Prologue: The Badger and the Letter

Some things are not always as they seem.

Some things are exactly as they appear, but only once you finally see them.

And some things are just as odd as you first thought.

But in a small cottage nestled in a lovely town called Great Maplestead, nothing odd happened. People came and went about their business and had no talk what so ever of any weird goings-on.

And at the top of a hill, there was a very un-peculiar house, with seemingly ordinary people inside.

They had lived in this neighborhood since their daughter was born. The McAllens were stapled members of Maplestead, always going to events and town meetings. Making sure any lost sheep got back to Mr. Waldorf down the lane.

But as time wore on and their child grew up. It became apparent that their daughter was a very, strange girl.

Serena McAllen was not your typical eleven going on twelve-year-old child. She enjoyed things such as old rusty spoons and keys; crawling into dusty attics of elderly neighbors to find a antiqued treasure. In fact, she had numerous items crowding her bedroom, spoons hanging like wind chimes from her window which was often open to let the breeze glide in and ruffle the curtains and let off notes in the quiet space.

Her mother Eleanor was beside herself over Serena; however, she was not completely without her unique intricacies that made her, well, Eleanor; she preferred knitting sweaters and keeping the house as clean as ever. But she only knit with particular yarn, and if she couldn't find it, she’d travel all over to get the exact color, weight, and fiber. Nevermind online shopping, Eleanor needed to feel it to buy it.

Her father Nathaniel was a lawyer and an excellent one at that. He made the long trek to London each day; it was a good hour and a half both ways! But he took pride in providing for his family, yes he did! Never once could anyone suggest that he did not find time for Serena or her mother in a single day when he came home to read the paper aloud to them and talk about the day. They enjoyed walks in the park, taking goodie baskets to the senior women in the neighborhoods that could no longer bide by getting up and getting about, and they all made sure to spend time perfecting their puzzle pieces on the grand table in the dining room.

Serena’s day was starting a bit later than normal; it was coming around to summer when school was out. Not that it mattered, she was homeschooled. She rather liked it because her “Classes” included an hour of knitting, reading books she loved and speaking to her Mother about them, and baking- or rather 'Home Ec.'. She was not too fond of other studies but did them dutifully; her mother did not allow otherwise.

But today was just a beautiful and lazy day, much like any other where the sun came in through her window and sprinkled bright yellow splashes of light across her bedspread and face. She opened a blue eye and glared at the sunlight. “Aren't going to give me a break I see." She sighed and rolled over attempting to grab the nearest robe as her mother preferred to keep the house at a freezing temperature no matter the season.

Yanking the robe on she leaped out of bed and went to her mirror to glance at herself. Her hair was on all ends, blondes and wheat colors flying in a mass of curls.

Attacking the frizz with a brush got rid of the frizz, but it allowed the depth of her curls to unfurl, her widows peak lengthened out to volumes of hair which gave knot after knot. Luckily, she opted to keep her hair to her collar bones. It was easier to manage, and the fringe across her brow was just long enough to duck her head and hide her eyes should the moment ever come when it was needed.

Shy and quiet, Serena preferred not to cause a scene. She quietly collected her antiques, and knitted in a corner at events, letting the softness of Alpaca and Teeswater ewes wool provide comfort in uncertain times. Her favorite thing was spinning, the drop spindle giving her the ability to transform fiber to something cuddly and wearable. Her Mum said that she was just like Gran- who had supposedly moved away when she was a baby.

The photo of the woman on a side table that Gran had sent, a dark oak with carved roses and leaves on the sides struck a sweet tone to the entire room's decor. "Hey Gran," Serena said. "I miss you." She hardly remembered Gran, but for a moment she could swear the photo moved. Gran had turned and winked at her smiling in the black and white photo in her gardens. Her sun hat was flapping in the wind.

Just your imagination, Serena. She told herself sternly; there was no way a photograph could move! And so disregarding the spark of magic, she tromped down the stairs she skipped into the kitchen, smelling pancakes. It was the week of her birthday! Which meant pancakes for breakfast, her mother was at the stove, glancing at the swinging door of the kitchen. "I see you're awake now!" Grinning she set down a stack of pancakes before patting Serena on the head.

But there was an unusual feeling in the kitchen that morning, it was edgy and made the air hard to breathe. "Mum you well?" Serena asked tilting her head.

Eleanor ruffled her apron, pushing her chestnut curls, mingled with Auburn sparks away from her face. "Of course, my dearie, eat your breakfast.”

Serena, letting it go shrugged and sat down; stabbed herself a stack and drizzled syrup across it with butter. "You sure?” She asked noticing her Mum was watching her carefully from her teacup.

"Has anything odd been happening?"

“Odd?"

"Anything," her mother paused seeming not to want to go on. "Anything unexplainable?"

Eleanor's question had added punctuation with a tilt of her head. It was then that Nathaniel made an appearance. "Hello Dear.” She said forgetting her curiosity in her child.

"My love!" He kissed his wife on the cheek, "and my duckling." He cried. “Almost twelve!”

Serena grinned, "almost Dad. You promised to take me to the market.”

"So I did," he began. "Hm, we will have to get you some new furniture?" Nathaniel glanced around the room which was filled with the nicknacks that Serena had found and fixed or gave a bit of TLC, only to see them finally shine with a unique character. Serena had that knack you see, for seeing the good in things. Nathaniel always loved that about her. "So what"s this about weird stuff going on?" Nathaniel asked, taking a long draught of coffee.

She glanced at her mother, who only refilled her teacup. "Mum was asking if anything odd had been going on." She stuffed another bite into her mouth- but not before noticing her mother give a 'you know' type of look to her dad, who suddenly leaped in his seat and almost had his oversized round glasses slide off.

Speaking of which, Serena groaned, she had forgotten her glasses. She hated and loved them, the large block glasses that took up most of her face. But it was smashing for avoiding people directly looking at you.

Nathaniel cleared his throat and was looking at her in a meaningful way. Almost curious as well, "has anything odd happened?” He asked now.

Serena laughed, guys I am fine. I promise.”

"You will tell us if anything happens," Eleanor asked.

She nodded, "sure Mum. Pinky promise." Her mother relaxed and smiled at her. "I'm going to get my glasses Mum." She scooted from the kitchen nook and began down the hallway to the stairs at the front of the house.

Suddenly, there was a quiet thunk; it startled her because it was on the door to the garden by way of the parlor. Sounds such as that came from the window where foolish crows simply didn't pay attention. Not that she wanted any bird to be harmed, she had put in little ornaments on the window to make sure even no matter how clean it was there was something to make sure they knew there was glass.

Serena walked to the door and opened it onto the patio. Stepping out, she shut the door and turned, to see an enormous brown owl. "Oh!" Jumping, she squeaked and backed up into the door. "You startled me. Go on shoo!" The owl opened it's big wings and flapped; it was holding something.

She looked a bit closer. It was a letter! The owl hopped towards her and flapped it's wings again, almost looking impatient.

"Is that for me?" She asked reaching. It stretched, offering her the letter with an extended leg. Slowly, careful of the talons she took it.

The parchment envelope was warm to the touch from sunlight, and it smelled like a fresh breeze and slight traces of musk. The seal on the back was wax and had a symbol; it looked like a crest with some small mammal, a lion, snake and a bird of some kind. "How odd." She glanced back in the kitchen window, her mother and father having a rather animated conversation; it involved waving of arms and her mother looking frustrated. But before she could knock on the window to tell them to come out it was then that things went topsy turvy.

A flash!!

A bang!!

The shack outside began to glow with green light and smoke, Serena gave a short scream of shock as the door swung open with green licking flames and fog. A person was emerging. She was yelling into the open, "Eleanor I am moving the Floo Network to the fireplace and confound your issue with it! Blasted Muggles!" Serena stayed back, terrified that it was a burglar, though there hadn't been one in the history of ever in this little village.

The woman tossed her red curly hair back from her face, spectacles dangling from a green chain. She was clothed in colorful robes and shawls. "Muggles is what's the problem, always have to have everything so normal."

"Muggles?" Serena whispered, she was about to head into the house to get her parents in fright; when Serena realized she knew this woman and her voice left her in a sweep of air. "Gran!?" She asked stepping forward.

The woman turned, aiming bright blue eyes at her. "My granddaughter!" She cried rushing forward and grabbed Serena in a bear-like an embrace. "My granddaughter I just got the news by Owl! Did you get it yet!" Seeing the letter, she laughed and clapped her hands in glee. "You did get it! Oh, I haven"t missed it then!"

"I'm sorry but…what on earth-"

"Serena?" Eleanor was on the patio, her eyes bugging when she spotted Gran. "Mother?" she asked stepping forward, and seeing the disarray of the shed she groaned, "mother what did you do?"

Gran, put her hands on her hips, sassy and annoyed she tilted her head. Before flinging her arms out. "I arrived!" She said grandly.

Eleanor's eyebrow twitched, and her lips tilted ever so slightly up but she kept a firm expression. "I can very well see that." She looked at Serena who was still flabbergasted and holding the letter to her chest. “Serena…let me see that."

"It's addressed to me," Serena said handing it over.

320 Borough Drive Grand Maplestead

Serena Anne McAllen

"Oh my goodness." Eleanor"s hand flew to her mouth and her eyes watered. "Serena…"

Serena was concerned and rushed to her, "Mum what is it?"

"We need to talk," was all her Mum would say. "Let's go inside."