Chapter 3: Visit

Herb Anderson called his father. The old man, emotional after hearing the news, promised to visit his grandson soon.

Daisy, however, was still fuming. With Albert's gentle reassurance, she refrained from arguing with her husband, though the frustration remained.

As a sharp-minded lawyer, she simply couldn't fathom how her usually rational husband had been so easily taken in by what was clearly an elaborate joke. How could he risk their son's future over something so absurd?

After all, magic was nothing more than a fairy tale.

Niya, on the other hand, was utterly fascinated. She clung to Albert, pestering him eagerly.

"Show me some magic, Albert!"

Albert sighed, raising his hands in mock surrender. "I can't, Niya."

The truth was, he actually did know a spell or two—something simple, like Lumos to create a light.

But without a wand, even the most basic charm wouldn't work. And besides, how would he even begin to explain such a thing?

"Niya, there's no such thing as magic," Daisy cut in sternly. "It's all just sleight of hand and trickery."

"But Albert," Niya persisted, lifting the family's short-haired cat into her arms. 

"The letter says you can bring a pet to school! Are you taking Tom with you?"

Albert hesitated. "I won't decide that until I know for sure that this isn't a hoax."

Of course, he was merely trying to pacify his mother, who looked ready to explode at any moment.

Just then, a loud whoosh startled them all. An owl swooped into the living room, dropping a parchment envelope onto the table before gliding back out into the afternoon sky.

Albert picked it up and read aloud:

I will visit at 3:20. — Professor McGonagall.

"3:20?" He glanced at the clock. "That's in one minute."

"Good," Daisy said, crossing her arms. 

"I'm going to expose this nonsense once and for all."

At precisely 3:20, the doorbell rang.

The Anderson family exchanged uncertain glances before Herb finally moved to answer it, Niya trailing closely behind.

Standing on their doorstep was an elderly woman in emerald-green robes, her sharp eyes glinting behind square spectacles.

"Professor McGonagall?" Herb asked warily. "Er… well, come in. Albert is in the sitting room. If you can prove that magic is real…"

"Can you really do magic?" Niya asked, peering up at the stern woman.

"That is precisely why I'm here," McGonagall replied smoothly. She had handled such introductions countless times before. "It's common for Muggle families to have doubts."

"Muggle?" Herb repeated, blinking in confusion. "What did you just call me?"

McGonagall offered a thin smile. "Muggles are non-magical people. In other words, those who cannot perform magic."

Daisy bristled, sensing an air of condescension in the term.

McGonagall, however, had already turned her attention to Albert.

"Mr. Anderson," she greeted him formally.

"Hello, Professor," Albert replied, scrutinizing her closely. She looked different from how he'd imagined, though his memory of the Harry Potter films was somewhat vague.

Daisy set down a cup of unsweetened black tea in front of their guest, her lips pursed. "We would like proof that magic exists."

"Of course."

McGonagall withdrew a long, slender wand from her robes and gave it a sharp flick.

The teacup on the table instantly morphed into a small gray mouse, its tiny whiskers twitching as it scurried in confusion.

Heaton, the family's young neighbor who had been quietly observing, let out a gasp. He scooped up the mouse, eyes wide with wonder. "That's incredible!"

Daisy, however, remained unimpressed.

"That's what magic is? Parlor tricks?" she scoffed. "I will not allow Albert to throw away his future for something so frivolous. Do you expect him to become some kind of street performer?"

Her lawyer instincts kicked in as she leveled McGonagall with a piercing stare. "Be honest with me, Professor. A diploma from this 'Hogwarts'—does it hold any value in the real world? Or is it just a piece of parchment that means nothing outside your little secret society?"

McGonagall's lips thinned, though she remained calm. "Every qualified graduate of Hogwarts is able to find respectable work within the wizarding world, I assure you."

Daisy exhaled sharply, realizing that arguing against magic itself was now impossible. Still, she refused to back down completely.

"Albert, I still think Eton College is the better choice. You worked hard to earn a spot there, and if you plan to go into finance, Hogwarts will do nothing to help you achieve that."

Herb sighed heavily. He could see his wife was struggling to let go of her initial disbelief.

"Son, the choice is yours. We'll support you, whatever you decide."

McGonagall cleared her throat. "If I may, Mr. Anderson… Hogwarts will teach you how to control and harness your magic. Untrained wizards can sometimes—" She hesitated. "—encounter difficulties. Magic, when left unchecked, can lead to… unintended consequences."

Albert raised an eyebrow. "So, I have to go, then?"

"Essentially, yes."

Daisy opened her mouth to argue further, but before she could, Niya blurted out:

"Professor, can I go to Hogwarts too?"

McGonagall chuckled softly. "Only children who receive a Hogwarts letter at age eleven are eligible to attend."

"Niya, you're not eleven yet," Albert reminded her, ruffling her hair. Then he turned back to McGonagall. "Where do I buy my supplies? And how do I get to this… train?

McGonagall nodded approvingly. "You'll need to visit the Leaky Cauldron in London. It serves as the gateway to Diagon Alley—though Muggles cannot see it. Once there, ask the innkeeper, Tom. He will guide you."

"As for the Hogwarts Express, it departs from Platform 9 ¾ at King's Cross Station. You'll find the entrance between platforms 9 and 10—just walk straight through the barrier."

Daisy let out an incredulous laugh. "A train? What, are all your flying carpets out of service?"

"Daisy," Herb chided gently. He took out a notepad and began jotting down details.

McGonagall stood, preparing to leave. "We shall see you at Hogwarts on September 1st, Mr. Anderson."

Albert glanced at the mouse on the table. "Professor, can you change this back?"

"Ah, of course." She waved her wand, and the tiny rodent transformed back into a teacup.

With a nod of farewell, she strode toward the door. The moment she stepped outside, she vanished into thin air with a soft crack.

Herb blinked at the empty spot where she had stood. "She… disappeared?"

Albert turned to his father. "So, are we going to London tomorrow?"

"Oh, uh… yes, we are," Herb said, still dazed.

"I want to go too!" Niya whined, clinging to his arm.

Albert shook his head. "Not this time. Let me figure everything out first, and next time I'll take you and Mum." He smirked. "I'll even bring you back a gift."

"You always say that!" Niya huffed, storming off in mock frustration.

Albert merely shrugged, exchanging an amused glance with his father before heading back inside.

There was still plenty left to process, and two very different family members to reassure.