Once they arrived at the quarry, both Liz and Kyle checked
around them to make certain that they were alone.
Professor McGonagall pulled her wand from the pocket of her skirt. She
chose three sizable boulders and transfigured them into very comfortable, plush
chairs.
Kyle's mouth dropped open again and he looked over at Liz to see if she was as
shocked as he felt. Liz had managed to keep her mouth shut, but her eyes
were big and she looked pale. The professor finished with the chairs and
motioned for them to sit down.
Liz ran her hand along the back of one of the chairs. It felt like the
same type of velour upholstery fabric used on most of the living room sets
she'd ever seen. She came around the front and gently pushed the
cushions. They felt like the normal sort of cushions too. She
took a deep breath and sat down. This was the most comfortable chair
she'd ever sat in, she thought as she sank back. She sighed and closed
her eyes for a moment while a trace of a smile played on her lips. She
opened her eyes. The professor was just settling in, but the third chair
was empty.
She looked back at where Kyle was watching her. She could see the concern
written on his face. She gave him a reassuring smile and a nod. He
visibly relaxed and walked to his seat. Yep, I was like that the first
week too, she thought.
Professor McGonagall started. "Well you may not know this, but it is very
rare for Hogwart's to have a summer program. Then again, you two are most
unusual for Hogwart's students."
"What do you mean?" asked Liz.
"Well, most of the time we identify our students several years before they
arrive at the school as first years. You never appeared on our potential
student list before last year."
"How old are...did you say, 'first years,' normally?" Kyle asked
dreading the answer.
"Eleven years old," she stated matter-of-factly. "Also, most of
our students are British, or at least from British provinces and
territories."
"You said we suddenly appeared on your lists this past year?" asked
Liz.
"Yes and no, you appeared last fall shortly after our regular term
began. And just last week Mr. Valenti appeared."
Both Liz and Kyle blanched at that remark. "Oh," was all Liz said,
while Kyle just looked sick.
He swallowed hard and asked the question that had nagged him since receiving
the letter. "What sort of school is Hogwart's?"
"Oh. I thought you knew from your letter. Hogwart's is a school for
teaching young witches and wizards."
"Witches and wizards?! What the...?"
"Kyle, language! Ladies present," said Liz in a distinctly
warning tone. She stared long and hard at him and forced him to comply by
the sheer weight of her gaze.
Kyle shut up for a moment. Then spoke again. "Liz, I'll watch
my language, but I have to ask something. Ma'am, what makes you think
that we're...um...that we're...?"
"That you're a wizard and that Miss Parker and I are witches?"
"Yes Ma'am. Why would you think that?"
"Because you appeared on our potential students roster and it is never
wrong."
"Ok then, how can we know if this is true?"
"Did you ever make something happen that you wanted very badly? Or
stop something in the middle of happening that you strongly wished wouldn't
happen? Or fallen great distances without injury, possibly bouncing but
definitely not injured? Have you seen things before they happen or
received impressions from an object when you've touched it? These are all
manifestations of the magic within you." Professor McGonagall paused to
let her words sink in and noticed the looks that passed between the two and
realized they knew something about why their magical abilities were awakened
suddenly. She allowed them their privacy in spite of her own curiosity.
She continued.
"As you are both well over eleven and nearly finished with your
Muggle education, we have decided to do an accelerated program over the next
two summers and then a full term for the seventh year. It will be hard
work, but you will be learning things, which for the most part are unlike
anything you will learn in your regular schooling. At Hogwart's we help
you to gain experience in most areas of magic and to hone those areas in which
you excel. My own strengths are in Transfiguration, which I also teach at
the school."
"Is that how you created these chairs?"
"Yes, it is. Because of those skills, I also chose to become an
Animagus. That means I can do this...." She promptly transformed
herself into a cat.
Liz and Kyle sat motionless in astonishment as she returned to her human.
"Well, are you interested in learning more?" she asked as she settled
back into her seat.
Liz pondered for a moment, "Hard work and unlike we'd
learn at our school?"
"And away from Roswell?" asked Kyle.
"Oh, yes," Minerva answered. "You'd stay in Britain at the
school for the two month term."
"Count me in," They said together.
The professor smiled. "I hoped you'd say that. Now, let's see
which dorm you'll be in."
She waved her wand in the air muttering a few words under her breath. An
old, patched and battered wizard's hat appeared in her lap.
"At our school there are four houses, each representing different
qualities a witch or a wizard may exhibit. Now normally this hat
will sing and we'd sort you in a ceremony in front of all the school. But these
are special circumstances, so we're going to sort you here, then later we can
arrange tutors for you. Hat, no song this time please, we're out in the
open and sound carries long distances out here."
The hat appeared to sigh and then nod to the professor.
Handing Liz the hat she requested, "If you would please, Miss Parker, put
on the hat."
Liz placed the hat on her head. It's brim slipped down over her eyes and
rested near the end of her nose. She heard Kyle stifle a giggle.
After a moment the hat spoke to Liz. "I see many qualities that
would make you a good candidate for any house. If I decided, based on
intellect alone, it would be Ravenclaw, but you have an extraordinary amount of
bravery so...
"Gryffindor!" it shouted.
"Excellent," said Professor McGonagall. Then she looked at
Kyle. "Now it's your turn."
Kyle picked up the hat and stared at it for a moment before he placed it on his
head. It rested on the bridge of his nose.
The hat spoke to him. "Traditions are strong in your family.
So are hard work and glory. But for you, honor and bravery are the
strongest. So you also belong to...
"Gryffindor!" it shouted again.
"Very good," said Professor McGonagall. "Now there are
books and things you will need for school, but you should wait until you arrive
in London to get them. If you will make arrangements to arrive on June 13th, I
will have someone meet you and assist you in getting those supplies and
delivering you to King's Cross Station to catch your train to Hogwart's.
"Now," she said smiling, "Let's go back and speak with your
parents." She began to rise from her seat.
"Professor, wait," Liz hesitated. "I would prefer, when we speak
to my parents, that we not tell them that it is such a special
school. Just that it is an accelerated program and in Great Britain.
To mention the witchcraft and wizardry would cause them to ask too many
questions."
"Too many questions?" she asked. "Why would there be
questions?"
For a moment Liz considered telling Professor McGonagall the truth, but the
events of the previous week were too fresh in her mind. "There just
would be," she said finally. "They would never understand
anything magic or different, but they would jump at the chance to
further my education."
"What about you, Mr. Valenti? Would your family react the same way
as Miss Parker's?"
"Well, it's just me and my dad, he could probably handle it."
Especially after this week, he thought.
Liz got a bright look on her face. "Kyle, could I speak with you for a
moment?" She pulled him a few feet away and they spoke in hushed
tones. "Can we tell your dad the truth? Please?
Then if my parents ever have a need to know where I actually am, he can break
it to them. If not, then we can be two students on an educational student
exchange as far as my parents are concerned. Please? I know your
dad and he can handle it. There is no way my parents can handle this
news. I can never tell them that I'm a witch. Please?" Her
voice got smaller, more pleading as she added, "I have to get out
of here this summer."
Kyle nodded, completely understanding that. "All right, Liz, we can
tell my dad the truth."
"Thank you, Kyle," She said with a small smile of gratitude and
relief.
They walked back to the professor.
"We can tell him the truth," Kyle said firmly.
"I would prefer to be absolutely honest with all of the parents, but since
you are certain, I will leave out the specific details regarding your
abilities. I will also refer to the school simply as Hogwart's. Is
that satisfactory?"
"Yes, Professor, that would be best."
"Are there any other questions or requests?"
Kyle thought for a moment, then asked, "What's a Muggle?"
"I'm sorry. I should have explained that before. A Muggle is a
person with no magical abilities."
Both Kyle and Liz thought, What does that make Max?
Gathering her thoughts quickly Liz asked, "How did your letters get to
us?"
"By owl, of course."
"Owl?" Liz shook her head softly. "Does all Hogwart's mail
travel that way? How will our parents be able to write to us while we're
away?"
"We have a regular postal box in London and a liaison who takes the mail
we receive there to the owl post and vice versa."
Liz nodded. "That will work. Now let's go deal with my parents
before the dinner rush." And before I lose my nerve, she thought to
herself.
The professor turned the chairs back into boulders and they walked back to Kyle's car.