Harry gaped at the severe looking woman. She certainly didn't look the type to pull a practical joke, but maybe she was an actress, or she was herself a crazy person. Wizards weren't real, everybody knew that. Uncle Vernon had certainly beaten that lesson in to him, at the very least. But before Harry could utter a word against Professor McGonagall's proclamation his Uncle Vernon barked a single word, face beet red, spittle flying, as he trembled with the effort.
"OUT!"
"Now then, Mr. Dursley, I hardly think that's nec- "Professor McGonagall began.
"OUT!" Vernon Dursley barked again, veins pulsing and mustache trembling. Never before had Harry seen his uncle in such a rage, not even the time when Harry was 8 years old and while in the middle of a particularly fierce bout of screaming at Harry his uncle had suddenly found himself completely mute and unable to speak for a whole three days. That had earned Harry a few broken ribs, and he really didn't want to see the result of his uncle's current rage.
"YOU'RE JUST LIKE HE IS, A WEIRDO, AN ABNORMALITY, A STAIN ON THE HUMAN POPULATION. I WANT YOU TO TAKE THIS LITTLE FREAK AND GET THE BLOODY HELL OUT OF MY HOUSE! I'LL NOT HAVE EITHER OF YOUR DARKENING MY DOORSTEP EVER AGAIN! OUT!" Uncle Vernon raged at the pair. Harry in particular had no desire to disobey in this instance so without a second look back he strode straight past Professor McGonagall and right out the front door of number four, Privet Drive, thoughts whirling with what had just happened.
'Well I can't come back here, at least not for a while, I'll need to let Uncle Vernon cool off for a bit at the very least. But where can I go? Maybe Mrs. Figg will let me stay with her for a week or so. I could offer to do chores and watch her cats.' But before he could plan out too many of the particulars, Harry's mind abruptly returned to Professor McGonagall and her completely ridiculous proclamation. 'But is it ridiculous? What if it could be true?' he thought to himself.
Whirling around he saw Professor McGonagall stomping away from the front door of his relatives' home with a murderous look on her face. As she turned to look at him, however, her expression shifted to one wholly unfamiliar to him. At least, it was an expression that had never been directed towards him before, one of kindness, but he also saw sadness in the deep lines of her face, and some other emotion he couldn't quite identify. Hurrying up to him, Professor McGonagall spoke.
"Well, Mr. Potter, that certainly did not go as I had planned. We can't speak more about what, and more importantly, who, you are out her in the open though. I had planned on visiting one other family today, however, to introduce them and their daughter to the magical world. As it appears you will be learning everything completely fresh as they will, I would invite you to accompany me so that you may hear it at the same time. What do you think?"
Not really having a better plan at the moment, Harry simply nodded. He didn't believe her, not yet, at least he didn't think he did. But more than anything else in his life, he desperately wanted to.
"Very well, I will just send off a quick message to Albus, that is, Headmaster Dumbledore, and see if he can't make some arrangements for you for the remainder of the summer. I will certainly not see you returned to those people," Professor McGonagall stated bluntly. The venom in her tone at this last had Harry liking her already. With a quick look around to ensure there was nobody looking, Professor McGonagall pulled out a long, thin wooden stick, mumbled something under her breath, and shot off a bright silver blur which quickly disappeared into the bright July sunlight.
"Wha-what was that!?" Harry wondered in amazement.
"Magic," Professor McGonagall said simply, with a wink. "Now, Mr. Potter, if you would take my hand I will apparate, that is, move us magically from this location to another, to our other prospective student's home." Still unsure of what he had just seen, but eager for more demonstrations magic, Harry quickly grabbed Professor McGonagall's bony hand.
"This will feel somewhat uncomfortable, being your first time and all. But you will get used it once you learn to do this yourself," she warned. "On three then, one, two, three," and with a loud CRACK Harry's world went dark as he felt like he was being squeezed through a rubber tube, gasping for air but unable to fill his lungs. Just when he thought he must be about to pass out, the world suddenly relit itself and Harry drew in big gulps of air, leaning over slightly nauseous.
"Very good, Mr. Potter. Many young wizards and witches are sick after their first apparition. And you are a good deal younger than most first timers," Professor McGonagall said, with a clear look of approval in her eyes. "Well, take a moment to recover yourself and then we'll head in."
At this Harry looked up and realized that they were in a totally different place than they were just a moment ago. "Uh, Professor, where exactly are we?" Harry asked, still gasping from their recent ordeal. This certainly didn't look like anywhere in Surrey to him.
"Oh, somewhere in Essex, I get all of these muggle towns mixed up," Professor McGonagall replied, a hint of embarrassment coloring her tone.
'Essex! But that's on the other side of London! We must have traveled nearly a hundred miles!' Harry thought in surprise. But then another question popped into his mind. "Muggle?" he asked.
"That's what we call non-magical people, like your aunt and uncle," Professor McGonagall replied. "The family we're about to visit, the parents are muggles, but their daughter is witch, just as you are a wizard. While both of your parents were magical, your mother was also a muggle-born, as they're typically called. Some may try to fill your head with nonsense about muggle-born inferiority, but they are just as magical as you or me, and oftentimes twice as motivated as those raised in our society. Some of the best students I've ever had to pleasure to teach have been muggle-born, your mother included," she concluded.
Harry's eyes widened. "You knew my mother?" he asked weakly.
"Yes, Mr. Potter, I knew Lily quite well, in fact. I was her head of house at Hogwarts. And I promise to tell you more about her, and your father too, but for now we have other matters to attend to. I will tell you this, however, both of your parents were exceptional people. They were both extremely talented and powerful, but more than that, they were kind, generous, and loving, especially towards you. You were their treasure, above all else, and it was my privilege to know them. And as their son, I will be expecting great things out of you too," she finished with a small smile. "Now, if you're ready, let's go meet your potential classmate," she said, some of the formality returning to her voice.
Quickly blinking away the moisture that had suddenly appeared in his eyes, Harry followed Professor McGonagall up the long walkway to the large stone house at the end of the drive.
