"Elizabeth Rose Granger, wake up!"

It was June 9, 1991. The time was half-past nine in the morning, and everyone was up and about in the Granger household. Everyone except Elizabeth Rose Granger, twin sister to Hermione Jean Granger. Even though the two girls were twins, they were nothing alike. While they both had brown hair, Hermione's was frizzy and bushy, whereas Elizabeth's was smooth and wavy. The former had brown eyes, the latter had blue-green eyes. But it wasn't just their looks that differed; their personalities did as well. Hermione, who was older by about six minutes, was very mature for her age. She spent most of her time reading, studying or practicing for her piano recitals; the girl had a no-nonsense attitude. Elizabeth, on the other hand, spent most of her time daydreaming, writing impossible stories and plucking at her guitar which she got two years ago; she was a natural. Elizabeth, or Lizzie, was a loud, sarcastic, cunning and hot-headed young girl with her head in the clouds. She was always talking nonsense. Nonsense to her sister and parents anyway. The only thing that the two girls had in common was their intelligence; both were smart to the point of being annoying.

Today was a regular day for the two of them and their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Granger. Hermione would be up at the crack of dawn and start to study for no reason. When her parents would rise around eight o'clock, she'd begin practicing her piano skills and then at nine she'd stop. At that time, Lizzie wouldn't be awake yet; she'd only get up around ten o'clock when brunch would be served. Hermione would spent the next half-hour trying to rouse her sister, then, their mother would interrupt them saying that breakfast was ready, and Elizabeth would spring out of bed and run downstairs. By the time Hermione and Mrs. Granger would get downstairs, Lizzie would be finishing up her food and running back upstairs to put on some random clothes and drag her guitar outside to annoy the neighbours with her singing. This is what happened every Sunday of the year; the routine never changed. That was until today.

As Elizabeth plucked her guitar string once more and her neighbour closed the open window on the side of their house, she spotted an owl perched upon the fence. She thought it odd since owls were nocturnal. Shouldn't it be sleeping right now? Mind you, it wouldn't be the first odd thing to happen to her. She once made someone's hair turn into pasta just by thinking about it. The young girl set her guitar down and slowly approached the bird out of curiosity. It's big yellow eyes bore into her olive green ones as Elizabeth stretched her hand towards the bird. The owl screeched gently, causing her to slightly jump back, and flew onto the back of the chair in front of her. That's when she noticed the envelope that was strung to it's leg. Lizzie thought it to be a bizarre envelope, since it seemed weathered and yellow, like a piece of parchment she would see in museums on school outings. The coffee coloured bird bent down and undid the loose bow that tied the letter to its ankle and nudged it towards her. Elizabeth sat on the chair opposite to the fowl and took the envelope between her fingers. It was stamped with a red wax seal, a strange coat of arms featuring a badger, snake, lion and eagle, embossed onto it. The back of the letter showed her name, address and backyard written in beautiful green-inked cursive. If Hermione had gotten such a letter, she would have brought it to her parents straight away, by fear of it being dangerous or something or the sort. Lizzie, however, didn't care much for showing her parents. After all, it was addressed to her, in the backyard too. She lookd over her shoulder to make sure her parents weren't there and carefully opened the envelope, the owl carefully watching as she did so. The note inside was even stranger than the outside.

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 Miss Granger,

We are pleased to inform you that you have a place 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.

Minerva McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress

What? Albus Dumbledore? Supreme Mugwump? Owls? What did this all mean? Elizabeth had no idea. She re-read the letter at least three times before considering the possibility that she, Elizabeth Rose Granger, was a witch. It wouldn't be impossible. Would she would be able to turn people into toads and make obscure potions in a cauldron? Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Would she have to buy a broom? A cauldron? A black cat?

HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY

First-year students will require:

Uniform

- Three sets of plain work robes (black)
- One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
- One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
- One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)
Please note that all student's clothes should carry name-tags.

Books

- 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 Beast 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 of glass or crystal phials
- 1 telescope
- 1 set of brass scales
Students may also bring an Owl OR a Cat OR a Toad

Elizabeth was smiling from ear to ear. She couldn't believe what she was reading. Wands, cauldrons and pets? Dark forces, potions and transfiguration? This couldn't be real. Suddenly, Lizzie felt a light tap on her shoulder. She jumped and turned around, revealing her sister, Hermione, who was also grinning from ear to ear.

"Have you seen this?!" she exclaimed
"I've only just read it about four times!"
"What do you think? I mean, do you think it's real?" Hermione asked
"I hope so!" Elizabeth replied "I mean... magic school? How brilliant is that?"
"And an owl brought the letter to my window. An owl, Liz!"
"Me too!" the younger twin giggled "The envelope was even addressed to me in the backyard!"
"Have you told Mum and Dad?" Hermione asked
"No, you?" Elizabeth asked, hoping her parents accepted
"Yes I have." her sister replied proudly
"Well, spill the beans, Mione!"
"They've accepted!"
"Really!?" Liz shrieked "This is bloody brilliant! I'm going to make potions and transform teacups into frogs and-"
"Calm down, Lizzie!" Hermione breathed "We still need to get our school supplies."
"Right..." she pondered for a moment "And where would that happen?"

Hermione rummaged through the papers in the envelope an owl had delivered to her through her bedroom window. She didn't find anything telling her where or when to go. This was a problem for sure. But first, Liz and Mione needed to get confirmation from their parents. Maybe they knew where to go? The girls rushed back inside and jumped for joy when their parents said that they could both go this... Hogwarts school. The problem was, they didn't know how or where to buy their things, but no matter; they'd figure it out eventually. Elizabeth and Hermione then ran up to their rooms and asked each other many questions about what each of them thought the school would look like, what they would learn and all the bizarre stuff they'd probably see. Being this excited was so very unlike Hermione, but it wasn't a foreign concept to Elizabeth. Soon after the conversation had veered to the taboo subject of cute and charming boys (A/N: Pun totally intended), the doorbell rang. The twins didn't even know until their mother came to the door to tell them someone was here to see them. Lizzie and her sister slowly came downstairs and walked into the living room. Her eyes fell upon a man and a woman dressed in strange clothing. They must be robes; like in the list. The woman, who seemed older than she probably was, wore emerald green robes and a pointed black hat. Her greying hair was tied in a tight bun and small oval glasses were placed in front of her bright blue eyes. Her expression was stern, yet warm and welcoming at the same time. The man, who was seated next to her, did not wear the same expression. He was void of emotion. His mouth was set in a straight line and his hands were pressed firmly together on his lap. He wore obsidian robes and his hair, that was the same color, fell neatly on either side of his face. While Hermione thought him terrifying, as she voiced after the two left, Elizabeth found the man intriguing. The man caught her staring and she averted her eyes. Even though she found him intriguing, didn't mean he didn't scare her a little.

"Mr. and Mrs. Granger if you would have a seat-" the woman in emerald robes began "we can discuss the letters your daughters have received today."

The twins' parents complied and sat on either side of their children.

"My name is Professor Minerva McGonagall and this is Professor Severus Snape. We teach transfiguration and potions, respectively, at Hogwarts. Now, as you may already know, your daughters each received letters from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry because they have earned a place."
"Why is that?" Elizabeth asked
"Have you ever made something happen that didn't ever seem possible?" the woman asked
"I once turned a boy's hair into pasta." Lizzie chuckled "I threatened to eat his head."

Hermione, Mr. and Mrs. Granger looked at her as if she had grown a second head. Her sarcasm was never appreciated. McGonagall's eyebrows furrowed whereas Snape's mouth twitched upward.

"What?" Elizabeth sighed looking at her sister "The guy was a prat."

Hermione rolled her eyes.

"And you miss Granger?"
"I might have made things disappear." she said
"Well, then, if you have, it makes sense. You two are both witches, dears."

Elizabeth and Hermione's eyes lit up. They had confirmation of their thoughts; the two of them were able to perform magic. Lizzie didn't turn that boy's hair into pasta for nothing after all. Over the next hour, the two Hogwarts professors explained to the Granger family everything they needed to know; houses, classes, the school - which was a castle -, Diagon Alley and the Hogwarts Express. The two left by something called 'apparating' and the two girls went back to their room to talk some more. Obviously, the first topic of conversation were the professors who were their home only a few minutes ago. Hermione immediately became attached to Minerva's similar attitude but didn't seem to appreciate Severus as much.

"How can you find him intriguing?" Hermione gasped "The man was terrifying."
"He was intimidating, not terrifying, Mione. There's a difference." Elizabeth sighed "you're supposed to be smart."
"Very funny." the older twin said snidely "What house do you think you'll be in? I think I'll be in Ravenclaw."
"I think we'd both be able to go in Ravenclaw, but I want to be in Slytherin."
"Why Slytherin? From what I've seen from Snape, it doesn't look like the nicest house."
"Whatever, I just don't want to be stuck with a bunch of study freaks in Ravenclaw." Liz chuckled "No offense, Mione."
"None taken." she replied "I guess we'll figure it out on our first day. Let's just concentrate on getting our school supplies first."
"Diagon Alley, here we come!" Elizabeth shouted, raising her fist in the air "Well, tomorrow anyway..."