I still remember that day. I laugh every time I recall it: that shock in my mother's eyes, anger in my father's voice... both of them probably thought that I was making fun of them. But I must admit myself that back then I was not sure, either, whether someone had or had not tried to make some not-really-funny fun of me. Owls! Seals looking as if they were taken straight out of the Middle Ages! And those letters calligraphed in ink... all of that seemed to be just unreal.

And yet – after some time a woman appeared on the threshold of my house; a woman dressed so strangely that one could think that she was either a madwoman or a real witch. I remember that she locked herself with my parents for a longer time in one of the rooms, until at last they, completely pale, let me leave with the stranger, who told me about the world I had never dreamt of. Well... I had. Of course I had. Nevertheless, the one she told me about was a thousand times more beautiful than the one I had created in my mind.

She also told me about the school I was supposed to attend from then on. Yes, that was how it all started: with a letter an owl brought to me, sealed and bearing a magnificent signature with twists. And with that strange lady. And then? Then, everything went on... much faster than I had ever thought. Because before I realised, I found myself on a peculiar street, called Diagon Alley, and after that, with a trunk full of book of spells, ingredients for potions and scrolls of parchment, in my brand new black robe, I was already sitting in one of the compartments of a beautiful, red Hogwarts Express.

That was where I got to know all the witch had not managed to tell me about: about the Houses, the Sorting Ceremony and all that. Truth be told, I could not understand the nickname I was given back then, when I said that my parents did not believe in magic, but I was already aware that I would not want to attend classes with my new acquaintances.

I still remember the admiration I felt when I saw the school for the first time; it was hard to believe I would live in such a place. Yes, I did miss my parents. I knew that I would be missing them all the time... but at the same time, I was too fascinated to want to get back to the life I had lived until then. That was when I realised some gate was opened right in front of me, and I was definitely going to take advantage of this opportunity.

That night, even though I was exhausted, I could not fall asleep because of excitement. For the next seven years such nights happened quite often. Well, not always were they caused by happiness – sometimes I just needed to study for my exams, or I simply did some different – more or less forbidden – things.

But this night I slept like a baby, even though I had just returned to this castle for the next time. To start completely anew.

My name is Aubrianna Darcie Shirley. Aforetime I used to be a Ravenclaw. But today I am beginning my life as a professor in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.