Harry Learns About Wizards
Sighing, Griselda removed her hands from her hips and grabbed Harry by the arm, jerking the smaller boy towards her as she turned and walked towards the park bench. “Come, this might be easier sitting down." Harry for his part was far too surprised to say anything or pull against her.
The girl reiterated to Harry, “I'm not pulling your leg I swear. You are a Wizard. I'm sure you've realized odd things happen when you feel strong emotions, objects moving without being touched, animals listening to you, surviving dangerous accidents unscathed."
A myriad of memories flashed before Harry's eyes, it made sense now, what else could it be but magic. Unusual things happened to Harry, speaking to snakes in the garden. As a small child his toys flew towards him when Dudley tried to steal them. And even more recently ending up on the roof when Dudley and his gang tried to chase him at school. That had been an absolute disaster to explain, because what else could he offer but suddenly finding himself on the roof.
“I have…How did you know?”
“Griselda smiled, “I have too, it's the hallmark of people like us, magical people. I used to make my toys float in the crib, and when I was five I fell down a waterfall and they found me floating at the bottom in a water bubble.” She giggled, “ I also once turned my cousin's ears into cow ears because she called me a cow, wandlessley of course.” The last part was said almost smugly, it felt odd to Harry's ears, someone boasting about turning their cousins ears into cow ones.. And what was a wand? Harry had so many questions. Just how odd was this witching world?
Harry wanted to ask, how could he do that to Dudley and make him have a pig nose, but thought better of it. Instead settling on a simple question first. “I have magic?”
“Yes, and not just any magic, but a powerful one at that.”
“That's not possible, I'm just me… I'm small and I'm weak and not at all special, weird things happen. Not good things, I always get punished so they cannot possibly be good.” Harry lamented, things never seemed to go well for him, no matter how lucky he seemed at first.
“Like what?” Griselda looked intrigued, confused too, but that largely was buried by her overwhelming curiosity which poured from every pore at his story of magical misfortunes.
“Well, one time I was speaking to the snakes in the garden and–”
“You can speak to snakes!?” Suddenly Griselda stopped him and blurted out, eyes wide and surprised.
“Of course I can.” Harry eyed her… “You can't?” Maybe he was more special than he thought, certainly had it not occurred to Harry that he might be different from these other wizards. He couldn't be that special could he.
“No, of course not.”
Now Harry was starting to get worried, a budding frown had swooped in quickly to replace Griselda's smile all too quickly. “I thought all wizards could.”
“Oh no no, Speaking to snakes is special… you shouldn't tell people that openly though Harry, it's dangerous.”
“How is it dangerous?” Harry cocked his head to eye the witch beside him perplexed at how teleporting garnered no response but speaking to snakes had.
Pulling close, almost so that their noses were touching, Griselda whispered..”They say “its the mark of a dark wizard…” and then after a pause… “You-know-Who was said to have it, the ability to speak to snakes, and even control them.”
“Who?”
“Oh, well, You-Know-Who, who-you-don't-know.” She giggled at her own word play, finding it funny before her smile bled from her face and she resumed her previous secretive seriousness.
“He's a very evil wizard Harry…”
“Years ago he terrorized the Wizarding World, killing witches, wizards and muggles alike. Especially the muggleborns and muggles though. He hated them, no one knows why, most say it was motivated by pureblood supremacy fanaticism, not sure I believe that. Sure most of his followers were purebloods, but gran told me about the trials there were plenty of half bloods and even a handful of muggleborns too.”
“What's his name?” Harry had been listening intently, dually horrified and intrigued by this story. Griselda wove a tale of terror and confusing loyalties but still, curiosity was outweighed by impatience. “You haven't yet told me what he's called.”
“That's the point harry.” Griselda said, very matter-of-factly. “We don't say his name, it's a bad omen, an omen of death. They say he is so powerful that during the war even saying his name could cause him to find your location. He instilled a fear so deep that even now, nearly a decade after his disappearance, we still do not utter his cursed name.”
“If he's dead what's the harm?”
“I dunno, I suppose you are right.
“They call him…” Griselda paused, almost as if for dramatic effect. “Lord Voldemort.”
Expecting something perhaps more fearsome, Harry struggled to contain his laughter. “How silly! I thought it would be something more scary, like Dordric the Death Defier or Galorn the Gruesome…”
“Well actually…” Griselda started…
“Bloody Hell!” Harry exclaimed, don't tell me they're real too?”
Just as Griselda was going to respond though, a large crow swept down from the sky and landed on her shoulder, its wings batting harry away as he fell back and landed on ground. The witch for her part didn't look too perturbed by this animal landing on her, she just groaned…
“Cygnus bloody hell! How rude you big fat feathery git!”
The bird squawked as if offended and snapped at the girl's ear threateningly to which she unleashed a further barrage of odd sounding remarks. They vaguely reminded Harry of curses though none he was familiar with.
It however got even weirder, right before Harry’s eyes he saw magic unfold. A scroll tied to the crows foot unraveled, far longer than Harry would have thought possible, and began to speak. “Diner time darling!”
The sing-song voice lush with posh rolled R’s and musical intonation fluttered. “Please hurry back sweets, wouldn't want to keep your gran waiting would you. We can't have you staying out late considering the important day we have tomorrow!”
“Oh shite” Griselda swore and took off in the direction of Abbey Road before Harry could even say anything. “I've got to go, see you later Potterrrrr!” And then she was gone, words whipping into whispers as the wind stole them.
Stunned by what he had just witnessed all Harry Potter could do was stare blankly at the disappearing figure clad in black with her white braid and red scarf fluttering in the icy breeze of winter's wind.
Well that, Harry concluded… was certainly interesting.