02 I’m a What?

Occurs during Chapter 3 – The Letters from No One

You open the door to find a strangely dressed lady, towering above you, she has a rather serious look on her face.

You stare at her slightly shocked. She is rather severe looking, wearing square glasses and an emerald green cloak. Her black hair is drawn into a tight bun.

You quickly compose yourself and say. “Hello. Can I help you?”

She raises one eyebrow and you have a suspicion she is assessing you. She then says. “I am Professor McGonagall. Are your parents at home?”

“Yes” you reply. “Are you from my new school?”

“In a way yes… Although not the school you are thinking of.”

Your parents hear what is going on at the door and join you. Before they have time to say anything Professor McGonagall addresses them.

“Good evening. I am Professor McGonagall. I have come to offer your child a place at our school. May I come in?”

Your parents look at each other a little confused but invite the professor inside anyway.

In the lounge you and your parents sit on the sofa while the professor sits straight backed on an armchair. Your father starts the conversation.

“We thought our child was already set to attend a school here, their friends are all attending too.”

Professor McGonagall says “Yes, well. I have come here to offer them a place at a specialist school called Hogwarts.”

“We have never heard of this school. Is it private?” says your mother with a confused look on her face.

Professor McGonagall smiles politely, knowing she needs to use tact to reveal the upcoming bombshell. “Our school is very selective. No one applies to attend Hogwarts. Hogwarts only offers places to students who show a certain talent.”

You can’t help but chime in with “But I don’t have any talents. My grades are ok but there are smarter kids than me at school.”

The professor raises an eyebrow at you and smiles. “You are a brave one. Children are usually stunned into silence at the door when I arrive. The talent I speak of cannot be appreciated by conventional schools. Have strange things ever happened around you?”

You have a think and now she mentions it a few weird things have happened. “Well there was one time I fell out of a tree and just seemed to float to the ground. I thought that was just me.”

“Anything else?” the professor replies.

You have a think then your dad says. “There was that time you sneezed and blew the cat across the room”.

Professor McGonagall smiles slightly and says “That, my dear, is uncontrolled magic.”

There is stunned silence in the room but the more you and your parents think about it the more sense it makes. Your mum breaks the silence first. “So, when they were a baby and set their nappy on fire when they erm, passed wind. That was Magic?” The professor nods.

Your dad, looking at you says, “And the time you were pretending to drive the car and the engine started while I still had the keys?” McGonagall Nods again.

Professor McGonagall reaches into her pocket, pulls out an envelope and hands it to you. You read the front and it’s addressed to you in the front room of your house. It is sealed with a wax crest. You open the envelope and it reads:

We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on 1 September.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

“I understand this is much to take in” Professor McGonagall starts. “I’ll meet you at the address in London next week to help you buy your things. You can bring your parents if you wish.”

You look at the list while Professor McGonagall talks to your parents about practical things. There are so many weird things that you only know from fiction books. Robes, Cauldrons and even a plain pointed hat which sounds awful.

As the professor leaves you start to plan your trip to London to go shopping.

Do you leave early or leave on time?

Perhaps you should have lunch in London first?

Do you take your parents?

Votes Closed

Choice 1
Leave on time (4)
Leave early (24)

Choice 2
Eat in London (23)
Skip Lunch (5)

Choice 3
Take parents (17)
Go on your own (11)