Part 2
Liz turned the envelope over in her hands, examining it
carefully. There were no postmarks or stamps and it was sealed with
wax. The lettering was in green ink and appeared to be written with a
calligraphy pen. She opened the envelope to find a letter written on parchment
paper also in calligraphy.
She read:
Dear Miss Parker,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been
accepted into the accelerated summer program at
Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in Great
Britain.
This is a special program to which few students
have been accepted and is designed to teach you the
basics. The session will last from June 15th to
August 15th. Your train leaves at 11:00 a.m. June
15th from Kings Cross Station platform nine and three
quarters.
For your convenience we will be sending an
ambassador to answer questions and assist you with
arranging parental permission. Please expect their
arrival at noon on Sunday. We look forward to your
attendance.
Sincerely,
Professor M. McGonagall
Liz stared at the letter. She wasn't sure if it was the answer to her
dreams or her nightmares. She started to pull out a notebook to write all
the questions that had sprung up in her mind over the past five minutes, but
grabbed her journal instead. She felt the need to keep this list away
from prying eyes. "More secrets," she thought. "When
did my life get so complicated?"
When she finished, she reviewed the list of questions.
--Witchcraft and Wizardry?
--Why was I chosen?
--How was I chosen?
--How much does it cost?
--Is this why I sometimes get flashes even when Max isn't around?
She realized that if any of this was related to Max, she'd better meet with the
ambassador alone first, then her parents.
*******************************************************
Dear Mr. Valenti,
We are pleased to inform... ...been accepted...
summer program at Hogwart's School...
in Great Britain....
Kyle sighed in frustration. Water stains had nearly ruined the letter
from this Hogwart's School. What did a school in England want with him
anyway? He didn't play rugby, his soccer was passable, as were his
grades. Besides that, why would he want to spend the summer in school?
He put the letter in his room and started to add it to the list of things to
forget. Then, a very pleasant thought crossed his mind. If he went
to England for the summer, he would be away from Max Evans and all things alien
in Roswell. He grabbed hold of that idea and thought, "I don't care
if this is a charm and beauty school, I am going just to get
out of Roswell this summer."
******************************************************
Professor McGonagall used a Portkey in the shape of a
serving spoon to travel from Hogsmeade to the Roswell bus station. She
landed in a ladies room stall that had been marked out of order by a local
witch in preparation for her arrival. She surveyed her clothing one last
time, to insure that she appeared completely Muggle, before exiting the stall.
Carefully she carried the Portkey wrapped in a scarf to a locker along the wall
of the station where she stored it for the return trip. She then left the
bus station and headed for the Crashdown Café.
Kyle, unaware of the arrival of the ambassador at all due to the smeared ink,
was eating lunch at the counter of the Crashdown Café. He watched Liz
wringing her hands and pacing nervously behind the counter. After a few
minutes he had had enough. "Liz, would you sit down! You're are giving me
heartburn."
At that moment the bell chimed as the door opened. It was exactly noon.
A spry, elderly woman walked in. She scanned the room until her eyes
reached the counter. As soon as she saw Liz and Kyle she walked over to
them and said, "Ah, So glad both of you are here. Miss Parker, Mr.
Valenti, I am Professor Minerva McGonagall from Hogwart's. Is there
someplace we could speak privately?"
Liz immediately realized the full weight of the situation and determined that
any place they spoke in the Crashdown or in the apartment above would be too
public for this particular conversation. She quickly turned to
Kyle. "Do you have your car?"
Kyle's mouth was hanging open in astonishment form the older woman's
words. He closed it quickly and
answered, "Yeah."
"Good. You're driving. Let's go."
Now totally confused. "Where are we going?"
"I'll tell you on the way." Liz lead them both out the door and
paused only long enough to grab a notebook and to write "on the house/
LP" on the front of Kyle's bill. She flipped it over and wrote, "Be back soon" and placed it back side up
under the toothpick dispenser at the register.
Once they were in the car she told Kyle, "Take us to the
quarry." They sped off.
Their departure did not go unnoticed. Max Evans watched from the door of
the UFO Center across the street.