Chapter 4
Two days later it was a Saturday, and Wendy woke up bright and early to get started on her chores. With a sigh, she pushed herself out of bed.
Today was laundry day, a mundane chore that became exponentially more tedious when Brenda was around.
Brenda was already in the kitchen when Wendy entered, the smell of freshly brewed coffee mingling with the sound of sizzling bacon. Wendy plastered on a polite smile as she entered, greeting Brenda with a murmured “Good morning” before quickly retreating to fetch everything she would need.
She was going to have to use her cleaning supplies to wash the clothes by hand – she couldn’t be doing magic to get it done in front of Brenda.
It was a gruelling process, scrubbing and rinsing each garment by hand. Fortunately for her, Robbie decided to come and help her halfway through.
Just as she was wringing out the last of the uniforms, there came a sharp knock at the door, disrupting the quiet rhythm of the morning. Wendy’s brow furrowed in confusion as she glanced at the clock – too early for expected visitors.
Brenda didn’t seem to realise that though.
As Wendy quickly dried her hands, Brenda made her way past her, a gleeful glint in her eye. With a toss of her hair, Brenda adjusted her blouse, her fingers lingering as she undid the top button and smoothed down the fabric. There was a calculated sway to her hips as she approached the door, her movements slow and deliberate.
“You best get back to your room girl,” Brenda purred over her shoulder, her voice dripping with honeyed sweetness.
Wendy and Robbie watched from the corridor, wide-eyed, as Brenda threw open the door with a practiced flourish, her smile widening into a coy grin.
“I knew you couldn’t stay away for- BLOODY HELL!”
What had started off as a sultry purr turned into a yelp of shock.
Wendy choked.
At the threshold stood a stern-looking woman, her expression a mixture of disbelief and disapproval. Her eyes, sharp and piercing, bore into Brenda with an intensity that made Wendy shiver.
“I do beg your pardon?” the woman snapped frostily.
“Who the fuck are you?”
The woman seemed to impossibly straighten her shoulders even further. “I am Professor McGonagall, here to meet with the parents of one Miss Wendy Mitchell. This is her address, correct.”
Brenda’s eyes narrowed. “I ain’t never heard of no woman professors before.”
Professor McGonagall’s eye twitched. “Well, you’re hearing of one now.”
The Professor stepped inside, her gaze sweeping over their apartment with an air of reservation. She straightened her robes before gesturing for Brenda to lead the way to the living room.
As they settled into their seats, Robbie’s hand clutched tightly in Wendy’s, Professor McGonagall’s stern expression softened slightly. Clearing her throat, she addressed Wendy directly.
“Am I right in saying that you are one Miss. Wendy Mitchell?” she questioned.
“Yes ma’am. That’s me.”
The woman nodded sharply.
“Miss Mitchell, you received a letter two days ago by way of owl, am I correct?”
Wendy widened her eyes innocently. “Yes ma’am. It was an invitation to a boarding school.”
She could see Brenda mouthing the words, ‘an owl’, in the corner of her eye.
“An invitation to a very special school indeed,” she remarked. “Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, to be precise.”
Robbie trembled with excitement in his seat, though he knew better than to say anything aloud. Wendy squeezed his palm tightly in reprimand. Brenda on the other hand, stared at the Professor incredulously, her scepticism palpable.
“Now, Miss. Mitchell, I understand this may come as quite a shock to you,” Professor Mcgonagall said, her voice gentle. “You see, Hogwarts is a school for young witches and wizards, such as yourself, where you can learn to harness and control your magical abilities.”
Wendy nodded slowly, her mind racing. It was a delicate dance, feigning ignorance. She was afraid that if she spoke she would accidentally give something away. “…Magic, ma’am?”
“Do you recall anything strange happening around you? Something that could not be explained? Young witches and wizards often display accidental magic before the age of 11 in times of heightened emotion, such as making themselves float when they’ve fallen or to summon their favourite toys or treats.”
Wendy saw Brenda’s face turning white.
She knew what her mother was remembering.
“I made my brother float once, when he fell over,” she lied smoothly.
Professor McGonagall nodded again, pulling out her wand. “That would be classed as a charm. I myself, am the Professor of Transfiguration – that is, the art of transforming one thing into another.”
She flicked her wand.
In an instant, the coffee table shimmered and transformed into a pure white rabbit which lifted its head up and sniffed at its new surroundings. Before it could bolt, the professor quickly turned it back again.
Brendas jaw had dropped in disbelief, her eyes wide as she shot up from her seat. “Bloody hell!” she exclaimed, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and astonishment. “What in God’s name…”
Robbie on the other hand had finally let out a shriek of delight, hopping up out of his seat and brushing his hand against the table, as if it would turn back into a furry cuddly creature at any moment.
Wendy’s heart pounded in her chest as she watched their reactions carefully.
“But… h-how?” Brenda stammered.
“Magic, Mrs. Mitchell.” Professor McGonagall remained composed. “If your daughter wishes to learn to harness her abilities, then Hogwarts is the best place for her to do so. The schooling would last seven years, starting this September, and students would return home for two weeks at both Christmas and Easter if they wished, as well as for the Summer between early to mid-June and September.”
“And the g-my daughter, she would learn to do… things like that?”
“Well, there is certainly much more to magic than turning coffee tables into rabbits, but yes.”
Wendy’s heart began to sink as she watched the expression on Brenda’s face. She could visibly see the disbelief warping into fear. She knew she would have to act quickly before there was some sort of outburst.
“Mum, can I talk to you in private for a moment?” Wendy asked quickly.
Brenda’s eyes flickered with uncertainty, but she nodded silently, allowing Wendy to lead her into the adjacent room. Once they were alone, Wendy took a deep breath, steeling herself for the conversation ahead.
“Look, I know we’ve never exactly gotten on, and this is a lot to take in,” Wendy began softly, her gaze locked with her mothers. “But hear me out. The letter said that this was a scholarship, that’s one less person you will have to pay expenses for, most of the year.” That was a bald-faced lie, but she wasn’t going to let Brenda onto the fact she had her own money to pay her way with. “The letter also said that I’m not allowed to perform magic by myself outside of school before I’m an adult – and we both know that the moment I’m old enough that I’m taking Robbie and getting out of this place anyway. You’ll never have to see either of us again.”
Brenda stood stiff before her, arms crossed tightly as she frowned, her gaze shifting to the floor. She still didn’t seem convinced so Wendy pressed on.
“And besides,” she continued, her voice getting softer, “it’s not like you’ll have to deal with any of the… magical nonsense. She basically said the whole point of the magic school was to teach me control. That means I’ll never do any of that stuff by accident ever again, will I? No more mishaps…”
Finally, Brenda looked up, her expression unreadable. “Fine,” she muttered, her voice laced with resignation. “If this is what you’ve decided on then we both know I can’t exactly stop you, never been able to before.”
Wendy nodded, her heart soaring with relief despite Brenda’s lacklustre response. “You don’t have to worry about that stuff anymore – we don’t even have to talk about it. I’ll sort out the rest.”
With that, Wendy turned to leave the kitchen, her mind racing. Brenda lingered behind for a moment longer, her gaze lingering on the spot where Wendy had stood before she, too, turned and followed.
They returned to living room and Brenda turned to Professor McGonagall sharply. “She can go to that school if that’s what she really wants, but I don’t want no part of any of this magic stuff.”
Brenda snatched up her coat from its hook, slipped on her shoes and yanked open the door. Stood on the other side was a man with his hand raised, poised as if he was about to knock. He blinked, stunned, as Brenda grabbed him by the wrist as she walked out and slammed the door behind her, presumably dragging him away with her.
There was a moment of stunned silence.
Professor McGonagall turned to Wendy in disbelief.
Riding on the remnants of her relief, Wendy decided to just boulder onwards.
“I have questions.” Wendy stated. “How much is the tuition? I don’t know if I can afford it.”
Wendy sat back down in her seat and Robbie curled up by her feet. He likely hoped he would be seeing more magic.
“Unlike some muggle schools, there is no fee for tuition at Hogwarts. There is however a cost for school equipment. Normally I would be able to give you a rough figure, but I have recently been informed that the muggle currency has been changed so I’m not sure what it would be now.”
And thank God for that. Hello decimal system! It had only been in place for a month now and Wendy wasn’t sorry to see shillings go.
“What’s muggle mean?” chirped Robbie curiously, speaking up for the first time.
“It’s the word we use for non-magical people, like you and your mother.”
“The money is different?” questioned Wendy.
“In the wizarding world, things are paid for with Galleons, Sickles and Knuts. There are 17 Sickles in a Galleon and 39 Knuts in a Sickle. Where was I? Ah, yes, school and board is free, as well as 3 meals per day. The main expenses would have been on the list enclosed in your letter. This includes your uniform, books, and school equipment. You will also need to provide your own personal care products.”
Wendy nodded contemplatively, allowing the information to settle in her mind.
“There is a fund for students who cannot afford to buy supplies,” she continued, “but it is minimal. It only covers a single second-hand uniform, your wand, one pewter cauldron, one set of glass phials, a telescope, a set of brass scales and a set amount of ink and parchment which should last you the school year; It would not cover any of your textbooks. After your first year, it would only cover a single uniform per year and you would be expected to keep your other equipment in good condition and continue to make use of it – the fund would not cover the purchase of new ones should you damage them.”
Wendy sat in silence as she considered the prices of those things in her head and compared them to what she’d seen in the wizarding shopping district. She could easily afford all the things on that list with her savings. The wand would be the most expensive thing on that list, to be honest, and if she could get that covered by the fund then she would be happy to pay for the rest herself if it meant she could buy it new and not second hand.
Wendy and Professor McGonagall went back and forth like that for a few more minutes, discussing costs, Robbie’s eyes bouncing back and forth between them. Wendy continued to play dumb and ask all the questions that she already knew the answers to. It was tedious, but necessary. As it turned out, after first year her only expense should be her uniform and books, unless she decided to take a subject in third year that requires it, such as a crystal ball or tea leaves for divination.
Though it may be hard to believe, she had more questions about the school subjects than she did the expenses.
“I won’t be learning Maths and English?” cried Wendy exaggeratedly.
Even Robbie was wide eyed at that. English was his favourite subject at school.
“In your first year, you will be studying Transfiguration, Charms, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Potions, Magical Theory, Astronomy, Herbology and History of Magic. There is also a month’s worth of mandatory flying lessons. Then, in your third year, you will be expected to choose a minimum of two elective classes. The options for these are Arithmancy, Muggle Studies, Divination, Ancient Runes and Care of Magical Creatures.”
Robbie was gaping at the Professor incredulously.
“Then you sit your O.W.Ls at the end of your fifth year – your Ordinary Wizarding Levels, the magical equivalent to the muggle O-Levels. You then choose a minimum of five subjects that you will continue to study during your sixth and seventh year. It is an option for you to drop any of the core subjects, but most fields require at least two of them, so it isn’t recommended.”
Okay, now Wendy was gaping as well.
“What about after Hogwarts then? Are there magical universities?”
“After completion of your NEWTs, depending on how well you do on them, you have the option to start an internship in the field of your choice, such as a healing apprenticeship or the auror academy. You could get a Mastery in the subject of your choice. I myself have a Mastery in Transfiguration, which is required for teaching the subject, patented spell creation and certain specialised healing careers. I believe that quite a lot of graduates at Hogwarts find gainful employment at the Ministry of Magic.”
Magical Britain was bizarre. They didn’t even require a teaching degree for someone to become a teacher. Which, honestly, explained a lot about some of the teachers she remembered from Harry Potter.
Also, while Professor McGonagall was doing a generally good job of explaining things, she tended to skip out on a lot. She would name things like NEWTs and aurors without explanation, forgetting to clarify. Wendy had asked as many questions as she could, but she had noticed a few moments where she really shouldn’t have understood something the Professor had said, and used words that she shouldn’t know yet. At least the woman hadn’t seemed to have caught on.
“Are those really the only subjects?” asked Wendy. “Because normally if you wanted to be, say, a lawyer, or a doctor, you’d need to have some sort of qualifications before you would get anywhere near the actual job.
“…there did used to be more subjects on offer,” admitted Professor McGonagall reluctantly, “but they stopped being offered due to a lack of interest. I recall there being an OWL in healing when I was a student.”
“Well, could I still take them? Outside of Hogwarts I mean. How do the students who don’t attend do their exams, like kids who are homeschooled?”
Professor McGonagall finally started to look frustrated with all her questions. Welp, she better start winding down.
“I do not know what they do outside of Hogwarts” huffed the Professor. “If you have any enquiries in that regard, you can write a letter to the Department of Magical Education, if you must. Perhaps the Wizarding Examinations Authority, even.”
The Professor pulled out her wand again and flicked it. Suddenly, writing appeared floating in the air in front of her.
11.46 AM
Wendy startled. Had they been talking for that long? As she looked around her, she realised that her brother had long since wandered off.
“I cannot remember the last time one of these visits lasted this long,” murmured Professor McGonagall. “I have a feeling that we have another Ravenclaw on our hands, with all these questions.”
She turned back to Wendy.
“I will be escorting the next cohort of Muggleborn students to do their school shopping on this coming Monday, two days from now. You are lucky that your birthday fell just before Easter rather than just after, you would’ve had to wait for the last trip of the year in August.”
She then pulled out a series of pamphlets from her robe and handed them over to Wendy.
The first included a stunning illustration of a castle, with the title Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The second pamphlet, titled A Guide for Muggleborns, included a moving picture of a wand flicking and producing sparks which spiralled across the page. The third had the logo for the Ministry of Magic on the front, although she didn’t pay much more attention to that as she recognised the final paper in her hands to be a map.
“On Monday, 9 o’clock sharp, we will be meeting with the other Muggleborn students and their families outside The Star and Garter on Charing Cross Road. We will then head to Gringotts, which is the main bank for Wizarding Britain, in order to open an account for each student and to convert their Muggle money. Then, we will make our way from shop to shop in a group to make sure everyone purchases what they need.”
Wendy carefully unfolded the map, revealing a detailed sketch of the area surrounding Charing Cross Road and Leicester Square. A large glowing X indicated the meeting point outside the pub.
As she studied the map, Wendy’s thoughts drifted to the upcoming shopping excursion. Harry Potter had been escorted to do his shopping alone, so she hadn’t even considered that it may not be the case for her. She couldn’t help but feel a pang of apprehension at the prospect of being surrounded by eager and curious eleven year olds who had just discovered the wonders of magic.
Aw, she was going to have to talk to them, wasn’t she?
She nodded firmly and lifted her head “I’ll be there, although it will probably just be me. I don’t think Mum will be coming, is that alright?”
“So long as you are there on time. If you do not make it, I will send you another letter with the date and time of the August shopping trip for you to attend instead,” the Professor replied, her tone reassuring.
Wendy thanked her gratefully. With a respectful nod, Professor McGonagall stood gracefully and made her way towards the door.
“See you Monday!”
With one last brief nod and a dismissive scan of the apartment, the woman left.
Wendy shut the door behind her and heaved a sigh of relief.
She began to pace back and forth in the living room, her mind already racing with plans for the afternoon. She needed to withdraw some Muggle money from Gringotts to maintain appearances, first of all. She won’t be able to withdraw money in front of the Professor or any of the Muggleborns.
She started to feel anxious about the shopping trip too. She had avoided any interactions with magical folk in the past to avoid questions, but she was still worried about somebody recognising her in one of the shops, unlikely as it was.
She pulled the list of school equipment out from her pocket and glanced through the book titles. She already owned several of them, which was good. That would save her some money too.
Wendy knew she was going to need to be even more careful with her money in the coming year. All of her money had come from fixing up electronics, which wouldn’t be an option once she was at Hogwarts. Not only would she be busy learning magic, in all her research she had yet to figure out just why electricity and magic didn’t mix well.
She supposed there hadn’t been all that much research into it. There wasn’t much that electricity could do in 1971 that magic couldn’t. The age of the internet and smartphones was a long way away.
She had ideas that she’d long ago written down about how she could make some money once she had access to Hogwarts, and ways to save money too, but she wasn’t sure yet how viable they were.
After some back and forth with Professor McGonagall, they had come to the conclusion that Wendy would use the student fund to pay for her wand, but that she would cover all other purchases herself. She was going to use her money to buy the higher quality equipment in the hopes that it would last longer, just to be safe. She didn’t know what her financial situation would be for the next few years.
As Wendy walked through the bustling streets of London, a breeze tousled her chestnut hair, the early morning sun casting a warm glow over the city. Clutching her coat tightly around her, she weaved her way through the crowds, loud footsteps echoing against the cobblestones. Dressed in a simple floral dress paired with a wool coat and a knitted scarf, Wendy blended seamlessly in with the commuters.
She gripped her money pouch tightly in her hand. She didn’t think she had ever carried so much loose cash on her in either of her lives, and she was ready to never have to do it again.
Despite the cheerful atmosphere, Wendy grew more and more nervous as she got closer to the Star and Garter. She was not looking forward to meeting up with the others. The other Muggleborns would likely have brought their families with them, and she knew she would be the odd one out in that regard.
She’d considered bringing Robbie with her at first, but with how anxious she was about the whole thing she knew she wouldn’t be able to handle both the trip and watching her brother at the same time.
In the end, she had promised to take him to Diagon Alley for the day later in the week. It would be a day dedicated just to him and give him a chance to see all of the magic for himself.
Wendy pushed her apprehension aside firmly, reminding herself of the importance of the day ahead. With a determined set to her jaw, she quickened her pace, her eyes fixed on the familiar façade of the pub looming ahead.
Time to face the music.
As she approached The Star and Garter, the familiar sight of the pub’s weathered brick exterior provided a semblance of comfort amidst her rising nerves. The pub itself was a quaint establishment considering its location in Central London, its wooden sign swinging gently in the breeze and the faint aroma of ale wafting from its open door.
Getting closer, her eyes widened in alarm at the sight of Professor McGonagall standing outside. The Professor’s distinctive attire and flowing robes made her stand out conspicuously compared to the other people walking the street. Passersby cast curious glances in her direction, some turning to whisper to their companions. Hell, she hadn’t even taken off her pointed hat.
Already gathered beside the Professor were two distinctly different families, their expressions a mix of excitement and apprehension. One family consisted of a couple with two young children, their eager faces pressed up against the pub’s window as they peered inside.
The other group consisted of what appeared to be a mother and son. They stood slightly apart from the others, their worn clothing and anxious demeanour setting them apart from the blatantly more affluent people walking by. The mother, her face lined with worry and fatigue, clutched the boy’s hand tightly as she glanced around nervously, her eyes darting back and forth between the Professor and the other Muggleborn’s much more well-dressed family.
She wore a faded, threadbare coat that hung from her slender frame, its seams frayed, and its fabric patched in places. Beneath the coat, she wore a simple dress, its once vibrant colours muted by years of wear and tear. Her hair was pulled back into a hasty bun.
Wendy was much more interested in the boy beside her. He stood quietly, his eyes wide with curiosity despite the uncertainty etched in his features. His clothes, though clean, bore the telltale signs of hand-me-downs, the fabric slightly too large for his slight frame. Despite his mother’s attempts to straighten his collar and smooth down his unruly hair, he remained a picture of youthful innocence amidst the crowd, his gaze lingering on the colourful displays in the nearby shop windows with a mix of wonder and longing.
As the mother continued to shift nervously, the boy tugged gently on her hand, offering her a small, reassuring smile.
“Miss. Mitchell, you’ve arrived.” said Professor McGonagall, approaching her. “Will your mother be joining us?”
“No ma’am, it’s just me.”
She nodded decisively. “We are just waiting on one more. If you would go stand by Mr. and Miss. Williams while we wait.”
Wendy followed the instruction and made her way over to the mother and son, casting a shy glance at the boy beside her. He returned the gesture with a small smile, his eyes still wide with curiosity. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Miss. Williams eyeing her and clearly taking in the fact that she had arrived to do her shopping alone.
As they waited, the atmosphere remained tense and awkward, punctuated only by the occasional shuffle of feet or nervous cough. Wendy occupied herself watching the people who walked by.
After what felt like an eternity, another family arrived. Wendy’s attention was immediately drawn to them as she noticed the bright red hair of both the father and the younger girl, who looked to be around her age. Professor McGonagall greeted them and brought them over. Wendy tuned into their conversation as they approached.
“Mum, really, I see no reason I have to be here,” snapped the older girl, “When Diane came to London, she went to see the Carnaby Street boutiques! I can go by myself and meet you later.”
“I’ve already told you no Petunia,” sighed their father. “I’ll not have you wandering London by yourself. We can go see the boutiques later on, but right now we need to get Lily’s school shopping sorted.”
Wendy’s eyes locked onto the red-headed girl.
Oh.