This'll be a breeze!!

“Every damn time,” I murmured under my breath as I saw another hilt melting in my hands. Thank god that was wearing dragon hide gloves.

“Did it melt again?” Hermione asked without looking up from the book that she was reading. 

“Yup” this was the ninth hilt that I have destroyed, “The wand is pumping too much energy which is causing the metal around it to melt. A simple stupefy is causing this much problems, god knows how I am going to stabilize spells like bombarda or difindo. I think we need to go back to the drawing board before trying this again. There’s a chance that this’ll damage the wand too” 

“I told you those runes wouldn’t work on this properly.” Hermione said in a smug tone. At Least she stopped acting like a know it all. Now instead of just believing what is written in the books as the absolute truth she tries to verify and learn from people around her. 

I was just thinking this when my mother called Hermione upstairs.

Putting down the ruined contraption I started cleaning the work station. “Two years of training and she's already telling us what to do, imagine what she’ll do once we start Hogwarts.” I said, turning to harry.

“I’m not the one who’s from the future, but I know one thing for sure, that girl will run the entire magical world one day.” Harry said with a small smile. 

“I think you might be a little biassed on this.” I said while trying to scrape up the molten metal off the floor. I turned towards Harry and saw him looking at me with irritation. “Oh don't feel so bad! It’s cute that you have so much faith in your girlfriend” I commented with a little laugh.

“She’s not my girlfriend! Stop saying stuff like th-” Hermione's voice interrupted Harry's angry rant. “Cass! Harry! Professor McGonagall is at my home!” huh I thought it’ll take a little more time. Oh well.

“It feels like she’s early, it’s only July, no?” Harry asked me with a confused look.

“There are many muggleborns who’ll be starting Hogwarts, it takes time for her to go and meet all the parents and future students, so it makes sense that she's starting early.” I said while we were making our way upstairs.

“That woman works a lot.” harry commented behind me.

“Can we go now please?” hemione asked, looking extremely impatient. With a soft smile I gestured towards the door and we started making our way towards her house. “Lead the way.” 

“What do you think she’ll be like?” she asked after a few seconds, looking at her she was absolutely vibrating with excitement.

“Mom said that she’s strict but a fair woman. I mean she’s deputy headmistress of the school, so maybe someone like Mrs. Imara?” I said with a laugh, remembering our next door neighbour. 

“I guess you’re right.”

“I know one thing for sure, right now she’ll be behaving like a bloody salesperson.” I said remembering how some of my tutors behaved when they met my parents for the first time.

“Cass!” Hermione exclaimed, dear god she looks absolutely scandalised. I need to get her over this authority kink she has gong on here. 

“What? She’s at home trying to sell you the idea of a completely different world, she's there to convince you to give up this world and come live with them, obviously she’ll be behaving like a salesperson.”

“Still, you shouldn’t say stuff like that. Okay we’re here, how ar-” she started giving me a lecture but I wasn’t interested so I just morphed so that I would look like her brother.  “How many times have I told you to give me a warning before you change!?”

“Too many to count really. come on, let’s go” I said with a smile as I began to drag the angry bird to the doorstep and opened the door.

“Mom!” Hermione called once we were inside. A few seconds later her mother came into the hall and saw us “Hermione,... Cass.”

She said a little confused to which I just gave a cheeky smile and a simple “Hey, mommy!”

“Someone is here to see you, Hermione,” Emma said after looking at me for a few seconds. Harry and I’ve been doing this kind of stuff ever since they found out that Hermione was a witch and we were wizards, so Grangers got used to me doing wandless magic whenever I was around. 

Looking at Hermione's eager expression, I decided to let her go first.

“I’ll catch up,” I said as I made my way towards the kitchen to get a glass of water giving them enough time for a quick introduction. After a few minutes I went into the room and saw grangers sitting on the couch on one side of the room and McGonagall on the other side of the room.

“Good morning ma’am,” after wishing her, I quickly moved towards the grangers and on a stool beside the couch.

“Good morning young man” she wished me back but clearly with a questioning tone in her voice. She looked towards Dan who answered her unasked question.

“This is Hermione's younger brother, Cass,” He said with an amused smile. Dan adapted to the whole magic thing remarkably fast, and as a doctor dentist he’s fascinated by my metamorphic ability. “Cass this is Minerva McGonagall from a boarding school in Scotland, your sister just got an offer from this school.” he told me giving Hermione a proud smile.

“Really? Well, what's the criteria to enter this school?” I asked McGonagall, to which she gave me the answer while giving me a small smile that is almost saying sorry.

“It’s a very exclusive school, to get an invitation you need to be able to wield magic.” Maybe she’s trying to placate me because she thinks I would want to go to Hogwarts as well. Maybe this situation reminds her of lily and petunia, ‘maybe’ 

“Apparently I can do magic.” Hermione chimed in with an amused tone.

“Is that why you’re so smart?” I said trying to play the clueless kid “Because you’re magical? Is that it??” I directed the last question towards McGonagall.

“Don’t know, is it?” so did Hermione.

“I don’t think so,” she answered after a few beats but with a questioning tone of her own. “the ability to wield magic doesn’t really affect your cognitive abilities…. As far as we know.” she said after thinking about it for a few seconds.

“Cool, so how do we know you’re not just a delusional old lady who escaped a mental asylum, and now roams around trying to lure children away from their homes?” 

This caused Dan to burst out laughing and Emma to give me a scandalised look. So that's where Hermione gets it from, “Cass!” she exclaimed the moment she got over her shock.

“What? All I'm asking for is proof, if magic is real then it shouldn’t be too hard.” I said to McGonagall to which she just raised one eyebrow at me

“It is a reasonable request.” She took out her wand and transfigured a tea cup sitting on the table into an ornate looking vase “Here you go Mr. Granger.” she said with a satisfied and smug voice

“Is this what you’re gonna teach her?” I said leaning forward and examining the vase and passed it to Emma so she could examine it too. 

“It's part of the curriculum.” she said wondering where I’m going with it, to this I just gave a small hum and said “well It’s not really impressive now is it?” This caused her to lose her composure for just a second before Hermione broke it further by saying. “No, not really. I mean I can already impress people by reciting the value of pie, or the entire periodic table.”

She stared at both of us for a few seconds before flicking her and in her hand. “Well then, how about this?” with that she started doing some really advanced magic like inanimate to animate transfiguration, some impressive charms like Augamanti, cheering charm, Disillusionment Charm, which was actually pretty sick. But in the past two years they’ve become used to doing such things, so seeing the lack of reaction McGonagall finally turned into her Animagus form and turned into a tabby cat which was impressive as hell! And the cat on the table finally looked a little relieved thinking we’re finally impressed when suddenly Hermione’s voice tore through that hope “As impressive as it is, there are no practical applications of turning into a cat now are there?” she asked to which I replied in a barely concealed glee.

“I don’t think so, why would you wanna turn into a cat when you already have the ability to use opposable thumbs? It just seems like a waste,” when I turned back towards the human form of McGonagall I saw a bewildered and almost defeated look on her face  

“I mean don’t get me wrong, it is impressive, it just seems like a waste.” Hermione said after a few seconds to which I replied 

“It’ll be a good party trick tho” which I think really offended McGonagall, like on a deep personal level if her expressions are anything to go by.

“But you won’t be able to share it because of all the restrictions and secrecy.” Dan chimed in without missing a beat, stoking the fire even more, so I just simply said “Anything else you can show us?” 

After that what followed was one of the best sales pitches in the history of humanity. Don't forget the future too, I mean we used to watch Indian telemarketing shows late at night, and those people convinced us to buy a frilly lingerie set!!

………..is there something you guys wanna tell me?

‘Nope’

What he said.

Don’t you mean she?

‘Fuck off Mage!!’

Trying to ignore the awkward situation I focused back to the Catwoman and said

“These are all party tricks, I mean I'm sure Hermione can do that.” I said with a small knowing smile, I've been training Hermione for the past two years so I knew that she can now do wandless magic but she still has to use incantations out loud. 

“Without a wand and prope-” she was cut off by Hermione who shattered her entire knowledge base.

“Wingardium leviosa!” And with that, glasses on the table started flying around. “Huh, would you look at that, she already did it.” I said to McGonagall with a smug smile. Who lost all colour in her face, and it looked like she was trying to evaluate her entire life at once. “That shouldn’t be possible, wandless magic with such fine control at this age is unheard of.” she exclaimed with a disbelieving face and looked as if she was going to pass out.

“I have a question,” Dan chimed in, bringing McGonagall out of her thoughts. “You said that this is an entirely different world, for all intent and purposes Hermione will be migrating in a completely different world. So as an outsider what sort of problems will she have to face?” he asked her seriously, this is the topic that has been plaguing the grangers for a long time.

After a few seconds McGonagall finally said with a somber and sorry tone. “I won’t lie to you all and tell you how the magical world will be a paradise for Miss Granger here. Things will not be smooth sailing for Hermione, because he is what we refer to as a muggleborn, magicals who are born from two non-magical parents. And more often than not some people of the magical world will look down on her for her heritage, which can lead to her facing some problems in the future.” 

“And you want us to send her to this world, where she will be looked down on just because of who her parents are?” Emma asked her the moment McGonagall finished.

“Mrs. Granger, I won’t force you to send your daughter to our world, but I won't sit here and pretend that I won't be sad to see a talent like this going to waste.” she finally said with a sad tone, any teacher would be sad to see a talent like this slip from their hands.

“So what happens if we refuse?” I finally asked, to which she replied very simply  “I’m afraid I'm going to obliviate you all.” at least her tone is apologetic

“What is that?” Hermione asked 

“It means that I will be taking all of our memories of this interaction. And at a later time a healer will be coming here to bind Miss Granger's magic.” This caused Hermione to look alarmed, giving up your magic after constant use of it for the past two years will be hard for anyone. 

McGonagall saw the reaction on her face and quickly rushed to assure her “Don’t worry young one, it won’t hurt. But it is a necessary precaution, as uncontrolled magic can be a danger to you and people around you.” 

“And if we decide to go ahead with this, how do we know that our daughter will be safe? From what I gather, we as non-magicals won’t have any rights in your world.” Dan asked putting a comforting hand on Hermione

“You’re right Mr. Granger, muggles don’t have any rights in the magical world. But I can assure you that Hermione will be safe. Hogwarts is the safest place in the world, and teachers like me will be there at all times to help at all times. And as deputy headmistress I can assure you that protection of my students is a duty which I uphold very seriously” McGonagall said with a very serious tone and an expression which screamed bloody murder if someone decided to mess with her students.

“Well, at least you’re honest about the whole thing.” Emma Said after a while and gave me a satisfied expression

“I told you she is a good one!!” I exclaimed happily 

“Excuse me?” McGonagall asked, perplexed as she saw a relieved look on Hermione's face and a satisfied and contemplative look on Dan and Emma's face.

“Allow me to introduce myself ma’am,” Saying that I quickly morphed back into myself, which got a pretty satisfying reaction from tabby here. “my name is Cassius Alphine Fall,” I said  with a little flourish and a stage bow.

“Grandson of Clair?” She asked with a look of recognition 

“The very same.”

“Then perhaps you can enlighten me, as to what was the reason for this deception, Mr. Fall” Oooooh someone is in trouble!!

“I can answer that” Dan chimed in saving me from the wrath of McGonagall “The thing is that we’ve known about Hermione being a witch for the past two years. It was the falls who told us everything about the magical world, but that also included the negatives about the said world. We were reluctant to send our daughter to a world where she doesn't have any rights, a world where the cards have already been stacked against her. But Cass and his family made sure to stress upon that there are a lot of good people out there too, especially the teachers who’ll be guiding our students.” he ended the explanation with a respectful nod towards her.

“So you did this whole thing to see whether they were right or not?” she asked after  a few seconds

“Yes, I’m sorry for the whole thing but we have to be sure,” Emma answered in a apologetic tone,

“It is fine Mrs. Granger, I can understand how frightening it can be to send your child to a completely different world.” McGonagall reassured Hermione's parents, after which she turned towards me “so can I assume that you were the reason for Ms. Granger's stellar performance?”

“Oh no, I can't take credit for that. I just guided her a bit, she herself did the rest.” I said dismissively, waving my hand. 

“Still, control like this is extraordinary. Especially without a wand.” she said complementing Hermione
“Thank You ma’am” Hermione said with a smile and a pleased look. She’ll still be a teacher’s pet.

“I’ll give you time to talk, I'll be outside. Ma’am,” I said as I stood up and calmly walked out of the house.

You ran out of the house

‘Power walked’

Ran

‘Jogged’

Ran

‘Fine! I ran! I just can’t win with you both can I?”

Nope, like chat says, it is our duty to kick you while you’re down. 

‘I love you too mage’

After that I started playing around with my magic by creating illusions and stuff while waiting for Minerva to come out. After ten minutes she came out of the house. “Mr. fall”

“Ma’am, how did it go?”

“Rather smoothly once you left.” she said with a hint of amusement “Grangers were already well informed about the magical world,” and with that she took out her wand to quickly check time 

seeing it’s only one thirty I asked “So what are you going to do now?” looking at me for a second she wandlessly conjured a parchment in front of her, probably with names of muggleborns and their details.

“I have many more children to inform about the magical world, and the day is still young,” and with that she disappeared it and we left the driveway of the house.

“Well, then I wish you adieu.” I said with a dramatic flourish. Why did you do that? ‘I don’t know and you didn’t exactly stop me!!’

McGonagall's voice pulled me out of my embarrassing fight with Chat “Mr. Fall, don’t take this the wrong way, but your speech and mannerism is remarkably good for a 10 year old.” 

“It’s not that weird, I mean I have a brother who survived a killing curse once,” I said this with a dismissive wave 

“Excuse me?” she was startled out of her suspicions regarding me, obviously there’s only one person who has survived the killing curse, the person she helped dumbles deliver to Dursleys. I thought she was against it? She was, he’s just being dramatic. 

Ignoring them I focused on McGonagall “I believe you’re familiar with him, Harry potter.” and with a mention of her name her eyes went wide. “Mr. potter-”

“Lives with us. Has been living with us since he was 3 years old.” I said quickly, cutting her off, “Do you wanna meet him?”

“Yes,” she agreed without a moment’s hesitation. Perhaps she wants to be sure that her lion is alright in the house of snakes? McGonagall is not like that Sam, she probably wants to see him because last time she saw him he was a baby and she left him with the Dursleys. Maybe that night weighs heavily on her? ‘Maybe’

“This way” I turned around and started leading her towards the house.

“I never knew that Clair had a son by the way,” she said after a few seconds of silence.

“She does have a daughter tho” I replied with a smile

“You’re Chloe’s son?” she asked with a little surprise “Yup, best mom in the world!” I exclaimed like a child, she really is a good mother. ‘Well to me she’s more like a sister than a mother, but who cares.’

“She was also a brilliant student, top of her class and she was also perfect for every single year since third year,” McGonagall recounted with a smile.

“She never told me that,” ‘Why did Riddle never target her if she was such a model student?’ isn’t that the question.

“If you don’t mind me asking, who is your father?” McGonagall asked pulling me out of my musings

“Regulus Black” I said simply after a few seconds, which caused her to stop for a moment

“I’m sorry,” she said, which I waved away.

“Eh, it's fine. We’re here.” I said opening the door.

“Grandma! G-Momma!” I shouted, after a second or two she came into the hallway

“Hey Cass, what happen- Minerva! Merlin!, it's been a long time!” The concern turned to surprised elation within a second. ‘Huh, I didn't know they were such good friends.’ 

“Hey Clair, it has been a long time, I was in the neighborhood visiting a muggleborn, Hermione granger.”

“Oh she’s a good girl, you’ll have the time of your life teaching her. So what brought you here?” she asked leading McGonagall into the drawing room,

“Well imagine my surprise when I found not one but two granger children. A girl and an extremely suspicious boy.”

“And later that boy morphed into this little runt?” she asked looking at me with amusement, which I returned easily  

“Got in one. Anyway, where’s harry?” I asked, looking around.

“Down in the basement, with your mother. Who is very angry by the way! Why did you use her wand?” she asked, trying to contain her laughter.

I started walking downstairs and said “Can’t use mine now can I?” waving my wand around. When I reached the basement I could feel the tension in the air. Well, time to face the music!

“Hey people!” My greeting didn’t yield the expected result, and I saw the reason for this. She was holding her wand which was still encased in the melted metal, 

‘It looks cool!’ it sure does, but for some reason she doesn’t see it like that 

“How many times have I told you not to use my wand in this stupid experiment of yours?! We have three spare wands lying around yet you always use mine! Now get it out of this!” and with that she shoved the wand in my hands, and what’s more I heard Harry snickering in the background.

He did tell you to use the other wand, I think he has earned a few snickers.

“Okay-okay jeez luize,” I said as I got to work on the wand, the ancient magic allows me to manipulate the metal somewhat more easily then what I would achieve with normal transfiguration, however due to my age my control is still weak. Shifting the metal a little bit I quickly pulled the wand out of its confinement and handed it to my mother “Here you go.” 

“Now I better not find you playing with my wand again!” ‘There's a joke to be made here, should I make it?? ……. She’s your mother Cass ‘Imaginary mother’ still your mother!.... and she's a woman.

Seriously?!

“Professor McGonagall is here to meet harry.” I said squashing down my impulse to make a great joke. Hearing this her mood did a complete one eighty and she exclaimed excitedly “Minnie is here? Let's go!” and with that she ran upstairs. 

“Minnie?” I asked harry with a puzzled look, to which he just gave me a shrugged

“Inside joke maybe? Come on let's go.” and started walking upstairs and gestured for me to follow him. But I thought I’d give him and Catwoman a little privacy. 

We also don't want her to catch up on the fact that you’re not a normal child. 

‘I think it's too late for that, she already suspects something.’

Why are you hiding this from her? You told Albus about it.

‘Albus’ secrets have secrets he won’t divulge our situation to anyone because at this moment this helps him, but I'm not so sure about McGonagall.’

You think she’ll betray you?

‘It’s just a precaution.’   

“You go ahead, I'll just clean this up and then join you.” I told him, turning around to clean and gather all the melted metal from the workstation and the gloves. 

“Alright” and with that he left.