It was a normal day, a Saturday, and the post arrived. How normal can you get?

Hermione brought the letters through in to the kitchen. There was one for her in a rather luxurious envelope, I remember, very thick expensive paper. (It turned out to be parchment, which I'd never seen before).

'From Marchioness House?' I asked.

Hermione shook her head. 'I think it must be an advert for a new toy shop in the town' she replied 'It's called "Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry". That's a bit of a mouthful. Look, they sell joke things like cauldrons and dressing up clothes. For parties and things, I suppose.'

The letter was cast aside, and not given another thought. It wasn't something that would appeal to her.

Half an hour later, the doorbell rang. Jean got up to answer it, and a few moments later called me to come out to her. There, standing on our doorstep was a woman who could only be described as "strange". She was tall and thin, wearing what looked like a robe – and a witch's hat. Black and pointed, just like you would see in a comic.

'Good Morning. I am Professor McGonagall, and I represent Hogwarts School. You have received our letter?'

Great, a follow up visit from a toy shop.

'Yes, thank you' I always remain polite, they're only trying to make a living after all 'it arrived this morning. We might pop in when we're next out shopping, but to be honest, I don't think it will interest us much. Good bye.'

'Mr. Granger, I'm afraid you do not appear to understand. I am here from Hogwarts School to offer you daughter a place there. She has the abilities we are interested in.'

I don't know what it was that made me take an interest in her. Perhaps the accent, one I call "Edinburgh Morningside" or may she just did some Hocus Pocus on us, but we realised she was serious and invited her in.

'You have come to our attention' this McGonagall explained, speaking directly to Hermione 'because you have certain skills we are looking for. You can make things happen, just by thinking it, can you not?' Hermione nodded. 'Can you show me?'

Hermione looked around the kitchen and saw a book, of course. She reached her hand out towards it and it FLEW across the room to her. I'm not sure even now if I can explain what I felt. My question came out something like 'Mibble..wibble..errr..'

She looked at me and a frown crossed her face, she looked almost afraid and came to sit on my lap.

'I've been able to that for ages, daddy. Can't everybody?'

All I could do was hug her.

The Professor stayed with us for about an hour, patiently going through the letter and answering our questions. Hermione had decided right away that this school was for her, and we felt some kind of relief. She would be with people who were like her. It sounds terrible saying it now, but she would be with her own sort. Other children who were "different".

We discovered that all Hermione's school equipment could be purchased in a place called Diagon Alley in London, that she would take exams and had the potential for a whole career in the magical world, which had a hidden but parallel existence to our own world. She would travel to and from school – there were the normal three terms a year – by train from King's Cross. Term started on September 1st.

I won't say much about that first shopping expedition. I know you are aware of Diagon Alley, probably knowing it better than we did, certainly that first time. To be honest, there was so much going on that we couldn't really take it all in. Hermione was more excited than I've ever seen her before, running around like the child she'd never been.

The bookshop – Flourish and Blotts – was the star attraction for her obviously, though I liked the Goblins at the bank. As well as the standard book list she persuaded us to get several others. I think she would have liked to buy the entire stock. One she bought, and I read before she left, was "Hogwarts: A History". It was a fascinating book, and answered a lot of our questions. The most impressive shop was the one where she bought her wand, "Ollivander's". I think that was what finally persuaded me this was all for real. The wand we got her was an absolute beauty – vine and dragon something. She told us later that vine is the wood the Celts associated with September, the month she was born in.

The summer slipped away all too quickly, and August was drawing to a close. Jean and Hermione started to spend a lot of time together. There were numerous shopping trips I was definitely not invited on, and lots of discussions which stopped whenever I entered the room. Apparently, these were all about "Nothing", so I assumed they were "Women's things" and wisely kept my head down.

August 31st saw us having a lovely meal in a local restaurant, and then it was up early the next morning to make our way to London. I'm not sure which one of us was more nervous. Hermione seemed to know exactly where she was going and led us on to the platform. This was another experience like Diagon Alley, and confirmation that our only daughter was entering a whole new world, one we couldn't share with her.

All around were children and parents shouting, the steam from the train, and the calls of owls and cats. Hermione changed in to her robes almost immediately. I think she felt this was a place she belonged, so wanted to become part of it as soon as possible.

Jean and I stood there, not knowing quite what to say. Perhaps we didn't want to give ourselves away to our daughter, because tears weren't that far below the surface. Then it was time for kisses and hugs and 'Be good' and 'Don't forget to write' and 'I love you'. The train pulled out of the station carrying our only child away from us. She wasn't yet 12.

Jean was tearful for the rest of the day, and I wasn't far behind. Home felt strangely empty. We realised it was the first night she had ever not been there without us. Where was she and, more importantly, how was she? Had we done the right thing? We thought so, but only time would tell.

The first letter would take an awfully long time to arrive.