The Invitation Solo Finished

In the span of a few minutes, the Gathorne household was left shakingly confused and in panic. Everything had started with fear at first, and maybe a blunt showing of bravery. What was supposed to be a lovely Sunday dinner turned out to be an eerie event that was far from expected. The family of six, (not counting all the animals), that had been minimized to five after father's departure to London as work demanded his presence there, was getting the table ready. Corinna, the eldest child, was helping her mother with the food, clinking the lids open and shut every couple of seconds making certain that the food was cooking well. Jason was the second, a boy whose unwillingness to participate in the family's chores had started showing long before his other two younger siblings were born - and speaking of whom. Enrico, though usually the one handing out the cutlery, was instead taking care of the youngest member of the family. Scarlett. She seemed to be always calmed down by her brother's presence, as she tends to spend most days crying. Even if she was already three. Rico's silly faces and cackles made her belly itch with laughter. He gave her a peck of a kiss on her tiny nose and proceeded to call her 'little piggy'.

Though the scent had already given it away, Enrico was hopeful enough to ask his mother what she had cooked.
"Mum? What have we got today?"
She gave him a serious glare - "is the smell not strong enough? Should I put more wine in there?"
"Not unless you want this little pecker running around the house loose." Jumped in Corinna, in a rather annoyed tone. Enrico did not hesitate to stick his tongue out at her.
"Hey! Behave!" Mother Jojona snapped back at the both of them, "go sit down, both of you."
"It's Rabbit Stew isn't it? I don't want to eat any more meat mum! Rabbits are too cute to be eaten!"
"It's either that or you starve - boy you could use some more meat on your bones. Eating all those sweets won't make you any stronger."

The more Enrico grew, and the more mature he became... if one could describe it as such, his taste for animals had grown more affectionate than before. Back when he was much younger, he didn't understand the concept of game and serving it at dinner. Truth be told he never knew what he was eating. But when he saw those little bunnies- he just couldn't.

So as a sign of rebellion, he pulled the wooden chair from around the table lazily, causing its legs to crank against the floor. Everyone ignored him, so he sat down with his hands crossing over his body and around, with his pink lips mushed together in a gloomy pout, and as the warm steaming plate was set in front of him, he pushed it away. His eyes started to water at the sight of the served dinner.

But a sudden, unexpected knock at the door arose a sudden stream of curiosity that had everyone stop what they're doing. It was a Sunday - no one came on Sundays. Maybe grandpa and grandma, but whenever they did visit, they'd be around by long before dinner time. It couldn't have been father either - he had just left. But regardless-
"Papa?!"
"No." Bopped his head in Jason grumpily. "He's going to be away for a month you idiot."

Mother threw a towel at Jason and then proceeded to stand up from her seat, untying her apron in the process. Once both of her hands were free, she pulled the doorknob to her side, and a sudden strange figure appeared in front of the family.

Enrico had been off his seat leaning forward to hit Jason with a slap, his dirty unmatching red-and-yellow socks on the wooden table, Corinna was simply leaning back and the Scarlett's cackles became louder and didn't stop until she took note of the stranger at the doorstep.

"Are you lost?"
"Clearly I'm at the right place." Smiled a woman, tall, and definitely bigger than average in stature. Her pointy hat brushed against the door's entrance as she invited herself in. Jojona was rather surprised by the act.
"I thought Halloween happens once in a year?" Asked Enrico bluntly, "did you all lie to me so I don't get to wear my crocodile costume?!"
There was a sudden silence as the woman casually searched for something in her flowing black robes. But naturally, Rico couldn't keep his mouth shut.
"Hey, weird witch lady - has anyone ever told you that black is not the ideal colour to wear in Summer?" Her green eyes lifted themselves swiftly, they looked angry and did not welcome any unnecessary comments. Enrico grinned.

"Which one of you is Enrico Gathrone?" She looked at the boys. With a very unique tone. The kind of tone that made it clear she was hoping for one of them to not be the person she was after - but at her disappointment, Jason pointed his finger at his brother, and of course, Enrico got off the table, stumbling in the process, his head bumping against the edge of the wooden surface as he nearly sprained his ankle while at it.
"Me! Is that letter for me?"
"Yes, it is." She said in a dull manner.

Enrico snatched it enthusiastically, and his teeth found themselves ripping off the paper. He accidentally bit onto whatever was inside. As his siblings and mother watched awkwardly.
"Hogwash. Cool. I think they're opening a new laundromat in Bibury mum!"
"What?! No!" Shouted out loud the witch. Her hand resting on her chest.
"That's an invitation to the greatest school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Hogwarts - NOT Hogwash."

"Listen, ma'am, I don't know who you are but, the first of April is long gone and Halloween is far from being around the corner. I don't know what you're on but, can you leave?" Asked Jojona in a very passive-aggressive tone. It was clear that the situation had caught her off guard.

“May I sit down?” The strange woman asked as she sat down on the same chair Jojona was occupying before getting up. Right after that, the woman once again searched her pockets, this time, however, it took her much less to find what she was after. A wand.

Enrico snorted.

Another side glare came across his way, locking her gaze with his, and as she did, she twirled her left hand around her wand, and suddenly, there was a bird. Chirping and free, its yellow wings took it to fly next to the kitchen’s window. Everybody else was left surprised, mouths wide open. There had been silence, until the witch threw an ember of fire at the bird, sending it to roast. Everyone proceeded to jump off their seat or wherever they were standing at.

“So as it happens,” the witch proceeded to continue as if she had not just killed a bird in front of the entire family, “magic is real. And you, Enrico, are a wizard.”
The little boy did not know what to say.
“Has there ever been a moment in your life where you thought that something that should have not happened, happened? Maybe whilst throwing a tantrum or, whenever things did not go your way.”
“There was this one time where I set Corinna’s room on fire by just staring at things.”
A sudden ‘WHAT?!’ scared Enrico to nearly go off running from his sister’s rage, but his mother pulled her back for both of their sakes.
“I also enjoy the weird sensation that plant leaves leave on my mouth after I lick them.”
“Okay okay okay!- Listen, the point is, you’re a wizard. And you are invited to join many other children like you, who possess the gift you wield. You will learn how to control magic and use it for the better purpose.”
“Is there candy at the school?”
“C-close by, yes?”
“I’m in!”

“No, you’re not!” Grabbed him Jojona by the ear, with her face puckered red. The witch was left unamused, with her eyes twirling to the back of her head, wishing she was not assigned this family.
“Think it through, will you? This is definitely not an opportunity to be missed.” The woman concluded as she walked towards the door - vanishing from thin air rather than making a normal exit. Once again shocking everyone.

“Hear that Jason? I’m a wizard. I’ll scorch your hair next time you call me an idiot.”