The Letters from No-one
It was a hot August. The hottest Harry had ever lived through, in fact. Today was a bit of relief, though. As usual, Vernon and Petunia bossed him around, though Petunia was being nicer than usual, Harry thought.
When Harry was told to bring the mail in and sort the junk from the important things, he encountered something peculiar:
Henry James Potter
4 Privet Drive
Surrey
KT20 7PV
It confused him. No sender address? He kept it to himself; it was addressed to him, after all.
In his cupboard-room, he read the letter:
Dear Mr. Potter,
This letter has been written to you to inform you that you have been accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Your response will be received no later than 20 August next.
Students will be expected to have the following materials:
One (1) wand
One (1) cauldron
One (1) set of glass vials
and
One (1) set of robes
Students will be allowed to bring to Hogwarts one (1) broom. Students may also bring a cat OR a toad OR an owl. All said items must be purchased before the 1 September next, which is also the date you will be expected to board the Hogwarts Express at Platform 9¾, King's Cross Station.
Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Professor of Transfiguration
Head of Gryffindor House
Deputy Headmistress
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
With that, the letter ended. Harry was even more confused. Witchcraft and Wizardry? Wands and cauldrons? He decided to keep it secret. "Is this about the 'freakishness' the Dursleys always talked about?" He thought. He would need to tell Hermione about this.
THE NEXT DAY
In school, Harry told Hermione about the Letter. Hermione acted confused, but she had been friends with Harry for long enough that he knew she was faking it. Hermione and Harry got into a corner and Hermione began talking in hushed tones:
"Harry, when did you get this letter?" she said.
"Yesterday. Why do you ask?" Harry replied.
"Well... my parents told me not to tell this to anyone, but I got a near-identical one the same day," Hermione answered.
"D- Do you think it's real?" Harry asked.
"Mrs. McGonagall, the person who wrote the letter, gave it to us in-person and showed us the 'Witchcraft and Wizardry' the letter mentioned, so yes, I think it's real," Hermione said.
"That didn't happen to me! It just showed up in my mail! My aunt and uncle didn't even see the letter!" Harry near-shouted.
"Harry, my letter had a place to buy all the things in it. Did yours?" Hermione asked.
"No!" Harry said, "C- Can I go with you on your magical shopping trip?"
"I'll have to ask my parents, but I think they'll say yes," Hermione answered.
"Great! I didn't think my aunt and uncle would want to spend that money anyway. All that stuff sounds expensive," Harry said.
"We'll be going on Saturday. Can you walk to my house or will you have to be driven?" Hermione questioned.
And Hermione went on, questioning the logistics of their shopping trip. Harry had always found that endearing and that didn't change this time. Both spent the next few days in anticipation for the Big Day.
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