Susan had mixed feelings about her brother’s acceptance to the school. She knew this was good news, and that, in four years, she would receive her own letter. Susan couldn’t imagine losing her brother for the next school year, though. She would be alone with their father who was a Muggle. He couldn’t answer any questions about magic or teach her anything about how to use or control it. She would ultimately be alone.

  Christopher, himself, felt uncomfortable with the whole situation. Living with Taylor had been difficult since Sarah had passed away. He had gone from such a sweet and innocent boy to someone filled with so much pain and resentment. Taylor watched after Susan when Christopher was down at the firm, but he wasn’t happy. He began to resemble Robby back in his earlier days. He just wasn’t sociable.

  There was an inferno in Taylor that Robby had never possessed, however. It was almost fearsome. At times, things would just happen. Taylor wouldn’t consciously will them to occur, but Christopher knew they were a result of Taylor’s magic.

  One time the three members of the Paxton family were driving down the road, and Taylor and Susan started bickering. Taylor got worked up and screamed. Christopher had to slam on breaks seconds later because there were birds in the road… They were all dead. It looked as if they had just fallen out of the sky.

  This incident had made Susan especially emotional. She had bawled. Christopher just felt wary of his son. Taylor looked sick, though, as if he knew what had happened had been his fault.

  July came, and Christopher began to worry. Sarah hadn’t prepared him for preparing Taylor for his first term at Hogwarts. He had no idea how to get the boy the supplies that were on the list that had come with his letter on his birthday.

  During one clear day in the middle of the month, Christopher got an unexpected call from the firm telling him that it was closed for the day and that he needn’t come in to work. Mere minutes later, a kind-looking blonde man had appeared at the door in a tacky brown suit. He introduced himself as Professor Dennis Creevey, the Muggle Studies professor at Hogwarts. The headmaster, someone called Percy Weasley, had sent him to assist in the Paxton boy’s supply shopping.

  Taylor was in awe. He almost forgot about how much he hated everything for a few moments. This was the first wizard outside of his family he had met. He wondered if he would have any classes with Professor Creevey. He also wondered if Headmaster Weasley was related to the Ron Weasley—the one who had been friends with the legendary Harry Potter.

  Professor Creevey helped answer Taylor’s inquiries for the most part. Taylor would have classes with Dennis Creevey—eventually. Muggle Studies was a class required for second-years, but not offered to first years, traditionally. Percy Weasley was, in fact, one of the older brothers of Ron Weasley. Ron Weasley had four older brothers: Bill, Charlie, Percy, and George. He had five at one time, but Fred had been killed during the Battle of Hogwarts in the Second Wizarding War. Ron also had a younger sister named Ginny, who had gone on to marry the famous Harry Potter.

  Harry Potter had many friends and acquaintances that taught at Hogwarts, according to Professor Creevey. His eldest son, James Sirius Potter himself, would be teaching one of Taylor’s classes during his first year: Defense Against the Dark Arts.

  This excited Taylor greatly. As did Diagon Alley… It all excited him: shopping for cauldrons, and books, and a wand. Going into Ollivander’s was certainly the most exciting part of the day. The very first wand young Mr. Ollivander selected had been a perfect match for Taylor. He could feel the magic flowing through him into his wand like an electric current. It was mystifying. Twelve-and-a-half inches. Sycamore. Dragon core. Unyielding.

  The day concluded back on Riverpond Drive. Professor Creevey departed, leaving Taylor to tell his father all about his gallivanting in the magical world for the first time. For a time, Taylor and Christopher forgot their tension and sorrow, and they indulged in the excitement that was to be expected from such an exceptional experience. Susan loved hearing all of it, too, and it only heightened her excitement for her eleventh year.