but didn't find one. Feeling slightly dejected she picked up the other book opening that book another one of the tickets fell out. Jumping up both girls began dancing around the park, both of them squealing with delight.

"Oh my god!" exclaimed Rose.

"We're going to meet her, the most famous author of our time," laughed Laura.

"We can asked loads of questions, like how she came up the idea for the books," suggested Rose.

"Or what's going to happen next. It is going to be the best day of my teenage life," beamed Laura, who began laughing hysterically again.

Both girls went back to Laura's house for an all night Harry Potter readathon. They made it back to Laura's at about half past twelve, creeping up to Laura's bedroom they got undressed and began reading the long awaited and now finally released fifth book.

* * *

About four o'clock that morning they were both crying, as they had finished the book and had read who died.

Closing her book Rose asked, "How stupid are we to cry over a book character?"

"We're not stupid, just mourning a great character," sobbed Laura, also closing her book.

"We'll miss Sirius Black, but I'll never forget him," stated Rose, "Rest in peace,"

"Rest in peace," agreed Laura.

There was a moment's silence as they paid their respects to their favourite character, after the silence they agreed to get some sleep. So closing off her lamp, Laura and Rose fell into a sleep finally coming down off the high that they had been on all night.

* * *

The interview was on August 28^th; there had been a news announcement on the six o'clock news the day after The Order of the Phoenix was released, naming all of the winners - the people who would be meeting the author.

Rose's mum was really happy for her daughter as she knew how much her daughter admired the woman's work, so she was all willing to let her go, but told her that she wouldn't be able to take as she was working that day.

Laura's mum was also chuffed that her daughter had won the competition and agreed to take both girls to see the author.

The morning of the 28^th dawned a bright, hot, sunny day with a very slight cool breeze. Jamie-Rose and Laura were getting ready to go.

"What do you think I should wear?" asked Laura, holding up a skirt and trousers.

"The trousers, they are smarter," answered Rose, who was wearing a mid length skirt.

"Okay," replied Laura, slipping into her trousers.

Half an hour later and they were on their way down to London, where J.K.R was waiting. It would take them about an hour and half to reach their destination.

Arriving at the Hilton Hotel in London they parked in their reserved space. Both girls jumped out the car and looked around; they noticed how elegant the surroundings were.

"I guess this is how the rich people live," commented Rose, taking in her surroundings.

"I'm beginning to think I should have worn the skirt," replied Laura.

"Come on girls; let's get inside," called Jackie, who was waiting at the door.

Rushing over to catch up, both girls were beginning to get nervous; they were going to meet J.K.R in person. Wouldn't anyone be nervous?

Coming to a stop at the reception, where a young brunette girl with, according to Laura, 'that much make up she'd put Deluxe paints out of business', was sitting.

"Excuse me miss?" asked Jackie.

"Yes, madam, what can I help you with?" asked the receptionist.

"My daughters here won a competition to meet Ms. Rowling," explained Jackie.

"You take the lift up to the seventh floor, come out the lift head straight down the corridor there should be some people already waiting," instructed the girl.

"Thank you miss. Come on girls," thanked Jackie.

"You're welcome. Oh, Ms. Rowling is seeing the winners in their groups," called the receptionist.

All three of them headed towards the lifts. The lift doors opened and they all stepped in. Jackie pressed the number seven, the doors rattled closed and it began to rise.

They came to a stop a minute later; the doors rattled open and the three of them stepped out onto the carpeted corridor.

"I'm so nervous," remarked Laura, who had started to twirl her hair, which was a sure sign she felt as she said she did

.

"Just take a deep breath and stop fiddling with your hair," admonished Jackie.

Taking a deep, calming breath Laura stopped twirling her hair and began striding to the next port of call, which just happened to be the waiting area outside the room.

The girls had to wait fifteen minutes until they were allowed in, the security man who was watching the door seemed to be interested in everything that the two friends were doing.

"Hey Roz. Look at the security bloke over there, does he seem a little odd to you?" asked Laura softly.

Looking over her shoulder Rose answered, "He looks as though everything is new and he keeps glancing at the water cooler as though he's never seen one before."

"You're an expert when it comes to observing people. But he's starting to creep me out," commented Laura.

Rose was just about to answered when the door to the room opened and some eleven-year-old boys walked out the room holding something. As Laura tried to get a closer look at what the boys were holding she fell off her chair, jumping up Laura began laughing as she dusted her self off, the people that walked past cast a disapproving look over to her. Rose joined in the laughing as Laura got up.

"I see you managed to disrupt something again," scolded Jackie, as the two girls stopped laughing.

"Don't be too hard on them, they were only enjoying themselves and if you can't laugh at yourself then you can't laugh at anyone else," came Rowling's voice.

Spinning around Jackie replied, "Ms. Rowling, I'm sorry if the girls disturbed you."

"Don't apologize. So you two are the last two winners, what are your names?" asked Rowling pleasantly.

"My name's Jamie-Rose and this is Laura," answered Rose confidently.

"Well, Jamie-Rose and Laura, shall we go in?" asked Rowling.

Both of them nodded and followed Rowling into her room, which was lavishly furnished with silk and satin drapes and real fur rugs that were scattered around the room.

Rowling lead them over to a glass table that was set up in the corner with high back steel chairs.

"Sit down, would you like a drink?" asked Rowling.

"Please," answered Laura, and as the drinks were poured, "Thank you."

"No problem. Now why don't you girls ask some questions and I'll answer them as best as I can," replied Rowling.

The girls did indeed ask questions, questions like 'why did you kill Sirius off?' which got a very strange response of,

"Well, I didn't really. I just added it for a more dramatic ending," but she declined answering what she meant by that.

After a good forty minutes of questions, that were answered vaguely or not at all, Rowling gave them both an envelope, making them promise not to open them until August 31^st and to do what they think would be right.

* * *

August 31^st came and that afternoon the girls had agreed to meet up to open their envelopes. So now they were sitting in Laura's house, which was empty, and they were getting ready to open it.

"Okay on the count of three. One. Two. Three," Laura counted down.

Opening up the envelopes both girls gasped as they pulled out an authentic train ticket, but they weren't just any old ticket: they were for the Hogwarts Express!

"These are real?" asked Rose suspiciously.

"There's a note," answered Laura as she began reading it. "These tickets will take you to platform 9¾, they are not a joke. I urge anyone who has these to use them wisely. RS," explained Laura.

"It's a joke, you're not going to fall for it are you?" asked Rose.

Laura started laughing and replied, "It's worth a shot. Yes, we are going."