3 Chapter 3:The_Letter
Harry hid a smirk as he walked back home after delivering the papers. It had been almost a week since Dudley's birthday and already most of his cousin's presents were either broken or non-functional. The wheels of the Racing Bike had bent when Dudley had tried to use it like a BMX, although the fact that he had managed to pick up enough speed on it to go (briefly) airborne from the small ramp was still something that Harry found hard to believe.
The chocolates that Harry had got for his cousin had all been eaten and Mr. Kalwar had mentioned off-hand that Vernon had popped in and almost emptied the entire shelf on Dudley's behalf.
-Hwooo!
Harry looked up as a bird flew overhead and blinked at the sight of the rolled-up letter in its talons. The bird circled him before coming down to land, clutching the letter in one taloned foot while it grasped the low-hanging branch with the other.
-Hwoooo.
Harry looked at the proffered letter, then slowly reached out for it, trusting in his toughness to protect him should the bird decide to attack. However, the owl simply relinquished the letter to him.
"Thank you." Harry said absently, unrolling the envelope to reveal the wax seal holding it closed. The seal was embossed with a quartered shield, each part of which had a different animal on it while an ornate letter H was centered on the whole thing.
Shrugging, Harry moved to lean against the tree while he cracked the seal and pulled out the sheets within. Opening it up (and mentally noting that the letter wasn't made of paper but what actually seemed to be parchment), Harry began to read.
.
…-o+o-…
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Harry 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 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
-o+o-
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
UNIFORM
First-year students will require:
1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)
2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
4. One winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupil's clothes should carry name tags.
COURSE BOOKS
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble
OTHER EQUIPMENT
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
Students may also bring, if they desire, an owl OR a cat OR a toad.
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICK
Yours sincerely,
Lucinda Thomsonicle-Pocus
Chief Attendant of Witchcraft Provisions
…-o+o-…
.
Harry stared at the letter in surprise.
Magic.
Well, that explained a lot.
Tucking the letter into his pocket, Harry started towards his house and paused at the sight of the owl still seated on a branch.
"Wait a moment, please. I'll have a letter for you soon."
The owl nodded again and Harry jogged the rest of the way home, the owl following him until he got to the door. Running up to his room, he quickly started to write on a sheet of paper.
.
…-o+o-…
Deputy Headmistress McGonogall
Although I would like to enroll in your school, I cannot since my current financial status means that even if I knew where to purchase the items required, I cannot afford them at this time.
Unless my situation changes, I must respectfully decline your invitation.
Yours,
Harry Potter.
…-o+o-…
.
"That should get their attention." Harry smirked, folding up the letter. Walking outside, he found the owl waiting on the fence. As he approached, it stuck one foot out and Harry quickly tied the letter to its leg.
"Please take this to the Deputy Headmistress." Harry said and the owl nodded once more before flying off. Harry watched it shrink, then frowned as it seemed to blur away.
"Huh, that was odd." He mused, then he shrugged. He still needed to grab some breakfast, then he had quite a bit of weeding to catch up on.
.
Minerva McGonogall looked up as the owl fluttered in through the open window and landed on the perch near her desk, a perch that had been installed at her request for moments such as this.
"Minnie?" A voice called as Minerva untied the letter and the Deputy Headmistress waved absently for the diminutive charms Professor to enter.
"I was passing and I heard the owl come in." Filius explained as he pulled himself up into the chair. "So, who is the letter from?"
"Well," Minerva began as she unrolled the sheet of paper, "His handwriting isn't all that good, but it's from… it's from Harry Potter!"
"Oh, excellent!" Filius cheered, clapping his hands. "I do hope he takes after Lily, she was an absolute joy to teach and so quick-witted in class… Minnie? What's wrong?"
Minerva stared white-faced, almost glaring, at the sheet of paper in her hand. Realizing that she wasn't going to answer any time soon, Filius whipped out his wand and performed a brief charm, causing a copy of the letter to appear and float to the desk.
"Well now, let's see." He mused as he picked up the copy and scanned it. "Oh my! That isn't right."
"He… he has to attend!" Minerva whispered and Filius nodded firmly as he dispelled the copy.
"If he is worried about his finances, then who better to explain them to him than a Goblin?" He asked self-depreciatingly. "I can take the Knight Bus to… where is he, by the way?"
"Little Whinging, 4 Privet drive." Minerva replied absently. "I told Albus he shouldn't have been placed with them… Oooh, that man!"
"MINNIE!"
McGonogall jumped in her seat. "Yes?"
"I will go to him and help him sort out his financial troubles." Filius repeated. "With me to translate, I am certain that he and I can get the situation at Gringotts sorted quickly."
"Oh, I… um, alright." Minerva managed as she fought to bring her emotions back under her control. "Thank you… do you need any money for the bus?"
"My relatives would disown me if I didn't always carry money on me." Filius chuckled. "I'm certain that I can afford a simple bus ride."
.
.
Filius debarked from the bus and frowned in concentration. Although he could detect wards at the location he intended to go, his goblin senses almost screamed at him that the wards were under-powered and incomplete.
Furthermore, the magical signature was very familiar.
"Albus." He muttered. "How could you mess up that badly… Blood wards? Dash it all, Albus, there's a reason that they were abandoned centuries ago. Oh well, at least my heritage means they won't be able to affect me. So, Mr. Potter, let's see how you've grown since the day you fell asleep while hugging my leg…"
.
"Mr Potter?"
Harry glanced up from the weeding and blinked at the sight of the small man stood before him.
"Yes?"
"I am Professor Filius Flitwick from Hogwarts." The short man replied with a wide smile. "After your letter reached us, I volunteered to come and introduce you back to the magical world."
"And if I don't have any money, it doesn't matter." Harry pointed out, causing Filius to tilt his head inquisitively.
"No money? Mr Potter, even though the Potter Family Vault is still closed to you…"
"The what?" Harry interrupted and Filius paused, obviously re-thinking his plans for the conversation.
"Mr Potter… what exactly do you know about your parents?"
"Not much." Harry shrugged. "And most of that from Aunt Marge. She claimed my dad was unemployed…"
"Technically correct, James was wealthy enough not to need to work." Filius interjected.
"…and that mum was a scarlet woman… whatever that means."
Filius took a jagged breath. "Somehow, I do not believe that she was talking about Lily's hair."
"My parents names were James and Lily?" Harry asked eagerly and Filius closed his eyes.
"Damn you, Albus. Damn you to the Pits of Poverty! How could you leave Lily's son here?"
For a long moment, he stood motionless, then he exhaled sharply.
"Mr. Potter, as I said, I am from Hogwarts and I came here to help you, but it seems that you need more help than I had planned. Fortunately, I have several relatives at Gringotts who owe me favors, so I can do more to aid you than any of the other professors. May I help you with the weeding, then we can depart for Diagon Alley."
Harry nodded and Filius waved his hand, causing a stick to appear in it.
"This, Mr. Potter..."
"You can call me Harry, if you want." Harry offered and Filius grinned at him.
"And you can call me Uncle Fil outside class. Lily was one of my favorite students and after you were born, she made a point of inviting me over to Potter Manor to meet you just before you all went into hiding… I'll tell you about it at lunch, if you wish. For now, though…"
Harry watched wide-eyed as Filius swished his wand through a series of loops, flicks and zig-zags before finishing with an upwards flick.
"Accusatabiit!"
Across the garden, the weeds uprooted themselves and flew over the top of the house.
"There we go." Filius said smugly, the stick vanishing again, "All done and on the compost pile."
"What was that word?" Harry asked curiously and Filius looked approvingly at him.
"That particular spell has a latin root. The expanded version translates as unwanted plants be gone but by using my wand as I did, I could use the shortened version."
"Useful." Harry grinned. "Let me grab my bag and I'll be right with you."
Filius waited as Harry raced into the house, then came out again, slinging a battered rucksack over his shoulder.
"I can see we'll have to get you a new wardrobe." He commented and Harry flinched slightly.
"I… it wouldn't be a good idea to let my relatives know that I have money… it could prove… difficult."
"I see." Filius mused, frowning slightly. "Well, let's see if we can solve that. For now, though, I believe that transport is required, so…"
Filius held out his hand, the stick present once again and the tip of it lit up. An instant later, there was a loud Bang and a three-decker purple bus appeared out of nowhere.
"Welcome to the Knight bu… Professor!"
"Hello again, Stanley." Filius said warmly. "Two to Diagon, please."
"What on earth?" Harry asked, bemused.
.
.
"Thank god! Solid ground!" Harry gasped as he half-stepped, half-fell from the bus and a chuckling Flitwick followed him with far more grace.
"Many people react to the Knight Bus that way, but it's an unavoidable side-effect of the charms used in its construction." Filius explained as he helped Harry up from his knees. "Now, this is the Leaky Cauldron and through it is Diagon Alley. Keep your head down and we should be able to get through without being mobbed. I'm afraid that you are quite a famous person in our world."
"I am?" Harry asked as he followed the half-goblin through the door and into the old-style pub.
"You are." Filius confirmed. "Now, let's head through and… here we are."
"It's a wall." Harry deadpanned, causing Filius to chuckle.
"Indeed it is, but if I do this…"
Filius tapped his wand against a brick that looked slightly off to Harry and the wall seemed to shiver before the bricks began folding themselves outwards to form an archway through which a winding street could be seen, one lined with small shops and populated by robed people moving from one intriguing store to another.
"Welcome," Flitwick proclaimed, "To Diagon Alley!"
