"Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore (President of the International Confederation of Wizards, Grand Sorcerer of the Order of Merlin, First Class, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot)
Dear Miss Granger:
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
The term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.
PS: If there is anything you do not understand, please consult Miss Kate Shafiq, who resides next door to you.
Yours sincerely,Minerva McGonagallDeputy Headmistress"
Hermione fluently read the letter, then looked up at her parents, who wore expressions of bewilderment nearly identical to her own.
"Magic… is real?"
"And this letter says I can ask Sister Kate. Didn't she already go off to another school?"
"Could it be that she's a Wizard too, and she went to this Hogwarts to study magic?"
Her questions came in a rapid-fire barrage, but this time, her parents, who had always seemed so wise in her eyes, were rendered speechless.
Leaving aside everything else, the mere fact that their child was a Wizard—a being of legend—was enough to make their heads spin.
At only eleven years old, Hermione didn't understand, but as adults, how could the Grangers not know about the three centuries of witch hunts that had once plagued Europe?
Although technology had advanced by leaps and bounds and the term "Wizard" had been relegated to a dusty corner of history, the word still conjured something other than a magical world of childish fantasy for adults who had been through the school of hard knocks.
Watching their daughter clutch the letter with a face full of excitement, Mr. and Mrs. Granger exchanged an uneasy glance.
Without a doubt, they would support their daughter's decisions one hundred percent, but when it came to something concerning her entire future…
It was better to learn a little more before making a choice!
"Dear, the letter says our neighbor is a Wizard. How about we pay her a visit now and ask for her advice?" Mrs. Granger asked, a little uncertainly.
Still basking in the excitement of being a Wizard, Hermione heard the suggestion to go next door and immediately ran to the entrance, letter in hand, to put on her shoes.
"Mum, I'll go next door first to see if Sister Kate is back! You two wait here for a bit!"
With that, she scurried out, leaving her worried parents feeling a wave of helplessness.
Just looking at their daughter, it was obvious that her mind and heart were now completely filled with thoughts of Hogwarts and her neighbor, Sister Kate.
A small brown blur flew to the house next door, her little chest heaving from the sprint.
Hermione waited at the gate for a moment, staring at the white clay-colored iron gate as she tried to calm her breathing.
For the past year, she had snuck over to knock on this door every week.
But whether it was Christmas or winter break, the house had always been empty.
She had almost started to believe that Kate had forgotten her.
After finally catching her breath, she clenched her little fists and tapped gently on the door.
A moment later, a sound came from inside.
Kate found it strange. She had been back for less than half a day and hadn't even unpacked her luggage. How did someone already know she was home?
She walked to the door and looked through the peephole. Hmm, couldn't see anyone.
With a puzzled look, she opened the door, only to have a small brown bundle of a person throw herself at her.
"Sister Kate, you're finally back!"
As Hermione's excited voice and soft body crashed into her arms, Kate stumbled back half a step, but she managed to stay upright.
Thankfully, her Strength attribute had increased quite a bit over the past year; otherwise, she definitely wouldn't have been able to catch this little one.
"Hermione?" Although she recognized the ball of brown hair in her arms, Kate was still puzzled. "How did you know I was home?"
Logically, besides her teacher, her butler, and Dumbledore, no one else should have known her schedule…
Hmm? Dumbledore?
Feeling like she had grasped a clue, Kate quickly set Hermione down and immediately noticed the familiar letter in her hands.
She had received the same letter last year.
"I'm a Wizard too, Sister Kate!" Hermione's face was still flushed, still immersed in the excitement of seeing her.
Kate's face twitched. She took the letter from her and scanned it quickly.
The beginning was the same as before; it was clearly mass-produced on the Hogwarts assembly line.
But… what the hell was with this postscript?!
Was Dumbledore trying to use her as child labor?
If it weren't for Hermione being present, Kate would have definitely run to the fireplace to give that blasted old man a piece of her mind.
Feeling a dark cloud over her head, she lowered the letter. Hermione's sparkling eyes, filled with infinite anticipation, were once again fixed on her face.
Kate's eyelids twitched uncontrollably. After a long moment, she returned the letter and asked nonchalantly, "So, you want to go to Hogwarts?"
"Yes! Sister Kate must be studying there too, right? Then we can go to school together in the future!"
Hermione affectionately hugged her arm, the enthusiasm of a little lion cub bumping right into Kate's arm.
Even though she hadn't developed yet, it was already July…
Feeling a bit awkward, Kate tried to pull her arm away. She gave it a little tug, but then she saw Hermione's face, radiant with warmth, and gave up.
Striving to maintain the same calm demeanor they had before, Kate thought for a moment. "Do your parents agree to you going to Hogwarts?"
Hermione paused. "Why wouldn't they agree?"
Kate sighed. Her frame, which had started to lengthen over the past year, bent down slightly. She raised a hand and gently ruffled the younger girl's hair.
"Going to study at Hogwarts means you have to give up your right to continue your education in the non-magical world."
"Your studies will begin a new chapter, and all the friends you've made before will gradually drift away because of it."
"Even so, are you still willing to go and study in an unknown magical world?"
From the perspective of the original story, Kate naturally felt that Hermione had developed very well in the magical world.
But after being her neighbor for so many years, she also understood that with Hermione's abilities, she could achieve great things in the Muggle world as well.
Her future might even be broader there than in the blood-status-obsessed and long-isolated magical world.
Hermione hesitated and lowered her head. After a long while, she slowly looked up.
"But," her little finger gently hooked Kate's, "my only friend is you, Sister Kate."
Kate was taken aback.
"I want to go to Hogwarts with Sister Kate. I also really like magic, and I really want to learn it."
"I don't think it's a pity to give up those other things. I only know that by giving up what is insignificant, I can get what I truly want."
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