Louisa Barron

All four of Louisa's grandparents came to England as Jewish German children with their families, fleeing World War 2. They grew up in England, and they eventually met one another. Louisa's maternal grandparents Sandra and Niklas met as friends of friends, while Louisa's paternal grandparents Anna and Erich met because they went to the same synagogue.

And then, shortly before the birth of their children, Sandra and Niklas met Anna and Erich, and all four of them became friends. And then the children came.

Their children were family friends, because their parents were friends. But as Sandra and Niklas's daughter Klara, and Anna and Erich's son Christoph got older, that became less and less true. But Klara and Christoph kept referring to each other as "friends", right up until the day they got engaged.

Louisa's grandparents were ecstatic the day her parents told them they were engaged. And the day they got married. And the day Klara told them she was pregnant. And the day their first grandson was born. And the day their second grandson was born. And the day their granddaughter was born.

Louisa grew up in Golders Green (North London) with her parents and brothers Hubert and Jakob. They speak some German and some English at home, and mostly German around their grandparents.

They always said little Louisa was their special little oddball. When she got mad, she made things happen. Her grandparents said she was spoiled, and they all accepted this more or less: It made sense. Sort of.

On Louisa's 11th birthday, she was sitting at the table, surrounded by family and friends, with smoke pouring from the wicks of the candles she'd just blown out, when the doorbell rang. It was a woman in purple robes, holding a letter. Dear Ms. Barron, we are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry…