Chapter 9: Bonsais and Letters

Organizing my mind had definite effects on my brain's specs. Remembering things from the short term was a piece of cake. Understanding all the new information collected was not. I could recall things that I didn't remember trying to learn. It was a bit freaky, to say the least. Freakiness aside, it didn't stop me from using my new superpower to hit the books. My magic core was still being assimilated and that meant continued growth to my shields. Conversely, it meant an extra delicate magic container for me. Reluctantly, I decided that I didn't want to strain myself. Practicing any kind of focused magic was out of the question until my core fully adhered. Which by the look of how much changed in one night, might be a few months down the line. So long for now wandless magic training.

Sitting on my hands and waiting for the owl to deliver my school letter wasn't my style. So all that was left for me was to read all the practical books I had bought. I'm not discounting their practicality as boring. They hold the knowledge I desperately needed. Herbology seemed the best option to start with. It was interesting with the least amount of temptation to use magic."One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi" was apparently not as boring as it seemed at first glance. Many people discount Herbology as just gardening. Here were plants of all kinds. Some could make you fly or breath underwater. Others could kill you in an instant or extend your life for a decade. Reading more I kinda wondered why not more people were into learning about this stuff. Just looking at the pictures was hours of entertainment.

Months passed and I learned everything I could about magical plants. From the venomous tentacula to the shrivel fig. I had become a little bit of an expert on plants. Why everyone didn't have a Wiggentree in their homes was beyond me. It will protect you from dark creatures when you touch the trunk. I had gotten a sprout and started raising it as a pet project while my magic was unusable. I'd effectively made it into a small bonsai tree. Even though it was small for a Wiggen tree it still attracted a Bowtruckle guard. I knew there was at least one amongst the branches. Though it was still very shy and hadn't let me see it. The tree shook a little branch when I passed. Brushed my hands gently when I took care of it. They even leaned over to look at some of my books. Even though it was listed as a non-sentient plant I hoped it liked me. I hoped the Bowtruckle in its branches liked me too because my heart was already stolen by all these small gestures. I named them Bonniebell and Clyde.

Once my magic container had recovered somewhat my favorite thing to do for the pair was a bit of Wandless magic. I had figured out that even if I could use a tiny bit of magic from my core it wasn't enough for anything big. Which left me trying out very simple exercises. Providing light and of course, moving objects. Nothing too heavy. The more space something took up the harder it was. Psychics always start with trying to move pages in a book. The result is always headaches and failure unless you are a super mutant like Gene Grey from x-men. Since I didn't want headaches and exhaustion, I started with water droplets.

Separating one tiny droplet from the rest was difficult but good practice. I wanted my magic to be precise. Starting with a drop of water I spun it around my hand and grew proficient with its motions. When I failed it wasn't much of a mess but success was pretty mesmerizing. Especially when I added several more drops and flew them in patterns in the air. I could make an indoor rain cloud for Bonnie. Which seemed to be appreciated by the color of their leaves and gentle sway.

Days seemed to be flowing on by. A fog swept over the city and a brisk cold accompanied me as I sat on the terrace. It had rained for the past several days, blurring the lines between morning and night. It was supposedly summer but I didn't even really notice the date anymore. I gripped my blanket tight as I watched for the first visible sunrise in a month. It cast a warm glow over the city as it rose steadily from the horizon. It was just about to fully emerge when my phone pinged. It was a notification. Today was my birthday. The thought crossed my mind as the first sun rays hit my face. I smiled at the thought and looked down at the street wondering what would be happening today. From my perch, I could see out into the groggily moving city. Most of the people passing by were early commuters. Others had decided to take a stroll on this rare clear morning.

Since it was my birthday an owl should be coming to bring me the news. Looking upward I scanned the skies for the owl that would bring my official acceptance to Hogwarts letter. An Authentic one, not one I had to buy. Thoughts of the letter brought others to the forefront of my mind. If I hadn't been guaranteed to go to Hogwarts wouldn't there be loads of issues popping up? I was an American living in London. Would that change where I went to school? Was I still even American? I mean I was reincarnated in London. Did that make me English? With all that was done to me, I didn't even know my new body's backstory all that well. I didn't know where I was born. Or even where my 'parents' supposedly 'died'.

Feeling a slight jolt of panic. I realized I knew nothing about myself. Where I grew up, relatives, friends, holidays, or previous schools. I wished a great big hole would swallow me up right now. What was I supposed to say?! My true back story?! "Hi, I'm Alise and I got picked up by God and dropped here. In my last World, I had a bunch of siblings we didn't travel anywhere and I lived in America on the coast my whole life" That sounded insane. I'd rather hope that I passed under everyone's radar. That way no one would ask me any weird questions like where's my accent from or worse if I... Wait, my accent! Do I still have an accent?! Thinking back on the past few months I tried to recall any comments about my voice. Nothing. Nada. Zip. Zilch. Zero came to my mind. Did it mean I no longer had an accent, Or just that no one commented on it? Either could be possible. Everyone I actually talked to was very polite. Trying to rub away the building headache I had an epiphany. I was so stupid. While I was wasting time looking at the sky and wondering if I had an accent I should have been checking the mail. My letter would be sent by post because I was an orphan living in the muggle world.

Smacking my forehead I came in from the terrace. Preparing myself to run out to my mailbox I grabbed the door handle. I stopped there when I remember that I was in a hotel and not in my old apartment. I was in a hotel. where did mail go in hotels? Feeling myself sink into a pit of despair the idea came to me and I hated it. Letters are delivered to the front desk. I would have to talk to somebody.

My mind raced through all the possibilities. It was just barely dawn on a weekday. Nobody would be up right now except the night clerk. I could slip in and out and only have to talk to one person. If I was careful nobody else would even know I existed. " You can do this Alise, It is a single person, you do this and you can get your letters. It won't be that hard. Just say the room number and ask for your letters. You're bound to get the mail anyways. This is the perfect chance to get it without any extra hurdles. Besides if you don't go now it will only get harder." My pep talks started as a gentle whisper to myself and became a crowd of voices cheering inside my head boosting my morale. It was silly but it had enough of a push to get me out my door.

Tiptoeing through the halls, afraid of accidentally waking anyone with loud footfall, I snuck myself towards the elevators. My heart almost stopped beating when I heard a yawn from behind one of the doors. Whoever they were might be thinking of coming into the hall. Adrenaline kicked in and I sprinted to the elevator doors praying internally that it would come quickly. The wait might have only lasted a few seconds but for me, it seemed an eternity. I grinned like a lunatic when the dial above the doors pointed to my floor. Launching myself into the elevator I swiftly stabbed the button for the Lobby. A small respite gave rise to paranoid daydreams. Being in a small box with the potential for more people wasn't great for my nerves. Elevators could stop at any time and then I'd be trapped with a bunch of strangers. Although this one seemed in good service I did not want to risk it. I decided that on the way back I would take the stairs. Nobody likes taking the stairs. Especially if they have to at dawn. It would be a nice terror-filled run back. At that thought, I had finally reached the lobby. No one else was in sight but the tired-looking desk clerk. Robotically I moved my limbs and approached the desk. Stuttering and mumbling I spat out my room letter and asked if there was any post for me. Bemused the clerk reached into the desk and then handed me a stack of identical letters in green ink. They were my acceptance letters. Apparently, they had tried reaching a few times.

Mortified but curious I inspected the stack at a couch and table placed near the desk. It was slightly tucked away. You had to round a pillar to see who was there. It was perfect to hide out and read my letters quickly. Just in case I had to do something with one of them I decided the best course of action was to read them here. I had been handed two different types of letters. The first type was thinner than the other. It seemed like the quality ones you could buy from a gift shop or specialty seller at a glance. The envelope was the hefty kind held closed by the Hogwarts wax seal. I popped open the letter using my fingers. Parchment peaked out from the opening. Written inside was the standard acceptance letter and list of supplies. Nothing out of the ordinary. At least it wasn't something banning me from the grounds or saying I had the wrong school. The latter bulkier letters sat in a pile dauntingly in front of me. I grabbed one and prepared for the worst.

Opening the other type everything was almost the same. Letter of acceptance and a list. Peaking out from behind those I noticed an extra page and a small envelope. It stated that I was to return post the envelope after selecting a date for a Professor to come by and chaperone me while I purchased my supplies. On the account that I was a new student and I had no close relatives to accompany me. Glad that I carried a pen with me at that moment. I quickly selected a date from next week and stuffed the parchment into the envelope. I made my exit after dropping the letter off with the clerk and a quick muffled thanks. The clerk let out a soft chuckle and waved at my retreating figure. The small laugh spurred me to take the stairs two at a time. I hadn't talked to anyone in a long time and it seemed that at the very least my tongue was just as twisted as before. I had made a fool of myself. Once I got back to my room I should try talking to Bonniebell. Maybe that would ensure that I wouldn't make a fool of myself when the teacher came.