Lily awoke with a start the next morning, her eyes still tightly shut despite the sunlight filtering in through the window. She couldn't shake off the feeling of a vivid dream she had just experienced. In the dream, Magnus, a wizard, had come to tell her that she was accepted into Evermore Academy. But Lily dismissed it as just a figment of her imagination and tried to convince herself that it was just a dream. "When I open my eyes," she thought to herself, "I'll be back in my attic at home."

Abruptly, a jarring tapping sound interrupted the peacefulness of the moment. 

Marie's heart sank as she recognized the sound of someone knocking on her door, but she refused to open her eyes just yet. 

She had been lost in a wonderful dream, and she didn't want to let it go. The tapping persisted, steady and insistent, until it became impossible to ignore. 

Tap. Tap. Tap.

As she stirred awake, she noticed that the small hut was bathed in the warm glow of sunlight, indicating that the storm had passed. Magnus, who had kept watch through the night, was now fast asleep on the sofa. There was an owl rapping its claw on the window, a newspaper held in its beak.

With a surge of excitement, she scrambled to her feet, feeling as though a giant balloon was inflating inside her. She hurried to the window and flung it open eagerly. As if on cue, the owl darted inside, dropping the newspaper atop Magnus, who remained sound asleep.

Lily watched in amazement as the owl gracefully landed on Magnus's chest and hooted softly as if to say hello. Magnus stirred in his sleep and rubbed his eyes, slowly coming to his senses. When he realized what had just happened, he let out a chuckle and reached for the newspaper, unraveling it with care.

Lily was curious to know what the newspaper had to say, and she inched closer to Magnus to take a peek. The headline read, "Wizards' Academy set to open doors to a new batch of students this fall." Her heart leaped with joy, and she could hardly contain her excitement.

Magnus yawned loudly, sat up, and stretched.

"Best be off. We have a lot to do today." He said.

"Um—Magnus?"

"Mm?"

"I haven't got any money," Lily said.

"Don't worry about that," he said, standing up and scratching his head. 

"We will pay a visit to the bank," Magnus said, his cheerful smile not fading even for a moment as he pulled on a pair of black trousers and a vibrant blue shirt that made his eyes stand out like the sea.

Lily nodded eagerly, feeling a sense of anticipation building inside her.

"Witches have banks?"

"Guardian Galleon Bank, run by Faries," Magnus said.

Lily felt her jaw drop. She was certain it had touched the floor.

"Faries?"

She followed him out onto the rock. The sky was quite clear now and the sea gleamed in the sunlight. 

"How did you get here?" She asked, looking around for another boat.

Magnus smiled mysteriously, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "I have my ways," he said, not giving away any details. Lily could tell that Magnus was a man of many secrets, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and wonder in his presence.

As they made their way along the rocky shore, Lily couldn't help but think about the fairy-run bank they were about to visit. She had never heard of such a thing before, and her mind was racing with questions. What kind of services did they offer? What did the interior look like? And most importantly, how did one go about opening an account?

"Dragon," Magnus said. 

Lily looked up at him in a state of confusion. "Dragon? What?" 

Her eyes darted around and she jumped back as a large beast of a dragon stood in front of her.

The dragon was a magnificent creature, with shimmering scales that glinted in the sunlight. Its body was massive, easily filling the space of the yard they were standing in and its wings were folded neatly against its back. The dragon's eyes were a piercing golden color, and they seemed to be fixed intently on Lily.

Despite the dragon's imposing size and strength, Lily felt a strange sense of calm wash over her. There was something regal about the way the dragon held itself something wise and ancient. 

Magnus stepped forward and placed a hand on the dragon's snout, and the beast let out a deep rumble, almost like a purr. Lily watched in amazement as Magnus spoke softly to the dragon, as if in some secret language that only they understood.

After a few moments, Magnus turned back to Lily with a grin on his face. "This is Smaug," he said, gesturing toward the dragon. "Don't worry, he won't harm you as long as you treat him with respect." Magnus smiled at the wonder that covered Lily's face.

Lily nodded slowly, still in awe of the massive creature before her. She felt a sense of wonder, mixed with a healthy dose of fear, as she stepped forward to greet the dragon.

As Lily approached the dragon, she felt its warm breath on her face. Smaug's eyes seemed to follow her every movement, and she wondered what thoughts were passing through the dragon's mind.

Lily tentatively reached out a hand to touch the dragon's snout, and she felt a surge of excitement as her fingers brushed against the rough scales. The dragon's eyes never left hers, and she felt a sense of connection as if they were communicating without words.

Magnus watched with amusement as Lily interacted with the dragon, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. 

"We are taking him to the bank," Magnus said.

"Taking him? Like walking him?"

"No dear child. We ride him."

Lily stood staring at Magnus. "We ride him?" Lily had only thought about this in dreams never did she actually think she would speak about riding a dragon.

As they approached the dragon, Lily couldn't help but feel a little intimidated by its size and power. Magnus, however, seemed completely at ease as he climbed up onto the dragon's back.

"Come on, Lily," he called down to her.

With trembling hands, Lily reached up and grabbed onto the dragon's scaly skin. She felt the beast shift beneath her, and then suddenly they were airborne.

Lily gasped as the wind rushed past her, whipping her hair into her face. The sensation of flying on the back of a dragon was like nothing she had ever experienced before. She clung tightly to Smaug's back, feeling the heat from his body radiating through her clothes.

As they soared through the sky, Lily felt a sense of freedom and exhilaration that she had never known. She couldn't believe that she was actually riding a dragon.

***

Smaug had dropped them off in an old abandoned alleyway. Passersby stared a lot as they walked through the little town. "We're almost there." Magnus handed Lily a rather large parchment paper that was rolled up with thin red silk. "This has everything we need to get for your first year." 

Lily stared at the rolled-up parchment. It was thicker than her leg and she thought when she opened it that it would go on forever.

Evermore Academy

—————

UNIFORM

First-year students will require:

1. Two sets of plain work robes

2. One pointed hat

3. One pair of protective gloves

4. One winter cloak 

COURSE BOOKS

All students should have a copy of each of the following:

Advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts Ancient Runes: A Guide to the Forgotten Language The Elements of Divination: Techniques and Applications Intermediate Potion-Making by Gwendolyn WoodcroftMystical History: An Introduction to the Secrets of the Past Secrets of the Dark Arts: Unveiling the Mysteries of the Unseen Spellbinding: The Art and Science of SpellcastingWandlore: The Art of Crafting and Mastering Magical WandsThe Art of Enchantment: A Comprehensive Guide to Charms, Hexes, and Jinxes

OTHER EQUIPMENT

1 wand

1 cauldron

Students may also bring an owl, a cat, or a toad

"Were are going to buy all this?"

Magnus stopped at a dead end in the alley. "Here we are." 

Lily looked around and wondered if Magnus had lost his mind. She could see nothing but a solid wall that surrounded them. "Excuse me...I don't mean to be rude, but this is a wall." "Not everything is what it seems my dear."

Lily couldn't believe what she was seeing. The brick wall had transformed before her very eyes, revealing a hidden archway leading to a mysterious street.

Magnus chuckled at her expression of wonder. "Welcome to Arcanum Alley," he said, gesturing for her to follow him through the archway.

Lily stepped through and found herself in a bustling street filled with shops, stalls, and a variety of people and creatures she had never seen before. The air was thick with the scent of magic.

Magnus led her through the crowds, pointing out various shops and places of interest as they went. Lily's eyes were wide as she took it all in, trying to memorize everything she saw.

As they walked, Lily couldn't help but feel like she was part of a secret world, hidden away from the rest of the mundane world.

"Guardian Galleon Bank," Magnus said as they stopped in front of a large building.

"Yeah, that's a Fairy." Magnus looked down at Lily's astonished face.

A pair of fairies fluttered their wings and led them through the silver doors, and they found themselves in a vast marble hall. About a hundred more fairies were sitting on toadstools behind a long counter, scribbling in large ledgers, weighing flower petals in brass scales, and examining precious gems through magnifying glasses. There were too many doors to count leading off the hall, and yet more fairies were showing people in and out of these. They made their way toward the counter, Lily tried not to bump into any of the delicate creatures.

Magnus greeted a majestic Fairy, whose wings fluttered frantically as if they were struggling to keep her afloat. The delicate wings shimmered under the light, casting a kaleidoscope of bright blues and pinks onto the desk below her. Lily marveled at the sight, as the colors looked like tiny diamonds. "Good morning," Magnus said to the Fairy. "We're here to visit Lily's vault."

"Key," she said.

Lily's expectations of fairies were shattered upon meeting this particular one. Instead of the kind and gentle demeanor she had imagined, the fairy appeared to be curt and brusque.

Magnus held up a small golden key to the Fairy. It looked large enough that it would pull her to the floor with its weight but it did not.

"Faries have incredible strength," Magnus whispered to Lily. 

"Very well," she said. "I will have someone take you down to both vaults."

As they walked through the twisting tunnels, Lily couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The Faries were not friendly, and their cold, calculating eyes made her feel like they were being watched every step of the way.

She watched as a Fairy stopped in front of them and to her amazement the once small fairy had become a girl about her height. 

The girl had striking features, with almond-shaped eyes that were a bright shade of green and framed by long lashes. Her hair was a deep shade of black, falling in loose waves down her back. Her skin was smooth and flawless, with a soft glow that seemed to radiate from within. She wore a simple green tunic and brown trousers, with delicate silver jewelry adorning her wrists and neck. Despite her sudden transformation from a fairy to a girl, there was still an ethereal quality about her.

She pulled open the vault and Lily watched as rows and rows of glinting coins shone under the dim light of the vault. She stuck her head inside and it seemed to stretch on forever, an endless sea of gold.

"Next we need to get your uniform." Lily followed Magnus back outside. 

Threads and Tassels: Attire for Every Even.

"Evermore, dear?" the lady behind the counter said.

In the back of the shop, a girl with a petite, delicate face was standing on a footstool while a second witch adjusted the hem of her black robes. Lily was helped onto the stool next to the girl.

"Hello," said the girl, "Evermore, too?"

"Yes," said Lily.

"The bookstore's on the next street where my father is buying my books, while my mother is checking out the latest wand models up the road," said the girl with a confident tone. "After that, I plan to convince them to take me to the broom store. I don't see why first-years can't have their own brooms. I'll use all my persuasive powers to make my father buy me one, and then find a way to sneak it in."

"Where are your parents?" she asked.

"They're dead," Lily said shortly. 

"Oh, sorry," she said Lily didn't think she sounded sorry at all. "But they were our kind, weren't they?"

"They were a witch and wizard if that's what you mean."

"I really don't think they should let the other sort in, do you? They're just not the same, they've never been brought up to know our ways. What's your surname, anyway?"

Before Lily could answer, the shop owner came over to check on her fitting. "All set, my dear," she said, and Lily gratefully hopped off the stool, glad to be done with the conversation.

As they entered the store "Whimsical Wonders," Lily was immediately taken aback by the sheer amount of books. The shelves towered above her, lined with tomes of all shapes and sizes. Some books were so large they could be used as doorstops, while others were as small as a matchbox.

"This place is amazing," Lily breathed in awe.

"You'll need a lot of books for school, but don't worry, we'll make sure you get everything you need."

Lily found herself in a section with books that were about curses. She pulled one off the shelf and pulled back its thick leather binding.

Magnus walked up next to her. "Ah, books about curses. Nasty things they are."

"I was trying to find out how to curse Sarah."

"I'm not saying that's not a good idea, but you're not allowed to use magic outside of Evermore." said, Magnus. 

They spent hours browsing the store, picking up textbooks on Charms, Transfiguration, and History of Magic, as well as a few books on more obscure topics, such as magical creatures and potion-making. By the time they left, Lily's arms were full of books.

"Last but not least your wand," Magnus said.

This was the part Lily was really looking forward to.

The small and unassuming shop was the final stop on their magical shopping spree. Faded letters spelling out "Wandcrafters since 1576" hung above the entrance of the shop. A solitary wand was displayed on a simple wooden stand in the dusty window, its intricate carvings barely visible behind the grime.

Lily pushed the door open and was met with the sound of a tinkling bell. Inside the shop was dimly lit, and she could barely make out the silhouette of a thin, old man with silver hair standing at the far end. The air was thick with the smell of wood shavings and something else, something that made her feel as though she was standing in the middle of an ancient forest.

"Good afternoon," the man said. "I've been expecting you."

"Me?" Lily asked, confused.

The man nodded. "Yes, I believe you're here for a wand."

"How did you know that?"

The man smiled cryptically. "I just have a sense about these things. Now, let's see... ah, yes," he said, shuffling over to a tall shelf filled with boxes of various sizes. He pulled out a long, thin box and placed it on the counter. "Give this a wave."

Lily picked up the wand and gave it a flick. A shower of silver sparks shot out from the end, causing her to jump back in surprise.

"Excellent, excellent," the man said, clapping his hands together. "Eleven inches, holly, and dragon heartstring. A very powerful wand indeed."

Lily was still in shock. "How did you know which wand to give me?"

The man smiled enigmatically. "As I said, I just have a sense about these things. Now, that will be seven Galleons, please."

The late afternoon sun hung low in the sky as they made their way back.

"You all right, Lily? Your very quiet" said Magnus.

Lily wasn't sure she could explain.

Everyone thinks I'm special." "All those people but I don't know anything about magic at all. How can they expect great things?"

"Don't worry. You'll learn fast enough. I know it's hard. But you'll have a great time at Evermore."

"Your ticket for Evermore," Magnus said, his voice filled with excitement. "The gates of Evermore Academy will open on the first day of September, make sure to arrive on time. Any issues with your guardians, you can always send me a letter through the academy owl post, and I'll assist you in any way possible." Magnus smiled before he sent Lily on her way back to Havenwoods.