Chapter II: A letter of Virtue

It was a perfect Sunday morning in Birmingham, 8:30am and the house of Verell was just waking. Mrs. Verell awoke first.

Lila was a fairly tall woman of 33 years of age, with beautiful long blonde hair and always wearing a silver bracelet marked with an insignia that reads; “Family ties are precious threads, no matter where we roam, they draw us close to those we love, and pull our hearts further home.” She was always so nice to everyone, never with a frown or quiver, always on top of the world.

“Mal, Malus!” she yelled. “Malus, it’s time to wake up birthday boy!” Malus still sound asleep in his room, always too lazy to get up in the morning, even on the morning of eleventh birthday, or rather the morning he is expecting his letter to Hogwarts.

Waking up next was Malus’ father Jasper.

Jasper standing at 6 feet 2 was also tall. Jasper had Brunette short hair and a goatee, always recognized by his famous crimson and gold sweater that sported the insignia of a tall standing Lion , and a reading on the back that read “You might belong in Gryffindor, where dwell the brave at heart, their daring, nerve and chivalry,set Gryffindors apart”

Jasper jumped straight out of bed, wacked his slippers on his feet and quickly scuffled to the next room, where Malus was still snug in bed.

“MALUS COME ON SON, IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY, AND WE HAVE A SURPRISE FOR YOU” yelled Jasper excitingly.

“Mmhph, alright, alright” said Malus lazily. “Hey wait, did you say surprise? It’s my letter, it’s my letter” Malus quickly ran down the old wooden stairs of the house, so excited to see his letter of acceptance to Hogwarts.

Malus came down the stairs to see both his parents waiting at the dining table with a present sitting on the table wrapped in what looked to be a colourful cloak, and a blue ribbon tied around it.

Lila grabbed Malus and hugged. She kneeled down to his height and looked in to his bright green eyes.

“Happy Birthday Mal, it has been eleven wonderful years raising you and teaching you what we can about magic, but it’s time for you to step of in to the real world of Magic” said Lila. Jasper walked towards Malus with his hands behind his back as if to be hiding something.

Jasper spoke softly to Malus;

“Malus, My father gave me something that belonged to his father, and was handed down from generation to generation, and it is supposed to be handed to the first born son of every generation on their eleventh birthday, so here you go, I present you with this cloak and the letter that has been handed with it for over 1000 years” Malus opened his arms to receive his gift wrapped in a blue tied ribbon. “Thank you dad, and thanks Mum” said Malus smiling. Malus has put down the present, and opened the letter first. Malus noticed first the letter looked old, very old. He opened the letter only to read the only line on the page “Your father left this to me the night before he died, Use it well.” Malus looked confused to say the least. “Uh Dad, what does this mean?” asked Malus. Jasper sat on his favorite chair and breathed out.

“Well, my father told me what his father told him, it was written by the legendary wizard Albus Dumbledore but to who he wrote the letter two is still unknown to this day.” Jasper just smiled at Malus again and just said “Happy Birthday Mal”

All of a sudden a sound of the mailbox slot in the door flapped, accompanied by the screech of what sounded like an owl. Jasper and Lila looked at each other and smiled. Malus looked toward the front of the house.

“What was that?” asked Malus. “I think that’s for you Mal” said Jasper smiling.

Malus walked over to the door and saw a letter lying on the ground with a red seal on the back. Malus knew exactly what it was, but had no idea that is was going to be delivered, he thought a teacher from Hogwarts was supposed to deliver it. Malus took the letter back in to the lounge and sat on the couch staring at the letter.

“Mal, are you okay?” asked Lila. Malus just started at her for a few seconds.

“Malus?” said Jasper. “Uh yeah dad, I’m ok, I’m just really nervous that’s all” said Malus. Jasper and Lila looked at Mal with pride and excitement on their faces.

“Aren’t you going to open it?” asked Jasper. Malus turned over the letter to see the address written on the front, it read in green old text; “Mr. Malus P Everall, Domus Everall, room 4, Birmingham England.”

He turned it back over and felt the seal of Hogwarts. He pulled at the seal and broke it open, slowly pulling out the letter within. Unfolding the letter slowly he began to read the first line on the letter, it reads; "Dear Mr. Everall, We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." Malus looked back at his parents and smiled.

“You are going to Hogwarts son” said Jasper proudly.

1 HOUR LATER…

Malus and Lila were in his room packing his things for Hogwarts in an old red trunk with clothes, books and photos. Malus was still very nervous about leaving his parents and going to the school where the two famous wizarding wars took place, where the his hero and icon Harry Potter battled and defeated Lord Voldemort, and also hosted the Tri-Wizard tournament on many occasions one of which was won by none other than Harry Potter himself and current Hogwarts Headmaster Silas Etheridge.

“Well Jasper his almost packed, have you got his ticket?” asked Lila.

“Yes I got it” said Jasper. “Here you go Mal” Jasper held out his hand holding what looked to be a special train ticket. Which read “Hogwarts Express, Platform 9 ¾”

Malus was just about finished his packing and was ready to get all his other affairs in order. Jasper and Lila wanted to take Malus to get his things for his first year, and there was no better place than Diagon Alley.