On the evening of Friday, May 1st, 1992, as Harry, Amy, Susan, Hannah, Sirius, Remus, Amelia, and Heather were enjoying a dinner of chicken burritos with chunks of hearty white meat chicken, beans, rice, and hot sauce and Budweiser to wash them down with, Heather spoke up.
"So, " said Heather clearly, " This past week I've spent a lot of time reading applications from students interested in attending Skyward School of Practical Sorcery starting this September 1st."
"I'm guessing there were just way too many applicants to meet them in person?" piped up Harry.
"Indeed," confirmed Heather, "I intend for Skyward School of Practical Sorcery to be a school with a large student body. I will accept most applicants. I will only refuse those applicants I have a very clear reason to refuse. Harry, Amy, Susan, and Hannah, you four know that the Yellow Quartet will all be attending Skyward School of Practical Sorcery. I haven't fully vetted all of the other applicants yet, but there are a handful of students who I know I'm going to say yes to and I'm going to explain a bit about those students to you tonight."
"These were the most clear cut of the clear cut yeses?' asked Amelia.
"Indeed, " said Heather matter of factly, "The first of these students is a boy in the Yellow Quartet's year who is currently a Gryffindor at Hogwarts. His name is Neville Longbottom. "
"Like the four of you, " said Sirius uncomfortably, "Neville has a very tragic background story. However, it is a very personal story, and it would be inappropriate for any of the adults here to tell your four about it. When the four of you meet him at Skyward School of Practical Sorcery. he can tell his life story if he chooses to do so."
"Neville's favorite and best subject by far is Herbology, " said Amelia briskly.
"One thing I will say, " said Heather in a businesslike voice, "Is that Neville has struggled at Hogwarts because he has been using a secondhand wand."
"I remember, " declared Amy instantly, "You telling us months ago that your policy that only firsthand wands would be allowed at Skyward School of Practical Sorcery was non-negotiable!"
"Heather had one of the most serious looks I've ever seen on her face when she told us that!" exclaimed Harry.
"Absolutely, " said Heather in a no nonsense voice with that same serious look on her face, "You can never get such good results from another wizard's wand!"
"That's especially important for wizards in training, " said Remus firmly.
"Exactly, Remus, exactly, " said Heather approvingly, "Also in the Yellow Quartet's year, currently at Hogwarts and in Ravenclaw, will be a girl named Hermione Granger. Most applicants wrote two to three page essays on why they wish to attend Skyward School of Practical Sorcery. Hermione's application essay was fifteen pages long!"
"Good, " smiled Remus, "It's good to know there are kids out there who are serious about their academics."
"That's exactly what Hermione's essay made clear, " explained Heather, "She went on and on about how interested she is in each academic branch of magic and how she thinks she can benefit from a high quality education."
"I'm not sure about Hermione, " said Harry uncertainly, "During the Yellow Quartet's super brief stay at Hogwarts, we noticed that she doesn't seem very social at all and that her social skills seem questionable. I'm not sure if Skyward School of Practical Sorcery is the right school for her, given your intent to emphasize the social side of the school as much as the academic side."
"it's a fair question, " admitted Heather, "But I hope that being involved in school clubs and social events will help her to develop socially. I think being at a school that not only provides those things but requires them will be good for her. At Hogwarts, it's been too easy for her to settle into a life of all academics all the time. I hope Skyward School of Practical Sorcery will help her develop that balance. Actually socializing in the first place is the first step for her."
"Okay, that makes sense, " said Harry crisply.
"I am also accepting a pair of identical twin girls from the Yellow Quartet's year, Parvati and Padma Patil, " revealed Heather.
"Meeting identical twins could be cool!" said Amy eagerly.
"I felt bad for the Patil twins being stuck in separate houses at Hogwarts, " said Susan matter of factly, "Going to a school without a house system will enable the Patil twins to reestablish the close bond that they never should have lost."
"Another benefit to going houseless, " said Heather happily, "The next student I have accepted is in the year below yours. She is called Luna Lovegood. I don't want to say too much about her. It's better for you to find out for yourselves. I will say this; Luna is very kindhearted and while she's definitely on the different side, I think the Yellow Quartet will really like her once they get to know her."
"Ah, A little mysteriousness, " grinned Hannah.
"Luna herself IS mysterious, but in a good way!" smiled Heather, "On the other end of the spectrum, an older boy who will be two years above yours named Cedric Diggory has also been accepted."
"Cedric's father, Amos, works at the Ministry in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, " Amelia told Harry, Amy, Susan, and Hannah.
"Is Cedric really interested in animals then?" asked Hannah curiously.
"Very, " answered Amelia, "Amos says Cedric will devour any book on animals, magical or muggle, that he can get his hands on."
"Cedric also seems very academically motivated, but in a less extreme way than Hermione, " noted Heather, "So that's who I've accepted so far."
"So, " said Harry attentively, "Ten students have been accepted to Skyward School of Practical Sorcery so far: me, Amy, Susan, Hannah, Neville, Hermione, Parvati, Padma, Luna, and Cedric."
"Very good Harry, " said Heather cheerfully, "I think it's a decent start. Again, I expect to accept most applicants. But those six I just told you about stood out most to me."
"I think Skyward School of Practical Sorcery is going to have a very interesting student body, " smiled Harry.
"Agreed, " chroused Amy, Susan, and Hannah.
Harry, Amy, Susan, and Hannah just smiled at each other and Harry burst out, "SEPTEMEBER 1ST, GET HERE ALREADY!"