Chapter 3
"Hermione is a witch."
"I'm a what?" gasped Hermione, she had looked to her parents but they looked just as confused as her.
"A witch, Miss Granger." McGonagall remained expressionless, readjusted her robes and then continued, "We have been watching you for a few years now, just after you performed your first spell and we would like to offer you a place at our school so that you can develop your talent and I must say that from what I've seen your talent is quite impressive."
Hermione didn't know whether to be shocked that someone had been following her or proud that this woman seemed to think she was talented in some way.
"I'm sorry Professor, but I still don't understand. Are you saying that what our daughter can do is...magic?" Caroline asked. Hermione's parents had remained amazingly calm since the Professor had arrived and McGonagall was pleased, she had been to a muggle house only the day before and the parents had called the police, claiming that she had obviously escaped from a mental institute. She had had to resort to the placare spell to diffuse the situation. The Granger's were taking this very well.
"That is exactly what I am saying Mrs Granger."
"But magic doesn't exist!" Mr Granger said exasperated, beginning to think this was all some silly prank Hermione had managed to set up.
"Of course magic exists Mr Granger. Allow me to show you." This wasn't strictly allowed but McGonagall was still tired from yesterday's events and so was willing to break the rules just this once if it meant that she could go home sooner, so with a flourish she pulled a long wand from the sleeve of her robe. Suddenly the clock on the wall transformed into a kingfisher and flew about the room. McGonagall flicked her wand again and it turned back into the clock and placed itself onto the wall once more. Hermione's parents just looked at each other in shock but Hermione was already asking questions.
"Wow! That was amazing, will I be able to do that?"
"Thank you Miss Granger and yes, once you have your own wand and if you listen in lessons and work hard you will one day be able to achieve any spell you want." The Professor smiled at Hermione, she had a feeling that this girl would be a great witch one day. Turning to Hermione's parents she said, "I know that this is all a bit overwhelming and strange to you, but if you would like Hermione to go to Hogwarts then I ask if you could just sign this paper her." She handed a rolled up piece of heavy parchment to Caroline and David and pointed to where they should sign.
"I'm very sorry, but there's nothing on this paper." Caroline handed to parchment back to McGonagall and glanced at her husband.
"Oh sorry, here." She tapped the parchment with her wand and the writing appeared in bold lettering, "I forgot to take the muggle repelling charm off, did you have the same problem with the letter?"
"Yes they did. What's a muggle?" Hermione asked.
"Muggles are non-magic people like your parents. That's another thing actually." McGonagall handed the parchment back to the Granger's and turned to Hermione to explain. "It is very important that from now on you do not tell any muggles about your abilities, your parents are an exception of course; also, as you can see from my shoes, we have to try very hard to fit in whilst around muggles so that they don't suspect who or what we are." McGonagall indicated to her shiny trainers.
Hermione thought that the professor needed a lesson on fitting in as her long robes and pointy hat rather cancelled out the effort of the trainers. As to 'fitting in', Hermione had been living in the muggle world all her life so she didn't think that that would be a problem, she was more worried about fitting in with the wizarding world.
"Term starts on September 1st but you will need to buy your uniform, books and most importantly your wand. I will take you to Diagon Alley tomorrow so that you can buy all this." McGonagall got up from her seat as if to leave. The Grangers got up too and handed the parchment back to the professor.
"Can we offer you a bed for the night?" Caroline asked, Hermione nodding eagerly beside her.
"That is very kind but I must get home. Thank you for your patience and I shall be along early tomorrow to take you to London." She shook the Granger's hands and before they could show her out she just vanished.
