Hello everybody!
I've always wanted to write a Harry Potter story, but I also love period pieces, so those ideas meshed together to become this story! It takes place 26 years before Harry Potter attends Hogwarts, which means that any characters from the original books are younger versions of themselves. There is also a good addition of OCs that I created for this story; I wanted to have a blend of familiar faces as well as new characters people could get to know in this world.
I also wanted a story in an older time period, as I think it would be interesting to have a story take place during a time of cultural change and historic moments. And since my character is Muggleborn, it will allow me to help show how the Wizarding World could react to certain cultural events. Plus, as I said before, I'm a sucker for period pieces, ha ha!
Not going to lie, publishing this story scares me a bit. Being a Potterhead myself, I know how much people love the original story and characters, so me publishing a story without Harry and his friends makes me wonder how people will react. But I'm going out on a limb and putting this out there! Hooray for being brave!
This story I'm still writing and working on, but I've written several chapters, enough to publish content for at least a year, so by then I should have more chapters to share! That is, if anyone even reads this by then lol!
Have a good day, and thank you for giving my story a chance!
Note: For readers of my other stories, I am also working on the next TMNT story chapter, and I also hope to update my Venom story soon! Don't think I forgot about y'all!
The Diminutive Professor
Summer, 1965
If Joseph North had had any say in the matter, he would have decided to stay in Ohio.
The eleven-year-old liked his hometown; it was small, familiar, and he knew just about everyone there. He had been happy, his parents had been happy, and he would have been happy living there the rest of his life. So when his dad suddenly announced one day that they were moving to England, of all places, the boy soon found himself flying over the Atlantic Ocean to a new home thousands of miles away.
Mr. North worked as a Marketing Director for a new company called Grunnings, which made drills. His boss had asked him to move abroad and help set up a new branch in the United Kingdom, as a way of creating more business in the European countries. Mr. North had been excited for the move, as had his wife.
His son was not as excited.
Joseph's family moved into a small townhouse in Richmond, which was part of the Greater London area. And he wasn't happy to be there. Everything, from the double-decker buses, to the strange money and customs, and how people spoke... everything about this country was different, and he hated feeling like a stranger everywhere he went. However, since his parents were happy about the move, he kept quiet.
Though Joseph had to admit it wasn't all bad. After everything was unpacked, his parents spent the next few days taking him to see famous landmarks like the Tower of London and the Royal Botanic Gardens. He found these day trips fun and interesting, especially the large museums that held hundreds of years worth of history and wonder in their walls. But then little things like a bus driver's undecipherable Cockney accent or the fact that French fries were called 'chips' would remind him that he wasn't in America, which only made him feel homesick.
The boy missed his friends back in Ohio. While he liked seeing new things, he was having trouble adjusting to his new life abroad, especially without any friends here to play with. And things would probably get harder once school started. There would be new, strict rules for him to follow, and everyone wore uniforms. And with the end of July fast approaching, he figured that he should start preparing himself for this new life.
Joseph was an admittedly shy person, and sometimes easily frightened. It didn't help that he wasn't particularly big or strong, and his brown eyes always darted around nervously. He could sometimes be brave should the need arise, like the time he had stood up to a neighborhood bully (earning a black eye in the process), but these instances were very rare.
But, over everything else he had to worry about, Joseph's biggest fear was that something weird would happen again. Strange things always happened to the him, and he often got in trouble despite having done nothing wrong.
Once back home, he had been in his bedroom reading a book about water animals, and somehow, a family of otters ended up under his bed. It had to have been a practical joke, though they eerily looked like the ones from his book. Despite his protests that he hadn't brought them in from the nearby creek, his parents hadn't believed him, and they called animal control. By the time someone had shown up, the animals had mysteriously disappeared.
Another time, at school, he had been playing outside during recess, and he and a group of classmates had been kicking a ball around. One of the other guys had tripped him before he could get the ball, laughing as he ran off. Joseph had been angry, but there was no way that he could have caused the boy to trip and fall while being twenty feet away from him. And he couldn't have caused a large growth of weeds to completely cover the boy to prevent him from standing up (the teacher on duty had to call the school's gardener to cut the child free).
Other incidents like this were peppered throughout Joseph's childhood, and each didn't sit right with him. The explanations he and the adults came up with didn't satisfy him, and he had a strange feeling that the truth was something… unusual. But despite the explanations being satisfactory or not, he didn't want to draw any unnecessary attention to himself. With him already being the odd kid out as an American, one weird occurrence would ruin his chances of making any friends at school.
And right now, he could really use some friends.
[]
"I still think you'll look rather handsome," his mom said one night, smoothing out the new school uniform that they had picked up earlier. They had stopped by his school (a brick institution named Hartford Hall) to fill out some forms and meet the headmistress.
"And it's green," she added, hanging up his uniform in the closet. "Your favorite color."
"The necktie's kinda tight," Joseph said, sitting cross-legged on his bed in his pajamas. "And no uniform's gonna make me fit in with the other kids."
"Why won't you fit in?" she questioned.
"For one thing, I think my voice won't help," he replied, tapping his chin. "I open my mouth, and everyone'll know I'm not from here. If the kids at the nearby park won't talk to me because I'm American, how will school be any better?"
"Do you think you're being a little dramatic?" his mother asked.
"No," the boy retorted moodily, crossing his arms. "I've never been to a school in another country before, but it's safe to bet that the kids that're different get picked on. And what if…" He looked down at his lap. "What if I mess things up? What if I don't make any friends, and I end up sitting alone everyday?"
Mrs. North smiled understandingly, walking over and sitting on the bed next to him.
"You'll be fine," his mother assured him, hugging him around the shoulders. "You're smart, kind, and brave. Anyone who can't see that isn't worth being your friend." She kissed the top of his head, smiling a little. "I know this move's been difficult, and that you haven't been entirely happy here. But I admire how brave you've been through it all... Will you at least give Hartford a try?"
Joseph nodded, smiling in return.
"I will," he promised.
His mother smiled. brushing back his hair. "Good!" She stood back up. "Now get some sleep; it's Saturday tomorrow, so your father's going to be home working on the yard. And a coworker gave him some tea leaves, and I thought having afternoon tea would be fun!"
"Afternoon tea?" the boy repeated, his face wrinkling with disgust.
"I promise you'll like it," Mrs. North assured him, turning off the overhead light. "Mrs. Evans next door gave me a recipe for scones that I'm going to try out. But get some sleep; I better not come back in ten minutes to find you with a book under the covers."
"I'm too tired tonight," Joseph admitted, settling into bed. "Goodnight, Mom. Love you."
"I love you too, Joseph." And with that she closed the door, darkening the room even further.
The boy stared up at the ceiling for a while, moonlight streaming through the nearby window. He was anxious about school, but less so. His mother's encouragements always made him feel better, and he was glad that Hartford Hall wasn't too far from their home.
I can do this, he thought, turning onto his side and closing his eyes. I won't mess things up, and if something weird happens, I won't get blamed. I'll just be a normal, regular kid. Nothing will go wrong.
Outside his window, a tawny owl flew by.
[]
The next day was the 31st, the last day of July. It was cloudy, but it was still warm out. Joseph had spent most of the day reading, but closer to four o'clock, his mother called him into the kitchen.
"Can you set some napkins at the coffee table?" she asked, briefly checking on the scones baking in the oven. "I'll get the cups and plates; everything's just about ready. And call your father in from mowing."
As Joseph grabbed the napkins, there was a knock at the front door.
"Oh! Not right now! Who could that be?"
"I'll get it." The boy dropped the napkins off in the living room before heading down the hallway.
Opening the front door, he was a little confused when, instead of seeing a person, he saw a bowler hat. He quickly realized someone was wearing the hat, and he looked down, blinking with surprise as he saw the strangest-looking man he had ever seen.
The man was shorter than him, with glasses and a bushy mustache, but that wasn't the craziest thing about his appearance. Besides the bowler hat, he wore a striped gray three-piece suit with, of all things, a dark blue cloak covered in silver stars. It was such a strange choice that the boy didn't hear the man's question.
"What?" Joseph asked after getting over his surprise.
"I'm sorry," the short man said in a squeaky voice, straightening the round spectacles on his nose before removing his hat. "I was just inquiring if this was the North Residence?"
"Uh… Yes, it is," the boy replied, still trying to wrap his head around why a grown man was wearing a cloak with a suit in the middle of summer. He didn't recognize him as any of their neighbors, and there wasn't a car parked on the road.
"Excellent!" the man said with a smile, reaching out to shake his hand. "My name is Professor Filius Flitwick! And you must be Joseph! It's nice to meet you, young man!"
"Uh… you… you know my name? Joseph asked, tentatively shaking the man's hand.
"Yes," the man replied cheerfully. "Now, I assume both your parents are home?" The boy nodded. "Excellent! I find that it's best for these meetings when both parents are present. May I come in?"
I don't remember Mom saying she invited anyone over, the boy thought. He turned back into the house.
"Mom?" he called. "There's a Mr. Flitwick here to see you!"
"Professor, actually," the man corrected. Mrs. North appeared at the end of the hallway. "Good afternoon, ma'am!"
"Hello!" she replied brightly, wiping her hands on her apron. "I'm so sorry for my appearance; I wasn't expecting anyone!"
"I understand, and I apologize for the intrusion," Professor Flitwick said, bowing a little. "Especially so close to tea time! I was just hoping to talk to you and your husband about Joseph's future."
Mrs. North immediately looked down at Joseph with a questioning look, which he mirrored back. Her eyes flitted to the starry cloak.
"About Joseph?" she asked, confused. Then she seemed to have a lightbulb moment. "Oh! This is about his school, isn't it?"
The short man blinked with surprise. "Actually... yes. Most parents don't guess that whenever someone from the school shows up."
"Well, we did just go to his school yesterday to finish registering him," Mrs. North explained. "Did we forget to fill something out? I'm so sorry; we're still getting used to how the school system works over here!"
"You... you did?" the professor asked, now looking as confused as Joseph. "Has someone already come to talk to you?" He reached into his jacket pocket, unrolling a long piece of aged, yellow paper.
A scroll? Joseph wondered.
"I wasn't aware that someone else had been sent," the stranger continued. "It says here that no one's talked to you yet."
"Talked to us about what?" Mrs. North asked quizzically. "The principal- headmistress, I mean, of Hartford Hall explained everything, I thought."
There were a few moments of silence before Professor Flitwick started to giggle. Given the high pitch of his voice, it was sounded rather funny, and Joseph did his best to suppress a smile. His mother, however, didn't look as amused, though she waited for the cloaked man to finish laughing.
"Oh ho! My apologies, Madame," he said, rolling the scroll back up and pocketing it. "I believe we both were confused!" He glanced up at the sky outside. "Might I come inside for a little while? It looks like it's going to rain."
Joseph poked his head outside and looked up, noticing that the clouds overhead had darkened and were starting to gather.
"Sure," Mrs. North agreed after a moment of hesitation, stepping aside to let the man into the front hallway. "Please sit in the living room. And why don't you join us for tea?"
"I would like that very much, thank you," the short professor said happily, looking around the room with interest. "I heard that you had recently moved here from…" He frowned. "I'm not too familiar with the States… Virginia?"
"Ohio," Joseph corrected, still looking at the man with confusion. While he wasn't completely familiar with how British people usually dressed, he was pretty sure cloaks weren't in fashion. And the man said that he was here to talk about his future… Why did the thought of that sound so scary?
"I'll go get another cup and see if your father's finished out back," Joseph's mother said to him, briskly leaving the room.
"So," Professor Flitwick said, turning to the boy with a kind smile, "how are you liking London so far? I know it must be very different from America!"
"Yeah, it's different alright," the boy agreed, still wary of the man. "I've been to a few museums and I got to see where the Queen lives. Those were pretty far out."
"... Far out of what?" the man asked, looking confused.
"It's slang. It means they were cool." The man still didn't seem to understand. "... It means they're interesting."
The professor nodded. "Ah, I see. I keep forgetting that there are different words used in the Muggle world."
Muggle world? Joseph wondered.
"But you liked the museums?" Professor Flitwick continued, hopping a little to reach the couch and sit down. "Are you a studious child? That is, you like learning and schoolwork?"
The boy shrugged. "Kind of. I mean, I like reading a lot. But my grades are okay." He hesitated, working up the courage to ask the question. "Why're you wearing a-"
"Here we are!" Mrs. North had walked back into the room, closely followed by Mr. North. Joseph noted that his father's taller-than-average height clashed against the professor's shorter-than-average height, and wondered what the height difference between them was.
"This is my husband, Henry," the boy's mother said, setting another cup and saucer on the coffee table. Professor Flitwick hopped to his feet. "Dear, this is Professor Flitwick; he's here about Joseph's school."
"Nice to meet you," Mr. North said genially, bending down a little so he could shake the other man's hand. "Sorry if I'm a little sweaty; I was doing some yardwork out back."
"Not a problem at all, Mr. North," the short professor said cheerfully. "I myself grew up in a rural area, and I know that yardwork can be a challenge!"
Joseph's father laughed. "Yes, it can!" He turned to his wife. "Are we good to go with tea?"
"Yes, but I have to get the scones out of the oven really quick."
She left the room, and the men sat down. Joseph sat closer to his father, on the opposite side of the table from the professor. When Mrs. North came back, she set the plate of scones on the table.
"I hope they're not too under-done," she apologized, sitting in a nearby armchair.
"I'm sure they'll taste delicious," Professor Flitwick said kindly.
Joseph's mother, having learned from a neighbor what to do, proceeded to go through a somewhat lengthy explanation about how tea time was supposed to work, and insisted on pouring the tea for everyone. The scones were indeed a little undercooked, and the tea didn't taste very good to him, but Joseph kept his mouth shut so he wouldn't hurt his mother's feelings. Professor Flitwick was also gracious, though he did kindly suggest that she ask people if they wanted cream and sugar in their tea first instead of adding them.
"My wife says that you wanted to talk to us about Joseph's school?" Mr. North asked, taking a sip of tea before setting his cup down.
"Well, yes, but not about Hartford Hall," the short professor replied. "I'm here from another school called Hogwarts."
Joseph quickly stifled a snicker, not expecting the man to say something so ridiculous. His father looked confused, and his mother let out a nervous laugh.
"Oh! What a... unique name," she said.
"Most people think so when they first hear it," the professor agreed. "And it's a pretty unique school." He set his cup and saucer down. "Now, I know what I'm about to say could sound a bit... unusual. But I can assure you all that it is the truth."
The three members of the North family exchanged confused glances. Joseph couldn't help but be intrigued, though he was feeling a bit wary; why was someone from another school here to talk to his parents about him? And what kind of a school was Hogwarts?
"Hogwarts," Professor Flitwick said, as if reading his mind, "is a school for young witches and wizards."
Whatever Joseph had been expecting to hear, it certainly wasn't THAT. And, judging by his parents' reactions, they hadn't been expecting it either. The diminutive professor simply nodded at the dumbfounded expressions.
"This is usually how these conversations go," he said, sounding almost apologetic. "In my experience, I've found that the best way to get past it is to simply and say it. Rip the bandage right off. Hogwarts is a school for the study of witchcraft and wizardry, what you would perhaps call 'magic.'"
"I'm... sorry," Joseph's father said, shaking his head. "Is this some kind of joke?"
"No joke here, sir," the teacher replied. "Magic is real, and witches and wizards have been around for millennia." He placed a hand on his chest. "I myself am a wizard." He turned to Joseph. "And you, young man, are a wizard too."
"Uh..." The boy turned to his parents, wondering if this was some elaborate joke they were playing on him; it was the only logical answer he could come up with. But his parents looked as confused and shocked as he did. He turned back to the professor. "A... a wizard? Like Merlin or something?"
"Yes, exactly like him," Professor Flitwick replied. "He's very famous in our world, actually."
"That's enough," Joseph's father cut in, getting to his feet and frowning at the shorter man. "I don't know who you are or what nonsense you're spouting, but I'd like to ask you to leave."
"Now this is how these usually go," the small man sighed, taking a polished wooden stick from inside his cloak. "I'd be happy to demonstrate-"
"No thank you," Mr. North cut in, starting towards the stranger. He reached out to grab him by the shoulder, but suddenly, he disappeared into thin air.
Joseph's mom let out a small shriek, jumping up and looking wildly around the room.
"Henry? Henry?!"
Joseph stared at Professor Flitwick, who had bent down to pick something up off the ground. The boy's mouth dropped open when he saw that the man was holding a grey rabbit that was frantically trying to crawl out of his grasp.
"My apologies, Mr. North," the short teacher told the struggling animal. "I'll turn you back to normal soon, I promise."
"Turn you back to-" Mrs. North pointed at the rabbit, a frightened expression on her face. "Where'd that rabbit come from? And where's Henry?"
"No WAY," Joseph gasped, a crazy, impossible thought coming into his head. "Is that..."
"Yes, this is your father," Professor Flitwick apologized, holding the rabbit in one hand while waving his wand with the other. A cage appeared on the coffee table, and he placed the rabbit inside it.
Joseph's mom, upon seeing this, promptly fainted. The short wizard flicked his wand, and the armchair moved on its own to catch her before she hit the floor. The boy gaped at all of this, wondering if he was imagining things. The professor sighed.
"There's always a fainter," he said to himself. He turned to Joseph, who quickly stood up and backed away. "My apologies for all of this, young man; you have nothing to fear from me. I'll turn your father back to normal, I promise." He peered at the rabbit through the cage bars. "Again, my sincerest apologies, Mr. North. But if this conversation is going to make any progress, you will have to refrain from attacking me or throwing me out." The animal didn't reply, huddling in the corner of the cage.
"Alright, then." The wizard raised his wand. A second later, the cage was gone, and Mr. North was sitting on the coffee table. His sudden weight flipped it over, sending the cups, saucers, and food flying. But with another wave of his wand, the wizard made it all stop mid-air.
"What the-" Joseph's father scrambled to his feet, looking at the small teacher with shock and fear. He then noticed his wife. "JOAN!"
He rushed to her side, but she was already starting to wake up.
"Henry," she muttered. "I had the strangest dream..." She noticed the floating teacups and sat up with a start. "Oh my!"
"So sorry about the mess," Professor Flitwick apologized.
Tracing his wand slowly over his head in a circular motion, the cups and food floated back down, and the coffee table righted itself. The North family watched with shock as the utensils, tea, and napkins set themselves neatly on the table; one of the napkins cleaned up a spot of spilled tea. Then they became still, and the wizard lowered his wand.
"Like I said," the short wizard said, "I find it's best to rip off the bandage at once. Though I do apologize for the shock I've caused. It's always difficult, talking to new students from Muggle families."
Joseph and his parents stared at the stranger with shock, trying to process what they had seen. The boy had only one question that he could think of.
"How... did you do that?" he asked.
Professor Flitwick turned to him, a kind smile on his face.
"I'm a wizard," he said simply. "And you are too. You can learn to do all of those things and more at Hogwarts."
"Hold on a minute," Mr. North finally said, running a hand through his hair. "Wizards... magic... exist? And you're one of them?" He looked at his son. "And so is Joseph?"
"Yes," Professor Flitwick replied. "And before you ask, you and your wife are not magical. There are witches and wizards born from non-magical parents, usually because of an ancestor that could use magic. I'm not sure what your specific ancestry is, as your lineage files are at the American Magical Congress."
"M-Magical Congress?" Mrs. North stammered, still looking quite pale.
"Every country has it's own wizarding government that operates out of public view," the teacher explained. "Us witches and wizards like to keep a low profile, not letting people such as yourselves know that we exist. The Ministry of Magic here in the United Kingdom works to keep all traces of magic hidden from the Muggle - that is, non-magical - world."
Joseph's head felt like it was spinning, but in a good way. Even though he was one who liked concrete, scientific facts, something about the man's claim of magic seemed to ring true in his mind. But he still had some questions.
"Wait," the boy said. "If I'm a wizard, does that mean I've... always been able to use magic?"
The professor nodded. "Yes. Young witches and wizards often display magical abilities while growing up, usually by accident. For instance, have you ever done something that you couldn't explain, something that should have been impossible?"
"The otters!" Mrs. North exclaimed suddenly, her eyes going wide. "And the department store mannequins!"
"I told you I wasn't moving them when you weren't looking!" Joseph said, a sense of relief flooding him.
"And that bully at school... All of those strange things over the years," Mr. North said. "Those were all times Joseph used magic?"
"It sounds like it," Professor Flitwick replied. "Young witches and wizards usually start to show magical abilities around the age of five, with their powers growing the older they get. By the time they get to be Joseph's age, it becomes difficult to control. Which is why Wizarding law requires that you start formal training at this time." He gestured to Mr. and Mrs. North. "Some parents choose to homeschool, but given that you two do not possess any magical abilities, the best option for Joseph is Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
"What about Hartford Hall?" Mr. North ask. "We've already gone through the application process and signed the paperwork."
The short wizard nodded. "I understand, Mr. North. I know it's a lot to take in at once, learning that there's a whole magical community and that your son is now a part of it. But that is why I was sent here, to help explain things and answer any questions you might have, to make the process easier for your family. And as for Hartford Hall, I'd be happy to help smooth things over with them."
"Hogwarts," Joseph said, testing out the name. "Is it here in London?"
"Oh no," Professor Flitwick replied. "Hogwarts is up in Scotland."
"Scotland?" the North Family chorused.
"That's... pretty far away," Joseph said, recalling a map of the United Kingdom from his father's guidebook. "How would I get there and back every day? Some sort of magic spell or something?"
The short teacher shook his head. "Oh, no need for that. Hogwarts is a boarding school, meaning you will live there with the other students the whole academic year. From September until June."
The Norths were shocked by this piece of news, and they exchanged a quick look among themselves.
"June?" Mrs. North spoke up. "But that's... ten months! You mean we wouldn't see our son for ten months?!"
"Of course not, Mrs. North," Flitwick said gently. "There is a three week Christmas holiday in late December, and your son will be able to come home then."
Joseph's father asked another question, but the boy didn't hear it, too engrossed in his own thoughts. A sense of dread was coming over him; he had to go to a magical school all the way in Scotland? That was a whole other country, and he was still getting used to this one!
I thought going to Hartford Hall was gonna be scary, he thought. Now I've gotta go to a whole other school, one with magic, and I won't even see mom and dad until Christmas? Part of what made Hartford Hall bearable was that I got to come home at the end of the day! I can't do that at Hogwarts!
"-and rest assured that Hogwarts is a safe place," Professor Flitwick was saying. "And Joseph won't be alone; there will be plenty of children his age, some of which are also learning about the Wizarding community for the first time." He turned to the boy, smiling. "It all sounds rather exciting, doesn't it?"
The adults turned towards Joseph, who was wringing his fingers together, a sure sign that he was feeling anxious or nervous.
"I..." The boy shook his head. "I... What if... What I don't wanna go?" He looked down at his lap. "It's just... it's really far away... and my mom and dad..."
"Oh, Joseph," his father said, putting an arm around his shoulders and hugging him close. Professor Flitwick nodded understandingly.
"I know it's a lot to think about at your age," he said. "And I know it's been challenging already, leaving America and coming over here, only to be told that you have to leave again." The wizard smiled kindly at Joseph. "But you won't be alone in all of this; I'll be there to help you every step of the way, to help you get ready for Hogwarts." He gestured to Mr. and Mrs. North. "And your parents, of course, will be with you too.
"But I will not lie, it will not be easy for you at times," the diminutive professor continued. "It's always difficult for a child when he's away from his parents for the first time, and it's only natural to miss them and feel homesick. I myself missed my own mother when I went to school. But you three will be able to write to each other; we've got a very efficient mailing system. And there are so many amazing things to learn about at Hogwarts, and something tells me that you're pretty keen when it comes to learning new things!"
The boy smiled a little. "I do like learning new things," he agreed. "You said you're a professor... does that mean you teach at Hogwarts? What class do you teach?" Something told the boy that the answer wouldn't be Arithmetic.
"I'm the Charms professor," Flitwick explained. "I'll be one of you teachers throughout the years, and in my class you'll learn how to do all sorts of things! For example..."
He took out his wand, holding it above his head. Mrs. North gasped as he traced his wand through the air, a trail of colorful bubbles following it.
Woah, Joseph thought, gaping as one of the bubbles floated over to him. He poked it with a finger, making it pop. Professor Flitwick lowered his wand, and the other bubbles vanished.
"That's a simple spell you'll learn in your first year," the teacher explained. "You'll also learn how to make objects fly, how to make cups dance... It's an entertaining subject, if I do say so myself!"
The boy mulled over the wizard's words, thinking everything through. If he was a wizard, then it made sense that he had to learn how to use magic. And if Hogwarts was the best place to do that... He looked at his parents.
"I... I'd like to go," he said. "I'll miss you both every day, and I know it's in another country... But if it means I'll learn how to be a wizard, then I'd like to go."
Mr. and Mrs. North exchanged a look, a silent conversation passing between them. They turned back to their son, smiling and nodding. Mrs. North went over to the couch and pulled him into a tight hug.
"We'll write to you every week," she promised. "And I can't wait to hear about what you're going to learn!"
Mr. North smiled at his son. "You're gonna do a great job, buddy!" He turned to Professor Flitwick. "I'm sorry for getting angry with you earlier. Though I still have some questions about Hogwarts, if you wouldn't mind answering them."
"Nothing to worry about, Mr. North," the teacher replied congenially. "And of course I'll answer any questions you and your family have!" He glanced out the window. "It doesn't look like the rain isn't letting up anytime soon, so we should have plenty of time to chat!"
And indeed it didn't. It rained for three more hours, giving the North Family time to ask about Hogwarts, the Wizarding community, and much more. When the weather cleared up, the family said their goodbyes with Professor Flitwick, already planning to meet again next week to get Joseph's school supplies.
Later that evening, Joseph sat in his room, re-reading the letter Professor Flitwick had given him. The emerald ink seemed to shine under the lamp light, and he ran a finger over the wax seal on the back of the envelope.
Me... a wizard, he thought, unable to take the smile off of his face. It felt like he was about to go on a big adventure, and he imagined himself casting spells and saving the day.
Yes, he still had his worries and questions, but for now, he was happy. And for the first time since moving to London, he couldn't wait to see what tomorrow brought.
Hope you all enjoyed the story so far! Follow and favorite to be updated when I post the next chapter!
Have a great day everybody!
-aggiefrogger