Thank you to those who support this fic (especially mur xo, who is an awesome person and fantastic writer). Just to let you guys know, I don't mind criticism; I don't like flames, but constructive criticism is appreciated. Short author's note today, so read, review, enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Degrassi or Harry Potter
Chapter Four
The Torres brothers were not the first nor last Hogwarts students to receive their letters from Hogwarts. Students all over Toronto were getting their letters and lists of books from the school. Those who were expecting their letters were ecstatic. However, there were many that were utterly surprised that an owl had delivered a letter to them, that the address was so specific, and that it informed them that they were to attend a school of magic. Thankfully, not long after they received this mysterious letter, it was explained.
An example of this case was the eleven-year-old boy named K.C Guthrie. He was sitting in the small room he was forced to share with three other boys who were years younger than him; he was currently living in foster care, for both of his parents were locked away in prison. The last he heard, his mother was still in a jail in Toronto, but his father was a different story. He was supposedly a convict who was to be locked away in England, although K.C did not why he had to be that far for a crime that he committed in Canada.
Despite his curiosity, his parents' whereabouts were the least of his worries. He was the oldest in this foster family of twelve people; including him, there were four boys, three girls, his foster mother Justine, his foster father Clark, and two twin infant boys. Being the oldest, he had to act like a third parent at times whenever Clark had to work late at a pharmacy. It was difficult for him to take care of children at times since he was still a child himself, but at least he learned how to fend for himself at a young age.
It was very rare that he had time to himself, so he was very thankful for today. Clark had taken the boys out and the girls were able to keep themselves entertained while Justine watched over the twins, and this left K.C with no responsibilities for a few hours. He leaned back on his bed and stared at the bunk above him, pleased that he could stare at it without having to hear one of his foster brothers screaming on top of it.
This was his day of peace, his day of rest. When he heard his name being called by his foster mom, however, he knew it was not going to last.
"K.C! There's someone here to see you!"
In this place, "someone" translated into "social worker" or some person from the court. Sighing in annoyance and disappointment, K.C sat up and left his room. He dragged his feet down the hall and turned into the living room. He was quite surprised to see not one, but two people that he did not recognize.
One person was a man who was balding, had blue eyes, and was wearing the odd combination of a business suit with sneakers. The other was an elderly woman with a stern expression and a tight bun near the top of her head. K.C was actually quite surprised to see her wearing what seemed to be a dark green cloak. He had to be imagining things; no woman that age would actually wear a cloak.
"Um, these two would like to talk to you about a school," Justine explained.
"A school?" K.C repeated, instantly confused.
"Yes," the woman replied. She had an accent that suggested she was not from around here at all, but a foreign country. He could not place the accent exactly, but that was the least of his concerns right now. "It is a school when many special people such as yourself get to go to."
"You mean like an advanced school? K.C is very smart," his foster mother asked.
"Not exactly," the man replied, leaving a disappointed expression to shadow on the woman's face.
"My name is Professor McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," the elderly woman introduced, holding out her hand to K.C.
"Witchcraft and Wizardry?" K.C echoed, ignoring the woman's hand.
"Yes," McGonagall replied; she was used to these kinds of reactions, so she just lowered her hand without a care. "And this is Archibald Simpson, Minister of Magic of Canada."
Simpson nodded his head; this may have only been his second year as minister, but he had been working with the Ministry for a while, so he was also unsurprised by K.C's reaction.
"Um . . . Minister of Magic?" Justine repeated. "A-Are you two alright?"
"You think we're mad? Off our rockers?" McGonagall accused. "I can assure you that we are not."
"Really?" she retorted.
"Indeed," Simpson said. Seconds later, he pulled out a thin piece of wood – a wand – waved it at a chair; it began to hover in the air, causing Justine to gasp in horror while K.C gazed at it in amazement.
"Alright, alright," Justine said as he lowered the chair back to its original position, not believing what she was seeing but having no choice to accept it. "Even if you do know . . . magic, what do you want with K.C?"
"Why else?" McGonagall began. "He has magical abilities, like us and many more people his own age."
"That's nonsense!" Justine spat.
"Is it?" Simpson replied. "How about we let K.C tell us?"
They turned to the boy, who was still standing there in surprise because of the floating chair. He came out of his daze when he heard his name being said.
"Mr. Guthrie, have you ever found yourself different?" McGonagall asked. "Have you done things that your friends or family could not?"
K.C looked down, his face losing its color.
"One time, I was sitting in the driver's side of the car, wishing to leave where I was. The car started by itself and began driving me down the road."
"And I assume that the car did not have keys in the ignition," Simpson said.
K.C nodded; for so long he wondered why that happened, for he could not find an explanation.
"So . . . does that mean I'm . . . magical?"
"Yes, you're a wizard," McGonagall nodded. "And if choose to attend Hogwarts, you will learn to control it and how to use it for your own desires."
The smile came to K.C's face. There was a reason he was different and, unless he was hallucinating the levitating chair, it was a seemingly logical explanation. He never figured that magic existed, yet he never denied it; now that he seen it performed and now that it had made him the way he was, he knew it was real.
"So, if I was to go to this school, where will I have to go?"
"That's the thing," Simpson stepped in. "Hogwarts is actually across the world in Britain."
"Britain?" Justine and K.C echoed. Justine's face fell while K.C's lit up in excitement. He had never been out of Ontario, let alone Canada itself. If he had the chance to leave just to learn magic, then he would not pass it up.
"Yes," McGonagall continued. "You see, I'm here to inform you of the school and Mr. Simpson is here to explain the travel arrangements for you to get to Hogwarts and to get your supplies. Oh, that reminds me . . ."
She put her hand inside her robes and pulled out a letter before handing it to K.C.
"This contains all your information about Hogwarts and your school supplies."
"Thank you," K.C said without thinking.
"Now, since you live with Muggles –."
"What?" K.C and Justine said, having no idea what that word meant.
"Non-magical people," Simpson explained. "Because of that reason, you will need to come to the steps of Degrassi Community School; you will see me there along with many people your age. You will then use Floo Powder to get to Diagon Alley, then you'll come back for a few days, come back to Degrassi, use the Floo Powder again, and then you'll be on the train to Hogwarts on the first of September. Many people use Apparition to go across the ocean, but since you come from a non-magical household, this would be more suitable."
K.C was bewildered. What was this Diagon Alley place or whatever it was called? What was the Leaky Cauldron? And what were Apparition and Floo Power?
"Just be at Degrassi on the last day of July and then you can see for yourself," McGonagall said. "Then you'll come home and on the last day of August, you will come to Degrassi and then you'll be –."
"Wait!" Justine stepped in. "He's not going to be going to any magical school."
"What?" K.C said, horrified that she could be taking this away from him.
"I need you around here," she told him, meeting his eyes. "I can't take care of everyone by myself."
"I'm sure some of the other kids are old enough to help you," McGonagall said.
"Not the same as K.C. He's gentle, kind, patient; you can't take him away from here when we need him."
"Ma'am, K.C does not belong here," Simpson stated. "He is a young wizard who deserves to be learning with his peers, not here when he could be cooped up and miserable."
"He's not miserable . . . are you?"
K.C looked at the letter in his hands, not having the heart to tell Justine the truth. He did not need to speak; his silence said it all.
"Oh," she said softly.
"I'm too young to be doing all the stuff adults do; I'm feeling old and I'm only eleven. I want to go and learn what I am and if I can use my magic."
Justine looked down at the boy. She did not want to hold him back and take this away from him; she always told all her foster kids to follow their dreams and she could not deprive this child of that after all he has been through. She nodded, tears trickling out of her eyes.
"Alright, if that's what you want, you can go to Hogwarts."
"Thank you," K.C smiled, hugging his foster mother.
"I think our work here is done, Archie," McGonagall said.
"I think so too," he agreed, a smile on his face.
"I'll be seeing you at Hogwarts," McGonagall said to K.C.
"Yes, you will," the boy smiled.
"Don't forget, the stairs of Degrassi Community School on the last day of July."
"I won't," K.C promised.
Smiling, the minister and professor disappeared on the spot. K.C continued smiling at his letter, knowing that this was the beginning of the rest of his life . . . it was his future.
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