Yawn!!
I yawned and stretched as I woke up. So today is my birthday, huh? Man 9 years passed by real quick, I didn't even get the time to properly roam around my orphanage, being all cooped up in a room and practicing magic (just making things move about) does that to you I guess.
I move out of my bed and went to wash myself in the bathing area. On my way there many other children wish me happy birthday, some caretakers do to. As I reach the bathing area and take my bath, my birthday clothes, you get a new set for every birthday, are placed next to my booth by one caretaker for me to get into them.
These are some nice ones, pretty good than my previous ones for sure. There were a pair of shirt and pants both in different shades of grey just as I like it. There were some small my sized boots too. After getting into them I move towards the dinning room to have my breakfast, and as it is my birthday today we will get some tasty items to eat and the best part I won't have to do any chores for today.
"Marcus!! Come sit here." That was my friend Kevin. I say my friend but we just talk sometimes, I haven't done any friend activity with him till now. He came here when I was 8.
"Good morning to you too Kevin." I tease him regards his basic manners. We are thought those from a young age here and him being a recent addition makes it a bit hard for him to get acquainted with those kind of things.
"Haha good morning, good morning." He greets back embarrassed about his lack of manners. "But let's forget about my lacking manners for now and focus on you, The birthday boy, Happy birthday Marcus my friend." He wishes me changing the topic.
I smile and let it go as I thank him "Thank you Kevin. How did you sleep last night?" I ask because not many people know he suffers from insomnia.
"Better than any other nights for sure." He assures me.
After that short conversation we proceed with our breakfast. It was good sunny eggs, bread and a glass of milk. On normal days the milk is only served at night.
After breakfast I went back to my room thinking what I should do with my free time. Probably should just practice magic, man was it tough initially without any kind of screens, it got better with me focusing on my magic. Well the time spent on it paid me well, now I can bring 60% of my power out of my reserves, which previously was only 10% when I was 7 that is. So yeah increase of 50% in two years is good with my utterly massive reserves. Oh and I can suppress the amount of magic that leaks out of my body naturally, which makes it difficult for others to get a measure of my magical power, but as I can only supress it not out right stops it from leaking, some can still measure my power level. That some being people like Dumbledore and Grindelwald.
I am also afraid about my current progress going down with my second magical maturity which comes at 11 or early, but seeing it is the age at which our magic stabilizes it will become more easy for me to manage my magic. Now you might ask, Marcus how do you know all this? It comes from the boon instinctual understanding of any concept, with this knowledge counting in it. As I think all this I juggle different things in my room through my magic. I glance at those things, "hmm…. Let's do this." Saying that I produce a flame and make it weave through the objects, now I would not do this normally but seeing as it is my alone time and birthday no one will disturb me, because everyone knows I like to spend my free time alone.
As I do these things I tweak the fire making it take different shapes, slowly at first but then rapidly, a ball, a stick, a square, animal and all kinds of different shapes. I do this for a while also switching between different elements like water and electricity or sometimes just pure energy, and after about three hours of practice I banish away the fire ball and place every other item at its place, tidy up my room and go to the dining room again to have my lunch, magic makes me hungry, this time there were no other children there probably already had there lunch because I was late, they provided me with sandwiches, in them there were eggs, tomato, bacon, onion and some kind of sauces. All in all they were tasty.
"Good afternoon Miss Mary." I greet her as I see her coming towards me.
"Good afternoon Marcus." She greets me back with a small smile. "Today we will be hosting a small dinner party for you birthday and you boy are required to come to dinning hall at 7 in the evening, for we will pray and sing for you first, we means is caretakers. We will also give you different presents but that will be after dinner."
I smile cheekily and say ,"So just like my previous birthdays?"
"Yes just like your previous birthdays." She smiled and answered. "Now have your lunch and go on your way, but be sure to come at time in the evening."
"Yes Miss Mary." I say dutifully.
…
..
.
I walk towards the dinning hall while pondering what will be in dinner this time, maybe they will serve roasted chicken this time?, whatever it is I just hope it's tasty.
I reach the dinning hall in peek in side to see it decorated with all kinds of ribbons and balloons with a paper cut out saying HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARCUS. I see Miss Mary and other caretakers along with the head caretaker, the head caretaker is blond with a wrinkly face and brown eyes, her name is Miss Sophie, the other caretakers names are Miss Margret, Miss Dorothy, Miss Matilda, Miss Abigail and Miss Gertrude. With Miss Gertrude being the most scary one looks wish she is gentle in real and Miss Matilda is the most strict.
As I enter they all turn too me, and say "Happy birthday Marcus." All at ones and I return a, "Thank you caretakers."
"Come Marcus sir here at the head of the table." Head caretaker says to me as I walk towards them.
"Thank you Miss Sophie, I am happy you could join us Today." I say that because she is really old and generally doesn't leave her office.
"How could I not come, When it was the birthday of our dear Marcus? None the less I appreciate your concern about my health boy, but I am not that old." She says in jest.
"No miss I was not hinting towards your old age, I would even say you look younger than you actually are." I praise her looks To placate her as she is conscious about her age.
"Hush now boy, don't butter me up now." She hushes me and say to Miss Abigail, the youngest of them, "Miss Abigail, go and call all other children so we can proceed with our celebration."
They all giggle at her comment about me buttering her and Miss Abigail nods and goes to call all other children.
"So Marcus how does it feel to be nine? You will have to think what you want to do with your future now, what you want to do or what you should do to achieve whatever goals you have set for yourself, you being smart does open many paths for you." Miss Dorothy asks me and explains the things I will face in future.
"It definitely feels good to finally be nine. And about what to do in future, I will gladly seek my dear caretakers advice when the time comes." I answer her with a serious face or as serious a nine year old can be. She is right about me being of age to think about my future, but I don't have to worry about it, as my orphanage is in country side with London not that far away, I will automatically get my Hogwarts letter.
All other caretakers also continue to ask me various questions till all other children arrive with Miss Abigail. All clean and tidy which they only are for today's celebration.
When they all are seated Miss Sophie stands up for a small speech about me, "Today we gather here all cleaned up and ready to dine such a delicious meal because today is our dear Marcus's birthday, wish him everyone"
"Happy Birthday Marcus!" they all wish loudly.
"Thank you everyone." And I thank everyone with a polite bow.
Miss Sophie chuckles and continues, "Now Marcus is a very well behaved boy, more than some at least." She jokes while giving a side eye to some mischievous ones. "That and his modest behaviour makes us happy to have him with us, he is turning nine today and we being his only family celebrate and fine with him. Now I won't bore you little ones with anymore words, so lets first sing him a happy birthday song after that we can start our feast." She says as everyone stands and sings for me.
After they finish I thank them and we all sit down and start the dinner, my guess about roasted chicken was right on spot.
After our dinner the small ones all go off to their rooms after saying good night to everyone else, Kevin and some others wish me too and move on towards their room as the gifting ceremony starts.
"Now Marcus it's time for gifts, and we know you like books, so every one of us has decided to give you a book each." The head caretaker informs me.
"Thank you Miss Sophie." I thank her genuinely as I have no need for toys and such, books suit me better even if they are just fairy-tale ones. Books are expensive them being able to give me one each is more than I could hope for.
"And your letter from your mum. Here it is take it and read it in your room." She says softly and hands me a folded paper. I notice it being parchment actually, which was weird but I don't think much of it and just place it in top the books and move off to my room.
Entering my room I deposit the books at my study table and take the letter with me to my bed. Opening it I start reading it.
"My Dearest Marcus,
Happy ninth birthday, my love. I wish I could be there to celebrate with you, to see your smile and hold you close. But if you are reading this, it means I couldn't be. And for that, I am so sorry.
There is something important you must know. You are special, my darling—not just because you are my son, but because you are a wizard. You were born into magic, just as your father and I were before you. We both came from noble wizarding families, and magic has been a part of our lives from the moment we were born. It is a legacy that now lives in you.
Your father, 'Christopher Starborn', was a brave and noble man. He fought to protect the wizarding world from those who would see it fall into darkness. He gave his life for that fight, and now I am on the run from the same people who took him from us. I couldn't risk them finding you.
But you are not alone, and you are not without a future. When you turn eleven, you will receive a letter from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry—the finest school of magic in the world. It is a place of learning, of history, of power. It is where your father and I both studied, where generations of our family honed their magic. When that letter arrives, you will be taken care of. The school has provisions for orphans like you, and they will ensure you have everything you need.
Until then, I want you to remember this: Our family's vault is at Gringotts Wizarding Bank, under the name 'Starborn'. It holds enough to support you, to buy your school supplies, and to ensure that you always have a place in our world. When the time comes, the goblins there will help you access it.
My name is 'Jennifer Starborn', and I am your mother. I love you more than words can ever say, and I am so proud of you—proud of the boy you are, and of the wizard you will become. Be strong, my little one. Be kind. And when the time comes, be brave.
With all my love,
Mum."
I was in tears reading it despite not knowing them for all of my life I could feel the emotions from this letter, it made me feel the love of my mother, I couldn't stop crying. I sobbed and sobbed till I fell asleep.