Chapter 2
The Waiting Game
Author's Note: "Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast" is inspired from "Alice in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll. Also I decided to change the "Date, Location Time" look on the diary entries... looks much better!
Saturday, June 20th, 1991
My Bedroom – My House
Time: 7:05 AM
Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast
1. Everything that happened yesterday afternoon was not a dream
So when I woke up this morning, I thought for a brief moment that everything that happened yesterday afternoon was a dream. But, alas (and thankfully!) the envelope is still sitting on my desk, and the first entry in you, my lovely diary, is still there! I was not dreaming! Of course this leads to...
2. I am a witch!
Before yesterday, I thought witches were something that could only be found in books and movies and silly costumes children and, occasionally, adults wear during Halloween. I know what most of those witches look like and...
Did I just shudder? I actually shuddered in fright!
Of course it doesn't help that I just thought about what the Grand High Witch looked like in the book "The Witches" by Roald Dahl. In the book, witches are bald, and must wear wigs directly on their naked scalps, resulting in a condition they call "wig-rash." They have clawed fingers that they must hide with gloves. Their feet have square ends and no toes.
I am sure Professor McGonagall's hair was real, and she wasn't wearing gloves... and I am sure her feet were normal. I mean mine sure are! So yeah... pretty sure we're not those type of witches.
She didn't look like the Wicked Witch either, and I am pretty sure we're not in Kansas.
But it seems witches and wizards are real, and I am a witch!
I just squealed... out loud. First I shuddered, now I squealed.
This affects me greatly, can't you tell?
3. Magic is real!
My mind keeps going back to parts of my life where I think I've done accidental magic. As my father had said, there was no lock on my bedroom door until my tenth birthday – an odd birthday present, but there you have it. And yet I do remember my Daddy trying to open the door when I was eight and it would not budge. And I remember being really upset, and not wanting him to come in and see that gum in my hair, and the door stayed shut until I finally wanted Daddy to come in... and then it opened by itself!
And there was also my hair... which had grown back at least three inches over night!
And then of course there is McGonagall-the-cat, which of course is magic, because how else can you explain her turning into a cat? Which now that I think about it just so happened to be the cat I saw on the front doorstep when we arrived home yesterday.
And also Professor McGonagall's bag... which seemed to carry items inside that were quite larger than the bag was. Kind of like Mary Poppins' bag. Ooh, I want one!
4. Daddy (and Mum?) avoiding the topic of witches and magic.
Okay, I'm not sure how this would qualify as impossible. Other than that it seems entirely impossible for me to convince them that magic must exist and I am a Muggleborn witch and that I want – no – NEED to go to Hogwarts.
5. Birthday Wishes really coming true
I didn't really remember this until just now, but on my eleventh birthday (my birthday is September 19th, by the way, probably pointless to tell a diary that, who am I kidding? No offense, diary!) I made a wish, before blowing out my candles on my birthday peach cobbler (dentist-parents substitute for cake), where I said I wanted to no longer be in a school where I had no friends, lots of bullies, and kids teasing me about being a 'know-it-all'. I don't know if that will happen in Hogwarts, but in my mind the wish translated to 'I didn't want to be in a school like the one I have just "graduated" from'. Hopefully I'm off to Hogwarts, so that wish would really come true.
6. The Hogwarts envelope seems to want me to open it again.
Okay, I don't think it really is doing that, but I want to read that stuff so it is like it is calling to me...
But who knows... it is an envelope from a magic school!
So... I better read the stuff... I want to know these things before I try to convince my parents I really am a witch.
I'll tell you more soon!
Same Day
Same Location
Time: 8:20 AM
Oh my goodness. Wow... like... really... wow. If I was not the proper girl I am who is totally against using swear words, I would probably say something like a swear.
Calm down, Hermione. Calm... down. Count to five. Breathe.
There. Okay.
The wizarding world sounds REALLY AMAZING!
And this is just the tip of the iceberg.
First off... this book-list. Eight new books for me to read for my very first year! I've never had that many school books to read in one school year at once! Ohh, I want to go to Diagon Alley (that's the wizarding marketplace in London) soon! I hope I can get more books than this. I really want to know more about the history of the wizarding world.
And get this... Diagon Alley is in a hidden location behind a pub that I've never seen before, but I am sure I've been down that very road a few times in my life. They say it is there and Muggles can't see it. Like they just walk right by it...
Hmm.
Then I wonder why I didn't see it before. I mean I am a witch, right? And will my parents be able to see it, since they are Muggles?
Also, it says we get a wand. An actual magic wand which seems to be the most important piece of equipment, more important than the books!
The classes sound brilliant too! Transfiguration, which Professor McGonagall teaches, Charms, Herbology, History of Magic, Astronomy, Potions and Defense Against The Dark Arts. I mean... wow. This is so different from primary school... and I want to know more about what the Dark Arts is... that sounds really scary... and we have to learn to defend ourselves from it? Hmm...
So the Ministry of Magic seems to be the government of the wizarding world. There is a Minister of Magic, which I guess is kind of like our Prime Minister. And if I read correctly, our Prime Minister actually knows about the existence of the wizarding world... I mean... wow! The most powerful man in Britain knows about the wizarding world. That kind of amuses me actually...
Ah... Mum just knocked on my door and told me breakfast is ready. So I guess this is bye for now. I am going to try to talk to Mum and Daddy about me being a witch...
Wish me luck!
Same Day
My Backyard – My House
Time: 9:30 AM
Well, that didn't work out so well. Mum seems okay with this whole witchcraft thing, but Daddy... well... I should start this from where I left off.
When Mum called me downstairs for breakfast, I brought the Hogwarts envelope and everything inside it with me, as I said I would.
"Good morning, dear," Mum said, as I sat down at my usual spot at the kitchen table.
"Morning, Mum," I said, brightly, "Morning, Daddy!"
Daddy was hiding behind the new edition of the local newspaper, The Oxford Times, like he usually did in the mornings at breakfast. Randomly, I wondered if the wizarding world had a newspaper and, if so, what it was called.
"Good morning, sweetheart," Daddy said, as he lowered the paper, "How are you, this fine –?"
He stopped in the middle of his greeting, as his eyes went from me to the Hogwarts envelope I had placed on the table off. He glanced at me, and his smiling mouth went flat. He looked at Mum and so did I. She only smiled lightly as she set a plate of bacon and eggs, and a glass of orange juice in front of me. I noticed her eyes passed over the envelope. Her lips were still curved in a smile.
"I was – err – hoping we could talk about what happened yesterday," I said, softly, my eyes on one of the pieces of bacon.
Silence reigned as Mum set a couple plates for Daddy and herself and joined us at the table. Daddy folded his newspaper up and set it off to the side.
"I read through the stuff," I said, deciding I needed to continue in order to keep the discussion going, "it really is interesting! The books, the classes and -"
I stopped when Daddy cleared his throat and took a sip of his coffee. That sound usually meant he wanted me to have his full attention.
Instead it was Mum who spoke up. "Your father and I talked about this last night after you went to bed. A few important points were brought up."
"Like what?" I asked, nervously. I wasn't sure I liked where this was going.
"I find it kind of suspicious," Daddy said, "that this woman we never met came to our house, without permission, and told us all of this stuff which is pretty hard to believe. The envelope address has your bedroom on it. They knew where you sleep... that's just -"
Daddy frowned and I could see his point... they did know exactly where I slept. That was a bit creepy although, to be fair, there was a good explanation for it...
"It's very weird, sweetheart," Daddy continued, "The professor came by without invitation, knew your name – knew our names, apparently – and asked to come into our house, just like that."
"She didn't want the neighbors finding out about the wizarding world," I reasoned, "It was a private conversation. And as for the address. She explained that too, didn't she? The owls -"
"She mentioned our post, she could have sent a letter to us that way," Daddy said.
"It sounds like it is tradition for for Professors like her to meet up with Muggleborn witches like me," I said, "I'm sure there are other Muggleborn witches and wizards who are, at this moment, finding out they are magical too. Or having the same discussion we are."
Dad frowned and looked at Mum. She only smiled and looked at me.
"You really want this, don't you, Hermione?" she asked.
"I really do, Mum!" I exclaimed, "It all sounds so wonderful. And if I am a witch, then that is who I am now... I can't just ignore it."
"Why now?" Daddy asked, "If your name was in the school's book since the day you were born, why are we only hearing about this now?"
"I read that Hogwarts only allows those who are eleven years old and up to go there," I said, "Maybe eleven is usually when our magic is stronger than before and we have to control it, and learning at places like Hogwarts is the only way to do so."
"This just sounds so... outlandish," Daddy said, "Magic shouldn't exist."
"And yet it explains everything that's happened to me, Daddy," I said, "My hair grew back three inches during that night because I was upset it was cut. How else do you explain that? And Professor McGonagall turned into a cat!"
"It just sounds so dangerous," Daddy said.
"It isn't, Daddy, I'm sure of it," I said, and picked up then envelope, "Read everything in here. It all sounds so wonderful. They have an actual government and everything. Our own Prime Minister knows about wizards!"
"Okay, sweetheart," Mum said, as she took the envelope, "We will look at it..."
"But I won't give any promises it will change my mind about all of this," Daddy said.
I frowned and started on my breakfast. Mum set down the envelope, and didn't pick it back up until after we were finished eating.
"We have until July 31st to sort this all out, honey," Mum said, as Daddy washed the dishes, "Just give us time to figure this all out. You know us... find out all we can, sort through it and make the right decision."
I sighed audibly and nodded. I stood up, ready to go to my bedroom to get you.
"Hermione," Mum whispered, and I turned back around. "Between you and me, I am actually kind of excited about all of this. Give Daddy time, okay?"
I grinned and nodded and ran out of the kitchen.
So there you have it. I am out here in the backyard of my house writing to you and enjoying what is a really beautiful day. My parents are in the kitchen reading through everything in the envelope. I wish I could listen in on their discussion, but I know it would upset Daddy more if I did that.
I will keep you updated on what is going on. Wish me luck, diary!
Love, Hermione
Wednesday, June 24th, 1991
My Bedroom – My House
Time: 6:30 PM
Mum and Daddy took me with them to their dentist's office today. This isn't a new occasion to me.
Every summer when they are at work during the week, I am at home with my elderly neighbor/babysitter, Mr. Neiman. His wife died shortly after I was born, and his children are all grown up with children of their own, and he has been a friend of the family long before I was born, so he is trusted around me. He loves to read, just like I do, and, along with Mum and Daddy, he was someone who got me into the love of books over the years. Every summer, we can go through quite a few books together, especially if we read them out loud. Mr. Neiman has a really nice reading voice too. The kind you usually hear on audio tapes. His Scottish brogue accent is perfect for it, though he never thought so himself.
But there are days, like today, when I go to work with Mum and Daddy. I never go into the rooms where they work on teeth. As I already mentioned, the things they do give me nightmares. So usually I just sit in the waiting room or in one of their offices, and read books all day. Sometimes there are children of patients that I talk to and play with. It is nice but I only ever see them once or twice so I can't call them friends.
Today, however, I had a new experience, I guess you could call it. As I read "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" – by the way, I could see myself as Glinda, the Good Witch, though I don't think the kind of wand she has is the kind actual wizards and witches use – I would look around at the visitors and thoughts would go through my head. Were any of these people living as witches and wizards in secret? Did any of Mum and Daddy's patients know magic? But then I thought that was silly! Magic could probably take care of teeth...
Hmm... I wonder if Mum and Daddy would object to magic fixing these horrid buck-teeth of mine. Yes, they probably would, who am I kidding?
But anyway, it was exciting to think that any of those visitors could be Muggleborn witches and wizards, or parents of Muggleborn. Maybe I already knew a Muggleborn witch or wizard!
And then... an hour ago, as we came home, driving through Oxford, I began to wonder just how many of Oxford's citizens might just be a part of the wizarding world. Did they dress like normal Muggles, but secretly they were witches and wizards? Or perhaps, just maybe, there were a few who wore strange clothing (strange clothing to Muggles, but not to the wizarding world) but Muggles didn't really notice because of spells or something. I wondered if there were places like Diagon Alley right here in my hometown, but I couldn't see anything different now than I did back before I found out I was a witch. That is my new theory by the way... that I didn't see any thing in the wizarding world before, because I didn't know I was a witch.
It has been four days since Mum and Daddy and I had the discussion at breakfast, and they read the packet, but every time I want to bring it up, I get this look from Mum that tells me I need to wait until Daddy talks to me about it.
So that is what I am doing...
Waiting.
Love, Hermione
Saturday, June 27th, 1991
My Bedroom – My House
Time: 9:30 PM
Is it weird the only books I read these days have something to do with witches, wizards or magic?
Yes? No?
Ugh, I really want to go to Diagon Alley and get those school books. I should be studying right now, because if everything goes right... which it will (I hope, I hope, I hope!), then I will be in a new school, around witches and wizards just like me who probably know a lot of magic. Even those my age probably know some magic... I am way too behind for my liking! That is not normal for me!
Then again... what, about this whole thing, is NORMAL?
I don't want to be NORMAL! I want to be a WITCH!
Great... now I am groaning out loud.
Nice, Hermione. Calm down... breathe.
By the way, if you couldn't tell, I'm still waiting for that discussion with Daddy.
Wednesday, July 1st, 1991
My Bedroom – My House
Time: 7:30 AM
Deadline for Hogwarts letter: 31 days
Important things to do today:
1. Find a new book to read with Mr. Neiman.
2. Clean bedroom.
3. Sort through clothes that are too small for me.
4. Convince Daddy to have conversation with me about me being a witch.
Same day
Same Location
Time: 9:30 PM
Checklist (things done marked with an 'x')
1. Find a new book to read with Mr. Neiman. (x)
Note to self: Mr. Neiman seems to have discovered my new fascination with witches, wizards and magic. Probably not a good thing, since it would break the Statute of Secrecy if he found out I was an actual witch.
2. Clean bedroom. (x)
I never have had my bedroom that messy before! Possible pre-teen rebellion stage due to parental refusal to accept my new status in life?
3. Sort through clothes that are too small for me. (x)
I've grown a lot over the past year, I discovered today. It might be time to find a "growing up" book... I am smart enough to know that stuff is going to be happening to me over the next couple of years and I need to know how to prepare for that – without the embarrassing talk from Mum.
And I thought the wizarding world was the only thing I had to look forward to soon!
4. Convince Daddy to have conversation with me about me being a witch. ( )
See number 2 and add...
STILL WAITING!
I now see where I get my stubbornness from... definitely not from Mum!
Saturday, July 4th, 1991
My Bedroom – My House
Time: 10:00 PM
Deadline for Hogwarts letter: 28 days
Americans celebrate their Independence Day today with fireworks.
Over here across the pond, no independence from me, and no fireworks...
Because I am STILL WAITING!
Friday, July 10th, 1991
My Bedroom – My House
Time: 7:00 PM
Deadline for Hogwarts letter: 22 days
Guess what?! Guess what?! Guess what?!
Daddy told me today he wants to give it a chance! Nothing cemented yet, though. He still hasn't written the reply and confirmation of my attendance to Hogwarts.
But...
Tomorrow I am going to Diagon Alley! I am going to get books and maybe my wand and school supplies...
And books! I said that already, didn't I?
Oops...
I just squealed out loud...
Mum heard me.
Breathe... calm down...
YAY!
Love,
Hermione
Chapter 2 finished. Haha, I love that last entry. It was fun to write. This whole chapter was fun to write!
The date of the entry where she says she gets to go to Diagon Alley is my birthday... I might have done that on purpose.
More to come! Next chapter... you guessed it! Diagon Alley!