The Mail that Changed My Life

"Sonya!!!"

11 year old Sonya Grey (A very light sleeper mind you) shot out of bed at the sound of her mother's voice, her short black hair ruffled in every direction, her bright blue eyes aching for sleep. She glanced at her balack alarm clock, which, as if on cue rang, for a 7am alarm. An alarm she didn't set. She clenched her teeth.

"¡Mamá! ¿Estabas en mi habitación?(Mommy! Were you in my room?!)" she screamed at her mother in Spanish, her family's mother tongue

Silence

"It's 7 in the morning! On a Saturday! During the summer!!!"

Silence

"Why can't I have a family that respects privacy? Idiots" she grumbled

"I heard that!!"

Oh so that's when you decide to answer? Typical Mom, Sonya

thought.

Suddenly aware of her stinky breath, her PJ's sticking to her like glue and her sweaty hair and head, Sonya reluctantly dragged herself to the bathroom.

Unfortunately, she stubbed her toe. Suppressing a high pitched scream, Sonya looked down, surprised to see one of her favourite books, Harry Potter And the Philosopher's Stone on the floor in front of her throbbing toe. A memory of the day before flashed before her eyelids. The 4th of July party her family had thrown the day before. She turned to face her room.............. And did not like what she saw.

Every book she kept in her room was on the ground and in her closet, thrown like ragged dolls. Packets of every snack you could imagine was on the floor, some half full, some empty, some spilling crumbs on her black carpet. Her closet was more scattered than ever, some clothes laying on her bed, on the floor, heck some of the clothes weren't even hers! Cursing herself, she wondered why she even let her classmates in.

"When school starts, they're dead." Sonya declared.

An hour of showering and 30 minutes of brushing her teeth later, Sonya was making her way downstairs in a knee length floral dress she found (in the closet, NOT the floor!) towards the kitchen, where, as she predicted, her mother would be, chatting with her Abuela, her 6 siblings waiting on the small space with chairs. Her eyes even after the shower were, still pleading for sleep, her vision was blurry.

"How long have they been talking?" she whispered to her 13 year old brother, Carlos, sliding into a chair beside him.

"1 hour 30 minutes and counting" he replied looking at his watch.

He was still in his Pajamas, his short ruffled hair, identical to Sonya's an obvious sign he made no effort to dress up for whatever their mother was up to.

Sonya looked at her mother, so focused on the conversation that she hadn't noticed her own children were there. Well, maybe except the 3 year old, Elena, their baby sister who she was carrying, squirming and giggling at the sight of her

siblings.

All of them were bored, looking at their mother expectantly, hoping the conversation would end. Avery, Sonya's bratty and sarcastic 15 year old sister however, looked uninterested, eyes glued to her phone the whole time and her waist length hair tickling Carlos who was right beside her.

When Mrs. Grey had finally approached the the youngsters, she didn't say a word, only slammed a long paper on the middle of the table, CHORES in printed in big letters at the top. They all groaned.

Sonya glanced at her brother, her eyes questioning, their gazes asking a single question: Did Mom seriously take her time to type this?!

"Now, as you all know, we had our 4th of July party." their mom started, " So it means the house is obviously a mess. Here are all your chores. I'll call them out for personal reasons"

What is up with Mom today?

"Avery!"

The teen looked up, starled, probably only realising that her name was being called after a split second.

"You're on lawn duty, garbage duty and your room"

Sonya chuckled softly when her mom stressed the last part of her sentence. Even without the party, she could only imagine Avery's room.

Avery glared at her mother, going up the stairs with her fingers typing rapidly on her phone, probably texting her friends how she hated her family.

"Carlos! Your room, back yard duty and the living room."

Like the soldier gamer he was, Carlos saluted to his mom like she was a Commander and he was a Rear Admiral, marching upstairs

"Miguel, Isabelle and Diego, your rooms, the dining room and your Dad's study"

5 Diego, 7 year old Isabelle and 9 year old Miguel trudged upstairs with sad faces, obviously unhappy about doing chores

"Miguel, you're in charge!" Their mother called up to them.

Finally, Mrs. Grey turned her attention to the last remaining child, Sonya. She took a look at the list.

"Sonya, your helping Avery at the lawn, do your room and the kitchen and while your at the lawn, please take out any mail."

Sonya's face fell. Her mother had literally given her the worst job in the house. Mrs, Grey flashed her a red carpet award smile, as if she hadn't done anything at all, and dropped Elena and followed the toddling baby up the stairs.

Sonya advanced to the kitchen sink, where towers of dirty dishes were stacked like the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the countertops covered in unrecognisable stains, half eaten snacks and other despicable objects to disgusting to mention

"Damn it!" Sonya groaned

"I heard that!"

She rolled her eyes

Of course you did mom, of course you did.

TWO HOURS LATER

"Avery! Come on and help! ¡No es justo! ¡Le diré a mamá!(It's not fair! I'll tell Mom!)"

Avery didn't even move. Still sitting on the porch of the house texting, the teen ignored Sonya's pleas to continue picking up the trash on the lawn. Since their Dad was still asleep (lucky) and their Mom had gone out with Elena, the 15 year old used the advantage to lay back and do nothing. As expected of a typical teenager.

Sonya continued picking trash, mumbling under her breath, sweating profusely under the Californian sun.

"Oh I give up!" She exclaimed, throwing her trash bag to the ground.

She was tired, hungry angry and still sleepy. Her fingers ached to choke Avery till she turned blue. Her mind wandered to the mailbox at the side walk, and decided to go get the mail, more out of curiosity than as a chore.The metal burned at her touch, resulting in letting out a yell.

The summer sun was really getting to her. she tried again, quickly, revealing 12 letters inside. In a swift move, Sonya pulled them out and hurriedly walked towards the house, eager to read her letter. Maybe it was the reply from Zendaya after she sent a letter to her a few months ago........?

"We have mail!" Sonya called, and at once eager footsteps came running to her.

She gave all of her siblings hearing sounds of happiness from them.

"OMG! Guess what Vanessa! Jamie invited me to his birthday party! Squeeeeee!" Sonya rolled her eyes as she heard Avery and her bestie Vanessa on the phone giggle and gossip about Avery's crush invite them to his partie

Totally barf worthy, she thought.

"I'm in seventh heaven right now! After long years of waiting!" Carlos, obviously, was hyped at his acceptance to a Call of Duty World championship during the christmas holidays.

"We have to tell Mommy! Yay!" Miguel exclaimed to Isabelle and Diego, all clutching their identical passes to try out in America's got Talent.

On the the outside, Sonya looked exceptionally happy for her siblings, on the inside however, she was breaking down.

Why me!!!!

All that was left were 4 letter: hers, her mom's , Elena's (Elena?!) and her dad's.

"Lets see here," she muttered, "A business trip for dad, a baby modelling agency for Elena, a Hogwarts letter for me, An all you can eat buffet for- wait hold up!"

Sonya's eyes flew open. No, she thought, I'm just seeing things. Hogwarts doesn't exist, right?

She rubbed her eyes

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, was printed right there boldly.

She pinched herself dozens of times

She was still clutching it

Hogwarts!?

"OMGIcan'tbelievethisishappeningrightnowI'mgoingtoHogwartsasafirstyearI'llmeetHarryPotterJ.KRowlingisawitchI'llmeetHermione!!!Yaaaaaaaaay!!!!!!!!!!" Sonya screeched so loud it would have probably been heard from the next neighbourhood.

Carlos came running down, all the others behind him.

"Sonya, what the hell are you saying?! Your saying a hundred words per minute!!"

Her excitement was too much to handle. She couldn't get a grip. Heck she couldn't even speak!

"Me. Hogwarts. School. First year. Magic. Omg yes! Yay!No words can explain excitement!"

"Did you just say-?" Began Carlos quizzically, but was interrupted when the doorbell rang

"I'll get it!" screamed Diego, sprinting to the door as though he were in the Olympics

They're mother came in, holding a hyper Elena by the hand.

"Is everything alright? I heard a screech from a mile away!"

All eyes went on Sonya. Oops. She flushed pink in embarrassment.

The doorbell rings again.

"I'll get-!"

"Diego!" Avery gave him a look that said Don't you dare complete that sentence. And so he did not

He opened the door to see a young woman, probably in her 20's, in a medieval style cloak and dress, holding what looked like a wand in her hand. She gave the family a big smile,exposing her perfect teeth. She had stunning raven black hair tied in a bun, and piercing blue eyes. Not a single blemish was on her skin.

"Professor Mcgonagall?" Sonya whispered.

"At your service!" the woman brightly replied, bowing in an outlandish way, a british accent thick in her voice.

Without permission, the so called Mcgonagall entered and went straight to the dinning to sit down, fanning herself.

"Oh my! It's so hot in the US. I miss London already!"

No comment.

The Grey's watched her silently, stunned and unable to move. Mrs. Grey, however, didn't care about the name. All she saw was a stranger in her house.

"Santiago!!" the woman screamed to her husband. Filled with fear, she finally gave way, her eyes rolled back into their sockets and she fainted........ but didn't fall.

"Wingardium leviosa!"

Their mother was levitating! All eyes were on the stranger, her wand fixed on her, slowly lowering it down, along with Mrs. Grey.

"Sonya! Please read out the letter, and DON'T ask how I know your name." Mcgonagall sounded exasperated.

Sonya, who only at that moment realized she was still clutching the letter, opened it, her hands shaking

"Dear Sonya and Carlos Grey," she began, "We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment."

"Questions are all in your minds, aren't they? Ask away then!" Her eyes shone brightly. Mcgonagall clearly loved this job.

"How are you Minerva? I thought she would be in her 80's or something?" Carlos, a huge Harry Potter fan himself was excited, but curious, nonetheless.

"Oh no,no,no! Minerva is my grandmother! Rowling didn't tell you guys?"

They stared at her, mouths agape. Well, that confirms J.K Rowling was a witch.

"How is Carlos going to Hogwarts? He's 13, not 11." Carlos glared at Sonya. She just shrugged her shoulders. She was just curious.

"It's a bit a long story. This is the first time this is happening." Mcgonagall suddenly turned serious.

"You all are muggle born wizards and witches, but you weren't on our records until Sonya was 9." She began "Unfortunately, It means Avery won't become a witch. Carlos is not so old for Hogwarts and will be a third year, since he is always comes first in classes since kindergarten. Am I right?"

She glanced at Carlos. He had flushed pink

"He'll catch up, with the Third years, no worries. And your younger siblings will be accepted once they are at age."

Avery, who had been silent since the ordeal suddenly spoke up.

"Why won't I become a witch?" her voice was cracking.

"Darling, I told you, we didn't know about your family till Sonya was 9. Unless you want to be in Sonya's classes till your 17.....

"This is so not fair!" Avery screamed. She ran upstairs in tears. Mcgonagall winced.

"Don't worry, she'll be fine. I unfortunately have to obliviate it from her memory. "

There was silence for a moment. A voice from upstairs was heard.

"Maryse, what is it?!" It was their father.

"Mom is out! She wanted to tell you that Sonya and I are going to boarding school!" said Carlos.

"Good for you!" he replied

"Well then," The Professor stood up and headed towards the door. She handed Sonya a card. "Call us when you want to go to Diagon Alley. You'll have to explain to your parents your going to 'boarding school'. Cheerio then!" And she was gone.

Then siblings were whooping with excitement. Sonya however, just clutched the Hogwarts letter in her hand.

The mail that changed my life she thought, smiling to herself.