The best day of my life was the day I was adopted, or so I thought. I had been in that orphanage for seven years, I had seen kids come and go and I was stuck there, it wasn't fair. When I was told that I was being adopted I didn't even stop to question it, question who would adopt the freaky girl who could break things without touching them should she get angry 'they must just be from out of town.' I thought to myself as I rushed to pack. Little did I know I was to become their slave, in all sorts of ways.

[4 years later]

*warning abuse*

I woke to the usual bright light shining down into the basement, it was my 'father'. He came down ever morning before my 'mother' woke so he could use me as he own personal punching bag. I cowered in the corner as he approached, the smell of alcohol still very much present on him. This had gone on almost as long as I had been living with them. He grabbed me and pulled me off the mattress, punching and kicking being only the beginning of the abuse he unleashed on me.

"Stay still you brat, your lucky we took you in. Since your parents clearly didn't want anything to do with you." He hissed the hateful words in my ear as he continued to assault me.

The assault went on for what felt like hours before he finally got up and left. As soon as the door was shut I broke down sobbing.

After making breakfast for the Billings I headed out to the hallway to collect the post. I passed the bundle of letters to Mrs Billings who looked through each one until she came to the last letter

"is this some kind of a joke? Do you think this is funny?" Mrs Billings screamed as she slammed the letter down in front of me. The envelope read

Miss Aviana Grace

The basement

48 Fairing Avenue

London

"Did you do this?" She screamed again

"No I didn't do anything." I stuttered

"liar!" She hissed before slapping me and stuffing the letter in the shredder without even reading it. After the letter incident I was told to go get dressed for school.

I hated school. Most people do but myself, I hated it more. As if the abuse at home wasn't enough I had to endure it at school as well. Break time and lunch were filled with name calling, stone throwing and hair pulling. I had learnt to lock myself in the bathroom after eating my lunch as quickly as possible.

The letters kept coming for weeks and each time I would get a beating. Then one morning, July thirtieth to be precise, there came a loud knocking at the door

"Ava get the door!" Mrs Billings shouted from upstairs as I headed towards the front door. At the door stood an old woman wearing an old dress and a witches hat

"hello, I'm professor McGonagall, this is for you." She said and passed me a letter

"Ava, who's at the door?" Mrs Billings asked, the old woman put her finger to her lips and I instantly got the message

"Oh, it's no one. Just someone from some charity." I lied as I opened up the letter.

"Is this some sort of a joke? Magic isn't real." I said in disbelief

"Oh it is deary. Now if you want to get out of here I suggest you come with me." She told me.

I looked back and saw the shadow of Mrs Billings at the top of the stairs. I'm not sure what made me trust her but I'm glad I did.

"Okay." I said as I step out of the door.