Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and Co. J.K. Rowling does.
Summary: After one very eventful night ten years ago, Voldemort was destroyed and Harry disappeared. Where did he go? What happened that night? Only one man knows the answer: a teacher named James, aka Harry. But what will he do now that he has faced the two people who were once his best friends?
Author's note::pants: Chapter...posted... :falls in to a coughing fit from working so hard: See? I'm getting faster... :thinks: Okay, slightly faster. But it's an improvement, right? (Riiiiight...)
Chapter 18: Letters and Acceptances
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It was two months later, and almost time for the weddings. Jacob and Emma were getting married on the July 26th, and so were Ginny and Daniel.
Daniel's family, the Bollis's, had apparated and taken Floo powder to England, so the ceremony could be near the Burrow. This was decided by the fact that there were way too many Weasleys to ever try to coordinate a convenient location on another continent, and the Bollis thought it would be nice to visit England. School had ended for Hermione in June, and she could go home and not worry about teaching.
Jacob and Emma were just as excited about their wedding, but they were trying something a little unconventional. They had decided to spend the weekend before their wedding with their families, alone. Both Jacob and Emma had agreed upon this, thinking it best to get any last minute family bonding moments done before they became one entity. Jacob was spending time at his sister's house on the other side of Calgary. His parents were staying there, as well. Emma went down to San Francisco to stay with her parents, being an only child.
Thus a new chapter begins...
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"Is everyone here?" asked Hermione brightly, as she saw the last of the Bollis's apparate over.
"Yes, I think so," said Ginny.
"Perfect. Hey, Ron? Will you help me set the table?"
Ron got up from the couch where he had been reading some papers. He folded the papers up and put them in a pocket.
"Sure," he replied. "You know, I can't believe you actually wrote a report explaining how we're going to find Harry and then ---"
"Shh!" interrupted Hermione. "Not here." She handed Ron a stack of placemats.
"All I'm saying is that you must really want to find him."
"Well don't you?" asked Hermione, irritated. She roughly pilled napkins on top of the placemats Ron was holding.
"Well, yeah. But, um, honey? Don't you think your plan, is, uh, a little illegal?"
"You obviously didn't read article five, section 2, where I explain exactly why it's not illegal." Hermione balanced a tray of silverware on top of the stuff Ron was holding. "Any other qualms you have with my paper?"
"Yeah. What about all those strategic locations for everyone to stand at? Don't you think that's a little...unnecessary?"
Hermione glared at her husband.
"Uh, I guess not..." said Ron weakly. "I'll just go set the table, then."
He walked away, struggling under the weight of the items for the place settings, mumbling something about magic not helping the wrath of wives.
Jack and Emily were playing with several cousins in the yard. Percy's eldest, Mark, 17, had organized a Quiddich game with the older Bollis kids. Fred and Angelina's eldest girls were, at the moment, ordering two of Daniel's brother, John's, kids to guard their goal a little better.
Mr. and Mrs. Bollis were chatting amiably with Mrs. Weasley. Percy was talking to John about the England Ministry and John's wife, Regina, was taking to Angelina and Penelope. Daniel had two other sisters, Melissa and Rachel, both married, and Rachel had one daughter currently playing in the family quiddich game. Rachel, Melissa, Ginny, Daniel, Fred, George (who had not yet married-- he seemed to enjoy his bachelor life), Bill, his wife Kate, and Charlie (who wasn't married either) were helping to cheer on the game.
Needless to say, the two rather large families got along fine together.
Regina, Angelina, and Penelope came over to Hermione, who was at the stove, which was covered in pots that had little wooden spoons stirring the contents inside by themselves.
"Need any help with the cooking?" asked Penelope.
"Sure," said Hermione brightly. She wiped her hands on her apron. "Umm, let's see... Penelope, why don't you wash the lettuce, and don't use a spell; I don't trust a spell with washing food..."
Penelope laughed good-naturedly and shook her head. "Whatever you say, head chef."
"And Angelina, dear," went on Hermione, "Can you help Ron? I haven't seen him since I sent him to set the table, and I'm pretty sure that's a bad sign... wouldn't want him stabbing himself with a fork, or something. Do you think you can teach him how to set a table for me?"
Angelina giggled. "Fred does the same thing... can't put the silverware in the correct place to save his life... but maybe that's because he never uses it." She giggled some more and Hermione joined in.
"Isn't it the truth?" said Hermione. Angelina went off to find Ron. "Well, it's just you and me chickens, now, isn't it?" asked Hermione to Regina. "Let me see... Do you think you could help me with this fish I'm trying to cook? I can't ever seem to cook fish right; I always burn it..."
Regina gladly helped Hermione. They chatted and laughed while they cooked. Soon, lunch was done cooking and it was time to eat. The food was set on the table and the quiddich game was paused.
The little kids had their own table to sit at and seemed to be prattling on about chocolate frog trading cards. Hermione and Regina served them their food, then sat down themselves at the larger table.
"So, how is the game going?" shouted Hermione towards the end of the rather long table, to where the older kids were sitting.
"We're winning!" shouted back Samantha, one of Fred's daughters.
"Don't be too sure about that, Sam!" said Mark, "My team still hasn't caught the snitch yet, which we will do."
Mark's team gave a small cheer.
John's eldest son, David, shot back, "Na-uh. We're going to get the snitch. And besides, even if you caught the snitch, which you won't, we would still win by ten points."
Samantha and John's team cheered.
"Maybe I shouldn't have asked," whispered Hermione to Regina.
Soon the war between teams calmed down enough for them to eat, and there was relative silence. The adults were talking quietly to one another.
Suddenly, owls flew in and dropped letters on several of the kids' plates.
"Looks like Hogwarts has sent its school supply letters," commented Percy.
A few of the kids grumbled something along the lines it being illegal to think about school in the summer.
"Mum! Mum!" shrieked Emily, "Jack got a letter! He did! Look! And so did George! He got a letter, too!"
Ron and Hermione rushed over to where Jack was sitting, while Fred and Angelina went over to where their youngest and only son was sitting.
Jack beamed at his parents, proudly holding his acceptance letter. "I got in!"
"Congratulations!" said Hermione, giving her son a hug.
Ron patted Jacks shoulder. "I knew you could do it."
Fred and Angelina were congratulating George.
The other Weasley family members, including cousins who currently went to Hogwarts, all gathered around Jack and George, full of congratulations.
"Hey, George!" asked Jack. "You wanna be in the same house?"
"Definitely!" George answered. "This is going to be so cool!"
Not three minutes later did another group of owls fly in. This time letters were dropped onto several of the Bollis' kids' plates.
"It's the Toronto School of Magic," explained Rachel. "They must be sending out their supply forms, too."
One of John's kids got accepted to the school, and all the other older ones got supply lists.
"Well, let's make a toast," offered Mr. Bollis, "To all the new students, and the ones returning."
A toast was made, and soon everyone continued the meal.
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Jacob opened his eye groggily. He could have sworn he heard something.
Thump.
There it was!
Jacob swiftly got up from his bed. His clock said 8:30 am.
Another thump came from the hallway.
Jacob slipped a shirt over his head and crept cautiously down the hallway. He could hear his sister setting the table for breakfast and his brother-in-law, niece, and parents talking quietly.
Suddenly there was a rapid knocking from the closet. Jacob must have jumped a mile.
"Excuse me?" called a voice from inside the closet. "Excuse me? Is anyone there? I seem to have apparated into a closet of some sort, and I have dropped my wand. Can someone let me out?"
Jacob stared at the closet with a look of horror on his face.
"Excuse me?" called the voice again. "Anyone there?"
"Um, yeah," answered Jacob. "Here, um, I'll help you out... of, er, my closet..."
Jacob hesitatingly went towards the closet door. He turned the handle. He opened it.
There was a man inside with dark blue robes on fumbling to put on a hat.
"Thank you so much. How embarrassing. To apparate into a closet! I haven't done that in years! And then the drop my wand as well! Oh dear me." The man went on talking as he bent down to pick up his wand.
"Um, excuse me, er, sir," interrupted Jacob, "But, um, you're standing in our closet... and, um, you're holding a stick... er, and you're wearing a dress... Do you need help?"
The man looked at Jacob with wide eyes. He stepped out of the closet, drew himself up properly, and looked at Jacob sternly.
"My name is Caleb Madion. I work for the Toronto School of Magic. And now, if I could speak to the mother of Natalie Webster, I would be much appreciated."
Jacob raised an eyebrow. Definitely insane, he thought to himself. "Um, why don't you take a seat in the kitchen."
Jacob led the man downstairs to the kitchen.
"Oh, Jacob, I was wondering if you could--" Mary, Jacob's sister, stopped short when she saw the man Jacob had brought down.
The rest of the family was looking at Jacob in surprise.
"Um, ah, this is... um, well, a guy... and, ah, he's from our closet, and..." Jacob stumbled. Finally he shrugged his shoulders and mouthed to his sister "crazy".
The family stared in shock at the man standing behind and slightly to the left of Jacob.
The man stepped forward. "Hello. My name is Caleb Madion. I am from the Toronto School of Magic and I'm here to talk to Natalie Webster and her family."
There was silence.
Mr. Madion sighed. "I know you are all probably confused. Let me try to explain. Natalie has shown signs of magic strong enough to be considered wizarding levels. As I understand, the Webster's and the Cooke's are both families with high amounts of magic, for muggles, at least. The marriage of Mary Cooke and Henry Webster produced a child with bloodlines of two very magical families, and therefore she holds a high amount of ability within her. High enough to be considered a witch."
The silence was broken by an outburst from Mary.
"How dare you come into our house and call my daughter a witch!" interrupted Mary. "You, sir, need help. Talking about magic... and what were you doing in our closet? I am going to call the police right now."
Mr. Madion sighed. Apparently, he was used to this. "Mrs. Webster, will you please just sit down and listen? Your daughter has a gift, and she is being admitted into one of the most prestigious schools in the country. Just hear me out?"
The rest of the family was quiet. Mary turned sharply. He sounded rational, but what he was saying didn't. "You broke into my home and are trying to convince me that there are such things as magic and witches. I'm calling the police."
"There are wizards, too, but I won't get technical." Mr. Madion pulled out his stick from his pocket.
Jacob stared at the man, and what he was saying sounded vaguely familiar.
"Wait!" called Jacob. Mary was just about to dial the phone. "Wait. I think this man may be telling the truth."
"Jacob!" said Mary. "What are you saying?"
"Look, Mary, I've heard something like this before. James -- you know James -- he said something like this a few months ago. I think we should listen to Mr. Madion."
Mary slowly put down the phone. "I don't know..."
"The guy doesn't look like a serial killer..." pointed out Jacob.
"Well," conceded Mary, much against her better judgment. "Just because you say so, and he seems to be harmless."
Mary walked back to the table.
"Thank you," said Mr. Madion, bowing slightly. "Now, as I was saying, there are three private schools of magic in Canada. An all-girls school in Quebec, an all-boys school in Vancouver, and a coed school in Toronto. Natalie has been accepted to the Toronto school. You may, of course, send her to a public magic school, but the private schools are the best for new witches and wizards. The Toronto School of Magic is a private boarding school. I think Natalie will be most happy there."
Henry, Mary's husband, stood up. "Okay, let's say you're telling the truth. Would you mind showing us some of your 'magic'?"
"Certainly." Mr. Madion pulled out his wand and changed a near by chair into a pig.
There was silence while the family stared, mouths agape, at what used to be a chair.
"Well, that tells us something," said Jacob.
"Um, sir?" asked Natalie timidly, speaking for the first time since Mr. Madion showed up. "Do you think you can turn that pig back into our chair?"
"Of course, Miss Webster." Mr. Madion transfigured the pig back to its former state. "So, what do you say, Miss Webster, would you like to come to our school?"
"Oh yes!" Natalie answered warmly. "You know, I've always thought things had gone well for me. Like the time where I went outside at night when it was snowing, but I didn't feel cold at all. I had gotten lost, but I never got cold. Like a warm blanket was wrapped around me."
Mary finally spoke up. "Um, Mr. Madion? Will you give us a while to discuss this?"
"Of course. I'll leave my owl with you and you can send a message back with her. Just tie a note to her leg."
"Er, okay, if that's what you want."
Mr. Madion smiled. Then, with a pop, he apparated away, much to the surprise of the family.
Minutes later, an owl flew through the open window into the house and settled on the back of the chair that had one been a pig.
"That was eventful," said Henry.
"I think he's nuts," spoke up Jacob's mother, Mrs. Cooke.
"All that rubbish about magic and stuff," said Mr. Cooke. "And wearing a dress... not healthy, that man is."
"Still," continued Mrs. Cooke, "I remember my grandmother always talking about magic. We always dismissed her for senile, but now I think she might have been right."
"Well," said Henry, "It sounds as if we have no choice but to send Natalie there. I mean, if she does posses this... magic... then we certainly can't stop her from knowing about her own... abilities."
"I'd have to agree with you, dear." Mary looked to her daughter. "Well, Natalie? Do you want to go to this new school?"
Natalie took a deep breath. "I want to go. I have always felt something inside me. Like that time in the snow."
"We were worried sick about you!" said Mary.
"Yes, but I was all right. I was safe. Remember how the doctor said I had no signed of cold anywhere? And I had spent the entire night in freezing weather? There is something special about me, and I think this school will be good for me."
"You will not be going to your new school for 6th grade, you know."
"I know, mummy, but it works out. Since I was going to the new school for sixth grade, away from my friends, why not just change which new school I go to? It'll be exactly the same, mummy!" Natalie fell deep in thought. "Well, except for the boarding school part. Oh, but I do want to go!"
Mary smiled gently at her daughter. "Do you think you can go to the boarding school? And not see your family for a long time?"
Natalie thought about this for a moment. "Yes," she concluded, "I think I can, if it's to learn magic."
"Then I think it will be a good experience. I, for one, never knew there were magic schools." Mary gave her daughter a hug. "You seem awfully mature about this."
Natalie giggled. "Mummy..."
"Well, it's set then," said Henry. "Shall I write the note?"
"Um, sure. Good idea... I don't really want to try and attach the message to that owl," said Mary. "Who ever heard of using an owl to deliver notes? Pigeons, maybe, and that was fifty years ago. But never owls."
As soon as Henry had successfully put the note on the owl's leg, the bird flew back out the window and away.
Not more than an hour and a half later, Mr. Madion apparated back into the kitchen, causing Mary to scream.
The family came running from the various places they had been to see what the matter was.
"As nice as it was for you call everyone together, I don't think screaming was the right way to do it," said Mr. Madion gently.
"Must you pop in and out like that?" asked Mary angrily.
"Unless you want me to come through the fireplace... no," answered Mr. Madion cheerfully. "Well, I have received your answer, Miss Webster, and I am very pleased to hear that it is in the positive. We are excited to have you as a student."
"Thank you for having me, " said Natalie quietly.
"Of course, dear. Now, Mr. and Mrs. Webster, do you and your daughter have any plans for today?"
"Um, I don't think so," answered Mary.
"Excellent. We have a new wizards and witches meeting today, but if you are busy you can catch the next one a week from today."
"I think today can work."
"Good. This is just a preliminary seminar for students new to the school and who are also new to the concept of magic. It will give you a look around the school, tell you about the classes Natalie will be taking, and will tell you good areas in town to buy supplies. You'll also be meeting other people who are in the same situation as you. About eight families, I think."
"Sounds good," said Henry, "But isn't the school in Toronto?"
"Yes," said Mr. Madion, "And I have taken the liberty to bring along a Portkey to take us there. It will get us to Toronto in seconds."
"Oh."
"Natalie, can you get changed into something nice?" asked Mary.
"Sure thing," said Natalie, running upstairs.
"And Mom and Dad?" said Mary. "We'll be back soon."
"By eight o'clock, at the latest," supplied Mr. Madion.
"We'll watch the house for you, dear," said Mrs. Cooke.
"Thanks Mom."
Natalie bounded down the stairs. "All ready!"
"Good. Ready to go?" asked Mr. Madion.
Natalie, Mary, and Henry all nodded.
Mr. Madion pulled out a book from his pocket. "Everyone hold onto a piece of the book. Here we go."
"Bye Gramma! Bye Grampa! Bye Uncle Jacob!" shouted Natalie.
Jacob and Mr. and Mrs. Cooke all waved.
Mary was looking at the book with a skeptical expression.
Henry looked sick.
Mr. Madion pulled out his wand and said a spell.
And Mary, Henry, Natalie, and Mr. Madion were gone.
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