Chapter 2: The Potion Master
Elizabeth entered quietly. Sister Mary Agatha, the nun that ran the orphanage, was smiling and chuckling as she had tea with a man. The man had thick, strawberry blonde hair. Elizabeth couldn't see what he looked like since he was facing the opposite direction. Out of the corner of her eyes, Sister Mary Agatha caught the sight of Elizabeth. Her smile turned into a stern expression and she glared at Elizabeth.
"Did we not teach you basic manners?" she scowled, "Knock and wait for permission before entering a room."
Elizabeth was blush out of embarrassment. She was usually extremely mindful of etiquette, especially around Sister Mary Agatha. "I'm so sorry, Sister Mary Agatha."
Sister Mary Agatha did not look satisfied, but she did not say anything. Her eyes narrowed and she pursed her lips but she did not say anything. She had to be nice to her with a guest around. The man broke the silence.
"Good evening" he said gleefully. The man had a broad forehand and looked as if he had too well-fed. His smile was encouraging but Elizabeth did not let her guard down. As discretely as possible, she observed him. There was something funny about him. He gave the feeling that he was decently affluent yet his tie was tied in a strange way. The way he spoke radiated confidence yet he kept on flitching in his seat, as if he was uncomfortable in his own clothing. "I am Professor Horace Slughorn"
Elizabeth curtsied and asked, "How do you do, sir"
"Good, good" he said in a rather high and enthusiastic pitch. "I am from a school. I am a professor in a boarding school for special people and we are inviting you, Miss Bennett, to attend!"
"Special people?" Elizabeth questioned as she looked the professor in the face, searching for any signs of malice. Slughorn did not seem to notice and continued.
"Yes, the school is named Hogwarts." he said and paused rather dramatically, "You see Miss Bennett. You have a very special gift!"
"I have been told that I am excellent in mathematics". She responded half-heartedly, rather disinterested in what Slughorn had to say. She already knew that she was extremely gifted. She had mastered algebra and geometry with materials and textbooks provided by and had already started learning calculus. Slughorn's speech was monotonous and franking, tiring. But that was probably not the respond that Slughorn was expecting as he looked confused and somewhat insulted. Elizabeth quickly added, in hopes that she would leave a good impression in case this school offered financial support or scholarship. "But of course, I am sure that the school will test my knowledge and push the limits of knowledge, as all great schools do."
"Why yes, but Miss Bennett." he said, "Hogwarts does not offer this, mathematics."
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow, what kind of school doesn't offer mathematics? The last time she checked, it wasn't the Renaissance and schools no longer solely embraced humanism. They been through wars and no one ignored the awesome and terrifying power of science and mathematics. She asked, disguising her distaste "What courses does Hogwarts offer then?"
"In Hogwarts, you will learn how to control your magical powers, make potions, recognize magical creatures, transform cups into rabbits and so on" He answered, "You will also meet other wizards and witches and make great friends."
This man is insane. Or someone set him up to this, probably a stupid prank. Elizabeth thought and for the first time in their lives, Elizabeth Bennett and Sister Mary Agatha genuinely agreed with each other.
"Magic? Potion making?" Sister Mary Agatha exclaimed. "Is this some sort of joke?"
Slughorn said rather sternly, "No. This is a very serious matter"
"So it's a school for magicians" Sister Mary Agatha screamed, "Teaching children tricks so they become liars and crooks!"
"Liars! Crooks!" Slughorn glared at Sister Mary Agatha and was baffled. He took a deep breath and responded coldly, "Hogwarts is the finest school of witchcraft and wizardry in England"
He only angered Sister Mary Agatha more as she went on a tirade. "THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS MAGIC. YOU DEVIL PREACHER. GETTING CHILDREN TO GO TO THAT IDIOTIC SCHOOL OF YOURS AND MAKING THEM WARLOCKS AND WITCHES AND SATAN LOVERS! YOU SHOULD BE BURNT FOR YOUR SINS"
"Silly Muggles" Professor Slughorn sat down and just ignored Sister Mary Agatha, "Magic exists. We just prefer to stay hidden but when children show magical abilities, they must learn to control it and there is no place better than Hogwarts. Miss Bennett is undoubtedly a witch."
"Excuse me." Elizabeth cried. Sister Mary Agatha already thought that she was evil and she didn't need this stranger making it worse for her "I am not a WITCH!"
For once Sister Mary Agatha seemed to be pleased with Elizabeth. Maybe she thought she had finally taught the little agnostic skeptic the way of the Lord.
"Oh but you are, Miss Bennett" Slughorn continued.
Is he trying to get me punished? Elizabeth thought, rather annoyed.
"Were there moments? When you were angry or sad, and then something unexplainable happened" Slughorn asked, but Elizabeth knew it wasn't a question.
Elizabeth ponders silently. There had been moments like that. When Jonathan Field broke her necklace in halves, she cried for days but later discovered that it wasn't even dented. The "Elizabeth" on the necklace was exactly the same. It was just as clumsily made and the writing still looked like chicken scratch. Or the time when Allison and Ian Shorts threatened to beat her up and to take her breakfast but ended up on the roof. The fire department had to come and bring them down. She could make things fly without touching them. She made Lisa Turner's cat dance like a ballerina and stopped a stray dog from killing the very same cat. Every animal she has ever met or tended for does what she wanted them to without any previous training. But surely, that doesn't make someone a witch? She was just... unusual? Witches make contract with the devil, and Elizabeth was sure that she has never met Satan. Elizabeth didn't even believe in its existence. Elizabeth wasn't sure what to say, so she stayed silent. Sister Mary Agatha's screaming shout pierced through the air once again.
"IS THIS WHAT YOU PEOPLE DO? GOING AROUND TO ORPHANAGES AND INSULT THE POOR CHILDREN? GET A LIFE! SHE WON'T BE GOING TO THAT SINFUL SCHOOL OF YOURS! TEACHING WIZARDRY AND WITCHCRAFT! OUT! OUT! OUT!"
Sister Mary Agatha began to push the guest out. Out of the blue, Slughorn took out a wooden stick, "Confundo!"
Sister Mary Agatha seemed to be dizzy as she put her hand on the table in order to support herself. She blinked many times, as if trying to remember something and Slughorn commented as he pulled a piece of paper: "I am very happy that you have agreed to allow Miss Bennett to attend our school. Now, may I speak to Miss Bennett alone?"
Sister Mary Agatha looked rather confused but went along with it, "Yes, of course".
She left the room and Professor Slughorn and Elizabeth were alone.
"Was that," Elizabeth asked, her blue eyes widened in awe, "Magic?"
"The Confundus Charm, yes. It can cause confusion and she'll believe that she had agreed to send you to the school and that it was her idea to do so." Professor Slughorn smiled as he stretched out his body, looking rather amused. "You would be learning that in Charm class. It is a powerful spell."
Professor Slughorn reached into his jacket and handed her wax-sealed letter. Elizabeth stood there and read through the letter. It was all rather strange.
Wand? Cauldrons? Where am I going to get all these things? What is this place? at Professor Slughorn. We await your owl? And all these books? Transfiguration? Potion?
She had so many questions and the curiosity was killing her. She didn't want to sound stupid by bombarding the professor with all her questions. Elizabeth took a deep breath as her brain picked and chose the best questions. One seemed to come to mind. Elizabeth's face burned from embarrassment. She stated rather plainly, "Professor? I don't have any money."
"That's quite alright. Hogwarts has a fund for students that require assistance." He gave her reassuring smile and tried to comfort her, "You would have to buy second hand books and robes but you'll be alright."
Elizabeth asked, "Professor, where are we going to buy all these things? I don't think we can find any of these in London!"
"You can if you know where to look!" He winked, "We will go first thing tomorrow. How does half past ten sounds?"
Elizabeth nodded and she watched as Professor Slughorn chuckled, waved good-bye then disappeared in the blink of an eye.