It was during one of his visits with Hermione when Harry noticed something peculiar. Hermione wanted to show him a book that was on the other side of the room. She just moved her hand in that direction and the book jumped into her hand. She was actually surprised at hearing Harry gasp.
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"What was that for?" she asked.
Harry ignored the question. "How did you get the book?"
"I just took it. Why do you ask?"
"Have you noticed where the book was?"
"It was by my side."
"No, it was on that shelf, on the other side of the room."
"It couldn't be. I would not have had it in my hand by just grabbing it!"
"It flew across the room into your hand!"
"That's impossible! Nobody can make a book fly like that."
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"But you just did!"
Hermione stopped to think. She knew Harry was her friend and he had never lied to her. He probably saw what he said. Yet that meant there was something different involved, some kind of magic. Could that be?
"What does it mean?" she asked.
Discover moreFan fiction booksWriting softwareCreative writing coursesOnline writing communityFan fiction merchandiseHarry shrugged. "I don't really know, but some of my parents' friends may know. I'll ask them to come next time you visit, if you agree."
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"I want to know what this is," she stated.
"Then I'll call them!" He hugged her, as they usually did when meeting. Hermione let herself enjoy it, putting the questions to rest until her next visit.
–..–
As much as Dumbledore was intrigued by the news, he had to admit that he wasn't the right person to handle it, looking too much like a fairy-tale wizard. He asked Minerva to meet the girl along with Remus, who knew much better how to blend into the muggle environment. Both were already at the Dursleys when Hermione arrived with her mother.
"Minnie, Remi, this is my good friend Hermione Granger. Hermione, these are friends of my parents who visit me occasionally: Minerva McGonagall and Remus Lupin," Harry made the introduction.
Discover moreAuthor collaboration toolsDigital book publishingStory writing promptsFan art commissionsWriting contest entriesMinerva, who looked like an old-fashioned grandmother to Hermione, was the first to talk. "Miss Granger, Harry has told us that you have some special talents. Can you tell us about it?"
Hermione had already thought about Harry's words. She was prepared for the conversation. "I wasn't really aware of this until Harry pointed it out. He saw me grabbing a book from the other side of the room, making it fly into my hand. Thinking of this, I found out that I've done it quite frequently for more than a year. I wonder why nobody noticed it."
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"Anything else?"
Hermione smiled triumphantly now. "There are some children at school who don't like me. They taunt me and call me names… One of these girls acted very nastily at me during the break, when I was just sitting on a bench and reading a book. She almost made me cry. I had to leave, as I didn't want to retaliate or fight her. I only told her that I wished her deeds were punished. She just laughed and sat on the bench which I vacated. We had to return to class two minutes later. When she got up, her skirt caught on a nail and was completely ripped, leaving her in her knickers."
Discover moreFind Family LawyerDiscover Sci-FiEnroll in ClassesHire Babysitterschild"Do you think it has something to do with you?"
"That is the punishment I had in mind for her, and there was no nail in the bench when I was sitting on it."
"What do you think caused all these incidents?"
Hermione seemed hesitant, just a bit. "A few weeks ago, if anybody would have said there was magic, I would have replied that it's nothing but sleight-of-hand and camera tricks. Now I think this is magic of the real kind."
"So, you believe that what you did was magic?" Minerva asked, still looking stern.
"I'm not sure, but I can find no better explanation. I believe Harry has a similar talent, or he wouldn't have pointed this out, and you two probably have it too."
Minerva was impressed by the insight this young girl got from so little information. "That's right, dear. You really are magical, and probably quite powerful, judging by these stories. You should keep this secret, though. Many people are not fond of magic and may act nastily when they suspect somebody is magical. Do your parents know?"
Discover moreBook review servicesCrossover story ideasAnime merchandiseComic book subscriptionsMovie memorabilia"I'm not sure. I think Mum knows some of it. I don't know about Dad."
"Alright. You can now go play with your friend. I may talk to your mother, if you don't mind."
"Oh, that's fine. Mum is very open-minded," Hermione said as she skipped to Harry's room.
Minerva looked at Remus. "What do you think?"
"I've checked her magical core. She is powerful, about the same as Harry."
"And she's also smart."
"It was difficult not to notice," he smiled.
"Ravenclaw?"
"Could be. Depending on her other qualities."
–..–
Petunia had noticed the girl leaving. She soon came with Mrs Granger to join the other guests.
"You have a very impressive daughter, Mrs Granger," Minerva said.
"Thank you. I only wish she had a few more friends."
"She has Harry as her friend now."
"I'm very glad about that, but she is still too lonely most of the time."
"Why is that?"
Mrs Granger sighed. "It may be her looks. She has inherited my hair, which is difficult to handle even now and was a lot worse when I was younger, and my husband's teeth, which are obscuring her beauty. It may also be due to her love of reading, which is quite extraordinary. Children don't like those who are very different. Adults neither, unfortunately."
Minerva smiled at her. "In fact, your daughter has some talents which may change things for the better. Have you noticed anything unusual happening near her, especially when she's upset or angry?"
"I'm not sure. There was a time, when she was quite small, that her new dress got splashed by a passing car. It became clean again a few seconds later. The dirty water just fell off as if her dress was coated with oil, leaving no sign at all."
She thought some more. "She also seems to grab books from the other side of the room very quickly. I don't see her moving, yet she has the book as if it were by her side. I can't understand how she does it."
"Have you considered magic?"
"No, I don't believe in magic. None of the magicians on television or other shows does real magic, if such a thing even exists."
"What about wizards and witches?"
"They only exist in fantasies and in computer games."
Remus decided to join the conversation. "Then, how do you explain this?" He clapped his hands, producing a white rose, which he offered her.
Mrs Granger looked surprised and at a loss of words. Remus summoned a nearby vase. "This is how your daughter brings the books," he said.
"Are you a magician?"
"No, although I may think of doing it for a living. I'm a wizard, and the lady at my side is a witch, as is your daughter."
Mrs Granger looked still puzzled, yet she was clearly thinking hard about all that she had heard and seen. Her face finally lightened with a smile. "That explains these bizarre events. What should we do about it, though?"
Minerva smiled. "For the time being — nothing. She seems to have very good control of her magic, much better than most magical children her age. As long as she doesn't lose her temper, she should be fine. Later, after she reaches eleven, she will be invited to attend a school where she will be able to develop her talents much further."
Mrs Granger looked around. "Are you all magical?"
Petunia answered. "I'm not magical, although I may have an unusual talent, neither is my husband. My sister and her husband were magical, and so is Harry. I'm not yet sure about Dudley."
This seemed to pique Minerva's curiosity. "What is your special talent, if you don't mind telling us?"
Petunia blushed. "I can see auras since I was a small child. I knew Lily was special way before she got her letter. Harry's aura is even brighter, except near his scar. Hermione's is just as bright, although not quite the same. When they are together, their auras seem to merge and get brighter. I still don't know what it means."
"I don't know either, but I'm sure it's good. Maybe they should meet more often?"
"That would be nice, but it's a long drive between our houses. We don't have the time to do this more often."
–..–
A few weeks later, Dudley came home very excited, although his father seemed not as pleased.
"How was the game?" Petunia asked him. Dudley had joined a football team but wasn't usually participating in the games, being the reserve goalkeeper. As much as he tried, he was still too slow to be good at this sport.
"The regular keeper didn't feel well. He had a fever and the coach sent him home, letting me play instead. I saved two goals and even won one on our opponents."
She saw her husband cringe at these words.
"How did you manage that, being the keeper?"
"I just kicked the ball hard. It flew all the way across the field and into the other goal."
"Well done, honey. Now, go take a shower. We have some guests."
Dudley hurried to do as asked, feeling elated. Petunia looked at Vernon. "How was it?"
"He stopped one ball with his body, as normal. The other one just changed direction in mid-flight, coming to his hands. He then kicked it. Not even experienced players can kick the ball that way. It just flew leisurely above the heads of the players, escaped the other keeper and landed at the far corner. I know it was magic! I hope nobody else noticed."
"Do you think he'll also be a wizard?"
Vernon cringed as if the words hurt. "Well, if he continues in that way…"
Petunia smiled at him encouragingly and pecked his cheek. "Come, we have some guests. I think they would be interested to hear about the game."
Vernon didn't seem too happy to hear this.
He wasn't surprised to find Dumbledore and McGonagall waiting for him.
"I understand that Dudley had a great success today," Albus said in a way of greeting. "You probably feel proud of him."
"I would have been happier if it was all the normal way," Vernon grumbled.
"Why, was there anything unusual?"
Vernon sat heavily on the sofa, sighing. "Is it normal for a ball to change course in mid-air? Is it normal for a seven-year-old to kick a football to the other side of the field? Is it normal that only I noticed something unusual?"
Albus thought a bit, yet Minerva asked, "Was there any wind there?"
Vernon tried to remember. "None that I could notice. It was actually so warm in the sun that I wished there was some wind to chill us a bit."
"So, you believe it was all done by Dudley using Magic?"
Vernon cringed, as he always did when that word was spoken. "I don't think he did it on purpose. It just… happened."
All Albus would say was, "Interesting."
–..–
"…and ask your parents if they mind a short visit from my parents' friends while I'm there."
"Wait a moment, I'll ask them now." The line went silent for a short while. "Harry, Mom says she'll love it. Who will come?"
"I'm not sure. I think Minnie will come and also Albus. You haven't met him yet. He's very old and quite funny, but I think he knows a lot."
"Then, he's just as welcome. Maybe we could learn something from him, though."
"That's a possibility."
Albus and Minerva arrived shortly after lunch. While the old witch tried to dress in a muggle way, the wizard didn't even attempt it.
"I'm glad to introduce Albus Dumbledore to you. He's holding a few posts, but we're currently only interested in him as the Headmaster of Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry," Minerva handled the introduction.
"Is that the school you mentioned last time we met?" Mrs Granger asked.
"Yes. I'm sure he is best qualified to answer your questions, and I'm sure you have quite a few."
Hermione looked at the old wizard and was barely able to refrain from giggling. He looked so much like a drawing in a children's book that it was funny. She wondered if it was done on purpose or just by coincidence, although it didn't really matter.
Mrs Granger invited them all to sit in the living room, where she served tea and coffee before returning to the subject of the visit. "I assume this isn't just a social call," she said with a smile.
Albus smiled as well. "Indeed it isn't. Minerva has told me how impressive your daughter is, and I was intrigued enough to come and see for myself."
Mr. Granger waved his hand in the direction of the children, as if inviting him to talk with them. Albus smiled. Harry returned the smile. It was evident that he already knew the man. Hermione smiled politely as well. A bit of hesitation was evident in her smile. Albus set his attention on her, momentarily ignoring Harry.
"I've heard that you're a good friend of Harry. Care to tell me how you became friends?"
Hermione felt quite confident about this answer. "We met during our vacation in Spain. Harry seemed intrigued by the book I was reading and then we started talking, finding that we liked each other."
"So, you didn't know anything about him?"
"We didn't even know each other's names until after we talked for a bit."
Dumbledore's smile widened. "I also heard that you can do some magic. Care to show me?"
Hermione looked around, trying to find a book to summon. Surprisingly, there was none. It looked like her parents cleared the living room of all the normal clutter, expecting the guests. She shrugged and thought about one of the books in her room. A moment later she held the book in her hand.
"That's a very effective use of magic," Dumbledore agreed. "Can you do other things?"
Hermione wasn't too sure. "I think I did a few things, only they happened when I was angry or excited, so I'm not sure I can do them again."
"Like what?"
She blushed. "I made a girl lose her skirt in class after she made fun of me. I made all the buttons come undone."
Albus smiled understandingly. "I'm sure Harry wouldn't mind if his shirt buttons come undone. Care to try?"
Hermione concentrated for a moment, and then it looked like somebody was unbuttoning Harry's shirt.
"It went much quicker in class," Hermione said apologetically.
"Yet doing it so slowly requires an even higher level of control. I think we can expect some great things from you," Albus said, sounding appreciative.
He turned to her parents. "Your daughter seems both powerful and talented, exerting such fine control on her magic while still so young. It's a rare gift even among magical families. I'm now looking forward to the time she reaches Hogwarts."
"Thank you," Mr. Granger said, yet his wife had something else nagging in her mind. "About that — can you tell us a bit more about Hogwarts?"
"What do you want to know?"
"Where is it? Can we visit there?"
"It's in Scotland, far enough from any non-magical settling, and unfortunately, you can't visit there. You can't even see the place."
"May I assume it's a boarding school?"
"Sure. You wouldn't want untrained students to practice their spells unsupervised, would you? We also have a large library, but we shouldn't let the books reach anybody who's not yet aware of magic. As you can understand, we need to keep our existence secret. Just look at the history of witch-hunts and you can understand why."
"What can she do after finishing Hogwarts? Do you have any higher school?"
Albus shook his head. "The magical population in Britain is not large enough to have such schools."
"Then how can one achieve a higher level of knowledge?"
"The old way, by studying on one's own or apprenticing an acknowledged master. It may seem old-fashioned, but there's no better option."
"Are there such schools in other countries?"
Albus wasn't quite ready for this question. "I suppose there are, yet I can't truly say that I know anything concrete. The magical society is quite secretive, as you may understand, and in each country, it tends to keep this kind of information well guarded, if only to protect the youngsters. I'd suspect there may be a kind of magical university in America, and maybe another on the continent. I doubt there are any more."