Calvin's dad pointed a finger at the massive man.
"What is the meaning of this?!" He shouted with a shaky voice.
"Terribly sorry!" Said the man as he set the door back on its hinges. "I've got ter stop doin' that!"
"Leave my property immediately or I will call the police!" Calvin's dad yelled, his voice cracking.
Calvin's mom sat on the sofa, wide eyed and staring at the man. Calvin and Hobbes glanced at each other nervously.
"Oh don' worry abou' me I mean yeh no harm!" Said the man as he pointed his pink umbrella at the broken vase, which pieced itself back together and replaced itself atop the shelf it had been knocked from.
Calvin's dad made a squeaking noise and his mom gasped. Calvin however, stared dumbstruck at the man.
The man noticed Calvin's staring and gave him a wide smile, making his way over to him.
"Yeh must be Mr. Watterson!" He said with a lopsided grin, holding out his hand, which Calvin shook nervously. "My name's Hagrid, Rubeus Hagrid!"
"How did you know my last name?" Calvin asked warily.
"I've been sent ter collect yeh!" Hagrid said, beaming at Calvin. "Yeh've been accepted into our school!"
Hagrid dug his hand into one of his deep pockets and pulled out a crumpled envelope which he handed to Calvin who tore it open eagerly, and began to read aloud.
"Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore (Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards," He said, wondering what on earth a "Mugwump" could be, "Dear Mr. Watterson, We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on the 1st of September. We await your owl by no later than the 31st of July. Yours sincerely, Minerva McGonagall, deputy headmistress."
"What in the world?" Hobbes asked, confused.
Hagrid hadn't noticed Hobbes until he spoke.
"My lord what a magnificent creature!" He said, gaping at Hobbes. "Just beautiful!"
Calvin's jaw dropped.
"You can see him?" He asked, wide eyed.
"O'course I can see him," exclaimed Hagrid, "With a beautiful coat like that who couldn't?"
Hobbes looked flattered.
"Why thank you!" He said, a hint of confusion still in his voice.
"Hold on!" Said Calvin's dad, narrowing his eyes at Hagrid, "Hobbes is a stuffed toy, and the fact that Calvin talks to him is the product of a child with an overactive imagination!"
"You will soon find," Hagrid said, glancing at Cavin's dad with a warm smile, "That there are certain things that muggles are unable to see."
"What did you just call me?" Calvin's dad roared, his face turning red.
Hagrid looked alarmed.
"Jus' the term used to describe people who can't use magic such as yerself!" Hagrid said, "Didn' mean to offend you or anythin!"
Calvin's dad relaxed slightly and sat back down at the table.
"Prove it," he said.
"Sorry?" Asked Hagrid, tilting his large head slightly.
"Prove that you can actually perform 'magic' of course!" Calvin's dad said impatiently.
"Was the fact that he repaired the vase in like, two seconds not good enough proof for you?" Asked Calvin, annoyed.
"That could've been a trick of the light!" His dad shouted desperately, and then he sighed and relaxed. "Just do something, anything, to prove you're a 'wizard' that I can see clearly."
Hagrid glanced around nervously.
"Well I'm not really supposed ter be doin' magic but all righ" He said, as he began to raise his pink umbrella, and pointed it at the can of tuna that Calvin had left on the counter, which began to float.
Calvin's mom promptly fainted.
"Oh dear," said Hagrid, looking at Calvin's mom, concerned.
Calvin's dad looked both shocked and relieved, like he had just received closure on a dead relative.
"Fine," he said. "I believe you."
Hagrid smiled and lowered the can of tuna back to the counter.
"But what will this entail?" Asked Calvin's dad, "What will we have to do to support Calvin's 'magical' education?"
Then Hagrid explained to his dad that Calvin would be spending his school years at Hogwarts Castle in Scotland, and that he would have summer, Christmas, and Easter at home, unless he wished to stay at the castle. He also informed them that he would be taking many different courses with many other children just like him, taught by extraordinary wizards and witches that would teach him how to become a formidable magic user.
"But where do we buy him supplies for this school?" Calvin's dad asked, "It's not like we can just March into the nearest grocery store and ask the manager where the aisle where they sell the magic wands is!"
"Diagon Alley," said Hagrid, his grin stretching wider.
"What alley?" Calvin's dad asked, confused.
"It's where us magical folk buy all our things!" Said Hagrid. "It's in London!"
"That's another question I had for you," said Calvin's dad, "Do you want us to purchase a plane ticket to England or something?"
"What's a plane?" Hagrid asked, confused.
Calvin's dad blinked.
"I was jus' gonna apparate him and his tiger down to London righ' now, but if you have anything else in mind that's perfectly fine!" Said Hagrid.
"Apparate?" Calvin's dad asked, blinking a few more times.
Hagrid then did his best to explain how apparating works, how you can imagine where you want to go and if you're determined enough you can take yourself to said location almost instantly.
"Just take him," Calvin's dad said, looking rather queasy. "I'm gonna go lie down."
Calvin and Hobbes exchanged looks of pure delight.
"Follow me!" Said Hagrid, walking towards the door, careful to open it this time rather than break it down.
"So you're a wizard too?" Calvin asked.
Hagrid blushed.
"Er… can yeh do me a favor and not tell anyone at Hogwarts about the magic I did in there?" He asked awkwardly, "I was only allowed ter apparate down here with ministry permission."
"Ministry?" Calvin asked.
"The ministry of magic is the name of the place where all the government officials work," said Hagrid quickly, "You'll learn more about it later.
"Cool!" Calvin said, excited.
Hagrid smiled.
"All righ' grab my arm," he said, "Apparition is a bit o' a strange feelin' so brace yerself."
Calvin reached out his hand and placed it on Hagrid's arm, and Hobbes did the same. Immediately after they both had made contact with Hagrid, Calvin felt a tug on his belly button and darkness enveloped him. He was unable to breathe, and he felt like his body was changing shape against it's will. Squishing and bending, it was an incredibly unpleasant experience and he found himself being anxious for it to end. Then suddenly, everything went back to normal. His body reshaped itself and he could breathe again. He stumbled into a table and nearly fell over, and as he got his bearings he noticed that they had appeared in a dingy pub, people all around him, sitting in the tables and the booths. He noticed one man who was pointing a stick, which he assumed to be his wand, at a spoon that was stirring something steaming in a cup, which he watched intently, fascinated. However, he was interrupted by Hobbes stumbling around grasping at his abdomen, looking like he was about to puke
"Never again!" Hobbes shrieked, drawing many weird looks, as a tiger shouting in the middle of a pub isn't exactly a normal occurrence. "That was almost as bad as the time machine!"
"Come on Hobbes," said Calvin, rolling his eyes, "The time machine wasn't that bad."
Hobbes glared at him, beginning to turn a bit green in the face.
Hagrid chuckled.
"Follow me," he said.
Calvin and Hobbes proceeded to follow him through the pub.
"The place where wizards get their supplies is a sketchy pub?" Hobbes asked, confused.
"The pub is used as a gateway ter Diagon Alley," said Hagrid.
As they passed the bar itself, the bartender spoke
"Ah Hagrid!" He said enthusiastically, "Same as usual?"
"Sorry Tom, I'm on Hogwarts business today!" Said Hagrid, smiling at the bartender.
The bartender smiled and looked down at Calvin and Hobbes, looking rather frightened when he noticed Hobbes.
"Good lord," he said, alarmed, and quickly worked to busy himself at the bar.
Hagrid looked at Hobbes, who shrugged with a lopsided grin on his face.
Hagrid led them out the back of the shop, where there was a small open space with a brick wall.
"Er… did we take a wrong turn?" Asked Calvin, "This is a dead end."
"Things aren't always what they seem, Calvin," said Hagrid, giving him that warm smile he had gotten used to.
Calvin glanced at Hobbes, who shrugged. And as Calvin glanced back, he saw Hagrid tap his umbrella to the brick wall. For a second, nothing happened. But suddenly, a loud grinding sound could be heard, and Calvin and Hobbes watched, slack jawed, as the bricks began to twist and turn, moving to the sides to reveal the sight behind it, and what a sight it was. Stood before them, was a bustling street filled with all kinds of different people, some guiding small children, some carrying large bags, and some gazing longingly into the windows of the incredibly tall buildings that lined said street.
"Welcome," Hagrid said, "To Diagon Alley!"
