Disclaimer: All Harry Potter characters and settings belong to J.K. Rowling.
All original characters and the following content belong to me.
Full summary available on my profile.
Edited: Fixed some grammar. Made some sentences better. I recommend you re-read if you've read this back in 2011 (because it's been a while. Like, 4 years).
Jackie Smith and the Wolfsbane Curse
Two
~ St. Mungo's and a Letter for Jackie ~
Bright lights, the smell of newly wrapped gauze, and other strange assortments of scents filled his nostrils. Jackie woke up in a ward, his head filled with dreams of a TARDIS and a werewolf and a man in a trench coat telling him to run for his life. He must have had an accident at the zoo, because after the snake, Jackie couldn't really remember most of what happened. He had that feeling, though. That bad feeling. The one he always got when bad things happened.
He sat up from his bed, looking around him. The walls were a deep yellow, as if stained by tea. There was no window, and the blankets didn't have that freshly laundered scent to them—at least, not in the way his mother would wash his bed sheets. Oddly, his left palm was wrapped up in a bandage. His body felt heavy, like it was filled with sand. He looked around again, this time at the other beds in the ward. Most of the beds were filled with mostly children around his age, accompanied by their concerned mothers and fathers sitting by the bedside. Many of them were whispering and pointing at him, or behind him. Jackie noticed that all of the parents in the room, and their able-bodied children, wore robes. Jackie raised an eyebrow. Robes? He heard the sound of sheets moving on a bed behind him. Jackie turned to find, with glee, that Hayley was lying in the bed, finally waking up. A bandage was wrapped around her right arm. The smile was wiped off of Jackie's face. He remembered.
"Hayley," he whispered. She looked at him as soon as she opened her eyes.
"Mm… what happened?" she asked.
"TARDIS," he said.
"What?" Hayley sat up, looking at him with a confused yet excited expression.
"It was the TARDIS engine sound file, not the sonic," explained Jackie. Hayley looked like she would strangle herself. Quickly Jackie added, "Don't go and kill yourself for it! It was the internet's fault, not yours!"
"Of course not! I'm just amazed we survived, that's all," she said. Looking around nervously, and noticing how everyone kept mostly kept staring at her, Hayley whispered to Jackie, "We didn't get bit at all, did we?"
"Erm, no, I don't think so. No scratches either."
They looked over their bodies carefully, making sure that their person was completely unharmed save for Jackie's palm and Hayley's right arm. He looked at her worriedly, remembering that exact moment Hayley slashed her arm, from the elbow joint to her wrist. Hayley could have died. She could have died…
"J-Jackie, why're you crying?" asked Hayley. Jackie wiped his eyes with his right hand. He didn't think it was a good idea to get his bandaged left hand wet. He heard people murmur loudly as the door behind him opened. There were gasps and excited 'look!'s. Jackie turned around to find Harry Potter standing there with a warm grin. A man wearing lime green robes followed after him, telling the other patients in the ward to quiet down, Mr Potter was there to do some business.
"Hello, Jackie, Hayley," Mr Potter said, nodding to them. Jackie quickly wiped up his tears, not wanting to look like a little kid in front of Mr Potter and the green-robed man. He noticed a medical mask underneath the nameless man's chin. He looked from Hayley, noticing she saw the mask as well.
"Are you the doctor?" they asked at the exact same time. The other people in the ward laughed at their question, some utterly baffled by it. Mr Potter smiled consolingly while the robed man laughed heartily.
"I haven't been called doctor in years! I've only just resumed my Healer work, mind. I did do some studying on Muggle medicine. Despite what wizards have to say, there are some things about Muggle medicine that I find useful," said the robed man.
"Oh really?" said another man who sat at the foot of his young daughter's bed. Jackie noticed how pale she looked. He wondered why she was in the hospital when she looked like she had nothing but a fever. "Like what?"
"Ever find yourself in a situation where you have no wand, no dittany, or any other liquid essences to patch yourself up again? Most wizards take for granted the quick fix ups we've grown to rely on over the years. It pays to know certain things about our own bodies since it helps determine how serious our injuries are beyond it being caused by a curse, or a creature, or being a very deep cut," explained the robed-man very matter-of-factly.
"Like Hayley's arm! She hit an artery, didn't she?" asked Jackie. "Did you save her life?" He looked from the robed man to Mr Potter.
"I had some dittany," said Mr Potter. "Just enough left over for her cut. It stopped some of the bleeding."
"Still very curious, though," said the robed man. "Despite our best medicine and techniques, we can't heal it up entirely. Same with your hand." He said to Jackie. "Should have mended overnight, though, so let's unwrap that, shall we?"
Obediently, Jackie held his hand out for the robed man to undress. He looked around the room, nervous that so many people were staring at him. Was it because Mr Potter was there? He seemed important. Everyone in the room wouldn't take their eyes off of him, children and parents whispering to each other excitedly. Who was this Harry Potter?
"Flex it out—oh, beat me to it, eh?" said the robed man. Jackie smiled nervously. This whole process wasn't knew to him. He broke his arm once climbing out of his treehouse, when he was four years old. That was probably the earliest memory of the strange things happening. He vaguely remembered falling, and then slowing down, but he panicked when he felt the strangeness surge within him, and he ended up falling on his left arm and breaking it. Only one good thing came out of it: he'd learned to write with his right hand and became ambidextrous in sports and other various things, which was quite useful..
"What's your name?" asked Jackie. "You said no one's called you a doctor in years. How come?"
"Jon Winter. We call ourselves Healers here, not doctors. But if it makes you feel comfortable, you can call me Dr Winter instead of Healer Winter."
"How about just 'Doctor', and we can forget the name?" asked Hayley with a smirk. Jackie gave her a look, also smirking. Healer Winter seemed to have understood the meaning behind the title when he smiled knowingly and tapped his nose.
"Watching too much telly now, are we?"
"You know?" said Jackie. "Well that's a relief!" He looked at Mr Potter and recalled their disagreement during the werewolf attack.
"I have absolutely no choice! My wife's a fanatic! As soon as she heard the show would be coming back she celebrated. Called up all her old friends I thought she'd lost contact with years ago. Splendid woman, Arcana. Love of my life."
Hayley 'awed', surprising Jackie. He never thought she'd be the type to express her emotions with gushy things.
"But back to business, right, Healer Winter?" reminded Mr Potter. Healer Winter nodded, turning his attention to Hayley. Mr Potter sat at the end of Jackie's bed. Jackie was a bit nervous with what Mr Potter was going to talk to him about. Fortunately, Mr Potter decided to start the conversation first.
"You must have a lot of questions," he said.
"Several," Jackie admitted. He lowered his voice, afraid of what the others in the ward would say if they heard him ask his first question. "What happened to the werewolf?" he whispered.
"He died, unfortunately. Turns out he couldn't handle the infection because, er… it's a bit complicated."
"I've got a guess," said Hayley. She was flexing her arm and Jackie could see the light coloured scar of the cut. He shuddered to think what would have happened if Mr Potter hadn't had that thing called dittany, whatever that was.
Mr Potter raised an eyebrow at her.
"You've got a guess?"
"That's right. The man couldn't handle the transformation possibly because he didn't have the right blood. I mean, what sets me and Jackie apart from you, the doctor, and probably everyone else in this entire room." She looked at Jackie, who found her guess fairly accurate. They both turned to face Healer Winter and Mr Potter, both of whom were looking at her with utter shock.
"The 'brainy' one?" Mr Potter sputtered at Jackie. "She's an outright genius, she is! What else have you figured?"
"You're not a normal human being," said Hayley.
"And why would you say that?" asked Mr Potter, becoming more amused with Hayley's findings.
"For starters, you use a wand as if it were normal for a human being to us it. I mean, normally wands are just gimmicks for magicians—you know, an act. But you're not acting, are you? This is all very real. I was nearly killed by a very real werewolf."
"Oh yeah, he and Mr Weasley said Muggles. I assumed they meant normal people then," said Jackie.
"The Muggles must mean normal people," suggested Hayley, "and that would mean everyone in this room besides you and me aren't Muggles."
"Which reminds me," said Jackie. He turned to Mr Potter. "How long were we out for?"
"Just one night. But let me ask you something. Why is it you two don't seem entirely… boggled by a werewolf nearly killing you or sitting in a hospital ward where wounds would be patched up faster and better than Muggle means?"
"Like stitches wouldn't leave a scar," scoffed Hayley.
"Oh, I see what's going on," said Healer Winter. "You two really have been watching too much telly."
"What do you mean, Healer?" asked Mr Potter.
"It's simple, Mr Potter! You grew up with a Muggle childhood, you would know! And even young wizard children would know what it's like. Ever had a dream, or a thought, where one day you'll be whisked away onto a grand adventure? Ever played pretend, wishing you could be the superheroes from comicbooks or television shows?" He turned to Jackie, positively beaming. Did he really find him and Hayley that amusing? "Jackie," he said, "what was it about Mr Potter that made you trust him so much?"
"That was easy. He was a mysterious man who appeared during a mysterious trouble and told me four wonderful words," said Jackie. He winked at Hayley, who looked very impressed.
"What were those four words?" asked Healer Winter.
"I told him to 'run for your life'," said Mr Potter quietly. Hayley gasped excitedly and started chatting away with Jackie about Mr Potter. Jackie told her about being disappointed that he had a wand, not a sonic screwdriver.
"So, you're saying," said Mr Potter, very slowly to Healer Winter, "is that Jackie trusted me only because he thought I was someone called the Doctor from a television show?" Healer Winter laughed.
"Oh he so very wished you were. You should observe the Muggles from time to time Mr Potter. While you are of wizard heritage, your roots also lie in the Muggle world. It's important not to forget that. Every day, children run about with dreams filling their minds. It's this very inspiration that can achieve greatness in all of Britain and the rest of the world!"
After this, Jackie and Hayley were allowed breakfast in bed before setting out to go back home. In their walk through the hospital, Jackie noticed some portraits and swore, at the corner of his eye, he saw them move. There was an old portrait of a man with a funny name, and the title card said the man was the founder of the hospital, called St Mungo's. He couldn't read the rest of the line as he heard Carter shouting from the welcome area of the ground floor. He sounded upset and seemed to be having a row with a menacing looking man who's skin was darker than Carter's. He looked very important, and there were several other robed men, including Mr Weasley, who looked ready to stop Carter if he went too far.
"I told you before, you're not pointing that thing at Hayley and messing with her memories!" yelled Carter.
"But it's protocol, Mr Johnson. You're an exemption because of your relation to wizards," said the man.
"Don't forget, Minister, I'm the only person of the Muggle world who can fully remember who the Sparrows were and why they died. Don't make Hayley forget. Don't make her forget everything!"
"Please, Minister," begged Jackie's mother. "She's all Jackie's got. He's got no one else. Please don't alienate my son and have his only friend disappear from his life, please!" She sobbed, comforted by Jackie's father, who silently stared at the Minister with disapproval.
"What's going on?" asked Jackie, looking up at Mr Potter and Healer Winter. They were both frowning. Hayley grabbed onto Jackie's hand and held it firmly.
"Bad things," she said. Jackie frowned. He didn't like the sound of that.
"I thought we said we were going to wait until we've gotten back to the Smith residence and explained everything?" said Mr Potter angrily, glaring particularly at an older robed man who raised an eyebrow at him.
"Mr Potter, I'd like to remind you that I am the current Head of the Auror office, your superior, and I feel that we must act on the Statute of Secrecy to have Miss Sparrow's memory modified. She is a Muggle unrelated to Jack Smith. She cannot remember," said the man rather rudely. It took a warning look from Mr Weasley and a pat on the shoulder from Healer Winter to remind Mr Potter what was at stake. Jackie felt Hayley's hand tighten her grip. She wasn't smiling, but she wasn't frowning either, but Jackie could see in her eyes that she had a thought.
"I beg to differ, sir," said Carter harshly. "I'm her guardian and I exercise the right to make decisions for her and stand up for her rights as a human being!" The man rolled his eyes and nodded at one of the other robed men, who stepped forward and took out his wand. Carter pointed a finger at him and raised his voice, "Point that wand at her and you'll see just how much of a bad idea it is to piss me off!"
"I'd listen to him," shouted Hayley nonchalantly, "he works vice. And does a damn good job at it too."
"Hayley Sparrow, watch your language." Jackie was impressed by how easy it was for Carter to say that so calmly despite looking so enraged, and without even sparing so much as a glance their way. The robed man with the wand wavered, looking at Mr Potter's superior and the black man Carter called 'Minister', unsure what to do.
"Officer Johnson," said the Minister after a while. Jackie noticed they were gathering an audience fairly quickly. "We can discuss this in a civil manner. There is no need to get irrational."
"There's no need to get irrational if you would just get your men to stand down!" Carter took two steps away from them and crossed his arms, glaring at them to follow in his example. Mr Potter's superior rolled his eyes.
"Oh very well," he croned. "So, what now, Minister? Do we just let them strut along and blurt out to their other Muggle friends about our world?" There was a shriek of laughter, and to Jackie's surprise, it came from Hayley.
"Mister Sir, are you stupid? What makes you think we'd do something as daft as that?" she said defiantly, not to mention rudely. She had a confident air about her, like it was no problem she was mouthing off at an authority figure, in front of his superior called the Minister. Jackie guessed she would be used to it by now. She and Carter would argue a lot, like they were really siblings. So, naturally, opposing an authority figure of the law was no problem for Hayley Sparrow, despite how completely mad that was.
"Excuse me, little girl? Don't you find you're being a bit too cheeky?" yelled the man.
"Excuse me, sir, but I have a name! And you've gone on and failed to introduce yourself. Hayley Sparrow."
"Julius Drake, Head of the Auror Office at the Ministry for—what in God's name am I doing? I don't know about you, Minister, but I really think she should have her memory wiped right this moment!"
"Again, Mr Drake, very stupid idea from a very stupid man!" Hayley shouted sternly. There were several gasps, but she had marched up to Drake with a stone cold glare. Jackie was at a complete loss at what to think. He felt awed at Hayley's own spine for her bravery, yet utterly devastated at her lack of respect to strangers.
"Is she always like this?" mumbled Mr Potter. Jackie couldn't tell him yes or no. He wasn't sure what to make of Hayley's startling behaviour. Jackie caught Carter trying to hide his horror behind a stern face, which wasn't working out well for him as his eyes were bulging in shock. Whatever it was that was running through Carter's mind, Jackie had the impression that he was panicking, likely because Hayley's behaviour wasn't helping her case.
"Alright, since everyone is so slow on the uptake," started Hayley, "I'll go on and explain. I'm ten years old. Ten! Eleven in November, but like that makes a difference! You know what that means, Mr Drake? If I go running off into the street right now, screaming out that there was a werewolf attack yesterday at the zoo and that magic might actually exist do you know what that would do? It would make people laugh. They'd point their fingers at me and laugh; tell me I'm adorable, but also be concerned since my 'parents' weren't keeping my imagination under control—that I wouldn't be able to make the difference between fantasy and reality by the time I'm grown up! So, naturally, for the sake of my sanity, I'd keep my mouth on these matters shut tight.
"As for my guardian, Carter Johnson. Him having a relation to a, as you call it, 'wizard family' is news to me, so is there any reason to believe that Carter would start blabbing about your world now? After all these years? I don't think so. He's a London police officer for crying out loud! The Scotland Yard! He's almost got enough cases to get serious consideration for a promotion to detective inspector! Going off his rocker would clearly get him an early retirement! Like he'd want that to happen; Carter's been dying to get a promotion for years now!
"And Mr and Mrs Smith—both are very respectable in their working communities. Mr Smith is a lawyer representing an up-and-coming firm who makes a decent income and Mrs Smith works a part-time job at a bookstore. For Mr Smith it'd be bad for business if he'd gone completely mental, and as for Mrs Smith the customers might think she needs to spend more time out of the books! Basic. Logic, Mr Drake. But I get the impression that you wizards know nothing of our world at all. So I suggest you stop underestimating us Muggles for your own benefit. You have no idea what we can do." Hayley stood, triumphant, at the very center of the lobby. She winked at Jackie and he smiled. He couldn't help himself. Hayley was brilliant!
Drake seemed uncomfortable, constantly adjusting the collar of his robes and looking at his associates. Jackie caught Mr Potter and Mr Weasley smirking. The Minister looked impressed. As for Jackie's parents and Carter, Jackie had a feeling their emotions were battling it out—were they impressed and proud, or embarrassed and shocked. Whatever it was they thought, they kept quiet.
"Well, you forgot one more person, Miss Sparrow," said Drake after finally composing himself. "What about your friend, Jackie Smith?"
"That's Jack to you, sir. The nickname's a privilege for those we know and trust!" cried Hayley.
"What? Weasley's been calling him Jackie since yesterday!"
"Mr Weasley's a companion of Mr Potter. We trust Mr Potter. And if Mr Potter trusts him then we trust Mr Weasley." Hayley was being very smug right now, but it never gave off any sour flavour in Jackie's mouth. He was in complete awe of her at the moment.
"Fine then," said Drake, annoyed. "Mr Jack Smith. What about him? What keeps his mouth shut?" Jackie stepped forward, this time confident enough to speak for himself.
"I'm a loner without Hayley and I have a bad reputation in my neighbourhood and my old school. I'm Jack Smith, the kid who bad things seem to happen around all the time. I get bullied; before, kids would beat me up and telling the teachers didn't do anything, because they'd be afraid of me too. Now I get called names and stuff thrown at me. Two weeks ago Mum almost got a baseball smashed into her skull because some kids threw it through our window. I'm going to a reform school just because people have pleaded with my parents to send me away. Do you think, sir, I want to be singled out as a complete madman who really can make bad things happen around him all the time? My life's bad enough as it is, and I'm not stupid enough to run around saying things about your world!" He was nearly in tears by the end of his speech. He only told his parents once of his bullying, and could barely manage to tell them of new encounters after the first night. He had nightmares, screaming at bullies to get away from him, and that it wasn't his fault that everyone got hurt. Jackie didn't sleep for nights after and got very sick for a while. He hated remembering it all now.
"Are you saying you're dangerous?" said Drake, ignoring Jackie's sensitivity or the meaning behind what he just said. Luckily Mr Potter was listening, who took his turn in defending Jackie.
"He's saying he's misunderstood," Mr Potter said loudly and clearly, and, Jackie couldn't believe he was hearing, a touch of familiarity.
"And reminds me of you, Potter, and how your days with your Muggle family were like—although, there are some differences," said an old woman coming from what Jackie could tell was the entrance. She stood, dressed in elegant robes, her hair tied tightly and neatly into a bun on her head. She looked old but formidable. The woman strode towards them, nodding at Mr Weasley and his associates, all of whom recognized her. Even Drake, who seemed to have shied away at her presence. The woman seemed strict and someone Jackie wouldn't want to cross. Like a teacher. Or the Doctor. Either way, wrong people to get on the wrong side of.
"Minister Shacklebolt," greeted the woman to the Minister. Shacklebolt nodded back at her. Jackie had the feeling they knew each other. "I was waiting at the Smith residence when their neighbour told me that they had gone to pick up their son from the hospital. Knowing the circumstances I came here. I expected them to be home, however; I thought the injuries were minor." She looked to Healer Winter, who stepped forward and confirmed with her that, yes, the injuries were minimal and non-lethal at best. He even openly said 'non-magical', which brought a sharp glare from Drake.
"It is nice of you to join us, Professor McGonagall," said Shacklebolt after the woman and Healer Winter's exchange. "But I do believe we are disrupting the hospital's work. There are many patients to be admitted, and we are making quite a show of ourselves. We musn't dawdle. Shall we go to the Leaky Cauldron? A few drinks to cool everyone's heads?"
"Splendid idea, Minister," said Professor McGonagall. She motioned for Jackie's parents and Carter to follow her and Mr Potter made it his responsibility to look after Jackie and Hayley. Jackie stared at the woman. She was called 'professor'. He wondered if she was the professor of anything important—at least, important enough to be on speaking terms with the Minister for Magic. Jackie and Hayley bid farewell to Healer Winter before leaving the hospital. Jackie was surprised at how they had walked through a wall into a street in London, and behind him was a window display of an old store that was closed for renovation. No one else seemed to spot the old store, though some people looked at it without a second glance, deeming the store unimportant.
The walk was a quiet one to this Leaky Cauldron, but it wasn't far. Jackie noticed several of the robed men had disappeared with a cracking-sound as they walked along. He guessed it was because a large crowd would attract attention, especially when moving together to a single location. He was right, as they walked on and received less and less stares from passers-by.
The Leaky Cauldron was at first hard to spot, but Hayley reminded him that what was happening was very strange, and that when strangeness happened they had to apply logic. Firstly, they were looking for a place that Mr Potter and his associates seemed to locate, but other people like herself, Jackie, and his parents couldn't find. Carter didn't seemed so confused. In fact, he was chatting away with Mr Weasley about the Leaky Cauldron, sounding very excited.
"No one else is giving it a look," said Hayley, pointing out the passing people. "It's like there's nothing there. But there's something. I think we just have to think real hard about what it is we need to see."
And before he knew it, Jackie saw the old sign of the Leaky Cauldron, swinging back and forth and riddled with cob webs. The pub door was before him, as if it were there the whole time. He looked at his parents, wondering if the entrance to the pub had appeared, but his mother and father were still confused. They already started walking in, leaving Jackie no time to explain, but was glad that their inability to notice where the pub was didn't stop them from coming in.
"That was strange," said his father, but sounding excited, not scared. "Very strange. I think the strangest experience so far."
"Don't sound disappointed, dear," laughed his mother. "Jackie's still with us. It could get stranger."
"Well it's about to," said Professor McGonagall, smiling. Two seats pulled out on their own, inviting Jackie's parents to sit down. Hayley had already seated herself and pulled a chair out for Jackie to sit in.
"I believe," continued Professor McGonagall, "you have discovered the letter for your son?" Jackie observed his mother for a reaction. What did she mean by a letter for him? He didn't recall receiving anything beyond an aunt and uncle wishing him happy birthday.
"This one?" To Jackie's surprise his mother held up a yellow-ish envelope with a red wax seal with an H stamped into it. Professor McGonagall took the envelope and gave it to Jackie. He looked on the back and saw his name "Jack Smith", his house number, and just before the final line of the address it read 'Under the shade of the oak tree'. The very same spot Jackie and Hayley laid under before going to the zoo.
"Where did this come from?" he asked his mother and father.
"We presume right after we left. I remember you lying underneath King Oakey in the back—oh, that's what he used to call the tree, King Oakey," explained his mother, mumbling her little addition to Professor McGonagall. Jackie blushed, but she just smiled. "We came home late last night and found it there in the morning. Your father went to grab it when I was surprised to find an owl flew in through the open back door, dropping a letter onto the kitchen table, before flying off again. It was addressed to your father and I. We read it and it explained that Professor McGonagall was on her way."
"Which is why, I presume, you told your neighbour to deliver the message that you had gone?" she asked. Drake immediately jumped up, looking alarmed.
"See that! They've exposed us already! What are we waiting for?" he cried. Jackie was beginning to wonder if the pub was a smart place to hold a rather private discussion. People were looking, but mostly at Mr Potter, again. Some glances he caught were towards him, Hayley, his parents, and Carter. Perhaps it was because they were of the Muggle world and not theirs?
"My cousin is their neighbour," said Mr Potter. "Dudley Dursley. I know, I've visited him a couple of times a few years back. Never saw Jackie, but I remember that big oak tree in their backyard. There's no denying it."
"He mentioned you yesterday!" cried Jackie. "Told me about a snake at the zoo and the vanishing glass. He remembered you and wondered what you were up to. Was that you?" Jackie looked at Mr Potter intently, who seemed surprised for some reason.
"Dudley told you about the time I accidentally set a snake on him?" he said. Jackie turned on Hayley with a satisfied grin.
"Hah! The same Harry Potter!"
"Fluke shot—we're in the land of the strange, it was bound to happen!" argued Hayley, but she was smiling anyway.
"Mr Smith?" said Professor McGonagall. At first Jackie thought she meant his father, but was surprised to see her looking at him.
"Yes, ma'am?" he said in a small voice. She looked at his letter and realized that she meant for him to open it as soon as he received it. He did, breaking the wax seal, and pulling out a piece of folded parchment addressed to him, telling him that the writer was pleased to inform him that he was gladly accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
And it suddenly clicked.
"Magic, Hayley, that was the answer," he said in a monotone voice. Hayley clicked her tongue.
"Really? That's it? I was half expecting a great big flash of light and we're all suddenly running. Are you sure you don't got two hearts or something? One could be a great big trouble magnet." Mr Potter leaned forward, looking bemused.
"Is this what Healer Winter was talking about earlier? About your dreams and expectations?" he asked.
"What do you mean, Potter?" asked Professor McGonagall, obviously surprised by Jackie's low-key reaction.
"Oh! I'm so sorry, Professor, you'll have to excused them," said Jackie's mother. "There's this show on the telly they would watch. Almost every time I hear them saying they wished a very blue police box would appear in the backyard one day, taking them away on a grand adventure. They'd always speculate that the things that happened around Jackie was because of some alien phenomenon. To them magic seems pretty… wishy-washy, as they once said about a magician we took them to see."
"Wishy-washy?" repeated Professor McGonagall, looking surprised. "Well I must say. You're the first Muggle family with a Muggleborn child to have have elicited such a unique reaction."
"In my defence, I'm very open to the idea," said Jackie, loudly, just to make sure everyone could hear him. He was being honest. "Hayley's the one who's more science-y. Like I said. Brainy." He pointed his finger at her head and lightly poked. She stuck her tongue out at him playfully.
"Though technically, television science isn't real science. It's a science fiction show about time travel and space aliens! There's a lot of speculation going into the possible science which I can get very confused about now and again," interjected Carter. Hayley looked ready to contradict him but he shot her a stern look, as it wasn't the time nor place.
"Professor, is it likely that, er, magical kids my age can lose control of their magic?" asked Jackie, getting back on track. He was thinking about Mr Potter's vanishing glass and the incidents at Jackie's school.
"The correct term would be wizard, Mr Smith," she corrected him, "but yes. It is easier for children of wizard families to keep control of it since their parents can monitor their growth, whereas wizard children raised with Muggles won't realize the strange phenomenons are actually their magic responding to the circumstances. For instance, have there been any times where unexplainable things happened where you have the tiniest thought that it was all your doing?" Jackie didn't need to think twice about it. He nodded eagerly and explained to her, as he had to Mr Potter and Mr Weasley, about the bad, strange, and wonderful things.
"It seems your magic responds in a defensive manner, Mr Smith, but I do hope there have been no occurrences of any serious injuries," said Professor McGonagall, looking to his parents. They shook their heads and explained to her that much of the public reaction towards Jackie was that strange things kept happening and they grew scared. They explained the demand to send him to a reform school or there would be law suits. That last part surprised Jackie. All he knew was that they had no choice. He didn't know people were planning to sue!
"Well, worry not, Mr and Mrs Smith. Your son has a place at our school. I am the current Headmistress at Hogwarts and I will ensure your son will have an enriched learning experience and growth." She turned to Drake and his men and added, "I doubt there would be any need to remove Miss Sparrow's memories, gentlemen. She seems a very bright girl, and she is right. At age ten no one would take her seriously, and as an adult you would be considered mad by the Muggles to even suggest that such things exist. Minister, I think you'll find that she can safeguard this secret about Jack Smith and our world."
"Just this once, I think it's fine if we overlooked the rules," agreed Minister Shacklebolt.
"But Minister!" protested Drake, but the Minister raised his hands.
"The werewolf is dead and there are no other needs for you or your men to be here. I believe there are other jobs for the Obliviators to handle at the moment. Potter, Weasley, I leave it to you two to escort the Smiths, Officer Johnson, and the children back to their homes." He stood up and left, followed by the others. Jackie caught Drake glaring at Mr Potter, who merely smirked.
They stayed at the pub a while longer, Mr Potter convincing them to let him buy them something to eat. Together with Professor McGonagall, they explained to Jackie about Hogwarts. They reminded him that the letter had all of the information he needed, especially with his school supplies, for a start. Mr Potter was particularly excited telling Jackie about his first year and about the place where Jackie could buy all of his school supplies and his school robes. And most importantly, his wand.
They left when the sun went down, taking the London Underground and, after bidding farewell to Mr Potter, Mr Weasley, and Professor McGonagall, Jackie and his parents hopped into a cab and went home. Hayley and Carter took a separate cab, living a little ways away from their house.
Jackie re-read his Hogwarts letter over and over again until his mother told him to turn off his lamp and go to sleep. On September 1 he was going to go to Hogwarts. He wasn't going to a reform school, and suddenly he felt the gap between him and Hayley shrink. They weren't going to have to say goodbye forever. Even if they were going to different schools, Jackie didn't like having to hear that her memory of him could have been wiped away forever. Somehow, that seemed worse to him than the thought of the werewolf nearly killing her. Jackie almost had to lead a separate life from Hayley, and he would remember her and all of their days spent together. But she wouldn't have remembered him at all. The lonely boy named Jackie Smith would have disappeared from her world forever.
Jackie wondered what his life would be like if Hayley were to forget him. He realized he didn't want that to happen—it would be the worst thing that could ever happen to him. He was determined, then, that as soon as he got to Hogwarts he was going to do whatever it took to learn whatever spell there was that would protect Hayley from having her memory wiped. He didn't know nor care how long it would take, but no matter what kind of magic it was and how hard it was to pull off, Jackie was determined that Hayley could remember him forever.
