Chapter one - The Beginning
I was eleven, just a kid, and life was a blur of simple joys and confusion. That morning, I shuffled out to check the mail, barely awake. The envelope in my hand was odd—thick parchment with green writing. I ran back inside, eager to show my mother, who was busy in the kitchen.
"Mom!" I shouted as I burst through the door.
She looked up from her work, her black hair pulled into a tight bun. "Yes, dear?"
"I got a letter."
Her eyes widened slightly as she dried her hands on a dish towel. "Let me see."
She took the envelope, her expression shifting from curiosity to something like fear. "Go upstairs."
"But, Mom—"
"Now, Severus. Upstairs."
Her voice brooked no argument. I trudged up the stairs, puzzled and a little annoyed. The phone rang, startling me. I rubbed my eyes and answered groggily.
"Hello?"
"Sev? It's Lily."
"Oh, hey, Lil. What's up?"
"I got a letter today too. An owl delivered it. Can you believe that? Mom just put it on the counter and told me it wasn't important. Didn't even let me read it."
I froze, my heart racing. "Who sent it?"
"Didn't say. Why?"
"Because I got one too. Same green writing, same parchment. And my mom reacted weirdly, too."
Lily sounded curious. "What do you think it is?"
"No clue. But I'll let you know as soon as I find out."
"Alright, see you later."
"Bye."
I hung up, my mind racing. Moments later, my mother's voice called from downstairs.
"Severus!"
"Yeah?"
"Come down here and sit."
I obeyed, anxiety creeping in. "Am I in trouble?"
"No, just sit."
She looked pale, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. "About that letter," I began cautiously, "Lily got one too."
"Oh... Okay. We'll visit her house in the morning."
I nodded, even more confused. "So, what's going on?"
"Well," she started, "I need to explain about that letter."
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Did ya like it? I hope the rewrite was okay. I'm trying to make it not cringy. <333