The Letter
Eleven years ago, on October 24th, 1954, one of the most remarkable things ever happened. I was born.
My parents named me Lucia Andrea Zabini, after my mother's mother - Andrea Lucia Carozza. It's a beautiful name, suits me well. She passed away in January 1950, just three months before my only sibling was born. They were going to name him after her, but when fate gave them a boy they were forced to improvise - naming him Carmine for no particular reason other than my mother thought it sounded nice. It's a disappointing way to receive a name, but that is Carmine. A disappointment. They should have named him that, at least it would have suited him.
Carmine means 'crimson', it's passionate, powerful and strong. My brother cannot cast a single spell; everyone around us calls him a 'squib', he's fifteen years old and cannot even raise an object infront of him. My mother cannot look him in the eyes, and my father will tell anyone around that he is a wizard, he is just shy, although I think the excuse has finally worn thin. He's given up hope and resigned to the fact that Carmine is just a disappointment.
My parents are both Italian Immigrants, having moved to England in 1934 together after just one year of dating. That is how you know love is real, like my parents. They are perfect. My mother, Isabella, is often away from home working as a 'socialite' whilst my father runs a popular casino in the town near where we live. They're very good at their work, they always have people over dancing and drinking from their nice glasses. My favourite is Harriet Morris, she always talks to me like I'm the same age as her whilst their other friends tend to ignore me and have Vivian send me to bed.
Vivian's my nanny - she makes my food, my bed, wakes me up in the morning and forces me to go on Sunday walks with her after Church. Carmine always says I'm lucky, because all he had was an endless line of magic tutors trying to squeeze something out of him. He still does, the most recent being Fiona something, who left just this morning in tears after being unable to make Carmine levitate a glass.
He's always rude to his tutors, I hear him shouting at them from the School Room below my bedroom. I would say it's rude, but I do it to my tutors too. They try and teach me Maths, English and all of the other useless topics, but they know it's useless. Who needs muggle knowledge when you're magic? And I'm a member of the Zabini's, we're the best wizarding family in all of England. My parents are a bit upset that I don't pay attention to my Italian Tutor, but they understand that it's just too boring. If I'm going to inherit the entire business then I need to focus on my magic, not learning a second language.
Occasionally, my father has threatened to send me to a muggle school, but I know he would never go through with it. Carmine's friend Jasmine went to a muggle school before Hogwarts, and it sounded terrible. Jasmine's a half-blood; the only other Witch I know apart from my parents. She's very boring and plain, I often find myself dozing whenever she tells us of her term at Hogwarts. Although it's expected - she's a Hufflepuff. The worst house. Unfortunately Carmine likes her, it's the only reason I let her stay around.
When I go to Hogwarts this year, I'll make sure that I'm not as boring as Jasmine. People are going to remember Lucia Zabini, and not just because I'm a Zabini, although that is a very good reason.
Today is 2nd of July, and I've been waiting for my letter. Vivian has nicknamed me Dog from the amount of time I spend waiting for the post to arrive.
"Waiting for the newspaper?" She chirrups in her Scottish accent, her dull blue eyes boring into me, a basket of washing under her arm.
"Just my letter." I always reply, but she never seems to understand.
The sky is growing dark, and still no owl.
"Hey Dog," Vivian says, coming up behind me, "I don't think you're going to get any post tonight. How about you let the window have some alone time and have a bath?"
"Just a few more hours!"
"It's almost seven, you need to rest. I'll have Jacqueline put in an apple pie for you to have, as long as your parents don't see!"
"Can you have her serve it here?"
"Lucia," smiles Vivian, slowly bringing me away, "you're not turning down Jacqueline's famous apple pie are you?"
But before I can protest, there's a fluttering at the door an the unmistakable clatter of a letterbox opening and shutting. I squeal, loudly, because when I rush out into the front hall there is a large envelope lying on the white carpet.
Miss L Zabini
The Second Bedroom
Rose Ann Manor
Dennington Village
Cumbria
"VIVIAN!" I screech, "VIVIAN IT'S HERE!"
"Open it," She says quietly.
I tear through the parchment and read aloud, "Dear Miss Zabini, we are pleased to inform you that you have a place at 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, Albus Dumbledore!"
Vivian clapped her hands together, "That's wonderful miss!"
"When are mum and dad getting home?"
"I'm not sure miss, if you like I can send an owl-"
"No! It will be a surprise." I said, bounding up the stairs excitedly, "CARMINE! CARMINE!"
I threw myself at his bedroom door, pounding on it until he wearily opened it, quill and homework still in hand.
"IT'S HERE!" I continued, waving the parchment around in some sort of frenzied dance. Carmine looked at me before breaking into an awkward toothy smile.
"Congrats Lucy-"
"Lucia." I correct: what an awful nickname.
"Lucia. You must be very proud."
"I need to start packing- and all my books- I need money- I need supplies!"
"Packing? Lucy! It doesn't start until September 1st, besides all the shops at Diagon Alley will be closed. We can go in the morning."
"We? I want to go with mum and dad."
Carmine bit his lip and shrugged, then shut his bedroom door without another word.
I sat at my bedroom window, overlooking the front drive, my letter clutched in my hands. A while went by, but excitement kept my wide awake and waiting. My parents didn't come, and the last thing I remember was Carmine carrying me to bed and turning out the light.
The next morning, I sat bolt upright without Vivian having even come into my room. I ran to my parent's bedroom and screamed their names until my voice went hoarse. Eventually, Vivian came through and sent me back to bed.
When I woke up for a second time, my parents were both seated at the dining table downstairs.
"Mum! Dad!" I cheered happily, "I've got my Hogwarts letter! I've got my Hogwarts letter!"
My dad looked up from the newspaper and nodded absentmindedly, "I knew you would, darling."
"Morning." A tired voice interrupted, and Carmine entered the room still in his green pyjamas, "I slept well, thankyou." He replied to silence.
"Well done, Lucia." Mum smiled, "you deserve it."
"Have you heard?" Dad continued, folding his paper, "A ministry official was murdered just last night, the minister is expressing concern that-"
"I'm going to Hogwarts!" I interrupted, "actual Hogwarts! Can we go to Diagon Alley? Please!"
"Sorry dear, but your father and I are extremely busy. You're going to have to go on your own."
Carmine abruptly stopped drinking his tea, "You can't do that!" Nobody replied. "You can't do that." He repeated firmly.
Dad looked around and said eventually "Do you want to join her?"
Carmine nodded. Mum said something in Italian to my Dad who yawned and nodded, she then gave Carmine a bored tilt of her head as in 'if you must'. He grimaced and told me to go upstairs.
I tried to eavesdrop my lying flat on my stomach on the floor of my parent's bedroom, but Vivian hurried me out before I could hear a single word. She laid out a beautiful dark blue dress on my bed began to place brush my awkward curls into place.
"Are you looking forward to school?"
"Of course!" I beamed, "it's going to be amazing. Actual wizard school - can you imagine?"
"Actually I can," she laughed, "I went there. I am a witch after all."
"You are? Not a good one I suppose."
"What makes you say that?"
"You're just a nanny."
Vivian laughed, as if offended, "Really Lucia? 'Just' a nanny? Maybe I like looking after children like you."
"Why don't you work in a magic job? You live off us."
She laughed again. "Where do you think I go on Tuesdays and Saturday's? I have a family, friends and hobbies."
My jaw dropped, and not just because she hit a particularly bad knot, "What do you do?"
"I like music; I play the cello." She pulled the brush through the side of my hair, "But, you don't want to hear all of this. Tell me about your version of Hogwarts, what are you so excited about?"
So I told her. All about the friends, dances, my entire plan. She smiled along, barely saying anything until all of my hair had been done.
"That sound's lovely, Lucia. Are you sure it's going to be that good?"
"Of course."
This time she didn't smile, she just stared at the mirror. "Don't get your hopes up."
"What?"
"Your dress is laid out." Vivian said, suddenly smiling again, "Carmine says to be downstairs in an hour, he's going to prepare the fireplace."
Then she left, and suddenly I was alone. My mind full of thoughts of Hogwarts, I dressed myself and rushed downstairs to where Carmine stood, talking to Jasmine. Jasmine looked very sickly, as usual, her cold grey eyes observed me and her stringy orange hair looked like it hadn't been washed in a week.
"There's the lucky girl!" She grinned, "How are you feeling?"
"Good! Are you coming?"
"No, I have to help my dad today. I'm here to wish you luck."
"Thanks." I reached out my hand for some floo powder which Carmine, almost reluctantly, handed over, "Bye."
She gave me a thin smile as I stepped into the fireplace and threw it into the flames, instantly the powder flew up and I yelled "Diagon Alley."
The whole world was a blur as I felt myself rushing past all of the world on my way. My mind was clear, soon I would be going to Hogwarts. I could not wait.