Chapter 3. The Unexpected Visitor.

'Could it be Greg Wilson finally bringing back my lawn mower?' John wondered as he walked to the door. 'Or maybe those missionaries again,' he thought with a hint of annoyance. He wasn't a fan of missionaries; their beliefs clashed with his own scientific outlook. Given his current mood, he especially didn't want to see them today. 'If it's them again, I won't hesitate to tell them exactly what I think of their silly beliefs,' John decided and, bracing himself for a confrontation, opened the door.

But the sharp rebuke he had ready died in his throat. A woman stood before him in a dark coat, the wind tugging at her clothes and her hand securing her black hat. She was clearly not one of the missionaries, nor did she resemble Greg Wilson in any way...

"Good evening, Mr. Granger," she greeted him with a dry tone, pushing her glasses up her nose. Her serious look made John feel momentarily like a kid who'd been caught doing something wrong. "I'm here to talk about your daughter, Hermione. May I come in?"

Surprised, John moved aside to let her in. As the woman headed straight for the living room, John had no choice but to follow, puzzled. "Who is she? How does she know me and Hermione? What does she want?"

Seeing the woman come in, Emma Granger put her book aside and looked at the guest with confusion. In the bright light of the living room, John could see their unexpected visitor more clearly. She was a middle-aged woman with a rather stern appearance, dressed in a dark robe that John had initially mistaken for a coat. Her hat wasn't typical either, looking more like an elegant wide-brimmed and pointed hat. The woman walked into the living room, took off her hat and gloves, then said:

"Let me introduce myself, I'm Professor McGonagall."

She paused, looking at Hermione's parents and adjusting her black hair, pulled tightly into a bun.

"A professor?" John was surprised, "And you've come to talk about Hermione? Did I get that right?"

"Absolutely right, Mr. Granger. I've come to discuss her further education." McGonagall replied, "May I sit down?"

She gave Hermione's dad a questioning look, and he quickly pointed to the chair closest to their guest.

"Yes, yes, of course! Would you like something warm? Tea? Coffee maybe?" he asked, a bit flustered. "The weather is quite nasty outside today…"

"I wouldn't say no to a cup of tea," the professor said evenly, making herself comfortable in the chair.

John hurried to the kitchen to get the kettle going, trying to gather his thoughts. This visit in the evening had him worried. 'A professor here to talk about Hermione's education? But why? Could Grayson be behind this?' he wondered. John had been concerned that the town's mayor might try to cause trouble for Hermione at her new school. The mayor had seemed quite a spiteful and vindictive person when they met, which made John immediately suspect him of foul play. 'He's capable of pulling some dirty trick,' John thought, gearing up mentally for a fight. After getting the tea ready, John came back to the living room, where Emma and their guest were waiting quietly. He noticed his wife was also casting cautious glances at the guest, probably thinking along the same lines.

"So, Professor McGonagall," John Granger began, settling onto the couch, "as I understand it, you're here to discuss Hermione's education at Oakridge School. Honestly, I had no idea our local school even had a professor..."

"That's not quite right," McGonagall cut him off. "I don't teach at the local school."

John looked at her, puzzled, and frowned, "So you're not from Oakridge School? Then what does Hermione have to do with you?"

"I'm afraid the school your daughter has transferred to isn't the right fit for her," the professor replied briefly.

John and Emma froze, staring at their guest in bewilderment. "This must be the mayor's doing," John thought.

"But why?" his wife asked indignantly.

"What are you talking about?" John chimed in, "I'm absolutely sure Hermione is up to par for that school!" His voice took on a defiant tone. "And no tricks from our mayor can change that."

He was all set to defend Hermione with a bunch of arguments, convinced that the accusations from this shameless woman would not hold water. Worried the mayor might be playing dirty, John had looked into the legalities and even talked to a lawyer ahead of time.

"Please relax, Mr. Granger, nothing bad has happened! The mayor has nothing to do with our talk," McGonagall said calmly. Then, turning to Hermione's bedroom door, she unexpectedly announced loudly: "Miss Granger, no need to hide. We'd be glad if you joined us in the living room. This conversation is mainly about your future."

John and Emma were surprised by the woman's words and then, just as shocked, when Hermione came out from behind the door, looking embarrassed.

Just a minute earlier, Hermione had heard someone arrive, followed by voices from the living room. She thought, 'Who could it be at this time?' They hardly ever had visitors in the evening. Hermione was intrigued by this unexpected occurrence, and it drew her attention away from her school prep. She walked to the door, intending to open it, but then she realized the conversation was about her. The voices got louder, and Hermione figured out it had something to do with her new school. Confused, she stopped in her tracks, with a hand on the door handle. 'Is this really about the mayor and that blown-up textbook?' she wondered, scared. That's when she heard the stranger calling her to come in…

Not getting how the woman knew she was behind the door, Hermione stepped into the living room. The stranger gave her a surprisingly warm smile—the first sign of emotion she'd displayed till now. Then she introduced herself:

"Miss Granger, I assume you don't know my name. I'm Minerva McGonagall, Professor Minerva McGonagall," she quickly corrected herself. "Have a seat, please. We have a serious conversation ahead," the professor added.

Hermione sat next to her mom, who immediately squeezed her hand in support.

"So, what's the issue?" John asked, clearly impatient, "Can you please explain why Hermione isn't right for our local school?"

"I never said Hermione isn't right for the local school. Your daughter is clearly a brilliant student! I meant that the school isn't right for her."

McGonagall paused, letting her words sink in while the Grangers tried to figure out what she just said. Eventually, John broke the silence:

"What does that mean? What could that possibly mean?"

He looked from his wife to his daughter, as if searching for answers in their eyes before turning back to the professor. McGonagall smiled again.

"Before we go any further, I have a bit of an unusual question about Hermione. Have you ever noticed any odd things happening around her, things you can't quite explain?"

"Odd things?" Mr. Granger echoed, surprised. After a moment, he conceded, "Well, yes… maybe..." and glanced at his wife with concern.

Hermione's eyes flicked between her parents and McGonagall, slowly realizing the professor might be right. A sense of fear began to grow inside her. It's one thing to mull over your own quirks but hearing someone else acknowledge them felt completely different.

"What's your explanation then?" Hermione's dad asked, giving the professor a sarcastic look.

"Very simple," McGonagall replied calmly, "but it might be hard for you to swallow. Hermione is a witch."

For a few seconds, everyone stared at the professor in shocked silence, not quite getting what she just said.

"Hah…" Emma let out a nervous chuckle, the first to snap out of it, "A witch? Really?" she asked, her expression full of sheer disbelief in such nonsense.

"This some kind of joke?" John snapped, his fighting spirit quickly kicking back in. "What, you think we're running a circus here? And you're the clown in that silly get-up?" he added, casting a scornful look at the professor's robes.

A hint of a smile flickered on McGonagall's face. Silently, she drew a mysterious wand from her cloak and aimed it at a mug on the coffee table. She muttered a word that no one could understand, and... the mug meowed. Suddenly, there was a fluffy cat where the mug had been. It stretched lazily, then gracefully arched its back, walked to the table's edge, and hopped down to the floor with ease.

The room was dead silent. Mrs. Granger's eyes went wide with astonishment, and she couldn't look away, her mouth hanging open. Hermione's dad was caught off guard, his prepared snarky comment forgotten, as he stared in disbelief at the former mug now nudging and purring against his leg! John's cheek started twitching. Hermione watched the magical creature with wide eyes and an open mouth, just like her mom. But unlike Emma, her look was not one of shock and fear, but one of wonder and delight at the magical moment.

McGonagall looked over them all with a calm gaze and a slight, satisfied smile on her lips. With another spell, she turned the cat back into a mug and, picking it up off the floor, placed it on the table.

"But…" John Granger broke the silence, struggling for words, "this… well… magic can't be real," he stated flatly and looked straight into the eyes of the woman in the cloak who had unsettled him. "You must've… this is hypnosis!" he suddenly figured. "You've hypnotized us!" His eyes lit up triumphantly, thinking he had found a logical explanation.

Hermione's mom, finally closing her mouth, looked back and forth between their guest and her husband, utterly confused.

"Mr. Granger," McGonagall answered with a casual smirk, her voice steady and confident. "Sure, you might chalk it all up to hypnosis. Muggles often invent complex explanations rather than accept that the world holds unexplainable things from their viewpoint..."

"Muggles?" John cut in, puzzled.

"...yes, Muggles — people without magical powers," the professor clarified. "But then, how would you explain the odd things happening around your daughter? Do you think she's hypnotized you as well?"

John had nothing to say back. He was lost in thought, trying to make sense of what had happened. Just then, Hermione, swallowing the lump in her throat, quietly said:

"But I don't know how to do things like that."

"Of course, you don't, at least not yet," the professor replied softly. "Skills take time and training to develop. And that's why we're inviting you, Miss Granger, to join our school of witchcraft and wizardry — Hogwarts."

With those words, she pulled a letter from her cloak and handed it to Hermione. The letter looked old-timey, sealed with a wax stamp.

Hermione's hands shook as she took the letter. She hesitated for a moment, looking nervous, then eagerly broke the seal and slid the parchment out. Then Hermione unfolded it and began to read out loud:

HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY

Dear Miss Granger,

We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on 1 September.

Yours sincerely,

Albus Dumbledore,

Headmaster

Hermione clutched the letter in her trembling hands. Her heart raced, feeling like it might burst out. The words in front of her eyes started to blur as unexpected tears welled up. Inside, she was caught in a storm of mixed feelings. Her logical mind struggled with what she was seeing, but at the same time, she felt a wave of relief and happiness. This was the answer to all those unbelievable events she had experienced. 'Just magic! Hah! Who would've guessed?' she thought to herself. After calming down slightly, Hermione whispered:

"I always thought magic was nothing more than a fairy tale."

"Now, you get to be part of that fairy tale," the professor replied with a smile, then turned to Hermione's parents: "I get it might seem odd and new to you. But Hogwarts is the best place for her to learn. We'll make sure Hermione is safe."

"But magic..." Mrs. Granger murmured, looking unsure.

"We've always leaned on science," Mr. Granger chimed in, clearly confused.

"Let me show you how incredible the magic world can be," the professor went on. "There are places that teach young wizards and witches to manage their power for the greater good. Hogwarts is one of those places. We teach how to work with magic, to respect and understand what it truly is."

John Granger mulled this over with a frown. Hogwarts definitely wasn't on his list of schools he would seriously consider for his daughter. But since Silverleaf was out of the picture...

"Okay, let's say…" he began, "Given you're a professor, I'm guessing the education level at your place… uh…"

"At Hogwarts," McGonagall helped.

"...right, at Hogwarts, is pretty high?"

"Absolutely," the professor confirmed, "Like I said, Hogwarts is the top school for witchcraft and wizardry in Britain."

"So, there are other schools?" John kept on, doubt in his voice.

"In Britain, there are other private places for wizarding education, but none match Hogwarts' standards."

"Then why have them if they're not as good? Private schools usually aim for the best."

"Hogwarts is unique because we only take students through invitations, like the one your daughter got," McGonagall clarified. "The private schools are there for those who didn't get an invite."

"Excuse me," Emma cut in, "but you haven't said what you teach. What's your subject?"

John looked interested too.

"Um… I teach Transfiguration," McGonagall said, a bit uncertainly.

Hermione's parents both looked confused.

"Which configuration?" Emma asked, her brow furrowing, "Sorry, I didn't quite catch that."

"Transfiguration," the professor repeated clearly.

John and Emma looked at each other, not getting it.

"That's a magic thing, right?" John asked, his face showing a mix of skepticism and confusion.

"Yes," McGonagall confirmed, "The transformation of things, as I demonstrated earlier, is what I specialize in."

"What else do you study at Hogwarts?" John Granger asked, a bit suspiciously, "I hope you've a high level of math education, right?"

"Oh, we've got a wide variety of subjects. From Transfiguration and Potion Making to History of Magic, Astronomy, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and plenty more," McGonagall explained, "Every subject is key to a young wizard's all-around education."

Hermione's eyes got wider with each new subject mentioned, full of excitement and curiosity, while her dad's expression turned more and more concerned. He couldn't see how such classes could help young folks.

"History of Magic? Potion Making???" he asked, his tone suggesting that "Potion Making" was something dirty, better left untouched. "What about math?" he nearly yelled.

"We don't actually teach math at our school," McGonagall replied, keeping her cool.

"But without math, what can they…" John began, but his wife cut him off:

"Hold on, John," then, turning to McGonagall, she asked, clearly worried "You mentioned something about Defense Against the Dark Arts, right? What's that about? Does that mean something could threaten our daughter?"

"Sadly, there are wizards in the world who choose to use their powers for harm. This class teaches protection from those kinds of threats," McGonagall tried to calm Hermione's mom.

"But isn't it safer for her to just stay away from magic?" Emma's voice was full of concern for her daughter's safety.

"Dark magic is out there whether you choose to engage with it or not. You don't notice its effects because you think they're just random events. It's safer to know how to recognize it and protect yourself, than to just hope for the best," McGonagall took a brief pause, letting them think it over, "and I assure you, there's no safer place for a young wizard in Britain than Hogwarts."

John and Emma fell silent, and Hermione quickly jumped in with her own questions.

"Where is your school located?"

"In the north of Britain. But you won't find it on any map; it's well hidden."

"How will I be able to see my parents then?" Hermione asked with slight disappointment, looking at her mom and dad.

"During the holidays, you can come home," McGonagall replied, "And at other times, you can keep in touch with them using owls."

"Owls?" Hermione's eyebrows shot up, and a skeptical smile crossed her face.

"Yes, with the help of postal owls that will deliver your letters to your parents and theirs to you."

Imagining this, Hermione laughed with delight. Her mom looked at her worryingly, but smiled at her daughter's joy, while her dad nervously adjusted his glasses.

"Can I ask one more question?" Hermione said, still chuckling.

"Of course, Miss Granger," McGonagall replied with a friendly tone.

"Not long ago, my parents and I went to a really pretty and weird nature reserve. Could it have something to do with magic?" Hermione wondered.

The professor asked for more details about the place, and Hermione shared her experiences, mentioning her mom's 'bite'.

"A bite?" McGonagall asked with interest. "Based on what you've described, Miss Granger, you definitely were in a place filled with magic, and bites from magical creatures or plants can be quite dangerous."

"Bites from plants?" John asked skeptically.

"Yes," the professor confirmed. "But I see your mother is fine. Still, one should always be cautious in such places."

"So, unicorns are real too?" Hermione suddenly came up with another guess.

"Of course, they are," the professor replied, slightly surprised, "did you see them there?"

"Yes," Hermione said, thrilled. "There were two unicorns, tied to a tree..."

"Tied up?!!" McGonagall exclaimed, "are you sure?!!"

Hermione felt a bit scared by McGonagall's reaction and hesitantly nodded. "Yes, that's what I saw."

"This is unacceptable!" the professor cried out, now looking really concerned. "Can you show me where this was on a map?"

"Well…" Hermione hesitated a bit, "Yes, I can."

She brought a map of the Oakridge surroundings and pointed out the spot. The professor looked closely, then waved her magic wand, casting a spell. A parchment appeared in the air, with a map mirroring the indicated area.

"My apologies," McGonagall said formally. "Unfortunately, I must leave immediately." Turning to Hermione, she added, "Tomorrow morning, a Ministry of Magic official will come to help with your school shopping and explain the next steps. See you at Hogwarts, Miss Granger."

"It was nice meeting you, Mr. and Mrs. Granger," she added. "My apologies for rushing off..."

With those words, Professor McGonagall put on her funny hat and... vanished. The trick with the cat had impressed the Granger family, but the disappearance of their guest right in the middle of the living room shocked them...

After recovering from the shock, Hermione, excited and anticipating new adventures, went to her room. She could still hear her parents arguing about something in the living room for a long time.