Barry Potter - Chapter 3

Coren spat out his tea. "What about an owl?"
Barry shrugged. "Dunno... It all seems so weird..." He didn't mention the owl outside. Coren eyed him as he turned the letter over in his hands. The weight of the letter, the feel of the parchment, the rustle as he turned it all seemed right. But they were wrong, weren't they?
He glanced up. Coren was sipping his tea again. The old man regarded him as he gazed down at the letter again. "Well, aren't you going to open it?"
Barry jumped, nearly dropping the letter. "Wha-? Oh, yeah, yeah, may I?" Coren nodded, smiling.
"It's addressed to you."
"Oh, right." Barry blushed. Nothing ever came addressed to him. Even his progress reports from school were addressed to Coren. He gently broke the wax seal, unfolding the letter. The whole thing was written in the same, uneven green ink and meticulous handwriting. His eyes filtered over the page, then he began to read out loud.
"Dear Barry Potter-
My name is Albus Dumbledore, and I am the headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It is my great pleasure to inform you that after 17 years of searching, we have finally found you. You have already been told your story by your caretaker, no doubt, so now I will step in and tell you the rest. Your parents, Lily and James Potter, were wizards. They attended Hogwarts, and were some of the best, brightest students the school has ever seen. Your brother, Harry, currently attends Hogwarts as well. In fact, he has become somewhat of a celebrity in the past few years. I'm sure he would be charmed to finally met you.
Now Barry, I must also tell you what happened to your parents. The night you arrived at the house you now live in, your parents were murdered. A great dark wizard by the name of Voldemort killed your parents, apparently tried to kill you, and maimed your brother. Fortunately, his attack on Harry rebounded upon himself, very nearly killing him. I must regretfully confess that he has come somewhat back to power. Your safety, Barry, is one of my greatest concerns now, for the Dark Lord has risen with a vengeance. I fear he may come after you. Therefore, I have decided to send one of the teachers at Hogwarts, Professor McGonagall, to watch over you this year. Then, I would like to invite you to join the rest of the school for the graduating festivities at the end of the year. Professor McGonagall will have more information for you, and will be able, I believe, to answer any questions you may have. If you would please just scribble out a reply stating when and where you will be able to receive Professor McGonagall, it would greatly aid us in getting her there and keeping you safe. Please feel free to use the school owl, who has been directed to take any response you may have directly to me. We are so glad to have found you, and eagerly await your response.
Signed,
Albus Dumbledore"
"Well, what do you make of that?"
Barry looked up at Coren, who sat staring into space over his mug. Barry glanced over the letter again, hardly daring to believe it. He turned his eyes back to Coren again. "I don't know. You?"
Coren's eyes had a distant look to them as he gazed at a crack in the ceiling. He had been raised by his grandmother, who had always told him that she was a witch. She even threatened to turn him into a toad sometimes. Coren had never been quite sure if he believed her or not, but he did believe in magic. He remembered growing up on the outskirts of a vast, haunted forest. He and his friends would avoid it at all costs, making strange signs and muttering incantations of their own devising. It had never been a game, just a pure terror that the boogie-man or something worse dwelt in those old knarled trees. Now Coren decided that everything he had been taught was true. 'There must be magic,' he told himself, 'There must have been something living in those woods, and Grandma must've been... well, I don't know about Grandma, but everything would fit right if this is true. It must be true.' Turning to Barry, he said aloud, "Well, Barry mah boy, either you've gotten a letter from a wizard or you've gotten a letter from a nutball."
Barry didn't look up. The letter had felt so... so right. "Coren, are wizards real?"
"Who am I to say?" Coren replied, eyes twinkling.
"Why did it take so long to find me?"
"Dunno."
"How come I haven't seen any proof of magic before?"
"Search me."
"Why is everything happening all at once??" Barry cried, flinging himself down in a chair. Spyke opened her eyes, gazing up at Barry. He bent down and scratched her behind the ear.
"No idea." Barry looked over at Coren. How could Coren stay so calm at a time like this? Suddenly, Barry felt calm too. It was okay, everything would be all right. He gazed into Coren's benign eyes, feeling his guardian's warmth wash over him. Barry picked the letter a bit, skimming it again. Then he rose, walked to the counter, and calmly picked up a pen. He leaned on the counter, jotting :
' Please feel free to send the professor at any time. It would be most convenient if she could make her way to the parlor alone, or if we could pick her up at the King's Cross station. If you would send back a time and date, I would be most obliged.
Signed,
Barry Potter'
Barry folded the letter up again and walked to the backdoor. Spyke leaped up to follow him, leaving Fluffy and Fang asleep in the corner. Barry opened the door and found the owl now sitting on the porch rail, holding its leg out for the letter. He mechanically tied the message to the owl, who immediately took off with a hoot. He watched it fly away, sweeping over the moon into the distance. There was a grunt behind him as Coren leaned against the door frame.
"Coren?"
"Yeah?"
"Believe in magic?"
"Indeed I do. Yourself?"
"Do now."
Coren smiled at the speck against the moon. "Good."