The next few months went by pretty fast for Brooklyn, and now it was almost Harry's 11th birthday. There had been one or two close calls whenever Petunia came in to throw away a broken item of Dudley's and nearly spotted Brooklyn, who had to hide among the broken toys. She at first was confused, but then shrugged it off thinking it was a pesky mouse. He had sighed in relief when she left.
Who knows what would happen if they ever caught me up here! He had thought one day after yet another close shave.
He heard that every time Harry had a birthday, they would either ignore it or give him Uncle Vernon's old socks, which made Brooklyn hate this so-called family even more. They had the gall to ignore their close relative's birthdays? It infuriated the young gargoyle a lot.
Harry eventually told Brooklyn the news of him going to Stonewall High while Dudley went to Smelting's. Deep down, Brooklyn was kind of worried that Harry wouldn't be able to come and see him if this was a boarding school, which later, he learned it was.
Brooklyn had a glimpse of Dudley in his school uniform once and both he and Harry had to stifle their laughter at the sight of his clothes and Petunia's overreactions about how 'handsome' he looked. To Brooklyn, Dudley looked like how Broadway would dress for Halloween sometimes!
Harry also told Brooklyn of peculiar circumstances that had happened recently: including shopping incidents when once, an old man with a violet top hat had bowed to him there. Petunia had eventually rushed them out of the store without buying anything, and another time, an old woman in a green robe waved to him on a bus.
Brooklyn was pretty confused. How did these strange people seem to know Harry? He had no clue.
Then things took a turn towards weirdsville when Brooklyn was disturbed from his nap by Dudley's and Harry's yells. He gave a startled shout and fell out of the bed, hitting the floor on his still sore shoulder, wincing in pain and rubbing it.
What the heck's going on? Brooklyn thought grumpily. He had been ruined of a perfectly good dream where he was reunited with his parents in a peaceful field.
Cautiously sneaking his way towards the top of the stairs, he watched and then flinched as Uncle Vernon's bellow grated his ears again.
"OUT!"
He then threw both Dudley and Harry out of the room and slammed the door. For a brief moment, they fought over the keyhole with Dudley winning.
Harry spotted Brooklyn on top of the stairs and shook his head, signaling the gargoyle that he would explain later.
Brooklyn nodded in understanding as he made his way back to the room.
It was well near sunset when Brooklyn received an unexpected roommate: Harry, who brought in the only clothes he had.
"What's going on?" He asked curiously. Harry looked as confused as he was on Dudley's birthday.
"I'm sorry I didn't visit you sooner, but the strangest thing happened: Uncle Vernon gave me the second bedroom after he visited me in my cupboard, said I was getting too big for it, and just decided to move me up here!"
Brooklyn was startled. "But why? And why were you guys yelling earlier?"
"Don't know. It all happened because I got a letter. I'll tell you about it tomorrow."
Brooklyn then nodded in understanding.
But then Harry looked downcast. "Brooklyn, you can find another place to sleep, if you want to-"
But he held up his hand, silencing him. "Listen, Harry, I've never needed a bed my whole life when I still had been able to turn to stone during the day. You need it more than me. Take the bed. I can find blankets and such. It's fine."
Harry gave him a big smile of happiness. "Thank you. I'm just glad that we now get to spend more time together!"
Brooklyn couldn't help but grin, too.
The next day, Harry explained to Brooklyn about the mysterious letter.
"I received a letter that had a pretty accurate address," he explained.
Brooklyn raised his brow. "How do you mean?" He questioned.
"It's pretty creepy. It had my cupboard on it. I hope that whoever sent it isn't stalking me! I do wish I got my hands on it, though."
Then Brooklyn had a sudden theory. "Maybe, maybe the people sending it to you must've realized you haven't gotten your letter and will probably try again!"
It turned out that Brooklyn's letter theory was right. Several more letters appeared, all ending with them being stolen by Uncle Vernon, who threw them in the fire or getting ripped to pieces. Some of them even ended up in Aunt Petunia's dozen eggs and she ended up shredding them in her food processor.
That's when Brooklyn decided to take action.
"Harry, no matter what happens, I'm going to get one of those letters for you. I'll just sneak down there when your uncle's back is turned and take one."
Harry was pretty worried for him. "I wish you wouldn't. You've been extremely lucky to not have been caught by now!"
But Brooklyn simply folded his arms and looked pretty confident. "Hey, I've hidden plenty of times from the humans in Manhattan. Your uncle is probably as dim as a rock to notice me!"
Harry then knew Brooklyn wouldn't back down, so he ended up agreeing. "Just, please, be careful!" He begged.
Brooklyn nodded to Harry as he snuck out of the room, just in time to see Vernon grabbing a pile of letters. And, just by luck, one slipped from his hands and he never even noticed! The gargoyle smirked as he quietly snuck down on all fours, grabbed the letter, and made his way back up quietly to the room.
Harry's eyes brightened in excitement. "You got one!"
Brooklyn handed it to him. "The Whale was so distracted it was a good thing he couldn't count!"
They both stared down at the address, and Brooklyn had to admit he was pretty creeped out by the address:
Mr. H. Potter
The Second Bedroom
Number 4, Privet Dr.
Little Winging, Surrey
"Okay, you were right about it being scarily accurate," he commented as they opened it. It was a thick, yellow parchment with green ink.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Headmaster: ALBUS DUMBLEDORE
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc. Chief Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confederation of Wizards)
Dear Mr. Potter,
We are pleased to inform you that you've been accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on September 1st. We await your owl by no later than July 31st.
Yours Sincerely, Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Harry and Brooklyn both stared at each other in amazement.
"Th-this can't be real, Brooklyn. A school for wizards? How can I be a wizard? I'm just Harry!"
The gargoyle folded his arms.
"Well, look back, Harry. I say that the vanishing glass, and the talking snake proves it. How many people you know can do that? I've encountered plenty of wizards like Puck and the Magus. And those stories I've told you? They're just as real as me and my clan are."
Harry was just too stunned and amazed to say anything. He just couldn't take it all in.
"But what does this mean, they await my owl?" He asked in confusion.
Brooklyn shrugged. He didn't know, either. But then suddenly, they had their answer as they heard a tapping sound on the window. He turned to see a tawny owl outside the glass, and went over to let it in.
The owl flew in and settled itself onto Brooklyn's shoulder and held out its leg.
"I think it is this owl," Brooklyn said in a matter-of-fact voice. Harry nodded in understanding and eventually found a pen and a piece of paper in the desk near the bed and wrote down their reply:
To whoever sent the letter, meet me and my friend outside of Privet Drive by an old shack with half a roof tomorrow afternoon.
Yours sincerely, Harry Potter
Brooklyn added his own side note, as a precaution:
And don't let this be a prank or trap, or you will get what is coming to you.
Harry's friend, Brooklyn
With that, they gave the owl the letter, who hooted his thanks and flew out the window.
Brooklyn and Harry both then sat down on the bed, looking at each other.
"So, guess we wait," he noted. Harry nodded as they both anxiously waited for the next day.
