If I were in Ravenclaw...
by Elementary98
Disclaimer: For the disclaimer, check out Chapter 1 - An introduction to magic
Chapter 2 - The Professor
Days went by and nothing happened. My parents and my brother had no idea either, they thought it was some kind of joke, so we just waited for something to happen. The letter stated we had to send a reply until the 31st of July. If we didn't reply, they surely would send someone to us to explain everything thoroughly and make sure I was coming to that school of theirs.
Finally, I sighed, looking at the circle I had made around a very certain date. The 31st of July. Finally I will find out whether this is some kind of joke or not. About time I can start preparing myself for either my normal school or this 'Hogwarts'. Witchcraft and Wizardry huh? Wonder if there are books about that, I really need to gather information before I do anything else. It was half past four in the afternoon, and I couldn't help but wonder if anyone would come, I had already prepared myself for the meeting, I was wearing my best dress, and would be very angry if this turned out to be a joke.
My thoughts were interrupted by a soft *pop*. I looked up, somewhat irritated by the mysterious noise. A man stepped out of our kitchen, scowling fiercely and black robes billowing around his tall and thin body. "Ehm... Hello, sir. How can I help you?"
The man focused his black eyes on me, and I suddenly felt very weird. Was it a headache? A fever? I didn't think about it any longer, I needed to make a good impression on him. At that moment, the hook-nosed man sneered at me and asked, in a polite, yet impatient tone: "May I assume you are Julia Brandtstetter? I was informed you didn't reply to our letter. Do you think of yourself as too important to spend your valuable time writing a reply to the headmaster of Hogwarts, the best wizarding school in Europe?"
I gaped at him for a moment, then decided on a fitting reply. "I'm sorry, sir, but we didn't know how to reply. We are not a wizarding family, you know? I've never even heard of using owls to deliver letters, isn't that illegal in some way or the other? We didn't have an owl, I could have sent off the pigeon of my grandfather, but he didn't want to borrow it to us for 'such a nonsense'. Should I have gone to the zoo and steal an owl from there? Not to mention that's illegal as well. I won't do anything illegal just to send a reply to some school I didn't even knew of until I got that letter!" The man's scowl deepened. "You are a muggle-born?"
I snorted. "If this is supposed to be some subtle insult, I wouldn't even notice. Could you please speak proper English so everyone can understand you? Sir. I don't even know your name." The man grit his teeth and clenched his hands into fists. Had I done something wrong? I just spoke to him the way he did to me, so where was the problem? "My name is Professor Severus Snape, and I'm the Potions Master at Hogwarts. I was asking if you are a muggle-born, a child with magical abilities born to muggles, people without magical abilities. Being muggle-born might be considered shameful in some circles, but I meant no offence when I used the word, Ms. Brandtstetter." He said it slowly, as if trying to keep himself from yelling at me. I tilted my head. "Oh, really? Do continue, I want to know more about these circles. They consist of people who are... born with magical abilities into a purely magical family, right?" The Potions Master pinched the bridge of his nose. Obviously, he didn't like discussing this topic. Why? "Yes, Ms. Brandtstetter, they mostly consist of these people, which are called purebloods, by the way. Then there are halfbloods, magical children born into a family consisting of one magical and one non-magical parent. Does this answer your questions?"
I shook my head, very lightly. "Not exactly, but I'll just ask someone else later. So, where do I get...", I searched for the letter I had gotten, "a wand and a cauldron and that kind of stuff? Surely I won't find that in the supermarket?" The greasy-haired man sighed, but his facial expression remained the same, calm and collected. "Where are your parents? I'll show you to Diagon Alley, the place where witches and wizards buy everything they need." I grinned, satisfied. "My parents aren't at home, so let's go! Do you have bookstores in Diagon Alley? Do you have a special currency in the Wizarding World, and what's the exchange rate, anyway?"
"Yes, yes, and ask at Gringotts", the professor grit out between his teeth, grabbing my arm and apparating without a warning.