The Light

Chapter 22~ The Lottery

Egypt with my family was interesting to say the least. We were all so surprised that Dad had won the lottery and since we hadn't seen Bill in ages we decided to visit him. Bill worked as a curse-breaker for Gringotts bank and was stationed in Egypt. We'd spend most of our time exploring the pyramids that he'd worked in, tucked in my pocket I had the photo of my mum holding me as a baby, wanting her to see everything I was seeing. We'd even gotten our picture taken for the Daily Prophet! I saved two copies sending one to Harry and the other to Hermione in my letters.

Along with the clipping I also sent Harry his birthday present, Ron and I did our best to keep it small because Errol, our family owl looked ready to croak just looking at the box he was going to have to carry. I decided on getting him a dragon-hide pouch so he could put his money in, Bill helped me pick it out.

"Errol, don't tire yourself, I'm sure you'll find Hedwig when you get closer and she'll help you," I told him just before he flew off.

Ron had gotten Harry a pocket Sneakoscope, which is supposed to light up and whirl when someone untrustworthy is around. But Bill says those are tourist junk, specially since it was buzzing all through dinner. I held in laughter though, because Fred and George had put beetles in Percy's soup.

Our news wasn't the only thing that made the front page, we were in Egypt when the news got out that Sirius Black had escaped from Azkaban. The whole Wizarding community was on edge since Black was convicted of murdering a group of people in broad daylight.

"I can't believe Black escaped," I commented one night rereading the newspaper clipping in bed.

Ron nodded working on his essay for History of Magic which I'd already finished, "You'd think they'd excuse summer work because of it."

I threw my pillow at him for being so stupid, looking over on his nightstand lay Scabbers, who'd been getting skinnier for days, "Scabbers are you alright?" I asked walking over to the rodent.

Ever since I'd gotten the necklace that let me talk to animals I've tried to get Scabbers to speak to me, but all I get are small answers, never able to hold a conversation. Now, I've always been skeptical around it, I always felt like there was something off with him, but Ron always chocked it up to nerves, "He's never spoken to someone who could understand him Mira!" He once told me.

Scabbers simply nodded answering with a small, "I'm fine," shaking in fear before retreating into his box.

"We're going back tomorrow, then I can get him checked out," Ron told me, "In the meantime, could you please help me with this bloody essay?"

I sighed walking over to his bed, and pointing to the passage I used, "Witch burnings were pointless because muggles can almost never distinguish the fake witches from real ones...." I went off on my explanation, my brother scribbling to catch everything I said.

"Mira, Ron," Percy walked in pompously wearing his new Head Boy badge, "It's best if you both get some sleep, we're scheduled to leave first thing in the morning."

I saluted him like a soldier, "Sir yes sir!" Percy scowled before turning, most likely to say the same to the twins and Ginny, "I swear I thought his head couldn't get any bigger," I muttered going back to my own bed and opening my book for Defense Against the Dark Arts.

It looked like whoever the new professor was, they knew what they were doing. The book was actually informative, unlike the previous year. I actually found myself excited to start the year, along with some of the new subjects I'd elected to take such as Care of Magical Creatures, I couldn't wait to be able to talk to all the creatures and learn about them.

When the rest of my family found out about my necklace they were awfully impressed, "I'm sure Charlie would love to have you help him in Romania with all the dragons!" George exclaimed.