"Yes, for the time being" she said "but I can't give an answer for definite yet. There's a lot I'd like to know about your school"
"Feel free to ask me anything Mrs Granger" replied Dumbledore "I assure you that nobody knows Hogwarts better than I do"
She replied "if my daughter and my nephew go to this school of yours, can you guarantee their safety? I remember what happened to Lily and I'll be damned if I let the same thing happen to my children"
"I cannot absolutely guarantee their safety. One is never truly safe, no matter what precautions one takes. But I ask you to remember Mrs Granger that when your sister came to my school we were in the midst of a war. And I am proud to say that throughout all those dark years, not once did it spread to the place where I teach. I assure you that things are considerably safer these days"
Uncle Henry spoke next "what exactly will they be learning at this school of yours? What courses are there?
"Hogwarts is a school of magic Mr Granger and it is magic that is taught there. We teach our students everything they will need to know to gain a well-"
Henry interrupted him "what about things that aren't magic? Are there any Maths classes, any English classes?"
If Dumbledore was annoyed at being interrupted, he didn't show it. Instead he spoke in the same calm voice as before "we expect our students to have a basic knowledge of numeracy and literacy before they come attend. That is all that will be required for most careers in the Wizarding World. Should any of our students wish to gain additional qualifications in these areas than several remedial courses are available "
Uncle Henry didn't look as if Dumbledore's words had inspired fury in him but he didn't look entirely content either. He moved back into his seat, apparently lost in thought. Harry still couldn't tell if he would be allowed to go.
He didn't really know if he wanted to go. He'd be leaving his friends behind and going to a new school where nobody would know him. The thought of being alone in an alien place was not very appealing. On the other hand -magic. Real, actual magic. What sort of amazing things would he be able to do? Would he be able to read minds, turn into animals, change the weather. Would he be able to fly?
That dream he'd had about the flying motorbike-was it a dream or a memory? He concentrated and tried to remember as far back as he could. A picture appeared in his head- a flash of green light and a high, cold laugh. Harry shivered.
His concentration was broken by Aunt Petunia's voice. "what will happen to them if they don't go to your school?"
"They must undergo some form of magical education. I cannot stress this enough. A wizard or witch with no control over or understanding of their powers is a danger to themselves and to all those around them. Children who do not go to Hogwarts must either be home-schooled or sent to other magical schools. You cannot teach your children yourselves because you have no magic but it would be possible for us to arrange a tutor for them. I would note, however that all examinations must still take place at Hogwarts. Should you choose to send your children to a different school it would have to be one abroad. Hogwarts is the only magical school in Britain."
Uncle Henry sigh and said "fine. They're going. If Petunia is alright with it"
Aunt Petunia sensing that all eyes were now upon her said simply "okay"
Surprisingly, it was Hermione who spoke next "excuse me, but do Harry and I not get a say? We might not want to go!"
Dumbledore chuckled "Miss Granger, I hope you shall be less inclined to speak out of turn at Hogwarts. But it is good to meet someone who wishes to think for themselves. Do you wish to go to Hogwarts? "
Hermione hesitated for a moment before saying in an unsure voice "I suppose, it would be nice to learn something new. And there must be so books that aren't around in the normal world. So yes I'd like to go."
"Quite right Miss Granger. You will find that Hogwarts has one of the largest magical libraries in Europe. And what about you Harry?"
He didn't have much of a choice to make "if Hermione's going then I'm going too"
Dumbledore smiled "good" he said "now that we are all agreed, it is customary at this stage for the prospective students to be taken to get the items required at Hogwarts. This will require a trip to London, where the items in question are sold. I suggest that we leave immediately".
"Now hold on a minute" said Aunt Petunia "how much is this going to cost us"
"You needn't worry Mrs Granger" Dumbledore replied "Hogwarts will take care of all of your daughter's expenditures. As for your nephew, he has money of his own"
"He has?" said Henry and Petunia in unison
"I have?" said Harry. He wondered why anything even surprised him anymore. He'd had an awful lot of shocking revelations in one day.
"Yes, Harry's father was from an old and wealthy family and he left Harry and his money in his will, to be taken once he is of age" Dumbledore explained "Now I must ask you to make haste. It is already in the afternoon and I fear that we may not achieve much if we delay any longer"
"It'll take a fair while to get to London" said Uncle Henry "But I expect you wizards have ways of dealing with that?"
"We have indeed" said Dumbledore "but first I must ask you to lock up and then head back to the living room. We can reach our destination from their"
Henry looked at first as if Dumbledore had grown three heads but then sighed and locked the front door. Aunt Petunia locked the upstairs windows and then the back door.
When everyone was gathered in the living room again Dumbledore reached into his robes and produced a glass bottle. "This is a Portkey" he said "it will take us where we need to go. Now, everybody grab hold of it"
They all did as he asked them, although harry felt very foolish. Judging from the looks on his family's faces he was not the only one. After a few seconds Harry felt the Portkey begin.
It was unlike anything he had ever felt before. It felt as if he was bait caught on a fishing hook, being forcibly dragged ever higher. His surrounding were an ever changing array of lights and colours. Only the bottle remained solid and Harry clung to it as if it were a part of him.
Finally the movement stopped and Harry found himself lying in a heap on a wooden floor, along with the rest of his family. Dumbledore had landed on his feet somehow and was beckoning them forward. As Harry looked around he saw that he was in pub. What's more he was in a very crowded pub, full of people dressed like Dumbledore-in cloaks and robes, some with pointy hats. Harry began to feel a little nervous. He was famous here- what if somebody recognised him?
"Welcome to the Leaky Cauldron" said Dumbledore "this is the gateway to the Wizarding World. Later I will show you how to access it from Muggle London"
"Muggle?" Hermione said "What's a Muggle?"
"A Muggle is what we wizards call those who do not have magic" he walked up to the bar "good afternoon Tom" he said to the barman, who was very bald and very toothless.
"Good afternoon yourself Professor Dumbledore" Tom replied "haven't seen you around here for a while. Sure I can't interest you in a drink of something?"
"No thank you Tom" said Dumbledore "I 'm afraid I'm here on rather urgent Hogwarts business"
"That's a little unusual don't you think, professor?" said an unfamiliar voice "I was under the impression that Professor McGonagall dealt with the Muggleborns"
The source of the voice was a middle aged blonde woman. Caked in makeup with her hair done up in elaborate curls. At the end of her hands were long, scarlet nails. In one hand she held a notebook and in the other a quill.
When Dumbledore spoke his voice had an edge to it that Harry had not heard before "I was not aware that Hogwarts policy was any of your concern Rita"
Rita replied "it is rather strange and my readers like strange stories. I think they'll be very interested in why you are escorting a boy who looks like James Potter to Diagon Alley"
Petunia shrieked "I'll thank you to leave my nephew alone!" Uncle Henry had a face like thunder.
Dumbledore smiled "Go home Rita, I fear you're outmatched" Shortly afterward he led them along the pub until they came to a brick wall. He reached out to the brick wall with his wand and tapped it three times. A tiny hole appeared in the wall and slowly grew bigger and bigger until it was a huge archway. Beyond the archway was an enormous cobbled street. Dumbledore spoke.
" welcome to Diagon Alley"