"Do you think James got his Hogwarts letter yet?" Sirius asked his husband.

"Sirius, I already told you. James is going to Hogwarts next year." Remus replied, taking a sip of tea.

When Marigold headed downstairs that morning, the first thing she heard was her dads talking about James, the eldest son of Harry Potter, the legendary hero who defeated Lord Voldemort sixteen years ago.

"'Morning, Marigold!" her dad, Sirius, said.

"'Morning, Paddy!"

"Did you sleep well?" her other dad, Remus, asked.

"Yep."

Next to Remus, Marigold's brother, Teddy, was helping himself to some breakfast. Just then, Archimedes, the family owl, flew into the window with an envelope tied on its ankle.

"Marigold, will you grab that, please?" Andromeda asked.

"Sure," she replied, hoping that it was a letter from the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Marigold, who had turned eleven two months ago, was looking forward to attending Hogwarts starting in September. Sirius, Remus and Andromeda all went there years ago. Even Teddy, who was a Prefect like Remus had been during his time at Hogwarts, would be beginning his sixth year.

As expected, it was a letter, which had the Hogwarts crest on its cover, addressed to "Ms Marigold Lupin-Black." Marigold eagerly opened the envelope and began reading the letter:

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Headmistress Minerva McGonagall

(Order of Merlin, First Class)

Dear Ms Lupin-Black,

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.

Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.

Yours sincerely,

Neville Longbottom

Deputy Headmaster

"I'm going to Hogwarts!" Marigold exclaimed.

* * *

"Marigold, why don't you go first?" Remus suggested.

Marigold tossed a handful of Floo powder into the fireplace and stepped into the green flames.

"Diagon Alley!" she called out at the top of her voice, loudly and clearly.

Marigold felt as though she was being sucked down by a gigantic hose; everything around her was spinning. She stood as still as a rock, her elbows glued to her sides, and her eyes shut tight.

At last, Marigold landed in the middle of Diagon Alley. Teddy, Remus, Sirius and Andromeda soon followed. It was Marigold's second time in Diagon Alley; she and her family had also been there five years ago before Teddy began his first year.

Marigold skimmed through the back page of the letter:

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

UNIFORM

First-year students will require:

1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)

2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear

3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)

4. One winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings)

Please note that all pupil's clothes should carry name tags.

COURSEBOOKS

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

The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1)

by Miranda Goshawk

A History of Magic

by Bathilda Bagshot

Magical Theory

by Adalbert Waffling

A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration

by Emeric Switch

One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi

by Phyllida Spore

Magical Drafts and Potions

by Arsenius Jigger

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

by Newt Scamander

The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection

by Quentin Trimble

OTHER EQUIPMENT

1 wand

1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)

1 set glass or crystal phials

1 telescope

1 set brass scales

Students may also bring if they desire, an owl OR a cat OR a toad.

PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS

ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR BROOMSTICK

Yours sincerely,

Lucinda Thomsonicle-Pocus

Chief Attendant of Witchcraft Provisions

* * *

To save time, they decided to split up to buy Marigold's things. Sirius offered to bring Marigold to buy her wand and uniform, and Remus and Teddy agreed to get her books from Flourish and Blotts; Andromeda was responsible for the rest of the equipment.

Marigold and Sirius pushed their way through the crowds. Diagon Alley was full of witches and wizards, some who were upcoming first-years like Marigold, and others who were returning Hogwarts students like Teddy, and their families.

Soon, they spotted a shop with a sign that read, "Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions."

"I'll see you again after you're done," Sirius said, dropping Marigold off in front of the shop.

Marigold walked into the shop, wondering why Sirius didn't come in with her; she supposed that he needed to use the loo. In the shop, there was a boy with curly dark brown hair who looked around her age.

"You must be here for your Hogwarts robes?" a witch, whom Marigold assumed was Madam Malkin, led her to a footstool next to the boy, who was getting fitted for his robes.

Another witch handed Marigold some long black robes. Marigold pulled on the robes over her head, and the witch began pinning them to the right length.

"Are you a first-year?" the boy asked Marigold.

"Yes," she replied.

"Same here," he said. "I received my Hogwarts letter a few days ago. Someone from the school gave me the letter and explained everything to me and my parents. It was completely unexpected, so we were all surprised."

"Are you Muggle-born?" Marigold asked him.

"Sorry?"

"Are your parents wizards?"

"No, they're not," he answered. "What about yours?"

"Both of mine are," she said.

"You're all done dear." the witch told Marigold when she finished fitting her robes.

"Thank you," Marigold told her and turned to the boy. "I'll see you at Hogwarts."

* * *

When Marigold walked out of the shop, Sirius handed her an ice cream, which she ate on their way to the wand shop. On the way, they ran into Andromeda carrying a cage with a white owl inside, walking out of a shop with a sign that read: "Eeylops Owl Emporium."

"I thought that you might need an owl," Andromeda said, handing Marigold the cage. "Consider it a gift from us for starting Hogwarts."

"It's beautiful," Marigold admired the owl, who flapped its wings as if it was expressing its excitement of meeting its new owner. "I love it."

* * *

Marigold and Sirius soon arrived in front of a small, shabby shop with peeling gold letters that read: "Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C."

"Welcome to Ollivanders." an old man with long white hair greeted them. "Sirius, it's been so long since I've seen you."

"It's great to see you again, Garrick," Sirius said cordially.

"I remember years ago when you walked into this store to get your first wand," Ollivander said.

"I remember, that was a long time ago," Sirius said. "Time went by so fast, and now my daughter Marigold here will be getting her first wand."

Ollivander turned his gaze towards the young girl standing next to Sirius.

"You must be Marigold," Ollivander said. "You have beautiful blue eyes. I've seen those eyes before, they remind me of someone, perhaps it was Alistair Bell or Catherine Black..."

"Alistair and Catherine Bell?" Marigold asked. "You knew my parents?"

"Of course, I still think about them sometimes. Not a day goes by when I don't miss them." Ollivander said wistfully. "But thankfully, you were lucky enough to be placed in the care of your fathers and Andromeda. They love you and raised you to be the bright young girl you are today."

Marigold didn't know how to respond, so she just smiled at him in response. Sirius gave her shoulder a small squeeze. Ollivander started scanning through the huge collection of wands and handed one to Marigold.

"Try this one," he said.

Marigold grabbed the wand and gave it a light swish. A pile of books went crumbling down.

"I'm sorry-" Marigold apologised, flustered.

"Not this one." Ollivander grabbed the wand back and handed her another wand. "Willow wood with a unicorn hair core, 12 and ¾ inches."

Marigold waved the wand around; it was stiff yet somewhat flexible at the same time. This time, red and gold fireworks emitted from the tip of the wand.

"Perfect, this is the one for you," Ollivander said, satisfied. "My willow wands have consistently selected those of greatest potential, rather than those who feel they have little to learn. It has always been a proverb in my family that he who has furthest to travel will go fastest with willow."

"You will be a great witch," Ollivander told Marigold, as Sirius handed him seven Galleons. "Good luck at Hogwarts." Ollivander bowed them off.