It was a hot July morning. The three teenagers ran as fast as they could. Their face was contorted with pure fear and hatred. They stopped in a narrow backstreet far from their pursuer. The thought of relief swept over them as fast as it disappeared when they heard the voice that they dreaded the most.
"It is really cute that you actually think that you can escape from me."
The scene was a confusing one for any outsider. Three teenagers were mocked by a preteen who seemingly was not capable of tidying his hair. However, any kind of confusion would dissipate upon seeing the golden glow in the preteen's eyes. One of the teens seemed to commit the most fundamental mistake of humankind. Being an idiot. Unfortunately for him, yet fortunately for anyone who seeks entertainment, he decided to challenge the preteen hoping to scare him.
"We… we weren't escaping from you, you… you… freak."
The preteen didn't seem to be perturbed in the slightest.
"Oh, is that so, Albert? Then I would be hugely mistaken when I told Thomas and Emily that you are currently thinking about Jack's face when I found out he stole from me, right?"
The preteen didn't wait for the teen to respond and continued.
"By the way, I congratulate you, Albert, for your foresight. That is what you three will exactly get."
While the preteen was talking a fog cloaked the entrance to the street and a dome appeared above the four.
Then the screams rose. The curses followed. However, the pleadings were always the last. No matter how long they screamed or cursed him, their last words would always be the same.
"I am sorry, Harry."
Harry liked to think he was fair. He always stopped when they apologised. That day was no different so he let them go. His wrath and following mercy would be remembered. With these thoughts, he disappeared without a trace dissipating the fog in his wake and appeared in his room in the orphanage.
Harry's reflection was interrupted by the sound of fluttering wings. An owl with a thick envelope was looking at Harry almost impatiently. Harry hesitantly approached the owl and untied the envelope cautiously.
The envelope was rather plain, moreover it was exactly the same with the letters he usually got.
Mr. H. J. Potter
Room 13,
Eagle's Nest Children's Home,
2 Dandelion Drive,
Wandsworth
LONDON.
The seal on the other side was unnaturally detailed with four animals.
The content of the envelope was even more unexpected.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin - First Class, Grand Master Sorcerer, Chief Warlock, Supreme Mugwump of International Confederation of Wizards)
Dear Mr. Potter,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted 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 owl by no later than the Fifth of August.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
The other items in the envelope seemed very interesting indeed however none clued him to where to buy them. Moreover, while the idea of a school of magic sounded interesting, Harry could already control his magic, if that was what he was doing, perfectly, thank you very much.
Just as he was going to throw the envelope away, he heard a knock on the door. Quickly disposing of the letter, he opened the door.
The smiling matron, Ms. Shellthorpe and an old woman greeted him. Ms. Shellthorpe was a middle-aged woman with seemingly endless amount of compassion. Yet, she never seemed to like Harry. Thus, naturally, controlling Ms. Shellthorpe was one of the first things Harry did when he discovered his "mind controlling" powers. It was also one of the most profitable ones.
However, the other woman was a complete stranger. She seemed to be around sixty. Her stance reminded Harry the old teachers at school. She was wearing a deep green immaculate suit with a rich brown handbag. Before Harry could analyse her any further, she spoke.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Potter. My name is Minerva McGonagall. I would like to talk about your admission to Hogwarts School for Gifted Children."
Harry looked at the matron and nodded imperceptibly. The woman left after wishing a good day to both.
After closing the door, Harry turned to the woman who seemed to be examining various trinkets around the small room.
"So, Madam McGonagall, the Deputy Headmistress if I am not terribly misinformed, may I ask why you are here in person?" said Harry, and then he added "Maybe I should have sent my rejection."
The woman looked shocked to hear that Harry did not want to attend Hogwarts. Her momentary shock allowed Harry to slip in her mind.
A man who looked very much like Harry but with glasses growing up. A girl with rich red hair and bright green eyes smiling with a pale man. A baby wrapped in blankets on a threshold. A man with a long beard behind an ornate desk.
Harry wished he could peruse the woman's thoughts more but she seemed to be talking again.
"Don't you want to learn the intricacies of magic, Mr. Potter? Besides if you do not attend a magical school, you will have to forfeit your magic and will be obliviated, made forgot, the existence of magic."
"Not really. Also, who will make me do so? Some of kind authority who have never contacted me before? I really do not think so."
"I was going to offer my help with the shopping for school. However, it seems so that we might have to solve your reluctance to attend Hogwarts first. I do not understand why you do not want to attend Hogwarts. After all, your parents did. Your ancestors on your father's side did. Moreover, Hogwarts is truly one of the premier…"
However, Harry's brain was still stuck at the part about his parents.
He spoke in a soft voice that was not heard for many years.
"You… you knew my parents?"
A painful expression got the better of McGonagall's control.
"James was honestly one of the best in Transfiguration I have ever seen in my life. His work was so well-thought that you would think they were supposed to be like that in the first place. Moreover, he would do everything to erase the frown on his friends' faces. And Lily. Lily was incredible. She seemed to excel everything. Her spells, especially her abstract spells, a part of Charms, were perfect. She had the knowledge to fill libraries and the ability to use them even in her young age. As if that was not enough, she always managed to make those she cared about smile. I always considered it an honour to call them friends."
While she was talking, Harry saw more memories about his parents in the now-sobbing woman's mind.
Minutes passed in silence as Harry savoured the sight of his parents playing with his one-year-old self.
He found his voice and spoke as clearly as he could.
"What happened to them?"
McGonagall sighed; she apparently knew this question would come but dreaded it all the same.
"Nearly two decades ago from today, a mad man started terrorising magical
Britain. He called himself Lord Voldemort and aimed to purge the world of those who he deemed unworthy of having magic. For almost ten years, he slowly massacred masses with his sick sycophants. Approximately eleven years ago, on the 31st of October, 1981, for some reason, he decided to target your family. And he was… he could… somehow you were the only one who survived alive with nothing but that scar on your forehead. He vanished and the magical Britain sees you as its saviour."
"The green light and the snake man" Harry mumbled but McGonagall heard him.
"You… you remember that… night?" asked the woman and promptly reached to hug him.
That was a wrong move. No one touched Harry without his permission. So, he did what he always did.
McGonagall was frozen, only her eyes seemed to be able to move and they were looking at Harry, to be specific, Harry's glowing eyes.
Harry calmly said "Madam McGonagall, I will ask you to refrain from any kind of physical display of affection without my explicit permission."
And the woman was able to move again.
McGonagall was shocked but she had to gather herself quick.
"That was an impressive display of accidental magic. Has anyone ever…"
She was once again interrupted by a laughing Harry.
"Accidental, Madam? That was perfectly purposeful. In fact,…" and she was once again unable to move. As the fact that he was telling the truth sank in, Harry let the woman go.
"That's… That's truly incredible, Mr. Potter. I am speechless. Would you mind telling me what else you can do?"
"Actually, I would mind, Madam. I don't know you and the fact that you, who claim to be close to my late parents, have never sought me in all these years are enough reasons for me to end this conversation."
Harry wondered if magical people found a solution to cardiac arrests better than non-magicals. If so, the woman seemed to need it immediately. However, to his surprise, the woman gathered herself.
"I really am sorry, Mr. Potter. I am sure that it will never be enough but I also am sure that Lily and James would want you to go to Hogwarts. Above all, they would want you to see your family's manor."
"Manor, you say? Why haven't I been informed about this before?"
"That is not something I am privy to, unfortunately, Mr. Potter. However, if you don't get your NEWTs, magical graduation exams at the end of last year, all properties of House of Potter would be seized by the Ministry."
Harry's irritation at the woman's audacity was overcome by his deep desire to belong somewhere.
"Alright. I will attend Hogwarts. I presume my family was wealthy enough to cover my educational expenses."
The woman's expression brightened visibly.
"As far as I know, you are correct, Mr. Potter. You are more than wealthy enough to cover your expenses. Shall we?"
"Of course, Madam."