Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
The Misplaced Potter
Chapter 6
In Which Decisions are Made
Henry Porter lay in bed and stared at the rain that steadily beat at his window. As with anyone connected with agriculture, Henry did not find rainstorms to be gloomy events but saw them as needed and welcome occurrences. The grasses of the pastures would grow several inches after a good rain. Horses loved the rain because it kept the biting insects away from them. The somber gray of the skies did however match Henry's mood on that morning perfectly.
Henry had a decision to make on whether or not to attend a school for wizards in Britain or ignore the potential that the Scottish professor had told Henry was within him. His parents left the matter in his hands.
"I'll give you whatever advice you ask for, son," his father told him. "But I think that this is a choice that you must make on you own."
"Your father and I will support any decision that you make," his mother added.
Despite his youth, Henry had developed a strong streak of practicality. He was not favorably predisposed to airy subjects such as magic. He rarely read fairy tales or fantasy preferring adventure stories or science fiction. That side of his personality was more then willing to tell Professor McGonagall 'thanks but no thanks. Sorry you made such long trip for nothing.'
Yet Henry responded profoundly on a primordial level as he watched the professor transform herself into a cat and back again. Atavistic memories stirred deep within his id and a nameless longing tugged at his being. Moreover, his father's words kept repeating themselves in his head.
"In an odd way, Henry," he had said when Professor McGonagall announced that Henry was a wizard. "This doesn't surprise me. You have a way with horses that has always struck me as almost supernatural. I have seen you calm frightened animals quicker then anyone else I have ever known in my life and you're just a kid after all."
With a grunt, Henry rolled out of his bed. He pulled on a pair of blue jeans, a black tee shirt, socks, and boots. He paused in front of the mirror over his dresser and ran a brush through his untidy hair. It made no discernable difference.
"I should just get a crew cut," he grumbled before quickly making up his bed. Henry then scanned his bedroom. Satisfied with the state of things he headed for the kitchen.
His parents and their guests were already in the kitchen when Henry arrived there. His Mother and Professor McGonagall were at the stove frying eggs, potatoes and bacon. They were chatting about the places that the McGonagalls were planning to see while in America. His father, with an oversized coffee mug sitting on the counter before him, was manning the toaster.
Maggie, the professor's daughter, was sitting at the table with a large glass of orange juice in front of her. She had her thick black hair pulled back into a ponytail and wearing a dress of the deepest blue that matched her eyes. Henry thought that she was pretty even if she was obviously very groggy this morning. He figured that it was probably jet lag catching up with her.
"Good morning," she said in a thick Scottish burr that Henry had to strain to understand. "It looks as if we will not be able to ride the horses again today not that I could have anyway."
"Why not?" Henry asked as he poured himself a glass of juice.
"You didn't warn me that I would be this sore the morning after my first ride," she said. Abruptly all three adults burst into laughter.
Maggie looked at her mother in confusion.
"Never mind us, dearest," Professor McGonagall said with a wave of her hand..
At her request, Henry had taken Maggie horseback riding the previous evening after her mother had finished with her pitch. Maggie, who had never been on a horse before, clearly enjoyed herself. Henry was delighted that his guest was keen on horses but was somewhat startled by what she had said after they returned to the barn.
"That was super," she said gaily. "It's nothing like riding a broom."
"Good morning, Henry," his mother said.
"Yes, good morning, young Mr. Porter," Professor McGonagall said as she passed the pan of bacon to Mrs. Porter who transferred the strips to a plate. "Are you going to keep us in suspense?"
"No, ma'am, I'm not," Henry replied. "If I am what you say I am then I'll go to your school. I reckon if you're a jack ass it's no use pretending to be a thoroughbred."
"That's super, Henry," Maggie exclaimed giggling at his turn of phrase. "You'll love Hogwarts."
"A colorful acceptance speech, I'll grant you, if a less then enthusiastic one," Professor McGonagall said sardonically. "I can assure you that you are a wizard indeed, young Mr. Porter, and I believe that you will find the training at Hogwarts both challenging and stimulating."
"What do we need to do now?" Danielle Porter asked as she slid the eggs on to a plate.
Professor McGonagall paused for a moment to consider the matter. "Maggie and I will be returning to London on the 29th. We can, if you like, return here on say the 27th and the five of us can fly there together and take care of all the school needs and other loose ends at that time."
"That would work," Danielle said but her husband shook his head.
"It'll have to be the four of you," he said. "I won't be able to leave at that time."
"The four of us then," Professor McGonagall said.
Henry sighed inwardly.
"What have I gotten myself into?" he silently asked the universe.