James Potter woke up with a jaw cracking yawn. For a moment he wished he'd never snuck down to eat the last of the cauldron cakes during the night, since his hands were covered in sticky chocolate. One hand reached up to give his eyes a good rub. He tried to move the other but found he'd been sleeping on it in a very weird position. Taking a drawn out breath, he turned over and hugged the duvet to himself. There was a distinct clattering downstairs of breakfast being made. His mother's laugh at a joke her husband had told rang through the manor. James pushed himself up and yawned once more.
The mirror that hung on the left hand-side of his wall showed a face. Black hair that was mussed about from sleeping and tired, hazel eyes. James put on his rectangular glasses and squinted at himself. He made an attempt at flattening his hair, but it just sprung back up. It was ironic that his father, Fleamont Potter, was the creator of Sleakeazy's hair products yet his son's hair had a mind of it's own. The bottle of Sleakeazy's finest hair gel almost dropped to the floor when James realised what day it was.
March 27th
His eleventh birthday.
The day he was to get his Hogwarts letter.
He jumped out of bed with newfound energy, grinning wildly. Potter Manor was extremely large, with six bedrooms even though James was an only child. There were also many other rooms that you would find down the long corridors, that had little to no use at all. Only a few main rooms were used on a daily basis. Despite it's size, the manor was warm and inviting. Mr and Mrs Potter didn't seem to mind the constant mess their son would make. Even the small Quidditch pitch outside was used extensively. James ran across one of the corridors and down the stairs into the large kitchen where his house elf, Thing was preparing breakfast. The elf was named when James was only three, and he'd first arrived at the manor. The starnge creature had been named by James himself and Thing didn't seem to mind that his name wasn't exactly dignifying.
"Happy birthday Jamsie." His mother said as she hugged him tightly, kissing the top of his head.
James grinned and sat down at the table. "Has my letter arrived yet Mum?" He asked, patience already running low.
"Not yet." She replied
James sighed. It's not that he was skeptical about getting his letter, no, he was just impatient. He knew for sure that he was going to Hogwarts after he'd shown his first signs of magic when he was five. It was an old family story where he smashed a plate because his Aunt Betty wouldn't let him have any of the pumpkin pasties until after his vegetables. Needless to say he never got his pumpkin pasties.
Thing brought him a plate of fried eggs, toast, sausages and bacon. James eagerly dug in, starving. He was just finishing his last piece of bacon as a tawny owl flew through the open window. James excitedly opened the sealed envelope and read the letter inside.
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 Mr Potter,
We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find an enclosed list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1st September.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
James' smile was getting wider and wider as he read the letter. Then he heard his Dad walk in and sit opposite him.
"Happy birthday Jamie! I see you got your letter." He smiled. "I remember the day I got mine." He sighed.
Sensing a long story on his father's time at Hogwarts, James quickly shovelled down his food. After magaing to swallow without choking, Thing took his plate and James took his letter.
James had been wanting to go to Hogwarts since he was very young. It was because he was lonely. He was homeschooled so he didn't have any school friends. His parents had him quite late so his cousins were practically adults. He was also an only child. Don't get me wrong, James was very happy and well cared for, but he couldn't remember the last time he'd talked to someone his age. So he grew up without any friends and only the company of his parents.
But now it would all change. He was going to Hogwarts! He was so excited to make friends. He was finally going to Hogwarts!