Madelia, called Maddie, McKenna wasn't anything special. She was pretty, but not overly so. Smart, but not a genius. She had friends, but wasn't extremely popular. The only difference between Maddie and anybody else her age was that she lived with her great aunt Mabel, because Maddie was an orphan. Her parents had died in a car crash out east when Maddie was just a baby. She had been staying with her aunt at the time, the only reason she hadn't died as well. Aunt Mabel never talked about Maddie's parents, and Maddie knew better than to ask questions.

Right now, Maddie was on summer vacation, although it wasn't much of a vacation for her. Aunt Mabel had broke her leg, and Maddie had been inundated with extra chores since the first day of summer break. And even though her tenth birthday was this summer, Maddie couldn't feel very cheerful. She knew she couldn't have a party, what with Aunt Mabel being bedridden, and, anyway, her friends were all away with their families.

On July twenty-first, Maddie was feeling particularly sorry for herself, as this was the day of her birthday. She felt like nothing could cheer her up.

Just as Maddie walked into the kitchen to start making breakfast, the strangest thing happened. A snowy white owl began pecking at her window. Now, the neighbourhood where Maddie lived with her aunt was a very proper neighbourhood. Unusual things did not happen anywhere in the Highview Estates, and an owl tapping on your window in daylight was very unusual thing. Deciding that she must be imagining the owl, who's pecking kept becoming more and more insistent, Maddie simply shook her head and continued making breakfast.

The owl was tapping extremely loud now, and Maddie cringed. It was so loud that even Aunt Mabel should be able to hear it! But, then, if Maddie were imagining the owl, which she must be, no one but her would be able to hear it.

Maddie wasn't the only person hearing the owl, who had now begun to hoot. “Maddie!” called Aunt Mabel. “What is that noise?”

“It's an owl at the kitchen window,” she answered tentatively, not sure if she would be believed.

There was a long pause before a response, then, “You had better let it in.”

“What?” But there was no answer. Puzzled, Maddie opened the window. The owl flew in, dropped a letter on the table and started pecking at a plate of bacon. Maddie stared after it in amazement.

Maddie picked up the letter to see whom it was addressed to. With a jolt, Maddie saw it was a letter for her.

Taking the letter with her, Maddie walked into Aunt Mabel's room. “What is this?” she asked.

“Owl post,” her aunt said with a smile. “I saw a lot of it when I stayed at your parent's home once.” Maddie was still staring at the letter, not quite knowing what to make of it. “Well, go ahead and open it,” Aunt Mabel prompted.

Maddie obeyed. She read the letter, and the contents made her gasp. “This must be some kind of joke!”

“I expect not. Please read it to me,” said Aunt Mabel.

“Dear Ms Madelia McKenna,

It is our pleasure to inform you that you have a spot at the Kezika Academy of Magic. Kezika Academy is one of the most esteemed schools for magic in North America. We look forward to accepting you as our student. Please send an owl with confirmation of your attendance by August fifth. On September first, a Greyhound Bus will depart from your nearest station (Platform 9¾) at ten o'clock.

Enclosed is a list of needed supplies.

Ms Ane Wynninck, Principal”

“It's no joke, then. I know I should have explained this to you before, but…”

Maddie didn't understand. “Explain what?”

Aunt Mabel took a deep breath. “Both of your parents where wizards, dear. I've always thought all that magic stuff was a little dangerous, and was hoping you wouldn't have the talent. Of course, since you do, you probably want to go to this school.”

Maddie stared uncomprehendingly. This was a little much to find out all at once. “My mom and dad could do magic?” she asked. “I wish I could remember them, so I would've known that.”

Aunt Mabel looked ashamed of herself. “I've done you a great wrong all these years. I know you can't remember your parents. But no matter now,” she said. “I'll tell you all you want to know.”

Sitting down next to her aunt, Maddie thought about what to ask first. “Did my parents really die in a car crash?”

Aunt Mabel nodded. “Yes, but they were on their way to something magical. I've a letter from one of their friends about the accident. It's in the second drawer of my desk. Go and get, please.”

Maddie found the letter quickly, although she had never been allowed to open the desk drawers before. It was addressed to her aunt in bright purple ink. Sitting back down, Maddie read it.

Dear Ms Mabel McKenna,

It is my sad duty to inform you that your nephew, Matthew, and his wife were in a Muggle car accident on the way to a portkey, where they were to meet me, so we could travel together to London. Both were killed instantly. They were wonderful people, and we all feel their loss deeply. I hope that you will raise their daughter, Madelia, in a way they would have approved of.

If you would like to speak further with me about this tragic accident, or about keeping Maddie in touch with the wizarding community, please send a response back with this letter.

Sincerely,

Albert Wray

“I didn't do as they asked,” Aunt Mabel said quietly, looking at her hands. “I should've made sure you knew about your heritage.”

Secretly, Maddie agreed, but chose not to say anything about it. She felt bad enough without seeing Aunt Mabel being made to feel worse. So, Maddie decided to ask another question. “Why didn't you tell me about my parents having magic?”

Aunt Mabel looked back up. “From what Matthew and Lila said, it was a dangerous time to be magical. There was an evil wizard on the loose, someone so dangerous and frightening he was known as You-Know-Who or He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Even though things were the worst in Europe, I was so worried that their crash may not have been accidental.” She sighed. “I only wanted to protect you.”

Maddie sighed as well, and put on her 'thinking face'. Aunt Mabel said she could always tell when her grandniece was having serious thoughts from the look on her face. Maddie knew Aunt Mabel had meant well, but she also knew that she could not deny this part of herself. She only wished that she knew a way to become a witch without hurting her aunt any more than she had been hurt when Maddie's father had died.

“Maddie,” Aunt Mabel said. Maddie looked at her aunt, and was surprised to see a sad sort of smile on her face. “You want to go to this school, don't you?”

Slowly, Maddie nodded.

“Then, write back to say you're coming, and ask if there are any other students near here that can help you buy your supplies. I'll give you the money you'll need, although since it's Muggle, I expect you'll need to exchange it for their currency.”

“They don't use dollars?” Maddie asked, as she starting composing her letter to Kezika. “And what's a Muggle?”

Aunt Mabel smiled. “Wizards used gold, bronze, and silver, when I last saw Matthew. And a Muggle is anyone without magic.” She paused, then, “I suppose I'm just about as Muggle as they come.”

Dropping her pen, Maddie turned around. “Muggle or not, you're still a wonderful person, and I still love you. I always will, Aunt Mabel.”

~~*~~

Two weeks after sending off her letter to Kezika, Maddie was ecstatic. Today was the day a real wizarding family would be taking her shopping for her school supplies. Ms Wynninck had arranged for the Brooks to take Maddie to Diagon Street, since Maddie had explained she didn't know where to get her things. The Brooks family should be arriving at nine o'clock, and Maddie wasn't quite sure she could wait the last half-hour.

To try to get her mind off the waiting, Maddie took out her supply list again.

Uniform:
Three sets of plain, deep blue robes
One heavy winter cloak (deep blue with silver fastenings)
One pair of dragon-hide protective gloves
One set of dress robes

Text Books:
First Grade Guide to Spells
Encyclopedia of Herbs and Potion Ingredients
First Grade Charms
Learning to Transfigure
Care of Magical Devices
Defense Against the Dark Arts: First Grade -- Second Edition
A Guide to the Constellations

Other Supplies:
Standard pewter size-one cauldron
Standard first grade Potions ingredient set
One set of brass scales
Size-three telescope
A toad, rat, cat, or owl (optional)
Broomstick (optional)

Maddie was just refolding the sheet of parchment when there was a thump and a yell from Aunt Mabel's room. She went running to check on her aunt, but what she saw made her stop in her tracks.

There were four people climbing out of the fireplace in Aunt Mabel's room.

“Oh, dear!” exclaimed the portly woman, smoothing her brown hair. “We didn't mean to frighten you. Does Madelia McKenna live here?”

Aunt Mabel just stared at the woman with wide eyes, and the stranger seemed more distraught. “Back in the fireplace,” she muttered to the three children behind her. “We must have the wrong house.”

“No, I'm her,” Maddie spoke up, finally finding her voice. “Where'd you come from?”

Aunt Mabel seemed to have found her voice as well. “It's magic, Maddie dear. Matthew was forever popping out of my fireplace, but I never did get used to it.”

“That was my dad,” Maddie said to the strangers, whom she assumed were the Brooks.

“What do you mean, 'was?'” asked one of the twin girls. Her mother shushed her.

“Hello, Madelia,” Mrs. Brooks said. “I take it you've never traveled by floo powder before?” Maddie shook her head. “You'll get used to it real quick.” Turning to Aunt Mabel, she continued. “I'll have her back by about four o'clock, if that's alright with you.”

“Oh, it's fine,” Aunt Mabel answered. She beckoned for Maddie to come closer. “Take care, Maddie,” she said. “Now, hug me good-bye and be on your way.”

~~*~~

Traveling by floo powder was an interesting experience, to say the least. Maddie grabbed a pinch, stepped in, and said “Diagon Street” as clearly as she could. Then suddenly she was being sucked through a vacuum cleaner and spinning around and around. Gasping in fright, and choking on ashes from an unclean fireplace she was passing, Maddie tucked her elbows in to keep from losing them. Maddie was just starting to feel ill when everything just stopped, and she fell flat on her face.

Maddie emerged in a fireplace in Cauldron Bubbles dizzy and shaken, but otherwise unharmed. “Wow!” she exclaimed, getting strange looks from some of the patrons in the restaurant. “Wow!”

“Fun, eh?” remarked a girl about Maddie's age. “I'm Kyra, and I'm starting first grade at Kezika, like you Madelia.”

“Hi, Kyra,” Maddie said. “I'm called Maddie, though, not Madelia.”

Krya smiled. She had an honest smile, Maddie noticed. “I totally understand. The twins don't like their full names either.”

Then the other Brooks began introducing themselves. The twins were Katrina, called Kat, and Kamella, called Mel, and they were starting third grade. “There are two more girls at home,” Mrs. Brooks said. “Karen is eight and Kalli stayed home to watch her. She wanted to shop with just her friends this year.”

“She just wanted to buy dress robes she knew mom wouldn't like,” Kyra whispered to Maddie. Maddie smiled, and followed Mrs. Brooks and the twins out the back of Cauldron Bubbles.

“This is the real entrance to Diagon Street,” Kat announced. “Mom just taps that knot in the fence wood and…” She trailed off, because a whole in the wooden slates was opening. Through the hole, they could see a long street of stores and a few people doing their shopping.

Mrs. Brooks stepped through the hole, followed by Kat and Mel. Kyra started to go, but stopped.

“You go first,” she said to Maddie. Maddie took a deep breath and stepped through. Looking behind her, she saw Kyra step through the hole and it closing. Ahead of her, Maddie saw the street of stores. “Diagon Street, here we come!” said Mel.

“Kamella Brooks, you and your sister will behave yourselves today!” admonished Mrs. Brooks.

Crestfallen, the two girls held out their hands. Mrs. Brooks handed them some gold and silver coins. “Mind you,” she said, “these are for school supplies, nothing else. Make sure you behave, even if it kills you!”

As the twins walked away, Maddie heard one of the mutter, “It just might.” Maddie clamped her hand over her mouth to keep from laughing and saw Kyra doing the same.

Mrs. Brooks turned to Kyra next. “Here's your money, dear. I can trust you two on your own, right?” Maddie and Krya nodded. “Good. I saw Molly Decoates in the cauldron Bubbles, and I'll go have coffee with her.” Mrs. Brooks returned to the fence and tapped it again to let herself through.

Kyra turned to Maddie, looking as excited as Maddie who hadn't even grown up around magic. “Where to first?” she asked.

“A bank, if we can. I don't have wizard money with me.”

Kyra pointed down the street. “There's a Gringotts branch down there,” she said. The two began walking. “Is it Muggle money you have?”

“Yep.” Maddie pulled some out of her pockets, laughing as Kyra exclaimed over how different it was. “That's normal for me,” she said.

“Maybe,” retorted Kyra, “but how can you keep track of what everything's worth? You have six different coins and three different paper ones.”

“More paper ones, actually,” Maddie said, laughing, “but who can keep track of all of them?”

The new friends stopped their joking as they entered Gringotts. A sign greeted them just inside the door.

Enter, stranger, but take heed
Of what awaits the sin of greed
For those who take, but do not earn,
Must pay most dearly in their turn,
So if you seek beneath our floors,
A treasure that was never yours,
Thief, you have been warned, beware
Of finding more than treasure there.

“Creepy,” Maddie commented, before a goblin walked up to them.

“What d'ya want?” it asked gruffly.

Maddie jumped a little, but quickly answered. “I need to exchange some Muggle money.”

“This way,” it said, and led her to a counter. She handed him her money, and was given Galleons, Sickles, and Knuts back. Maddie thanked the goblin, then quickly left Gringotts.

Turning to Kyra, she asked, “Now, how do I work this money?”

A/N: I don't own anything HP. So please don't sue me, cuz all you'd get would be 66 cents and a sparkly purple gel pen. The plot, the Brooks family, and Aunt Mabel belong to me. Maddie belongs to herself and refuses to let me forget it. PS: Canada, where the story is set, does have six coins: pennies, nickles, dimes, quarters, loonies ($1), and toonies ($2)