It only rained a little bit more the next day, and the next next day, the rain had stopped completely. In fact, when Ari woke up and looked out the window, the sun had come out and scattered its rays across a pale blue sky. It was like seeing an old friend again. She smiled and waved up at the sky, and she was almost sure the sun waved back at her with its long, flickering rays.
During lunch, Dad announced that he was going to go out and do some hunting later, and that Ari and Sam should stay in the house. He looked at Ari meaningfully as he said this, and she nodded vigorously. Ever since that night he talked about mother bear, Ari caught Dad looking at her quite a bit, and she felt worried for him. She was scared he still might be sad and feel the twist in his chest again. But whenever Ari caught his gaze, he gave her a big bright smile. It felt good to see her dad smiling again, so Ari had to focus on being a good daughter and keeping her daddy happy. And that meant listening to him and staying at home so she wouldn't get taken away by those same bad people who had taken away mother bear. The castle might have been calling for her, but for now, Dad needed her more.
And so after lunch, Dad took his rifle and his boots and said that he'd be back in two hours, tops. He tousled Ari's hair and gave her one last smile before striding out and shutting the door. The moment he left, Sam turned to Ari.
"So you'll just stay in your room, then?" he said, yawning. "I won't have to babysit you or anything?"
"Of course not!" she said indignantly. "I'm not a baby!"
Sam snickered. "Dad seems to think otherwise. He told me I needed to watch over you, because apparently you tried to break out the house the other night?"
Ari gasped, her heart fluttering in her chest. "What?!" How did Sam know? Did Dad tell him? "No! I didn't!"
"Yeah you did," Sam shot back. "Dad said he found you snuck out of your bed a few nights ago — and you were trying to pick the lock on the door," he added, raising an eyebrow.
"So what if I did?" Ari snapped, placing her hands on her hips and glaring at him. "I was just curious, that's all! I was just gonna take a peek and see what was there! It's not like I actually wanted to run away or anything!"
"Mhm," Sam said skeptically. "Then why were you rambling about wanting to be outside the other day? Was that just a coincidence then, or what?"
Ari stared at him, her lip trembling. "It was just the dream, that's all!" she blurted. Suddenly, the dam of emotions she hadn't realized she had been holding back came bursting apart, and then the words began pouring uncontrollably from her mouth. Maybe now that Dad was gone, Ari could feel free to let them out now that she knew there wouldn't be any risk in making him sad again. "I just got excited after that dream with the lake and the boat and the castle, and it made me want to go outside and find it myself — the lake, I mean. So, yeah. That's why I tried to break out. But it's not like I don't like it here! I don't wanna run away from home or something! I don't wanna be taken away by the bad people and make Daddy sad!"
"Now, I wouldn't mind if you left for good," Sam snickered.
"And maybe I can go out and meet mother bear, too," she added thoughtfully, ignoring Sam's comment. "Maybe I can find her again and take her home to live with us."
"What did you just say?" Sam scoffed, his laughter stopping at once. "Mother bear?"
"Uh-huh," Ari said. "Dad told me about her the other day. Our mother. He said she got taken away by bad people, and that's why she can't live with us and why we can't see her anymore."
"Are you serious?" Sam demanded. "She got taken away? As in kidnapped? How come I've never heard about this?"
Ari shrugged. "'Cause you're stupid?"
"Like you're one to talk, idiot!" he snapped.
"But it's a good plan, right?" Ari said excitedly, clapping her hands together. "I can go out and find our mother and take her back home. And then maybe I can defeat the bad guys and save the world while I'm at it!"
"Uh, no," he growled. "Are you insane? You can't even stand up to the wolves, and you think you're a match against the people who supposedly kidnapped our mother?"
"It's worth a try," she said. "And even if I don't end up finding mother bear, I'll still be able to explore the world, right? Go outside into the forest and climb the trees, say hi to the bunnies and raindrops…"
"And then you'll run into a wolf and get eaten in two seconds flat," Sam finished promptly.
"No!" Ari cried, grabbing onto his arm. "You're coming with me, Sam! And you'll protect me from the mean wolves!"
"And why should I?" he snapped, wrenching his hand away and crossing his arms. "Dad's right. It's too dangerous out there. You wouldn't last a day. None of us would. And why go out in the first place when we can just stay at home and have food to eat and a roof over our heads and bed to sleep in?"
"But you must be curious about the world too, right, Sam?" Ari asked, gazing up at him. All this talk about the outside world had fueled her curiosity again, like pouring gasoline on a dying flame. And now, the fire had soared up into a blazing, uncontrollable conflagration, burning into her heart and making it ache worse than ever. "You must know what's out there, behind the trees and over the mountains — at the ends of the earth, where the lake and the castle are! You would want to know what's in there, don't you?"
He shifted on his feet. "Sometimes," he admitted. "I mean, who wouldn't? You look outside every day and wonder what could be out there. What kind of life exists outside of here."
"Exactly!" Ari said fervently, jumping up and down. "And you want to go outside too, don't you, Sam? Explore what's out there and see new things?"
"I dunno," he shrugged. "Honestly, I've been here for so long, I've gotten used to it. Gotten used to staying here and not going anywhere else. And like I said, we get all we need. And life isn't too bad. Well, minus having you around, of course."
"Whatever!" Ari sniffed. "I don't want you around, either! In fact, it's probably better living out there than it is living with you! Better get eaten than the wolves than deal with you, am I right?"
"Sure," he snickered. "Just don't do something you'll regret."
"I won't!"
And so Ari marched to the door with her head held high, and within a few strides she was in front of the same door she was at the other night. She tried the knob — it was still locked. But that didn't matter. There was still a window beside the door. The blinds were drawn up, but Ari pulled them up and banged on the window as hard as she could.
Sam gave a huge yelp. "What the hell are you doing?!"
"Trying to see if I can break the window, duh!"
"Are you crazy?" he gave another resounding bear roar, making the glass panes rattle. Ari stopped knocking to wheel around and face him. "Why would you do that?!"
"But you told me to break the window and break out!" Ari protested, glaring at him.
"And I wasn't being serious!" he snarled, clenching his fists. "Don't do it, okay? Dad asked me to watch over you, and if he finds you tried to break a window — well, he'll be after me next!"
"So?" Ari said carelessly. "We'll be back soon so Dad won't get too worried. And like I said, we can go out together and you can protect me! Into the woods and over the mountains! Nobody can catch us then!"
"Except the wolves, obviously!"
"Yeah, except the wolves!" Ari said. "But I'm speedy. I'm a good runner. And you're a good shield, Sam!"
"You're impossible!" Sam growled. As Ari turned to knock on the window some more, he suddenly came up behind her and grabbed her by the shoulders. "Stop! Just stop! Didn't you hear anything I told you? It's dangerous out there and you won't stand a chance the moment you walk out the door. Now stop all this idiocy and go up to your room and play with your toys or something."
"Don't tell me what to do!" she snapped, turning her head around to glare at him.
"And what am I supposed to do? Continue standing here and let you break the window?!" he snarled, raising his haunches. "Just stop, Ari. Stop it with this crazy idea of yours! You might wanna go outside now after that dream you had, but it's just a phase, okay? Once you go out and see how dangerous it is for real, you'll be dead in two seconds! You'll die! D-I-E. Die, just like the animals Dad hunts, and there'll be no way from coming out of that, whether you want to or not!"
"I won't die!" she shouted, stamping her feet. "And it's not a phase! I wanna go outside, I really do, and I'm gonna explore to the end of the universe! I'm gonna go to the lake and see the castle and follow the tugging, and you can't stop me!"
"Oh, yes I can!" Sam roared as she squirmed in his grip, trying to wrench free. He glared at her. "You're not getting away with your stupid plans, and I'm not going to get in trouble because of you. Now go to your room!"
"But—"
"GO!"
And then he steered her shoulders to the stairway and practically dragged her up by the stairs. Ari cried and whined the whole way up, but Sam ignored her and pushed her into her room. She toppled to the ground like a ragdoll, and feebly picked herself to a sitting position. Sam crossed his arms and glared lightning bolts down at her. "Now you stay in here, you hear me?" he ordered.
She hung her head, defeated. "Yes, Sam."
And then he slammed the door with a deafening bang. Ari heard his thundering footsteps as he stomped to his room, followed by the slam of his own door.
And then she tilted her head back up, smirking. Oh, Sam thought he could stop her, didn't he? Well, think again! The more she was stopped, the more she would figure out a way to do it! And no matter what Sam, she wasn't going to die! She was going to soar, just like those birds who spread their wings and followed the sun to the ends of the earth, limitless and teeming with life.
Sorry, Daddy, she thought. She was going to be a bad daughter for a bit. But she was just going to get a peek, just a little peek outside to satisfy her curiosity. She would fly out to the mountains, say hello to the little critters, and then she'd hurry back home — quick as lightning. In fact, she was so speedy she might even be back before Dad finished hunting, and he wouldn't even know that she had been gone in the first place!
And so Ari waited until the bear sank back into his hibernation and she heard great snores coming from Sam's room, before scurrying outside. Quick and quiet as a mouse, she hurried past his room and bounced down the stairs. A moment later, she had reached the door again, and the window with its blinds still drawn up.
Okay… so maybe the window glass was too thick for her to break. So she turned her attention back to the door and tried the knob. It was locked, just like the night she snuck out. Then she examined the unmovable look with its strange dials and numbers. There were five dials, five spaces for five numbers. Just which numbers could they be? She fiddled around with it some more, turning the dials and tugging the lock at random intervals. She was just in the middle of yanking the lock with all the strength her arms could muster when there was a sharp rapping on the door.
Ari let go of the lock at once and tumbled back five feet. She picked herself up and stared at the door, her eyes wide, her heart banging as violently as the door. Dad must've been back from hunting! But why was he knocking on the door? Shouldn't he have had a key to get himself inside?
The banging grew more insistent, and Ari could almost feel the urgency radiating from each of the knocks. Panic crept up her throat and threatened to choke her. Oh, no! Dad knew she had tried to break out again and he was going to be upset again! And just when he had been feeling happy again, and just when had Ari promised she would be a good daughter!
The knocks grew even more forceful, enough to make Ari's heart rattle in her chest. She darted to the window and looked outside, wanting to see with her own eyes what kind of state Dad was in for him to be knocking like so. And then she immediately screamed. In fact, it wasn't Dad standing at their doorstep at all! It was a much thinner, stranger-looking person. The person wasn't wearing Dad's usual camouflage jacket and jeans, nor were they carrying a rifle. Instead, they had on a black pointy hat and glasses and a checkered long dress-like thing.
Ari could hardly believe her eyes. Now who was that?! Surely it couldn't have been Dad, right? Unless he underwent a transformation and tossed on all these strange new clothes! Or maybe… it was another person! One of those people she had dreamed about and Dad had read to her about! For so long these mystical beings had existed just in her dreams and fairy tales, but now there was one in real life, on her doorstep, knocking on the door, wanting to get in! Filled with shock and exhilaration to see another real life person who wasn't Sam or Dad, Ari started screaming and banging at the window like there was no tomorrow.
"IN HERE! IN HERE!" Ari screamed, pounding on the window. At once, the person turned their head and Ari saw their mouth drop open. "THE DOOR'S LOCKED! I CAN'T OPEN IT!"
The person raced up to the window and Ari thought she saw a better look at the person's face. It was old and wizened, and rather stately looking. No, that definitely couldn't be Dad! The person was mouthing something that Ari couldn't catch, and she screamed, "THE DOOR! IT'S LOCKED! I CAN'T OPEN IT!"
The person quickly moved away from the window and returned to the door and Ari shouted at them to come back. But that was when she heard a loud clicking sound, and a moment later, the door swung wide open. Ari watched with huge eyes as the person she saw on the doorstep entered their house! And she had the same checkered dress and pointy hat and spectacles and everything!
"OH MY BANANAS!" Ari screamed, clapping her hands to her face. "YOU'RE HERE! YOU'RE REAL! WHO ARE YOU?!"
And then she reached out to touch the person, just to feel that they were in fact real and not an illusion. She felt the rough fabric of the checkered dress against her cheek and the solidity of the person around her arms. Warm and solid, just like Dad and Sam! Yes, this person was very much real!
"There, now, are you all right?" the person said, and it was more higher-pitched than Dad's, like a woman's. Plus she had a sort of weird voice, kind of a rolling tone. The person patted Ari's shoulder a few times before gently prying her off. Ari didn't want to let go, and so she stepped back but kept holding onto the strange person's sleeve. "I didn't wish to intrude like this," the woman continued, "but I couldn't find any other way to see you, if the door was indeed locked from the—"
"How did you come here?" Ari cut in eagerly, gazing up at the woman with rapt attention. "Are you friends with my dad?"
"No, I'm not," the woman replied. "I've come here today to speak to you, in fact. You must be Miss Ari Rossi, correct?"
Ari screamed again, both with shock and delight. "Oh my bananas! How do you know I am?" she demanded. "How did you know my name, if you're not friends with my dad? Are you a fortune teller? Or one of those sikey people? Or are you" — she gasped, a realization hitting her like a lightning bolt, "are you my mother?!"
The woman gave a soft sigh. "No, I'm sorry, I'm not your mother," the woman said gently. "My name is Professor Minerva McGonagall, and I—"
"Wow! A professor!" Ari shrieked. In her excitement she let go of the person's sleeve and began jumping up and down. "You mean one of those fancy teachers? You must be really smart, then! And you've got that really old wise look with your glasses and pointy hat!"
"Why, I'm honored, thank you," the professor said. "My name is Professor McGonagall, as I was saying, and it's a pleasure to meet you, Ari. I am a professor and Deputy Headmistress at a school called Hogwarts—"
"School?" Ari exclaimed, her mouth dropping open. "You mean those places where people go to learn? You mean they're real?"
"Of course they're real," the professor said, flashing Ari a weird sort of look. "Have you gone to a school before this, Ari?"
"Nope!" Ari declared. "My dad teaches us himself!"
"Ah, I see," the professor said. "Well, as you will see, many of the students who attend Hogwarts are like you and have also been homeschooled. As such, Hogwarts is their first experience of a real school and being away from home for the—"
"But what do they learn?" Ari asked eagerly. "Do you actually teach people? What kind of things do you teach?"
"I was just getting to that," the professor said. "But before that, I must share some very exciting news with you, Ari. And that is" — there was a dramatic pause, and Ari gazed at her with a fervent devotion — "you are a witch."
"OH MY BANANAS!" Ari shrieked, clapping her hands to her face.
The professor continued hastily, "now, I know this may be very shocking news—"
"A WITCH?!" Ari continued to scream. "YOU MEAN THOSE EVIL PEOPLE WHO RIDE BROOMSTICKS AND HAVE BLACK CATS AND KILL PEOPLE?!"
"Goodness gracious, not that kind of witch!" the professor winced, adjusting her glasses up her nose. "In our world, a 'witch' is just a general term to refer to a girl or woman with magical powers, and they are not necessarily evil. A 'wizard' is the male equivalent."
"Ohh!" Ari's mouth fell open. "So you don't kill people? You're not one of those bad people who come and snatch people away?"
"No, indeed," the professor said, her lips twitching like they were dancing. "And as deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts, it is my duty to seek out young wizards and witches all over the country — much as yourself — and invite them to Hogwarts. At Hogwarts, you will get to know many like-minded, precocious individuals while practicing and honing your magical abilities."
Ari continued to stare at the woman, her mouth agape, hardly daring to believe her ears. "Y-you mean I've been chosen to go to this hog school?" she repeated in a hushed voice. "I-I can actually go? And I can l-learn? With people?"
"Yes, indeed," the professor said briskly. "Now, to clarify, you are merely invited to come to Hogwarts. By no means are you obligated to accept the offer. You can always stay at home if you—"
"OH, NO!" Ari shrieked, causing the professor to jump again. "I WANNA GO! PLEASE! LET ME GO! I WANNA GO!"
She grabbed onto the professor's sleeve again and bounced on her feet like a kangaroo on a joystick, staring at the professor with a frantic desperation. "Well, you certainly are very eager, aren't you?" the professor said, her lip curling to the side again. "It's wonderful; I'm glad to see it. If you're certain, then—"
"But I'll still be able to come home, right?" Ari asked anxiously, thinking of her father. "I won't be running away from home for good?"
"No, indeed," the professor said. "During the school year, you'll have to stay and board at school. However, you'll still be able to come home during the winter and summer holidays."
Ari gasped. "Only the winter and summer? But that's so short! I can't go home every day?"
"I'm afraid not," the professor replied. "As a traditional boarding school, Hogwarts students are required to stay on the premises for the entirety of term. It's a difficult transition for many first-years since for many of them, it's their first time being away from home. Rest assured however, there are so many activities and classes that you'll soon find your attention focused on other matters to feel too homesick."
"I guess that's good," Ari said, but she was still uncertain. She had lived in this little house all her life, never spent a day outside of it, and now she was expected to uproot her entire life and be thrown into an entirely new place? Sure, these past few days she had dreamt of leaving home and exploring the land beyond, but it was all just so sudden and abrupt, like something from a fever dream. Her brain kept spinning 'round and 'round with all this new information, and she didn't even know what to think anymore.
"It may be hard to adjust at first, but look at it this way," the professor said. "While you're away from home, you get to experience an entirely different life and learn new things you never would have otherwise. In the long run, you'll not only grow academically, but also become a more independent, well-rounded person."
Ari nodded. Yes, that was right! She was independent now, like a bird who spread their wings and left their nest to fly into the new world. And while she might be away from home now, it wasn't like she was permanently leaving. Her home and its residents would always be here, waiting for her whenever she needed it. It wasn't like she was running away for good and would never be seen again, not like mother bear! Surely Dad would understand that and feel less sad!
And anyway, if the professor said she would be safe and happy, then it must be so. Ari trusted this professor and everything she said. Maybe it was because she was just that, a professor, and was naturally trustworthy that way. Or maybe she felt trustworthy because she was the first person Ari had met from the outside world. No longer were the beauties of the mountains and the castle and the stars beyond just a distant dream, but something real and achievable. And now that Ari had gotten an invitation into this elusive new world, she was desperate to grab onto it and to never lose track of that tug on her heart.
Her resolve was further cemented when the professor reached into her pocket and showed Ari a thick-looking envelope, which contained her acceptance letter to the hog school! The words were all done in a fancy loopy cursive, and Ari read the whole thing with her mouth dropped open. So this really was the real deal! And what was even cooler, the envelope knew exactly where she lived! It was addressed to "Ari Rossi — The Front Door at the Humble Abode Amid the Lush Canopy and Snow-Peaked Mountains."
When Ari asked how the professor knew where she lived and how she tracked her down in the first place, the professor said it was just magic. Ari wanted to ask the professor more about this magic and how it worked exactly and how she could do it herself, but her questions were interrupted by footsteps thundering down the stairs.
"What in the world is going on?" the bear growled, running a paw through his shaggy bedhead. "Didn't I tell you to" — and then he spotted the professor and he immediately slipped and tumbled down the rest of the flight of stairs. And then he began screaming, his eyes wide and wild. "OH MY GOD! WHO THE HELL IS THAT?!"
"Sam! Sam, good news!" Ari squealed. She jumped up to him as he heaved himself to his feet. "I'm going to school! This person came and invited me, and she's a real professor from a real school! Her name's Professor Goganull — Gagagoll — Gocka—" Ari turned back to the professor, making a face. "What's your name again?"
"Professor McGonagall," the professor said, her lips doing that dancing thing again.
"Professor McGonagall!" Ari finished, turning back to Sam, whose mouth had gone so big she could stuff a whole watermelon inside. "And she came and invited me to her school! It's called Hogwarts! Lookie here, she even gave me a letter, and it's a real handwritten letter!" She thrust the letter toward Sam, who stared at white-faced for several moments before taking it. "And it's real, and she even gave me a school supply list, and we're going shopping!"
"Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?" Sam read off the letter, his voice weak. He looked up at Ari, shock and confusion swirling around in his eyes. "What's this? Witchcraft? Wizardry? Are you joking?"
"No!" Ari protested. "It's real! I'm a witch, Sam! Professor McGonagall told me! And it's not a bad witch who's old and ugly and kills you, but a good one! 'Cause it's just a name to call people with magical abilities."
"Magic?" Sam sputtered, clutching onto the handrail and looking rather saggy all of a sudden. "What magic?"
"There are individuals, such as Ari here, who possess innate magical abilities," Professor McGonagall explained briskly, "and we call them wizards and witches. In order to train them and bring them to their fullest potential, when they turn eleven years of age, we invite them to attend Hogwarts. Even though learning magic can be a strange and unpredictable process, rest assured, your sister will be in safe hands. As staff members, we will do our utmost best to make sure that Ari and her peers are in a secure and controlled environment at all times."
"Yeah!" Ari said, turning to Sam. "So let me go, Sam! What did I tell you about not being able to stop me? Hi-ya! Take that!" And she did a sort of karate chop with her hand.
Sam sighed and shook his head, looking back down at the letter. "Well… I mean it's great that you can go to school and have these special abilities and whatnot," he said wearily, looking rather like Dad after a long day of hunting. "But Ari, what's Dad gonna say about this? No matter how great this school is, he definitely won't let you go… you know how he is."
"That's okay!" Ari said confidently. "I won't be gone forever. I'll still be home for the holidays and you still get to see me, so it's not like I'm forgetting about you guys forever or something!"
"Well…" Sam began uncertainly. But before he could finish his thought, there was a huge creaking sound behind her.
Ari whirled around to see Dad lumbering through the open door, his rifle slung over his shoulder. He let out a shout when he saw Professor McGonagall and in a split second, he had aimed his rifle and was pointing it right at her. Ari caught a glimpse of his face and her spine went cold; he looked angrier and scarier than Ari had ever seen him.
"No!" Ari shouted, and as fast as lightning, she stepped in front of Professor McGonagall, her arms spread out wide. Dad quickly looked at Ari, his eyes wide. "Don't shoot her, Daddy! She's Professor McGonagall, a real professor, and she's come to invite me to a real school! I'm going to school, Daddy!"
"No, Ari," Dad said, crouching down so he was looking Ari in the eye. His voice had gone back to calm and gentle, his face as placid as the lake. He set down his rifle and held his arms out. "I don't know what she told you, but don't listen to her, Ari. Now come here — Ari, Sam. Come to Daddy."
Ari stared at him, stuck between tugging on Professor McGonagall's sleeve and going into her father's arms. The same strong arms that held her and rocked her to sleep and shielded her from the hurt and danger and the big bad wolves.
After a moment's hesitation, Ari let go of Professor McGonagall's sleeve and stepped into Dad's arms. Immediately he wrapped them tightly around her, so tight Ari felt the breath get squeezed out of her. "My beautiful princess," he whispered in her ear, running a hand through her hair.
"I know my visit must come as a surprise, sir," Professor McGonagall suddenly said, breaking through Dad's embrace, "and I apologize for that. Believe me, however, that everything I speak is the truth, and I have no nefarious intentions in mind for neither you nor your family. My name is Professor Minerva McGonagall and I came here today to talk to your daughter Ari, for I have some very exciting news to share. I have invited Ari to a school called Hogwarts, of which I am a professor at. By enrolling at Hogwarts, Ari will be able to learn and gain invaluable knowledge she would not anywhere else—"
"No," Dad cut in, his voice flat and decisive. He stood up to face Professor McGonagall now, his hand still clasped around Ari's. "She's not going."
"No!" Ari cried, frantically looking up at Dad. "I wanna go! It sounds fun! And we get to learn real magic with real people!"
Something in Dad's face flickered as he looked down at Ari. "You… you actually want to go, Ari?" he whispered, his lips barely moving. "You want to go to this woman's school?"
"Yes, Dad," Ari declared, lifting her head up. "But it's okay. It's not like I'm leaving forever. I can still come home for the holidays and—"
"Come home!" Dad choked out, and Ari could hear that tremor in his voice he had the night she almost broke out. He tightened his grip on her hand, his eyes wide and haunted. "So you're leaving home now? You're really going to leave us all, Ari, leave all eleven years of time together, just for what a stranger said? Her words might sound good and sweet, but she's bad, Ari. A wolf. Just like those people who hurt your mother. And this person will hurt you too, she'll take you away and do terrible things!"
"Oh, please!" Professor McGonagall snapped, and she suddenly looked almost as angry as Dad had been earlier. "I know this must be very sudden and shocking news, sir, and I understand it won't be easy to part with your daughter. I assure you, however, with the utmost certainty, we will take good care of Ari at Hogwarts, and she will be safe and well-protected. I cannot stress this enough. Our school is an ancient fortified structure, and under the careful supervision of the teachers and staff, no harm will come to Ari or any of the other students."
"No," Dad said, staring straight through Professor McGonagall like she was a ghost. "I don't believe you. You're lying. How do I even know that this school is even real in the first place? That you're not just spinning a ludicrous tale to take my daughter away — to abduct her and hurt her—"
"No, Daddy, nothing bad will happen!" Ari burst out. "It's a real school, and we get to learn real things! She gave me a letter, a real letter, and it says I got accepted and everything! Sam has it! Show Dad the letter, Sam!"
And Sam came from behind Ari and held up the letter. Dad snatched it away, his other hand still gripping onto Ari's so tightly her bones were starting to hurt. "'School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?'" Dad read aloud, his voice shaking. "Learning magic? What is this — this nonsense?" he looked up at Professor McGonagall. "Is this some sort of joke?!"
"No, it's not!" Ari cried. "It's real! I'm a witch, Dad, Professor McGonagall said so. She said I can do magic, and I'm going to Hogwarts to practice my magic! And with other people! And they're not bad people, Daddy, they're good ones, just like us!"
But Dad wasn't paying attention to Ari. He was staring right at Professor McGonagall, and snarling almost as ferociously as Sam whenever he was in one of his moods. "Just what did you do to my daughter?" he thundered. "Just what did you do to make her espouse all these ridiculous notions?!"
"They are not ridiculous," Professor McGonagall said tersely, "and I ask that you listen to all I have to say first before making any hasty judgments. I have simply come to give Ari an opportunity to gain knowledge and expand her potential. I understand, sir, that it will be difficult to let go of your daughter after having her under your care for so long, but sooner or later, children must grow up and leave their guardian's side—"
"No," Dad said shortly.
Professor McGonagall's eyebrows shot up to her hairline. "I beg your pardon?"
"I said no," Dad said, and Ari could hear the sound of his teeth gnashing together. "She's not going to leave. I'm not going to let you take her away from me and enroll her in your — your school, or whatever it is!"
Ari opened her mouth to protest, but surprisingly, Sam beat her to it. "Dad, if this lady really wants to take Ari to her school, and Ari wants to go, too, then maybe she should just go. I mean…" he paused, seeming to consider his words for once, "it seems pretty official, with the letter and all, and Ari'll get to learn a lot of stuff she can't at home. And besides, she's been talking about wanting to go outside and stuff, so this is a good way to do just that."
"Yeah!" Ari chimed in. She felt a rush of unexpected gratitude and beamed at Sam beside her. "See, Daddy? Even Sam agrees, and you know how much he hates agreeing!"
"You can't force Ari to stay if she doesn't want to," Professor McGonagall said to Dad, her voice soft. "In the formative years, children thrive under a guardian's care and discipline, but as they grow they will inevitably develop opinions and ideas of their own. We can guide and nurture them all we want, but sooner or later we must let them out into the world and have them live life for themselves."
"No," Dad repeated in a tremulous voice, his grip so tight by now Ari's hand had gone numb. "You can't do this. You won't take my daughter away."
"Nobody is taking Ari away," Professor McGonagall continued, holding her palms out in a calming sort of gesture. "She will always be your child. While she attends Hogwarts, even though she must stay on the grounds for the duration of term, she will be able to come home during the winter and summer holidays. And of course, parents are allowed to communicate with their child as frequently as they want through the owl postal service."
"Yeah!" Ari exclaimed, throwing her hands up. "Let me go with her, Daddy! I'll write to you every day so you never have to worry! And Hogwarts sounds so much fun, I really wanna go! Please let me go, Daddy!"
"How could I ever let you go?" Dad whispered, letting go of her hand to cup the back of her head. "It would break my heart to see you leave, Ari… to make the same mistake I did with your mother…"
"But you won't!" Ari insisted, tugging on his shirt sleeve. "I'll come home on the holidays, and I can write to you! I'll write to you every day, and Professor McGonagall says she'll keep me safe. It's not like I'm leaving you forever. I'll always be your princess."
"Oh, Ari," he breathed. His eyes were glassy as he stared down at her. "I just want you to be happy, you know that."
"Yes, Dad."
"Would it make you happy, then, if you went to this new school?" he asked softly. "Happier than you are here?"
Ari thought for a moment. "I think I'll be happy anywhere I go," she finally responded. She gazed up at her father, whose earnest, steady eyes held hers like nightlights in the dark. "I like it here and I like living with you. And Sam too, sometimes, I guess," she added, which was followed by a scoff from the great bear beside her. "But I want to go to school, too. I can meet people like me and we'll have fun together, and we can learn things and have fun together like the stars and the bunnies and the trees!"
"Is this really what you want then, Ari?" Dad whispered. "You want to go to school? You want to meet new friends and learn new things?
She nodded solemnly. "Yes, Dad."
He gazed at her for a long moment, and Ari could see the sadness and indecision warring in his eyes. At last, he gave a huge, deflating sigh and turned to Professor McGonagall, who had been watching their interaction quietly. "So you'll take care of Ari, then, if she chooses to go to this school?" Dad asked cautiously. "You'll make sure she's happy? You'll make sure nothing or nobody tries to hurt her?"
"At Hogwarts, it is our most important responsibility to provide for the mental and physical well-being of each and every student," Professor McGonagall said firmly. "While they are within the boundaries of our school, we will make sure that no harm comes to them. I give you my word."
"And who are the people you've employed at your school?" Dad demanded. "Are they good people? Will they look after Ari, too?"
"Yes, indeed," Professor McGonagall nodded emphatically. "Our teachers are all experienced and well-equipped to deal with the needs of our students. As long as Ari is here, we will do all we can to ensure that she succeeds academically and emotionally."
Dad continued to stand there, silent, his hand pressing into Ari's shoulder so hard it was beginning to hurt. Ari didn't know if that was a good or bad thing, but surely if he wasn't saying anything, he had to have been considering the professor's offer, right?
It took a bit more pleading from Ari and some more explaining from Professor McGonagall, but eventually Dad cracked and allowed Ari to go to her new school. There was a tired, almost resigned look in his eyes as he gave his permission. Ari was so ecstatic that she bounced up and down and tackled him right around his torso.
"Thank you, Daddy!" she exclaimed into his chest. "Thank you for letting me go, I'm so happy! I can't wait to learn new things and explore the world, it'll be so much fun!"
"Oh, Ari," Dad choked out, wrapping her in a tight, suffocating hug. "I don't want to let you go, but if Professor McGonagall thought you were special enough to invite you, and she promises to keep you safe… and if this new school makes you happy, then I suppose I can't hold you back, can I?"
"No, Daddy," she whispered. After being held so close to him for so long, she was ready to be set free and explore the world. Her journey would be as vast and uplifting as her love for her father. "I love you, Daddy."
"I love you too, Ari," he whispered in her ear.
Sam scoffed. "What am I, chopped liver?"
Ari pulled herself away from Dad to look at the grumpy bear. "And Sam, I love you too, I guess!" she chirped, spreading her arms out.
He wrinkled his nose and stepped away. "No thanks."
Ari snickered before whirling back to Professor McGonagall, who had been standing at the side and dabbing her face with a handkerchief. "Now that Dad's agreed for me to go to Hogwarts, when can we go pick up school supplies, Professor?" Ari asked eagerly. "You said we had to do that, right?"
"Yes, indeed," Professor McGonagall said briskly, tucking the handkerchief back into her pocket. "There's a special place that sells supplies specifically for Hogwarts students. It's a bit of a far distance away and requires some… some special transportation to get there, so I hope that you're all in the mood for a bit of traveling today."
"Ooh, traveling?" Ari echoed excitedly, while Dad's face turned pale. "What kinda traveling are we doing? Do we get to grow wings and fly?"
It turned out they weren't flying after all, but using a special type of transportation called apple-rating. You just had to hold onto Professor McGonagall's arm and she would spin around and teleport you to the place in just two seconds! But Professor McGonagall warned they might experience some side effects because it was their apple-rating, but Ari shrugged it off. Just how bad could it be?
It turned out, it was really bad. In fact, it was probably the most horrible thing that Ari had ever experienced! She felt like she was spinning through a tiny tube and her eyes and ears were being popped out of her head like bullets popping through her skull. She opened her mouth to scream, but she found her lungs had been squished against her ribcage and she had no more room to draw breath. Was this how the rabbit felt before it got shot, she wondered dimly? Right as she felt like she was going to be squished into a pancake and suffocate, she toppled to the ground in a flimsy pile, as weak and limp as the bunny.
Dad rushed over her at once and began fussing over her, and Ari insisted that she was fine. Even Professor McGonagall had said it was normal and people were bound to get side effects after apple-rating for the first time.
Once Ari's head stopped spinning and she could see again, she noticed that they were indeed no longer in their house. They were standing in a strange, narrow corridor with beat-up brick walls all around them, making her feel all trapped and closed-in. Ari frowned at the plain, battered brick wall in front of them. Now, if this was what the outside world and freedom was like, she had to admit, it was a lot less exciting than she thought it would be!
But that was when Professor McGonagall reached into her pocket and took out a long, thin pencil. She called it a magic wand, and it could do real magic. And then to demonstrate, she tapped a brick on the wall in front of them with the tip of her magic wand. Ari gasped as the plain, ordinary-looking bricks started to move, twisting and wriggling around like they had come alive. They parted away to reveal a larger and larger gap, and a split second later it had formed a complete, imposing archway that led through a bustling cobblestone street full of cute little shops and brightly colored signs and — people! There were so many people with their two walking legs and mumble-jumble voices and brightly colored clothes, Ari could only stare at them with complete head-spinning, mouth-dangling, frozen shock!
"Welcome," Professor McGonagall said, "to Diagon Alley."
