THE STORY OF A MUGGLEBORN
Chapter Two: McGonagall Explains
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or the characters. They all belong to JK Rowling.
The next seventy-six hours passed in a hazy blur for the Granger family. Adam spent much more time at work than usual, trying to push away thoughts of the letter and the upcoming meeting. Anne had busied herself by giving their small home a thorough cleaning, dusting every square inch until it sparkled. And Hermione had taken to riding around town on her bike for hours on end, constantly deep in thought. Finally, after what seemed an eternity, Thursday night was upon them.
"Hermione! We're leaving for the restaurant in five minutes!"
Anne's shrill voice carried through the house, up the stairs and into the bedroom of her apprehensive daughter, who was staring hopelessly at herself in the mirror. Hermione had chosen a neat brown shirt and dark blue jeans for the evening, but she still felt disheveled and unkempt. Her hair was down, dangling pitifully at her shoulders in its usual frizzy blob. Her normally bright eyes were sunken with fear and confusion.
Her, a witch? It couldn't be; it simply didn't make sense. She'd spent the last three days pondering endlessly over it, thinking up possible answers to the many questions she had. But the more that she thought about it, the more she began to recall times when she'd made unexplainable things happen. Such as the first time she could remember having a shot, and the needle had flown out of the doctor's hand before he'd reached her, lodging itself in the wall across the room. Or just last year, when Phyllis Darmy from school had approached Hermione during lunch, threatening to beat her up. The nearby trash bin had then mysteriously begun attacking Phyllis. Could these have been her 'magical abilities' at work?
"We're leaving!" Anne called desperately from the kitchen.
Hermione sighed, pulling away from the mirror. "It's all just some stupid joke," she murmured to herself, trying to calm the nerves and slow her racing heartbeat. But did she really want it to be a joke?
Shaking these strange thoughts from her head, Hermione grabbed a beige handbag out of her closet and hurried downstairs, clutching the letter from Hogwarts tightly in her hand.
Carlson's Steakhouse was crowded, seeing as it was the only good restaurant in town. Anne asked the hostess if anyone by the name of McGonagall had been seated already, but the hostess just shook her head. After a short wait, the Grangers were then led to a small table in the back corner. Four cushioned chairs were arranged around it, and a fire crackled merrily in the hearth nearby.
They seated themselves at the table, waiting for several minutes in silence.
"Doesn't even have the decency to show up on time," Adam Granger muttered to himself. Glancing at her own watch, Hermione decided that her father was being a bit unfair. It was only two minutes past six, the time they had asked Ms. McGonagall to meet them. He did look very twitchy, however, and Hermione could tell that the whole experience disturbed her father greatly. Her mother, on the other hand, was sitting perfectly still, focused intently on the fireplace.
At exactly five past six, the front door of Carlson's opened with a clang. It was a woman who had entered; a tall, stiff looking lady wearing long dress pants and a cream-colored sweater with a matching overcoat. She paused, her eyes traveling around the restaurant until they fell on the Granger family in the back corner.
Hermione felt her insides freeze as the woman's dark green eyes met her own. She stared back determinedly, resisting the urge to flinch. She already knew exactly who this lady was. So it isn't a joke, a tiny voice inside her head whispered.
The hostess hurried up to the woman, but she pointed in the Granger's direction and the hostess backed away.
"She's here," Hermione hissed softly to her parents. Adam jumped, glancing over his shoulder to see Minerva McGonagall striding purposefully towards them. Anne stood up slowly, flattening her blouse and clearing her throat. The lady stopped in front of their table.
"Mr. and Mrs. Granger," she said, her tone friendly but business-like. She extended her hand for Anne to shake. "My name is Minerva McGonagall. I am the Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." She lowered her voice slightly as she said this, so as to ensure that the next table over couldn't hear her.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Ms. McGonagall," Anne answered, shaking her hand. "You must forgive us; we expected this all to be some sort of prank."
"I understand your confusion completely," Ms. McGonagall replied, smiling slightly. "But please believe me when I tell you, with the utmost sincerity, that Hogwarts and the Wizarding World truly do exist. Much of what I am going to explain to you tonight will come as a shock and may take a great deal of time getting used to. I ask you to keep open minds, however."
Anne nodded, trying to seem willing. She indicated Hermione, who was watching them both anxiously. "May I introduce my daughter, Hermione?"
At the mention of her name, Hermione stood to shake Ms. McGonagall's hand. "Nice to meet you," she murmured politely. A myriad of different thoughts and questions were whizzing through her head, and she was desperate for answers. Ms. McGonagall's lips curled in a thin smile.
Anne and Hermione sat back down, and Minerva McGonagall took the fourth chair, leaning over to introduce herself to Adam. Once all pleasantries had been exchanged and the waitress had come to take their drink orders, Ms. McGonagall began her explanations.
"Now," she said, folding her hands tightly in her lap. "The Wizarding World, as I mentioned in the letter, exist all around you, at every moment of the day. We keep ourselves well-hidden from people such as yourselves, whom we refer to as Muggles. A 'muggle' is a person with no magical abilities. In our world, Hermione is what we call a muggle-born, or a witch born to non-magic parents."
"Wait a moment," Adam said, already looking thoroughly confused. "If we're non-magic, or 'muggles', as you call them, then how did Hermione turn out as a- as a witch?"
Ms. McGonagall nodded, as though this was a very fair question. "It's possible that she inherited her abilities from a distant relative, or she may have simply been born with them. It does not mean, however, that she has weaker powers than witches and wizards born to people with magical abilities. She simply has grown up in the Muggle World, whereas they have grown up in the Wizarding World. Does that make sense?"
Mr. and Mrs. Granger nodded. The waitress returned with their drinks, and they quickly ordered their meals as well. "Please continue," Anne encouraged once the waitress had gone.
"In the Wizarding World," Ms. McGonagall went on, "we are governed by a ministry, appropriately named 'The Ministry of Magic'. At the head of the ministry is a 'Minister of Magic'. His position, I believe, is similar to that of your prime minister. As a witch and a part of the Wizarding World, Hermione will be required to abide by all of the ministry's laws, especially those pertaining to underage wizards and witches.
"Unlike in the Muggle World, young witch and wizards are considered adults when they turn seventeen. Until then, a 'trace charm' is put upon them, ensuring that they can't use magic anywhere outside of their wizarding school without the ministry knowing. Hogwarts School is one of three major wizard schools in Europe. The others are called Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. When they turn seventeen, the ministry deems young wizards and witches knowledgeable and responsible enough to use magic unsupervised. By that time, most witches and wizards are in their seventh and final year of school. "Ms. McGonagall paused for a moment, taking a steady, deep breath. "Do you have any questions at this point?"
"So… Hermione would be starting her first year at Hogwarts?" Anne asked, brow furrowed in thought.
"Yes," Ms. McGonagall replied, just as the waitress walked up, carrying a large tray filled with the food they had ordered. She set their plates in front of them, asked if they needed anything else, to which they impatiently replied no, at which point she turned and finally left.
"Let's move on to Hogwarts," Ms. McGonagall suggested.
"Hogwarts was founded many ages ago by four people, named Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin. At the beginning of their first year, students are sorted into one of four different houses named after the founders. Gryffindor house is known for bravery, Hufflepuff for kindness, Ravenclaw for the wise and intelligent, and Slytherin for the ambitious and cunning. Throughout their schooling at Hogwarts, students share dormitories, common rooms, and classes with the others in their house," she added.
"Term begins each year on September first. The Hogwarts Express leaves from Platform Nine and Three-Quarters in King's Cross Station at eleven A.M. sharp the morning of September first. The school year-"
"Wait just a second," Adam interrupted. "Did you say – did you just say 'Platform Nine and Three Quarters'?"
"Yes," Ms. McGonagall smiled in that strange way again. "To get to it, you must walk through the barrier between platforms nine and ten." Adam was staring at her, mouth hanging open slightly. "But there is no need to worry about that yet," she added, leaving Adam even more puzzled then before.
"As I was saying, the school year consists of two breaks, one at Christmas, which is three weeks long, and one at Easter, which is a week long. Students may either travel home to visit their families or stay a Hogwarts during these breaks. During the two and a half summer holiday, however, all students must return home.
"A week in early June is reserved for end-of-year exams, which every student must pass in order to move onto the next level. In the fifth year of Hogwarts education, students are required by the ministry to take O.W.L. tests, or Ordinary Wizarding Levels. They must achieve certain grades for each on these tests in order to continue onto N.E.W.T level, which is the most advanced type of magic that can be studied at Hogwarts. N.E.W.T exams are then taken at the end of seventh year."
"What sort of things do they study?" Anne questioned as Ms. McGonagall paused for another long breath.
"We offer a variety of courses, such as Potions, Transfiguration, Charms, and Herbology," she replied. "Beginning in third year, students are also permitted to sit elective classes, which they will choose at the end of their second year. For example, Ancient Runes and Muggle Studies are both electives.
"Do you have any questions?" Ms. McGonagall asked. "I think I've covered most everything I wanted to…" None of the Grangers spoke up, so Ms. McGonagall turned to Hermione. "Then let me just close by saying that we would be most pleased to have you at Hogwarts, Hermione Granger. You would make a wonderful addition to our school."
"We need some time to process all of this," Anne said slowly. "When can we get back to you?"
"Typically, we accept registration letters up until July 31st. That gives you about a week to discuss it make your decision. Is that an ample enough time period?"
"Yes, that seems reasonable," Anne replied. "Er… how do we get the letter to you?"
"An owl will come to your house next Wednesday morning. You may send your response with him," Ms. McGonagall replied.
Hermione leaned back in her cushioned chair as her parents and Ms. McGonagall moved on to discussing school supplies and where to purchase them.
It was then that she noticed her trembling body. Hermione was breathless with excitement, and her limbs shook as adrenaline pounded through her veins. Not only was the Wizarding World real; it was even greater than she could have ever imagined. Potions and Transfiguration Classes? Thousands of students with abilities like hers whom she would get to spend the next seven years with? It seemed too amazing to even be plausible! Hermione simply couldn't wrap her mind around it.
Less than an hour before, she'd been overcome with nerves and anxiousness. All of that had quickly been replaced by an incredible desire to enter the Wizarding World and discover more about it. For every question that Ms. McGonagall had answered, a hundred new ones had arisen in Hermione's head. She wanted desperately to be a part of all of it; to experience it for herself.
Hermione was vaguely aware of her parents and Ms. McGonagall standing and walking out of the restaurant. She followed them, still deep in thought. When they stepped outside into the warm summer night, Hermione was brought abruptly back to her senses.
"It was a pleasure meeting you," her mother was saying to Ms. McGonagall. "Thank you for all of the explanations and descriptions."
"You're most welcome," Ms. McGonagall shook both Anne and Adam's hands again. She then addressed Hermione. "I hope to be seeing you at Hogwarts in a month or so," she smiled thinly, resting her hand on Hermione's shoulder for a moment in farewell. "Goodnight, Mr. and Mrs. Granger, Miss Hermione."
"Goodnight, Ms. McGonagall," Anne answered, and then she, Adam, and Hermione turned and began the walk through the town to their home.
At the end of the street, Hermione turned back for a moment to glance at Carlson's, trying to engrain the memory of that night in her head forever. Ms. McGonagall had disappeared, but Hermione could just make out a thin, tabby cat trotting down the road. Then it slipped into the shadow of the building and was gone.
Hi again, everyone. Well, that was chapter two of Hermione's life story. It was a little bit longer than the first, but McGonagall had a lot of explaining to do for the Grangers. And again, I'm sorry, there won't be a ton of major shipping in this first story, considering that Hermione is only eleven and right now she hasn't even met Ron yet. (besides - they hate each other at first). I hope to have a chapter done about every two days like this, but it could vary, considering I have an incredibly busy schedule and its only going to get worse as time goes on. So sorry if I miss days or don't update for a while.
Please continue to read and review, I'm always looking for feedback, consructive critism, and encouragement :)
Thanks for reviewing!:
ngaryonatkailanman, FunkeyMonkeyLOL, Bittersweet x, and Aquamarine Jazz
Chapter Notes:
*Since Hermione and her parents haven't finalized their decision on whether or not Hermione is going to Hogwarts, McGonagall isn't yet Hermione's professor. Hence the reason why she was refferred to as 'Ms. McGonagall' throughout the chapter. She will, of course, become Professor McGonagall later on.
*The tabby cat at the end was McGonagall in her animgus form, but Hermione doesn't know that yet, naturally. Just thought it would be a cool touch.
Thanks! I'll try for the next chapter in two days! :)
