Disclaimer: I own nothing of J.K.Rowling's.

Ch2: Do you Remember?

'Dad, I really don't know what happened!' pleaded Tom as we raced up the stairs to the office.

Still holding the coffee, I dashed into the room and stared at the computer, which was emitting violent red sparks and smoking wildly.

'What did you do!' I asked Tom, confused and angry. 'This computer is brand new!'

'Uh… I was just sorta angry…,' Tom wrung his hands, 'I mean the game was messing up and…'

'You kicked it, didn't you?' I asked angrily.

'No,' said Tom defiantly, looking at me, 'it just did that.' And he pointed at the smoke and sparks.

'It's ruined, there's no way it can possibly be fixed!' I touched the computer, but pulled my hand back quickly as my finger was scorched. Looking at Tom, I said, 'The boss isn't going to be happy with this.'

Slowly, I walked into my boss's office. I tried to smile as I handed him his coffee, but immediately he realized something was wrong. 'What happened?' he asked, nose pointing sharply in the air.

'Tom…' I looked away from his narrowed eyes, 'my son was just playing a computer game and the computer malfunctioned.'

'What happened, exactly?'

'It's… Oh bloody hell, emitting sparks and large amounts of smoke,' I finished quickly.

The boss slammed his coffee on his desk and stood up. 'You mean, our brand new computer is broken!' and with that, he ran out of the room as fast as his stubby legs could carry him.

Racing after him, I nearly crashed into him as he stopped at the door of my office.

'So, the computer malfunctioned?' he said slowly and quietly.

'I'm really sorry, sir…' I said looking away from my office, with my head bent. I rubbed on my scorched finger.

'And, it's emitting sparks and large amounts of smoke, eh?' he said, but there was something very different about his voice.

'I'm sure you can see it, sir,' I said, turning around. But, at what I saw, I froze.

The computer was fine!

'I see nothing wrong, Mr. Potter,' he said slowly.

Quickly, I ran past my boss and Tom to the computer. I touched it gently and found it's temperature completely normal.

'But, it was…' I stuttered, 'it was heating up, I even scorched my finger!' I held up my palm for my boss to see.

'You scorched your finger with your coffee, Potter. Enough with these jokes. I would prefer for you to work on your job,' he said sharply with narrowed eyes.

'Sir, I swear,' I said sincerely, 'the computer was…'

'Heating up,' said my boss sarcastically, 'emitting large, dangerous sparks!' He laughed, then looked at me, 'If that's true,' he challenged, 'then how come it's fine now?'

'I don't know…' I said slowly, 'It's as if… as if…it was magic.'

The boss walked closely to me and said slowly and clearly,

'There's no such thing as magic!'

And with that, he walked away, slamming my office door shut amidst the snickers and laughter of my co-workers.

But, something remained. Those words… magic…seemed so familiar… but I couldn't get a hold on it. It was like smoke, you think you've got it in your hands, but when you open them, nothing's there.

'Now, what did you do?' I asked Tom with a sigh.

'I don't know; I wanted it to fix, so I fixed it,' he said with a wide grin, spinning on my office chair.

With a laugh, I said, 'Get up, you troublemaker,' and I sat on the chair in his stead.

'Like father, like son,' he said cheekily, as we both took a sip of coffee.

The day passed without anymore significant events, though my boss did keep an extra eye on Tom and I.

We walked home and up the stairs to our apartment. Tom took my key, opened the door and bounded inside.

'Harry, Tom! You guys home?' called Anna from inside somewhere.

'Yep,' said Tom, 'and I'm hungry! Dad didn't give me anything to eat!' he called out pitifully.

I looked at my son. Traitor! I thought childishly; I had just bought him a sandwich on the way home. Anna put some food in the microwave then followed me into our room.

'Harry,' she said quietly, 'a letter came for Tom today.'

'Oh no, it's not from the principal of his school, is it?' I asked, worried.

'No,' she said, looking at me reassured, 'But, it's not from someone we know. I think that we should open it first.' And with that, she handed me the letter.

It was an averaged sized letter, and written on the front in spiraly ink was,

'To: Tom Harry Potter

In the last room at the end of the hallway,

Of apartment 271

Building 11

King's Cross St.

London

'The last room at the end of the hallway,' I quoted curiously, 'How'd they know that?' I turned the letter over, and saw a crest, with a lion, snake, badger, and eagle all around the letter H.

Suddenly, I felt that same remembering feeling I felt earlier. There was something about this letter, about the way it felt in my hands. About the crest, the lion… it seemed so vaguely familiar.

'There's something about this letter,' I whispered, turning it over again. 'Its…'

'Very weird, I know,' said Anna,' so, should we open it?'

'But,' I said,' it's Tom's letter.' For some reason, I found it very wrong to take anyone's letter away from them, especially this one. 'He should open it.'

And before anyone could stop me, I walked out of our room and to the table where Tom was eating spaghetti. 'Here, Tom,' I said, 'this letter came for you, today.'

'Really?' he asked, licking his lips clean of red sauce and grabbing the letter. Quickly, he ripped the top open and took out a piece of parchment.

He read:

You have been accepted into Hogwarts,

School of Witchcraft and Wizardry…

Suddenly, I stopped hearing what Tom was reading, something else was going through my head…

I was in a dark room… no, a dark house and it was raining… there was a storm going on outside, and I was on a small island off the coast of England.

And… and… the memory was sliding away…NO, he thought forcefully, not again… let me remember.

A large man, a giant… and a fat boy was eating his birthday cake. Then…

'This is a joke, isn't it,' said Anna suddenly, eyebrows raised.

'Mum, it's true!' shouted Tom, standing in his seat, still clutching the letter.

'Oh please, you think I haven't learned at all from living with two tricksters?' she said, looking at Tom and I, 'Do you think I'm stupid? Of course there is no such thing as magic and witches,' she was waving her arms around, 'and magic schools, oh please. Harry, great joke, really… but, you still didn't get me fooled.' She looked at me sadly.

'I never made this,' I said, looking at Anne seriously, 'I didn't send this letter.'

'Then who?' she said, her beautiful face looking at me skeptically, 'A wizard, or- no,' she picked up the letter and read with sarcasm dripping from her voice, 'the staff of Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?'

'Yes! Yes!' shouted Tom, jumping up and down.

'I'm not sending him off to some boarding school I've never heard of…'

'No! No!'

'and if you cared for him, Harry-'

'I do care for him Annabel-'

'you wouldn't send him.'

Silence filled the kitchen where the shouting of three people just took place.

I looked into the blue eyes of my wife and found them lit with tears. I saw her heart through her eyes; she didn't want Tom to go off to an unknown and probably unreal school. Usually, I would agree with her, but something was very weird and something was making me think that this was all very real.

The doorbell rang, shattering the strong emotions. Anna turned around and said, 'You get it Harry,' and she walked off to our room.

I walked to the door slowly, thinking: Maybe I should listen to her, she's usually right. With a tug, I pulled the door open. I raised my eyebrows at what I saw.

It was the women I had bumped into earlier, who was carrying all the heavy books. 'Hello, Mr. Potter,' she said coolly, looking into my eyes.

I looked up at the woman. She seemed rather angry that she was here, like it wasn't her choice, and if it was, she definitely wouldn't have come. 'Yes?'

'I am here to discuss the admission of your son, Tom Harry Potter, into Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.' With that said, she entered the apartment and found a chair to sit on.

'So,' I said, after shutting the door, 'You're the one who sent the letter?'

'No, not me,' this seemed to be the thing that upset her, 'the Headmaster of Hogwarts sent it, Albus Dumbledore.' She looked up at me from her seat on the chair, 'Please gather your family, I must say this before you all.'

I sat down and called to Tom, who was peeking at me from behind the kitchen table, 'Call your Mum and come sit here, Tom.'

As he scrabbled off quickly into my bedroom, I turned to the woman. I looked at her and tried to figure out what could possibly be happening. Soon, Tom and Anne had come into the room.

Annabel looked at me, wondering why I had let in a woman we didn't know. I gave her a look telling her it wasn't my choice. Then, she turned to the anonymous woman. 'Yes?'

'Hello, Mrs. Potter, I have come to discuss the admission of your son, Tom Potter, into Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.'

'Really?' said Anne, giving the woman a sarcastic look, 'What is your name?'

'I am Minerva McGonagall, and you?' the woman said politely.

'Oh, is that so? Well, I am Annabel Potter,' said Anne, as Tom listened closely, 'And, so you… work at this school of magic?'

'Yes, I am the Transfiguration teacher and the Headmaster's assistant. Now, if you wouldn't mind, I must tell you about the school.

Hogwarts is a boarding school of magic, which houses students of years 11-17, or Year 1 through Year 7. Upon arriving at the school, the students are to be sorted into one of four houses, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Of course, every house is unique and different, but the house that your son is sorted into will most definitely suit your son, Tom.

There are many rules and restrictions that all students must follow that the Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, put into action. If you break any rules, your House will lose House Points. However, you can gain them by answering correct questions and therefore awarding your house a few points.

The types of classes that your son will take are: Transfiguration, Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Potions, Flying…'

'Flying?' Anne interrupted, 'My son is going to learn how to fly as well?'

'Yes,' said Minerva, looking at Anne seriously, 'on a broomstick.'

'On a broomstick!' said Anne, laughing. 'So, he's going to learn how to fly on a

broom, like witches! And go to different 'Houses'. And have to follow rules put up by a magical man?'

'His name is Albus Dumbledore, and he is...,' she stopped to glance at me, 'was one of the most powerful wizards of his time, so I would think that…'

'You should respect him.'

The room fell silent, for the second time that day. The woman named Minerva and Anne looked at me in shock. Then, Anne laughed for a second time.

'Oh, I understand now. Of course! You two organized this together! No, you three! Thought it would be fun to go to work, come up with this little plan, hire one of your fellow workers to be this 'witch', and send me this letter ahead of time! Really sweet, we all had a laugh.'

'Mum, we never did that!' shouted Tom.

'Anne, Tom's right, we never hired anyone, and we're not tricking you.'

'Do you expect me to believe that,' she said to us.

'I expect you to believe the truth, right before your eyes,' said Tom, pointing to the woman, sitting quietly in the chair.

But, she wasn't there.

'Where is she?' I asked, looking around. We were all about to search when with a pop, she appeared between us.

'Oh My God!' shrieked Anne, as Tom jumped.

'What did you do?' I asked, 'Who are you?'

'I am a witch, and I am asking you to allow your son to go to Hogwarts. This is an opportunity that can not be missed. Please, do not let him be blinded to the truth.'

'What truth?' asked Anne, aggressively – obviously regaining her cool.

'That one-quarter of the English population and the world either are wizard or witches or know about the magical world.'

'Magical world?' asked Anne, 'what world is that, one where people pop in and out of nowhere? And why is it that our son got picked, and I didn't? Did you?'

'Some wizards are picked because, they have magic in their blood,' suspiciously, she glanced at me, 'others are simply unique.'

'So, our son is unique? Is that it,' the woman was silent, 'That's why he's in this popping magic world!'

'There are many types of magic,' she said, taking a seat and describing many classes.

But, I was having that feeling again. I was remembering something, something was very familiar…I had that feeling when I told Anne that she should respect Albus Dumbledore – someone had told me that.

But who? This woman? No. I don't know.

'And do you agree with this?' Anne asked, interrupting my thoughts.

I looked at the woman, 'It's true, Anne. Maybe we should let Tom… do it.'

'True, true! Sorry, but popping in and out of nowhere is not sufficient proof.'

'Is this?' asked Minerva, handing Anne a mirror.

Slowly and cautiously, Anne held the mirror, 'Look in it,' Minerva said.

As Anne looked in the mirror, a voice which seemed to be coming out of the mirror itself said, 'Why, aren't you pretty my dear!'

With a gasp, the mirror dropped from Anne's hands, and a scream broke out from the mirror.

In a quick flash, the older woman had a piece of wood out, and she shouted 'Alohamora!'

And the mirror floated, as light as a feather…

A feather… floating… and a girl.

She was proud of herself; she had bushy hair.

'It's true,' whispered Anne, sinking into a chair.

Tom sat as well, muttering, 'I told you.'

'Is he going?' asked Minerva.

'I don't know,' said Anne and I simultaneously.

At least we agreed on something, I thought happily.

The woman told us that school started on September first, so we had ten days to make our decision, though we should decide early.

As I walked the woman to the door, she turned around suddenly. 'Magic can and has affected many people. I ask you to be open-minded and make your decision wisely. If you do change your mind, simply go to the old café on Belington Road, and ask how to get to Diagon Alley. There you will find everything you will need for your son. By then, I will know and will give you the tickets to the train that leaves with all the other Hogwarts students on September the first.

Remember, Mr. Potter,' suddenly, her words were directed to me, 'You will get several surprises. I ask of you to be calm and wise with all people.'

'I understand, ' I said.

She looked at me slowly, and after a few seconds wait, said quietly, 'Do you remember?'

I looked into those eyes, at the… familiar… face, and wondered, Do I?

'I don't know.'

When she left, Anne asked me what to do… what the woman had meant.

And I answered the same thing.

'I don't know.'

Authors Note: Ok, I know what I'm going to do with this story. And, it won't be long!