A/N - Still working on pacing. This chapter came in a bit short so I decided to borrow an arrow from Wildbow's quiver and make it an interlude from McGonagall's perspective. Which reminds me, if anyone following this (hi, folks!) hasn't read Worm yet, get thee hence to parahumans dot wordpress dot com! I rather suspect you'll find far more joy there than in my own fledgling effort, at least if superpowers aren't a turn-off.

Edit: Thanks to /u/MonstrousBird for the Brit-pick, now I have to fix every mention of "public" school... :)

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Interlude - Introductio Consectandus

Minerva McGonagall, Transfiguration Professor and Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts, took a moment to center herself. The first meeting with the parents of a muggle-born student was always a delicate process. She had to undo decades of successful Ministry secrecy efforts, but gently enough to avoid presenting a poor impression of Wizarding society. She made some minute adjustments to the drab muggle dress she'd transfigured for the occasion, brought the family's proper names to mind to be sure she remembered them, then knocked firmly three times. After a moment, the door swung open, revealing a brown-haired woman in her early 30's.

"Ah, you must be Professor McGonagall, please do come in, we're almost ready. She's here," the woman added, calling over her shoulder back into the house, then held the door and stepped aside. The witch entered hesitantly, a bit nonplussed.

"Mrs. Emma Granger?" she verified.

"Yes, it's lovely to meet you," said the woman with a smile.

"Er, likewise, of course. I was...under the impression that your family was...that is to say, that you did not…"

"Oh, yes, we're 'muggles'," the brunette interjected, pronouncing the word carefully, with mild amusement. "That charming Professor Flitwick explained a great deal when he was kind enough to visit on Wednesday," the woman continued cheerfully. McGonagall's right eyelid twitched, and her left brow rose, as if it were a counterbalance.

"Did he, now," she said, in a tone that would have set alarm bells ringing for any of her students, but which entirely escaped Mrs. Granger's notice. By all rights Minerva should have been grateful to have had the tricky part handled for her - and apparently quite well, if Mrs. Granger's attitude was any indication - but she'd spoken to Filius only yesterday and he hadn't mentioned visiting the Grangers at all. Though he had been smiling a great deal, she recalled...

"Yes, actual magic, and our Hermione is one of the rare few who get a chance to learn...we always knew she was special, of course, but we had no idea…" She trailed off and turned as a man and a young girl came down the stairs into the foyer. Mr. Granger was equally nondescript as his wife, but the child's eyes were as bright and alive. The Professor felt them examining her a bit more thoroughly than she was accustomed to, particularly from a student, and a suspicion began to blossom. "Professor, this is my husband Daniel, and of course Hermione. This is Professor McGonagall," she said to the others, completing the introductions.

"Good afternoon," McGonagall offered warmly. "I'm pleased to meet you, though I understand you had more warning of my arrival than the official letter?" The girl looked a bit abashed.

"I'm sorry, Professor. I know the letter said that a representative would be coming to answer all of our questions, but I just needed to understand, and when the library didn't help, I called several Ministerial departments asking about Hogwarts. Professor Flitwick said he had a friend in the...Obliviator Headquarters?...who let him know about 'incidents of a certain sort'. I suppose I ought to have waited..."

At once, the situation became more clear. She'd thought such 'poaching' behavior had passed from Hogwarts with Slughorn's retirement, but clearly Filius had been keeping an eye out for potential new House members. And if she were to be completely honest with herself, Miss Granger's approach did have a rather Ravenclaw 'feel' to it.

"You could not have known, of course, Miss Granger. Your initiative was commendable, and I am sure no lasting harm was done." Certainly not, if Filius had learned via an Obliviator. "Though I trust during his visit, Professor Flitwick stressed the importance of secrecy from this point forward, when it comes to muggles other than your parents?" she asked, archly. The girl nodded, and her parents echoed the gesture. All of them wore slightly differing versions of a similar expression, one that said they were eager to follow the letter of every law and had nothing but respect for authority, but were nevertheless a bit uncertain about policemen who could erase people's memories. Which was as it should be. And now that she'd regained her footing, so to speak, Minerva felt more comfortable taking the meeting back into hand.

"I take it then that you've decided to accept the invitation, and I shall be escorting you to Diagon Alley to obtain Miss Granger's materials?" More nods.

"Yes," said Hermione's father. "We simply couldn't see her passing up what's apparently such a rare opportunity, and of course Hermione herself is quite keen on the idea of attending. Though we did have some questions Professor Flitwick thought better addressed to someone in the administration proper - you are Deputy Headmistress, yes?" Minerva nodded, one eyebrow edging skyward again. "Well," continued Mr. Granger, wilting slightly under her stern expression, "it's just, the books on the list...they're all about magic. We'd wondered about, er...normal things? Mathematics, literature, science, languages? Even history here, it says 'a History of Magic'..." McGonagall waved a hand somewhat dismissively - this was a relatively common question from the parents of muggleborns.

"It is understood that a student should have received sufficient instruction in reading, writing, basic arithmetic, and etiquette at home - or in the 'compulsory system', in the case of muggleborns - before enrollment at Hogwarts. Any deficiencies in those areas will be quickly addressed by individual Professors as needed in the students' first year. As for Hogwarts' core curriculum, it has been providing Witches and Wizards with a sufficiently broad education to produce generally productive members of society-" she had her doubts about the prospects of the Weasley twins, "as well as preparation for advanced careers, for quite a few centuries." Her tone was not defensive, but merely matter-of-fact. "That said, beginning in students' third year, they may add a number of elective subjects to their schedule, which do include Arithmancy," she tilted her head a bit forward here and emphasized the word, as if correcting his use of the term 'mathematics', "Muggle Studies, which includes both muggle history and literature and in later years touches on muggle 'science' as well, and a number of foreign languages, both modern and ancient."

Mr. and Mrs Granger rushed to assure her they hadn't meant to impugn the quality of Hogwarts' education, and of course that all sounded fine, Hermione was always taking on extra work at school, so they were sure she'd be kept busy, etc, etc. The girl herself remained silent, though her own eyebrow rose at the mention of Arithmancy, and she seemed to grow thoughtful after listening to the description of Muggle Studies. After establishing that there were no further questions for the moment, Professor McGonagall continued.

"Well, then. If you would kindly make your way to the Leaky Cauldron, 113 Charing Cross Road in London, by whatever method you would prefer - I shall wait upon your arrival there. I ask your forgiveness for not accompanying you for the entire journey, but I make it a personal policy to avoid muggle conveyances whenever possible," she apologized, with a tiny shudder. "Oh, and do bring at least-" she withdrew a small parchment from her handbag and consulted it, "fifty 'pounds' of muggle money, which should be sufficient for Hermione's basic supplies, though you may wish to bring more for other purchases or if you wish to provide your daughter with spending money for the year. You will have to get it exchanged first thing, of course, but the shops there will not accept, ah, 'cards', so I would advise erring on the side of excess in this matter."

"Excuse me, Professor," began Hermione, "but how will you be getting there?" Minerva regarded her for a moment. The young lady had the curiosity of a Ravenclaw to be sure, but there might be courage there as well - while she was very respectful, she did not seem at all intimidated by authority. Filius will just have to wait and see, won't he, Minerva thought with a small smile.

"Expeditiously," she said, and Disapparated.