Chapter - 002

-----------I don't own anything and any semblance to any character is a coincidence-----------

---December 25th, 1963--- 

---Cokeworth, England---

It had been 6 years since my sister, Helena, and her husband Stephen's disappearance. That day both Theo and I cried a lot. Me because I could never see my sister again and Theo because I was crying.

After that day, I took it upon myself to raise Theodore into one of the best wizards out there like his father. 

At first, it was a bit difficult and Theo didn't make it easier as he had felt the absence of his father and mother the next day. He would come crying to me and ask about them. Even the Evans had noticed their disappearance and had asked to which I could only tell them the truth when I couldn't come up with a convincing lie. 

They did start helping me after that which lessened a lot of my burdens and I started focusing on managing the family business too. I had already been helping Stephen before so I did not face any difficulties there.

As the year went by and Theo grew up, he made a daily habit of visiting his parents' room where both of their moving portraits were kept. He knew that the only way he could ever talk to his parents again was through the portraits. 

Even I had the habit of going there and talking to them once or twice a week. 

During these years, we and the Evans family had become more like a real family too. We started spending almost all of the special occasions together whether it be birthdays, Halloween, Christmas, or New Year.

And today was one such day - Christmas.

Coming down the stairs, I saw three children huddled together as sat beside the Christmas tree and opened their presents. Both the Evans sisters usually sleep over at our house during Christmas and Halloween so this time too they had their gifts under the same tree with Theo.

  "Merry Christmas!" Walking behind the three, I wrap my around them tightly.

"Merry Christmas!" All three shout while giving me back a hug. 

Walking towards the kitchen, I start preparing their breakfast when the door bell rings.

"It should be mother." Lily quickly runs and opens the door and Cynthia walks in carrying Lily who had jumped upon her.

"Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas, Celine! I hope the kids weren't too much of trouble." Cynthia walks into kitchen and smiles as she hugs me.

"No. Hardly any trouble. I slept like a baby yesterday."

"Good. Gerald should be here soon. Now tell me if you need any help."

----------------------

I look at the two kids sitting in front of me with excitement all over their faces. The Christmas party had just ended and Cynthia and Gerald had just left with Petunia who was now carrying kitten with her with excited look on her face.

I knew both of them were wondering what gift they would receive.

"Theo, you know what me, your father and mother are, right?" I ask while looking at him as he gives a quick nod and Lily a confused look.

"Lily, did your parents tell you anything?" She shakes her head to which I sigh. It seems they wanted me to be the one to break the news to her.

"You are a witch, Lily." I look at her seriously and she blinks once and then again and then she is  raining down light punch on my thighs with puffed cheeks.

"Auntie! You are being mean!" She shouts but Theodore quickly comes and drags her back to her chair as I laugh.

"No. She is serious, Lily. You are a witch and I am a wizard." Theodore hugs her tightly before she starts lashing out again at the word 'witch' and quickly completes his sentence.

"What do you mean?" Lily asks as she calms down.

"I mean this." Rolling my hand, I show a stone which I transfigure into a butterfly. Both of their mouths open up in wonder as they eye the flying butterfly.

"Now, from today onwards you both will start learning from me about magic but I want you two to promise me you will not tell anyone about this. Lily, your parents already know and I have asked for their permission to let you stay over tonight."

"Why is Petunia not here? If we are learning magic, shouldn't she be here too?" Lily asks.

"Petunia is not a witch so she can not learn magic and you should try your best to keep it a secret from her till you both are 11. At that time, she will get to know about it whether you hide it or not. If there is problem then, then I will try to teach her skills which do not use user's magic."

"What's the point of learning magic if I can't show to anyone? Why wait till we are 11?" Theo grumbles. Sighing, I look at him.

"You can't show it because there is law called Statute of Secrecy in which wizards are not allowed to show any magic  in front of muggles or no-mags. Lily's family is fine but not the other neighbors and you should wait until 11 is because the magic you are going to learn is very different from the others learn. You will learn that magic too but only the basics for now to get you familiar wandless magic."

"Wandless?"

"Wizards out there use wands as magical foci and very few can cast magic without wands but that to is limited to basics. Since you are kids, you too will stick to basics but when you grow, I want you both to able to use advance spell wandless too. Now enough for the questions. It's time for your gifts."

At the mention of gifts they both get excited and seeing them like this, I chuckle.

I go downstairs and bring two big shaking boxes and two small boxes. Looking towards the kids, I see the biggest grins they have ever shown till now.

Handing the smaller one first, I see them open it and look towards the two-finger rings each box contained.

"These are called sling rings and they are very important for learning magic at the start and for transportation. Keep them on you at all times and don't bother to hide them. They appear normal to both wizards and muggles." 

They both nod vigorously as they quickly put on the ring on their fingers. Taking the shaking the boxes in my hand, I give them a hard look.

"Now, Lily what I am gifting you has to kept in this house till you are 11 as otherwise there is a chance someone might catch us breaking the Statute of secrecy because you are not registered as a Witch yet and your family is a muggle one. I am free from these trouble so is Theodore as muggle families with a wizard are exempt from the Statute. Do you understand?" I ask seriously to which she nods.

"I want you to take care of what I giving you as they will be your family. Theo will have less trouble so he can help you take care of it, Lily." Speaking to them, I pass them the boxes and both tear off the lids.

From Theo's box came out a crimson colored cloak which started levitating around him while caressing his cheek with one of its end. From Lily's box came out a blue Thunderbird, which flew around the both of them while flapping its three pair of wings.

"wow...." was all they both could say as they both saw the bird and cloak fly around them.

"Now, do keep in mind that the cloak in sentient and it will protect you and you will be able to fly around with it. Lily, take this necklace and put it around the thunderbird. When she grows up, the necklace can help her to reduce her size to current one. Now why don't you decide the name for it?"

I smile as the two huddle together and keep whispering names to the thunderbird as she either shakes her head or trills.

"We have decided to name her Ariel." Lily proclaims as she lifts the thunderbird on her hands and Ariel spread her wings as she chirps loudly.

"It's like me and Lily are married. We both have put rings on our fingers and now we have a child which we named." Theodore speaks and both Lily and I try to make sense what was spoken before I suddenly smack him on his head as Lily blushes.

"You are too young to have such thoughts, young man!"

"Ouch!" He giggles while covering his head.

"Now go down and wait for me in the living room, you two, as your lessons will be held there."

They both quickly run down as I swipe my hand and vanish all the mess they had created while opening their presents and go after them.

----------------------------

Arriving in the living room, I see a small pile of books I have not seen before. Quickly, Lily and I walk forward and look through them as Ariel quickly flies and lies down on the couch with the cloak just floating in the air.

"'Theories of the Mystical Arts', 'A Look into the Multiverse', 'Eldritch Magic & its Mysteries', 'Vedic Sanskrit', 'A Walk into Mirror Dimension', 'Codex Imperium' and 'Key of Solomon'" Lily reads the title of books as I look at the book in my hand with the name, 'Basics of Eldritch and Natural Magic - by Dr. Stephen Strange'.

"These are all the books you will read and it will get you a basic understanding of the magic we will be learning. The 'Vedic Sanskrit' will be difficult to understand but Stephen has written the translation along with text so there will be no problem." 

Turning around, I see aunt Celine walking down the stairs as she waves her hand and the couch and the chairs slide back towards the walls. She sits on her knees once she reaches us and takes the book in my hand.

We both quickly turn towards her and sit in the same position as her.

"There are two types of magic around us- Natural and Eldritch. Natural Magic is the magic which our world generates and it is the magic that the Wizards and Witches of today use. If you were anyone else, you would have started learning this magic in wizarding schools when you are 11 as that is when the magic in your body is settled enough to be learning about it. But for you two it will be different."

"How so?" I ask excitedly. I mean, learning magic! Isn't it awesome?

"Because you be learning Eldritch Magic which from what Stephen and Helena had observed stabilizes the natural magic in the body making it easier to use. What you will specifically be learning is the Mystic Arts. Masters of the Mystic Arts harness the energy - Eldritch Magic which seeps in our world in abundance from the other dimensions- to cast spells...."

I see as aunt Celine speaks, she draws her in particular direction following which a fiery line of energy forms and as she revolves her arms around, that line quickly forms into a circle with a line bisecting it in the middle.

"Conjure shields.... and weapons..."

The line in the middle expands to form a square encircling the circle and as she waves her hands around, a beautiful but complicated geometrical image with sparks and the orange fiery line is created which she pushes towards as that 2D floating piece of magic quickly expands into three dimensional one.

"To make Magic."

Both me and Lily release the breath which we had been holding unknowingly as the magic dissipates into sparkles then completely vanishes. 

"Wear your sling rings and follow me into the cellar where you will learn to open portals first. To motivate you, if you both manage to complete all the basics I will be teaching you and read all the books I give you before your eleventh birthdays, I will show you something more amazing that what I should just now. Your father had shown it to your mother and me and from that our view of reality completely turned."

I look at aunt Celine excitedly but the glint in her somehow makes me shudder.

---January 23rd 1966---

---Cokeworth, England---

We were sitting in my house and Theo and aunt Celine too were here.

If what aunt Celine said was true, then today was the day I will be getting my Hogwarts acceptance letter. Both my parents were there too but Petunia was not. She had gone to visit her friend Vernon Dursley.

Ever since me and Theo started learning magic from aunt Celine, Petunia and us started to spend less time together. At first, we tried to include her in everything we did except for magic and there was no problem at all but then she became friends with Vernon and from then on She didn't even talk to us if not needed.

Now it is normal for us and even our parents and aunt Celine have given up after trying from whole two years without any results.

Suddenly there is knock on the door and all of us perk up as mum goes and opens the door to let in a lady around 40s in weird attire. Aunt Celine had already told me and Theo about how old fashioned the wizarding community is and their stubborn to any change modernization could bring to it.

Along with magic, aunt Celine had already taught us all the laws and views we can face in the wizarding world especially me who is a muggle-born. It did help that aunt Celine said even if we act up against someone who insults us, she has us got covered, provided all we do in retaliation is in moderation. 

"Professor McGonagall, How are you doing?" Celine gets up and walks towards the lady happily.

"Ah.. Celine, Haven't seen you while. How are you and your sister doing? The last I heard is that she got married." She asks as a gentle smile flashes across her face.

"I am doing great but my sister..." aunt makes a sad face as she looks at Theo.

I have to admit auntie is great actor. I mean, if I didn't know the truth, I too will fall for acting like the lady did as realization crosses her face as she too looks at Theo.

Aunt Celine walks behind him and holds him by his shoulders, " This is my nephew, Theodore Strange, son of Helena and Stephen Strange."

"I'm sorry for your loss."

"Don't mind it. It's been years and I am already over it." Theo says while shaking his head looks at the professor with a smile.

"Anyway, if you are here, it means this little lady over here is going to be wizard, right?" Aunt Celine asks as she changes the topic which none of us mind.

"Yes. On the behalf of the staff of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, I am here to present you your Hogwarts acceptance letter. If you wish to attend our school, please send us your reply through an owl, which I presume Miss Williams here can help you with, before the 31st of July."

"Yes, you don't have to worry, Professor. I will see to any problems they may face as we are neighbors and Theo here will have the same procedure as her." Aunt Celine says as she pats my head.

"Thank you for your trouble. Now, I won't disturb you any longer." The lady suddenly disappears using apparition while making a loud crack sound.

Without wasting anytime, I quickly open the letter in my hand and look through its contents. It had two pages.

--------------------------------

-First Page

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of  WITCHCRAFT and  WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chief Warlock,

Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. Of Wizards)

Dear Miss Evans,

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 on 1st September. We await your owl by no later than 31st July.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

-Second Page

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, with silver fastenings)

Please note that all pupil's clothes should carry name tags.

COURSE BOOKS

All students should have a copy of each 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 Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emerica Switch

One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida 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 Trimble

OTHER EQUIPMENT

1 Wand1 Cauldron(pewter, standard size 2)

1 set glass or crystal phials

1 Telescope

1 set brass scales

Students may also bring, if they desire, an owl OR a cat OR a toad.

PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS

ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICK

Yours sincerely,

Lucinda Thomsonicle-Pocus

Chief Attendant of Witchcraft Provisions

---------------------------------------------

Looking at the letter both me and Theo smile and the only though on my right now is if Ariel will be allowed in the school.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Support me on:

https://www.patreon.com/Whitewolf0782

My discord: https://discord.gg/5Rr3B3Zjw

Author's note:

Hey dear readers,

How's the chapter?

Please give me reviews.

Ciao~