Chapter 4 - You Can Turn Into A Cat?

Disclaimer - I do not own Harry Potter

A/N - Back with a new chapter. The longest i have written yet. Hope you enjoy it. Please review. Tell me what you think of the story so far. Thank you everone who have reviewed. I tried to avoid grammatical errors as much as possible. If you find any, please point out. Will be happy to correct them.

Thanks to all my reviewers.

Harry reached No 10, Privet Drive and rang the bell. After a few minutes pause, Emma Granger opened the door. "Good morning, Harry. Come in. Hermione is up in her bedroom. She has been waiting for you. Why don't you head up? I will get you both some snacks in a few minutes." She told Harry, while ushering him into the house and closing the door behind him. She went into the kitchen, while Harry headed up the stairs to Hermione's room. In the last 3 years, since that day when Harry fought with Piers Polkiss for Hermione, they have both become the best of friends. As such, it has become a common occurrence to find both the kids either at Harry's house or Hermione's. Harry even used to sleep over at the Granger household occasionally. So, Harry knew the house very intricately as much as his own home, and Emma and Daniel had grown fond of the boy.

Harry meanwhile, lost in the thoughts swirling in his mind, only nodded at Mrs. Granger's suggestion and headed up to Hermione's room. When he reached her room, he looked in, to find Hermione standing up beside her bed and stretching. She wore a pink T - shirt and white pyjamas. Her bushy hair was tied back in a ponytail with a few loose curls hanging infront of her face. Her hands had smudges of various colors, and there was a smudge on her right cheek. She looked cute. When she noticed him, standing just inside the door of her open bedroom, She looked at him and asked "Harry? What's wrong?".

"What? Uh .. Nothing. Nothing is wrong with me," Harry tried to divert the topic as he wasn't sure yet how to divulge the information that he came to share, without loosing her as a friend. He walked over to her bed, where he saw the beautiful picture that Hermione must have been drawing since morning, and exclaimed "Wow, Mione... This looks absolutely fantastic." "Harry potter, stop trying to avoid my question. You tell me right now what's wrong. I know when you are worried or upset."

Harry looked back at her at her outburst, and deciding that he needed to do this, he sat down in the recliner chair near her bed and asked her to sit down too. When she sat down infront of him, Harry started "Mione... Do you remember what i told you about my parents death?" Hermione nodded her head, wondering why Harry is bringing up this conversation now. She knew that his parents were murdered and that was why he was living with his relatives, his mom's sister. The doorbell rang at that moment, but Hermione and Harry discarded thinking it was someone for her parents. "This morning I found out, that they were specifically targeted to be killed by a madman. They went into hiding, when they found out through some source that he was looking for them. He finally discovered their hideout and killed them." Hermione could hear the immense sadness in his voice as he told about what happened to his parents. She got up from her position and went to sit in his lap hugging him. She didn't know what to say to him. She just held onto him, showing her support through the hug and hoping that he would feel better. Harry was used to her hugs. She always hugged him whenever she was happy or whenever he was sad or angry.

"Hermione dear, would you please come down? There is someone here to see you?" Her mom's voice called out. Hermione got up from her seat in Harry's lap and pulled him up to standing, before facing him, "We will discuss this later. I promise. I will always be here for you. Lets go down now. Looks like someone is waiting for me, though i have no idea who."

Harry felt a little better since morning, talking to Hermione always helped him. He was also little glad that there was an interruption as he wasn't sure he was ready to deliver the next piece of information to her.

When they exited out of her room, Harry excused himself to the bathroom, saying he would be down in a few minutes and urging Hermione to go down. Emma Granger was waiting for her daughter at the bottom of the stairs. When she saw Hermione alone coming down, she asked where Harry was? Hermione replied that he would come down in a few minutes. With that both Emma and Hermione went into the living room where Daniel Granger was seating in the 3 seat sofa. Opposite to him, sat a woman who looked like she was in her early 50s. She was a severe-looking woman who was wearing square glasses. She was wearing a cloak, an emerald one. Her black hair was drawn into a tight bun. Hermione looked at her wide eyed. Who in the world wears a cloak? Hermione sat down on the sofa beside her father with her mother settling down on her other side.

"So professor, now that we are all here, could you please explain who you are, and why you are here?" Daniel Granger asked of the woman. "Certainly. Ms. Granger, my name is Professor Minerva Mcgonagall. I am here to inform you that you are a witch, just like me, and to offer you a spot at a school that teaches magic, Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry."

"Wait a minute, what kind of a scam are you trying to run here madam?" Exclaimed Daniel Granger. "I suggest you stop wasting our time with this nonsense and get going immediately." For her part, Hermione just sat there slack jawed, looking at the woman, conflicted between being outraged that this woman was calling her a witch or laugh out loud at her statements saying that there was a school that teaches magic.

"This is no scam, Mr. Granger. Magic is very much real. Your daughter is a first generation witch. I am a witch myself and if you would allow me, i can demonstrate to you beyond doubt that magic is real." Daniel Granger nodded his head, ready to laugh out when this crazy person would fail obviously and send her on her way, when she suddenly started changing right infront of his eyes getting smaller and smaller until instead of the professor there sat a cat on the chair. The cat was peering intently at them with an expression on its face that looked as if asking them 'Do you believe magic exists now?' The three Grangers were shocked beyond belief and staring at the cat open mouthed, when suddenly they heard from behind them "Hey Mione, when did you get a cat, without me knowing?" The three Grangers swirled their heads towards the source of the voice where Harry was standing, just then coming into the room. The cat turned its head in the direction of the voice too and was shocked to see an exact replica of her former student James Potter standing there in the entryway. She was so shocked, it caused her to revert back to her human form.

Harry stumbled back, shocked to see a cat transform into a woman, falling on his behind exclaiming, " What the hell?". "Harry, language" admonished Hermione, and proceeded to giggle at the look on his face. Professor Mcgonagall looked back at the boy and remarked "You are Harry Potter."

"How do you know my name?", Harry demanded the woman sitting there wearing an emerald cloak. "Because I knew your father and mother, James and Lily Potter. You look exactly like your father. except for your eyes, you have your mothers eyes. My name is Professor Minerva Mcgonagall." The witch lady replied in return to Harry's question.

"The professor says that I am a witch Harry." "You are?" "Yes, and she is here to offer me to join the school where she teaches called Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry. Isn't it great? Wait a minute. This means i cant go to smeltings with you? Oh god. I cant go to a school where you aren't there. I cant go back to being the friendless know - it - all." Hermione started going into panic at the thought that she may have to go to different school all alone, when Harry kneeled down infront of her taking her hands into his own and forcing her to look at him. " Hermione, I am a wizard too. I am going to go to Hogwarts too. That is what i have come to tell you today morning before we were interrupted. But now, since you are a witch, we both can go to this magic school together." Hermione went from panic into full ecstatic mode and tackled him in another hug of hers laughing and exclaiming at all the new and wonderful things they were gonna learn together.

Professor Mcgonagall looked at the children infront of her and noticed how deep of a friendship they seemed to share. Mrs. Granger clearer her throat rather loudly which caused the two young children to notice the adults around them and sit down in the sofa, looking rather sheepish.

Minerva turned to young Harry and asked him why and how he was here, with the Grangers, when he was supposed to be with his relatives. "My house is 6 houses down the street, and Hermione and I are friends so I was just visiting her" Harry replied.

Daniel Granger turned to the professor, "So you said that you knew Harry's parents, does that mean they are magical too?" "Yes, Mr. Granger, they were students of mine and they were both wizard and witch." Replied Mcgonagall.

"Okay, so that sort of explains why Harry is magical, but how is my daughter magical? No one in mine or my wife's family are."

"We do not know the exact reason why some children of non magicals like you develop the abilities to use magic but they do. Your daughter is what we call as a first generation witch. Lily Potter, Mr. Potter's mother was also a first generation witch." Came Mcgonagall's explanation.

"How can you be sure that she is a witch?" Asked Daniel still not convinced, even though he had a nagging suspicion that all the weird things that happened around Hermione whenever she was particularly upset or extremely happy, when she was younger might have been because of this. "Mr. Granger, haven't there been strange occurrences around your daughter, things that you cant explain normally? Especially when she was happy or upset?" Questioned the professor. Thats what convinced all the three Grangers that Hermione was indeed a magical.

"Now that you seem to accept it, Ms. Granger here is your Hogwarts acceptance letter." With that the professor took out a letter seemingly out of nowhere and passed it onto the young girl.

"I got one just like that earlier this morning." Noted Harry.

Hermione took her letter with eagerness and looked at the envelope on which was written

Ms. H. Granger
The Larger Bedroom on First Floor
10 Privet Drive
Little Whinging
Surrey

Hermione tore open the envelope and removed the letter out which looked to be parchment, and read it along with Harry.

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 Ms. Granger,
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 September 1. We await your reply by no later than July 31.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress

After finishing reading Hermione passed on the letter to her father and mother to read. Professor Mcgonagall waited until they have completed reading the letter before continuing, "Now, there are some laws regarding our world that i have to explain to you. You cannot reveal to anyone, that you are a wizard or witch, except to your immediate family. You cannot use magic in the presence of muggles, unless said muggles are aware already of magic and wizarding world." "Professor what are muggles" interrupted Harry. "Muggles is the word wizarding world uses to describe non magical people. Furthermore, students who are underage are prohibited from doing magic outside of the school premises. Education at Hogwarts is for 7 years. There are two main year examinations called O.W.L.S. at the end of 5th year and N.E.W.T.S at the end of 7th year and their results will determine the kind of careers you can get. Now if you have any questions for me, you can ask." Mcgonagall gave them time to process everything she said and to ask her any questions. Hermione was taking notes of everything the professor was telling them about the magical world.

Hermione asked the first question. "Professor, How are YOU aware that I am a witch?"

"That is a fair question Ms. Granger. You see, whenever magic is performed in a non magical area, whether intentional or accidental, it is registered in the ministry of magic. Then someone is sent to determine the source of the magic and if its accidental, the child who is responsible for it is identified and registered as a potential magical person. Once the child is identified a simple spell will reveal if the child has a magical core, and if he does his name is put down in the Hogwarts Ledger. Normally, a child exhibits on average atleast 5-6 bouts of accidental magic before coming to Hogwarts. This is how we identify the magical children among the non magical population. In case of children born to magical parents, the spell is performed at the age of 1 year and the child is determined if magical or not."

"What happens if we decide to not attend Hogwarts, and continue on our non magical way of life?" This was Harry.

"Being untrained is very dangerous to a wizard or a witch Mr. Potter. In a young child, the magical core is considerably smaller and hence the resulting accidental magic is weaker. But as the wizard ages, their core expands leading to more and more accidental bouts that may even be fatal. Plus, untrained wizards core take longer time to stabilize. Hence, it is absolutely required that a wizard or witch undergoes proper training of atleast a minimum of 5 years."

"Is Hogwarts the only school? Or are there other schools?" Hermione, this time.

"There are a total of 3 major schools in Europe. They are Hogwarts, Beauxbatons academy of magic in france, and the Durmstrang institute located in sweden. All 3 of them are fine institutes, but Hogwarts is the preeminent among all the three. It is your choice of course. You can join the other schools if you so wish. You have to apply to those schools in order to enter. However, i would recommend Hogwarts to you. Besides these three schools there are several minor schools, though they do not provide boarding. You have to travel back and forth to the schools from your home, and they do not provide the diversified subjects taught at Hogwarts." The professor removed a stick from her cloak before waving it, muttering something. Numbers appeared infront of her, which they could see that indicated the current time.

"You may have more doubts, but i need to get going. I still have to visit 3 more muggleborn students and give them the news that i have just delivered to you. I will return back in a week's time, on 31st to take Miss Granger to get her the supplies required for her first year, that is if you decide to accept and send your daughter to Hogwarts. You can inform me of your approval when i return, and if you accept we will be visiting Diagon Alley, the wizarding shopping district. Any more doubts you have i would be happy to answer then. Since i will be returning, you can provide me with your answer then too Mr. Potter."

Hermione looked at Harry. They were supposed to go to the Zoo on July 31st. She wanted to celebrate Harry's birthday not go on a shopping trip without him. "Professor, can we arrange another date other than 31st for us to visit this wizarding shopping district?" Enquired Hermione. "I am sorry Ms. Granger, but my schedule is full. I have to take one muggleborn family on the trip each day and i cant change my schedule." Replied Mcgonagall.

"Professor Mcgonagall, can i come along with Hermione to do my own shopping also? I have absolutely no clue where to go and how to get there." Asked Harry, hoping that the professor would say yes.

"Its alright Mr. Potter. You may come along as well. Now i really must get going. Thank you for your hospitality Mr. and Mrs. Granger." With that said the professor rose from her seat, turned on the spot and vanished into thin air with a loud crack, leaving 4 stunned individuals in her wake.

After recovering from the shocking departure of the professor, Hermione turned to Harry with a huge grin on her face " Can you believe that we are going to learn magic?"


And with that i close down this chapter. Please Please review. Next chapter will be THE DIAGON ALLEY. The more reviews, the faster will be the update.