Lydia lounged contentedly on the sun-warmed grass in the courtyard, her green-trimmed robes spread out around her. Her first lessons had gone surprisingly well. Everything was so fascinating. She didn't think she'd ever get tired of school, here, unlike in the muggle world where certain subjects like maths bored her to tears.

Suddenly her tawny owl Ophelia alighted on the grass next to her and hooted softly. Lydia smiled at the young owl and stroked her soft head. Ophelia nibbled affectionately at her hand. This is better than I ever imagined, Lydia thought to herself.

Ophelia held a small envelope in her beak. Lydia opened it and read a short message from her parents. Barely at school, and her parents were already sending her messages! But she was secretly pleased. She wondered if she would ever be homesick at a place that was literally as magical as this. Somehow, she doubted it, but it made her feel good to know that her parents were thinking of her and would be sending her care packages via Ophelia.

Lydia had a few of her textbooks on the grass nearby, but it was such a beautiful day that she couldn't bear cracking them. Instead she people-watched, one of her favorite activities.