Annihilated

At that moment a pink haired Tonks with an ugly Christmas sweater burst through the door with a loud bang. She’d enchanted the bells on her sweater to play jingle bells. Professor McGonagall gave her a bombastic side eye.
« Merry Christmas, little cousin of mine. » She sang.
« Merry Christmas Bubblegum. »
Tonks staged a dramatic faint. Professor McGonagall shook her head in despair.
« I am sorry that I am in such a hurry, I have to go see my girlfriend afterwards. But now here, I got you a gift. »
I looked at Tonks with big eyes. She handed me a notebook in a lovely dark green leather. I was struck in awe when I saw what was on the inside. On the first page was a picture of me. On the next two pages were a man and on the other a woman, staring at each other. The man had the same dark curly hair as me and also my face shape. Whereas I had the woman’s dreamy eyes, her mouth and her posture.
« Mom!? Dad!? » I asked, my eyes filled with tears.
Tonks gave me a pen.
« Why don’t you say hello? » She asked.
I nervously took the pen and started writing under the picture of my mother.

Hello mother.

My lovely Elia? You are alive and well! I am so happy to know that. Merry Christmas my dear.

I looked up. Professor McGonagall was yelling at Tonks.
« Tonks, what is that? Is it dark magic??? You know how dangerous it could be in the wrong hands »
« Minnie, chill, I am a Tonks not a Black » she shot me an apologizing look, « It’s a spell my mother invented so I could keep in touch with her. I managed to change it so it would work for dead people too. Yet it only allows her to talk with the people from the moment that the pictures were taken. »
« Oh my » Professor McGonagall let out in astonishment.
Tonks left soon after and I slept a bit while professor McGonagall left. The room was empty, except for some of my monitoring spells that made a calm humming sound. There was nothing else. Just silence and warmth. I wondered what life would be like at Hogwarts. And I hoped I would be able to go. Yet, I had no idea which house I’d fit in. I didn’t feel brave, nor smart. I wasn’t ambitious and I didn’t even know if I was loyal or not. Of course there were more traits to the houses as well but I just had no idea. My mother had been a Ravenclaw, yet I just couldn’t bear to write to my father just yet. I needed some time to figure out who he was and what my family did. I wasn’t ready yet.

I was woken up by the wind. It took me a lot of strength to open my eyes. And when I opened them, I felt like I stared right into the soul of an owl. I screamed loudly, as I had still not gotten used to the owl delivering my mail. Surprisingly, the bird did not flinch or move. It looked at me in an annoying way and waited for me to take the letter out of his beak. Kingsley, the auror guarding my door burst in, his wand ready to defend me. When he saw that my aggressor was an owl, he smiled and retrieved the letter for me. He read the front of the enveloppe and gave me the letter with a smile. Then he tried to shoo the owl away but it didn’t move. He had to remove the owl from the room using peanuts so it would follow him. Now I could still see the owl, but it was behind glass and it was enjoying its peanuts. Kingsley smiled as he waited for me to read the letter.
« Go on, you’ll be happy once you read it. »
I smiled at him politely and looked at the front of the enveloppe. It looked old and the green ink had faded.

Lady Ophelia Black
Unknown location
Planet Earth
« It seems it took some time to arrive. It looks like the poor owl has been waiting for years before it delivered the letter. » Kingsley said with pity
« Maybe the magical world would need better postmen then. » I remarked. «Plus, the way it is addressed is strange. Why would you send me a letter if you don’t know where I am? »
Kingley looked sorry.
« You were thought missing for a bit less than 14 years, Ophelia. No one knew where you were and your magical trace, which helps us find underage magical children, was undetectable. It was like you disappeared from the surface of Earth. »
I looked down and I turned the enveloppe around. It was sealed shut with red wax. The crest was somewhat familiar, maybe Professor McGonagall had shown it to me.
I carefully opened the enveloppe and withdrew the papers. They were old and very fragile. There was no denying that the parchment used for the letter was a few years old and worn.

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 Lady Black,
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 1991.
Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
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 Emeric 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 wand
1 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
« Kingsley? This letter is from 1991. » I said in astonishment.
« That’s five years ago. » Kingsley confirmed. « I am afraid I’ll have to inspect this letter my dear. I am also going to contact professor McGonagall right away. It could be your agressif trying to get you back. »
With that he hurried out of the room, stressed.