I was speechless.
I had wanted this for so long.
In both my lives one of my biggest dreams had always been to go to Hogwarts, and now suddenly the letter I had been expecting arrived a year early.
“I… It’s my Hogwarts letter…” Everyone in the room gasped.
Mum hurried forward, took the letter from me, and quickly read it.
Tonks pulled herself together quickest and a smile lit her face.
“Now we don’t have to say goodbye!
You are coming with me!
WOOO!!” She came over and hugged me in pure excitement.
She didn’t seem to be hung up on the weirdness of it all.
Andromeda walked over to my mum, reading the letter over her shoulder.
Mum finished and handed it to her.
“This is impossible.
Did they make a mistake?
Hogwarts letters are never sent before the eleventh birthday of a potential student.
Not once has this happened in the almost thousand years Hogwarts has existed, at least not that history speaks of.” The owl, still waiting, had started to eat some meatloaf from the table, with everyone distracted.
Now finished refuelling, it let out a hoot, trying to communicate he had been instructed to wait for an answer.
I pushed away my many different feelings.
What should I do here?
Starting at Hogwarts early was in many ways a dream, but the downsides were also present.
There was one big thing I had wanted to take care of before going to Hogwarts, which was learning Occlumency.
I had, however, not found any books about this.
Even trying Borgin and Burks, they had sold all copies during the time of war, and had not received any new ones last I had visited.
“While I might not have that protection, other measures could be taken though…” And I really wanted this.
“I have to write an answer.
I might as well accept, right?
The worst they can do is make me wait another year, right?
We can include our question about the letter coming early in our reply.” Andromeda, who came from a very old family, with tradition built in from childhood, was still reading the letter, over and over.
Ted seemed calm, not needing to see it for himself.
He was more focused on his daughter and her joyful expression.
Mum looked to be having mixed feelings about the whole thing, but eventually just nodded and handed me a pen.
“Guess you will have to get used to using quills earlier than you thought…” she said with a slight smile.
I quickly wrote a reply and tied it to the leg of the owl, who quickly left.
I had noticed I had received a system prompt when I read the letter.
I was about to pull up the prompt, when my thoughts were interrupted by my mum.
She pulled everyone’s attention back to the waiting dinner.
The system would have to wait.
We enjoyed dinner, the only subject was of course my letter.
Tonks was chatting happily about the stuff we could do at Hogwarts.
Ted joined in talking about how great his time at Hogwarts had been.
“I even met Andromeda there as you all likely know.
I can believe she went for someone like me, she was so far out of my league, and in a different house on top of that!
Who knows, maybe you will both meet the one you will marry at Hogwarts too?” He gave us a teasing wink.
Mum was mostly quiet during the meal, not impolite, just slightly withdrawn.
The Tonkses left soon after dinner, Ted, the kind and insightful soul picked up on my mum’s feelings, smoothly ending the evening a bit early.
Since I was coming with her to Hogwarts, Tonks had no objections.
She just gave me another happy hug and told me to swing by the moment we had confirmation I would attend.
After they left I turned to mum.
She was still sitting at the table, a wineglass untouched in front of her.
As I walked up to her I was surprised to notice she had tears in her eyes.
“You have been very quiet since the letter arrived.” I didn’t dive straight to what I assumed was the issue.
I thought it better to let her address what was wrong.
“I’m sorry, Will.
This is supposed to be a happy moment for you, and here I am crying.
I’m truly happy for you, I just thought I would have more time with you before you left for so long.
Just a few days ago I thought I was so lucky that you were born just after the start of the Hogwarts semester.
That I would get a whole extra year with you…” She trailed off.
I went over and pulled her into a hug.
She let me hug her for a while before she seemed to gather herself.
“Enough of those thoughts now.
This is for me to deal with.
Starting by getting a job I would actually enjoy, something I could be proud of.
Building my life around yours as much as I have was not healthy.
Luckily the war ending helped me connect with friends, but even still.
It is time for me to find something beyond only motherhood.” She nodded to herself, now resolute.
I gave an approving nod at her resolve.
She looked at me with a real smile, focusing back on the immediate issue.
“We have to go shopping the moment we get confirmation that you can attend, the semester starts in just seven days.” Later I was alone in my room, I checked the prompt from the System.
“Quest issued, chain quest (part 1): Magical Education Year 1– Improve and grow stronger during your first year.
Reward: 1.
EXP (Depends on how much you improve) 2.
Stat points (Depends on how much you improve) Unknown (Depends on how much you improve) Only the progress made in the world of Harry Potter counts toward quest rewards” “More reasons to improve are always welcome, at least when they come with rewards.
This year could be my benchmark.
If similar quests appeared every year, Hogwarts could become my test case for figuring out how the System judged improvement.” I lay back in bed, and let myself daydream about Hogwarts.
McGonagall’s point of view: The last of the Hogwarts letters had been sent the day before.
It was unusual for The Book of Admittance to add a name for an upcoming school year so close to the start of said year.
I had been slightly curious about the reason for the late entry to the upcoming year.
Perhaps Hogwarts had been uncertain about whether the child had enough magic?
I had done my duty, of course, making sure the letter was sent promptly so the student and family would have some time to prepare.
I was in the middle of doing a slight edit of the curriculum for the sixth year of the upcoming semester when the Owl I had sent with the letter came back.
I got up and walked over to retrieve it.
I read the beginning quickly, happy to see the prompt reply accepting Hogwarts’ offer.
When I continued to read: … We were surprised to receive the letter a year early, as I am not yet eleven… “Not yet eleven?!” I quickly got up and headed to Albus’ office.
After giving the password to the gargoyle I quickly walked up the stairs before knocking on his door.
“Come in,” I heard Albus’ calm and collected voice from inside.
I entered.
Albus was sitting at his desk as I entered.
He looked up and gave me a smile.
“Ahh, Minerva, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit on this fine morning?” “Albus, this year The Book of Admittance gave me the name of a boy for the upcoming semester who is not yet eleven.
The letter was sent on the same morning as the date the book gave me, but I have now received the reply.
Here, read this.” I thought it easier to just let him read the reply rather than explain everything to him.
While he read.
I sat down.
He calmly took the letter from my hand, not seeming worried, rather intrigued.
He hummed slightly as he lay the letter down on his desk.
“I have found that Hogwarts rarely, if ever, makes mistakes when it comes to its students, Minerva.
If The Book of Admittance gave his name for the upcoming year, and the date for the letter to be sent was yesterday, I think that was for a reason.
I can’t help but be curious though, a letter sent before the eleventh birthday has, to my knowledge, never happened before, most curious indeed.
This William Walker will attend classes this fall at Hogwarts.” I was shocked, Albus would allow this Mr.
Walker to attend Hogwarts a year early?
“But Albus, it is tradition for Hogwarts to only accept children of eleven years or older.” Albus simply gave me a calm smile.
“I dare not question Hogwarts when it comes to its students, Minerva.
I will however inform the Ministry of Magic that Hogwarts has accepted a student before his eleventh birthday.
Though I think I will leave his name out of it, best not let the young boy bear the burden that comes with all this, before he even sets foot at Hogwarts.
Besides, his birthday appears to be only 19 days after the semester begins, I’m sure that will help calm the Ministry.” Williams point of view: Mum had gone out to look for a job the same day we had sent the letter.
Something was different about her this time to the other times she had gone out to try over the years.
Determination gleamed in her eyes.
I had never given much thought to the fact that she stayed at home.
I had given her some tips on investments we could make in the muggle world that would make money irrelevant to us soon enough, and figured since she had the financial freedom she had only been looking for “the right job” these last few years.
When she returned later that day she told me about her applying for a spot as Apprentice Healer at St Mungo’s.
Late in the evening the day after I had received the Hogwarts letter the reply to the questions we sent back came.
I would be allowed to attend.
I had immediately had a short celebration with my mum, who now seemed to be handling the news much better.
She was genuinely happy for me and there was none of the dread of me leaving anymore.
Though she would no doubt miss me, she looked genuinely hopeful for the future today.
We both went to bed in a very good mood.
The next day we were both up early.
Mum was going back for the answer at St Mungo’s and was dropping me off at the Tonkses’ house first.
We apparated over to the Tonkses, somewhat early in the morning, but I was too excited to wait any longer to share the news with Tonks.
She was still asleep when I arrived so I promptly woke her up.
She actually growled at me when I woke her up and refused to let her go back to sleep.
Luckily I had the perfect answer with me, coffee.
I had convinced her to convert from tea the moment I turned ten, and she had never looked back.
The moment she smelt the coffee her eyes snapped open, she had a wild look and I carefully set the coffee down and backed away.
After she had a few sips she looked up, still annoyed but now looked human.
“What, on God’s green earth are you doing here so early, Will?” I held the reply up and answered.
“Guess who will be going to Hogwarts along with you in six days?” I gave a huge grin.
That made Tonks jump out of bed, and jumped right up to give me a bearhug.
Coffee spilled everywhere and I felt my heart break at the sight of black gold being spilled.
The people who named oil black gold were clearly tea drinkers… I went downstairs to give Tonks some time to freshen up before we went out to celebrate.
Downstairs Ted and Andromeda waited, smiling toward me as I came back down.
“Congratulations again Will!
Though it should come as no surprise that you would be the only exception to the rule of Hogwarts admission.
I mean, from some of the things I’ve seen you do, I kind of think Hogwarts was late…” Ted said, though toward the end he, himself, looked unsure whether he was joking.
I gave him a big smile and a wink.
“I have to agree with you Ted, Hogwarts was late to the game on this one.
I’ll have to complain when I arrive.” Ted laughed, while Andromeda chuckled.
“Yes, congratulations, William.
Though I’m still not over how all this happened, I’m happy for you!” Andromeda added her dignified voice carrying genuine warmth.
A few moments later mum arrived bringing more happy news.
She had gotten a position at St Mungo’s as an Apprentice Healer.
I had been very surprised when she first told me she applied for two reasons.
Firstly, she had tried a few times over the years to get a job in the magical world, but mostly got shut down.
Second, I had no idea she had any training as a healer.
Apparently she had spent two years learning with Madam Pomfry while she was in Hogwarts.
I guess it explains all the diagnostics spells she knew, I just never connected it to training in healing.
Anyway, it felt good knowing she would be fine without me home.
Congratulations were once more being said.
Ted joked about opening Champagne despite the early morning.
A few minutes after mum’s arrival, the morning paper arrived at the Tonkses.
After they had paid the owl and it left, Ted calmly sat down with the paper to read, his tea in one hand.
He suddenly coughed out some tea as he looked at the front of the paper.
“Ted, what is it?” Andromeda asked with a little worry creeping into her voice.
The days of the war and the memories that came with that were still present even to this day.
Ted stayed silent for a moment, then spoke.
“You might want to look at this.” Ted just held the Prophet out so we could all see the front page.
For the first time in history Hogwarts accepts a student under the age of eleven For the first time since the founding of Hogwarts a letter was sent to a prospective student before said student reached eleven.
The student has accepted and is set to start Hogwarts September 1.
The name of the student is currently unknown, but sources at the Ministry of Magic have confirmed that the student will be attending Hogwarts this fall.
For more information: read pages 2-5.
(Magical number 3×7) 😉