Letters and wax seals
It was a rather temperate morning in late July when the owls began to hoot outside the windows. Of course the potter estate had trees beside it, and so the owl perched upon the thick branch beside Diana’s bedroom window was no shocking sight. However that could not be said for the letter which would be discovered later that day.
It was her brother who found the letter, as he remembered the date of his own letter and practically sprung from his bed (which was a rarity as the boy refused to wake from his slumber unless a stampede of elephants practically trampled through his room) and bolted down the stairs.
“It’s here! It’s here! Diana get your bum out of bed!” The boy cheered, running back up the worn in wooden stairs of the manor and into his sleeping sister’s room.
The girl in question did not rouse from her sleep, as both her and James inherited their habit of deep sleep from their father, Fleamont.
“Di! Di wake up!” The boy tossed the letter towards her head and shook her by the shoulders until she woke.
“James?” Diana mumbled, sleep still refusing to release her from its hold “what do you want?” She sat up against the headboard and rubbed her eyes, reaching over for her thick glasses and propping them up on her nose.
“Your letter! Di you’re going to Hogwarts!” James began to bounce on the bed on his knees like some sort of deranged stag with a horsefly nipping at its skin.
“I’m going where now?” The girl yawned, entirely confused as to the situation which had been happening right in front of her.
James rolled his eyes “Merlin mum’s right you really are dim” he teased, although she supposed it was true in some sense of the word.
“You’re going to Hogwarts” James cheered, handing Diana the beige envelope with the trademark red seal. The four houses practically taunting whoever was about to open their letter.
Diana traced her fingers over the envelope briefly before sliding her finger under the seal and pulling it open. James was getting particularly impatient now, gesturing her to speed up.
“Shouldn’t we wait for mum and dad?” Diana asked sluggishly, displaying no excitement at the prospect of the letter.
James groaned in disbelief “oh come on then-“ he took her hand and dragged her - both still in their pyjamas - to their parents room where he barrelled through the door and began to wake his parents up.
“What is it sweetness?” Euphemia asked, still drowsy but trying to act awake and interested in whatever her eldest had to say.
“Diana got the letter!” James cheered. It took a moment, but within seconds both Fleamont and Euphemia got up from the bed and went to embrace their daughter.
“Well are you going to open it?” Euphemia asked, placing a comforting hand on her daughter’s shoulder. Diana nodded before slipping her finger under the paper and prying the letter open, allowing the parchment to unfurl as she read the letter aloud.
“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. Signed Professor Dumbledore.” Diana read the words allowed, her family hanging on to every word.
“Well- looks like we’ll have to get you your books won’t we” Fleamont smiled softly, earning a nod from Diana.
“And an owl!” James grinned “or a cat! Oh Diana you should get a toad! It would be great for messing with Sniv-“ he was cut off by his mother clasping a hand over his mouth “now now, no getting your sister in trouble. You hear me?” She said firmly, earning a rather disappointed nod from James.
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It was the following day on which Euphemia took Diana out to diagon alley in search of her school supplies.
The pair had already managed to find each of her necessary textbooks and some additional ones which James should have passed on but they were mysteriously lost. Diana was clutching a spacially charmed satchel containing ‘Hogwarts, a history’ ‘potion making’ ‘spells for beginners’ ‘fantastic beasts and where to find them’ ‘the dark arts- how to protect yourself’ and a few various books in which Diana had pleaded her mother to purchase.
“Right my darling. Shall we sort your robes out?” Euphemia grinned, taking her daughter by the shoulder and leading her to the boutique which was filled with children presumably going to Hogwarts the following September.
The lady at the counter guided Diana over to one of the dressing rooms, and began to measure her all over to find the correct robe size.
Her mother - meanwhile - had a distasteful expression plastered over her usually friendly face. For she had spotted someone rather unappealing. Walburga Black.
The woman’s name was fitting. An asteroid, as it was often said that she was on a warpath wherever she went. And in tow, her boys. Sirius Black both Diana and Euphemia had heard plenty about over the holidays, with James and the boy becoming fast friends once sorted into Gryffindor.
However Regulus was rather enigmatic to the pair. Of course Sirius spoke fondly of his brother, and in secret he would hope that he was sorted into Gryffindor and would break the family chain. Diana didn’t seem to pay much attention - most likely due to the fact she was eleven and cared rather little for those around her.
The younger boy - whose name Diana did not quite know - stood beside her as he was too being measured. He briefly glanced over, presumably being nosy whilst thinking he was being sly.
Once complete in the boutique Euphemia led Diana out into the bustling streets, by the side of lopsided buildings in all sizes and colours, and into olivanders.
The man himself looked as though he was ancient - so ancient that Diana wondered if he knew Merlin on a personal level- as he pranced around the small, dusty building, speaking to the boxes of wands as though they could understand.
“Oh miss Potter!” The man grinned, rushing over to the counter. “I remember your brother coming in for his wand last year, eleven inches, mahogany… and dragon heartstring core if I’m remembering correctly. Good for transfigurations” the man smiled.
Diana simply remained silent and looked at her mother for approval before the man began to rummage around for a wand.
“How about we try this” the man placed a box in front of her “let’s see if you’re like your brother shall we? Mahogany and Dragon heartstring”.
As Diana picked up the wand and gently gave it a swish, the lamp beside his head burst into millions of shards of glass. “Nope! Not that one!” The man snatched the box back and placed another one in front of her “Holly and unicorn tail hair” Diana swished the wand again and this time his robes actually set aflame, earning a screech of surprise from him before he removed the wand from in front of her.
“Right- third times the charm.” The man sighed wearily before placing another in front of her “Black Cherry and Kelpie hair” the man looked more hopeful, and as Diana clutched the wand in her palm it felt as if something clicked. That something she hadn’t realised was missing had been restored.
“I think that’s the one”