Over the next two weeks, Harry, Hermione and Neville kept visiting each other. Neville had been surprised to see how muggles lived, but he ended up loving everything he was introduced to. Harry and Hermione would explain things about the muggle world and Neville would explain things about the magical world. The three friends spoke about meeting up in Diagon alley when they got their letters for Hogwarts. Neville kept saying he wouldn't get a letter since everyone believed he was almost a squib. Harry and Hermione kept trying to reassure him but they knew that until he got the letter he would never believe he would powerful enough to attend Hogwarts.
Harry showered and headed downstairs to see Emma, Dan and Hermione sitting at the table but they were staring at a piece of parchment. Harry knew what it was as it had seen one exactly the same when Hagrid had brought him his letter.
'So the letter's arrived?'
'Mine did, but yours didn't, we're not sure why.' Hermione said.
'We're going to speak with this professor McGonagall when she arrives later today,' Dan said.
'I doubt the owls would still go to Privet drive, they don't live there anymore.'
'Unless these letters aren't magically addressed, they are addressed by a person, Dumbledore,' Hermione said.
'Okay, so what if McGonagall goes on about no letter so I can't go to Hogwarts.'
'Then I won't be going either,' Hermione said.
'Dan and I thought we could go with a story about moving overseas and having you two attend another magical school since it's obvious that the people at Hogwarts do not realise just how powerful you are. If this is some type of plan to have Hagrid come to you then we work it in our favour.'
'Dumbledore will never allow Harry to leave the country but since you are legally Harry's adopted parents then he can't stop that if we decide to go. We could use that to keep the old man in line which would keep Snape off our backs. We work on another school, make sure they know that we've been in contact with them. But Professor McGonagall would be curious as to why you didn't receive a letter especially if you explain about all the accidental magic you did.'
'She would want to find out where my letter is. Okay, let's go with that story, but we try to make sure she had no reason to discuss our personal lives with the headmaster. I don't think that's possible but we can at least try to limit what she tells him.'
'We'll do that, but we thought it might be best if you wait until we call you. Let this professor go through her explanation then we can explain how we adopted a child who is magical and also powerful. We'll see what she has to say before she hears who you are.'
'You have a devious mind,' Harry grinned at Emma who actually blushed making Dan laugh and Hermione smirk.
They discussed a few of their plans, Hermione then transfigured napkins into pamphlets for different countries, like America, Canada, Greece, France, Hawaii, Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand. They set up files from each country so it would look like they had been sent everything they need to have Hermione and Harry enrol in their school. They had them sitting on the coffee table in plain view to make their story more believable. When it was close to the time when McGonagall was due to arrive, Harry headed into the kitchen. He wanted to hear what was being said but he didn't want it to look like he was interested.
When the doorbell rang, Dan went to answer it while Emma sat with Hermione, the letter for Hogwarts was sitting on Hermione's lap.
After greeting the professor, Dan invited her inside, 'This is Professor McGonagall, deputy headmistress of Hogwarts.'
'It's nice to meet you Professor. This is our daughter, Hermione.'
'It's nice to meet you as well,' Professor McGonagall shook their hands before taking the seat Dan gestured to, 'As you would have read in the letter I sent you, your daughter's name was in the book of magical children born to non-magical parent's. She has been offered a place at Hogwarts.'
'Before we get to that, when was our daughter's name placed in the book?' Emma asked.
'That happens within their first year after they are born.'
'Then why weren't we informed years ago? We had no idea what was going on when things began to move by themselves or why things broke. We thought we had a nasty spirit hanging around then we believed Hermione was possessed with the devil.'
'I have been asked that question many times Mrs. Granger. I wish things would change but the ministry do not believe people like yourself should have to worry about magic since your daughter is not allowed to use it until she begins at Hogwarts. Then they are only allowed to use magic at Hogwarts, until they turn seventeen, which is an adult in our world.'
'I use magic all the time, so how would this ministry know I was using it during the holidays?'
'Accidental magic is not picked up since you are not using a wand. Right now the ministry know that I will be using my wand to show you some magic. Most…non magicals want proof of magic before they will believe this is not some type of joke.'
'A wand is in the list you sent. Does that mean that Hermione will not be able to use her wand during the holidays?'
'That's right, it's the law and it's mainly because of the statute of secrecy. We must remain secret or events like the witch trials could begin again. We want to make sure the children understand how to use their magic safely and how dangerous it is for all of us if they accidentally use it in front of…non magicals.'
'You can say muggles, we found out that's what we're called by magic users.' Dan said with a hint of distain in his voice.
'It's a terrible name,' Hermione said.
'Yes, I understand how you feel. Would you like me to show you what your daughter will be learning at Hogwarts?'
'Before we get to that, we would like to know why our adopted magical son was not sent a letter. He is more powerful than our daughter and has been using magic since he was a baby.' Dan said.
'I did not know you had another child especially a magical child. If he is powerful than I have no answer as to why he was not sent a letter.'
'I won't be going unless Harry goes as well,' Hermione said making sure she sounded petulant.
'How about we bring Harry in so Professor McGonagall can meet him then hopefully she can see why such a bright and powerful child is not being asked to join her school. Remember Hermione sweetheart, we spoke about this. If Harry can't join you then we move overseas and you can both go to one of the other schools we contacted,' Dan said.
'Okay, as long as Harry and I are together.'
'Even though we treat you the same, and we did adopt Harry, we know you two will end up married one day. It's just obvious that you two are meant to be and will be together forever,' Emma said sweetly, 'Then you found out you were soul mates.'
'I'll get Harry,' Dan said.
Minerva wasn't sure how to make these people realise that their daughter would get the best education only if she came to Hogwarts. When she heard footsteps she looked up and gasped.
'Harry Potter.'
'Harry Granger-Potter but he wanted our name added when we explained about the adoption,' Dan said as he kept his hand on Harry's shoulder.
'How do you know this is Harry Potter?' Emma asked.
'He looks like his father, except for the colour of his eyes, they are like his mother. I can't understand, I was informed that Harry's letter went out the same time as Miss Granger's letter.'
'So I can go to school with Hermione?' Harry sat beside her then held her hand.
'Your name is down at Hogwarts Mr. Potter, so yes you can. I will need to speak with the headmaster about this. He was the one who placed you with your aunt so I cannot understand why you are not with them now.'
'Those abusive bastards,' Dan growled, 'We got Harry out of there after witnessing how they treated him. He was basically their slave and punching bag. They made him sleep in a cupboard and only fed him once a day, and only scraps, not enough for a growing boy. They realised they were in trouble then they admitted they did not want Harry they signed away their rights to Harry. It took us a while but we were approved to adopt Harry once Petunia Dursley proved that Harry's parents were dead.'
'I never wanted Harry left with muggles, I knew they would not understand a child who when upset would use magic. I will head back to Hogwarts to retrieve a copy of your letter then speak with the headmaster.'
'Since it was the headmaster who put Harry with such terrible people, we would appreciate it if you do not tell him or anyone about our family, only what is absolutely necessary. The headmaster does not need to know that we adopted Harry, only that he will be a student at his school. I would like to know why the headmaster of a school thought he could decide where a child shall live if he is not related to the child, unless he is related, then you would think he would have taken Harry.'
'He is not related but there was a lot of danger at the time, especially for Harry,' Minerva sighed, 'Harry Potter is known as the-boy-who-lived, he is famous in our world yet many dangerous and dark wizards wanted to…' Minerva hesitated.
'Kill him, we know how Harry is thought of and how Voldemort tried to kill him. It still doesn't explain why the headmaster picked the people Harry should live with, especially since he is a powerful boy and those people hated him because of his magic.'
'It was for Harry's safety, the headmaster, Albus Dumbledore is the most powerful wizard alive. He created specific wards connected to Harry and his mother's blood, which his aunt carries. It would mean that Harry would be safe from the one that…killed her.'
'Then he must not be as powerful as most believe since Petunia Dursley was not blood related to Lily Potter. Lily was adopted when she was three months old by the Evans family,' Emma said.
'But if he died the night he tried to kill Harry then why would he need protecting from a dead person?' Dan asked but Harry, Hermione and Emma waited for the answer. They wondered if Minerva McGonagall knew the truth about Voldemort and how he created horcruxes to keep himself tethered to the world of the living and not pass on to the world of the dead.