ALL NOVEL Chapter 5: A Visitor
As I sat in my room, lost in the pages of an old book, I heard a knock on the door. Glancing up, I saw Sister Agnes peering in. "Cassius, dear, could you come downstairs for a moment? There's someone here to meet you," she said, her tone gentle yet urgent.
A wave of excitement washed over me. I closed the book and set it aside, rising from my seat with a sense of anticipation. "Of course, Sister Agnes. I'll be right down."
Making my way down the creaky stairs, I wondered who could be waiting for me. As I reached the bottom step, I saw a figure standing in the hallway, a familiar aura of magic surrounding them.
My heart skipped a beat as I recognized the distinguished silhouette of Professor Minerva McGonagall, the Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Holding a sealed envelope in her hand, she greeted me with a warm smile.
"Mr. Cassius Smith, I presume?" She asked, her voice crisp and authoritative.
I nodded, my excitement growing with each passing second. "Yes, that's me. What's this about, Miss...?" I asked, trying to keep my tone casual despite the growing sense of anticipation building up within me.
"Oh sorry, I'm Professor Minerva McGonagall" she explained as her smile widened slightly while she handed me an envelope. "Well, Mr. Smith, this is for you. You have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," she began to explain, her words painting a vivid picture of a magical school hidden away from the eyes of ordinary people, which they call muggles.
Even though I knew this was coming, I still couldn't hold back the look of wonder that made its way onto my face. I hurriedly opened up the letter and read its insides.
(HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Mr. Smith, 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. Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
UNIFORM
First-year students will require:
1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)
2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
4. One winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupil's clothes should carry name tags.
COURSE BOOKS
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1)by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theoryby Adalbert Waffling
A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungiby Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potionsby Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Themby Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble
OTHER EQUIPMENT
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
Students may also bring, if they desire, an owl OR a cat OR a toad.
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS
ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICK
Yours sincerely,
Lucinda Thomsonicle-Pocus
Chief Attendant of Witchcraft Provisions)
....
{Professor McGonagall POV}
As Deputy Headmistress, it was my duty to read through the Book of Admittance and send out the acceptance letters to children who were approaching their eleventh birthdays, letting them know of their place at Hogwarts. But as I was reading through, I found something, or rather, someone I needed to inform Dumbledore about.
"Lemon Drop." I tell the gargoyle guarding the headmaster's office. As I stepped into the room, I found him surrounded by the comforting glow of candlelight, poring over a pile of parchments.
"Professor Dumbledore, may I have a word?" I asked.
Dumbledore looked up from his papers, his piercing blue eyes twinkling with curiosity. "Of course, Minerva. What is it?"
Taking a seat opposite him, I carefully placed the Book of Admittance on his desk, its ancient leather cover worn with age. "I have made an interesting discovery within the Book of Admittance," I began, watching as Dumbledore's expression grew increasingly intrigued.
"Oh?" he replied, his interest piqued. "What have you found?"
I opened the book to the page that had caught my attention, pointing to the name that stood out among the others. "This student," I said, pointing towards the name written in elegant script. "Cassius G. Smith."
Dumbledore leaned forward, studying the name with keen interest. "What makes him so special?"
I explained the unusual circumstances surrounding Cassius's inclusion in the Book of Admittance. Unlike the other students whose names were written by the Quill of Acceptance, Cassius's name had appeared seemingly out of nowhere.
"It's as if the book itself recognized his potential and chose to admit him," I concluded, a note of wonder creeping into my voice.
As Dumbledore absorbed the information, I couldn't help but notice a flicker of recognition in his eyes. "Smith, you say?" he murmured, more to himself than to me. "I wonder if he's related to the Smith family..."
...
Finally, my ticket into the magical world, "Ehem, sorry to interrupt your thinking, Mr. Smith," She said as she waved her wand making a set of floating numbers appear in the air. "But it seems I must take my leave now. I'll be back tomorrow to take you to get your school supplies and answer any of your questions while doing so." She cut me off from my internal monologue to explain.
"Please, call me Cassius, Professor McGonagall, Calling me Mr makes me feel old." I tell her while rubbing the back of my head. A smile formed on her face, "Alright then Cassius, take care."
"Goodbye, Professor!" I called after her, unable to contain the grin that spread across my face. As the door clicked shut behind her, I wasted no time in making my way outside.
The evening air was cool against my skin as I stepped into the orphanage garden, the last rays of sunlight casting long shadows across the grass.
Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and focused my mind, willing the magic within me to awaken. As I extended my senses to the world around me, I felt a familiar surge of energy, tingling beneath my skin.
With a sense of purpose, I reached out to the plants and flowers around me, their vibrant colors shimmering in the fading light. The flowers responded to my call, their petals unfurling as if in greeting. With each breath, I felt a deeper connection forming, a bond that transcended words and language.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky with hues of pink and gold, I reveled in the magic of the moment. Tomorrow would mark the beginning of a new chapter in my life, but for now, I was content to bask in the beauty of the world around me, knowing that adventure awaited just beyond the horizon.