1 Best Birthday Ever

"It's time," a deep, bold voice echoed in the empty dark room.

"I know, but is she ready?" A caring female voice responded hesitantly.

"No, but she will be. Remember why we choose her?" said another calm and wise female voice.

"Yes, have faith in our choice. I hope and I feel that this time will be different. This time we won't be disappointed," said the first deep bold male voice.

"I do have faith. Don't forget, who she is. But I fear the future. Mostly because I know what's coming. The dangers . . ." the caring female voice heaved a deep sigh.

"Don't worry, she won't be alone," the wise calm female voice assured.

The darkroom went silent. From somewhere the moonlight illuminated the room a little bit and in the middle of the room, there was a figure sitting cross-legged, eyes closed, face full of concentration. It was a girl and there was blood all over her body and clothes. And her face looked very familiar, same as --

A young girl jerked up on her bed. She sat straight up, chest heaving. Drops of sweat were slipping down her round face, her hands were shaking. Her big upturned deep electric blue eyes slowly looked around to see her surroundings in the dim night light and after a moment she exhaled the breath she was holding. She was in her room, in her home. Taking some deep breaths to calm her nerves, she ran her fingers through her messy dark brown hair.

"It was just a dream. A weird dream, that's all," she murmured to herself and flipped on the lights in the room.

She looked down at her bed and saw a book just beside her pillows. Picking up she rolled her eyes. The title of the book was "The dark magic of midnight."

"That's why you should not read horror-fantasy stories before sleeping," she told herself and put the book away on the nightstand.

As she started to get back to her sleep, she noticed the time on the clock. It was midnight. Just then the door of her room creaked open a little bit and she froze. Then a head poked inside.

"You awake, kid?"

"Dad! O my god! You almost scared me," the girl gasped.

"Oh, I am sorry my little bird, my eagle," her Dad hurried inside the room. "I didn't mean to scare you. I just came to wish you. You know, I do that every year."

"Wish me?" Her surprised face broke into a smile. "It's my birthday."

"Yes, Happy Birthday my lovely little eagle," her dad wrapped her in a big tight hug. "I wish you get all the happiness in the world."

"Thanks, Dad. I love you," she hugged back her dad.

"I love you too," Her dad kissed the top of her head. "I was thinking, tomorrow we can invite your friends for dinner and celebrate. What do you think?"

"Dad," the girl hesitated. "I don't have friends anymore, you know that. Everyone thinks I am a . . . freak."

"Hey!" The father pulled back and looked into his daughter's eyes. "Do not say that. You know, they are just jealous that you are so extraordinary. They are just jealous that you are good at everything you do and that's why they try to break your confidence. Don't bother to think about what they say. I know my daughter is special. She is great. I knew it, the moment I held you in my arms for the first time. And if the other kids can't see how awesome you are, then they don't deserve to be your friends or the chocolate cake I will prepare tomorrow."

Feeling happy and light, she hugged her father again.

"Thank you, Dad. And don't worry, I will eat the whole cake."

"Save me some," her dad chuckled. "Now go back to sleep. Good night."

After her father left, she drifted back to sleep.

The girl, who just turned eleven, was Christina Norton, daughter of Sebastian Norton. Sebastian Norton was a big businessman but he was a single father and he loved his daughter Christina, more than anything in the world. He tried to do his best in everything for his daughter, particularly when he knew that the last five years were very hard on her.

Christina's mother left when she was barely six, and because of a horrible accident with her mother, her friends accused her of being crazy, students started to bully her. His father complained but nothing changed, and so he changed her school. But then she had issues opening up to people but she needed friends and her father encouraged her but even that ended poorly. Her new schoolmates took advantage of her brightness and tried to be friends with her when they need her to do their work, and one day she snapped. No one knew what happened but she refused to go back to that school again, so her father had to change her school again and he thought things will go different this time. But by now Christina was completely closed off, she didn't try to make friends or talk to anyone, she stopped caring about what the other student said or what they wanted. She just went to school, did her work and that's all. She used to attend all the extra activities in her previous schools, from a very young age she was very good at everything she tried, but in the new school, she just stopped. Her father didn't want to force her into something, so he just tried his best to make her happy. And finally, now, things were getting back to normal again, she looked happy and normal again. . . or at least her father thought so.

*

Next morning, Christina ran down the stairs and headed straight to the kitchen, where her father was cooking.

"Good Morning, Dad," she smiled and flopped down on a chair.

"Very good morning and Happy Birthday again, birthday girl," his father, Mr Norton beamed.

"So, what is it for breakfast?"

"Well, just one of your favourite," Mr Norton dramatically pulled out a plate and presented it with a flourish. "French toasts."

Christina laughed and started eating. After she was finished, she started to help her father with the cake, and at that moment the doorbell rang.

"Will you get it, Chris?" Her father said holding up his dirty hands.

"Sure," Chris ran towards the door and opened it.

An old tall, black-haired lady in emerald robes stood in front of her and Chris just stared at her odd dressing style.

Who dresses like that nowadays? she thought.

But the lady looked very stern, so Chris didn't voice any of her thoughts.

"Good morning. I assume you are Miss Christina Norton?" The lady spoke breaking the silence.

"Huh? Yeah . . . yes," Chris mumbled.

"Nice to meet you, Miss Norton," the lady said looking very put together. "Is your parents home? I need to talk to them."

"Yes," Chris hastily nodded and step back to call her father. "Dad!"

After a moment, Mr Norton appeared and he also looked very surprised by their unexpected guest's appearance.

"Yes?"

"Mr Norton, I am Professor Minerva McGonagall and I am a teacher," the lady held her hand out to Mr Norton, who looked very surprised but shook hands with her anyway. "Mr Norton, I have some news about your daughter and her education."

The colour drained from Chris's face. What did she do now?

"About her education?" Mr Norton looked utterly confused. "Are you from her new school, Beverly--"

"No, no, I teach in a different school and your daughter is selected to go there. I would like to explain," Minerva McGonagall said and looked around.

"Yes, yes," realising the guest was still on their front porch, Mr Norton stepped aside. "Please come in."

Mr Norton lead Professor Minerva McGonagall to the living room and slowly Chris followed. Thousands of thoughts were running around her head. And one thought among them chilled her to the core. What if the school this lady works, was for crazy kids?

"Miss Norton?" Professor Minerva McGonagall called and Chris came out of her trance. "Miss Norton, this is for you."

She handed an envelope to Chris. It was a little heavy and yellowish envelope. On the front, her name was written with emerald-green ink. Miss C. Norton. Then her father's name and their address. She flipped the envelope and saw on the back was a purple wax seal bearing a coat of arms; a lion, an eagle, a badger and a snake all encircling a large H. She looked at the lady and then at her father. They both were looking at her.

"Open it, Miss. Norton. After you finish reading your first letter I will have ease explaining the situation," Minerva McGonagall said.

Swallowing Chris nodded but as she touched the seal, she felt a thrill inside her. The design on it felt very special to her. With a little more confidence she opened the first letter and read it aloud.

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. Norton,

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

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall,

Deputy Headmistress.

The room was silent for a few seconds. Chris looked at Minerva McGonagall with full of different kinds of emotion. Mr Norton just looked back and forth between Minerva McGonagall and his daughter. Then --

"Yes, Mr Norton, I am the Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts and I pleased to inform you that your daughter is a witch and she will attend the wizarding school Hogwarts."

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