“Where could it be?”

Why it’s gone! That’s weird. It’s absolutely nowhere to be found.

So here I go, back to my bed. That definitely is a strange one. One moment here, and another not. Maybe I missed it? Supposed it fell? Oh, just let me take one more look at it again.

Well, here I am now at my window, peering down. Nope. Definitely no owl there.

“Lumos” and from my hand shone my handy dandy friend, the flashlight. Mind you, the light is coming from my hand and I can wave it around just like you can do to a flashlight – oh, but there’s nothing on the ground either.
Maybe it’s not hurt after all. Maybe I just thought it was. Maybe it flew away. Well, wherever it is I hope it’s safe. I still feel guilty about it.

“Dear Lord, I am so sorry about the owl. I only meant to scare it away, not to hurt it. Please forgive me. And wherever that owl is, I hope that it’s safe. And please don’t make it mad at me. I shall like to be its friend again and I will be a better friend the next time. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

There. I’ve said my prayer. Please don’t take revenge on me little owl. You see, I always find a consolation in my prayers whenever I do something wrong. It just lifts a burden.

But what’s that? Oh I think it’s the owl coming back! It’s not hurt after all. Yes, it is. It is the owl. But is it?

I can’t believe my eyes. The owl! It just- it’s HUMAN now. I SWEAR IT WAS AN OWL THAT TURNED HUMAN. It was just there, gliding towards the trees, it looks as if it was having a hard time to be honest, but then it became a man!
He’s walking towards the house. Strange, strange – Very strange indeed. And his face is actually quite peculiar.

He’s wearing all black, and seemed to be wearing a coat that’s such as used for winter. Funny, for a grown up man, it looks as he’s trying to dress up. Doesn’t that feel hot? It’s the beginning of summer, for goodness’ sake.

Oops. Did I say that out loud? No I didn’t. But he- he looked at me. He knows I’m not asleep. What if he tells my mother? And just what is he doing here? At the middle of the night? It seems most weird that mom and dad are going to talk to him while they sent me to bed ON MY BIRTHDAY. I think that’s kind of rude. Oh but is he walking towards here? Maybe it was my mind playing with me.

Nope. It’s real. It’s all definitely real. He is going here. The door had already opened because I can see the light shining already. The light’s gone. He must be in now. Well, well, it’s all so peculiar. And I’m going to find out all about it. I can smell trouble abrewing.

But do I dare? What if I get caught? Humph. Nonsense. I have the right to know! They can’t just send me to sleep and then talk to a stranger.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Careful. Careful. Walking on tiptoe is rather hard. But I have to find out why that man is here. Thankfully, there is a potrait here on the corridor, whose eyes have been cut out to look as if they had eyes, but are actually empty and you can see and hear everything through it. The only disadvantage is, that its on the end of the wall leading to the stairs, so there’s a high risk of your shadow being seen. But the light doesn’t glow on this side, so there’s nod anger of the shadow, and I am too careful not to let myself be seen at the edge.

“Good evening Andruida.”

Andruida? But my mother’s name is Marilla.

The man had just come in,looking rather exhausted and worn out. He sat at the table, opposite the one which had the lamp in it. He had a bandage in his arm, like he was hit or something. It looks fresh, and newly bleeding. He seriously looks hurt.Father had just come in as well. Wonder where he’s been.

“Matthaias. How are you?” the odd man greeted.

Matthaias? Queer. How come he’s been calling my parents different names? Perhaps its an association and those are code names! Matthaias is quite close to Matthew.

“Why, whatever happened to you, Igor?”

“It’s nothing. Just a little accident.”

“It’s about time you get one,” mother retorted. I’m surprised. That was pretty sharp. I don’t think I ever heard my mom say something like that. She must hate him. I wonder why.

“Now, now, Andruida, I’m not here to pick a fight with you. You have received the letter, yes?”

“Yes, but I still don’t see where you got the impertinence to ‘beg’ to see her. As well as the gall to even come into our house.” Oooh. Another burn. This is a whole different side of my mom I have never seen before.

“Think about it Andruida. She needs it. She needs someone to teach her.”

“Yes she does, but it will be definitely NOT you.” My mother almost shouted. She probably would have yelled so loud if she didn’t think I was asleep.

“I can teach her well in this household, thank you.”

“But you won’t even use it, everyone knows you vowed not to use it again from the moment you’ve been, you know- outcasted?”

Oh this is bad. My mom’s eyes are glaring at him now. I can feel that my mom is trying to restrain herself, but hell broke loose as well.

“FOR THE LAST TIME KARKAROFF, I AM NOT LETTING MY DAUGHTER LEAVE. I AM MOST DEFINITELY NOT LETTING HER GO INTO THAT SCHOOL OF YOURS. I CAN TEACH HER MAGIC HERE JUST AS WELL AS YOU DO. AND DON’T ASK ME WHY! BUT IF YOU MUST KNOW, IT’S BECAUSE I DON’T TRUST YOU IGOR, AND I HAVE NO REASON TO! NOW GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!”

"Don't you know that you almost sucked the soul out of her? Literally??? Your blasphemous dark little pets have been circling around the grove earlier this morning. She was crying, and trembling all over. She fainted! And all on her birthday as well! How do you think I could trust you if this is the kind of thing that's happening? If my daughter was almost put into the danger of those foul greedy dementors? She could have been killed!"

The man shook his head and bowed it. He evidently cannot look my mother straight in the eye.

"I'm sorry Andruida. I didn't realize it'll come to that."

"You should be. But you must leave now, and never let me catch you near this house again!"

“I think you better do what my wife tells you to do Igor. It’s late at night, and our girl is asleep. There’s the door.”

Well that was tense. But what does it all mean? He spoke about magic. Is it what I can do all along? I knew there was a right term for it. Magic. It sounds so nice. Can it be? Can I really have that thing called magic? And he has a school which can help me learn more? Oh, it must be a pity mom’s turning him out...

But that fainting fit? Does that mean... that the hooded figures- they're all real?

“Well it must be if it must be,” The man said with a sigh. “ But I know your mind will change in time Andruida.” He donned on his hat and turned to leave.

“No it won’t. Through the door please.”

It’s kind of pitiful to see a man treated like that. But I could see he’s persistent. I saw his mouth moving. He must be saying something to mother, probably a last plea, but-

Oh no! He knew! He knew I was here all the time. He knew I was listening! And he told me out! Mother’s eyes went large as saucers and she turned towards me! And he- he had the galls to wink at me! Now I see why mom doesn’t like him. Traitor!

I have to go back to my room and quick. Mom wouldn’t believe him if she doesn’t find me here.

“And just where do you think you’re going young lady?”

Uh-oh. It looks like I’m found out.