Dreamcatcher: A Fantasy Novel of Love and Magic

Lily Evans woke up with a start, her heart pounding. She had just had a strange dream, where she saw herself entering a large school of magic, surrounded by people she didn't know. She remembered seeing a coat of arms with four symbols: a lion, an eagle, a snake and a wolf. She also remembered meeting the eyes of a boy with black hair and green eyes, who smiled at her mischievously.

She shook her head to clear these images from her mind. It was just a dream, after all. She had never set foot in a school of magic, nor met a boy like the one in her dream. She was an ordinary girl, who lived in a small town in the south of France, with her mother and brother. She loved reading books about fantasy and adventure, but she knew they were not real. She had no idea why she had dreamed of such a place and such a person.

She got out of bed and got ready for school. She put on her uniform, a blue skirt and a white blouse, and brushed her long brown hair. She looked at herself in the mirror and sighed. She wished she could be more special, more interesting, more adventurous. She felt like she didn't belong in this boring and mundane world.

She went downstairs and joined her mother and brother for breakfast. Her mother was a kind and gentle woman, who worked as a librarian at the local library. Her brother was two years older than her, and he was studying to become a doctor. He was smart and handsome, but also arrogant and bossy. He always teased Lily about her love for books and her lack of friends.

"Good morning, sleepyhead," he said as he saw her. "Did you have another one of your weird dreams?"

Lily blushed and looked away. She didn't like to talk about her dreams, especially not with him.

"What weird dreams?" her mother asked, curious.

"Oh, nothing," Lily said quickly. "Just some nonsense."

Her brother rolled his eyes. "She dreams of magic and wizards and dragons," he said mockingly. "She thinks she's the next Harry Potter or something."

Lily felt a surge of anger. "Shut up!" she snapped. "You don't know anything about my dreams!"

Her mother intervened before they could start arguing. "That's enough, you two," she said firmly. "Lily, don't mind your brother. He's just jealous of your imagination. And you," she turned to him, "don't make fun of your sister. She has every right to dream of whatever she wants."

"Whatever," he muttered.

Lily ate her breakfast in silence, feeling hurt and misunderstood. She wished she could tell someone about her dreams, someone who would listen and understand. Someone who would share her passion for magic and fantasy.

She finished eating and grabbed her backpack. She kissed her mother goodbye and left the house. She walked to the bus stop, where she waited for the bus that would take her to school.

She looked at the sky and saw that it was cloudy and gray. It looked like it was going to rain soon. She sighed again. It was going to be another dull day.

Or so she thought.

As she was waiting for the bus, she noticed something odd in the distance. It looked like a large bird flying towards her direction. But as it got closer, she realized that it was not a bird at all.

It was an owl.

A large white owl, with golden eyes and a letter tied to its leg.

Lily gasped as she saw it approaching. She had never seen an owl in real life before, let alone one flying in broad daylight.

The owl flew over her head and landed on a nearby lamppost. It looked at her with curiosity and intelligence.

Lily felt drawn to it. She walked towards it slowly, wondering if it was tame or wild.

The owl seemed to sense her interest. It extended its leg towards her, showing the letter attached to it.

Lily reached out hesitantly and took the letter from its leg.

The owl hooted softly and flew away.

Lily watched it go with awe and wonder.

She looked at the letter in her hand.

It was made of thick parchment, sealed with red wax.

On the front, there was an address written in elegant handwriting:

Miss Lily Evans 14 Rue des Lilas Saint-Rémy-de-Provence France

On the back, there was a coat of arms with four symbols:

A lion, an eagle, a snake and a wolf.

Lily felt a chill run down her spine.

She recognized the coat of arms from her dream.

She broke the seal and opened the letter.

Inside, there was another piece of parchment, with a message written in the same handwriting:

Dear Miss Evans,

We are delighted to inform you that you have been accepted at the Arcane Academy, the most renowned school of magic in the world.

The Arcane Academy is a place where young people with magical abilities can learn and grow, under the guidance of skilled and talented teachers. The Academy is divided into four houses, each with its own history and traditions: Leonis, the house of the brave and the noble; Aquila, the house of the wise and the clever; Serpens, the house of the cunning and the ambitious; and Lupus, the house of the dreamers and the visionaries.

You will be sorted into one of these houses on your first day at the Academy, based on your personality and your potential. You will then spend your next seven years at the Academy, studying various subjects such as charms, potions, transfiguration, defense against the dark arts, history of magic, astronomy, herbology, and more. You will also have the opportunity to make friends with students from different countries and backgrounds, and to participate in various activities and events.

The Arcane Academy is located in a hidden valley in Scotland, protected by powerful enchantments. To reach it, you will need to take a special train that leaves from Platform 9 3/4 at King's Cross Station in London. The train departs on September 1st at 11 o'clock in the morning. You will find enclosed a ticket for the train, as well as a list of required equipment and books for your first year.

We hope that you are as excited as we are to welcome you to our magical community. We are sure that you will find your place at the Arcane Academy, and that you will have a wonderful and unforgettable experience.

Please reply by owl as soon as possible to confirm your acceptance.

Sincerely,

Arthur Pendragon Headmaster of the Arcane Academy

Lily read the letter twice, then three times.

She couldn't believe what she was reading.

She had been accepted at a school of magic.

A school of magic like the one in her dream.

She felt a mix of emotions: shock, disbelief, confusion, curiosity, fear, excitement.

Was this some kind of joke? A prank? A mistake?

Or was it real?

She looked around her. Everything seemed normal. The bus stop was still there. The cars were still passing by. The people were still walking on the sidewalk.

No one seemed to notice her or the letter in her hand.

No one seemed to notice anything out of the ordinary.

Except for one person.

A boy with black hair and green eyes.

A boy who smiled at her mischievously.

A boy who looked exactly like the one in her dream.