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Chapter 3: Learning About Magic

Athena stared at her mother in shock. A witch? Is she dreaming?

"Come again?"

"You are a witch." Her mother said patiently.

There, her mother said the sentence again. She didn't hear it wrongly.

"I know that it is a real shock to you but it is the truth." Professor McGonagall said gently.

"But...but..." Athena said, as if she had a lot to say but she didn't know where to start.

"But you think that you can't be a witch because you didn't turn Ares into a toad when you want to?" Professor McGonagall asked, smiling.

Athena nodded quickly. "And I can't put a curse on him! In fact, I don't know anything about magic, just a few card tricks that I learned from books..."

"That's why you have to go to Hogwarts. You have to learn about the right spell to turn Ares into something."

Athena's mouth dropped open. A school that taught magic? She could learn them? It's too good to be true! But then again....

"Aren't you going to avoid me or afraid of me, Mom?" Athena asked.

"Why should I? I am a witch too. In fact, I used to be the Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts and the Transfiguration teacher." Professor McGonagall said, smiling proudly.

"Trans---what?" Athena asked blankly.

"Transfiguration." Professor McGonagall said slowly to let Athena to memorize the word. "For example." She said and thought for a while. "Let's see if I can remember...." She muttered to herself and transformed into a tabby cat.

"AAARRGGGHHH!!!!!" Athena screamed, dropping the letter and backed away to the front door.

"Sorry, did I scare you?" Professor McGonagall asked after she had changed back to herself.

"You...you.." Athena pointed at her mother with one hand while she had another hand on her chest. She swallowed and took a deep breath. "How did you do that?" She asked in awe.

"I learned it and I am a registered Animagus." Professor McGonagall said proudly but by the blank expression on her daughter's face, she remembered that she had never told Athena about her being an Animagus. In fact, she had never told Athena anything about the wizarding world.

"Mom, why didn't you tell me anything about us being witches before all this? Does Dad know about this?" Athena asked before thinking and said "Oops" when she saw Professor McGonagall's face saddened.

"Your father knows that we are witches." Professor McGonagall said quietly. And before Athena could ask any more questions, she added, "He is not afraid of me because he is a wizard."

"Dad? A wizard?" Athena said excitedly. She knows one more thing about her father now! "Wow." She whispered breathlessly. This is so cool, she is a witch and her parents are magical..

Professor McGonagall's stern words broke her thoughts. "Tomorrow we will go to Diagon Alley to get your school supplies. You better keep your list carefully and don't lose it."

"Where?" Athena asked as she picked up the letter and took out another piece of letter from the envelope.

"Diagon Alley. You will know how to get there tomorrow." Professor McGonagall smiled proudly and at the same time, sadly. "My, your father will be so proud if he sees you getting your letter."

Athena smiled back. She and her mother sat down on the sofa in the living room and she unfolded the letter:

HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY

Uniform
First-year students will require:

1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)
2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear ("A pointed hat! I wonder what do I look like with a pointed hat..." Athena asked, trying to picture herself in a pointed hat)
3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar) ("Dragon?" Athena asked in disbelief. "You got to believe it." Professor McGonagall said seriously.)
4. One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupils' clothes should carry nametags

Set Books
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk
Magical History by Hermione Granger
Magical Theory by Hermione Granger
Transfiguration for Beginners by Sirius Black
Magical Herb by Neville Longbottom
Magical Potions by Severus Snape ("Snape wrote a book?! Now that's new." Professor McGonagall said in amusement.")
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 2 by Newt Scamander
Dark Magic and How To Fight Them by Harry Potter

"So, they actually wrote for the school textbooks. That's wonderful." Professor McGonagall smiled.

"You know them?" Athena asked.

"Sure, Hermione, Sirius, Neville and Harry were my students." Professor McGonagall said and sighed. "I wonder how are they now."

Athena continued to read:

Other Equipment

1 wand ("A wand! I can't wait to have one!" Athena exclaimed)
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope ("Telescope?" Athena asked. "For Astronomy." Professor McGonagall explained.)
1 set brass scales ("Scales? Are we doing science or math in Hogwarts?" Athena asked in disgust. "No, the scales are for Potions." "Potions! Wow, I am beginning to like Hogwarts." Athena grinned.)

Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad

PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST-YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS

"Broomstick? You mean I get to fly on a broomstick?" Athena asked excitedly.

"Only on your flying lessons." Professor McGonagall said. "I wonder how Madeline is now..." She said to herself, thinking about Madam Hooch.

"Flying Lessons?! Oh, I can't wait!" Athena said and sighed happily. "Just think, after a few months, I will be in Hogwarts, learning magic!"

****

At night, while Athena was sleeping peacefully and comfortably in her bed, Professor McGonagall was awake. She stared out at the stars at her bedroom window and sighed. "This is it, Albus. Our daughter is going to Hogwarts." She whispered to the stars. "I don't know whether to be happy or sad or anxious for her. I am glad that she is learning magic like us but I am so afraid that the longer she stays at Hogwarts, the faster the dark wizards will find out who she really is. If the dark wizards find out about you being her father, who knows what will happen to her? And I can't go back to Hogwarts either, if the dark wizards find out that I, your loyal Deputy Headmistress, am back with a strange girl who looks just like me, they will investigate who the girl is and... " At this point, Professor McGonagall started to weep silently. Then she continued, "Albus, if you can hear me, I hope you can watch over Athena. Please don't let anything fatal happen to her..."