"Magic is real" his father had said what felt like ages ago in the most serious tone Francis thought he had ever heard, and the room had been quiet since. That was, until his mother had burst out laughing. When she had finished laughing her eyes seemed to bulge out of her head as Uncle Newt continue where his brother, Ryan Scamander, had left off.

"Magic is, and always has been real. Today's wizards live side by side with mu-nonmagical people while keeping their secret just that, a secret."

"You two really had me scared, I thought you were sick all day Ryan and I worried my heart out for you. This is how you return the favor? With some stupid joke? Francis, go to your room while your father and I have a little discussion."

Francis' father replied, as calmly as ever saying "I'm sorry to worry you all day honey, but it's important that both you and Francis hear what Newt and I say tonight. Please, just listen to my story first and I'll answer any questions that you have later."

"Please mom, can I stay and listen to dad's story?" Francis pleaded.

"Ok, I'm sure this will be a great fairy tale for you" She said jokingly, while still somehow managing to eye her husband threateningly.

"Magic is real, and I come from a long line of wizards who have lived in their own society with their own culture, schools, and government. When I was a child I learned that I was something called a squib, which meant that though I came from a magical family I could not perform magic, and from then on, I never felt truly at home in the wizarding world. I got a regular job as soon as I could and have never been back to wizarding society since."

"Well do you have any proof at all to prove you're not just pulling my leg? Perhaps you could show me your pet black cat or pull a rabbit out of a hat" his wife replied rather smugly.

Then without missing a beat, Newt pulled out what must have been a magic wand chanted something strange that Francis could tell wasn't English and transformed the letter on the table into a bunny that hopped around the kitchen table while Francis and his mother looked on in astonishment. The bunny only stopped when it reverted to the letter mid hop, and Newt seemingly on instinct said "Accio" and caught the letter as it hurtled through the air toward his outstretched hand.

After the minute or so it took Mary Scamander to regain her composure she finally decided on how to respond: "Well I still don't know if I can believe everything you're saying, but that was very impressive and hard for me to explain. But what I certainly can't explain is why on Earth you would've waited until now to tell your wife this important part of your life. For heaven's sake, we've been married for over twenty years!"

She was nearly shouting towards the end and the men both seemed to crumble under her ire. Her husband meekly responded, "I'm sorry, it has always been a part of my past that I hoped would remain in the past, and I wouldn't have ever brought you into it if I hadn't needed to,"

Francis' mother, ever the kind soul, softened immediately to her husband's clear distress and simply asked "Then why did you need to tell me, to tell us today?"

Newt interjected "I think I can help answer that with this, which was delivered this morning in the post." He then gestured for Francis to take the letter, much to his surprise. Remembering the reaction his father had to that morning's post Francis took the letter warily and began studying carefully. It had a strange seal on it, divided into four quarters. The upper left section was red with a lion, then the top left contained a green section with a serpent that Francis could not identify the breed of. The lower left corner was yellow with a badger while the final quadrant had an eagle over a blue background. Turning it over Francis realized the letter was addressed to him, even mentioning that he occupied the middle room between his parents and the guest room.

With trembling fingers, either from fear or excitement, Francis opened the letter and scanned it, reading aloud for everyone to hear:

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,

Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Mr. Scamander,

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

Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.

Yours sincerely,

Below someone named Minerva McGonnagall, who was apparently the headmistress had signed. A second page contained what seemed to be a list of school supplies, one of which certainly peaked his interest.

"Uncle Newt, have you really written a book?"

"Oh yes, I almost forgot Albus was putting that on the first year's reading list starting this year. I can't imagine why considering no one will really need it until their third year, but at least that is one less book for you to buy." He finished with a smile while drawing the book out of his dark peacock blue coat pocket and placing it on the table near Francis.

"Well that's great, but where on earth are we going to get the rest of his school supplies?" Francis, although excited that he would be learning how to do magic, was surprised that his mom took to the idea so quickly and was already trying to figure out how make his new education a success rather than questioning the existence of likelihood. He should've realized however that this quick acceptance was due to her kind and trusting nature, and the knowledge that her husband would never lie to his family. That didn't mean she wasn't going to have a stern discussion with her husband behind closed doors when this was over.

"Diagon Alley of course!" Newt responded like it was the most obvious thing in the world.