No Words
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September 1988
.
Anne was sweating so much, the parchment under her hands started to wrinkle.
"Read the first page," Professor McGonagall had told them, "and make notes about the importance of Transfiguration."
It was Anne's real first day as a Hogwarts student and already she was having problems. She still couldn't believe she had been Sorted into Ravenclaw yesterday evening. Of all the Houses it had been the least likely option: Ravenclaws loved books and reading and she...
All around her boys and girls were alertly reading and writing, but Anne did nothing. She tried to make out the words in front of her, but they didn't make any sense. Her view got blurred with tears.
"And what about you?" McGonagall stood next to her, looking cross. "Miss Rochet, was it? Would you care to start as well?"
Anne nodded and sat straighter, a quill ready in her hand, and pretended to read.
McGonagall watched her for a moment, then strode on.
Anne sighed in relief, but she knew she couldn't keep this up. She continued to stare at the book without taking any notes and was just glad that McGonagall didn't make another round.
When the professor announced the end of the lesson and wrote down the homework on the board, Anne was the first to pack her things together. She already wanted to hurry out of the classroom, glad that she was able to keep her secret just a bit longer when McGonagall's voice stopped her.
"Miss Rochet, a word please."
She knows. With shuffling feet and trembling hands, Anne made her way to the front, waiting for all the other students to leave.
McGonagall waited as well before she started sternly: "That was one of the laziest starts in Hogwarts I have ever seen, especially from a Ravenclaw."
"I'm sorry," Anne mumbled to her feet.
"Can you explain your behaviour?"
Anne shook her head and apologised again.
McGonagall remained silent for a moment, observing her new student. "Miss Rochet," she then said and opened the textbook on the first page. "Would you please read this paragraph for me?"
Anne stared at her professor with wide eyes. "Why?"
"I believe it is important for you."
Anne hesitated but knew it was no use arguing. With trembling hands, she took the book and stared at the first words. Come on, you can do that, she thought. You know that letter. "F-f-o, F-o-r. For," she hoped, then looked at the next word. That was a strange letter, the one she always confused with others. Was that a C or a Z or an S?
"You can't read, can you?" McGonagall asked and tried not to sound shocked.
Anne's eyes filled with tears when she shook her head. Then she started sobbing. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry!"
McGonagall sighed, walked around her desk and put one hand on Anne's shoulder. "It's not your fault. And don't worry, you're not the first to arrive at Hogwarts illiterate."
Anne slowly looked up. "I'm not?"
"No." McGonagall gave her a smile. "Not every parent teaches their children how to read and write." Sometimes she wondered why there was no elementary school for wizard children. Muggleborns always had fewer mistakes and higher skill of expression in their essays. "But I am sure that with your intellect and dedication you'll learn it in no time. You're a Ravenclaw, are you not?"
A small smile appeared on Anne's face. "I am," she said and wiped her tears away. "Yes, I am."
"Good. Then I will speak with Professor Flitwick, and we will find a suitable way."
"Thank you, Professor McGonagall!" Anne beamed. She never would have thought that her disability would be okay. She had spent hours worrying about forms of humiliation and punishment…
"I believe your next lesson is Flying, so off you go. And I will talk with the other teachers, so that they can give you different tasks for writing and reading, at least for the time being."
Anne didn't know how to express her joy and gave McGonagall a short hug before she sprinted out of the classroom, thanking her over and over again.
Minerva just smiled.