The Letter
Eleven-year-old Harry Potter sighed to himself as he slowly swept the front entrance of Number 4 Privet drive. Things had changed both immensely and not at all since his accidental introduction into the world of magic.
It has changed mostly for the better, having a true friend, a mother figure who actually cares and a godfather to bond with had certainly helped Harry. But same as always, still stuck with the Dursleys, he was still treated like a servant. Still forced to scrub charred pots and disgusting slop off the toilets. Still forced to subject himself to the cruel degradation of being treated like a freak for his talents.
If there was one thing Harry knew is that he couldn’t wait to go to Hogwarts. Despite his previous reservations at the odd sounding name Harry was without a doubt thoroughly imbued with excitement at the prospect of time away from the Dursleys. And well, any time spent among magic was time well spent in Harry’s opinion.
As if by magic, a lone letter, a worn brown envelope swept through the mail slot to slide gracefully down to Harry’s feet. In its rather pretty cursive script, Harry found it was addressed to him, and more shockingly to his exact bedroom, that being the cupboard.
Mr. H. Potter, The Cupboard Under the Stairs, 4 Privet Drive
Upon breaking its rather pretentious wax seal Harry read with unbelieving eyes.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
It seemed for Harry, the time had finally come.
Steadying himself, careful not to crumble the edges in his excitement Harry continued reading. Under the school's title on the page he found the headmaster listed, it was a name he recognized.
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore.
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Reading further Harry examined the acceptance letters blurb addressed by the Headmistress Minerva McGonagall, he had never read about her in any of his books. He had however read of Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster and a man of man titles. Harry found the twinkling eyes of the elderly man quite endearing and he only hoped that they would look as such in reality.
Dear Mr 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
Continuing down the page Harry read out the required items smiling to himself when he came upon the list provided on the additional sheet. All things he recognized, including the cauldrons which remained a mystery to him still.
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
Harry smiled to himself victoriously, he had already bought and owned A History of Magic and Fantastic Beasts in his first trip to Diagon with Griselda and her mother. She had said those were standard texts and clearly she had not been wrong. It filled Harry with confidence that he could succeed knowing he already understood some of the class contents. The history book had been quite a slog but Harry was no ordinary boy, forced by the dursleys into underperforming educationally Harry held a strong thirst for knowledge that drove his voracious reading.
OTHER EQUIPMENT
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
A wand at last! Harry could not contain his excitement at reading this, after two years spent reading about the exploits of wizards both dark and otherwise with the flick of the wand shaping the world to their will Harry was quite certainly itching to get his hands on one of his own. Not that he couldn't do things without it, wandlessly as he learnt he could be rather skilled at. Whenever Dudley chose to tick Harry off supremely his magic aided in getting back at the fat oaf. In the two years which Harry had known of Magic he had miraculously made it so that Dudley knew to avoid antagonizing him. It was perhaps Harry's greatest achievement to date, one he was endlessly proud of.
Students may also bring, if they desire, an owl OR a cat OR a toad.
This was a rather humorous thought, who in their right mind would want a toad as a pet in a school which allowed owls and cats for pets. It seemed like a recipe for some rather unhappy toad owning children in Harry's humble opinion. He was sure he wanted a cat, but at the same time the idea of something he could house in his own living quarters did appeal to Harry.
Perhaps a snake would be fun to attempt to sneak in, he could speak to them so they were rather fun creatures in Harry’s opinion. Being able to a communicate with something allowed for quite a bit more of a connection, even the garden snakes he would chatter with as he worked on Aunt Petunia's roses had more to say than old Mrs. Figgs cats.
A snake would be nice but Harry remembered Griselda's words all those years ago about the dangers of revealing his talents. To speak to snakes was a mark of a dark wizard and if there was one thing Harry did not want was to be labeled a Dark Wizard on the first day of classes. This wasn't Primary School with Dudley and the Dursleys hanging over his shoulder, Harry had a chance to start fresh of any mean relatives looking to paint him as a problem child.
At the bottom of the list sat a rather humorous warming which read in all capital letters for emphasis, clearly having been ignored far too often by quidditch crazy children:
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS
ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICK
Yours sincerely,
Lucinda Thomsonicle-Pocus - Chief Attendant of Witchcraft Provisions
Who Lucinda Thomsonicle-Pocus was Harry did not know, but he had to admit her name was rather funny, whose idea was it to name a wizarding family Pocus of all things? It was really just asking to sound like a witch out of the muggle movies in Harry’s opinion.
Looking over the list once more Harry thought to himself that it looks like a shopping trip would be in order soon. He wondered if they would send someone, as far as he knew the wizarding world and whoever had sent him to the Dursleys had no idea he had contact with the world of magic himself.
Refolding the letter quite worshipfully, careful not to disrupt its creases, Harry tucked the letter into his pocket in the brown paper envelope. Moving out of the front hallway Harry stopped by his cupboard and deposited the letter in his secret hiding place under one of the loose floorboards. Once upon a time it had housed the few toys and army men he had been allowed or managed to pilfer from Dudley's massive excess of toys. Now it housed what Harry found more important, his books and other trinkets from the magical world as well as his pouch of galleons from the first trip, only half depleted.
Setting the loose floorboard back in place Harry crept into Uncle Vernon's small study by the backdoor to the garden and pilfered a fountain pen and sheet of paper to write his reply. Harry knew Vernon would most likely shout himself hoarse and red if he knew, but what he did not know wouldn't hurt him would it. Heart full of hope Harry began to write, here he was at last, going to Hogwarts.