When Virginia woke up, it was already late
in the morning. Opening her eyes, she sat dully on the bed, and them suddenly
jumped to her feet and shouted, “My Gigi!” Yes, that was the pet she chose to
buy yesterday – an owl. Although she said previously she would choose a cat,
she still took an owl instead because apparently an owl will make contacting
her parents much easier.

  She
quickly walked out into the living room. All things necessary for school, which
she bought yesterday, were still lying on the floor as she expected. Her
parents, who seldom slept last night, heard her shout and asked hurriedly, “What
happened? What is Gigi?” Both seem to be very worried.

  “Sorry,
Dad. Sorry Mum. I was too tired yesterday so I felt asleep rightway and didn’t
get up.”

  “You
looked drowsy indeed last night and didn’t eat anything before sleep. Come here
and have your breakfast first, dear,” said Mum, who looks at her daughter in
pity.

  After
breakfast, the whole family sat beside the dining table and Virginia related
what had happened yeasterday. As she spoke, she got rather excited, and at last
she took the cage in her hands as though holding a precious jewelery.

  “This
is Gigi, and she will become part of our family from now on. She’s a bit small
but is really quiet and obedient.” Virginia glanced at her confused parents and
couln’t stop feeling that Gigi was truly very quiet, even after it was buried
under large piles of things for an entire night. “You shouln’t look down on her
just because it’s small. It can help deliver your letters, and is quite easy to
raise. I’m planning to take it with me to Hogwarts first, and after having
settled myself down, I will send with it a letter to home and then it will stay
here. You just need to feed it some owl food everyday. I bought a lot
yesterday. That will be enough for the whole semester.” Virginia continued, “It
is really a good owl. If you miss me, you just have to write a letter and let
her take it to me. As for me, I have already asked Professor McGonagall. She
said there’s an owlery at Hogwarts. I’ll be able to borrow one to send letters
to you, so don’t worry.”

  “All
right,” said Daddy, “Our little Ginny is truly considerate.”

Virginia felt a
little touched but nevertheless continued with her tale. At last she mentioned,
“I’ve exchanged a lot of money to use so you don’t have to worry about that.
And I have especially asked Professor McGonagall. Hogwarts has teachers who
take care of students all the time. So I’m OK.” Well, of course Professor
McGonagall said nothing like that, and she isn’t stupid enough to have asked
anything like that. She just said so to lessen her parents’ worry. And what she
had said was not completely a lie. Hogwarts indeed has house-elves, but they aren't
human of course.

And then she
showed her parents the fantastic galleons and nickles she exchanged yesterday.
Dad said in a quirky manner, “Your school is truly ancient by the look of it.”

Virginia
suddenly sat down in the chair and said solemnly to her parents, “I will write
to you often to tell you what’s happening around me there. I can take care of
myself. Please trust me.”

“’Cuz we trust
you deer. We are worried just because you are our daughter. If we do not see
you for a moment, we will get worried, even if we know you are safe.”

Virginia bowed
her head slightly and started playing with her fingers, while mumbling to
herself, “I’ll take good care of myself. I will….”

Whether she is
persuading her parents or herself is not clear to us.

And then
everything went normal as though nothing had ever happened, until time flew
away and September 1^st finally drawed on.

  At
King’s Cross Station, Virginia looked down at her ticket and then looked up at
the wall. Well, the supposed wall looks actually just a jamb. She is even
worried whether she will run aside when she goes through it. Virginia planned
to go here earlier so she will be able to get on the train earlier and find
herself an empty box. She wants to avoid making contact with too many people.

  Going
through the Nine-and-three-quarters platform, she is surprised to find that
everything is quite OK, as though the platform had been casted an Overlook Charm
so that nobody would notice her and her owl. At the other end of the platform
stood her parents, who just hugged her in turn to say goodbye. It was nervous
and strange, and Virginia didn’t dare to look back at her parents, because she
was afraid if she did, she would again go to them and refuse to leave again.

  The
Hogwarts Express is just there in her view. Looking at the red train with a
dark nose, Virginia felt herself going through the time again. Ancient England,
you’re rushing at me so fiercely….

  She
found an empty box and settled herself down and started writing the very first
letter to her parents. The box is indeed commodious and comfortable. She
originally planned to take a camera with her here, but then denied the thought,
because she tells herself to try to avoid being noticed by others this year.

  Then
she felt asleep in the warm sunshine. When she awoke again, she was startled by
the girl sitting oppsite to her. When did she come in? How could she sleep so
deeply as to fail to notice anything? This is strange.

  “You
must be a new student. I’m Olliver Hill from third year. You can call me
Olliver. When I came in you were fast asleep, so I didn’t wake you up. Please
don’t mind that,” said the girl. “There’s no seat elsewhere.”

  Virginia
sat up and replied politely, “I think I do not mind at all. I’m Virginia
Winchester. Glad to meet you.” She smiled slightly. And then the two felt
silent and didn’t talk much. Virginia understands that during such special
periods it is unwise to tell a stranger much personal information, and she
quite agrees. She doesn’t feel like wishing to talk with other people at the
moment.

  She
took out her school robes and dressed herself. When the train finally arrived
at the destination,, it was all dark. Olliver had told her there’s no need to
carry her bag, which will be sent to her dormitory later. And she noticed there’re
few first year students here. She sees uneasiness, scrupulousness, and even
gloom upon every face, which is compatible with the dark surroundings.

  Along
with the other new students, she followed a professor with her head bowed low.
She even failed to notice who the professor was and what he looked like. When
their boats floated silently in the calmm water and turned a corner, many first-years
got rather excited to see Hogwarts with its spectacular castles that shines in
the darkness. Under the castle, stones form peculiar shapes near the lake side.
Virginia, on the other hand, couln’t drive away the heavy stone in her heart.

  Maybe
if she attends Hogwarts a year later, she would have felt happy, excited, and
quick to accept all these fantasies, unlike the scrupulousness she forced
herself to exert now. But now she could only keep telling herself to keep a low
profile and do not ever wish to save anyone. She has to keep herself away from
all those things. She knows that perhaps some people will die this year, but
she firmly vows to herself that she will stay among the living people.