Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling, I'm just borrowing them, and no profit is gained.
"Daddy? Daddy? DAD!" Dell said, looking at her father in alarm. Vanessa looked up at her daughters alarmed voice, and looked at her husband's paled face.
"Dudley?" She asked softly, and her face full of worry at the frozen expression on her husband's face. She looked at the letter he was in the midst of handing to Dell, wondering what could have caused such an alarming reaction.
Dell looked at the letter in her father's hand, the letter for her, which had caused her father to freeze. She stood up, and grabbed for the letter, trying to take it from her father's hand. This seemed to wake Dudley up, and he pulled his hand back in a jerky fashion, stumbling back a few steps. Dell pouted, holding her hand out for the letter, trying to work on her father. He didn't react, and this caused Dell's mouth to drop open in surprise, and Vanessa to jump up in alarm. Dell always got what she wanted from her father when she gave him a pout.
Vanessa walked over to her husband to have a look at the letter while Dell stayed frozen where she was, still shocked from the reaction she didn't get from her dad.
"You know that symbol that seals the letter shut?" Vanessa asked, looking at her husband questioningly. Dudley swallowed before he spoke.
"Yes, but I thought that I would never see it again. It was just a bit of a shock and realizing what it meant, I . . . " Dudley looked up at Dell, and the look in his eyes was one that could not be described.
"How?" That was all that Vanessa asked, as she led her husband to a seat and sat down beside him. Dell sat down on her seat once more, looking at her father intently.
"You know of my cousin Harry? The one that I grew up with but my family has always been estranged from him?" Dudley asked.
Dell nodded while Vanessa said, "Yes, you never talk about him much, I only remember you vaguely mentioning his name on occasion. Don't we have a picture of him somewhere?" Dudley nodded.
"Well, this letter, in a way, is why my parents never treated him and me the same, because he is . . . different. I guess if I hadn't just gone with what my parents said he and I wouldn't be so big of . . . enemies. And when he got his letter at eleven, I just went with what my parents said. My opinion came to change in later years, but I never expressed such to him. And well...here Dell, why don't you just open it. Read it out loud."
Dell reached for the letter her father handed her, a bit frightened by its meaning by her father's explanation. Would this explain all the odd stuff she found she could do? Like stay up in the air too long when she did a triple somersault in the air, or do a triple somersault in the air at all? Would her parents not like her anymore because of it? But her father had said his opinion had changed in later years. But he said Grandma and Grandpa's hadn't. Would they not like her anymore?
Hands shaking, Dell turned the letter over, and looked at the seal that had caused her father's reaction. It was an H in a type of shield, with a lion, a raven, a badger and a snake around it. Slitting the seal, she removed the letter, which consisted of two sheets of paper. The first seemed to have the letter on it. Unfolding it, Dell cleared her throat and began to read.
"HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Headmistress: Minerva McGonagall
Dear Miss Dursley,
We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1 September. We await your letter addressed to Hogwarts by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
Filius Flitwick
Deputy Headmaster"
Dell looked up at her father, her mouth dropping open. "Read the other one." Dudley said.
"HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Uniform
First year students will require:
1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)
2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
4. One winter cloak (black, fastenings)
Please note that all pupils' clothes should carry name tags
Set Books
All students should have a copy of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk
A History Of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginners Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide To Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble
Other Equipment
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS
For all muggle borns (witches/wizards who come from a non magical family): You may get all you require in Diagon Alley, who's entrance way is through the Leakey Cauldron on Main Street in London between the book store and record store. Note that muggles can't see the pub and the magical student will most likely have to point it out for them. Inside, ask the landlady Hannah Longbottom to show you how to get into Diagon Alley, and for any other help you may need. Also ask her how to get on to the Hogwarts Platform for when the day comes. If you have any other questions, please tell us in your responding letter, and we shall send someone to help."
"Are you trying to tell me magic exists?" Dell asked, looking up at her father. Dudley nodded.
"Explain." Vanessa said.
"Well, as you have probably guessed, my cousin, Harry Potter is a wizard. His mother was, as it seems you are - what was the word they used? Muggle born? Yeah, that. I guess that would be my Aunt Lily, and she was a witch. But when Harry was one, they were killed by this evil wizard, Lord something or another, and when he tried to kill Harry, he couldn't or something. So Harry came to live with us. And my mum had hated her sister because of what she was, and so my parents hated Harry, which in the end resulted in me hating Harry. Anyways, when he was eleven, he got his letter, too, and my parents weren't going to allow him to go, but, well, let's just say in the end, he went. Anyways, he came back each summer, and in the summer after four years of him going to Hogwarts... he came back and saved me from these Dementor things from killing me...I mean sucking out my soul. That's when I started to think maybe he wasn't so bad. Anyways, apparently the Lord thingy that had killed his parents and tried to kill him was back, and my mom seemed to understand that. Anyways, apparently he wanted Harry dead, and Harry was meant to kill him. So things kind of went...dark after that and Harry said we had to go into hiding so the guy wouldn't capture us to use against Harry. Anyways, about a year later we came out of hiding and Harry had killed that guy. But, I haven't seen Harry since before we went into hiding, and yeah." Dudley finished, looking at his wife and daughter who were looking at him wide eyed.
"So, you mean, you're trying to tell me, I'm a witch? I'll be able to perform magic?" Dell asked in awe. Dudley nodded his head.
"So...can I go?"
Once more Dudley nodded his head.
Edited 2020-02-15